Location
The Region of Niagara - St. Catharines
At the entrance to Victoria Lawn Cemetery on the south side of Queenston Street, east of Bunting Road
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Photographer
Alan L Brown
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More Information
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Posted
August 22, 2004
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Text from the Plaque
Born a slave in Virginia, Burns escaped from servitude in 1854 and fled to Boston, where he was arrested under the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850. Abolitionists came to his defence and serious riots ensued. This was the last trial of a fugitive slave in Massachusetts. Four months after his return to his owner in Virginia, he was sold to a North Carolina planter. However, in 1855 Burns was ransomed with money raised by the Rev. L. A. Grimes of Boston, and began studies at Oberlin College, Ohio. Burns came to Canada about 1860 where he served as pastor at Zion Baptist Church in St. Catharines. He is buried in this cemetery.
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