AFTER THE PEACE
Early in the summer of 1782, Haldimand received orders from Sir Guy
Carleton then in New York to act only on the defensive. This was due
to the negotiations for peace being on the way, and from that time it
may fairly be said that Canada was at peace.
One slave felt the movement in the air. This was Plato, an old Negro
slave who had been taken in Carleton's operations against Fort George
in 1780 and brought to Montreal where he entered the service of St.
Luc, a personage in those days. Plato had belonged to a Mr. Stringer
who, the slave always asserted, never joined the rebels. But when, on
November 3, 1782, there was made by the Commissary of Prisoners at
Quebec a return of the prisoners who had requested to remain in the
province, Plato's name appeared in the list. The next year he changed
his mind and on July, 17, 1783, he presented a petition to Haldimand
asking him to "excuse these few lines from a slave who would wish to
go again to his own Master and Mistress." He added: "The Gentleman I
am now living with Mr. St. Luc says he is very willing to let me go
with the first party that sets out from here" (Montreal).[1] Another
Negro slave Roger Vaneis (Van Ness) who had also been taken at Fort
George declined to go. He was living with Lieutenant Johnson and was
to have his freedom on serving for a time already about completed.[2]
The declaration of peace, however, brought many more slaves into
Canada. Even before the treaty was signed some of those who had kept
their faith to England's crown and desired to live and die under the
old flag made their way to the north. After the peace when the cause
was lost, many thousands came. Many of these had been slaveholders and
they brought their slaves with them. Some settled in what was
afterwards Lower Canada in Sorel and elsewhere, some in the upper
country, around Cornwall, Kingston, and Niagara, and a very few
crossed the river at Detroit.[3]
Returns made about the time show a large number of
slaves--euphemistically disguised as _servants_ in some cases. A
Report of 1784 shows 14 near Cataraqui (Kingston). Another of the same
year for the new townships on the River St. Lawrence beginning at
Township No. 1, on Lake St. Francis and running upwards, gives
1st Battn. late King's R. Rifles 25
Tps. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
Part Major Jessup's Corps 12
Tps. 6, 7 & pt. 8.
2nd Battn.
Tps. 3, 4, Cataraqui 10
Capt. Grass, Party
Tp. 1 Cataraqui (apparently none)
Part Major Jessup's Corps
Tp. 2 Cataraqui 12
Major Rogers' Corps 14
Tp. 3 Cataraqui
Major VanAlstine's Party of Loyalists[4] 17
---
90
In the return of the disbanded troops and Loyalists at Sorel the same
year, the number of servants is given at 5; none near Chambly, 3 about
St. John's, 40 about Montreal, and 8 about Lachine.[5] In the Niagara
district in 1782 the blunt word "slave"[6] is used and the number
given at only one. In 1784 the first census in which slaves were
counted was made. In the District of Quebec there were 88, in the
District of Trois Rivieres 4, and in the District of Montreal 212. In
what was afterwards the Province of Lower Canada there were in all
304.
The sale and marriage of Negro slaves continued to be[7] recorded. For
example, there are extant two notarial acts of sale of a female Negro
slave called Peg, June 9, 1783 from Elias Smith to James Finlay and
May 14, 1788 from Finlay to Patrick Langan. In each case the price was
L50[8]. On January 20, 1785 there took place at Christ Church the
marriage of Francis and Jane both slaves to Colonel Campbell. On March
9, 1785, there was a sale of a female Negro slave named Sarah, by
James Morison, merchant, as agent for Hugh McAdam, of Saratoga, New
York, to Charles Lepallieur, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas. The
price was 36 louis. On April 1, 1785 Elizah Cady of New York, sold to
William Ward of Vermont, four Negroes: Tobi 24 years, Joseph 20 years,
Sarah 19 years and a child six months, the price being 250 louis. On
April 26, William Ward sold three of these slaves at Montreal to
William Campbell--that is Tobi, Sarah and the child for $425. On May
6, William Campbell sold these three slaves to Dr. Charles Blake for
$300.
On September 5, there followed the sale of a Pani slave called
Charlotte, aged eighteen years, by Dame Marie-Josephe Deguire, widow
of Jean-Etienne Waden, to Jacob Schieffelin, auctioneer, for 21 louis.
The said slave had been brought from Upper Canada by Mr. Waden in
1776. To increase her value it was said that the slave had had the
measles and the small-pox and was not scrofulous nor had any other
defect.
