OLDEST BLACK SLAVE & LOYALIST
While researching Loyalists in Nova Scotia, I came across this unique obituary for a 106 year old Black Woman who was born into slavery in Tusket, Yarmouth County. It appeared in The Halifax Herald on 2 Feb. 1898 at page 8.
106 YEARS OLD
Death of one born in slavery in Yarmouth County – Her father came Over with Loyalists - And her mother was Purchased Here
(Special Correspondent Yarmouth Times)
TUSKET, Jan. 30 – Passed peacefully away at her own home on Starr's Road on the evening of the 29th January 1893, Hester McKinnon, aged 106 years. Hester was the daughter of William and Dinah Berry from whom sprang the entire race of Berrys at present residing on the back road leading to Hebron. William Berry, Hester's father, was a slave belonging to James Lent, Sr., who was one of the first settlers of Tusket Village and was also known as Judge Lent as he administered the rights of justice in those olden times. Mr. Lent was one of the Loyalists who came here or to Shelburne in the last century and brought with him William Berry his slave. William became discontented and induced Mr. Lent to buy him a wife which he did. Her name was Dinah and he paid 100 pounds for her. Dinah married William Berry and Hester was their daughter. She was born at Tusket in a small log cabin attached to the log house in which Judge Lent lived. Although the Berrys were slaves they were always treated kindly. Hester was a true type of her race; she was kind hearted and lived as she died, a true honest christian woman. She invariably had a kind word for everybody, and being an excellent nurse, her presence in the times of tribulation and sickness was like a magic wand, and as long as God spares our lives we can never forget her bright shining face and genial disposition. She lived to a good old age and in departing leaves behind her footprints in the sands of time.
The burial record of Jeffery Jenkins for the Anglican Parish of Wilmot described him as "coloured, originally a slave, liberated since he came to Nova Scotia with the Loyalists of 1783. He was one hundred years of age." On 4 November 1857, he was buried in the cemetery at Old Holy Trinity Church in Middleton. This is referred to at page 78 in my book The First Church, Old Holy Trinity at Middleton, Nova Scotia.
Further Reading:
Wilmot, Nova Scotia & Black Loyalists by Brian McConnell, UE
The First Church, Old Holy Trinity in Middleton, Nova Scotia by Brian McConnell, UE
