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Rose Fortune, Entrepreneur and Law Officer |
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Rose Fortune, the daughter of Black Loyalists, arrived in Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia, in 1783 by way of New York City after escaping enslavement in Virginia. Rose was thought to be ten years old. |
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Fortune established herself as a baggage carrier at the Annapolis wharf by meeting the boats from Boston and St. John. She would transport carpet bags, boxes and trunks to nearby homes and hotels in her wheelbarrow. |
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As her business expanded; she also took on the responsibility of waking people up at their inns in time to catch the boat out of Annapolis. Many people depended upon her for this service. As well, along with all this other work, Fortune appointed herself a police woman (the first in Canada) keeping the wharf under control by imposing and enforcing curfews. She was known to move stragglers along to clear the streets before she turned in. |
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To go along with her colorful personality, her clothing consisted of everything but a badge. Fortune's petticoat showed below her dress. Over that would be a man's waistcoat and woman's apron, and man's frock coat. She wore a lace cap to cover her hair and perched a man's straw hat on top of the cap. On her feet she alternated between men's boots and women's shoes with heels several inches high. Fortune always carried a straw basket and depending on the season, white gloves or mittens. This eclectic mix of men's and women's clothing was adopted by other Black women when they went to market. |
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When horses and wagons were added in 1841, the business became the Lewis Transfer Company. In time she passed her business on to her grandson and her descendants continued in the trucking and hauling business for the next hundred and fifty years. |
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Her funeral in February 1864 was held at St. Luke's Anglican church and Rose Fortune was buried in an unmarked grave in the Royal Garrison cemetery. |
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In recognition of her role as policewoman, a scholarship program in her name was established by the Association of Black Law Enforcers. |
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Daurene Lewis, a descendent of Rose Fortune, in serving as mayor of Annapolis Royal in the 1980s was the first Black female mayor in North America |
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For more information on Filling in the Gaps in American History (F.I.G.A.H), biographies and research on people of African Descent who do not usually appear in text books, contact us at email. |
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Doe more informaton on Filling in the Gaps in American History (F.I.G.A.H), biographies and research on people of African Descent who don't usually appear in texts, contact us at email. |
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