Modern Mississauga and Heritage Mississauga have come together to present an ongoing series called “Way Back Wednesday.”
We’ll share information about the history of Mississauga here and answer your questions.

Today’s topic is the historic links to early black history in Mississauga.

With the abolition of slavery in the British Empire on August 1, 1834, the movement of former and fugitive slaves into Canada began in earnest. Canada was seen as a land of freedom and a place to start a new life. The growing abolitionist movement in the United States, the birth of the Anti-Slavery Society of Canada, and the development of the Underground Railroad led to an increase of Blacks coming into Canada.

A few Black families came to live in historic Mississauga (formerly Toronto Township). Distance from the American border and relative geographic obscurity were incentives. Those that came included Black Loyalists, emancipated former slaves, fugitive slaves and free Blacks looking for a new home and protection under British rule. There is very little tangible evidence of these historic connections. Early census records, council records, birth, marriage and death certificates provide a glimpse into this part of our City’s past. Much of this story is sparsely documented, and photographs are few and far between for historic Mississauga.

Scattered family histories and census records reveal other names connected to historic Mississauga, such as Alexander Hunter in Port Credit, Mary Ann and William Bell of Erindale, and John Sheppard, of whom we know very little. Others such as Dinah Green, Fanny Paul and Lettie Paul, who were domestic servants in the Silverthorn’s “Cherry Hill House” over time, have left other small clues behind, such as a newspaper reference to the 1894 marriage between Lettie Paul and William Hutchinson:

“On Wednesday September 15th at 5 o’clock at the pretty little church of St. John was a day to be long remember by those whose happy lot of fell to be there. It was the marriage of Ms. Lettie Paul, (coloured) to Mr. Wm. Hutchinson (coloured) of Toronto. The bride was attired in a red cashmere dress, tan shoes and hose, drab hat and a smiling countenance. The groom wore a black suit, dude pants, open vest, Prince Albert coat, knock-about hat, red tie and piccadilly shoes. The knot was tied by the Rev. Ralph Hinds. The church was crowded to the doors. There were people from all parts of the section, some came them a distance of five miles to pay their respect to one of our esteemed citizens. After the knot was securely tied, and the newly married were proceeding to the residence of the bride’s guardian, at Cherry Hill, they were literally covered with showers of rice and good wishes. Arriving at the house, they were seated to a very sumptuous spread of all the delicacies of the season, after which they were escorted to the C.P.R. depot by a number of friends. At the station there were nearly one hundred people to wish them bon voyage and much joy as they stepped on the express to spend their honeymoon in Toronto, Oakville and other inland towns, after which they will return and take up house keeping in Mr. Robt. Pallett’s villa on the Middle Road, east of Corn Dilley Valley.” (Brampton Conservator, September 20, 1894)

To date, we do not know the story of Lettie and William Hutchinson after their marriage. If you have more information or images, please let us know!