Richard Pierpoint c.1744-c.1838
Text from the plaque
One of the first Black settlers in this region, Pierpoint was born in Senegal. At the age of about 16 he was imprisoned and shipped to America where he became the slave of a British officer. During the American Revolution he enlisted in the British forces, thereby gaining his freedom, and served with Butler's Rangers. Disbanded at Niagara, "Captain Dick" settled near here. At the outbreak of the War of 1812 he joined the Coloured Corps and in 1821, recalling his militia service, he petitioned the government for passage home to Africa. Although his request was denied, the aged Pierpoint was granted land in present-day Fergus. Remarkably he filled the required settlement duties when over 80 and then apparently returned to this area.
Transcribed from the marker, not summarised.
Find the place
The Region of Niagara
The City of St. Catharines
In a park beside the entrance off Oakdale Avenue
.4 km south of Queenston Street
Also recorded for this place: The Region of Niagara
N 43 09.668 W 79 13.782
Recorded August 2004. Check current access before visiting.
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Visitors' notes
October 27, 2009
I agree with all of the things you said and it helped me with my history project
September 16, 2008
There is also a small plaque on Pierpoint's Fergus-area property. It can be found in front of John Black Public School. The book "A Stolen Life: Searching for Richard Pierpoint" is published by Natural Heritage Books (now part of Dundurn).