Tubman Tours Canada

22/03/2025

in 1838, a Baptist minister named Elder Washington Christian (b. c. 1776 in Virginia - d. July 03 1850 in Toronto) established a Baptist Society for Black people in St. Catharines.

In 1822, Christian was engaged in missionary work and preaching in New York City. A few years later (1825-26) he was living in Toronto, Upper Canada where he established the First Baptist Church.

During the 1830s, Christian travelled throughout Upper Canada visiting Black communities and promoting the Baptist cause. In 1838, he formed a Baptist congregation in St. Catharines.

Two years later, the St. Catharines faithful purchased land on Geneva Street to construct a church that would be named Zion Baptist Church.

In 1958, the historic church was demolished. The congregation relocated to a smaller house of worship on Raymond Street where they continue to gather each Sunday.

http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/christian_washington_7E.html

Images: Zion Baptist Church, Elder Washington Christian

19/03/2025

Grateful!

On Tuesday, March 18, 2025 I was awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal along with twenty-seven other recipients.

Sincere thanks are extended to Chris Bittle, Member of Parliament for St. Catharines. On his social media post, which is shared on this page, MP Bittle wrote, “This prestigious medal celebrates their dedication, service, and lasting impact on our community and country.” I am truly honoured.

With gratitude,
Rochelle Bush

Images: MP Chris Bittle, and Recipients group photo

19/03/2025

15/03/2025

14/03/2025

Celebrating Women’s History Month!
Chloe Cooley

in 1793, an enslaved woman named Chloe Cooley living in Queenston (Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario) was bound and gagged, forced into a boat and transported across the lower Niagara River to New York State.

The Cooley incident was brought to the attention of the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada. After many serious debates the Act to Limit Slavery was introduced in July of the same year.

The new law changed the trajectory of enslavement around the world.

One of the hundreds of Black people who were enslaved in Upper Canada, Chloe Cooley (fl. 1793) came to public attention in March 1793 after her enslaver, Adam Vrooman, forcibly transported her across the Niagara River to sell her on the American side. Two witnesses reported the incident and her desp...

13/03/2025

Celebrating Women’s History Month!
Mary Ann Shadd Cary

Mary Ann Shadd was an abolitionist, educator, lawyer, suffragette and the first Black woman publisher in North America and the first woman publisher in Canada.

In 1853, Shadd founded and edited the Black abolitionist newspaper titled “The Provincial Freeman.”

The newspaper “championed women’s rights and provided a forum for Black women, showcasing their accomplishments and benevolent activities.”

Mary Ann Shadd often visited her sister Amelia Shadd Williamson who resided in St. Catharines with her husband David T. Williamson.

In 1856, Mary Ann Shadd married Thomas Cary at her sister’s home in St. Catharines.

Learn more about Mary Ann Shadd
https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/mary-ann-shadd

11/03/2025

Yesterday, which was Harriet Tubman Day; the Salem Chapel welcomed the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Legacy Tour group and Toronto’s own Rosemary Sadlier.

The multi-day legacy tour was a joint venture between the New York State Underground Railroad Consortium and Brooklyn, NY Assembly member Stefani Zinerman. The group traced Tubman’s path from Brooklyn to St. Catharines.

The Salem Chapel is a supporting member of the New York State (NYS) Underground Railroad Consortium, which is spearheading the Harriet Tubman Byway project through NYS.

We have been waiting for over twenty-years for the NYS Tubman Byway. We were there in 2003 in Washington D.C. when Tubman Byway discussions began. We are thrilled that the NYS Byway is under development because this is another trail that leads to St. Catharines and the Salem Chapel. Yeah!

Rosemary Sadlier, Order of Ontario, past President of the Ontario Black History Society, author, activist and more was invited to meet the group and say a few words.

Special thanks are extended to Salem Chapel volunteer Vicki-Lynn Smith who helped make this a memorable event.

It was a great day! Most of all, it was FUN!!! Lots of laughs and we loved it. We enjoyed meeting the participants of Legacy Tour group.

