| Birchtown Settlers |
| Hannah Blair | Noted in Carleton's Book of Negroes as a twenty-five (25) year
old Black woman with 2 fine sons, 4 & 2, married to Joseph Blair and formerly enslaved in Virginia. Hannah ran off
from Jacob Hancock around 1776. Hannah was likely with the contingent of Black Loyalists who arrived
in Birchtown in the autumn of 1783, as she was recorded in the Book of Negroes on July 31, 1783. "Hannah Blair, 25, stout wench with 2 fine sons, 4 & 2 years old. Formerly the property of Jacob Hancock, Eastern Shore, Virginia; left him 7 years ago." return to top |
| Joseph Blair | Named land-grantee in Birchtown, lot number three (3), according to the
Goulden Map. As well, the site AkDi-26 falls on this lot number. Was this Joseph and Hannah Blair's house? Joseph and Hanah
had their son Peter baptized on August 17th, 1788 by the Reverend Dr. Walters, of Shelburne's Anglican
Christ Church. Hannah and Joseph were married before arriving at Birchtown, as noted in their records
in the Book of Negroes. "Joseph Glair [sic; Blair], 50, worn out. Formerly the property of John Blair, Eastern shore, Virginia; left him 5 years ago." return to top |
| Stephen Blucke | Commander of the Black Pioneers, a military regiment in the British force. Blucke was also the leader designated by the British government to lead the settlers at Birchtown. Some believe that Blucke was viewed by the inhabitants of Birchtown much like a plantation overseer. Large-scale excavations in 1998 were focused on Akdi-23, almost certainly the site of Blucke's house. return to top |
| Margaret Blucke | A New England woman, born free, who came to Birchtown as Stephen Blucke's wife. Margaret Blucke also brought Isabella Gibbons with her, possibly a family member, whom she appears to have kept as a servant. Unsatisfied with Birchtown, Margaret left her husband and Isabella to return to New England. return to top |
| Francis Blucke | daughter of Stephen and Isabella Blucke. Born at Birchtown, baptized by Reverend Thomas Rowland of the Anglican Christ Church of Shelburne on April 21st, 1796. return to top |
| William Eustace | Named land-grantee in Birchtown, lot number thirty-five (35) according to the Goulden Map. return to top |
| Adam Fall | Former owner (and assumed grantee) of lot #19 - "on the hill", based on receipts from sale of land to Stephen Skinner. It seems that Adam Fall was also one of the emigrants to Sierra Leone in January of 1791. return to top |
| David George | Founder of the First Black Baptist Church of Canada. David George's memoirs serve as one of only three first hand accounts of life in Birchtown and from the Black perspective in Shelburne. return to top |
| Isabella Gibbons/ Blucke |
A young woman brought to Birchtown by the Bluckes, perhaps as a servant. Isabella stayed on after Margaret's return to New England. Perhaps the reason for Margaret's departure was epitomized in the 1796 baptismal record of Francis, Stephen and Isabella's daughter. return to top |
| Boston King | A Methodist preacher at Birchtown. Boston escaped slavery in South Carolina and made his way to the British. He engaged in commerce with the White Loyalist inhabitants of Shelburne and worked for a fisherman at some distance. His memoirs provide a rich and valuable insight into life and spirituality at Birchtown. In 1791, he and his wife, Violet, left Birchtown and traveled to Sierra Leone. return to top |
| Violet King | A wonderful example of Black Loyalist women. She, like so many others, worked alongside her male counterpart and made significant contributions to the settlement of Birchtown. As mentioned in her husband's memoirs, Violet was responsible for farming and harvesting potatoes, a vital part of their winter rations. Violet was an integral part of her husband's conversion to a Christian life and appears to have been very much his equal in every part of their life together. return to top |
| John Marrant | A Huntingdonian Methodist preacher who ministered to many communities including Birchtown. The journal of John Marrant is one of only three first hand accounts, from a Black perspective, of life in Birchtown. return to top |
| Samuel Mason | Former owner (and assumed grantee) of lot #21 "with its improvements", based on receipts from sale of land to Stephen Skinner. It seems that Samuel Mason was one of the emigrants to Sierra Leone in January of 1791. The Black Loyalists who left Nova Scotia for Sierra Leone sold their land, though the prices paid seem to have depended upon the bargaining ability of the Black Loyalist seller. return to top |
| Robert Nicholson/ Nickinson |
Named land-grantee in Birchtown, lot number ten (10) according to the Goulden Map.
The name "Robert Nicholson" appears on the Goulden Map, however, the name "Robert Nickinson" appears in Carleton's Book of Negroes. There is no Robert Nicholson listed.
Misspelling of names was a common occurance and so we are confident that Nickinson and Nicholson refer to the same man. "Robert Nickinson, 54, worn out. Formerly the property of Capt. Joseph Nickinson of Norfolk, Virginia; left him 4 years ago." return to top |