On January 22, 1786, there took place at Christ Church the marriage of
the slaves, Thomas York and Margaret McCloud. On March 17, 1787,
Samuel Mix, Merchant of Saint-Jean on the Richelieu, sold to Louis
Gauthier, merchant tanner of the Faubourg Saint Laurent, a female
Negro slave named Rose aged 14 years for the sum of 40 louis. On June
6, 1789, Charles Lepallieur resold to James Morison the female Negro
slave Sarah whom he had sold to him in 1785. The price was 36 louis.
On the sixth of June James Morison sold the same Sarah for 50 louis to
Joseph Andrews, at a profit of 14 louis. On April 3, 1790 there was a
sale by Oliver Hasting to M. le chevalier Chs. Boucher de la Bruere,
de Boucherville, of a Negro of the name of Antoine, aged eight years
and a half. The price was 90 minots de ble. On September 9, 1791
followed the sale at auction of the female Negro slave Rose, aged 19
years, by William Matthews, merchant of Sorel, to Lambert Saint-Omer,
Merchant of Montreal, for 38 louis and 5 shillings. This slave had
already belonged to S. Mix as set forth above.
Alexander Campbell writing from Montreal August 16, 1784, to Major
Mathews says that having sent to Albany to recover some of his debts,
Adam Fondea of Cauchnawago of Tryon's County gave as an excuse for not
paying his debt that a certain Negro woman named Dine born in his own
family and his actual property was taken away from his house by
Captain Samuel Anderson of Sir John Johnson's First Batallion, and was
still detained by him as his property. Fondea being willing to pay the
debt had sent a power of attorney to take his slave, sell her and pay
the debt with the proceeds. Campbell asked that the governor should
order Dine to be seized and sold as no Magistrate had the power or the
inclination to give such an order. No attention seems to have been
paid to this request.
On September 15, 1784, James Doty writing also from Montreal says that
"with some difficulty to myself I have ... purchased a Negro boy from
Lieut. Clench of the Indian Department which boy has been allowed his
provisions drawn at Cataraqui (Kingston) from the time of his first
coming into the Province with other Loyalists from N. York last year."
He asked to have this allowance continued. There was no answer. The
report of settlers near Cataraqui for this year gave 3 "servants" and
near Oswegatchie 11. But the importation of Slaves was not encouraged
indiscriminately.[10]
The accustomed abuses were not wanting. In an action Poiree v. Lagord
in the Court of Common Pleas at Montreal July 1788, it was proved that
Lagord had sold to Poiree in September, 1787, a free Negro for L37.6.
He was ordered to repay the price with interest. Another and more
celebrated case was that of the Negro Nero. In 1780 Haldimand sent a
detachment of troops accompanied by Mohawk Indians to attack Ballstown
and the Saratoga region. They captured a number of Negroes some of
them the slaves of Colonel Gordon of the American service. These were
claimed by the white men and Indians, and as was the custom, they were
brought to Montreal and sold. One Negro called Dublin was known to be
free. He was liberated and enlisted in the army. Lieutenant Patrick
Langan acted as agent for the Indians and sold Nero to John Mittberger
for L60 December 5, 1780. Claiming the Negro as a prisoner of war
General Allan Maclean imprisoned him "in the public Provot." He made
his escape and went to his master Colonel Gordon and Mittleberger sued
Langan in 1788 for the price and for damages. In January 1789 he was
awarded judgment for the L60 and interest.[11] About the same time
Rossiter Hoyle, attorney for the trustees of Mary Jacobs, obtained a
judgment in the Court of Common Pleas at Montreal that Donald Fisher
and Elizabeth his wife should forthwith deliver "two negro women, the
one named Silvia Jane, the other Ruth Jane," which said Negro women,
they had sold to Mary Jacobs by a notarial deed for L50 or pay L50
with costs.[12]
There are also in existence advertisements for the sale of Negroes. In
the _Quebec Gazette_ of March 18, 1784, is the advertisement of the
sale of a female Negro slave, price to be obtained on inquiry of
Madame Perrault. In the issue of March 25, 1785, there is advertised
for sale a Negro of about twenty-five years of age who has had the
smallpox. There appear also a few advertisements for runaway slaves.
