BC Black History Timeline

The Abolition of Slavery Act, passed by the British Parliament in 1833, came into force on August 1, 1834.
The fine print: As an imperial statute, the Slavery Abolition Act liberated less than 50 enslaved Africans in British North America. For most enslaved people in British North America, however, the Act resulted only in partial liberation, as it only emancipated children under the age of six, while others were to be retained for four to six years as apprentices.

Legalized slavery continued in the United States until the 13th Amendment was passed on January 1, 1865.

On the evening of April 14,1858 at the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church in San Francisco, the Black community were celebrating the release of fugitive slave Archy Lee.

In the midst of these celebrations Jeremiah Nagle, captain of the steamship Commodore which sailed regularly between San Francisco and Victoria, arrived at the meeting. It is said that Nagle came well-prepared to the meeting with maps of Vancouver Island and a letter from “a gentleman in the service of the Hudson’s Bay Company of undoubted veracity” giving details about the colony and inviting the Black community to come to the Colony of Vancouver Island.

The Pioneer Committee arrived in Victoria on April 25, 1858.

This colony is the territory referred to today as “The Mainland” It was named by Queen Victoria, is separate from the Colony of Vancouver Island. It is said that Douglas agreed to sever his ties to the Hudson’s Bay Company when he became Governor of both the Colony of Vancouver Island and the Colony of British Columbia. New Westminster is named as the Capital.

The first pre-empters on Salt Spring from California arrived in the summer of 1859. They included E.A. Booth, Armstead Buckner, William Isaacs, and Fielding Spotts.

Later in the year settlers included Abraham Copeland, Levi Davis, W.L. Harrison, William Isaacs, the Jones brothers (John Craven, William, and Elias), William Robinson, and Hiram Whims. Daniel Fredison, a Black man from Hawaii, also settled on the island.

On this map the Salt Spring Island Archives has documented 26 Black homesteads

This is an excerpt from an editorial published by the Daily Colonist on October 21,1859.

“We have received a circular addressed to all Impartial Men and Lovers of Right. It is issued by the Rev. W.F. Clarke. It appears a serious difference of opinion exists between him and his religious colleague the Rev. M. MacFie, respecting the propriety of mixing, promiscuously, colored with white Christians in church during Divine service.

Both gentlemen were sent here as missionaries by the English Congregational Missionary Society. Mr. Clark holds that Christianity knows no difference between the white and colored man; and therefore he will not suit the prejudices of anyone by creating a “negro’s corner” in his church. As a matter of ‘taste’ Mr. MacFie prefers separating them.”

• The issue was finally settled about 10 months later at a meeting on August 14,1860 when The Colonial Missionary Society, based in England passed a resolution “That this committee never have sanctioned and never will sanction in Churches wholly or in part sustained by the funds of the Colonial Missionary Society, the compulsory separation, in places of worship, of the colored races from the white population.”

On April 12, 1861 President Abraham Lincoln declared war between the Union and Confederate states.

At the start of the war it is estimated there were four million enslaved in 15 states and territories, “owned” by 52,128 slaveholders.
Estimates in some states of enslaved persons: Virginia: 490,865; Maryland: 87,189; Washington: 3,181; Delaware: 1,798; Nebraska: 15; Kansas: 2.

It is also estimated there were about 400,000 free African Americans.

The War ended on April 9, 1865.

In 1861 there was a by-election in Victoria for two vacant seats in the Legislative Assembly.

On November 15, 1861 Jacob Francis was nominated by James Thorne and J.D. Carroll as a candidate.
One other nominee, Joseph Trutch who was not in the colony at the time; and an objection to his nomination was raised on the grounds that he was not present to swear the oath of allegiance required of all candidates. Nevertheless, his nomination was accepted.

There were four candidates for the two vacant seats and the results of the voting were: Trimble – 38, Trutch – 36, Francis – 11, and Young – 4.  Trimble and Trutch were sworn into office.

Despite Francis’ 3rd place, there was public debate and support for Francis’ claim to the seat because of Trutch’s earlier absence. Francis’s petition failed; Trutch’s election stood.

Jacob Francis fought discrimination by suing two bar owners who refused to serve him. He was not successful in April 1860, but in July 1862 the outcome of his second case affected liquor service establishments and practices generally.

Gazette, April 23, 1860. “Refusing Drinks to Colored Men – Jacob Francis vs. Milotich”. In this case involving the refusal of Milotich to serve Jacob Francis a drink, Judge Cameron classified the saloon as an inn and ruled that since Mr. Francis was not a guest, he was not entitled to be served. Therefore, “no injuries were sustained” by Francis nor could “damages be given”.

Colonist, June 26, 1862. “Wouldn’t Let Him Drink”. Notice is given that Jacob Francis had a summons served on the proprietor of the Bank Exchange, Mr. Lovett, who refused to give Francis a drink in his saloon. Evidence is heard in court over the next few weeks.

Colonist, July 5, 1862. “Shall a Colored Man Drink at a White Man’s Bar” In the conclusion of the case Francis v. Lovett, the magistrate ruled that any barkeeper refusing service to Black men would not be given a license or would be find five pounds sterling and their license would not be renewed.

On January 1, 1863, the Emancipation Proclamation issued by U.S. President Abraham Lincoln went into effect, however it did not abolish slavery. The Proclamation, written the previous September, declared free all enslaved people in the Confederate States (or portions of those states) who resided in territory still in rebellion against the United States. As the Union Army captured more Confederate territory it would also liberate enslaved people living in that territory.

It was only through the Thirteenth Amendment that emancipation/abolishment of slavery in the United States become national policy. It was passed by the US Senate on April 8, 1864, and by the House on January 31, 1865.