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32X

J. II. sMirii.

HISTORICAL SKETCH

ol- III I.;

County of Wentworth

AM)

THE HEAD OF THE LAKE

J. H. SMITH

I'UMl.K SCIlOdl. INSl'KllOK, U i:.S IWdK 11 1 i ol'NIV

HAMILTON
r'KINIKI) Uy OliDKK ()|- 1111, lOlNrv toi. NCII,

1897

— ™""'MiHifni'-~lll

^ , J V

Entered accordiiiR to Act of tlie I'arliiuiieiit of Canada, in the year 1897. by
J. H. Smith, I'ublic School Inspector, at the Ueimrtnient of Agriculture.

■ pr.cT»Ton

PRINTINQ

COMPANY

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I. '■***''

EarIV EXI'I.OKI.KS

CHAPTER H.

Inuian Tkiisks ••■....

CHAPTER m.

HlSTUKY OK Ul'l-KK CaNADA PkIOK To 17(ii . ,.

CHAPTER IV.

TiiK First Sktti.kks

CHAPTER V.

Systk.ms ok Local Ski.k-Oovkknmknt

CHAPTER VI.

(JOVKRNOK SiMCOK— SUKVKY OK ToW.NSHirs , 60

CHAPTER VII.

CuU.NTY UK WkNTWURTII FoRMKI)

..... 73

CHAPTER VIII.

War ok iSrc-iS^ ... c,

CHAPTER IX.
Batti.k ok Stony Crkkk , . .. , n^j

CHAPTER X.

Some Old Lktters .

lat;

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

J. H. Smiiii

Bl'KI.IMJlDN HkACII

CaNAI. at Bl'KIIMJTON BkA( II

TllK (lACK HoMKSTKAI) ....

COI.. RoHKRT LaM> » ' .

Robert Land's Caiiin ....

Oi.u County Court Housk .

Cai't. Josi-.rii Brant . . . .

Hamilton in 1S47

W11.1.IAM Martin, Wardkn i8(/)
O. vS. CouNSKi.i., County Ci.kkk
Dk. J. O. McGriujor, Warukn iS(j7

TiiK Rki) Hii.i

TiiK First Court House

pRKSKNT Court Housk . . . .

" Fools' Coi.LKt;K "

PAHF,
2

39
41

(H)

75
7<*
S3
105
r2f)
T27
140

PREFACE.

23
41

4<y

52
5y

(H)

75
7<*
S3
105
126
127
140

I\ KS94, at tho June session of tlu- Wcntwortli County
Council, a memorial was presented by the members of
"The Wentvvorth Historical Society," recoinmendinjr that a
prize be offered for a history of the County of Wentworth.
In response to this request the sum of one hundred dollars
was jrranted for the best historical essay, and a committee
consisting of W. II. Ballard, Esq., M. A., Public School In-
spector for the City of Hamilton, Thomas Stock, Esc|.,
Collector of Customs, Dundas, and A. F. Pirie, Es(|.,
Editor of the Dundas True Hanner, was appointetl to award
the prize.

At tlie solicitation of many of his friends and acciuaint-
ances, the writer prepared a paper on this subject and sub-
mitteil it to this committee for examination. They awarded
him the prize, and the essay remained in the possession of
the County Council until June, 1896, when it was placed in
the hands of the Education Committee to consider the advis-
ability of havinjf it printed. This committee met, and :ifter
carefully considerincr the subject matter of this historical
sketch, consulted the writer and requested him to eidarj^^e
the scope of the essay by addinjr some additional matter

I'HKIAl K

l)c'arin<^ upon liistorital t'M'iits that liad otiiinvd within the
limits of thf County, hut which ha<l not l)c'c'n referred to
in th(. orij^inal paper. This he eonsenled to do, and the
eonunittee reported in fax )r of havinjf it ])uhlished. This
report was adopted hv llie Couneil, and tlie essay was
aeeorchn^ly phieed in tlie liands of the I'rintinj^ Coinndttee
for puhheation. Such in hrief is the histor\' of the orij^in
of the j)resent work.

The autlior is not ohhvious to the fact tliat liis work
is hut imperfectly done. The pressure of his otilcial duties
frecpiently prevented him from devotinj; tiie time necessary
to make his work as complete as he could wish. lie is
also aware that many important facts have been omitted,
and that much remains to he done before a c()m})lete history
of this County can be <^iyen to the public. Iloweyer, should
time and opportunity permit, he hopes at some future time
to revise and enlarj^e the present work. What has thus far
been done is now sid)initted to the discriminatinj^ judj^mcnt
of the public with the hope that they will be lenient in
their criticisms, accept what is worthy of acceptance and
lijjfhtly scan its shortconiinj^s and defects.

The object which the author has kept constantly in \ iew
was to sketch in brief outline the history of the County of
VVentworth from its earliest settlement to the present time,
and to describe the conditions under which it has developed
into t)ne of the most eidiji^htened and projj^ressive counties
in Ontario. At this late date considerable dillicultv has been

I'lil.l All-..

hin the-
•rrcd to
ami tin-
1. This
;ay was
iininittt'f
c orij^in

is work

al duties

ccessary

He is

omitted,

' history

r, should

ire time

thus far

udj^ment

Miieut in

nice and

111 Mew

ounty of

ent time,

leveloped

comities

has been

fill "iiiiliTi'd ill (ililiiiiiiiiL; jKiiiriiU' iiiid tni-.! \\ orthv iiit'oniiiilioii
i-oiu rniiiiL; iiiiiiis pniiit'^ of iiitiTest assoiiated with thi'>c'
rarl\ liiiK>, >iiui' ihosi' w lie wiTr thi' |)riiui|)al .irtors thi-re-
iii. and who laid I'road and (U'i'|) ihi' rdiiiidations ot' it- rutiiri'
])r(>>|)iTil \ ha\i' |)a>->t'd to

" TIk' ini(li>(.(i\-(.'i\'(l country t'rnm whose lioiirn
No iraM-lliT n.-luriiN."

Niir can the soincwliat iinplca^aiil fci'lino- lie avoided that
icrtain >tatcniciits may i)c made that will not hi' in haiinoin
with what has hccii aiccptid l)y main as truth. I)oiil)tlcss
cri-()r> iia\e trcpt in, hut in all sinccrits and honcst\ of
purpose a eoiiscientions effort has l»een made to weioli im-
partiallx the e\ ideiice for and aoainst each stati'iiieiit, and
only what was linniy heliexed to \iv trui' has heeii ri'conK-d.

In presentino- this historical narrativi' it will lie expecheiit
to ^iveajirief outline of the earl\' hi^torv <>( I'ppt-r Canada.
1 he necessity lor thi■^ will he apparent when it is home in
mind that the iir^t settU'rs in t!iis section of i-ounlr\- were
ainono- the I'arliest in the l'ro\ iiice. Their interests were so
closely allied to. and so intimately interwoven with tiiose of
the I'rovii.ce at laro'c. that the historv of the one is practi-
cally the history of the other. When, however, the tide of
immij^ration set in, and the population incri-ased to such an
extent that new districts were opened for settlement, the
line of cleavao-e hetween provincial and local affairs hej^^an
to show itself tpiiti' distinctly. It shall therefore he mv aim
to follow this line as closely as possible, and consider oiilv

l(>

I'll l-.l' AC K.

siK'li i)li!ist'> (tf prov iiuiiil liistofv as liasi' tlimtlv aift'cti-d
tin- iiitc'fi'sts of this Comity.

Tlu- iiiithor is iLfrt.'iitlv iiuU-l)lL'(l to tlu- kindp'-ss of liis
frii'iuls wlio liiivi.' aidrd him in tlu- lollrition of niati-rial for
till' prL'paration of tliis sketch. Thij researches of Messrs.
I>. IC. Cliarhoii, of Ilamihoii. I'^. 15. Hi^^^ar, of 'Poroiito, and
J. I*. Merrill, of St. Catharines, liave thrown }^reat lij^ht up-
on manv <»f the important e\eiits that occurred durin<^ these
earlv times. 'J'he writer desires to plaee on record his
•grateful appreciation of the services rendered l>y them in
placin<if these vahiable papers at his (hs])()sal. I'urtliermore
he returns his warmest acknowledjj^ements to tlie officials of
the Crown Lands Department of Ontario for their imiform
courtesy wliile examining the public reords, and to the
Spectator Printinj; Company, of Hamilton, for the use of
illustrations and publications under their control.

IIamii. TON, February, 1S97.

afffiti'd

s of liis
rrial for

Messrs.
into, and
lijrht nj)-
n<^ tliL'si-
(.ord his
them in
tlionuore
Hcials oi

liniforin

1 to the

use t)f

HISTORICAL SKETCH

(11 riiK

COUNTY OP' V/ENTWORTH,

CHAP TKR I.

Jac(|ucs Cartier's I'irst Vo-aK^- Seoiul Voyage - Chaiupla,;, Joins
Fhirons Against Iroquois- His Cliaracter LaSalle Sails for
Canada -- Estate at LaCiiine- An ICxplorer — Joii, DoIIir-r and
(lalinee— Visits Lake Ontario - A. Indian Vil! ...-e - Reeeiv'njf
(niests — T.M Uirinjj; a Captive - - Visits Xiaj^ara - BurlinK'ton Hay —
Oakluiuis Kattlcsnukes — Visits Tinatona— Meets Jollet Separ-
•""s from Priu^ts- Tlis Lift-, Work, and vid Death.

JAcia Ks Caktiki! eiijoys the distinjruished honor of l)ein}r
the real discoverer of Caiuida. On the -'oth (,f April, 15:54"',
the Hrst exi)editioii, under his command, sailed from the port of
St. >hdo, in l^-ance. After a lonjr and tedious vovaj^a-, extend-
in- into July, he landed on the shores of the IVninsula of
(iaspe, aiul took possession of the country in the name of
Fnuuis I, Kiui,^ of France. Here he met with matiy of the
natives, and hy his j^a-iierous coiuhict and fair treatment, won
tlieir conHdence. They informed him of the existence of a
-reat river leadin<r fa,- into the interior, which no man had
traced to its source. lie therefore sailed up the (iulf of St.
Lawrence until he could see land on either side, hut as winter
was rapidly approachin<,r he postponed further explorations
until another year, and returned to France,

He end)arked on his second voyaj^e muler more favorahle
auspices. His vessels were Itetter ecpiipped, and his men more
enthusiastic. The avowed purpose of this expedition was to

BRI

lll--Hi|!U A I. »K Kl I II (>l I II I-:

' n

open up traOic with tlu- iiatixi's. and to form si'ttliMiu'iits.
Altout the middU- of |iil\. Iii> liltlf tlft-t rcatlu-d tin- iiioutli of
tlu' ^ulf. and (111 tlic- aiiiiiv (.Tsarv of tho festival of St. I.aw-
rciuf, he Liiti'i'ed a Miiall i)a\. to whiih lu' ;j^a\c tiie nanu' of
this saint, a name which lia- ^iiHe heeii a])plie(l to holh thi-
ri\ei'an(l the ^(ulf. In Si-pti-ml)er he readied tlie Indian \ il-
la^e of Sta(hieona, situated on tlu' shores of the ri\er lielou
the ])resenl fortress of t^uehee. After a l)rief sojourn at tliis
point, C'artier, and a ])ortion of his ( rew , pursued their journex
up the ri\er until the\ arri\i-d at a larj^e inland, on w liieli the\
found ilie Indian town of liochelaLja. ilere tlie\ w eri' treated
uitli the t^reatesl kindness, and wi-re most hospitahK enter-
tained 1>\ tile natives. Thev ax ended tin.* heautifnilv wooded
niounlain situated a little distain\- from the town in the rear,
and ohtaiued a mamiiliient view of the surroundim;" eountrv .
To this mountain thev ijave tlu- name of Mount Koval. At
the eompletion of tiii^ ^hort visit thev ri'tm-ned to Stadaeona.
where thev remaiiu-d until >prin;4. Durin;,;- the w inti-r the
erew suffered seven-lv from a virulent form of si'urv v , the bad
effects of whith were miti;^ated hv freelv nsiny' an infusion of
spruce houi^hs. Uoherval, a wealthv noliK'man of Picardv.
made another attempt at coloni/ation, l)ut all these earlv ex-
peditions ])ro\ fd disastrous failures. I'oi fuUv llftv v ears afti'r
this last attempt. \erv little was done in the wav of colonizing-
Canada.

