Otterville in Oxford County, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

Black Settlement in Norwich Township

Photographed by Tim Boyd, June 28, 2024

1. Black Settlement in Norwich Township Marker

Inscription. About 1829 Blacks began settling in Norwich Township. Within several years their number exceeded 100 and a school, aided by the Canada Mission, was established on Lot 15. Concession 7. It became S.S. 18, prospering until the late 1850s. In 1856 Isaac Gray, Isaac Durphy and Lindsey Anderson, Trustees of the African (later British) Methodist Episcopal Church, purchased this site on which a frame church, with Anderson as first preacher, was built. Though the Black population in Norwich Township declined during the 1880s, services and large camp meetings were held at the church until the early 1900s.

Erected by South Norwich Historical Society.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Education • Religion & Religious Structures • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1829.

Location. 42° 55.892′ N, 80° 36.499′ W. Marker is in Otterville, Ontario, in Oxford County. It is on Pick Line 0.6 kilometers north of Main Street West, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 732666 Pick Line, Otterville ON N0J N0J, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Southwest Ontario Area

and in Southwestern Ontario.

It is also in Central Canada.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony,

the Viceroyalty of New France,

the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

and Rupert’s Land.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 8 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Otterville African Methodist Episcopal Church and Cemetery (here, next to this marker);

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The War of 1812 (approx. 0.6 kilometers away); Harold Adam Innis 1894-1952 (approx. 4.1 kilometers away); The Establishment of Free Rural Mail Delivery (approx. 5.6 kilometers away); Emily Howard Jennings Stowe, M.D. 1831-1903 / Emily Howard Jennings Stowe, Médicin 1831-1903 (approx. 7.1 kilometers away); The “Old Brick” Meetinghouse (approx. 7.7 kilometers away); The First Commercial Cheese Factory in Canada (approx. 7.7 kilometers away); Quaker Street Public School (approx. 7.7 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Otterville.

Photographed by Tim Boyd, June 28, 2024

2. Black Settlement in Norwich Township Marker

Candles marking the location of graves in the cemetery image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim Boyd, June 28, 2024

3. Candles marking the location of graves in the cemetery

Credits. This page was last revised on July 1, 2024. It was originally submitted on June 30, 2024, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. This page has been viewed 245 times since then and 24 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 30, 2024, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.