Names of Black loyalists

23-27 April 1783 Ship Lady’s Adventure bound for St. John’s [Saint John, New Brunswick]: Captain Robert Gibson

James Watson, 30, stout man, 35 (Cornet Nicholson, KAD). Formerly the property of Mr. Colb [Abel Kolb] at Cheerwas [Cheraw], South Carolina, General Birch’s Certificate. (Granted land in Carleton, NB. See list book.)

John Frederick, 21 1/2, stout, (Trumpeter, KAD). Free by General Birch’s Certificate; formerly the property of Lord Baltimore who gave him his freedom. (Granted land in Carleton, NB. See list book.)

Joseph Williams, 23, stout, (Pioneer, KAD). General Birch’s Certificate Proclamation. Free, formerly the property of John Walker, North Carolina. (Granted land in Carleton, NB. See list book.)

25 June 1783 Sloop 3 Friends bound for River St. John’s [Saint John, New Brunswick]: John Stewart, Master

Tom Gunn, 43, stout, pock marked, (Sam Wilson). Formerly slave to Enos Gunn of Waterbury, Connecticut. (A Henry Guin is granted land in Carleton, NB. See list book.)

Richard Merrick, 32, stout likely fellow, (Sam Wilson). Formerly slave to Samuel Merrick of Springfield, Massachusetts, who gave him his freedom & produced a Certificate dated 4 November 74, signed by Merrick, Philips & Dr. White. (Granted land in Carleton, NB. See list book.)

Elizabeth Merrick, 27, stout wench, M, (Luther Hatheway). Born free; served her time with Lambert Woodward of Newtown, Long Island [New York]. (presumably Richard’s wife) (Her name is not on grant list)

William Johnson, 21, stout likely fellow, (Lt. Richard Holland). Formerly slave to John Chapman of Princess Ann County, Virginia; left him 4 years. (Granted land in Carleton, NB. See list book.)

8 July 1783 Montague bound for River St. John’s [Saint John, New Brunswick]: Robert Wilson

John Potter, 25, stout fellow, (Tim Whitmore). Formerly slave to Robert Potter of Rhode Island; left him 5 years ago. GBC. (Granted land in Carleton, NB. See list book.)

31 July 1783 Clinton bound for Annapolis [Royal, Nova Scotia] & St. John’s [Saint John, New Brunswick]: Lt. Trounce

Samuel Hutchins, 26, stout fellow. Formerly the property of William Harden, Indian Land, South Carolina; left him 8 years ago. (Granted land in Carleton, NB. See list book.)

Ben Elliot, 69, ordinary fellow. Formerly the property of Joseph Elliot, Savannah, Georgia; left him 2 years ago. (Granted land in Carleton, NB. See list book.)

John Cox, 31, stout fellow. Formerly the property of Eleazer Goddin, Maroneck, New York; left him 7 years ago. (A Jacob Cox was granted land in Carleton, NB. See list book.)

Andrew Cole, 26, stout fellow. Formerly the property of Ben Cole, Marroneck, New York; left him 4 years ago. (Granted land in Carleton, NB. See list book.)

Richard Henry, 23, stout fellow. Formerly the property of John Broden, Eastern Shore, Virginia; left him 5 years ago. (Granted land in Carleton, NB. See list book.)

Samuel Sampson, 20, stout fellow. Formerly the property of Edward Welch, Charlestown, South Carolina; left him 4 years ago. (Granted land in Carleton, NB. See list book.)

Chressy Wait, 16, stout wench. Formerly the property of Israel Wait [Waite; Waight], John’s Island, South Carolina; left him 5 years ago. (A Kesey Corankapoon is granted land in Carleton, NB, See list book)

Richard Wheeler, 30, stout man. Purchased his freedom from Caleb Wheeler, New Jersey; left him 7 years ago. (Granted land in Carleton, NB. See list book.) (He reverts to Corankapoon* before leaving for Sierra Leone) (*as spelled in Carleton grantee list)

Henry Van Ryper, 34, stout man. Formerly the property of Abraham VanRyper of Acquackanung; left him 5 years ago. (Granted land in Carleton, NB. See list book.)

