Heritage York Research Guide
James Baby
The Baby Family and Baby Point
Jacques "James" Baby (pronounced 'bah-bee') was born in Detroit in 1763 to a prominent family of landholders, fur-traders, and slave-owners. The Baby family had previously lived in Quebec, and France preceding that. Due to their British loyalty, the Babys moved across the Detroit river to present-day Windsor, Ontario, around the turn of the 19th century. James fought in the War of 1812, and later moved to York around 1816, although there is evidence he owned 100 acres of land in York since as early as 1805. In the fall of 1830, James purchased lots 2 & 3 of the 2nd concession on the Humber, in what is presently called Baby Point (see right).
Within his lifetime, James had 'ownership' of at least one enslaved person, and possibly up to three. Thérèse, who was emancipated in 1803, continued to serve the family as a servant after being granted her freedom, and was employed by James in York likely until her death in 1826. Her daughter, Rosalie, and a boy named Franke may also have been owned by / served James.
James and the Baby Point neighbourhood have been of heightened public interest lately, due to the family's history of enslavement.
Humber Valley Surveys map (Baby Point circled), Humber Valley surveys. Riverside subdivision. Baby Point subdivision. Glebe subdivisions. Bridge and subdivision. Old Mill subdivision, 1913. Baldwin Collection of Canadiana, TPL. Public Domain.
To view a spreadsheet of primary documents on the Baby family throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, please click here
Family Trees
The following lineage combines the information published in 1869 by Henri Raymond Casgrain, and in 1899 by Philippe-Baby Casgrain, both of whom were grandsons of James Baby. The Baby lineage, order, and dates vary significantly depending on the source, but these two appear to agree. The two Casgrain sources have been prioritized due to their origins. The below information is not inclusive of the aforementioned sources - please see the citations at the bottom of the page to access more detailed information.
A Baby family tree that includes members up to the year 1946 is available at the Archives of Ontario, fonds 2128.
Casgrain, C. E., H.-R. Casgrain, and H.-R. (Henri-Raymond) Casgrain. Mémoires de famille C. E. Casgrain. Rivière-Ouelle, Québec: Manoir d’Airvault, 2018.
Casgrain, P.-B., Mémorial des familles Casgrain [...], Québec, C. Darveau, imprimeur et photograveur, 1899, 198, [23] p. : tabl. généal. ; 29 cm., Collections de BAnQ.
Slavery
Below are the details of the individuals enslaved by James Baby's father, Jacques, his uncle, François, and James himself. Thérèse is the individual believed to have been "inherited" by James Baby, and, according to an account by James' daughter, she was brought to York. After her emancipation in 1803, she continued on as a servant. It is also likely that her daughter Rosalie, and a boy named Franke were enslaved by James.
For more information on individuals enslaved by additional members of the Baby family, please see Marcel Trudel's well-researched book, "Dictionaire des Esclaves et de Leurs Propriétaires au Canada Français," LaSalle, Québec : Hurtubise HMH, 1990, from which the information on the following enslaved individuals was obtained.
Heritage York will continue to prioritize research into enslavement by the Baby family. Please click here to view a list of primary sources (censuses, directories, books) collected for this research guide.
Please note that not all information on slavery on this page may be accurate and complete. The information listed on this page is as yet known to be the most accurate available, and is provided here to aid in further research.
Jacques Baby
Son of Raymond; Father of François and Jacques.
Enslaved the following individuals:
Françoise was born in 1732. She became a mother at 31, to Marie. She passed on March 22, 1772, and buried the next day, in Detroit.
Documented racial identity: Indigenous
Marie, daughter of Françoise, was born at home on Jan 15, 1763 in Detroit, and baptized at church the next day.
Documented racial identity: Indigenous
Genevieve, a godmother to Rosalie (enslaved by William Caldwell, husband of Suzanne Baby) on 29 May, 1788, Detroit.
Documented racial identity: Indigenous
Marie, married Jacques-Caton on Feb 6 or 7, 1780, at the instruction of Jacques Baby, to legitimize the birth of their son. Marie may have already had another child.
Documented racial identity: Indigenous and European
Jacques-Caton, married Marie on Feb 6 or 7, 1780, at the instruction of Jacques Baby, to legitimize the birth of their son, in Detroit.
Documented racial identity: Black
Jacques, son of Marie and Jacques-Caton, born in 1780 and baptized between Jan 10-19 of the same year, in Detroit.
Documented racial identity: Black, Indigenous, European
Genevieve, a godmother to a daughter of a Black woman (enslaved by William Caldwell, husband of Suzanne Caldwell), on 27 Feb, 1785, Detroit.
Documented racial identity: Black, Indigenous, European
François, baptized on 26 April, 1795 at 19 months old, Detroit. Belonged to Jacques' widow after his death. Jean-Baptiste Baby was François' godfather.
Documented racial identity: Black
Thérèse was born in 1761, and was later sold to François Baby in 1785, and later to Jacques Baby, in Detroit. Thérèse would be further passed on to enslaver and prominent local James Baby in Toronto. Thérèse was mother to Rosalie and Leon. She was emancipated in 1803, and passed away in 1826.
Documented racial identity: Black, Indigenous, European.
Rosalie, also known as Rose Lontin, daughter of Thérèse and a father whose name is now unknown. Sold to François Baby along with her mother in 1785 in Detroit.
Documented racial identity: Black, Indigenous, European
Leon, son of Thérèse, born in 1782/3, originally purchased by Jacques, sold to François Baby at the age of 2 1/2 with his mother. Detroit.
