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A SAFE HAVEN : The Story of the Black Settlers of Oxford County

A Safe Haven: The Story of the Black Settlers of Oxford County, is a 264 page book containing 79 pictures and illustrations, plus an appendix of 1851 to 1901 Census of Blacks of Oxford County.

Many Black families lived in Oxford County for generations and contributed to the development of this area.The first families came to the Otterville area in the early 1830's. They were Blacks from the Northern States who sought security in Canada amongst the Quaker settlers of Norwich Township. With the enforcement of the 1850 Fugitive Slave Act many fugitives came to Ingersoll where John Brown came to recruit support for his attack on Harper’s Ferry.

With few descendants left in the county, their stories have been largely forgotten. A Safe Haven sheds light on the history of these Black settlers. This book attempts to answer the questions: who were they; and where did they go?

It is hoped that the Census contained in the Appendix will help Blacks find their roots, as well as assist researchers of Black history.

A Safe Haven, written by Joyce Pettigrew, has been published by the South Norwich Historical Society with the assistance of the Ontario Trillium Foundation. It is available for sale for $19.95 plus postage, from the South Norwich Historical Society, at P.O. Box 149, Otterville, ON, N0J 1R0. The proceeds will go to restoring the African Methodist Episcopal cemetery in Otterville.