Willow Grove is a settlement in New Brunswick , Canada, that was founded in 1815 or 1817 by Black refugees from the United States. It is located in Simonds Parish in Saint John County .
5-545: Black Settlement Burial Site , is a cemetery in Willow Grove , near Saint John , New Brunswick , Canada. It is located uphill from Saint John harbour , and has a view of nearby market and the harbour. The cemetery was founded in 1831, and is the resting place for many American Black loyalists and Black refugees who left the US for Saint John during the War of 1812 . Around the same time,
10-625: The British in the War of 1812 . Alexander Cochrane , the commander in chief of the Royal Navy in North America stated in 1814 that "All those who may be disposed to emigrate from the United States will, with their families, be received on board of His Majesty's ships or vessels of war, or at the military posts that may be established, upon or near the coast of the United States." The Government of
15-624: The United Kingdom's initial plans to provide land to Black loyalists was thwarted by the Government of Nova Scotia , who did not want more Black residents. The UK government next sought support from the Government of New Brunswick . New Brunswick Administrator Major General Stracey Smyth brought the matter to the Executive Council, and "Although the Council agreed by a vote of 3 to 2 to accept
20-557: The location also housed a church and a school for the Black community. A replica church was constructed in 2024. There are no grave markers in the cemetery. The cemetery was refurbished in 2015. The cemetery featured in Anna Minerva Henderson's sonnet The Old Burying Ground. Willow Grove, New Brunswick The majority of residents of Willow Grove were freed American slaves who were granted freedom in exchange for fighting for
25-517: The refugees, the New Brunswick government was very reluctant to assume any responsibility for their welfare." Thousands of loyalists were accepted, of which 371 went to Willow Grove, having been promised fertile land for farming. The 50 acre plots given to the Black residents less than the 100 acre plots given to white arrivals from the US and the land in Willow Grove was not fertile. Willow Grove
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