Colonel John Creighton is best known for his conduct during the American privateer raid of 1 July 1782 on Lunenburg, he was also a slave owner. Sylvia was enslaved by Creighton during Nova Scotia’s period of slavery. When the town was invaded by American soldiers Sylvia bravely shuttled cartridges of ammunition hidden in her apron from Creighton’s house to the fort where he and his soldiers were engaged in battle. When the house came under fire, Sylvia threw herself on top of the colonel’s son to protect him with her own body.
During the battle she concealed Creighton’s valuables in a bag that she lowered into a well for safe keeping, and also protected the home and possessions of Major Jessen, according to one source “tradition has it that she helped to load the muskets in the blockhouse and even fire them.” Sylvia died in Halifax on 12 March 1824 age 70 and is buried in the Old Burying Ground.
Source: Town of Lunenburg.
