The MaroonsThe Maroons

Outcome 3aOutcome 3a

Second immigration of free Second immigration of free Blacks into Nova ScotiaBlacks into Nova Scotia

• 1655- British conquered Jamaica, and the 1655- British conquered Jamaica, and the Maroons fought against them for 140 Maroons fought against them for 140 years using guerilla tacticsyears using guerilla tactics

• 1796- Legislature of Jamaica offered to 1796- Legislature of Jamaica offered to move them to NS if they surrendered move them to NS if they surrendered

• Sent 543 men, women, and children in 3 Sent 543 men, women, and children in 3 ships (Dover, Mary, and Anne) to Halifaxships (Dover, Mary, and Anne) to Halifax

• Duke of Kent was so impressed by them Duke of Kent was so impressed by them he employed the whole group to work on he employed the whole group to work on new fortifications on Citadel Hillnew fortifications on Citadel Hill

• They worked on section known as “the They worked on section known as “the Maroon Bastion”Maroon Bastion”

Settlement in Nova Settlement in Nova ScotiaScotia

• Commissioners Quarrell and Ochterloney Commissioners Quarrell and Ochterloney given £25,000 of Jamaican money to use in given £25,000 of Jamaican money to use in settling the Maroons in Preston (£3,000 used settling the Maroons in Preston (£3,000 used for 5,000 acres of land and construction for 5,000 acres of land and construction costs)costs)

• £240 allowance from England to be used £240 allowance from England to be used annually for support of a school and religious annually for support of a school and religious instructioninstruction

• Maroons were not used to being “farmers” or Maroons were not used to being “farmers” or “settlers" and basically refused to do this sort “settlers" and basically refused to do this sort of workof work

EmigrationEmigration• Severe wintersSevere winters• Support money running lowSupport money running low• Maroons themselves “wish to be sent to Maroons themselves “wish to be sent to

India or somewhere in the east, to be landed India or somewhere in the east, to be landed with arms in some country with a climate with arms in some country with a climate like that they left, where they might take like that they left, where they might take possession with a strong hand…”possession with a strong hand…”

• Although Sierra Leone Company initially Although Sierra Leone Company initially objected to them going there, in 1800 they objected to them going there, in 1800 they arrived in Freetown Harbour, where they arrived in Freetown Harbour, where they helped the government put down an helped the government put down an insurrection of the previous Black Loyalists insurrection of the previous Black Loyalists (remember from the American Revolution?)(remember from the American Revolution?)

Immigration after 1812Immigration after 1812

• War broke out between Britain and War broke out between Britain and the USA in 1812the USA in 1812

• As a result, nearly 2000 Black As a result, nearly 2000 Black Refugees came to Nova Scotia from Refugees came to Nova Scotia from southern slave statessouthern slave states

• But there had been no preparations or But there had been no preparations or plans made for them, so they were plans made for them, so they were initially placed in a poor house, and a initially placed in a poor house, and a former stronghold for prisonersformer stronghold for prisoners

The Black Refugees The Black Refugees Cont’dCont’d

• Ultimately they settled in Preston, Ultimately they settled in Preston, Hammonds Plains, Cobequid Road, Hammonds Plains, Cobequid Road, Shubenacadie Road, Windsor Road, Shubenacadie Road, Windsor Road, Refugee Hill, Porter’s Lake, Prospect Refugee Hill, Porter’s Lake, Prospect Road, Fletcher’s Lake, Beaver Bank, Road, Fletcher’s Lake, Beaver Bank, Beech Hill, and DartmouthBeech Hill, and Dartmouth

• Problems: cold climate, poor land, Problems: cold climate, poor land, no experience with these crops, no experience with these crops, mice, colds, influenza, etc.mice, colds, influenza, etc.

Decline of Slavery in Decline of Slavery in Nova ScotiaNova Scotia

• In the late 1700’s, there were still In the late 1700’s, there were still ads in the ads in the ROYAL GAZETTE ROYAL GAZETTE andand NOVA SCOTIA ADVERTISER NOVA SCOTIA ADVERTISER for for slaves to be bought or sold.slaves to be bought or sold.

• In early 1800’s slavery was being In early 1800’s slavery was being abolished in Britainabolished in Britain

• Mostly, however, slavery faded Mostly, however, slavery faded away through legal challenges as away through legal challenges as opposed to outright laws against itopposed to outright laws against it