Images: Rosemary Sadlier speaking to the group, Legacy Tour group, Vicki-Lynn, Rosemary and Rochelle

10/03/2025

On this day in 1913, Harriet Tubman passed away at age 91. What were her final weeks like? What did people say when she passed 108 years ago? How did the world say goodbye? What songs did they sing? Jim Duffy, author of “Tubman Travels: 32 Underground Railroad Journeys on Delmarva,” dug through old newspapers and books to find out.
>> Read the story: bit.ly/37mwL6X
>> March 10 is officially Harriet Tubman Day, marking the day of her passing. It wasn't until recent years that historians learned she was also born in the month of March in 1822 (exact date still unknown).
>> Find out more about the book "Tubman Travels:" bit.ly/2Qg8Co6
>> The photo here is from Harriet Tubman’s funeral in Auburn, New York.

08/03/2025

The 2025 International Women's Day event hosted by Women in Niagara and the Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce was a spectacular event. A tremendous amount of applause is extended to the organizers. I remain thankful for the recognition.

03/03/2025

Celebrating Harriet Tubman and her connection to St. Catharines!

01/03/2025

Happening on International Women's Day
Saturday March 8th 2025
The 35th Annual Harriet Tubman Day Celebration

23/02/2025

Celebrating Black History Month!

Zion Baptist Church was established as a Baptist Society in St. Catharines in 1838. Six years later (1844) the church opened on Geneva Street. Rev. Anthony Burns, famous for the 1854 Boston Slave Riot became the Pastor of of the church in 1860 and was interred at Victoria Lawn Cemetery in 1862. The original church was demolished in 1958. The congregation continues to hold their worship service in a small chapel on Raymond Street.

20/02/2025

Celebrating Black History Month!
Happening on Thursday, February 27th

17/02/2025

Save the Date!
Happening Saturday March 8th

15/02/2025

For the Love of Genealogy!

The page administrator, Rochelle Bush, was recently contacted by the Thorold Today online newspaper. One of their journalists was writing an article about Black history in the Thorold/Port Robinson and Pelham areas.

The article was published last Thursday. It identifies the man I am pointing to as my great-grandfather. He is not. It’s a very minor error. The handsome man is my paternal grandfather, and his name is James William Bush.

Grandpa James Bush was born in Pelham, Ontario c.1877. The photo was taken in Welland, Ontario c.1912.

James William Bush married Lillian Francis Violet Elizabeth Smith (parental grandmother) of Toronto in 1911.

Lillian’s father, Frank Payton Smith (great-grandfather), was born in Toronto c.1857.

Frank moved with his father, stepmother, and siblings to Hamilton, Ontario where he met and married his first wife, Esther Williams, who is mentioned in the news article. At the bottom of their 1882 marriage record, a written remark states that Esther was an abandoned baby. Listed as a waif, she was adopted when still an infant. I admit that ancestral discovery broke my heart. Their marriage record is an image attachment.

My great-great grandfather, James Henry Harper, is also mentioned in the news article. Affectionately known as Rev. Grandpa Harper, he was the minister in charge of the Salem Chapel for some time when Harriet Tubman was a member of the church.

I will post more about my local ancestors and others in the early Black community throughout the year.

Genealogy, as most know, is a work in progress. With each new data dump, more information is revealed.

In some cases it is discovered that the original thought about an ancestor was wrong. New information can also confirm that an original thought about an ancestor was correct.

Genealogy can be a touchy topic for many reasons. Some people enjoy it, and others don’t.

Please do not hit me up for any genealogy records. You can put in the time and find the documents on your own the same way I do. FamilySearch.org is free, and it is a good online site. You can also pay for an Ancestry.ca subscription.

I thank you in advance for your understanding and cooperation.

Rochelle

15/02/2025

For the Love of Genealogy!

The page administrator, Rochelle Bush, was recently contacted by the Thorold Today online newspaper. One of their journalists was writing an article about Black history in the Thorold/Port Robinson and Pelham areas.

