Refugee Home Society facts for kids
The Refugee Home Society was a group started in 1851. It was founded in Michigan, USA, and Ontario, Canada. Its main goal was to help people who had escaped slavery. The society helped them build new lives and stay free. They offered land at good prices, education, and a safe community. By 1861, their settlement had three churches. It was about 20 miles from Windsor, Ontario, which is near the border with the United States.
Why People Came to Canada
Many formerly enslaved people sought freedom in Canada. Events like the War of 1812 and a visit by Levi Coffin in 1844 encouraged them. They came in large numbers to places like Amherstburg, Ontario, Windsor, and Sandwich, Ontario by 1822. These brave individuals wanted to farm land and create successful lives.
This led to the creation of many settlements for African American refugees. Some of these included Anderdon, Dawn, Dresden, Elgin, Elmstead, Gosfield, Harrow, Ontario, New Canaan, Ontario, Puce, Ontario, and the Refugee Home Society Settlement.
Building the Settlement
The idea for the Refugee Home Society Settlement came from Henry Bibb. He was the founder of a newspaper called Voice of the Fugitive. The American Missionary Association supported his plan. Henry and Mary E. Bibb were in charge of running the society.
The Refugee Home Society Settlement officially began in 1851. It received support from people who wanted to end slavery in Michigan and Ontario. The money they collected was used to buy 2,000 acres of land. This land was located in Maidstone and Sandwich Township.
The society sold plots of land to settlers at affordable prices. They also provided important supplies, tools, and training. Being 20 miles from Windsor helped protect settlers from slave hunters. Mary Bibb also started a school for the children in the community.
One family who settled there was John and Jane Walls. John had been enslaved. Jane was the wife of his former slaveholder. They left North Carolina with her children to live freely as a married couple. They built a farm in the settlement.
By 1861, the community had grown. There were three churches: African Methodist Episcopal Zion, Baptist, and British Methodist Episcopal. A school was also built for the 60 families living there. Mr. Wheeler from Oberlin College taught at this school. Today, this settlement is part of the John Freeman Walls Historic Site and Underground Railroad Museum.
Why the Society Ended
The Refugee Home Society stopped operating in 1864. Some families moved to Haiti, while others went to different parts of Canada. The American Missionary Association also stopped supporting the society.
The society likely failed because of its strict rules about land. These rules unfortunately kept out many people who could have been good settlers. Also, the leaders within the settlement faced problems, which hurt its reputation. Despite these issues, the society still helped thousands of refugees find freedom.
See also
- Lakeshore, Ontario § History
- List of Underground Railroad sites
