Buxton in Context

Lest anyone think that Buxton is the "usual" example of a planned black settlement, I would like to relate the following:

In Ontario, there were other such settlements, but they were earlier. There were also similar settlement attempts in the United States in the 19th century.

In Ontario, there were also the Wilberforce and Dawn settlements. Wilberforce was established with the aid of Quakers, who bought land in Canada for a safe haven for blacks struggling in Cincinnati under Ohio's 1829 Black Code - a requirement to post $500 bond for residence and a certificate of freedom. In 1829-1830, about 300 to 500 blacks left Cincinnati to join Wilberforce. The settlement struggled from lack of adequate financing, and came to an end around 1850. The Dawn Settlement also had Quaker interest in its set up. A school known as the British-American School, was established there in 1842 with 12 students. Shortly after, the community grew around that institution. But the settlement's debts, which rose to nearly $5000, plus bad financial management, brought Dawn to an unhappy end as well.

What makes Buxton unusual is the degree of success that the community had. The factors that have led to this success have been touched on by various historians. It appears that proper financial management in the setting up of the community was a key matter. So too was the lack of success of a segment of Chatham's racist population, who tried to prevent the settlement from taking root. For me, the mark of success of this community is that today, descendants remain in Buxton farming the very same land their ancestors cleared and cultivated - before the end of slavery in the American South.