Page 4 The Black Refugees, many whom were former slaves who had fought
or sided with the British during the War of 1812, settled in the area outside
Saint John near Loch Lomond called Willow Grove. Virtually all of them were
from Virginia and Maryland. The 371 refugees were given licences of occupation
for 50 acres of land (per family) in 1817. In 1825, after ten years of trying,
those who remained on the land were given 99 year leases. In 1836 they were
allowed to buy title to the land for 20 shillings (a low price at the time).
By 1904 there
were only 20 families still living there.
While in Willow Grove they
established a burial ground, which was restored in 1983. Clicking on the image
to the right will present more images from this location.
Of the third group of immigrants, many came from the West
Indies, lured by the opportunity to work in the coal mines of Cape Breton, Nova
Scotia.
By 1920 the immigration of Blacks to New Brunswick had virtually ceased.
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Brunswick Community College - Saint John.