Wilson Ruffin Abbott
Encyclopedia
Wilson Ruffin Abbott was an American
-born Black Canadian
and successful businessman
and landowner in Toronto
, Ontario
.
Having to flee the United States
in 1834, he became a wealthy man in Toronto and one of the largest landowners in the ward. Prominent in local affairs, he was elected to Toronto City Council
, instigated taxpayer petitions on public issues of concern to both black and white residents and had served briefly on the organizing committee for the Canadian Anti-Slavery Society. He was also the father of Anderson Ruffin Abbott
, Canada's first black physician.
, Virginia
to a Scotch-Irish father and a free negro
mother. In his youth, he was apprenticed as a carpenter
but ran away from home at fifteen and went to Alabama
where he worked in a hotel
for his room and board. He went on from there to work on a Mississippi River
steamer
as a steward
. Seriously injured when cord wood
fell upon him, he was nursed by a Boston traveller's maid, Ellen Toyer, whom he later married in 1830.
He then moved to Mobile
, Alabama
, where he opened a general grocery store. Before long Mobile's city council passed a law requiring all free negroes to post a bond signed by two white men, guaranteeing their good behavior, and to wear badges showing that they were under bond. Abbott refused to obey the new regulations. Abbott never returned to Mobile, although he tried unsuccessfully to get compensation for his property there.
In 1834, receiving an anonymous warning that his store was to be pillaged, he withdrew his savings, put his wife and two children aboard a steamer for New Orleans, and slipped away alone on the night his store was attacked.
The Abbotts moved to New York, but finding that Blacks were treated unfairly there as well, decided to settle in Toronto
. They arrived there in 1835, one of hundreds of African American
families to seek a greater degree of freedom in Upper Canada
at this time. Two years later Abbott was one of the city's Blacks who joined Captain Fuller's Company of Volunteers during the Mackenzie Rebellion
.
, Abbott became a dealer in properties and increasingly made his mark in real estate. Although he could not read until his wife taught him, he was known for an unusual ability to do complex calculations in his head. By 1871 Abbott owned land in Toronto, Hamilton
and Owen Sound. He often helped purchase freedom for fugitive slaves.
Abbott served in the militia
during the rebellion of 1837
. In 1838 he was one of six organizers of the Colored Wesleyan Methodist Church, aiding in the purchase of property for it. He supported the Anti-Slavery Society of Canada
under the Reverend Michael Willis. He was elected to the city council from St. Patrick's Ward, which he carried by some 40 votes, and served as a member of the central committee established in 1859 by the Reformers in Canada West. In 1840 his wife helped organize the Queen Victoria Benevolent Society to aid indigent black women, and in later years she was active in the British Methodist Episcopal Church
.
. They returned to Toronto, where Abbott died in 1876. He was buried on a hillside in Toronto's Necropolis
, overlooking the Don Valley.
The Abbotts had four sons and five daughters. One son, Anderson Ruffin
, would become the first Canadian-born Black doctor to receive a licence to practise medicine.
Wilson Ruffin Abbott was unusual in being a successful black businessman and politician in the late 19th century. Abbott did not encounter any serious discrimination
, even though Blacks elsewhere in the province did. Thus, his experience was not a typical one. His undoubted abilities no doubt helped offset most of the residual prejudice he may otherwise have met.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
-born Black Canadian
Black Canadian
'Black Canadians is a designation used for people of Black African descent, who are citizens or permanent residents of Canada. The term specifically refers to Canadians with Sub-Saharan African ancestry. The majority of Black Canadians are of Caribbean origin...
and successful businessman
Businessperson
A businessperson is someone involved in a particular undertaking of activities for the purpose of generating revenue from a combination of human, financial, or physical capital. An entrepreneur is an example of a business person...
and landowner in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
.
