I do have sufficient evidence to prove that I, my mom, and my children are descendants of the Queen’s Bush community. The documentary trail from my grandmother back through my Robinson ancestors (Myrtle Mae to William A. to John A.) to Peter Taylor and Margaret White is solid.

The question of whether we are descendants of escaped slaves are free Blacks is harder to answer, however. The answer could be one or both. Nevertheless, given that all my earliest known ancestors residing in Queen’s Bush hailed from slave-owning states, namely Maryland and Virginia, the evidence points more strongly in the direction that we are living legacies of slaves who struggled to obtain freedom despite the cost.

I believe there is evidence that I descend from known escaped slaves. Peter Taylor and Margaret White lived near Samuel White and Hannah (Gray) White. According to Brown-Kubisch (2004), Samuel White (at least) was born into slavery in Maryland. Given data from three successive censuses of Canada (1851, 1861, and 1871)—all of which agree that Samuel White was born in Maryland—his birth date ranges from about 1786 to about 1794. (Keep in mind that the accuracy of census data depends on the memory of the individual respondent.)

Brown-Kubisch reported that Hannah Gray was born in Maryland as well, but given the three aforementioned censuses of Canada, we cannot be so sure. The 1851 Census indicates Maryland, the 1861 Census says merely “U.S.”, and the 1871 Census says Virginia. Her birth year ranges from about 1788 to about 1802, depending on which census one goes by.

The two oldest children still living with them at the time of the 1851 Census, Henry (born circa 1828) and Sarah (born circa 1833), were both listed as born in Virginia. The family had arrived in Canada by 1834 as another child, David, was born that year in Canada. The 1851 Census listed another son, Jacob, born in Canada about 1836. By 1861 they appear to have two more children, Elizabeth and Frederick White, both born circa 1844, and possibly a grandson, Charles Smith, who was born about 1854.

Brown-Kubisch (2004) made no mention of my great-great-great-grandmother Margaret White, thus does not make any connection between her and Samuel White and Hannah (Gray) White. It is no surprise, because she appears to infer the family relationships mentioned solely from household data in the 1851 and 1861 censuses.

But I do believe there is evidence contained within the census data. Samuel White and Hannah (Gray) White lived near Peter Taylor and Margaret (White) Taylor in Peel Township according to the 1851 Census. Samuel White and his family are listed on page 37. Peter Taylor and his family are listed on page 38, the third or fourth household (depending on whether or not Lucinda Ross is part of Cornelius Taylor’s household (or vice versa) from Samuel White’s.

The two families are listed together on page 21 of the 1861 Census. By then, only one other household—that of David and Sarah Austin (the handwriting looks like Austin, at least)—separated them. It may be that Sarah Austin is actually Sarah White, Samuel and Hannah (Gray) White’s daughter, as David Austin is listed as a labourer, as are Samuel and Hannah’s sons, Jacob and Henry. Thus, it is possible that the White and Austin households are one, in which case they live adjacent to Peter and Margaret (White) Taylor.

In either case, I believe the reduced number of households between the White and Taylor families between 1851 and 1861 reflect the beginning of the exodus of squatters from Queen’s Bush. Both the White and Taylor families left Queen’s Bush later in the 1860s. Brown-Kubisch (2004) reports that Samuel White sold his farm to a John Fenton.

What is irrefutable, however, is that Samuel and Hannah (Gray) White lived next to Peter and Margaret (White) Taylor after those two families left Queen’s Bush. In the 1871 Census of Amabel Township in Bruce North district, Samuel and Hannah lived next to Peter and Margaret. They are listed on the same page, with Samuel and Hannah, now quite elderly, living in household No. 73 and Peter and Margaret in household No. 74.

Other evidence to a potential relationship is that some names repeat among both families. Peter and Margaret have a son named Samuel. Samuel and Hannah have a son named David, as do Peter and Margaret. Samuel and Hannah have a son named Henry. Peter and Margaret have a son named James Henry. Peter and Margaret have a son named Albert, as does Margaret’s brother Samuel (assuming my hypothesis is correct that they are siblings).

So sure, while my assertion that Margaret White is the daughter of Samuel White and Hannah Gray is conjecture, it is conjecture backed by a good bit of consistent evidence over at least a 20-year period.

—

I have heard of many African Americans today being ashamed of the fact that their ancestors had once been held in bondage. It is a sentiment I cannot understand. None of our ancestors volunteered to be treated as property.

Nevertheless, I feel a bit of pride in having a personal connection to that dark period of history, that I descend from those who bucked that vile system and risked their lives in a very personal fight and flight for freedom.

Bibiliography

Brown-Kubisch, Linda. 2004. The Queen’s Bush Settlement: Black Pioneers 1839-1865. Toronto: Natural Heritage Books.

Cooke, William. 2015. “The Queen’s Bush Settlement.” Stalking Dead People (blog), William Cooke. 27 Nov 2022. http://stalkingdeadpeople.blogspot.com/2015/08/the-queens-bush-settlement.html.

Drew, Benjamin. 1856. The Refugee: Or the Narratives of Fugitive Slaves in Canada. Boston: John P. Jewett.

Ontario Heritage Trust. 2008. “The Queen’s Bush Settlement, 1820-1867.” King’s Printer for Ontario. Last Modified 2 Aug 2008. Accessed 27 Nov 2022.

https://www.heritagetrust.on.ca/pages/programs/provincial-plaque-program/provincial-plaque-background-papers/queens-bush-settlement.

Pavlakos, Raphaela. 2021. “The Forgotten History of Wellington County: Queen’s Bush Settlers and their Legacies.” The Black Past in Guelph: Remembered and Reclaimed (blog), University of Guelph. 27 Nov 2022. https://blackpastinguelph.com/2021/02/15/the-forgotten-history-of-wellington-county-queens-bush-settlers-and-their-legacies/.

Siebert, Wilbur H. 1898. The Underground Railroad: From Slavery to Freedom. New York: MacMillan Company.