RULES FOR SETTLEMENT

• No liquor allowed on the settlement
• Land could only be sold to blacks and had to remain in their hands for ten years
• Land had to be purchased not leased
• Each house had to be built at least 24x18x12 feet with a porch across the front
• Each house had to be built 33 feet from the road, with a picket fence and flower garden in front; prizes were given for the most attractive home (made from the logs cut down from the thick bush surrounding the area)

Reasons for the strict rules

William King wanted a stable settlement for the black settlers. By requiring, the inhabitants to pay for their own property and possessions he hoped to instill a sense of pride in the community. The settlers also had to live on the land for ten years, which made many stay a reasonable length of time in Buxton. The rules paid off, as Buxton has been hailed the only successful black settlement in Canada.