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I suspect, from what I have seen, that Blacks in New Brunswick avoided 'official' notice whenever possible; and were disinclined to have any records made about them. A rather natural suspicion since, as you suggested, slavery was still legal in NB and such records could be (and were) used to their disadvantage. In some records, such as census returns, some of the information seems to be so incorrect (ages out by as much as 20 years), that I suspect the misled the enumerator. While finding any firm records in NB between 1783 and 1812 is difficult, for Blacks it seems triply so.
Drowning, in Saint John, was indeed a common occurence.In particular there were the Reversing Falls, to be navigated only by those familiar with them, and only at the slack of high tide. Otherwise, they took on the form of white-water rapids. Some might be tempted to row a boat through when the current was swift, but not agitated. No doubt most made the passage; but there were numerous accounts of those who did not. Even large craft could be dangerous as a 1st cousin (many times removed) of mine found when the tiller of a sloop he was conning through the falls knocked him overboard. While such drownings were common, they were usually reported, and Dan Johnson's survey of newspapers of the period should have had a mention.
That Peter Thompson married a Marie Boucher, however, does not suggest NB, but Quebec. In NB there were mostly Acadians, and Boucher is more a Quebecoise name. It is hardly conclusive, but I don't see Peter/Pierre marrying in Quebec and drowning in Saint John. Quebec City is on the St. Lawrence River, and they may have drowned there.
I can see Peter leaving NB for Quebec. Although a Peter Thompson was given a license to operate a tavern (an enormous concession at the time) Blacks were not permitted to own businesses in Saint John (it's in the city charter), nor even to fish in the harbour. The promises made to the Blacks by the British were barely kept, if kept at all. Many left, some for Africa' and Quebec may well have been an attractive destination. If they are, in fact, the same person; then in the time frame you suggest Peter must have gone to Quebec by or before 1795. This further suggests that any surviving records must have been noted by now.
I am concerned about the mention of 'the 8th (Kings) regiment'. It sounds as if this was a regular, British Regiment sent over during the War of 1812. This seems to be the case as at:
http://www.warof1812.ca/8thregt.htm
and:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/8th_(The_King's)_Regiment_of_Foot
As a senior and regular regiment of foot, it seems unlikely that they would recruit in Quebec; but I believe they were, at times, reinforced by local militia.
I will try to keep an eye out for anything and try to find you if something comes up.
Thomas
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