I'^arlv in the seventeenth eeiiturv, Samuel de Champlain
\vas I'ommissioned to join a wealthv merchant of St. Malo.
l*ont<;raV('' 1)V name, in an attemjjt to extend the commerce of
France, and to establish the Koman Catholic relij^ion amon^'
the native tribes. Champlain was a man of superior mental
abilitv, courageous, fond of ailveiitnre. and an I'lithusiast in re-
liiiion. Of him it mi'^lit be trulv said "that the zeal of the
niissionarv tempered the lire of the soldier." Manv times dur-
in<i^ his ailministratioii he had occasion to v isit I'rauce in the
interests of the lolonists.

On his return from one of these periodical v isits, he learned
that a band of the Huron and Aliiomiuin chiefs had decided to

cot \ l\ Ol- \VK\ rWOIJTIl.

'.^

k'liu'iits.
louth oi
it. Law-
iiauu' of
)()th tlir
(lian \ il-
■r lic'low
1 at this
jdiinu-y
iih tlu-\
.• ti-i'atfd
i\ (.■liter-
wood L'(l
tin- rear,
i()untr\ .
ival. At
tadacoiia.
inter tlu'
, the had
fusion of
I'icardy,
earl\ ex-
ears after
oloni/.in^'

"hanijilaiii
St. Malo.
nnieree ot
)ii amonji'
or mental
ast in re-
.>al of llie
limes (hir-
icc in the

he learned
decided to

makt- war upon the Iroquois. l?elie\ iiiL^' tliat lu' eould do the
colonv t^ood ^er\ iee. and strenLjtheii the friendl\ fi'elinn' that
(•sifted hetwi'eii tlie Indian trihes and tlu' i'reiuh, lie. with a
few lompaiiions, joined tlie warlike e\pe(Htion. I'hev first
\i-ited tlie llnrons in their chief tow lis on the (ieor^ian l>a\ .
Afli'r the usual feastinj^' aii<l daiuini^- which tlir Indians in-
iliil^rd in on suth occasions, the\ started on their expi'dition.
following the natural wate'rwaN^ throuj^h central ()iitai"io until
tlu\ reach the I>a\ of Quintc. Here the\ erossed Lake ()n-
tario. and soon found ihemscKes face to face witli their iiixet-
I'l'alc tiiemio. Tlii-- expedition pro\ I'd disastrous to the
Iluroiis and .\l_L;i>n(|uiiis, and Chainplain earned for hiinself
and his fidlow colonists the Iastin^• enmitv of the Iroipiois.

C'haniplain's name is enrolled luLih anions the lu'rot-s of
L'anada. for ]]\^ ae'hicv eiiients had ^i\en additional lu>tri' to the
tail' iaiiii- of hi> adopted countrv . In lOo^, lu- foiindi'd the
C it\ of (jiK'hi'c. lie afterwards dist'oxcred Lakes Iluroii,
Siiiicoi' and Ontario, and was the lirst white man to sail on
that hiautitiil >hei't oi water which now hear> his honored
name. .\s a man. he was i^reatU isteemed for the justice of
hi- dialing;-, for his devotion to his countr\ . and for his jealous
iiitcri'st in the diffusion of L'Iii-istianit\ amon^■ the nati\>. trihes.

LaSalle Is a name that is (|uite familiar to e\er\ student of
(anadiaii history. I lis parents wen- wealtlu, and li\ed on an
<-late near tlie Cit\ of Rouen, in I'rance. llere he was liorn
in i')|^. It was a custom amon^ the wealtlu I'remh peo])le
of hat time to attach tin- name oi their estate to the \arious
inemhers of their families. lleiue we tind that his name in fuP
wa-- Rriie-koheri Ca\elier, Sieurde LaSalle. LaSalle heinu' the
naiiH' ot their t'slate. In his youth he reci.'i\ed such an educa-
tion as naturalL helitted his position in societ\. Xatuic had
endowed him with line mental powers, and these w t-re de-
M'loped hy judicious sfud\ . The heiit of liis mind was towards
mathematics, in whicli he hecame tpiite proficient.

It is said, and it is prohahly true, that in his earh life he
was connected witli the Jesuits. He this as it ina\. it is (|uite
ixideiit that his natural temperament would not suffer him to

•4

IIISI'OKKAI. SKKTfll Ol IIIK

l)C'C()nR- ii mere piissixc instrument in the liiinds of others and
sul)n>it his will to theirs. On the c(Milrarv, his stron;^ in(h\ icUi-
ahtv,his self-control, and his self-reliance, as well as liis nalin-al
pride, lilted him to lead and command rather than to follow
and oliey. His l)us\- nnnd demanded action, and his aml)ition
m"<jed him forward. His attention was directed to Canada,
\\here he had an elder lirother, a priest in llie Seminary of St.
Snlpice. This doubtless influenced him in decidin"^- to trv his
fortimes in the new world. His father ha\ inj>" died ahout this
time, he received from his estate a vearlv allowant'e, which he
capitalized, and in the sprinj^- of 1666 bade farewell to I'rance
and sailed for Canada.

Shortiv after his arrixal in Canada, he obtained from the
Seminarv of St. Snlpice, a lar<^e tract of land situated some
eij^ht or nine miles from Montreal, at a place afterwards called
LaChine. He induced a ninnber of people to settle here, and
be^an to improve his estate b\' laxiiii;- out and buildiui^- a pali-
saded town. The situation was a desirable one when \ iewed
in connection with the development of the fur trade, but had
the serious draw1)ack of bein*^ verv much exposed to the fre-
cpient attacks of maraudin*^ bands of Indians. His intercourse
\\ ith these native tribes soon convinced him that a kiiowledj-c
of their lanLfua^e was a necessitv. Hence he bet^an to study
it. In less than two years he iiad become ([uite proficient in
some se\en or eiij;'ht of their dialects. While thus eui^aj^ed he
obtained a \ ast fun<l of useful imformation concerniny- tlie in-
terior of the continent. This awakenetl in him a new ambition,
and he determine<l to visit these far away lands.

To accomplish the purpose on which he had set his heart,
be jirocceded to Quebec and obtained an audience with the
(jo\ernor, DeCourcelle, and with the intendant. Talon. Thev
readily acceded to his recpiest, and jj^ave him authority to pro-
ceed immediateh' with his explorations. He at once sold his
])ossessions, and with the jiroceeds fitted out an expedition.
In the meantime the authorities of the Seminary of .St. Snlpice
had dei'itled to send some of their priests on a mission to the
populous tribes of the Northwest. Dollier de Casson, one of

COINIV OF WKNTWOKTM.

Ik' possc'ssfil <(rcal physical strenj^lli, liiul a (.•oiiiinaiulini;'
presence, and was a man of undaunted courage. Willi him
was associated another priest, (ialinee hv name, who was a
skilful surveyor, and an astronomer of no little repute. On
tlie advice of the (jovernor, these two expeditions were merj^ed
into one, with LaSalle in command.

This joint expetlilion, consisting' of twentv-four men in
seven canoes, accompanied 1>\' a part\ of Senecas in two canoes,
who acted as <(uides, left LaChine on the 6th of |ulv, 1O69,

lis heart,
with the
. They
,• to pro-
sold his
pedition.
. Sulpice
n to the
1, one of

KXTitAcr i-i{().M riii: jot unai, oi- (;ai.i\ i;i:. *

^ After ^5 (lavs of \ er\ difhcult naviifatioii we arrixed at a
small rixer called hv the Indians Karontai^^onat (the Iro(|uois
name for I rondeciuoit l>a\- ), which is the nearest point on the
lake to Sonantouan, and ahout one hundred leai^ties southwest
of Montreal. I took the latitude of this place on the .JOth of
Aut^ust, 1669, with iii\- jacol)staff. ^\s I had a vcr\- tine hori-
zon on the north, no land but the open lakes heiiiL;- \isil)le in
that direction, I took tlie altitude on that side as heiiiij;- the least
liable to error.

*• We had no sooner arri\ed at this place than u c were
visited b\ a number of Indians, who came to make us small
presents of Indian corn, pumpkins, blackbi-rries and whortle-
berries, fruits of which tiiey liad abundance. We made pre.->-
ents in return of kni\es, awls, needles, i^lass beads, and other

' Quoted from a impi'V prcitnrod l)y 1*>. V,. •liiultoii, I'',sii., nf HiiiiiiltDii.

tiisToinc \i. sKK'ieii oi" iiiK

iiii

artick's wliich tlicy pri/.e, ar.d witli which wc were well pio-
s ided.

"Our 5^ui(les urj^ed us to remain in this j^lace till the next
(lay, as the ehief would not fail to eonie in the evenin<^ with
provisions to eseort us to the \illa<re. In fact, nij^ht had no
sooner come than a larj^e troop of Indians, with a nund)er of
women loaded \\ ith pro\ isions, arrived and encamped near bv,
and made for us bread of Indian corn and fruit. Thev did not
desire to speak to us in re<^ular council, l)ut told us that we
were expected in the villajife, to ever\ cabin of which word hatl
l:)een sent, to jj^ather all tlie old men at the council, which would
be held for tlie purpose of ascertainiiiLi^ the ol)ject of our visit.

