: I AM LOOKING FOR INFORMATION ABOUT A BLACK SETTLEMENT IN ONTARIO IN
: THE 1800s CALLED NEW CANAAN. MY GREAT-GREAT GRANDFATHER, DANIEL
: SMITH, SETTLED THERE. I CANNOT SEEM TO FIND ANY DOCUMENTATION
: FOR "NEW CANAAN." WAS THERE SUCH A PLACE?

New Canaan was located outside of the town of Harrow, ON. (now officially Essex located in Essex Cty.) The area was settled largely by blacks escaping from slavery in the American South. Many were from Kentucky due to its proximity to the Ohio River which was then the separator between enslavement and freedom.

The original families can be found in the 1861 Canandian Census. Look for them in Canada West, Essex Cty.

The freedom boundary shifted to the Canadian border on enactment of the 1850 Fugitive Slave Act. Additonal families seeking refuge joined the original black settlers at that time.

Contact HEIRS in Harrow. They are very helpful.