Rose Fortune
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

Rose Fortune (March 13, 1774 – February 20, 1864) was a child born in or around Philadelphia of runaway slaves. Her parents became
Black Loyalist Black Loyalists were people of African descent who sided with Loyalists during the American Revolutionary War. In particular, the term referred to men enslaved by Patriots who served on the Loyalist side because of the Crown's guarantee of fr ...
s during the
American Revolutionary War The American Revolutionary War (April 19, 1775 – September 3, 1783), also known as the Revolutionary War or American War of Independence, was the armed conflict that comprised the final eight years of the broader American Revolution, in which Am ...
when they pledged to be loyal to the British Army in exchange for their freedom. At around the age of 10, Rose was among the approximately 3,000 Black Loyalists who sailed from
New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...
to
Nova Scotia Nova Scotia is a Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada, located on its east coast. It is one of the three Maritime Canada, Maritime provinces and Population of Canada by province and territory, most populous province in Atlan ...
in 1783. She had at least three children and is thought to have been married twice. At about 50 years of age she began a business transporting luggage in a wheelbarrow from the Annapolis ferry docks to hotels and houses. By the early 1840s, she was using horse-drawn carriages to convey the luggage. She became the first female
police officer A police officer (also called policeman or policewoman, cop, officer or constable) is a Warrant (law), warranted law employee of a police, police force. In most countries, ''police officer'' is a generic term not specifying a particular rank. ...
in North America when she instituted and enforced curfews to keep the streets safe at night. Fortune is remembered for her business sense, strength, and courage.


Early life

Rose Fortune was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania about March 13, 1774, to her parents Fortune and Aminta, of African, Madagascarian, and South American descent. A year before her birth, her parents were identified in a runaway slave advertisement in Virginia. Written in
Petersburg, Virginia Petersburg is an independent city (United States), independent city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 33,458 with a majority bla ...
by William Bradley, the ad was published in the ''Virginia Gazette'' on April 29, 1773. Fortune and Aminta ran away on April 20. Fortune was thought to have been about 40 years of age (born about 1733), of a slim build, and about six feet tall. He left with warm clothing. Aminta appeared to be Native American with long black hair and around 30 years of age (born about 1743). Besides the clothes she was wearing, she ran away with a quilt. Bradley offered an award of three pounds. Fortune and Aminta were brought to Virginia from Rhode Island by Captain John Atkinson. Aminta's mother was said to have come to Rhode Island from the
Spanish Main During the Spanish colonization of the Americas, the Spanish Main was the collective term used by English speakers for the parts of the Spanish Empire that were on the mainland of the Americas and had coastlines on the Caribbean Sea or Gulf of ...
. It was thought that they might have returned to Rhode Island. They were believed to have been owned by members of the Devone family of Virginia. During the
American Revolutionary War The American Revolutionary War (April 19, 1775 – September 3, 1783), also known as the Revolutionary War or American War of Independence, was the armed conflict that comprised the final eight years of the broader American Revolution, in which Am ...
, the British offered freedom to runaway slaves and free blacks if they provided their loyalty. Fortune's family were among the 3,000
Black Loyalist Black Loyalists were people of African descent who sided with Loyalists during the American Revolutionary War. In particular, the term referred to men enslaved by Patriots who served on the Loyalist side because of the Crown's guarantee of fr ...
s who supported the British during the war and at the end of the war were transported from New York to Nova Scotia, a British territory. In 1783, they relocated to Annapolis Royal, when she was 10 or more years old. She was enumerated under the column "child above ten" on the Annapolis County muster roll for her father Fortune in June 1784. Baptismal records of Rev. Roger Veits seem to indicate that Rose was living in
Freeport, Long Island Freeport is a village in the town of Hempstead, in Nassau County, on the South Shore of Long Island, in New York state, United States. The population was 43,713 at the 2010 census, making it the second largest village in New York by populatio ...
, Nova Scotia in the year 1795.


Career

She started her own business when Black Canadians and especially women were not encouraged to do so. Around 1825, Rose began carting passengers’ luggage between the Saint John-Digby-Annapolis ferry docks and nearby homes and hotels. She also met ferries from Boston. She became a trusted figure for travellers, helping them find accommodation and ensuring they made their connections to schooners and steamships. In 1841, her business became known as Lewis Transfer and that year, or three years later, she used horse-drawn wagons to transport luggage. She woke up guests at inns so that they could meet their ferries on time. One of her regular customers was
Thomas Chandler Haliburton Thomas Chandler Haliburton (17 December 1796 – 27 August 1865) was a Nova Scotian politician, judge, and author who was the first international best-selling fiction author from what is now Canada, and who served as a Conservative Member of P ...
, judge of the Supreme Court from 1841 to 1856, whom she woke so that he could travel to Digby in time for court. She was well known by the town's leaders and she had limited competition due to her reputation. Her strength, trustworthiness, honesty and constant presence on the waterfront led her to become entrusted with safeguarding property and maintaining order on the wharves and warehouses of Annapolis Royal, acting as the town's waterfront police officer. For instance, she created and imposed curfews at the wharves to keep boys' behavior in order. She was the only person responsible for law and order in Annapolis for a time and is said to be the first female police officer on the American continent. She worked into her 70s.


