We the Free Blacks of New Brunswick
Courtesy of Provincial Archives of New Brunswick, F1037, March 18, 1790
Three of the Free Blacks who signed this petition on March 18, 1790 were Bob Stafford (denied land in Maugerville in 1783), as well as Samuel Wright and Nathaniel Ladd (denied land in Kingsclear in 1791):
Transcription:
We the Free Blacks of the Province of New Brunswick having receiv’d information by a Letter from the Reverend Mr Joshua Weeks; directed to the free Black’s of Brinley Town in Nova Scotia That Charitable Collections have been made in England for the purposes of erecting and supporting free Schools, where the Children of free Blacks may be instructed without expence, in Learning and Religion — Being filled with gratitude to the said Charitable society, and sensible of the great Blessings and benefits we shall experience by being brought from a state of Ignorance and darkness, to an enlighten’d understanding and a rectified Heart Do hereby solemnly and sacredly, bind ourselves each to the other; that we will to the best of our knowledge and Abilities strictly Adhere to the Rules and Regulations of the Episcopal Church of England as Establis’d by Law That as Christians we will be quiet and chaste in our demeanor; Peacable and Obedient to the ruling powers; and submissive to all the dispensations of Providence
And whereas we are sensible that it wou’d be to Our Advantage if our Affairs were to be transacted by One Person Nominated and Appointed to Act for and in behalf of the whole of us; in all matters both Civil and Religious — We do by these Presents Nominate and Appoint Thomas Peters, to be our Attorney for the Purposes aforesaid and do hereby Promise and engage to abide by, hold for firm and Effectual, and ratify all and whatsoever the said Thomas Peters shall for us and in our behalf do in the Premises by Virtue hereof
In Witness we have hereunto subscribed our names
Simon X Adam
Willm X Solly
Cato X Charles
Josh X Willmot
Henry X Smunna
Saml X Carter
Antey X Stevenson
Stepn X Saunders
Willm X Taylor
Willm X Waterbury
Natl X Lad
Toney X Lingar
John X Brown
Saml X Wright
Robt X Stafford