Moses "Quinte" Brown was a Black Loyalist who escaped slavery in the United States by following his former master, James Clinton, to Canada. Brown would, decades later, reveal to Clinton's descendants that he had been entrusted with concealing a box belonging to the family, which later led to a search for treasure buried by George Washington.
Biography[]
Youth[]
At the close of the American Revolutionary War, Brown was living with his mother and father as a slave on the Virginia plantation of Percival Clinton. The owner of the home and his son James left to fight on behalf of the Loyalists and King George III, while his eldest son Edward fought on behalf of George Washington. When the elder Clinton's wife passed, Brown's parents, as the head slaves of the household, ensured she was buried on the shores of the Potomac. Brown's own mother died soon after. Brown's father called him to his side on his deathbed, and made him swear to take care of a black walnut box that had been entrusted to him by Percival Clinton. Brown swore to never give the box to anyone but Clinton.
Unfortunately, Clinton died in the final battle of the war. Unable to give it to Clinton, and in fear of losing his soul, Brown never revealed its existence to James Clinton. Edward Clinton soon returned to the home and evicted James, and Brown, hating Edward's cruel treatment of himself and the other slaves, left with James. The pair subsisted by begging until they found their way to New York City, where they boarded a ship bound for Canada. Clinton found love with a Miss Van Buskirk, and the pair of them and Brown later took government ships to Fort Frontenac, and camped at the future site of Kingston, Ontario. After the marriage of Clinton and Van Buskirk, Brown and the rest of the party continued onward, and settled near the Bay of Quinte on 16 June 1784. (PROSE: The Old Loyalist)
Notes[]
Behind the Scenes[]
- Brown was created by Canadian author Allan Ross Davis.
Appearances[]
- The Old Loyalist (first and final appearance)