Abraham Smith, 35, stout man. Formerly the property of John Jones of Philadelphia [Pennsylvania]; left him 5 years ago. (Granted land in Carleton, NB. See list book.)

John Francis, 30, stout man. Formerly the property of Daniel Birch, Newark, New Jersey; left him 3 years ago. (Granted land in Carleton, NB. See list book.)

Jenny Francis, 36, stout wench with 3 children, 5, 4, & 1 1/2 years of age. Formerly the property of Daniel Birch, Newark, New Jersey; left him 3 years ago. (presumably she is John’s wife) (Her name is not on grant list)

John Strong, 25, tall thin man. Formerly the property of Col. Kindle, Cherrystone, Virginia; left him 5 years ago. (Granted land in Carleton, NB. See list book.)

John Smith, 27, stout fellow. Formerly the property of William Kirkham of New Cumberland, Virginia; left him 7 years ago. (granted land in Carleton, NB See list book.)

Randel [Randall] Stewart, 45, stout fellow. Formerly the property of Andrew Stewart of Norfolk, Virginia; left him 5 years ago. (Granted land in Carleton, NB. See list book.)

Samuel Thomas, 24, stout fellow. Formerly the property of Lewis Cakrean [sic] of Montreal, [Quebec], Canada; left him 6 years ago. (Granted land in Carleton, NB. See list book.)

Thomas Malby, 35, stout fellow. Formerly the property of John Cockburn of Philadelphia [Pennsylvania]; left him 5 years ago. fgranted land in Carleton, NB. See list book.)

Philip Woodley, 36, stout fellow. Free by certificate from Samuel Schumaker, late of Philadelphia. (a Philip Woods was granted land in Carleton, NB. See list book.)

Robert Smallwood, 42, stout fellow. Formerly the property of Robert Ruffean, King William County, Virginia; left him 7 years ago. (Granted land in Carleton, NB. See list book.)

Frank Marshal, 33, stout fellow. Formerly the property of Abraham Odell of Philips Manor [New York]; left him 6 years ago. (Granted land Carleton, NB. See list book.)

Daniel Stewart, 16, fine boy. Formerly the property of Andrew Stuart of Norfolk, Virginia; left him 5 years ago. (Granted land in Carleton, NB. See list book.)

James Hogwood, 27, stout fellow. Formerly the property of Simon Hogwood, Norfolk, Virginia; left him 4 years ago. (Granted land in Carleton, NB. See list book.)

Casar [Caesar] Kingsland, 16, fine boy. Formerly the property of John Seep, Aquackanung, New Jersey, left him 4 years ago. (Granted land in Carleton, NB See list book.)

James Richards, 20, stout fellow. Formerly the property of John Richards, Barbadoes Neck [New Jersey]; left him 7 years ago. (Granted land in Carleton, NB. See list book.)

William Homes [Holmes?], 26, stout fellow. Formerly the property of Robert Morris of Philadelphia [Pennsylvania]; left him 5 years ago. (granted land in Carleton, NB. See list book.)

Nathaniel Wandry, 23, stout fellow. Formerly the property of James Stewart, Newcastle, Pennsylvania; left him 5 years ago. (Wansey granted land in Carleton, NB. See list book.)

John Savage, 31, stout fellow, M. Born free, served until 21 years of age with Henry James, Virginia. (granted land in Carleton, NB. See list book.)

13 September 1783 ‘Sovereign’ bound for St. John’s [Saint John, New Brunswick]: Stewart

John Brown, 25, stout fellow, M, (Capt. McGill). Appears to be free. /granted land in Carleton, NB. See list book.]

It is interesting to note that the Black Loyalists who settled together (in Nova Scotia in 1783) (New Brunswick after 1784) had travelled together to the mouth of the St. John River. Did they strike up friendships while on board their various evacuation vessels or had they known each other in New York City before their voyages to (today’s) Saint John? Many of them may have escaped slavery together as they sought freedom with the British.