Fergus in Centre Wellington in Wellington County, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

Richard Pierpoint

(ca. 1744 - ca. 1838)

Photographed by Tim Boyd, September 25, 2026

1. Richard Pierpoint Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Born in Bundu, now in Senegal, Richard Pierpoint was captured, forcibly transported to the Thirteen Colonies, and sold into slavery around 1760. He fought as a free man with Butler's Rangers, a loyalist unit, during the American Revolution and settled in Niagara, joining other Black free men in trying to secure land separate from white settlers. During the War of 1812, he contributed to the creation of the Colored Corps. After the war he requested passage to West Africa, but was instead given a parcel of land near here. A gifted storyteller, Pierpoint was a respected leader and advocate for the Black community.

Né au Boundou (aujourd hu au Sénégal), Pierpoint est capturé, transporté vers les Treize colonies américaines et soumis à l'esclavage vers 1760. Lors de la guerre d'Indépendance américaine, il combat en tant qu'homme libre avec L'unité loyaliste des Rangers de Butler. Us installe dans le Niagara puis tente d'obtenir avec d'autres colons noirs libres des terres séparées de celles des colons blancs. Il contribue à la création du Colored Corps pendant la guerre de 1812. Après le conflit, il demande son retour

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en Afrique de l'Ouest, mais reçoit un lot de terre près d'ici. Conteur talentueux, il est un leader et défenseur de la communauté noire.

Erected by Historic Sites and Monuments Board Monuments Board of Canada.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Settlements & Settlers • War of 1812. In addition, it is included in the Canada, Historic Sites and Monuments Board series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1760.

Location. 43° 42.941′ N, 80° 21.328′ W. Marker is in Centre Wellington, Ontario, in Wellington County. It is in Fergus. It is at the intersection of Anderson Street South and Lamont Street, on the right when traveling south on Anderson Street South. The marker is at the entrance to the Pierpoint Fly Fishing Nature Reserve. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 449 Anderson Street S, Centre Wellington ON N1M 1Z8, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Huron-Perth-Waterloo-Wellington Area

and in Southwestern Ontario.

It is also in Central Canada.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western

Photographed by Tim Boyd, September 35/2026

2. Richard Pierpoint Marker

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 3 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Richard Pierpoint: Life and Legacy (within shouting distance of this marker); Fergus Swimming Pool (approx. 2 kilometers away); St. David Street Bridge (approx. 2.1 kilometers away); The Founders of Fergus (approx. 2.2 kilometers away); Templin Gardens (approx. 2.2 kilometers away); 212 St. Andrew Street W (approx. 2.2 kilometers away); Weigh Scale Building (approx. 2.2 kilometers away); The Fergus Curling Club / Club de Curling de Fergus (approx. 2.3 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Centre Wellington.

Also see . . . The Coloured Corps: Black Canadians and the War of 1812.

Created in Upper Canada, where enslavement had been limited in 1793, the corps was composed of free and enslaved Black men. Many were veterans of the American Revolution, in which they fought for
Photographed by Tim Boyd, September 25, 2026

3. Richard Pierpoint Marker
the British (see Black Loyalists). The Coloured Corps fought in the Battle of Queenston Heights and the Battle of Fort George before it was attached to the Royal Engineers as a construction company. The unit was reactivated during the Rebellions of 1837–38 (and also served as a police force during the construction of the Welland Canal).

(Submitted on September 28, 2026, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario.)

Illustration of Richard Pierpoint in the uniform of the Coloured Corps image. Click for full size.

4. Illustration of Richard Pierpoint in the uniform of the Coloured Corps

Source: Canadian War Museum (public domain)

Credits. This page was last revised on September 28, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 28, 2026, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. This page has been viewed 11 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on September 28, 2026, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.