Near Niagara-on-the-Lake in Niagara Region, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

Chloe Cooley and the 1793 Act to Limit Slavery in Upper Canada

Chloe Cooley Et La Loi De 1793 Visant À Restreindre L'Esclavage Dans Le Haut-Canada

Photographed by Dale K. Benington, June 11, 2012

1. Chloe Cooley and the 1793 Act to Limit Slavery in Upper Canada Marker

View of the English text side of the historical marker.

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

On March 14, 1793 Chloe Cooley, an enslaved Black woman in Queenston, was bound, thrown in a boat and sold across the river to a new owner in the United States. Her screams and violent resistance were brought to the attention of Lieutenant Governor John Graves Simcoe by Peter Martin, a free Black and former soldier in Butler's Rangers, and William Grisley, a neighbour who witnessed the event. Simcoe immediately moved to abolish slavery in the new province. He was met with opposition in the House of Assembly, some of whose members owned slaves. A compromise was reached and on July 9, 1793 an Act was passed that prevented the further introduction of slaves into Upper Canada and allowed for the gradual abolition of slavery although no slaves already residing in the province were freed outright. It was the first piece of legislation in the British Empire to limit slavery and set the stage for the great freedom movement of enslaved African Americans known as the Underground Railroad.

Le 14 mars 1793, Chloe Cooley, une esclave noire de Queenston, fut enchaînée, jetée dans un bateau et vendue à son nouveau

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propriétaire de l'autre côté du fleuve, aux États-Unis. Ses cris et sa résistance acharnée furent portés à la connaissance du lieutenant-gouverneur John Graves Simcoe par Peter Martin, un Noir libre, ancien soldat des Butler's Rangers, et William Grisley, un voisin qui avait été témoin de l'incident. M. Simcoe entreprit immédiatement d'abolir l'esclavage dans la nouvelle province. Il fut confronté à une vive opposition à la Chambre d'assemblée, dont certains membres possédaient des esclaves. Un compromis fut trouvé et, le 9 juillet 1793, une loi fut votée, qui interdisait l'introduction de nouveaux esclaves dans le Haut-Canada et autorisait l'abolition progressive de l'esclavage. Cependent, aucun esclave habitant déjà la province ne fut immédiatement affranchi. Cette loi était la première de l'Empire britannique à limiter l'esclavage et elle a planté le décor du grand mouvement de libération des esclaves afro- américains, connu sous le nom de chemin de fer clandestin.

Erected by Ontario Heritage Trust, an agency of the Government of Ontario.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Abolition & Underground RR • African Americans • Civil Rights. In addition, it is included in the Canada, Ontario Heritage Trust series list. A significant historical date for this entry is March 14, 1793.

Location.

Photographed by Dale K. Benington, June 11, 2012

2. Chloe Cooley and the 1793 Act to Limit Slavery in Upper Canada Marker

View of the French text side of the historical marker.

43° 11.164′ N, 79° 3.476′ W. Marker is near Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, in Niagara Region. It is on Niagara River Parkway 0.1 kilometers south of Line 6 Rd, on the right when traveling north. Marker is on the east side (the river side) of Niagara River Parkway, 3 km north of York Road (Road 81) in Queenston. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 14940 Niagara River Parkway, Niagara-on-the-Lake ON L0S 1J0, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on Ontario’s Golden Horseshoe

and in Niagara Canada.

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 2 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Brown's Point (approx. 0.9 kilometers away); Vrooman's Battery (approx. 0.9 kilometers away); a different marker also named Brown's Point (approx. 1.3 kilometers away); Freedom Crossing Monument (approx. 1.6 kilometers away in the U.S.); a different marker also named Freedom Crossing Monument (approx. 1.6 kilometers away in the U.S.); The Battle of Queenston Heights (approx. 1.6 kilometers away in the U.S.); a different marker also named The Battle of Queenston Heights (approx. 1.6 kilometers away in the U.S.); Barton House (approx. 1.8 kilometers away in the U.S.). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

Regarding Chloe Cooley and the 1793 Act to Limit Slavery in Upper Canada. The anti-slavery law that resulted from this incident did not benefit Miss Cooley herself; she was taken to the American side of the

Photographed by Dale K. Benington, June 11, 2012

3. Chloe Cooley and the 1793 Act to Limit Slavery in Upper Canada Marker

View of the historical marker looking south along the Niagara River where the Chloe Cooley incident took place.

river, and continued her life of slavery.

Also see . . .
1. Chloe Cooley. This is a link to information provided by the Black History Canada website. (Submitted on June 18, 2013, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio.)

2. Chloe Cooley Incident. This is a link to information provided by the rabblepedia website. (Submitted on June 18, 2013, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio.)

3. Chloe Cooley and the 1793 Act to Limit Slavery in Upper Canada. This is a link to information provided by The Ontario Heritage Trust. (Submitted on June 18, 2013, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio.)

4. Act Against Slavery. This is a link to information provided by Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. (Submitted on June 18, 2013, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio.)

5. Upper Canadian Act Against Slavery. This is a link to information provided by Wikisource. (Submitted on June 18, 2013, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio.)

Photographed by Dale K. Benington, June 11, 2012

4. Chloe Cooley and the 1793 Act to Limit Slavery in Upper Canada Marker

View of the historical marker looking south along the Niagara Parkway.

Photographed by Dale K. Benington, June 11, 2012

5. Chloe Cooley and the 1793 Act to Limit Slavery in Upper Canada Marker

View of the historical marker looking north along the Niagara Parkway.

Credits. This page was last revised on October 24, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 18, 2013, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio. This page has been viewed 2,055 times since then and 88 times this year. Last updated on August 30, 2025, by Kevin Westell of St. Catharines, Ontario. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on June 18, 2013, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.