Having to flee the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1834, he became a wealthy man in Toronto and one of the largest landowners in the ward. Prominent in local affairs, he was elected to Toronto City Council
Toronto City Council
The Toronto City Council is the governing body of the city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.Members represent wards throughout the city, and are known as councillors....
, instigated taxpayer petitions on public issues of concern to both black and white residents and had served briefly on the organizing committee for the Canadian Anti-Slavery Society. He was also the father of Anderson Ruffin Abbott
Anderson Ruffin Abbott
Anderson Ruffin Abbott, M.D. was the first Black Canadian to be a licensed physician. His career included participation in the American Civil War and attending the death bed of Abraham Lincoln.-Early life:...
, Canada's first black physician.
Early life
Wilson Ruffin Abbott was born in RichmondRichmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
to a Scotch-Irish father and a free negro
Free Negro
A free Negro or free black is the term used prior to the abolition of slavery in the United States to describe African Americans who were not slaves. Almost all African Americans came to the United States as slaves, but from the earliest days of American slavery, slaveholders set men and women free...
mother. In his youth, he was apprenticed as a carpenter
Carpentry
A carpenter is a skilled craftsperson who works with timber to construct, install and maintain buildings, furniture, and other objects. The work, known as carpentry, may involve manual labor and work outdoors....
but ran away from home at fifteen and went to Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
where he worked in a hotel
Hotel
A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. The provision of basic accommodation, in times past, consisting only of a room with a bed, a cupboard, a small table and a washstand has largely been replaced by rooms with modern facilities, including en-suite bathrooms...
for his room and board. He went on from there to work on a Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
steamer
Steamboat
A steamboat or steamship, sometimes called a steamer, is a ship in which the primary method of propulsion is steam power, typically driving propellers or paddlewheels...
as a steward
Steward's Assistant
A steward's assistant is an unlicensed, entry-level crewmember in the Steward's department of a merchant ship. This position can also be referred to as steward , galley utilityman, messman, supply or waiter.The role of the SA consists mainly of stocking, cleaning and assisting with the...
. Seriously injured when cord wood
Firewood
Firewood is any wood-like material that is gathered and used for fuel. Generally, firewood is not highly processed and is in some sort of recognizable log or branch form....
fell upon him, he was nursed by a Boston traveller's maid, Ellen Toyer, whom he later married in 1830.
He then moved to Mobile
Mobile, Alabama
Mobile is the third most populous city in the Southern US state of Alabama and is the county seat of Mobile County. It is located on the Mobile River and the central Gulf Coast of the United States. The population within the city limits was 195,111 during the 2010 census. It is the largest...
, Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
, where he opened a general grocery store. Before long Mobile's city council passed a law requiring all free negroes to post a bond signed by two white men, guaranteeing their good behavior, and to wear badges showing that they were under bond. Abbott refused to obey the new regulations. Abbott never returned to Mobile, although he tried unsuccessfully to get compensation for his property there.
In 1834, receiving an anonymous warning that his store was to be pillaged, he withdrew his savings, put his wife and two children aboard a steamer for New Orleans, and slipped away alone on the night his store was attacked.
The Abbotts moved to New York, but finding that Blacks were treated unfairly there as well, decided to settle in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
. They arrived there in 1835, one of hundreds of African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
families to seek a greater degree of freedom in Upper Canada
Upper Canada
The Province of Upper Canada was a political division in British Canada established in 1791 by the British Empire to govern the central third of the lands in British North America and to accommodate Loyalist refugees from the United States of America after the American Revolution...
at this time. Two years later Abbott was one of the city's Blacks who joined Captain Fuller's Company of Volunteers during the Mackenzie Rebellion
Rebellions of 1837
The Rebellions of 1837 were a pair of Canadian armed uprisings that occurred in 1837 and 1838 in response to frustrations in political reform. A key shared goal was the allowance of responsible government, which was eventually achieved in the incident's aftermath.-Rebellions:The rebellions started...
.
