A Time for Survival

The British parliament had finally abolished slavery in 1833 (the trading of slaves had been abolished in 1803) so the 1800s became a period of adjustment for those newly freed. Many people, including descendants of the early settlers, lost touch with the origins of Black Loyalist communities and families in Nova Scotia. Although some people recorded family events in their Bibles or kept community accounts, the origins were largely forgotten throughout the 1800s and 1900s. As one descendant put it, We didn't have time to look for our history; we were too busy trying to survive.