There arose also some complaints like the following: In 1784 there was
presented at Quebec to Sir Frederick Haldimand, Governor in Chief, a
petition from John Black showing that the petitioner hath served as a
seaman in His Majesty's service on board the sloop, _Happy Couple_ of
New York for which he had a certificate to shew, and was then living
servant to Mrs. Martin, the wife of Captain Martin of this place, who
wanted to deprive him of his liberty and humbly begged His Excellency
to grant him a passport.[13]
The immigration into Canada of those who had been British subjects was
ardently desired by the home authorities. To encourage this
immigration, the Imperial Parliament in 1790 passed an Act[14] which
had some effect in increasing the slave population. Intended to
encourage "new settlers in His Majesty's Colonies and Plantations in
America," it applied to all "subjects of the United States." It
allowed an importation into any of the Bahama, Bermuda or Somers
Islands, the province of Quebec (then including all Canada), Nova
Scotia and every other British territory in North America. It allowed
the importation by such American subjects of "Negroes, household
furniture, utensils of husbandry or cloathing free of duty," the
"household furniture, utensils of husbandry and cloathing" not to
exceed in value L50 for every white person in the family and L2 for
each Negro, any sale of Negro or goods within a year of the
importation to be void. After the division of the Old Province of
Quebec into Upper and Lower Canada in 1791 the course of slavery was
different.[15]
It seems appropriate to close this chapter by adding a number of
available advertisements including some of runaway apprentices.[16]
Il s'est enfui de chez les Soussignes, la nuit du 12 du courant,
Un Negre Esclave nomme POMPE d'environ cinq pieds cinq pouces
d'hauteur, robuste, il a ete achete dernierement de M. Perras,
negociant de cette ville; il avoit sur lui quand il a decampe un
gilet et des culottes brunes: Celui qui le ramenera aura HUIT
PIASTRES de Recompense, et les frais raisonnables qu'il aura
faits. Quiconque le retirera chez lui sera poursuivi suivant la
derniere rigueur de la Loi, par
JOHNSTON & PURSS.
RUN-AWAY from the subscribers, in the Night of the 12th inst. a
Sailor Negro Slave named POMPEY, about 5 Feet, 5 Inches high,
and is Robust; he was lately bought of Mr. Perras, Merchant in
this Town; had on when he went away a brown Jacket and Breeches.
Whoever brings him to the Subscribers shall have EIGHT DOLLARS
Reward and reasonable Charges paid. Any Person Harbouring him
will be prosecuted according to the utmost Rigor of the Law, by
JOHNSTON & PURSS.
Run-away from the Subscriber, living in Quebec, on the Evening of
the 9th Instant, an indented Servant Woman, named Catharine
Osburn, about 20 or 21 years of Age, red fac'd, very fat and
rough skin'd, about 5 Feet 5 Inches high, a little mark'd with
the Small-Pox; She had on a purple colour'd Stuff Jacket flower'd
with green and white, a blue thick Kersey Petticoat, blue
Stockings with White clocks, an old red Cloak; and took with her
two new Shifts of good Dowlas Linen, seven plain and two lac'd
caps. She was inticed away by two discharg'd soldiers, John
Linsey and John McDonald, said to be going for New England.
McDonald was formerly Turnkey at the Gaol; they were both of the
60th Regiment. Whoever takes them up, and secures them, so that
they may be brought to Justice, shall receive Five Dollars Reward
for each of them; and whoever secures the Woman, or brings her to
her Master, shall receive Five Dollars Reward, and all reasonable
Charges, paid by
WILLIAM LAING.
N. B. All Persons are forbid to harbour or carry any of them off.
It is thought that they are still harbour'd in and about this
City Quebec, 14th March, 1767.--_Quebec Gazette_, 1767.
Whereas William Russey, an article'd Servant to Mr. Suckling, of
this City, hath lately run-away, and absented himself from the
Service of his said Master: If any Person will give Information
to the said Mr. Suckling of the said Servant, so that he may be
apprehended and brought before John Collins, Esq; one of His
Majesty's Justices of the Peace for the District of Quebec,
shall, upon such Apprehension and Bringing, receive Eight Dollars
Reward, to be paid by me the Subscriber: And any Person or
Persons who shall, after this Notice, employ, harbour or conceal
the said Servant, will be prosecuted with the utmost Severity of
the Law, by me,
GEO. SUCKLING.
QUEBEC, 14th April, 1767.
--_Quebec Gazette_, 1767.
Run-away, from James Crofton, Vintner in Montreal, the Third of
May, 1767, a Mulatto Negro Slave, named Andrew, born in Maryland
Twenty-three Years of Age, middle sized, very active and
sprightly, has a remarkable large Mouth, thick lips, his Fingers
crooked, speaks good English and French, a little Dutch and
Earse; is supposed to have with him forged Certificates of his
Freedom, and Passes. Whoever takes up and secures the said Negro,
so that his Master may have him again, shall have Eight Dollars
Reward, besides all reasonable charges, paid by Mr. Henry Boone,
Merchant, at Quebec, or James Crofton, at Montreal.
