Black Loyalists: Southern Settlers of Nova Scotia's First Free Black Community

Whitehead painstakingly traces the history of Nova Scotia's people of African descent, from the time they were captured in Africa by slave traders, transported and sold as slaves to wealthy landowners in South Carolina and Georgia, and finally resettled as free Black Loyalists in Nova Scotia. The recreation of their journey is a testament to people of great endurance, perseverance and courage. To help loyalist descendants trace their roots, Whitehead used records such as the "Book of Negroes" and muster rolls from various ships, to trace the movements of individuals. Drawing on an incredible number of original documents from slaves, enslavers, military officials, ship's captains, and government officials, Whitehead reveals stories of war, loss, friendships, famine, abuse, intermarriage, disease, insurrection, racism and deception. Readers see life as it was for those who were promised freedom and land in exchange for loyalty to the British crown. Resettlement from New York to Nova Scotia in 1783 brought extreme challenges, and by 1791, about a thousand had accepted Britain's offer to return to Africa, while about 3,000 remained. The book succeeds in providing real stories of real people with a passion for freedom and their struggle to find it. (May) Canadian distribution: Nimbus US distribution: NBN