Documented racial identity: Black, Indigenous, European
Marie-Louise, a mother of at least five,
Detroit.
Documented racial identity: Indigenous
Rosalie, born and baptized on 13 Feb, 1786, Detroit.
Daughter of Mary-Louise.
Documented racial identity:
Indigenous
Catherine, born and baptized in 1786, daughter of Mary-Louise, Detroit. The wife of Jacques Baby gave Catherine to their granddaughter Elizabeth-Anne Baby upon her wedding to Charles-Eusebe Casgrain in 1824. Catherine later served Archange Baby, until the death of the latter in 1850, Amherstburg, ON.
Documented racial identity: Indigenous
Augustin, born and baptized on 12 August, 1789, Detroit, son of Mary-Louise and a father now unknown.
Documented racial identity: Indigenous
Louis, born on 28 Aug, 1790, Detroit, baptized the next day. Son of Mary-Louise and a father now unknown.
Documented racial identity: Indigenous
Basile, born and baptized on 13 June, 1793, Detroit, son of Mary-Louise and a father now unknown.
Documented racial identity: Indigenous
Name unknown, owned by Jacques in 1782, at least.
Male
Detroit
Name unknown, owned by Jacques in 1782, at least.
Female
Detroit
François Baby
Son of Raymond; Brother of Jacques; Uncle of James.
Enslaved the following individuals:
Thérèse, previously enslaved by François' father, was born in 1761, and was later sold to François Baby in 1785, in Detroit. Jacques later bought Thérèse from his brother François for 40 English pounds. Thérèse would be further passed on to enslaver and prominent local James Baby in Toronto. Thérèse was mother to Rosalie and Leon.
She was emancipated in 1803, and passed away in 1826.
Documented racial identity: Black, Indigenous, European
Rosalie, also known as Rose Lontin, previously enslaved by François' father, was the daughter of Thérèse and a father whose name is now unknown. Sold to François Baby along with her mother in 1785 in Detroit.
Documented racial identity: Black, Indigenous, European
Leon, son of Thérèse, born in 1782/3, purchased by Jacques, sold to François Baby at the age of 2 1/2, Detroit
Documented racial identity: Black, Indigenous, European
Twelve names of enslaved individuals now unknown.
Detroit
Jacques/James Baby
Son of Jacques; Nephew of François - Lived in York with at least one of the following who were first enslaved, and then servants post-emancipation.
Enslaved the following individuals:
Thérèse, previously enslaved by François' father, was born in 1761, and was later sold to François Baby in 1785, in Detroit. Jacques later bought Thérèse from his brother François for 40 English pounds. Thérese would be further passed on to enslaver and prominent local James Baby in Toronto. Thérèse was mother to Rosalie and Leon.
She was emancipated in 1803, and passed away in 1826.
Documented racial identity: Black, Indigenous, European
Rosalie, also known as Rose Lontin, previously enslaved by Jacques and François, was the daughter of Thérèse and a father whose name is now unknown. Rose may have later been sent to serve James' daughter Elizabeth-Anne Baby (along with the previously mentioned Catherine) upon Elizabeth-Anne's marriage.
Documented racial identity: Black, Indigenous, European
Franke
Purchased at age 12
Documented racial identity:
Black
Trudel, Marcel. Dictionnaire des esclaves et de leurs propriétaires au Canada français. LaSalle, Québec: Hurtubise HMH, 1990.
Casgrain, C. E., H.-R. Casgrain, and H.-R. (Henri-Raymond) Casgrain. Mémoires de famille C. E. Casgrain. Rivière-Ouelle, Québec: Manoir d’Airvault, 2018.
Baby Point and the Baby Family
in the News Today
A peninsula on the Humber River, Baby Point was the location of the Seneca village of Teiaiagon in the late 17th century. Today, it is a beautiful and wealthy hamlet of the Lambton Mills neighbourhood. The name of the peninsula is taken from James, who owned, and likely lived on the land (lots 2 & 3 of the 2nd concession on the Humber), between 1816 and 1831.
Considering the slave-owning past of the Baby family (detailed above), including of James himself, and the recent push to rebrand areas of Toronto named after controversial historical inhabitants, Baby Point has become part of the discussion.
Below are a series of sources showing community interest in the controversial family's legacy. Heritage York will continue to research primary documentation on James and the family in order to best serve the community in the search for facts.
A series of signs designed to look like Toronto Heritage plaques, but actually created by a unidentified Black Lives Matter group/campaign, have been found placed around the city. The sign pictured above is one of several placed around Baby Point calling out the slave-owning past of the area's namesake. The particular sign pictured above was rescued from a TTC trash can by a Heritage York member, and is now part of the Heritage York collection, displayed at Lambton House.
Please visit the links below to view news articles on the appearance of these signs:
In Windsor, Ontario, the former residence of François Baby (uncle of James) and his family is, today, a historic house open for the public, as part of Museum Windsor. Windsor is seeing a similar movement as in Toronto, with increased interest in, and pushback against, the reverence of slave owners.
Please visit the links below to view news articles and research on the Baby family in Windsor:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/windsor/irene-moore-davis-street-plaques-toronto-windsor-1.5698225
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/windsor/windsor-streets-named-after-slave-owners-1.5606769
https://windsorstar.com/uncategorized/artists-research-francois-babys-slave-owning-history
http://camilleturner.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Handout.docx.pdf