The article was published last Thursday. It identifies the man I am pointing to as my great-grandfather. He is not. It’s a very minor error. The handsome man is my paternal grandfather, and his name is James William Bush.

Grandpa James Bush was born in Pelham, Ontario c.1877. The photo was taken in Welland, Ontario c.1912.

James William Bush married Lillian Francis Violet Elizabeth Smith (parental grandmother) of Toronto in 1911.

Lillian’s father, Frank Payton Smith (great-grandfather), was born in Toronto c.1857.

Frank moved with his father, stepmother, and siblings to Hamilton, Ontario where he met and married his first wife, Esther Williams, who is mentioned in the news article. At the bottom of their 1882 marriage record, a written remark that states Esther was a waif, abandoned on the streets, and adopted. I admit that ancestral discovery broke my heart. Their marriage record is an image attachment.

My great-great grandfather, James Henry Harper, is also mentioned in the news article. Affectionately known as Rev. Grandpa Harper, he was the minister in charge of the Salem Chapel for some time when Harriet Tubman was a member of the church.

I will post more about my local ancestors and others in the early Black community throughout the year.

Genealogy, as most know, is a work in progress. With each new data dump, more information is revealed.

In some cases it is discovered that the original thought about an ancestor was wrong. New information can also confirm that an original thought about an ancestor was correct.

Genealogy can be a touchy topic for many reasons. Some people enjoy it, and others don’t. That said, comments will be closed on all the genealogy posts. I have no plans to make this a debate page or a platform for haters or shiners. Sorry!

Please do not hit me up for any genealogy records. You can put in the time and find the documents on your own the same way I do. FamilySearch.org is free, and it is a good online site. You can also pay for an Ancestry.ca subscription.

I thank you in advance for your understanding and cooperation.

Rochelle

https://www.thoroldtoday.ca/local-news/finding-the-faces-of-black-history-in-thorold-is-not-easy-10226708

15/02/2025

For the Love of Genealogy!

The page administrator, Rochelle Bush, was recently contacted by the Thorold Today online newspaper. One of their journalists was writing an article about Black history in the Thorold/Port Robinson and Pelham areas.

The article was published last Thursday. It identifies the man I am pointing to as my great-grandfather. He is not. It’s a very minor error. The handsome man is my paternal grandfather, and his name is James William Bush.

Grandpa James Bush was born in Pelham, Ontario c.1877. The photo was taken in Welland, Ontario c.1912.

James William Bush married Lillian Francis Violet Elizabeth Smith (parental grandmother) of Toronto in 1911.

Lillian’s father, Frank Payton Smith (great-grandfather), was born in Toronto c.1857.

Frank moved with his father, stepmother, and siblings to Hamilton, Ontario where he met and married his first wife, Esther Williams, who is mentioned in the news article. At the bottom of their 1882 marriage record, a written remark that states Esther was a waif, abandoned on the streets, and adopted. I admit that ancestral discovery broke my heart. Their marriage record is an image attachment.

My great-great grandfather, James Henry Harper, is also mentioned in the news article. Affectionately known as Rev. Grandpa Harper, he was the minister in charge of the Salem Chapel for some time when Harriet Tubman was a member of the church.

I will post more about my local ancestors and others in the early Black community throughout the year.

Genealogy, as most know, is a work in progress. With each new data dump, more information is revealed.

In some cases it is discovered that the original thought about an ancestor was wrong. New information can also confirm that an original thought about an ancestor was correct.

Genealogy can be a touchy topic for many reasons. Some people enjoy it, and others don’t. That said, comments will be closed on all the genealogy posts. I have no plans to make this a debate page or a platform for haters or shiners. Sorry!

Please do not hit me up for any genealogy records. You can put in the time and find the documents on your own the same way I do. FamilySearch.org is free, and it is a good online site. You can also pay for an Ancestry.ca subscription.

I thank you in advance for your understanding and cooperation.

Rochelle

https://www.thoroldtoday.ca/local-news/finding-the-faces-of-black-history-in-thorold-is-not-easy-10226708