Thursday February 25th., 2010

In honour of Black History Month
we are honoured to have
Historian, Hilary J. Dawson

She will introduce
Slavery in the Town of York

As the Thirteen Colonies moved towards war, those loyal to the Crown
found life increasingly difficult.

Throughout the American Rvolution, Loyalists packed up their families,
valuables and portable possessions, and moved behind British lines and many counted Black slaves among their personal property.

Several of these slave-owning families settled in Upper Canada
and advertisements like
"For Sale, a Negro Wench"
appeared in the newspapers.

From information found in original documents Hilary
will introduce Henry Prince, Peggy and other people of colour
who were regarded as property by such influential figures
as William Jarvis and Peter Russell.

Our Speaker grew up in Hull, in England. She has a degree in archaeology
and mediaeval history from Southampton University, UK.
Her interest in Black History has deep roots. Her hometown was also
the birthplace of William Wilberforce, the abolitionist.

Hilary's first museum job was in Wilberforce House, William Wilberforce's home. 
Hilary's research into nineteenth century Etobicoke Township uncovered
a previously unknown Black presence. She curated several Black History Month
exhibits at Montgomery's Inn. In 2002, the Etobicoke Historical Society presented
her with the Jean Hibbert Award for her contribution to Etobicoke's history.
She is currently working on the biography of Alfred Lafferty, Chatham's first
Black lawyer (and brother of an Etobicoke farmer).

The Lafferty family's story ("From Immigrant to Establishment:
a Black Family's Journey") appeared in the Spring 2007 issue of Ontario History.

(For further readings click here to get to an
interesting article by Mike Connell of the Times Herald)
or
to get to the Archives of Ontario click here for an article
on Peter Russell and the extent of his efforts to get rid of Peggy and her children.