The Shelburne Riots

 





David George, a popular black Baptist preacher, became a lightning rod for racist anger. He had founded a Baptist church in Shelburne and attracted many followers, both black and white. 

On the night of July 25, the riot began as a large group of white men attacked David George and the Black Loyalists in Shelburne.

George's home and 20 other homes were destroyed in the first night of rioting. Many Blacks fled to Birchtown for safety. George stayed and continued to preach in Shelburne but at his next service a number of white rioters stormed into the church and threatened him. The next day they attacked him, beating him with sticks until he escaped into swampy area outside of Shelburne. 

The next day the rioters attacked the house of Benjamin Marston, a Loyalist land agent, despite the fact he sympathized with them. He escaped to the military barracks across the harbor and boarded for Halifax, shortly before rioters arrived at the barracks reportedly intent on hanging him. 

Attacks by rioters continued in town for ten days, targeting some white Loyalists. However, they were wealthy enough to hire armed guards to protect them. 

Attacks continued, as rioters made incursions against the Black settlement at Birchtown.  Black Loyalists, many of whom were also army veterans, organized into militia companies. Initially they could defend themselves but were unable to quell the continuing violence. Attacks on Blacks traveling along the road between Birchtown and Shelburne for work and supplies continued for a month.

The mob was stopped by the arrival of troops from the 17th Regiment of Foot, later assisted by crew of a frigate. 

Dozens of homes, mostly of Black Loyalists, had been destroyed in the riots while others were looted. An unknown number of people were injured. No deaths were recorded. Most rioters wounded and threatened their targets; few owned firearms. Free Blacks had essentially been driven out of the town of Shelburne, firmly establishing it as a segregated white community, aside from Black slaves and indentured servants. Black Loyalists were forced to seek a livelihood in the poor lands and overcrowded settlement of Birchtown.

The Governor of Nova Scotia, John Parr, traveled to Shelburne on August 23 to attempt to settle the disputes and delays in land grants. Parr blamed the riot on delays in awarding land. He blamed Marston, calling him "a shark trying to prey on helpless settlers". Marston was dismissed from his post. None of the rioters who attacked the Black Loyalists was brought to justice

At the very end, David George was fed up with up with Canada. In 1791, he emigrated to Sierra Leone, the continent where his ancestors had come from.

 

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