" M. Dollier de Casson, M. de i^aSalle and mvself, con-
sulted toj^ether in order to determine in what manner we
should act, what we shoidd offer for jjresents, antl how we
should jifive them. It was aj^reed that I sliould j^o to the \ il-
laj^e with M. de LaSalle, for the purpose of obtainin<f a capti\ e
taken from the nation which we desired to \isit who could con-
duct us thither, and that we should take with us ei^ht of our
Frencb.men, the rest to remain with ^I. Dollier de Casson in
charji^e of the canoes. This plan was carried out, and the next
day, Auj^ust 12, had no sooner dawned, than we were notified
1)y the Indians that it was time to set out. We started with
ten Frenchmen and fortv or tlft\' Indians, who compelled us to
rest every leaLjue, fearing avc should be too much fatij^ued,
^\bout half wav we found another company of Indians who
hatl come to meet us. Thev made us presents of provisions
and accompanied us to the villatje. When we were within
about a leajrue of the latter the halts were more frequent, and
our company increased more and more, initil we finalh came
in sijrht of the great villa<re, which is in a lar^e plain, about
two leatjues in circumference. In order to reach it we had to
ascend a small hill (now ]}rou<^ht()n Hill) on the ed<i;e of which
the villajre is sitiuited.

" As soon as we had mounted the hill we saw a larj^c com-
pany of old men seateil on the t^rass, waitinj^ for us. I'hey

W-.-

c■()l■^■T^ oi u K\ rwon 111.

,(.'11 pro-

thc next
n<^ with

had no
iiiihi.'r of
near by,
^ (lid not
; that \VL'
A'ord had
•h would
ir visit,
self, coii-
nner we
how we
) the vil-
a eaptive
ould eon-
il of our
,'assoii in

the next
: notified
-ted with
lied us to

fati<ifued.
ians who
)rovisions
re within
[uent, and
alh' eanie
ain, about
ve had to
: of which

u-ge eoni-
is. The\

had left a convenient place in front, in wiiicli they in\ited us
to sit (low n.

" This we did, and at the same time an old man, nearly
blind, and so intirm that he could hardlv support himself,
arose, and in a ver\- animaled tone, delivered a speech, in
whicli he declared his joy at our arrival ; that we must con-
sider them as our brothers; that thev would regard us as
theirs; and in that relation the\' invited us to enter their \ il-
lage, where thev had prepared a cabin for us until we were
readv to disclose our purpose.

" ^\'e thanked them for their ci\ ilities. and told them through
our interpreter that we would on the next da\ declare to them
the object of our expedition. This d(jne, an Indian, who olVi-
ciated as master of ceremonies, came to conduct us to our
lodgings.

"■ We followed him and he led us to the largest cabin in the
\illage, which thev had prepared for our residence, giving
orders to the women belonging to it not to let us want for anv
thing. In truth thev were at all times \ erv faithful during our
sojourn, in preparing our food and in bringing the wood neces-
sar\ to afford us light over night.

"This village, like those of the Indians, is nothing but a
collection of cabins, surroinided with palisades IJ or i :; feet
high, bound together at the top and supported at the base, be-
hind the ])alisade, l)v large masses of wood at the height of a
man. The curtains are not otherwise tbnd<ed, but form a
simple enclosure, perfecth' sipiare, so that these forts are lujt
anv jjrotection. Uesides this, the precaution is seldom taken to
place them on the bank of a stream, or near a spring, but on
some hill, where ordiiiarilv thev are <|nite distant from water.

"• On the evening of the 12th we saw ail the other chiefs
arri\e so as to be in readiness for the council whicii was to be
held next day."

Here follows an interesting account of the council meeting,
and of their sta\ of ten da\s in tiie \ illage.

Continuing' the narrative he savs : "l)urin<r this interval
the Indians obtained some brandv from the Dutch at New

1 8

iiisroKicAi. sKKicii oi" riiK

llolhuul, and inanv times the relatives of the person who had
l)een killed at Montreal a few davs before we left there,
threatened in their intoxication to desjjateh us with their
knives. in the r.uantime we kept so well on om* ^uard that
we escaped all injurv.

" During- this interval I saw the saddest spectacle I had
ever witnessed. I was informed that evening that some war-
riors had arrived with a prisoner, and had placed him in a
cabin near our own. I went to see him and found him seated
with three women w ho vied w itli each other in bcwailinj^ the
death of a relation who had been killed in the skirmish in
which the jjrisoner had been captured. He was a voiui<i^ man
1 8 or JO vears old, verv well formed, whom thev had clothed
from head to foot since his arrival.

"■ 1 thoutjht, therefore, that I would ha\ e an opportunit\ to
demand him for our i^uide, as thev said he was one of the
Ton<;eidias ( prol)ablv from Ohio). 1 then went to M. de
LaSalle for that purpose, who told me ihat these Indians were
men of their word, that since thev had promised us a capti\e
thev would ^ive us one, that it mattered little whether it was
this one or another, and it was useless to press them. I there-
fore j^ave mvself no further trouble about it. \i<4-ht came on
and we retired.

" The next dav no sooner dawned than a larjje conipam
entered our cabin to tell us that the captise was about to lie
burned, antl that he asked to see the Frenchman.

'' I ran to the public ])lace to see him, and found he was al-
readv on the scaffolil, where thev had bound him hand antl
foot to a stake. 1 was surprised to hear liini utter some
^\l<ron(iuin words w hich I knew, althouji^h from the manner in
which he })ronounceil them thes were hardly recognizable.
He made me comprehend at last that he desired his execution
should be postponed until the next dav. I conversed with the
lroc[UC)is through our interpreter, who told me that the captive
had been given to an old woman in the place of her son who
had been killed, that she could not bear to see him alive, and
all the familv took such a tieep interest in his suftering that

foiNi^ oi- wKNiuoirni.

who hiid
ft there,
■ith their
lard tliat

;le I had
line war-
hiin ill a
111 seated
iiHii<4- tile
iniiish in
iUii<2^ man
d clotlied

rtiinitv to
lie of the
:() M. de
ians were
a captive
er it was
1 there-
eanie on

company
)out to he

le was al-
hand am!
tter some
manner in
o<rni/.al)le.

execution
I with the
lie captive
• son who

alive, and
erinij that

!he\ would not postpone his forture. The irons were already
in the th-e to torment the jioor wretch.

''On m\ part I told the interpreter to demand him in place
of the captive thev luul promised, and I would make a present
to the old woman to whom he heloiij^ed, hut he was not at any
time willint^ to make the jiroposition, alle<;in<^ that such was
not their custom, and the affair was of too serious a nature.

•' I e\en used threats to induce him to sav what I desired,
l)ut in \ain, for he was as ohstinate as a Dutchman and ran
a\va\ to a\()id me.

'• 1 then remained alone near the poor sufferer wiio saw he-
fore him the instruments of his torture. I endeavored to make
him understand that he could have no recourse hut to (iod, and
that he should pra\- to him thus : ' Thou, who hast made all
thiniL^s, have pit\ on me. I am sorrv not to ha\e (theved Thee,
hut if I sliould li\e, I will ohe\- Thee in all thinj^s.''

" lie understood me hetter than 1 exjiected. In the mean-
time I saw the principal relati\es of the deceased approach him
with a <;un harrel, half of which was heated red hot. This
ohlii^ed me to withdraw. 1 retired, therefore, with sorrow,
iMul liad scarcelv turned awa\ when the harharous Irocpiois ap-
plied the red hot t^un l)arrel to the top of his feet, which caused
the ])oor wretch to utter a loud cr\ . This turned me ahout and
I saw the Inxjuois, with a yrave and soher countenance, iipply
the iron slowlv alonjj^ his feet and le<is, and some old men were
smokinj;- around the scaffold, and all the \()un<i[ jieople leaped
with jo\ to witness the contortions which the se\erit\ of the
heat caused the poor sufferer.

" \\'hile these events were transpirin<f. T retired to che
cahin where we lodged, full of sorrow at not heiuLf ahle to save
the poor cajitivc, ami it was then that I reali/ed, more than
e\ er, the importance of not venturiu";- too far amon^- the people
of this countrv, without knowin'^ their lan<^ua<^e, or heinj^ cer-
tain of ohtainin*^- an interpreter.

" ^\s I w;is in my cahin, prayin<( to God, and \ erv sad, M.
de i.aSalle came and told me he was apprehensive that, in
the excitement he saw prevail iu'Lj in the \illa^e, they would in-

msioKKAi. sKi;rcii oi- rm-:

i ililil

suit US lliat inanv \v(tul(l hfioiiK- iutoxiiatcd that dav. and lu-
had linallv resolved to return to the j)lace where we had left
tile canoes, and the rest of our ])eo|)le.

" We told the seven or eij^ht of our ))eo])le who were then-
with us, to withdraw for the da\ to a small villa»^e, half a
leatrue from the larj^e one where we were, for fear of some in-
sult, and M. de LaSalle and myself went to Hnd M. Dollier de
L'asson,six lea<^ues from the villa<^e. There were some of oin-
people harharous enou<rh to l)e w illinj^^ to w ituess. from he-
<finnin|L^ to end, the torture of the jjoor ))risoner, and who re-
jiorted to us the next day, that his entire l>od\ had heen l)urned
with red hot irons for the space of six hours; that there was
not the least spot left that had not l>(>cn roasted. After that
they had re([uired him to run six com'ses past the place where
the Iro(|uois were waitiiiLJ for him, armed with hurnin;^- cluhs,
with which the\ goaded anil heat him to the <^rouiul when he
attempted to join them.

" Man-v took kettles full of coals and hot ashes, with which
they covered him, as soon as, hv reason of fatigue and dehility.
he wished to take a moment's repose. .\t lenjifth, after two
hours of this ])arharous diversion, thev knocked him down
with a stone, and throwinji- themselves upon liim, cut his hody
in pieces. One carried off his head, another his arm, a third
some other memher, which tht'V put in tlie pot for a feast.

'' Many offered some to the Frenchmen, telling them there
was nothing in the world hetter to eat, hut no one desired to
try the experiment.

" During our stav at that villiagc we inipiired particularly
ahout the road we must take in order to reach the Ohio river,
and they all tokl us to go in search of it from Sonnontaoun.
That it recprred six davs' journey hv land.'

" This induced us to helieve that we could not possihly
reach it in that w av, as we woidd hardlv he able to carry, for
so long a journey, our necessarv provisions, much less our hag-
gage. But thev told us at the same time, that in going to find

(1) Tln^ njiite t'loy proposed to take was iirobably up tlio Gouessce river to one of
its sourei's crossing from theiico to the head waters of tlie AUesliaiiy river.

ii:

coiNiN ()i w i;\r\voi{ I II.

, iiiul Ik-
hiul k-fl

LTl- tluTf

;f, luilf ;i
soiiio iii-

)()llicr (K'

lit' of oiir

from 1)1'-

wlio rc-

.'11 })unu'(l
licrc was

\ftfr that

KL- wllClV

in^' l1ii1>s,
wlicn lu-

,itli which
1(1 (Icbihty.

after two
liim down
t his IhkIv
nil, a third

feast,
hem there

desiretl to

jarticularly
Jhio river,
iinontaoun.

