Descendants of fugitive slave reunite in Hamilton

More than200descendants of a fugitiveslave will be reuniting in Hamilton this weekend. They return to the city where their family first gained freedom.

It was 1860 when Thomas John Holland escaped slavery in Maryland. He fled through the Underground Railroad which led him to Hamilton. For the first time hisdescendants will reunite in the city where he first lived as a free man.

"Our family has a rich, rich history in Hamilton," said Nerene Virgin, a great-granddaughter of Holland, and an organizer of the event. That they havent had a reunion here yet is "kind of surprising," she said.

Family members coming to Hamilton from all over the U.S.

A family of high-achievers, many of the Howard-Holland kin went on to make impressive careers for themselves across North America. Hollands son, John Christie Holland, was named Hamiltons Citizen of the Year in 1953 for his humanitarian contributions. He was the first blackperson honoured with that award.

This weekend many will be coming from Maryland, South Carolina, California and Ottawa to celebrate the three-day reunion. Among them: lawyers, professors, human rights activists, newspaper publishers, a development and diplomacy worker, a secondary school principal, a computer engineer, a television music composer and business owners. Success, it seems, is in the genes.

Virgin herself has been a teacher, a CBC television reporter andanchor, political candidate in the Hamilton Mountain riding, anti-racism activist, and may be best knownas an actorshe played "Jodie" on TVOntarios childrens program Todays Special in the 1980s.

"The saying in our family was you rise above,'" Virgin said. "And that came from what my great-grandfather did. It doesnt matter what life hands you, you rise above it."

Escaped slavery at the age of 15

Thomas John Holland was only 15 when he made the dangerous two-month trip to seek refuge in Hamilton. He evaded bounty hunters chasing runaway slaves. He slept in swamps. He swam across the Niagara River and fended for his life in the wilderness, Virgin attests.

That's a lot for Virgin's grandson, Jackson Holland to live up to. He was born in Hamilton and is 15 years oldthe same age his great-great-great-grandfather was when he ran for freedom. He hasnt attended a reunion yetmost take place in Marylandbut he says he is excited to finally meet his extended family.

He knowshisfamilyis exceptional. He hasnt heard of any other kids at his high school who have big reunions like this.

And when he reflects on his familys particular accomplishments, he says he feels "very happy." That they could overcome adversity and racism. It fills theteen withconfidence.

"I feel like if I ever have any obstacle in my way, I can defeat it," he said. "Because I know its in me, its in my blood."

The reunion will run from Friday to Sunday and will include a boat cruise, afternoon picnic at Dundurn Castle and Park, an evening of dancing and a church ceremony at the Stewart Memorial Church.

In Virgins opinion, the reunion is an opportunity for her American relatives to tour Hamilton and learn about their past. And for the younger members, like her grandson, it will be a chance to "rub shoulders" with a group as successful as them.