Which groups of Black settlers formed the early Africville community?

The early community of Africville, located on the southern shore of the Bedford Basin near Halifax, was formed by a diverse mix of Black settlers. These groups included:

• Formerly enslaved people: Individuals who had gained their freedom and settled in the area.1
• Maroons: Africans who had escaped enslavement in Jamaica and were subsequently resettled in Nova Scotia by the British government in 1796.1
• Black refugees: People who arrived following the War of 1812, many of whom had previously been enslaved in the Chesapeake region of the United States.1

By the mid-19th century, these families established a cohesive community, anchored by the Seaview African United Baptist Church, which served as the social and civic heart of the village.1