)t possibly
> earry, for
ss our ha^-
liii"- to find

river to one of
I'iver.

it h\ \\a\ of Lake ICrie in eaiioes, u i- would have only a three
(la\s' portage before arriviiij^ at that river, «.

" We were relieved from our dillieidties in reLjard to a
'^uide. b\ the arrival from the Dutch of an Indian who lodged
in our eahiii. He belonj^ed to a village of one of the ti\e
Inxpiois nations, which is situated at the I'lid of LaUi- ( )ntario,
for the convenience of huntinjr the deer and the bear, which
are abundant in that vicinitv. This Indian assured us that we
would have no trouble in tuidinn- a ji,uide that a number of
captives of the nations we desired to visit were tlu're, and he
would \erv cheerfullv conduct us thither.

"■ After (le))artiny; we found a river' one eighth of a iea'^ue
liroad and extremeU' rapid, fonninj^' the outlet or communica-
tion from Lake ICrie to Lake Ontario. The depth of the rixer
(for it is properly the St. Lawrence), is at this place I'xtra-
ordinarv, for on sounding close bv the shore wc- found tifteen
or sixteen fathoms of water. This outlet is fortv leaiiues lon^-,
and has, for ten or twelve lea*^ues abo\e its end)ouchuri' into
Lake Ontario, one of the Hnest cataracts or falls of water in
the world, for all the Indians of whom I lia\e eiupiired about
it, sav that the river falls at that place from a rock hij^her
than the tallest pines, that is about two hundred feet. In fact
we heard it from the place where we were, althou<^h from ten
to twelve leajjues distant, but the fall <^ives such a momentum
to the water, that its velocity prevented our ascending the cur-
rent by rowiiij;, except with j^reat dilficult\ ,'■' At a cpiarur (-f
a league from the outlet where we were, it >^rows narrower,
and its channel is confined between two verv hi^^h, steep, roikv
baiiks, inducinj^ the belief that the navij^ation wotdd be very
ditlicul up to the cataract. As to the river above the falls, the
current very often sucks into this j^ulf, from a great distance,

(1) Niagara. This is said to be the only word in our lantjuagc derived from tie
Neuters.

ril (lalinee's description of tlie faUs is iiroliahly tlie earliest on record. His ae-
eouut, wliioli is wholly dei ived from the Indians, is remarkably correct. If they had
been visited by the JeRUits, prior to the time of this expedition, they have failed to
relate the fact, or to describe them in their .journals. The Niagara river is alluded
to under the name of Ongniaehra, as the celebrated river of the Neuter nation, but no
mem ion is made of the cataract.

HIS Toinc A I. M< i; 1 1 II oi iii i;

(leer and staj^s, flU and rofhiuks. that >nffci\'d iIumiim'K i'> Id lie
drawn from such a point in crossing- tht- rix'.r, that thcv an
i'oin))t'lk'd to dt'sicnd the falls, and to he o\ erw lu-hiicd in its
frij^htfid abyss.

"Our (Ic-sire to reach the villaj^e called Otinaoutawa pre-
\ented our J^oin^ to view that wonder, w hich I consider is so
much the j^reater in proportion, as the ri\er St. Lawrence is one
of tile lar<^est in the world. I will lea\e vou to jud<je if that is
iKd a tine cataract into which all the water in that river having
its month three leaj^ues broad,' falls from a heij^ht of 200
feet, with a noise that is heard not onlv at the place where we
were, 10 or 12 leaj^ues distant, but also from the other side of
Lake Ontario, ojiposite its mouth, where M. Trouve told me
he had heard it.

" We jiassed the river, and llnally, at the end of (i\e davs'
travel, arrivi'd at the extremitv of Lake Ontario, where there'
is a fine lar<^e saiidv bar," at the end of which is an outlet of
another small lake, which is there discharji^ed.

" Into this our <^uide conducted us about half a leajfue, to a
point nearest the villaije, ])ut distant from it some live or
six leaj^ues, and where we unloaded our canoes."

" We waited there until the chief of the \ illa<^e came to
meet us with some men to carry our effects. M. de LaSalle
was seized, while huntiii'j;', with a severe fever, which in a few
davs reduced him very low.

" Some said it was caused hv the si<^ht of three larj^e
rattlesnakes which he had encountered on his wav while as-
cendinjjf a rockv eminence. At anv rate it is certain that it is
a verv uj;iv spectacle, for those animals are not timid like other
serpents, hut firmly wait for a person, (juicklv assuinin<^ an
oft'ensive attitude, coilinjj^ half the body from the tail to the
miildle as if it were a larjj^e cord, keepinji^ the remainder en-
tirely straiijht, and dartinjjf forward, sometimes three to four
paces, all the time making a loutl noise with the rattle which it

(1) At the Oulf of St. Lawrence.

(•21 The IiuliiiM iiHiue for UiirUiigton Beach is '' Deoiiasadeo," and means •' When
the sand forms a bar."
(3) UaklandK.

■l\fS to llf

tlu'\ iiri
K'd in it>

awii pt\'-
idcr is s(i
lice is oiu
' if that is
L-r ha\ iii<4
it of 2{)<)
k\ here we
IT side of
L- told me

live days"

lere there

outlet of

aj^ue, to a
le live or

e came to
e LavSalle
1 in a few

iree lar<i,e

while as-

that it is

like other

;umin<^ an

tail to the

lainder en-

ce to four

le w hich it

IIOIUIS ■' WlllTf

-3

COrNTV Ol' WKNTWOUTII.

»5

<iirrii> iit the fiid of its tail. TluT*.- arc main in this place as
larj^c as the arm, six or seven feel l«)nj^, am', tiitirely blaek. It
vibrates its tail very rapidiv, makin}; a sornil like a (|uai\titv of
melon or j^oiircl seeds shaken in a box."

I When the early settlers first came liere, rattlesnak"s were
verv plentiful, especially aloiij; the escarpment that forms the
norlhern boundary of tl l. Dundas valley ami extends north-
ward ihrouf^h llulton. So numerous were they that it became
neccssarv each returnin*^ sprinj^ to or^ani/e huntinj; parties to
destroy these dangerous neijjhbors. When the v arm sprinj^
MMi be;^an to awaken slumberinj^ nature, these snakes, aroused
from their winter sleep, issued forth from the crevices in the
rocks. On the projectin<^ ledj^es on sunny tiavs thev nnj^ht bi-
seen "gathered together in heaps varyin<( in heijjfht from one to
two feet, and here they lay baskinj^ in the sunshine. It was
at these times Miat the himtin<j^ parties visited the mountain
side, and with muskets loaded with sluf^s or coarse shot, Hred
into these piles and destroyed them by hmulreds. Some of the
more venturesome hunters, armed with clubs, descended to
the led<^es, and as the snakes retreated to their dens <^rasped
ihem by their tails, dra>^}^ed them from the crevice, and with a
((uick blow killed them instantly. Sometimes, however, these
snakes were not drawn forth by the first effort. Then it was
wise to let them <jo as they would immediately turn and strike.
It was in this manner that lar<j^e numbers of these venomous
reptiles were destroyed.]

" At Ien<(th after waitinfjf three days, the chiefs and some
Hfty Indians and stpiaws came to see us.

" We j^ave presents to obtain two captive slaves, and a
third for carryinjj our effects into the village. The savages
made us two presents. The Hrst of fourteen or fifteen deer-
skins, to assure us they were going U) conduct us to their vil-
lage, the second of abont 5,000 shell l)eads, and afterwards, t vvo
captives for guides. One of them belonged to the Co.ionas
(Shawnees), and the other to the Xez Perces. They were
both excellent hunter.., and seemed to be well disposed. Con-

HIS r(»in< A I, skktcm ok iiik

ducted l)y tlie Indians \vf proceeded to the village of Otiiia-
outawa, arriving tliere on the 24th Sept., 1669."

LaSalle and his companions left this village al)out the i>\
of Octoher, and pursued their journey across what are now tlu
townships of East and West Flanihoro', to the Indian town of
Tinatona, near the eastern houndarv of Beverlv. Here the\
met Joliet who had heeii sent to explore the copper mines of
Lake Superior, and who was now on his return journev. To
avoid hostile tribes he followe<l the Indian trails from Detroit
by wav of the Grand River to Hurlington Hay. From joliel
the priests Dollier and (Jalinee obtained much valuable infor-
matioi\ about the tribes on the upper lakes. This caused them
to change their plans, Thev determined to visit these tribes,
and, with this object in view, followed the (irand River to
Lake Lrie, proceeded along the northern shore of this lake to
tlie site of the present town of I'ort Dover. Here they s})ent
tile winter. In the spring they visited these Xorthwest tribes
and returned to Montreal in the autumn.

The ])lans of LaSalle <iiffered from those of the priests,
and the two parties separated, lie desired to reach the Ohio;
thev, the tribes of the Northwest. Tradition says that one of
the men accompanving this expedition fell in love with the
daughter of an Indian chief, and cast in his lot with the tribi'
to which she belonged. She, it seems, had an Indian love r
who became madh jealous of his white rival. This brave dis-
appeared for several months still nursing his passion. On hi>
return, he sought for and found -his white rival, whom hr
ruthlesslv shot while in companv witli his tluskv sweetheart.
This incident is said to lia\e occurred in the immediate \icinit\
of Webster's I'alls, in West IMamboro'.

What course the intrepid La.Salle pursued inniiediatelv after
this separation is veiled in ohscm-itv. He continued his explor-
ations over the continent, assisted in building the (Jrillin, tlic
first vessel to sail on Lake ICrie, established a fort at the mouth
of the Niagara, and claims to have discovered the Ohio. Be-
ing of a haught\ and overbearing disposition, he soon earned

wrmKsmmmmm^^'^ v

fOl NTV ()!• WKN r\\ ()|{ Til.

-7

of Otiiia-

OUt the I^l

irc now tlu-
an town of
Ilcrc tlic\
r mines of
irncv. To
)ni Detroit
"roni Joliet
able infor-
insed them
lese trihes.
River to
lis lake to
they spent
west trihes

he priests,
the Ohio;
hat one of
' with till'
h the tribe
(lian ioxir
bra\e clis-
II. On his
whom lie
weet heart,
ite vieinitv

iatelv after
his explor-
iritlin, the
the mouth
)hio. He-
on earned

tlie hearty dislike of his subordinates. This increased until it
• leveloped into a bitter hatred. A conspiracy was formed, and
ill the prime of his manhood— at the early aj^e of fortv-three —
lie was foully murdered. Thus closed the career of one of the
„n-eatest explorers that ever visited this continent.

"v-r:Q'"^ i

-yr

HISTORICAI. SKHTCll ()!• TlIK

CHAPTER II.

