William Harvey

Harvey came into the Chatham area around 1829.  He was granted the rights to Lot D (or 6), on King Street, and set to building the first frame house in town.  After some controversy, a petition was sent to the city council stating that the townspeople had no objection to a black man building the house.  Upon its presentation to council, however, only one magistrate would sign the document.  The petition was thus refused and, according to the land registry, the property was sold to Thomas McCrae for the sum of $100.00

William and his wife were relegated to the Gore of Camden, where they purchased a farm.  Harvey made carpentry and farming his livelihood until his death in 1892.  All property and possessions were willed to William Hazzard upon the death of Harvey's wife, which occurred in 1893.¹

¹ Gwen Robinson, Seek the Truth.  Chaham:  Gwen and John Robinson, 1989.