Heritage Mississauga releases “Legend of the North Star" comic book

This week, on March 24, 2022, Heritage Mississauga is excited to release “Legend of the North Star”, our 11th comic book from The Grange series. This black history comic book follows the story of a freedom seeking family in historic Mississauga and their search for hope at the Anti-Slavery Society of Canada meeting at St. Lawrence Hall on March 24, 1852 - exactly 170 years ago!  

The story takes place in the year 1852: just picture yourself there! It has been two years since the United States passed the Fugitive Slave Act, allowing slave catchers to roam free through all States capturing fugitives. No longer safe anywhere in the country, “conductors” along the railroad ushered slaves to follow the North Star to Canada.  You are a young parent and former slave –what would you do? Would you come to Canada? Where do you go? What do you do? And most importantly, are you truly safe? 

Catherine Ann Thomas holding a picture of John Dorsey Thomas - image courtesy of Kim Thomas.

It is difficult to say for certain what someone in this situation would have gone through, but we can imagine that these were some of the thoughts racing through the minds of the Thomas-Dorsey family. John and Catherine Thomas, along with their children Mary and George, are listed on the 1851 Canada West census as living in a log house along what is today Southdown Road in Clarkson, Toronto Township (Mississauga). They are listed as “Coloured Persons – Negros”.  

Catherine Thomas (1827-1878) and John Dorsey (1828-1881) were born into slavery and lived in Maryland, according to family stories. As was so often the case, Catherine was assaulted by her slave owner, which resulted in the birth of her daughter Mary (b. 1846). At some point, she was granted her freedom and later married an enslaved man, John Dorsey. The pair decided to run away with Mary and their infant son George (b. 1849) sometime between 1848 and 1851 via the Underground Railroad. We may never know exactly how they made the journey, but we do know that John Dorsey took Catherine’s maiden name “Thomas”, likely to avoid detection.  

John R. Dorsey - image courtesy of Kim Thomas.

While Canada was out of the jurisdiction of the Fugitive Slave Act, family stories suggest that Catherine’s former owner made several attempts to reclaim her and her child. One can only imagine the fear that would have gripped the family, who were unsure if they were truly safe. I think we must view this period in history in its historical context. Though we now know that it was not at all common for slave catchers to venture into Canada, fugitive slaves living through lingering trauma would not have necessarily known that at the time. Certainly, they still faced barriers and discrimination. 

Reverend Samuel Ringgold Ward.

Meanwhile, the March 1852 edition of the Voice of the Fugitive newspaper, founded and edited by freedom seeker Henry Bibb, published a letter from Rev. Samuel Ringgold Ward describing his journeys through Southern Ontario. He writes of passing through Peel County and Toronto Township, among other locales. Ward praises the abundant and prosperous farm fields, but also warns that, “anti-slavery finds enough work to do.” Ward, like Bibb, was a former slave and abolitionist highly involved with the Anti-Slavery Society. He routinely went on speaking tours preaching for equality in the United States, Canada, and England. Ward was outspoken in his views that abolition was not solely about slavery, but also the treatment of Black peoples once free. In 1852, the Society likewise emphasized refugees should be fairly treated as they are, “quiet, industrious and worthy citizens."  

Henry Bibb.

It was not an accident that Ward ended up here either. Rev. Robert Ure of Streetsville’s St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church is listed as being a director of the Anti-Slavery Society in 1852. Certainly, Toronto Township would have been known to those in the Society. As such, we can very much think of historic Mississauga as playing a small part in the national fight for equality and justice in Canada’s early Black community. 

Reverend Robert Ure - image courtesy of the Streetsville Historical Society.

For the Thomas family, however, their calling lay outside Mississauga. They moved to Brantford, then settled in Stanhope Township, Haliburton by 1871. It was here where John Thomas purchased land and built a large homestead for his family. The family grew too with the births of Charles Edward (b. 1855), John L. (b. 1864), Rebekah (or Rebecca) Ann (b. 1866), and Urith Jane (b. 1869). They had achieved what many early black settlers dreamed of: safety, security, and independence. They had risked everything so their family could be free.  

St Lawrence Hall.

“Legend of the North Star” tells the story of Mississauga’s emerging Black community during the 1850s. Though it tells only a small part of the Thomas-Dorsey family’s rich history, we can empathize with the difficult choices made to protect one’s children and family. Set against the fantastic life-like artwork of freelance artist Daniel Wong, the comic book is a story of hope, family, and love amid a time of intense uncertainty and fear.  

Thomas family on 1851 census.

While historically most black settlers remained only briefly in historic Mississauga, today our city is home to a large Black diaspora from every corner of the globe, including Africa and the Caribbean. Though much has changed since the Thomas-Dorsey family lived in Mississauga, the fight for equality continues.