The Indians — Their Towns — Their Houses — Their Food — Ctinm-
bals — Art of Carving — Art of Pottery — Use of Metals — Copper
Tools — Manner of Warfare — Fortified Towns — One in Beverlv
Scene of a Great Tribal Battle — Another in East Flamboro' — Indian
Town of Tinatona^ Town near Troy — Town in Ancaster — Camji-
ing Grounds — Game — Indian Town near Lake Medad — Wliy
called Lake Medad — Ossuaries — Relics — Axes — Feists of thu
Dead as Described by a Jesuit Missionary — The Mourners — Tlu'
Funeral Rites — The Hurons — The Iroquois — The Neuters — Char-
acter of the Iroquois — Six Nation Indians — Private Collections of
Indian Antiquities.

Whex America was first discovered by Europeans the in-
habitants along the coast were calletl Indians, from the suppo-
sition that Cohmibus had reached India. This name was evir
after applied to all the aborigines found scattered over tlif
continent. These people were nomadic in their habits and vcrv
naturally formed themselves into tribes or nations. These
tribes varied in size from 200 to 500 persons, and lived in
villages or towns. Sometimes a numlier of these tribes wiiv
formed into a confederacy as in the case of the Hurons, Algoii-
quins and Iroquois. The tribes forming a confederacy wen
grouped into adjacent villages, and spoke a common languaj^c.
In these villages the houses were built sufliciently nenr to eiicli
other to enable the inhabitants to be called together cjuicklx in
cases of emergency. These houses, usually called wigvvani''.
were constructed of bark, the skins of animals, or were rudely
thatched with reeds and grass. In every village there was a
council chamber or place of assemblage, which was a lari;ir
and more pretentious building than any of the others.

The common belief that the Indians obtained their Unnl
supply almost exclusively from the chase is true only to alimilcil

III
til
III

I'll
til
tj

COrXTV OF WENTWOKTII.

"ood — Canni-
stals — Copper
lie in Beverly
boro'— Indian
aster — Camp-
Medad— Why
Feists of the
ourners — The
enters— Char-
i Collections of

pcans the in-
11 the suppo-
ime was ever
irecl over the
ibits antl very
tions. These
and Uved in
se tribes were
Airons, Alf?oii-
federaey were
mon Uin^ua<,fe.
y near to eaeli
Jier quickly i"
lied wi^wain^.
or were riulelv
re tliere wa> n
h %\ as a lar.uer
thers.

ned their food
)n\\ to aliniiled

extent. Agriculture in a crude form was practiced by them,
and thev depended fully as much upon this source as they did
upon fishing and hunting. In this section of country corn was
evidently cultivated, as may he seen from the charred remains
of this grain found in considerable quantities in the ashes of their
camp fires. An abundance of sugar was obtained from the
maple, sunflowers were cultivated for their seed, and every var-
iety of edible wild fruit was used. The Intlian's bill of fare
was by no means a meagre one. Some of the tribes knew of
many ways of preparing grain for food. Such names as hominy,
samp, pone, and succotash are all derived from the language of
the eastern tribes. Moreover many stones' are found that have
e\ idently been used for grinding corn.

Caimibals" in the proper sense of that word are not found
among the tribes nortii of Mexico. It is true that they occas-
ionally ate human flesh, but it was more as an act of savage
vengeance, or from a desire to accjuire the ([ualities of the dead
person, than it was as a result of a custom among them.

We have but little positive knowledge of the early develop-
ment of art among these uncivilized tribes. It is certain, how-
ever, that in later times they showetl no small amount of skill
in carving and in the manufacture of pottery. The anticpiarian
who has searched the sites of their ancient towns and villages
is frecjently rewarded by finding some very interesting relics.
These consist largely of arrow heads, spear points, skinning
tools, scrapers for preparing the skins of animals for use, grooved

(1 1 A niiinber of tlieso stoiu's liave been fouiul in Hoverly iintl a fi'W in Hinlirook.
Tlicy lire sonii'tiuu's spoken of US " Hominy Mills." The stones from wliicli tliey nre
niiide ari' Imllovved ont bo as to form a shallow cavity, in whicli the corn is placed. A
stone pestli- is used to pulverize tli«! grains of corn.

('2) On lot 7 in the 13th concession of Kast Klaniboro,' now owned bv Mr. .lohn
Kevell, a larfie canipinf? Kronud was recently discovered, in wliicli tlu^ri' was a bed of
ashes fully five feet in depth. This camping' (,'round was (covered with heavy timber
and must therefore have been a very old resort, which doubtless beliuiHeil to the Nen.
til- natidu. When this bed of ashes was car<'fnlly examined it was founil to contain
many valuable relics. Near the top were jjlass beads, brasH kettles and other evi-
ili'uces of contact with Enro|)eans. Farther down the relics were of bone and stone
or potti'ry, while at the bottom hunnm bones w< re found. Aa the Indians weri^ very
careful of the rtnuains of their own dead, it is only fair to infer that these bones were
thi' remniiis of their enemies who had been captured and eaten. This corroborates
the statements made about cannibal Indians in this part of the l'rovini:e.

IIISTOHICAK SKKTCII OK THE

axes, goiijijes, as well as a <i^reat variety of ornaments for th(
person, pipes, totems, and <j^aiiiin<r and ceremonial stones. Mam
of them show considerable skill in carvinj^.

Nor yet was the art of the potter unknown to them. In thi
earlier stages of its development their attempts were limited U>
the manufacture of pipes and pots. These were made from the
native clavs, whicli were sometimes tempered with broken
([uartz, shells, and other materials, and were baked in the open
Hre or in rudelv constructed furnaces. With the advance of cul-
ture there came also an advance in this art and more ambitiou'^
pieces devoted to sacred and ceremonial uses were attempted.
Special attention was j^iven to the decoration of these, and on
some are found symbols and representations of the deities to
which thev were dedicated. So far no specimens have been
found which clearly prove that thev possessed any knowleil^c
of <fla/in<j^, althou<rh thev <;ave a very line polish to many of
their better works of art.

The North American Indians were slowly emer<jfin<i^ from
the aj^e of stone when the European explorers first came in
contact with them. Thev had therefore but little knowled<j(.'
of the value and uses of metals. Still there were verv few
tribes that did not possess some implements and ornaments of
metal, which were made either from copper or <;()ld. AVhnt
little knowledj^e thev had was obtained lar<i;elv bv contact with
the more civilized tribes inhabitiuf^ Mexico and Central ^\mci-
ica. Alonjr the shores of Lake Superior there are still to bi'
seen nimierous minin<^ pits from which copper ore had been
taken. In rem()vin<j^ the accumulated debris from these pit'-
<^reat numbers of heavv stone sled<fes were discovered. K\ i-
dentlv these had been used to break the ore into pieces of con-
venient size for transportation. Their manner of reducing thc-c-
ores was either bv hammering or swaging, for there is no
evidence that thev had anv knowledge of smelting. A \arict\
of ornaments, as well as such useful articles as knives, chisels,
axes, needles and arrowheads, were made from these orc^.
Occasit)nally some of these copjier implements are foimd. A
copper chisel, which experts say was tempered haril like stei 1.

CorXTV ()|- WKN rWOKTII.

nts for lh(
lies. Man\

111. In th(.
e limited to
(Ic from tlu-
ith broken
in the open
ance of cul
e ambitiou'-

attempted,
lese, and on
IC deities to
s have been

knowledj^c

to many <>t

L'rjjjinjj^ from
irst came in
' kiunvledj^c
re \ery few
irnaments of
^rold. What
contact with
intra! Amer-
re still to he
ire had been
m these pit-
ivered. h^\i-
)ieces of con-
educin*^ these
• there is w*
r, A \arietv
lives, chisels,
1 these ori-.
re fouiul. A
ard like stei 1,

vvas found on a farm helonj^inj; to Mr. .\. llumphre\, who
lives a short distance north of the \'illa<jfe of Tro\ in Heverlv.
This chisel is now in the miisenm of the Canadian Institute,
Toronto.

The hij^her art of wju* as practised bv civilized n.'itions is
verv different from that practised by the Indians. The plan of
frroupin<;' men together in companies anil re<^iments, drilling
them in all the tactics and mano'uvres of the battletield, and
ailiuii ill concert under the command of one man, was un-
known to them. Thev fou<fht sinjjflv and made use of trees
and other ol;stacles as places of concealment from their enemies.
I'ormal declarations of war were seldom made. When anv
tribe had tiecided to attack another tribe a band of warriors was
despatched on their murderous erranil. Lnder cover of tlark-
ness tliev approached their victims with steallhv tread, or in
canoes propelled bv silent paddles, and ruthlessh destroyed
them. I'suallv all those who failed to make ji^ootl their escape
were put to death, liut sometimes the captives taken were re-
served for torture. Their w eai>ons of offence consisted of ]ilain
clubs, clubs with conical shaped stones attached as heads, battle
axes, a kind of club in which sharp chips of some ver\- hard
stone were inserted, spears, which were hurled with terrible
effect from thr()win<^ sticks, hows and arrows, shm<^ shots and
scalpinif knives. T<^ protect themselves from the missiles bin-led
In their foes, shields made of heavv skins were nsetl, and in
some cases coats of armor.

Many of their villaj^es were protected bv palisades, a rude
fortification consistinof of one or more rows of stronj^^ stakes or
posts lashetl t(»gether and set tirmlv in the j^round perpendicu-
larly or obli(iuel\ for the j^reater security of the position.

The sites of two of these fortified villaj^es have been found
in Wentworth, one in He\ erlv and one in ICast Flamboro\ Mr-
Wallace McDonald informed the writer that in 18,^8 when he
and his brother bei^an clearing; the northern p.irt of lot 26 in
the Sth concession of Heverly, they discovered the site of an old
liulian villaj^e that had evidently been protected b\ palisades.
W hile clearin<j; u)) some new <(round as thev aptlv called it.

HISTORICAI. SKETCH OF THH

they observed here and there the ends of some small loj^s
projectinj^ out of the <jround. This naturally arrested their at-
tention and upon making a more thorough survey they were
able to trace quite clearly the outlines of this fortified village.
It was roughly estimated to contain l)etween five and six
acres, and was in the form of an irregular circle. The location
was a very desirable one, for it was situated on a rising piece
of ground adjacent to a lieautiful stream of water, which is
still noted as one of the famous trout streams of that town-
ship. About a mile or so distant there was one of the largcht
beaver meadows known in this section of country.

The village was evidentlv a stronghold of considerable im-
portance to the native tribes. Ik'sides numerous relics, such as
2)ipes, beads, wampum, totems and other mementos of Indian
life, upwards of 300 iron tomahawks have l)een found. From
this it would appear to be within the limits of probability that
in this place one of the great tribal battles had been fought.
There is a tradition prevalent that such a battle Wc^.-. fought
somewhere in the neighborhood of Westover, but the exact loca-
tion is .argely a matter of conjecture. As far as can be ascer-
tained at the present time, no graves or biu-ial places have been
discovered in the immediate vicinity. Great beds of ashes three
and four feet in depth have been found in different parts of .this
village. A large number of ])ones partly burned, as well as a
considerable quantity of the charred remains of corn and corn-
cobs ha\ e bijen found in these ash pits.

