George Black, a free man, with his wife and two children came with me to this place. He has long been free, and was one of the brave fellows who served under the gallant Col Tye. I think he deserves provision as well as other refugees…
(Lt-Col Isaac Allen, 1783)
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| George Leek Sculpture; Kings Landing Corporation, Taylor-Leek Collection |
George Rexford Leek (1787-1861) was born a slave to Isaac Allen; he is also believed to be Isaac Allen’s son. His mother was Sabina Grant, also one of Isaac Allen’s slaves. After Allen gave George his freedom, and sold him farmland in Springhill (land George had no doubt worked since birth), George married Jane Hector, the daughter of another Black family in Maugerville. Together, George and Jane raised a large family, and later generations contributed several voices to the noted African-Canadian choir at St. Peter’s Anglican Church.
George and his son, William Leek, were the chief carpenters of St Peter’s Anglican Church, completed in 1838. Many in Fredericton’s Black community worshipped in this church, and comprised one third of the congregation. These families included surnames such as Leek, Payne, Henry, McCarthy (McCarty), Taylor, and Dymond. George Leek’s son and namesake served for many years as sexton of St Peter’s, and the church congregation helped raise funds for his family home when it burned to the ground in 1881. The Leek family gravesite stands prominently in the churchyard of St Peter’s, surrounded by five generations of Leeks.
Today, many personal items belonging to George Leek and his descendants can be found in the artefact collection of Kings Landing Historical Settlement. Daniel Leek and Mary Louise McCarthy are proud descendants of George and Jane Leek.
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| Willow basket; Kings Landing Corporation, Taylor-Leek Collection, M2007.39.79 |
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| Clay pipe; Kings Landing Corporation, Taylor-Leek Collection, M2007.39.31 |
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| Razor strap; Kings Landing Corporation, Taylor-Leek Collection, M2007.39.40 |
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| Cane holder; Kings Landing Corporation, Taylor-Leek Collection, M2007.39.102 |
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| Cane; Kings Landing Corporation, Taylor-Leek Collection, M2007.39.46 |
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| Document Box; Kings Landing Corporation, Taylor-Leek Collection, M2007.39.15A-C |
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| "Human Nature in its Fourfold State" by Thomas Boston, 1787; Kings Landing Corporation, Taylor-Leek Collection, M2007.39.37 |
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| Crutch; Kings Landing Corporation, Taylor-Leek Collection, M2007.39.11 |
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| Leek family quilt, Log Cabin design; Kings Landing Corporation, M2007.39.83 |