N.B. He is remarkable for being clean dres'd and wearing a
Handkerchief tied round his Head: is very well known to all the
Gentlemen at Quebec, that has been in Montreal, and who have used
my House, and was Three Months with Mr. Joseph Howard, of
Montreal Merchant, last Summer in Quebec.--_Quebec Gazette_,
1767.
TO BE SOLD,
For no Fault, the Owner having no employ for him,
A likely Negro fellow, about 23 or 24 Years of Age; understands
Cooking, waiting at Table, and Houshold Work, &c, &c. He speaks
both English and French. For further Particulars enquire of the
Printers.--_Quebec Gazette_, 1770.
From the Subscriber, on Sunday morning the 24th ult, about four
o'Clock, a Negro Lad named NEMO, born in Albany, near eighteen
years of age, about five feet high full round fac'd, a little
marked with the Smallpox, speaks English and French tolerably; he
had on when he went away a double-breasted Jacket of strip'd
flannel, old worsted Stockings, and a pair of English Shoes. Also
a Negro Wench named CASH, twenty-six years old, about 5 feet 8
inches high, speaks English and French very fluently; she carried
with her a considerable quantity of Linen and other valuable
Effects not her own; and as she has also taken with her a large
bundle of wearing apparel belonging to herself, consisting of a
black satin Cloak, Caps, Bonnets, Ruffles, Ribbons, six or seven
Petticoats, a pair of old Stays, and many other articles of value
which cannot be ascertained, it is likely she may change her
dress. All persons are hereby forewarned from harbouring or
aiding them to escape, and Masters of vessels from carrying them
off, as they may depend on being prosecuted to the utmost rigour
of the Law; and whoever will give information where they are
harboured; or bring them back to the Subscriber at Quebec, or to
Mr. George Ross, Merchant at Sorel, shall have TEN DOLLARS Reward
for each, and all reasonable charges.
HUGH RITCHIE.
N. B. The Lad was seen at Sorel on Friday morning the 29th ult.
and there is reason to believe they are both lurking thereabout.
QUEBEC, November 2, 1779.
--_Quebec Gazette_, 1779.
Ran-Away on Sunday the 24th of October, JOHN BARCLAY, an
Apprentice, aged 15 years, small of his age, has short black and
lank Hair, dark hazle Eyes, good complexion a little freckled,
speaks good English and a little French: had on when he went away
a light grey Coat and Waistcoat, and stript cotton Trowsers with
leather Breeches under them. Whoever will apprehend him or give
information so that he may be apprehended, shall receive Five
Guineas Reward from
SHOOLBRED & BARCLAY.
QUEBEC, November 2, 1779.
--_Quebec Gazette_, 1779.
Run Away from his bail, an indented servant man named Christian
Miller, born in Germany, by trade a Tailor, he is about 5 feet 9
or 10 inches in stature, well made, middling long black hair,
speaks English tolerably well, he was formerly a servant to a
German Hessian officer, one Mr. Seiffort, Lieutenant in Capt.
Schoels regiment, has very much the art and behaviour of a sham
beau and has a variety of cloaths, viz. a Maroon Coat, a brown
ditto, lined with light blue silk, the one had Gold the other
Silver Buttons, a brown Great Coat and a variety of Waistcoats
and Breeches: Whoever will apprehend the said Run-away, so as the
subscriber may have him in custody shall receive FIVE GUINEAS
reward, over and above any reasonable expences; and all masters
of vessels, officers of the army and others, are forwarn'd not to
harbour or entertain him nor to be aiding in his escape, on pain
of being prosecuted as the law directs.
Note. If apprehended at Quebec, apply to Mr. Wm. Laing, Merchant,
or to the subscriber at Montreal.
(Signed) JOHN MITTLEBERGER.
MONTREAL, 4th July, 1782.
_Quebec Gazette_ 1782.
Ran Away from the subscriber, on Thursday evening the 21st
instant, an Apprentice Boy named JOSEPH POWERS, a Shoemaker,
about fifteen years of age, of a fair complexion short hair,
speaks English and French, had on when he went away a Blanket
Coat, light blue Waistcoat and Breeches very dirty, a Check Shirt
much wore, a round Hat, and a pair of Slippers: this is to give
notice to the public that they are not to harbour the said
Apprentice in their houses or families, otherwise they will be
prosecuted as the law directs.
ALEXR. WALLACE.
QUEBEC, November 27, 1782.
--_Quebec Gazette_, 1782.