Another fortified village was located on lot 12 in the loth
concession of East Flamboro', and now owned bv Mr. John
Hood. When this farm was cleared the remains of the posts
and timbers forming the ])arricade were still to be seen. Near
by were some burial pits from which were taken French axes,
iron tomahawks, brass kettles, brass arrow tips, and these in
larger cpiantities than from any other camping ground in this
township. This site is situated about five miles east of the
Indian village near \'alen's, in Beverly.

About a mile east of Westover, in the 6th concession of
IJeverly, is the site of one of the most important of these Indian

:-mtyi§i^ir^:.----i^\/'»-

(OINTV Ol- \VK\I U (MJTII.

:vV

small lof^s
d their at-
they were
cd village.
; and six
le location
sing piece
which is
hat town-
he largest

erable im-
•s, such as
of Indian
d. From
bility that
n fought.
L>^.-> fought
ixiict loca-

bc ascer-
bavc been
shes three
rts of .this

well as a
and corn-

thc loth
Mr. John
the posts
n. Near
nch axes,

these in
id in this
ist of the

:cssion of
se Indian

towns. No traces, however, of the remains of any palisade
have been found, from which fact we would infer that it h;'/!
not been fortified. On an adjoining hill a uumlier of burial
pits have been discovered. These have been verv thoroughh
searched, and many valuable relics obtained, (ieneral John S.
Clarke, of Auburn, N. ^'., a distinguisiied student o^ Indian
history, identifies this place as the Indian town of Tinatona.
celebrated as the meeting place of LaSalle and Joliet in 1669.

On the banks of Fairchild's Creek, a short distance west of
the village of Troy is apparantiv the site of another of these
villages. Here many valuable relics have been found, one of
which is a highly polished stone pipe, jierfect in form, with a
number of tally marks cut on the stem. It is sup])osed that
these marks are a record of the number of scalps taken by the
owner of this pipe, who was doubtless a (.hief of one of the
))rincipal tribes. It is now in the possession of Dr. J. O. Mc-
(iregor, of Waterdown.

In 1829, when Mr. F. (i. Snider was clearing lot 34 in the
4th concession of Ancaster, he discovered the site of one of
these Indian towns. Near ]>y on a ridge, a little to the north-
west, a large ossuary was found from wliich many valuable
relics were o])tained. These were given to the Rev. Dr. Mc-
Murray, Rector of Ancaster and Dundas, who afterwards pre-*
sented them to the museum in the old town of Niagara.

In the <listrict surrounding the head of Lake Ontario, fully
lifty camping grounds have been located. The existence of
these is an evidence that this section of country was a favorite
resort for these nomadic tribes. Doubtless they were attracted
here by the great abimdance of game. If we are to give cre-
dence to the stories told by the early settlers, henls of | deer,
containing from 50 to 100 head, roamed at will, and could be
seen feeding together, while waterfowl of all kinds almost liter-
ally covered that marshy lake lying west of Burlinjrton IIei"-hts.
The streams abounded with speckled trout, and the lake fur-
nished salmon and whitefish in the greatest profusion. In
short this whole region might well be called a terrestial paradise.'

(1) See Win. Hates' letter in last chapter.

IKKSS

MIS roHK Al, SKKTCII Ol' TlIK

The followiiijif <;raphic description of one of these Tndiuii
villaji^es is from the pen of Mr. H. K. Charlton, of Hamilton,
who is a (lilij^ent student of the manners and customs of these
interesting^ people :

"This In(han villaj^e, ( Otinaoutawa) appears to have been
situated on the borders of a small lake in the township of Nel-
son, about ten miles from Hamilton, known as Lake Medad,'
not far beyontl Waterdown. Some seven vears a<(o, the writer
havinfj learned that an ancient Indian ossuary or bone pit had
been discovered at this point, throuj^h the burrowin<^ of a small
animal called a wood-chuck, had the curiosity to visit the place,
and found it a most interesting^- one. The lake itself, a prettv
sheet of water of some ei<^ht acres in extent, is fed hy abund-
ant natural sprinj^s. On one side, beneath an abrupt, rockv
bank, and from a rocky liasin which may have been widened
and cleared of loose stones aj^es a<^o, bursts out a noble sprin*^
of clear, cold water, sufHcient in capacity to supply the wants
of a small city. A steep pathway cut deeply into the rock ami
earthy embankment l)v the feet of both wild animals and In-
dians in prehistoric times, leads from the sprinjr up to a slopinj^
plain of considerable extent, on which as yet but little modern
civilization has been accomplished.
•>* " Vou can see scattered over this slope curious rounded
heaps of about forty to one hundred feet lon^ and ten wide. A
spade at once reveals that they are heaps of ashes, containin<;
many f rajjments of Indian j.ottery, bones of animals, and broken
weapons. On a portion of the plain Indian corn had probabl\
been cultivated. Here at some distant period had evidently
been situated an important Indian town of the Neuter nation.
This tribe, as before mentioned, occupied the country ])etween
the Niagara and the Detroit rivers. In their wars with the
Indians of Michigan they acted with more ferocit)us crueltx
than even the Hurons or Iroquois, roasting and eating their
prisoners of war of both sexes. The men going withoul
clothinyf of any kind in summer. Their time of destruction.

(I) Medad Par.soi- was tlie owuor of the farm on which tills lake is sitiiatcil. It
was for.iierly called Medad's Lake, wlil.'li has been changed to Lake Medad.

fOlN'l^' Ol" WKNTWOK III.

.■>."l

,c Tmlian
lamilton,
s of these

lave lieen
p of Xel-
: Meilad,'
he wriler
le pit had
of a small
the place,
f, a pretty
hv alnind-

.ipt,

roc

11 widened
)le sprin<i
the wants
.' rock and
s and In-
) a slopin<i
;le modern

s rounded
1 wide. A
containin<^'
md broken
1 jjrobahly
I evidently
ter nation,
ry between
s with the
.)us cruelty
atinj^ their
\fr without
destruction.

is sitviatml. It
edad.

however, followed (|uickly uj)on that of the Ilurons, for after
the slaughter of the latter, the Irociuois turned all their fury
upon the Neuters and left no survivors whatever.

'■' Proceed in j( to the hijjhest point of the jilain tpiite at one
side of the clusters of ash heaps, were discovered the ossuaries.
Thev consisted of three pits. One measnrintf forty feel lon<^
bv seventeen wide, and live in depth, and the two others circu-
lar about twelve feet in diameter ami seven feet in depth.
I'ljon the former were two larjj^e pine stumps, the rin<;s of
tirowths of the larj^er iunnberin<;- 125. All these pits were
situated within a few vards of eacii other. In them were found
partiallv decaved bones of several hundreds of persons of all
ajres, toj;ether with manv curious articles, such as some thirty
copi^er and brass kettles, varvin^ in si/e from three to twenty-
six inches in diameter, containin<i^ in one case two skeletons; in
another a small bron/e sp,oon, in sevi'ral others the dust of a
wooden spoon, and traces of food. Also ei<;ht or ten lar<^e
tropical shells, brouj^ht jjrobablv from the coast of i'Morida, and
evidentlv used in the manufacture of anti(|ue shell beads or
wampum.

'•' Manv hundreds of these shell beads were also obtained, to-
gether with beads made from porcelain, j^lass, stone, baked
clav, obsidian, shale, etc., some round, others s([uare, others ob-
lonjij, and several inches in lenj^th, of all sizes inui<^inable. W'it'i
these were found anti(iue pipes of :Vcone and clav, many of them
bearing- extraordiiuirv devices, lii'ures of animals, and of human
heads wearing- the conical cap, noticed on similar relics found
in Mexico and Peru.

" I'here were also found the remainder of several axes of the
old I'rench pattern; specimens of Indian potterv in the shape
of vases or pots, made of coarse sand antl clav, well baketl and
constructed ev identlv with the view of bein<;- sus])ended over a
lire. Two verv haiulsome ones were obtain<.'d entire. In
portions of the jiits, skeletons were found entire or nearlv
so, and placed somewhat rej^ularlv, not onlv side bv side but in
layers u})on each other ; but in other parts all the small bones

HISTOKICAI, SKETCH OK TIIK

appeared to ])e waiitiufj, and skulls and iarj^e hones niinj^ied in
the greatest possible confusion.

" It seems quite clear that these pits were places of ancient
Indian sepulture, and that on this spot were celebrated one (jr
more of these ceremonies called ' Feasts of the Dead,' which
the Huron and other Indian tribes were in the habit of \ivr-
formin<if once in ten or twelve years. One of these feasts was
witnessed by Father lirebeuff, a Jesuit niissioiuiry, in tlie vear
1636 at the Indian town of Ossossane, a little east of Collin*;-
wood. He describes it in the following language: ' At each
village the corpses were lowered from their scaffolds and raised
from their graves. Their coverings were removed and the
hideous relics arranged in a row surrounded b\ the weeping,
shrieking, howling concourse. Thus were gathered all the
village dead for the last ten or twelve vears. ICach familv re-
claimed its own, and immediately addressed itself to remo\ ing
what remained of flesh from the bones. These were wrapped
in skins, and, together with the recent corpses — which were al-
lowed to remain entire, but which were also wrapped in furs —
were now carried to one of the largest cabins and hung to the
numerous cross poles which, like rafters, support the roof.

"'Here the concourse of mourners seated themselves at a
funeral feast, and as the squaws distributed food, a chief haran-
gued the assembly, lamenting the loss of the deceased and ex-
tolling their virtues. This solemnitv over, the mourners began
their march for Ossossane, uttering at intervals in unison a
dreary wailing cry ; and as thev stopped to rest at night at some
village on the way, the inhabitants came forth to meet them
with a mournful hospitalitv. From everv town processions like
these were converging towards Ossossane, and thither, on the
urgent invitation of the chiefs, we repaired. The capacious
bark houses were filled to overflowing, and the surrounding
woods gleamed with camp fires. Funeral games were in pro-
gress, the voung men and women practicing archery, and other
exercises for prizes offered by the mourners in the name of their
dead relatives. Some of the chiefs conducted us to the place
prepared for the ceremony — a cleared area in the forest

t«)l■^•^^ or wkn iwourii.

iiij^lcil in

f ainit'iil
cl one or
I,' which
it of pcr-
•asls was
tlie \ car
Collin«;-

• At each
111(1 raised
I and the

weepinj^s
.'d all the
aniily re-
removing

• wrapped
li were al-

in fnrs —
mg to the

roof.

elves at a
lief haran-
d and ex-
lers bef^an

unison a
ht at some
licet them
issions like
her, on the

capacious
.irroundiuLf
ere in pro-
, and other
me of their
() the place
the forest

manv acres in extent. In the midst was a pit about ten feet
(kej) and thirty wide. Around it was reared a hi;j;h and strong;
scaffoldiii}^, and on this were placed several poles, with cross
poles extendetl between, for han<^in<^ the funeral gifts and the
remains of the dead.

