James C. Brown was born in Frederick County, Virginia, to a slave mother and white father.  His mother was separated from her children at an early age through slavery.  It was this experience and his experiences as a slave that led to his own freedom and his aggressiveness in community affairs.  (1)

As a slave James was treated well mainly because his mistress was his aunt (his father's sister).  He became a more than adequate brick mason and it was through this skill that he earned enough money to purchase his freedom.  After his freedom was secured, he moved to Louisville, Kentucky where he obtained a job as brick mason and was reunited with his mother and stepfather. 

After moving to several different places, James finally decided to settle in Cincinnati, Ohio.  At the time of his settlement the Ohio Black Laws were first being enacted.  Cincinnati, being in such close proximity with the slave state (Kentucky) was one of the main targets for this enforcement of these laws.  A colonization society was being formed to protest these laws and take whatever action was necessary to protect the interests of the Black people of Cincinnati.  (2)  James C. Brown was elected President of this society and he solicited Sir John Colborne, the Lieutenant-Governor of Canada West seeking asylum in Canada.  Two members of the group went to Toronto to meet with Sir John who gave them assurance that they would be welcome in Canada West.  James kept the letter which was written to him stating that "so long as they remain true and loyal subjects they would have every privilege extended to them that was enjoyed by any of her Majesty's subjects, no distinction being made on account of colour". (3)

After failing to effect a compromise with the government of Ohio on improving the conditions and suspending the regulations for Black people in Ohio, a group of approximately 460 people left the area for Canada West.  This group established the Wilberforce settlement in Biddulth Township. James Brown and his family went on to Toronto to act as representative to the Canadian government for the settlement in matters of property acquisition, taxes, payments, and other legal matters.  He also worked in Toronto as a mason to support himself and his family. (4)

James' wife was unhappy living in Toronto and so they returned to Cincinnati and stayed for 13 months.  He went on to Louisville to visit his mother and while there he was arrested and charged with aiding in the escape of slaves.  After a lengthy court battle he was found innocent.  His wife, after seeing the debacle, was more than willing to return to Canada West.  The first stop was Toronto where he served as a gunner in the Patriot War.  (5)

They moved to the Dawn Settlement where he became trustee of the British American Institute, a Black school established by Josiah Henson.  Their stay in Dawn was short and in 1849 he and his family moved to Chatham.  In Chatham he found that there were no black masons, bricklayers, or plasterers.  Utilizing his skills he decided to bring people from other areas to Chatham with their much needed skills they could build a house "from a stump".  (6)

James Brown's contributions to the cause of freedom may be countless however his character should be considered his greatest contribution and is best summed up in his own words.

            "Slavery disarms a man of virtue, of everything.  It prevents his being a man.  Anticipation is what

            we live for, it makes us anxious to improve ourselves and our children; but slaves anticipate

            nothing but the setting of the sun, or the passage of some law to curtail what little of privilege

            he possesses.

            The effects of slavery are perceptible here in our courts.  I have seen fugitives brought as witnesses,

            afraid to testify against the white man.  This is the part of the horrid effects of slavery.  The younger

            ones are better than this.  They grow up without slavish fear; they know nothing of it. 

            Our children growing up in this country, and not having fear of any white man and being taught to

            read and right, will grow up entirely different from their fathers, of more benefit to themselves, of more

            benefit to the government, and will be more able to set good examples to the rising generations. 

            Intelligent parents will raise intelligent children."  (7)

Reference:  The Narratives of Fugitive Slaves in Canada, Benjamin Drew (pub. in 1856)

1)    Narratives of Fugitive Slaves in Canada, Benjamin Drew, page 239

2)    Cincinnati Historical Society - Ohio Black Laws

3)    Narratives of Fugitive Slaves in Canada, Benjamin Drew, page 244 - 245

4 & 5)    Narratives of Fugitive Slaves in Canada, Benjamin Drew, page 246

6)    Narratives of Fugitive Slaves in Canada, Benjamin Drew, page 247

7)    Narratives of Fugitive Slaves in Canada, Benjamin Drew, page 248

Others:

A.    Diary of Rev. Thomas Hughes, re: British American Institute

B.    Cincinnati Colonization Society Appeals to Canada, Cincinnati Historical Society,

        (J.C. Brown, pres. of colonization society)

Reference:  Seek the Truth, A Story of Chatham's Black Community by Gwen Robinson

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