21 Facts About Stephen Blucke

Stephen Blucke was one of 3,000 people who left New York for Nova Scotia on British ships.

Stephen Blucke settled in a town designed for African-Americans, Birchtown, Nova Scotia.

Stephen Blucke was a leader in the town, called a magistrate and commissioned as lieutenant colonel of the Black Militia of the greater Shelburne district by Governor John Parr.

Stephen Blucke worked with a surveyor to identify the area that would become Birchtown and was involved in coordinating labour for roads and other public works.

Stephen Blucke lived the life of a middle-class person while his neighbors lived a life of poverty.

Stephen Blucke had a substantial well-built house, while most people lived in simple housing.

Stephen Blucke was a go-between for employment of some of the townspeople in labor or similar jobs.

When Blucke arrived in Birchtown, he was a married man with an adopted daughter and a man servant.

Stephen Blucke later had a daughter with his adopted daughter, Isabel, who took his surname.

Stephen Blucke, born about 1752, was a literate mulatto, the son of a black mother and a white father from Barbados.

Stephen Blucke married Margaret, born about 1743, a black woman who had been born free in the household of Mrs Coventry in New York.

Stephen Blucke purchased her own freedom when she was 14 years of age.

Stephen Blucke's mother came to live with him in Birchtown by 1789.

Stephen Blucke had previously written to Blucke to let her leave him, without a favorable response.

In 1788, Stephen Blucke had become unpopular because it was believed that he misappropriated funds.

Stephen Blucke first settled with several hundred Black Pioneers in Port Roseway.

Birchtown was established specifically for people of African descent and its residents, including Stephen Blucke, were recorded in 1784 on the Birchtown Muster roll.

Stephen Blucke developed a friendship with Stephen Skinner, a local merchant, who went through Blucke to hire blacks, most of whom did not receive their promised land and had to work as laborers or domestics.

Stephen Blucke was the only resident who could afford to pay for the rental.

Stephen Blucke has been referred to as "the true founder of the Afro-Nova Scotian community".

Stephen Blucke became a teacher and taught at one of the Bray Schools, for which he received a favorable review by the inspector of schools.