London’s role as refuge for southern slave owners exposed in book
Some of London, Ont.’s founding families are buried just feet from fugitive slave owners who fled their plantations.
“The headstones are over here,” says author and former newspaper reporter Brian “Chip” Martin as he recounts the difficult truths contained within an area of Woodland Cemetery dubbed Millionaire’s Row.
“He was a member of South Carolina’s legislature that voted [to] secede which helped start the war,” he explains pointing to a grave stone among the Manigault and Mazyck family plot.
Martin then takes a couple steps to Gabriel Manigault’s five-foot tall headstone, saying, “He was also a member of the South Carolina legislature. They owned a plantation, they owned slaves.”
The slave owners are buried just feet from the plots of some of London’s founding families including the Labatt family monument and the Harris family, of Eldon House and Harris Park.
“It’s discouraging to me that they may have been so readily accepted, and the fact they are lying here alongside the most prominent people of their day suggests that they were accepted in London,” says Martin.
The grave of Edward Mazyck is seen in London, Ont.'s Woodland Cemetery on Oct. 4, 2022. (Daryl Newcombe/CTV News London)
The Manigault and Mazyck grave markers show they were born in Charleston, South Carolina.
Research revealed that the prosperous and powerful family left their rice plantation and members gradually made their way to London after slavery was abolished.
Martin suggests his findings reveal a fuller picture of Canada’s complex history as a refuge for people escaping slavery, and as a safe haven for some slave owners.
“The most important thing to me is to open some eyes to the things, people, and places around us that played a role at a very important time in our history,” he adds.
A conversation with local historian Joe O’Neil about the graves launched Martin on a two-year journey investigating and writing his latest book.
It delves not just into the plantation owners’ final resting place, but how they lived their lives among Londoners.
It was discovered that Gabriel Manigault wrote two books steeped in racism during his time here, making it unlikely he was hiding from his past.
A records search found that some of their homes still stand in the Old North neighbourhood.
According to Martin, other southerners also found refuge in London.
Brian "Chip" Martin's new book 'From Underground Railroad to Rebel Refuge— Canada and the Civil War' exposes the role multiple cities, including London, Ont., had as a refuge for southern slave owners. (Daryl Newcombe/CTV News London)
A doctor from South Carolina lived on Piccadilly Street in the 1870s and had a practice on Dundas Street.
“He’d been an organizer of the Ku Klux Klan and he was wanted for murder and terrorism. There was an international incident involving him,” explains Martin. “The place he lived at in London is now a book shop.”
Oxford Books was surprised to hear from Martin about their connection to a book that will soon be for sale on their shelves.
Martin’s upcoming book, From Underground Railroad to Rebel Refuge — Canada and the Civil War exposes many connections in communities across Canada, including London.
It goes on sale in book stores later this month, and is available for pre-order online from Amazon and other book retailing websites.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Most of Canada to receive emergency alert test today
The federal government will test its capacity to issue emergency alerts today, with the exception of Ontario, where the test will take place on May 15.
OPINION What King Charles' schedule being too 'full' to accommodate son suggests about relationship with Prince Harry
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has made headlines with his recent arrival in the U.K., this time to celebrate all things Invictus. But upon the prince landing in the U.K., we have already had confirmation that King Charles III won't have time to see his youngest son during his brief visit.
Ontario man devastated to learn $150,000 line of credit isn't insured after wife dies
An Ontario man found out that a line of credit he thought was insured actually isn't after his wife of 50 years died.
Boy Scouts of America is rebranding. Here's why they're now named Scouting America
After more than a century, Boy Scouts of America is rebranding as Scouting America, another major shakeup for an organization that once proudly resisted change.
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
With Donald Trump sitting just feet away, Stormy Daniels testified Tuesday at the former president's hush money trial about a sexual encounter the porn actor says they had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
Rape, terror and death at sea: How a boat carrying Rohingya children, women and men capsized
In March, Indonesian officials and local fishermen rescued 75 people from the overturned hull of a boat off the coast of Indonesia. Until now, little was known about why the boat capsized.
'A huge difference': These adults born in the '90s partnered with their parents to buy homes in Ontario
An Ontario woman said it would have been impossible to buy a house without her mother – an anecdote that animates the fact that over 17 per cent of Canadian homeowners born in the ‘90s own their property with their parents, according to a new report.
For their protection, immigrants critical of China and India call for speedy passage of Canada's foreign interference legislation
Canadian immigrants threatened by hostile regimes are urging parliamentarians to quickly pass the 'Countering Foreign Interference Act' so they can feel safe living in their adopted home.
How Drake and Kendrick Lamar's rap beef escalated within weeks
A long-simmering feud between hip-hop superstars Drake and Kendrick Lamar reached a boiling point in recent days as the pair traded increasingly personal insults on a succession of diss tracks. Here’s a quick overview of what’s behind the ongoing beef.