Rose Fortune
Encyclopedia
Rose Fortune was an African American
who came to Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia
with the Black Loyalist
s where she became a successful businesswoman and the first female police officer
in Canada
.
in the British colony of Virginia. Her family escaped slavery during the American Revolution
and settled in Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia
as part of the Black Loyalist migration when Rose was 10 years old. In 1825, she started her own business, carting luggage between the ferry docks and nearby homes and hotels. She became entrusted with safeguarding property and maintaining order on the wharves and warehouses of Annapolis Royal, acting as the town's waterfront police officer. Rose Fortune died in 1864 in the small house she owned at the engineer's lot near Fort Anne
. The business she founded was continued by her son in law Albert Lewis as the Lewis Transfer Company and continued for several generations remaining in business until 1980. Rose Fortune was buried in Annapolis Royal in the Garrison Cemetery
. Her grave is unmarked but a plaque in the Petite Parc on the Annapolis Royal waterfront commemorates her life and contribution to Nova Scotian history.
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...
who came to Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia
Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia
Annapolis Royal is a town located in the western part of Annapolis County, Nova Scotia. Known as Port Royal until the Conquest of Acadia in 1710 by Britain, the town is the oldest continuous European settlement in North America, north of St...
with the Black Loyalist
Black Loyalist
A Black Loyalist was an inhabitant of British America of African descent who joined British colonial forces during the American Revolutionary War...
s where she became a successful businesswoman and the first female police officer
Police officer
A police officer is a warranted employee of a police force...
in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
Biography
Rose Fortune was born into slaverySlavery
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
in the British colony of Virginia. Her family escaped slavery during the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
and settled in Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
as part of the Black Loyalist migration when Rose was 10 years old. In 1825, she started her own business, carting luggage between the ferry docks and nearby homes and hotels. She became entrusted with safeguarding property and maintaining order on the wharves and warehouses of Annapolis Royal, acting as the town's waterfront police officer. Rose Fortune died in 1864 in the small house she owned at the engineer's lot near Fort Anne
Fort Anne
For a similarly named fort in New York City see: Fort AmsterdamFort Anne is a typical star fort built to protect the harbour of Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia. The fort repelled all French attacks during the early stages of King George's War....
. The business she founded was continued by her son in law Albert Lewis as the Lewis Transfer Company and continued for several generations remaining in business until 1980. Rose Fortune was buried in Annapolis Royal in the Garrison Cemetery
Garrison Cemetery (Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia)
Garrison Cemetery is a cemetery located on the grounds of Fort Anne in Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia. It is located next to the old Court House, at the intersection of George St. and Nova Scotia Trunk 1....
. Her grave is unmarked but a plaque in the Petite Parc on the Annapolis Royal waterfront commemorates her life and contribution to Nova Scotian history.