Personal life and death

Fortune was married several times, as noted in the St. Luke's Church of England record books. She had two daughters and at least three children. One was Jane Fortune, who married Isaac Godfrey. Her son, John, married the sister of Isaac, Hester Godfrey, on January 13, 1838. Her daughter Margaret Fortune married John Francis of Digby by 1842. Fortune helped other blacks escape slavery on the
Underground Railroad The Underground Railroad was an organized network of secret routes and safe houses used by freedom seekers to escape to the abolitionist Northern United States and Eastern Canada. Enslaved Africans and African Americans escaped from slavery ...
by leading runaways to locations that were safe. In her later years, she had severe rheumatism and lived near the Union Bank. Rose Fortune died in Nova Scotia on February 20, 1864 at around the age of 90. Her funeral was held at St. Luke's, Church of England, Annapolis Royal. She was buried at Garrison Cemetery in Fort Anne in an unmarked location. A monument was created to commemorate her and installed in the cemetery on
Canada Day Canada Day, formerly known as Dominion Day, is the national day of Canada. A Public holidays in Canada, federal statutory holiday, it celebrates the anniversary of Canadian Confederation which occurred on July 1, 1867, with the passing of the B ...
in 2017. Created by sculptor Brad Hall, it uses a stylized wheelbarrow made of iron and stone to evoke her work and the business she founded on the waterfront. The wheelbarrow forms a memorial bench.


Descendants

The business she founded was continued by family for several generations as a stevedore and cartage company, later led by her grandson-in-law Albert Lewis as the Lewis Transfer Company, remaining in business until 1960 or 1980. Albert was married to Fortune's granddaughter Amberzene Lewis. Her direct descendant, Daurene Lewis, was elected Mayor of
Annapolis Royal Annapolis Royal is a town in and the county seat of Annapolis County, Nova Scotia, Canada. The community, known as Port Royal before 1710, is recognised as having one of the longest histories in North America, preceding the settlements at Plym ...
in 1984, being the first African-Canadian woman in Canada to attain that position.


Legacy

When Black Loyalists, like Fortune, came to Nova Scotia they were subject to racial prejudice, barriers to opportunities, and economic marginalization, in which they did not receive pay commensurate with white people. She was also subject to physical threats as a woman. Fortune became a "respected and prominent member of the community" by making her own opportunities. Now she is known among the African-Canadian community for her strength and pride. The Rose Fortune Gate in Bedford, Nova Scotia, is named after her. In 1999, a plaque in her honour was installed near the location of her house in the Petit Parc on the Annapolis Royal waterfront, part of the Mathieu Da Costa African Heritage Trail. In May 2015, Rose Fortune's first name was bestowed upon the new ferry, the to operate between
Digby, Nova Scotia Digby is a Canadian town in southwestern Nova Scotia. It is in the historical Digby County, Nova Scotia, county of Digby and a separate municipality from the Municipality of the District of Digby. The town is situated on the western shore of the ...
, and
Saint John, New Brunswick Saint John () is a port#seaport, seaport city located on the Bay of Fundy in the province of New Brunswick, Canada. It is Canada's oldest Municipal corporation, incorporated city, established by royal charter on May 18, 1785, during the reign ...
. Fortune was named a National Historic Person on January 12, 2018. The plaque was installed by the
Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada National Historic Sites of Canada () are places that have been designated by the federal Minister of the Environment on the advice of the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada (HSMBC), as being of national historic significance. Parks C ...
on July 20, 2019, at the waterfront of Annapolis Royal where Rose once worked. It is mounted on a granite boulder donated by Fred Bailey, one of Fortune's descendants, which came from the family's land in Lequille, just outside of Annapolis Royal. A scholarship, Peter Butler III–Rose Fortune Scholarship Program, was established by the Association of Black Law Enforcers in memory of the initial black police officers in Canada.


In popular culture

* ''Fortune'', a play inspired by the life of Rose Fortune, written by playwright George Cameron Grant, has been performed through the United States and the Maritimes. Grant was inspired by a Candlelight Graveyard tour in 2013, led by Annapolis Royal historian Alan Melanson which featured the unmarked resting place of Rose Fortune. Grant resolved to write the play and start the campaign for the grave monument. * The film ''Rhythm Stick to Freedom'' is the story of her life.


Notes


References


External links


Brenda J. Thompson, "Rose Fortune", ''Dictionary of Canadian Biography'', Volume IX (1861-1870)

Famous Canadians: Rose FortuneThe Rose Fortune Peter Butler III police scholarship
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fortune, Rose 1774 births 1864 deaths Black Nova Scotians Canadian police officers Canadian women police officers British emigrants to pre-Confederation Nova Scotia Businesspeople from Virginia Loyalists who settled Nova Scotia Black Canadian businesspeople Persons of National Historic Significance (Canada) Black Loyalists