as they had promised, in 1782 the british began transportation of black loyalist freedmen to nova scotia and other colonies. they transported george, his wife and three children (jesse, david and ginny) to shelburne, nova scotia for freedom after the defeat of the british during the american war of independence. this was part of an evacuation of nearly 3500 former slaves from the united states to nova scotia. george established a church in shelburne and became the leader of the baptist contingent of the african-american loyalists, and he also attracted whites to his congregation. some whites resented his influence in the community. his house and those of many of his followers were attacked and destroyed in july 1784 by racist mobs in the shelburne riots. george and his wife moved to the nearby free black settlement of birchtown and became one of the influential african-american families at the center of black settlement.