"' We were lodged in a large bark house where more than
a hundred of these bundles of mortalilv were hanging from the
rafters. Amidst the throng of the living and the dead we spent
a night which the imagination and the senses conspired to ren-
der almost unsupportablf. At length the ofliciatiiig chiefs gave
the signal to prepare for the ceremony. The relics were taken
down, opened for the last time, and the bones caressed and
fondled hv the women amid paroxysms of lamentations. Then
all the processions were fcrmed anew and, each bearing its
dead, moved toward the area prepared for the last solemn rites.
As thev reached the ground they deiiled in order, each to a spot
assigned to it. Here the bearers of the dead laid tlieir bundles
on the ground. Fires were now lighted, kettles slung, and
around the entire circle of the clearing the scene was like a fair
or caravansarv. This continued till three in the afternoon, when
the gifts and bones were re-packed. Suddenly at a signal from
the chiefs, the crowd ran forward from every side towards the
scaffold, scaled it by rude ladders, and hung their relics and gifts
to the forests of poles which surrounded it. Then the ladders
were removed, and a number of chiefs standing on the scaffold
harangued the crowd below, wliile other functionaries were lin-
ing the grave throughout with rich robes of beaver skin.
Three large copper kettles were next placed in the middle and
then ensued a scene of hideous confusion. The bodies which
were left entire were brought to the edge of the gra\ e. Hung
in and arranged in order at the bottom by ten or twelve Indians
stationed there for that purpose, amid the wildest excitement
and uproar of many hundred mingled voices. When this part
of the work \\ as done night was fast closing in. The concourse
bivouacked around the clearing and lighted their camp Hres
under th? brows of the forest which hedged in the scene. We
withdrew to the village, when an hour before dawn we were

,^s

IMS louu \ I. >Ki:n II.

aroiisi'd liy a ti'iTil)lt' (.himor. Oiu- of tlu- hmidlis of lioiii-s.
lit'tl to a poll- on tin- siaffold, liad I'liaiui-d to fall into iIk- j^ravf.
'I'iiis atiidc'iit prccipilati-d tht' rlosiii^r ait and pi-rliaps iiurrasfd
it< fivii/y. (iiiidcd 1)\ tlii.- iiiK'arlhh din, ami tliu limad ;;lari'
of tlu- fluiiit's, fi'd with heaps of fat piiu' lo;^, wr soon riailu-d
thf spot and saw what seemed to us an iiiia^^e of pandenioniimi.
All around hia/ed lountless lires, and th- air resounded with
discordant outeries.

"'Tlie naked multitude, on, under and around the siaffold
were Minj^in^ the remains of their dead i)ell mell into tlie pit,
where we discovered men who, as the j^hastlv shower fell
around them, arranj^ed the Ixnies in their places wilhloiij^ poles.
All was soon over; earth, lo^s and stones were east upon the
>rrave, and the clamor suhsided in a funeral ciiant, drearv and

"Such was the origin of those lumu-rous and strauj^e sepul-
chres w hich have hei'ii the wonder and perplexitv of the earlv
settlers of the Countv of Simcoe, similar ineverv res|)ect to the
one at Lake Medad where stood the Inxpiois villa<;e visited
l>v La Salle as hefore mentioned in the year lOfxj.'"

Tlu- chief as well as the hesl known Indian nations inhahit-
in<,f what is now the Province of Ontario and tlie adjoining'
states of New ^'ork and I'ennsv 1\ ania are the llurons, ihe
Inupiois and Neuters. The llurons, consisting- of some live
tril)es, occui)ied the district extending;- from the shores of Lake
Huron on the west, to the Ottawa river on the east. Tlu-y
traded w ith the French at Montreal and Quehec and hrou^j^ht
their merchandise, which consisted chieHv of furs, to these
places l)v Wiiv of the Ottawa and vSt, Lawrence rivers. 'I'ln'
lro(|uois, or I'^ive Nation Indians, were scattered over a
larffe jjrea of territorv Iviu'^ e.ist of the Nia<;ara river, and
south of Lake Ontario aiul tlu St. Lawrence and also extendinn-
westward aloiiy- the sou'/Me.n shores of Lake Erie. These
trihes traded with the Dutch at New Holland (Albany) and
Manhattan (New York) hy wav of the Hudson river. The
Neuter nation occupied the southern portion of Ontario em-
hracinj^ the Niaj^ara Peninsula and exteiulint^ westward as far

r w

(if l)()IU->.
ilU Tl'llsi'd

oad ^liiri'
II ri'iulu'd
c'inoiiiuiii.
nW-{\ witli

U' siitffoUl
ito tlu' pit,
lOWlT fi'll
oiij^ pok's.
; upon the
Ireary aiul

iijj;c si'piil-
I tlu- early
pctt to the
\<j;c \ isitcd

ns inhabit-

adjoiiiin;^-
uroiis, ihc

s(!iiii.' iivc
L's of l.aUc
list. Tlu-y
1(1 lir(>u<rht
«, to thfSf
vers. The
.'(! ovlT a

river, and
) extendiii;4

ie. These
Ihany) and
•iver. The
)ntario eni-
vard as far

■J

•"^MBa^,

[.■f ■^jPj

-40

IIIMOICItAI, >KKICJl OK THE

I :^

::i!;,;;|

4is llic rivcT Dctn)it, Tlicv obtained their name from tin
iR'iitra! stiii'd they took in the wars l)et\\een the Inxjuois and
lliirons. Thev were a cornparati\ elv strong and powerful na-
tion, for it was estimated 1)V the early explorers that ahctut thi'
])e<i^innin>; of the seventeenth centurv they had fullv 4000 war-
riors armed and e(|uipi)ed for war.

The Irocjuois possessed some excellent traits of character,
for thev honored a pledj^e when once given ; they respected a
treatv when ratified; thev liad proper regard for their own law--
and customs and thev possessed strong social and domeslir
feelings. Xotwithstanding all these good ([ualities, their histor\
is a continuous storv <.f rai)ine and bloodshed. The avowed
purpose of the chiefs who entered into a league and formed thi'
confederac\- of the Five Nations, was to cultivate the arts nf
peace and abolish war. In this they were unsuccessful. One
of the Hrst known acts of the league after its formation was to
<lrive the Huron tribes froni their homes in the vallev of the
St. Lawrence. This thev did, and the remnant of this onci'
powerful nation found a place of refuge along the southern
shores of the (jeorgian Bav. Here they lived in peace for some
time, but the Irocjuois having regainetl something of their nor-
mal strength waged war against them, cajjtured one town after
another, until in i()[') a general massacre took j^kne, whitli
ended in the destruction of the whole nation. Two small band-
escaped, one of which riow occupies the fntlian village of
Lorette, near Quebec, the other went westward and were soon
{d)sorbed bv the stronger tribes in that localitv. Thev tluii
turned their attention to the Neuters, as thev were called bv
the French, and waged an incessant war against th
ended in 16^1 in the utter dispersion of this nati

em, wliKii

ion.

The Tuscaronis, a tribe belonging to the southern part of

the United States, were admitted into the Ir

oquoian con

fed

erac\

in 1722, when the nanie was chiinged to that of the Six Niilioii
Inilians. Captain Joseph IJrant was one of their most dis-
tinguished chiefs. Nearly all the tribes belonging to this league
took sides with the British during the Revolutionary War. For
the services thus rendered thev secured from the Crown m

■■■■?

c(»i \i\ oi- \vi;\ rwoK 1 II.

from till'

ociuois and

)\vi'rfiil na-

about tlu'

|()()() war-

f character,
respected 11
ir own 1h\v>
id domestic
tlieir histor\
L'he avowed
I formetl the

the arts nt
.•ssful. One
ution was t<i
■alley of the
of this once
the sonthern
.■aec for sonu'
of their noi-
iie town after
place, which
) small haiid-
an village of
nd were soon
. They then
ere culled hy

them, whieli

ithern p
fed

;irt of

m eon

eracv

he Six Nation

len- m<

)st d

I--

to this leajiiie

u-\

!•

j^rant of land extending six miles on each side of the (irand
i<i\er from its sonrce to its mouth. On a |)ortion of this rc-
>(i\e a ri'innanl of these tribes still l•e^^ide and snccessfulK fol-
low aj^ricnltural j^ursuits.

Within the last few vears a t^realK increased atti'iition has
been Lji\cn to tlu' thoronj^h examination oi tlu' ossuarit-s and
campinj^ j^rounds in thi> section of counlr\. Mam \aluable
relics have been found, and much lij^ht has been thrown upon
the manners and customs of these ancient i)eople. The prixatc
collections of Indian anticpiities of Dr. |. O. Mc(ire<4()r, of
\\ aterdown, Mr. (leorjije .Mlison. of the same ])lace. and the
I Mcs>rs. Mullock, in the near vicinitx, are well worthy the at-
I tciition of students of Indian character. These collections are
H carefullv classitied and arranged, and contain, both as to (jualitv
* and (|uantitv. as lary;e an assortment of ri'lii> a> are found in
^ similar collections in our public museums.

the Crown

■HII

IIISTOKICAI. SKETCH «)!• Illli

CHAPTER III.

Upper Canada an Unknown Wilderness — The Fur Trade — Tradinj;
Posts — Fort Frontenac — Niagara a French F^ort on British Ter.
ritory — Besieged by the Britisli Colonists — United Empire Loyal-
ists — British Parliament Grants Substantial Aid — The Niagara
Peninsula.

At the coinmencenient of the Rovolutioiiarv war, iIk-
western portion of Quebec, afterwards called Upper Canada,
was practically an unknown wilderness, and is said to ha\e
contained less than two thousand of a white population. In
the latter part of the seventeenth century, the fur trade witli
the Indians bejj^an to increase rapidlv and soon became a matter
of i^reat commercial importance to ])oth Enj^lish and French
colonists. To increase tiie facilities for prosecutinji^ this trade,
and to <j^uard the interests of those en<>^a<ijed in it, tradinj^ posts
were established i>t various points in this western district.
These posts were protected l)v rude forliiications, and the
white population very naturally settled in close proximitv lo
them, so as to liave easy access to a place of refuji^e from the
attacks of the Indians.

In selectin<j sites for these tradinjif posts, the earlv French
explorer cliose situa*^i( ns that were important from a militarx
point of ' iew. To fi^uard the outlet of the <^reat lakes, a fort
'■as established at Cataratpii, near the site of the present city
of Kinj^ston.

On the 12th of Jidv, 1673, (iovernor Fronlenac and a part\
of some foiw himdred men, with one hundred and twent\
canoes, and two larj^^e flat boats on which cannons were mount-
ed, landed at tiiis point. Arranjijements were soon made with
the Iroquois chiefs for holdinj; a ^rand council. The next tla\
the members of this council assembled wilii <,rreat })omi) ami

Mlft^Vfcawtjtf'txi*^ ' i* M.- -

COINTY OF WKNTWOK III,

e — Tradiii};
British Tur.

i])ire Loyal -
'he Niagara

war, tliL>

er Canada,

lid to ha\(.'

ilation. In
trade with

ic a nuittcr

lid Freiicli

this tradf.

idiiij; p()st>
rn district.

