born into slavery in Virginia in 1774. She was owned by the Devone family, but her family escaped to the Nova Scotia (Canada) town of Annapolis Royal from New York City. Fortune's family were "Black Loyalists."
In the late 1700s she appointed herself policewoman of the Annapolis Royal, located on the north shore of Nova Scotia. Rose Fortune started her own business called the Lewis Transfer company in 1825. She was determined to make something of herself and make her town a safe place for all to be in.

http://www.sameshield.com/history/sshistory01.html

She lived until 1864. One of her descendants, Daurene Lewis, served as mayor of Annapolis Royal in the 1980s. A Café visitor wrote to tell us that Daurene Lewis was also the first Black female mayor in North America! (See below)

Dr. Daurene E. Lewis
http://www.coolwomen.org/coolwomen/cwsite.nsf/vwWeek/86CCA4D21950341085256644004C6CA6?OpenDocument

:terrific: :terrific: Giving it up for the Black Women! Excellent post Sis!