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Wole Vaughn has known his family's 'Roots' all along by Shirley Whittington Wole Vaughn is a young Nigerian who is visiting in Midland for a few weeks. In these days of Roots consciousness, his story is an interesting one. He is a member of one of the few black families who have a known bir- thright and a documented family history. There are African Vaughns, and American Vaughns, and both branches of the family have kept in contact for more than a hundred years. Retiring "The cycle wasn't broken at any point,"' said Wole, in a recent in- terview. "'As a boy, I heard stories about our original ancestor, Scipio Vaughn. Thousands of black Vaughns in Africa and in the United States can trace their ancestry to him." Scipio (a name given to him by his white owners) was captured by slavers around 1805, and shipped to South Carolina when he was in his early twenties. He was sold to Wilie Port McNicoll firemen honoured Approximately 80 years of service with the Port MeNicoll Fire Depart- ment were recognized at a special banquet held May 6 at the Sportsman Inn, Victoria Harbour. Retiring Port McNicoll Fire Chief Lloyd Cameron, Captain John P. Reedy and Firefighter Robert Smith, all volunteers, had recently retired from the Port MeNicoll volunteer fire brigade. Retiring Chief Cameron had been a member of the fire department for 30 years just under 25 of which had been served as fire chief; Reedy had served for 20 years as well, and Smith was a member for 20 years service. Cameron, who has resigned as chief but remains a member of the Port Fire Department in the position -of captain was presented with a digital clock radio and Mrs. Cameron received roses, Captain Reedy and Firefighter Smith, who had 30 and 20 years service with the fire department respectively, were each presented with engraved watches by Port Reeve Robin Talbot. Forty guests were present at the dinner hosted by the volunteer fire department. Presentations were ap- proved by the village council. Lloyd Cameron was master of ceremonies for the evening and Port MeNicoll's Dr. C.A. Talbot was at his 'roasting best' when addressing the group . Fire chief Gordon Duggan thanked the retiring members for their devotion and work with the Port Volunteer Fire Department. The entire village council with the exception of James Zummach clerk treasurer Alex Hancox and Mrs. Hancox were present for the special banquet. The only remaining active members of the original fire department which was first organized in 1947 are Ernest Quesnelle and Lloyd Cameron. Vaughn, a Camden planter whose surnames he assumed. A skilled artisan and trusted slave, Scipio was hired out by the Vaughns to work as a carpenter and blacksmith. Even- tually he married a Cherokee woman, and 3 Magery 1820, and Wole Vaughn fathered 13 children. Wilie Vaughn died in will stipulated that the annual labour of "his negro man his elmprove property HOW MUCH MONEY DO YOU NEED? 2,500 to 100,000 Pay off all your debts in one clean sweep and have only one small monthly payment LL LEND YOU MONEY 70 . ePay off a mortgage eCombine 2 or more mortgages into 1 ePay taxes and insurance eConsolidate overdue bills ePay off a loan company or bank ePurchase car, boat or cottage eOr for any worthwhile purpose CALL-ME PERSONALLY °~ © DUANE PATFIELD 429-3615 GREAT NORTHERN CREDIT CORP. Box 143, Collingwood, Ontario ...pass it on! All this and more from your CLASSIFIEDS Page 8, Wednesday, May 25, 1977 e COATS Ask about 097 exe & LAUNDRY COMPANY LIMITED(@ PROTECT YOUR KEEP THEM COOL... We store all types of: Free Pickup and Delivery FURS, e DRESSES e SUITS @ SWEATERS e JACKETS } REFRIGERATED VAULT, FULLY INSURED STORAGE Our guarantee of over of quality cleaning DRY ANING LAR years 916 Yonge St., Midland 526-5436 Chairman D.C. Williams, Ph.D., LL.D. Freedom of THE COMMISSION ON Information and Individual Privacy The Commission on Freedom of Information and Indi- vidual Privacy by authority vested in it by the Govern-. ment of Ontario will undertake an enquiry to examine: 1. Public information practices of other jurisdictions in order to consider possible changes which are compatible with the parliamentary traditions of the Government of Ontario and complementary to the mechanisms that presently exist for the protection of the rights of individuals; 2. The individual's right of access and appeal in relation to the use of Government information; 3. The categories of Government information which should be treated as confidential in order to protect the public interest; 4. The effectiveness of present procedures for the dissemination of Government information to the public; 5. The protection of individual privacy and the right of recourse in regard to the use of Government records. One aspect of the Study will include the acceptance of written Briefs and the Receipt of Submissions as well as a series of public meetings throughout the Province. Persons or groups wishing to make representations to the Commission on any aspect of the Study are re- quested to write to the Counsel, Commission of Freedom of Information and Individual Privacy, 444 Waterloo Street, London, Ontario N6B 2P3 or to submit written Briefs with the undersigned not later than August |, 1977. Public hearings will be held at times and places in Ontario to be announced later and those filing Briefs or letters who wish to appear personally will be advised as to the time and place when they will be heard. Please address all correspondence to: Counsel, Commission on Freedom of Information and Individual Privacy, 444 Waterloo Street, London, Ontario N6B2P3. WR. Poole, Q.C. Counsel Scipio" be appropriated as a fund for >the education of Scipio's children. He also gave Scipio his freedom, within five years. Two of Scipio's sons, Burrel and James, saved the money they were permitted to earn doing odd jobs, and purchased their freedom. James sailed to Nigeria where he played a leading role in establishing the Baptist Church there. Burrel returned to Liberia but how he fared is unknown. Reunions The two branches of the Vaughn family kept in touch and they still have reunions surprisingly often. 'One of my sisters,' says Wole, "'is working on her thesis at Columbia University. She Keep Simcoe 'Centre secure FOLLOW- is getting married, and her wedding will be a reason for a _ family reunion. And many members of the American Vaughns went to Nigeria a few years ago for an all black arts festival." Wole has been in Canada for two years. He has one more year to complete in an ad- vertising course at MacWean College in Edmonton and then he plans to join his father (a retired accountant) and his mother (the principal of an elementary school) in Nigeria. What does Wole think of Roots? 'I was in Canada when it came out,'"' he says, "but I had known for sure for such a long time where I came from THROUGH _ ITAYLOR, George and who my ancestors were..." His remarks trail off into a non- committal smile. The story of the African and American descen- dents of Scipio Vaughn who have kept in touch for so many years was the subject of a feature story in Ebony Magazine in 1975. One of the American Vaughns has written the biography of Scipio Vaughn. Will other books be written documenting the story of two branches of the family that have never lost contact with each other? Wole Vaughn answers with a smile. "It is not impossible." Tyre LY, famous lubricants . . . equipment working. Name Yeu; Texaco man. 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