RESISTANCE TO SETTLEMENT

Edwin Larwill was a white, English born Tory who came to Chatham in 1841. He was a member of the Raleigh Township Council, West District Council, Legislature, and School Commissioner for the district. He also was the editor of the Chatham Journal. Larwill was strongly opposed to the black settlement of Elgin. He felt that a black settlement so near Chatham, would bring down property values and the "good" settlers (whites) would leave. Larwill considered blacks inferior. He arranged for a public debate on the issue of the black settlement on August 18, 1849 at the Royal Exchange Hotel in Chatham. The sheriff of Kent warned William King that Larwill had a vigilante group.

On the day of the debate between Larwill and King, 300 people came to watch.  This included a group of blacks as well as whites. The debate took place on the balcony of the Hotel so the public could watch. The only white person to face the crowd with King was Archibald McKellar.

When King spoke, he was booed and hissed at for his position. Yet, he was not intimidated and continued. King's arguments received little support and Larwill's fears prevailed. William King then went to Chatham's Presbyterian Church to answer any questions. There were neither arguments nor violence. Later, he was escorted safely back to the hotel. Larwill continued his opposition to blacks. He persuaded the West District Council to send a protest to Parliament. Then he added recommendations of his own without Council's knowledge.

Larwill's recommendations would have:

• barred blacks from public schools
• barred blacks from public office
• forced blacks to pay poll tax
• forced blacks who were allowed to vote to be re-examined
• forced blacks to post bonds if they wished to stay in Canada

Reaction - Council felt Larwill was far too extreme. Therefore, his actions hurt his cause.

King moved to the Elgin Settlement November 28, 1849 with his former slaves. The settlement flourished because it was well organized. Under King's guidence the land was cleared, education maintained an importance, hard work, and pride were established and a mail service was started as a link to the rest of the world.

On September 24, 1856, a celebration was held on the lawn of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church. There Chatham whites saw the success of the settlement. Also celebrated was the defeat of Larwill by Archibald McKellar in the Kent Election of 1856. Most blacks had come in to Chatham from Elgin to vote against Larwill. This defeat ended Larwill's political career. Rev. King, "From that time (of Larwill's defeat) forward all opposition to me and the coloured people ceased."

By 1864, the settlement received a good report indicating: good conduct, a hard working community, good moral standards and political awareness and participation.