Ran-Away from the Printing-Office, On Monday night last, an
Apprentice Lad named Duncan M'Donell, about 19 years of age,
about five feet five inches high, of a fresh complexion; speaks
English, French and Erse: all persons are hereby forwarn'd from
harbouring him, as they may depend on being prosecuted to the
utmost rigour of the Law, and whoever will bring him back shall
have One Guinea Reward from the
PRINTER.
QUEBEC, April 17, 1783.
--_Quebec Gazette_, 1783.
TO BE SOLD.
A NEGRO WENCH about 18 years of age, who came lately from New
York with the Loyalists. She has had the Small Pox--The Wench has
a good character and is exposed to sale only from the owner
having no use for her at present.
Likewise will be disposed of a handsome Bay Mare.
For particulars enquire of the Printer.
--_Quebec Gazette_, 1783.
A Gentleman going to England has for sale, a Negro-wench, with
her child, about 26 years of age, who understands thoroughly
every kind of house-work, particularly washing and cookery: And a
stout Negro--boy, 13 years old: Also a good horse, cariole and
harness. For particulars enquire at Mr. William Roxburgh's
Upper-town, Quebec, 10th May, 1785.
--_Quebec Gazette_, 1785.
To be SOLD together.
A Handsome Negro Man and a beautiful Negro Woman married to one
another: the man from twenty-three to twenty-four years of age,
between five and a half and six English feet high: the woman from
twenty-two to twenty-three years of age; both of a good
constitution. For further information, such as may be desirous of
purchasing them must apply to Mr. Pinguet, in the Lower-town of
Quebec, Merchant.
--_Quebec Gazette_, 1788.
FOOTNOTES:
[1] _Canadian Archives_, B. 163, p. 258: _ibid._, B. 163, p. 324.
[2] _Ibid._, B. 163, p. 258.
[3] As Britain kept possession of Detroit until 1796, many United
Empire Loyalists settled on the west side of the river at that point.
A few remained on the east side of the Niagara River as Fort Niagara
was held in the same way.
[4] _Canadian Archives_, B. 168, p. 42.
Different detachments of disbanded regulars on Tp. 5 Cataraqui,
detachment of Germans under Baron Kritzenstein on Tp. 5 Cataraqui and
Rangers of 6 Nations Department settled with the Mohawks on Bay of
Quinte return no servants. _Canadian Archives_, B. 168, p. 42. Report
dated Montreal, July 1, 1784.
[5] _Canadian Archives_, B. 168, pp. 44, 47, 48, 51, 55, 61, 63, 67,
68, 71, 77, September, 1784. See also B. 168, pp. 81, 88, 92, 95, 99,
100, 101, 102. These may be found in the Report for 1891 of the
_Canadian Archives_ Department, pp. 5-20.
[6] _Ibid._, B. 169, p. 1. There is a column for "Male Slaves" and one
for "Female Slaves." Thomas McMicken has the proud monopoly, he had
one male slave. The other fifteen householders had none. But then he
had 20 hogs to look after and no one else had more than 14; most many
fewer.
[7] _Canadian Archives_, B. 225, 2. p. 406. Massicotte B. R. H. _ut
supra_.
[8] Lafontaine _ut supra_, pp. 21, 22.
[9] Those in the text are taken from Mr. Massicotte's Article B. R. H.
_ut supra_. The letter of Campbell is _Can. Arch._, B. 162, p. 351.
That of Doty, _ibid._, p. 365: the Report is _ibid._, p. 385.
[10] In a letter from Henry Hope, Lieutenant-Governor dated Quebec,
November 6, 1786, to Captain Enys, 29th Reg't., we read:
"I am by desire of His Excellency the Commander in Chief (Lord
Dorchester) to require that no negro slaves shall be permitted on any
account to pass into this Province by the Post under your command."
[11] Lafontaine _ut supra_, pp. 22, 23, 24, 44, 45, 46. _Le Monde
Illustre_ December 9, 1893. Massicotte, _Bulletin des Recherches
Historiques_ for November, 1918, pp. 348 sqq.
[12] Lafontaine _ut supra_, p. 43. The advertisements spoken of are on
p. 21.
[13] _Can. Arch._, B. 217, p. 397. What if anything was done on the
petition does not appear.
[14] (1790) 30 George III, c. 27.
[15] The division of the Province of Quebec into two provinces, that
is, Upper Canada and Lower Canada, was effected by the royal
prerogative, Sec. 31, George III, c. 31, the celebrated Constitutional
Act of Canada. Technically and in law, the new province was formed by
Order in Council, August 24, 1791, but there was no change in
administration until December 26, 1791.
[16] These I owe to the kindness of the officers of the Canadian
Archives Department of Ottawa.