Abstracts
Abstract
Having grown up enslaved in northern Kentucky, Samuel Venerable fled to Ontario in the early nineteenth century, establishing himself in Toronto, then London, before moving to Guelph where he lived out his last thirty years. He faced the same hardships as other refugees to Ontario, yet in many ways he was exceptional. He overcame odds not only to survive, but to live a productive and remarkably long life, and he rose from the lowliest social strata to become a man revered. Despite being illiterate, Venerable left a valuable record for historians. By relying on information recorded during his lifetime, and at the time of his death, this article focusses on Samuel Venerable and those with whom he formed connections to offer a fuller understanding of the successes and struggles faced by some Black Ontarians in the nineteenth century.
Résumé
Ayant grandi en esclavage dans le nord du Kentucky, Samuel Vénérable s’est enfui en Ontario au début du XIXe siècle, s’établissant à Toronto, puis à London, avant de déménager à Guelph où il a vécu ses trente dernières années. Il a dû faire face aux mêmes difficultés que les autres réfugiés en Ontario, mais à bien des égards, il était exceptionnel. Il a surmonté les obstacles non seulement pour survivre, mais aussi pour vivre une vie productive et remarquablement longue, et il est passé des couches sociales les plus basses à un homme vénéré. Bien qu’il soit analphabète, le Vénérable a laissé un témoignage précieux aux historiens. En s’appuyant sur des informations enregistrées de son vivant et au moment de sa mort, cet article se concentre sur Samuel Venerable et sur ceux avec qui il a noué des liens pour offrir une meilleure compréhension des succès et des luttes auxquels ont été confrontés certains Ontariens noirs au XIXe siècle.
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Appendices
Biographical note
Elysia DeLaurentis is a local historian and research consultant based in southwestern Ontario. She has a background in Art History and Folklore, holds a Master’s degree in History, and has worked in the heritage field for many years. Through her business, Oakenwood Research Services, she employs skills and experience gained from years working in archives to uncover the stories behind the people, structures, and events that have shaped Ontario’s history.