Otterville in Oxford County, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)
Black Settlement in Norwich Township
Photographed By Tim Boyd, June 28, 2024
1. Black Settlement in Norwich Township Marker
Inscription.
Black Settlement in Norwich Township. . About 1829 Blacks began settling in Norwich Township. Within several years their number exceeded 100 and a school, aided by the Canada Mission, was established on Lot 15. Concession 7. It became S.S. 18, prospering until the late 1850s. In 1856 Isaac Gray, Isaac Durphy and Lindsey Anderson, Trustees of the African (later British) Methodist Episcopal Church, purchased this site on which a frame church, with Anderson as first preacher, was built. Though the Black population in Norwich Township declined during the 1880s, services and large camp meetings were held at the church until the early 1900s.
About 1829 Blacks began settling in Norwich Township. Within several years their number exceeded 100 and a school, aided by the Canada Mission, was established on Lot 15. Concession 7. It became S.S. 18, prospering until the late 1850s. In 1856 Isaac Gray, Isaac Durphy and Lindsey Anderson, Trustees of the African (later British) Methodist Episcopal Church, purchased this site on which a frame church, with Anderson as first preacher, was built. Though the Black population in Norwich Township declined during the 1880s, services and large camp meetings were held at the church until the early 1900s.
Location. 42° 55.892′ N, 80° 36.499′ W. Marker is in Otterville, Ontario, in Oxford County. Marker is on Pick Line, 0.6 kilometers north of Main Street West, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 732666 Pick Line, Otterville ON N0J N0J, Canada. Touch for directions.
3. Candles marking the location of graves in the cemetery
Credits. This page was last revised on July 1, 2024. It was originally submitted on June 30, 2024, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. This page has been viewed 37 times since then. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on June 30, 2024, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