Career
After a false start as a tobacconistTobacconist
A tobacconist is an expert dealer in tobacco in various forms and the related accoutrements .Such accoutrements include pipes, lighters, matches, pipe cleaners, pipe tampers, ashtrays, humidification devices, hygrometers, humidors, cigar cutters, and more. Books and magazines, especially ones...
, Abbott became a dealer in properties and increasingly made his mark in real estate. Although he could not read until his wife taught him, he was known for an unusual ability to do complex calculations in his head. By 1871 Abbott owned land in Toronto, Hamilton
Hamilton, Ontario
Hamilton is a port city in the Canadian province of Ontario. Conceived by George Hamilton when he purchased the Durand farm shortly after the War of 1812, Hamilton has become the centre of a densely populated and industrialized region at the west end of Lake Ontario known as the Golden Horseshoe...
and Owen Sound. He often helped purchase freedom for fugitive slaves.
Abbott served in the militia
Militia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
during the rebellion of 1837
Rebellions of 1837
The Rebellions of 1837 were a pair of Canadian armed uprisings that occurred in 1837 and 1838 in response to frustrations in political reform. A key shared goal was the allowance of responsible government, which was eventually achieved in the incident's aftermath.-Rebellions:The rebellions started...
. In 1838 he was one of six organizers of the Colored Wesleyan Methodist Church, aiding in the purchase of property for it. He supported the Anti-Slavery Society of Canada
Anti-Slavery Society
The Anti-Slavery Society or A.S.S. was the everyday name of two different British organizations.The first was founded in 1823 and was committed to the abolition of slavery in the British Empire. Its official name was the Society for the Mitigation and Gradual Abolition of Slavery Throughout the...
under the Reverend Michael Willis. He was elected to the city council from St. Patrick's Ward, which he carried by some 40 votes, and served as a member of the central committee established in 1859 by the Reformers in Canada West. In 1840 his wife helped organize the Queen Victoria Benevolent Society to aid indigent black women, and in later years she was active in the British Methodist Episcopal Church
British Methodist Episcopal Church
The British Methodist Episcopal Church is a Protestant church in Canada that has its roots in the African Methodist Episcopal Church of the United States....
.
Later life and death
The Abbotts moved to Elgin for a short time to give their children the advantage of a classical education at the famous Buxton SchoolBuxton School
Buxton School is a private, coeducational, college preparatory, and boarding and day school for grades 9–12 located in Williamstown, Massachusetts. The school was founded by Ellen Geer Sangster in 1928 as a coeducational country day school in Short Hills, New Jersey. In 1947 the high school was...
. They returned to Toronto, where Abbott died in 1876. He was buried on a hillside in Toronto's Necropolis
Toronto Necropolis
Necropolis Cemetery is a historic cemetery in Toronto, located on the west side of the Don Valley near Riverdale Farm. Opened in 1850 to replace "Strangers' Burying Ground" , the cemetery is the resting place for many dead Torontonians including:* Joseph Bloor* William Lyon Mackenzie - Toronto's...
, overlooking the Don Valley.
The Abbotts had four sons and five daughters. One son, Anderson Ruffin
Anderson Ruffin Abbott
Anderson Ruffin Abbott, M.D. was the first Black Canadian to be a licensed physician. His career included participation in the American Civil War and attending the death bed of Abraham Lincoln.-Early life:...
, would become the first Canadian-born Black doctor to receive a licence to practise medicine.
Wilson Ruffin Abbott was unusual in being a successful black businessman and politician in the late 19th century. Abbott did not encounter any serious discrimination
Discrimination
Discrimination is the prejudicial treatment of an individual based on their membership in a certain group or category. It involves the actual behaviors towards groups such as excluding or restricting members of one group from opportunities that are available to another group. The term began to be...
, even though Blacks elsewhere in the province did. Thus, his experience was not a typical one. His undoubted abilities no doubt helped offset most of the residual prejudice he may otherwise have met.