.•jB

s, and tlu'

•oxiniitv to

.' from the

rlv Frc'iuh

a military

d\cs, a fort

resent eity

iiid a partx

lid t\vent\

ere iiiount-

iiiade with

le next da\

l^omi) and

imposing ceremonv. Frontcnae made a speech in which he
assured the Indians of the kindness and good will of the
I' reach, and of their desire to avoid war. While this first
meeting was in session, Raiidin, the engineer of the expedi-
tion, marked out the plan of the fort. Men were at once set
to work clearing away the timlier, cutting and hewing the
palisad'.'s, and digging the necessary trenches. The fort and
harracks were soon comjjlete, and on the ist of August the
(iovernor reached Montreal on his return journey.

Well protected from winds, secure in its anchorage, and
easv of access, the mouth of the Niagara river possessed
manv natural advantages as a harbor. It is not surprising
therefore that the intrepid LaSalle with his keen foresight
should select this spot as a site for a fort and trading post.
ill I'., th'jii, in 1678, on the east side of the river, the first fort
\va; ' :ilt. This position was an advantageous one, for it com-
in.'iided the entrance to the interior and afforded safe and easv
conmiunicatioii with the colonial headipiarters at Montreal. A
thirti fort was built at Detroit to control the passage from Lake
l">rie north.

The original fort built at Niagara bv LaSalle was destrovcd
bv tire a few years after it was com})leted. In i68y, the
Manjuis de Deiionville, then (jovernor-CJeneral of Canada, re-
l)iiilt it in a more permanent form. lie described the localitv
a> " the most lieautiful, the most pleasing, and the most ad-
\antageouM site on the lake.*' jealous and indignant at tiie
establishim Ml of a French fortress on the Hritish side of the
Niagara ri ^r, le Hriiish colonists in the I'rovince of New
^ Ork r« iiiM- if i-,'ted stro,iglv against this action on the j)art of
till- Cai ^unii' ;,\ithorities. For some reason this fort was
ali:uido';;'c| in '^08. nud remained without a garrison until 17.^5,
whei. liaron de Longueuil took possession of it, and laid tile
foundation of a stone fortification on the spot where the origi-
nal fort had been liuilt. This was completed the following
year, and from time to time enlargetl and strengthened until it
became one of the strongest fortresses in Canada.

Ill I 59, w bile the seven years' war engrossed the attention

I i

IIISTOUIC Al, SKK'ICIl OI I 1 1 !•:

of the European nations, and the Indian and colonial war-
struck terror into the hearts and desolated the homes of tin-
frontier settlers, this fort was held for the French kin^- 1>\ a
garrison of some 500 men under the command of M. I'ouchot.
Being a position of great military \alue to the British colonists,
it was regularly besieged V)y Briga(her (Jeneral Prideaux with
an army of S,20o men and 600 Indians. Diu-ing the j^rogress
of the siege. General Prideaux was accidentlv killetl bv the
premature bursting of a small mortar, and the command of the
army then devolved upon Sir Win. Johnston, of Mohawk
celebritv. To relieve the <jfarrison and raise the sie<'e, a lar<rc
force of French rind Indians was sent from the Lake ILrie dis-
trict. Intelligei ''•■ of the advance of this armv ha\ ing been re-
cei\ed. Captain d "v was ordered to prepare an amlnis-

cade near where I ^' , -)n now stands to intercept the eneniv's
progress. Not anticipating this mo\ement on the part of the
British, the French were surprised and defeated. When the
■commander of Fort Niagara learned that the armv sent to re-
lieve him had been thoroughh' routed, he at once acceptetl the
honoraV)le terms offered him by the commander of the British
forces, Sir W m. Johnston. Fort Niagara thus fell into the
hands of the Briti;di a short time liefore Wolfe won his mem-
orable battle on the Plains of Aliraham, and Canada b.'came a
British colony. It remained in the liands of the Britisli imtil,
fcv the Treaty of Paris, it was surrendered to the Americans,
Avho, however, did not get actual possession of it until \'J<./>,
when imder Jav's Treat^ it was practically abandoned.

One effect that followed the close of the Revolutionarv
war was the sifting out of the tried and true subjects of (J real
Britain. While this internecine struggle was going on, right
nobly did thev uphold the cause of the mother countrv and
battle for her supremacy. When thi-Ir efforts were thwarted
by the establishment of the American Repidilic they forsook
their comfortable homes, and migrated to the northern shores
of the St. Lawrence and the great lakes. In that l)road do-
main, amidst untold hardships and struggles, they began life
anew and laid the foundations of a youthful nation that ha-

tOlNI^ ()!■ W KN'lWOK'lll.

ilonial war--
)inos of tile
kiiij;- 1>\ a
\l. Poiichol.
■ih colonists,
idcaiix witli
he progress
illccl by till'
uaml of till'
)f Mohawk
L\nc, a lar<:;(.'
;c I'^rie (Us-
ing l)c'».Mi rc-
an ainhiis-
the LMicinv's
part, of tlu'
When llu'
sent to re-
iccepted the
ihe British
ell into the
n his nieni-
a b>?eanie a
Iritish nntil,
Americans,
until 179^',

U'd.

.'vohitionarv
•ts of (ireat
ig- on, ri<;ht
country and
re thwarted
hev forsook
hern shores
t broad do-
\' be»jan lifi'
on that ha-'

e\i'r proved loyal to the throne and sceptre of (ireat liritain,
and that has sworn fealty to her laws and institutions. For
their efforts to maintain the unity of the British ICmpire, and
for their devotion to th.e cause of tile mother country, they
were called I'nited Empire Loyalists, a name that should ever
l)e honored by all true Canadians. It is diflicult for us, sur-
roinuied as we are with the modern con\eniences of life, to fully
appreciate the sacrillces made and the hardships endnred bv
these loyal people. Many of them were men of wealth, ability
and professional skill. I'lieir families occupietl comfortable
iionu's, and were pronn'nent in societw These they saw sub-
jected to social ostracism, and exposed to open insult, and some-
times to wanton outraj^e and spoliation.

The leaders of both political i)arties in llie l?ritisli parlia-
ment warmly espoused their cause, and spoke in the hi<fhest
terms of the de\(>tl( n ;ind lovaltv of these patriotic people.
I'lie home "^dvernnu'nt \oted t":^, 300,000 sterlin<j^ to indeuuiifv
them for their losses, and to aid them in buddin*;- up new
homes in Canada. I'^or this purjiose settlements were opened
lip and surveys made alono- the upper portion of the St. Lavv-
reiue, around the beautiful Bay of Quinte, on the northern
shores of Lake Ontario, and in the Xiaj^ara ])eninsula. A free
L^rant of Joo acres of land was t;i\en to each I'. \l. Loyalist,
and each child, on coming of age, received a similar grant.
Assistance was freely given in the siiape of food, clothing and
imjilements. b^ach head of a family received an axe, a hoe,
and a spade. To each group of two families a cow and a plow
was allotted. Cross-cut saws, whip saws, and portable mills
were furnished for each settlement. Liberal grants of land
were made to immigrants from (Jreat Ib'itain. Many disband-
eil soldiers, half-pay ollicers, and members of the militia force
availed themselves of these liberal terms, took up land, and be-
came permanent residents. Rations of food, and in many
cases necessary articles of clothing were gi\en l>v tiie govern-
ment to such people as were in need. This liberal treatment
extended over a period of three years, and in this way these
jiioneer families were enabled to tide over the period of greatest

HISTOKICAL SKETCH OI- THK

hardship, and <^ct a portion of their lands cleared and under
cvdtivation.

It is estimated that fully 10,000 of these patriots settled in
Canada within a year after the war had closed, the <rreat ma-
jority of whom came from the New En«i;land colonies and the
adjacent province of New York. This immij^ration continued
steadily until not less than 25,000 people had settled in the
British colonies. The Xiaj^ara peninsula offered an attractiw
asylum for these loyal people. Not only was it convenient of
access, hut it possessed a fertile soil and a saluhrious climate.
These U. E. Loyalists were not slow to perceive the many de-
sirable features of this district, and soon numerous settlemenls
were foniied alonj; the southern shore of Lake Ontario and 011
the l»anks of the river which separated it from the youn^ repub-
lic. As these advanta<j^es became more widely known, the in-
flux of populatif)n rapidly increased. Some of the more ad-
veiuurous spirits were not content to remain in that locality,
l>ut turnin., thei*' face westward souji^ht homes around the
" Head of the Lake," as it was then called. To reach this
point it was necessary to follow the Indian trail below tlie
mountain or coast alon<^ the shore in oi)en boats.

col NT V ()!• WKNTWOUTIl.

and under

i settled ill
<rreat niii-
ies and the
n eontinued
ttlcd in the
m attractive
nvenient of
ous ehniate.
ic many de-
settleinenls
:ario and on
ounjjf repuh-
[)\vn, the in-
hc more ad-
that locality,
around tlie
o reach this
il helow the

CHAPTER IV.

Tlie I'irst Settlers — Charles Depcw — (Jeorjje Stewart — Riehiird
Beasley — Robert Land — His Narrow Escape from Death — De-
struction of His Home — Settles near Niagara — Mrs. Land goes
to New Brunswick — Their Long Separation an^. a Happy Re-
uni(m — Abraham and Isaac Horning — Emigrati; from Pennsyl-
vania — Peter Horning and His Two Sisters Follow — Meet Their
Brothers — Their Toilsome Journey.

To whom shall we ascrihe the honor of heinfj the first
settler at the head of Lake Ontario? This is a question that
has heen freciuently asked, but so far the writer is unahle to
furnish any information more definite than that which is writ-
ten here. The persons named may justly lay claim to this
honor, but it is impossible at this late date to decide upon the
particular person.

Accordiufj to the records in the Crown Lands Department
for Ontario, the plans of the orifjinal survey of the townships
of Harton and SaltHeet were re<^istered on the 25th of October,
1791, bv Aujj^ustus Jones, deputy provincial land survevor.
The names of those who had taken up land at this time were
entered on these plans, which j^^ave them an interim title, but
it was not until 1796 that regular patents were issued. Refer-
ence to this list will show the year in which the patents were
jjranted, but it does not decide the ijuestion, " who was the
first settler? " for cjuite a number of people had settled here
prior to an\- survey.

Amonj; the earliest of these patriots who visited this sec-
tion of the province with the view of makin<^ it their home,
were Charles Uepew, and his brother-in-law, George Stewart.
These men coasted along the southern shore of the lake as far
as ]?urlington Heach, near the mouth of the big creek at the
southeast ^orner of the bay. At this place they dragged their

IIIMOK It A I. SKK'llll <)!• IIIK

laiKif iicniss tlu- l)(.'iiili, pursued their course al()n<r the south
sliore, iiiid landed on what is Unowu as tlie Dejjew farm, now
oeeupied l>v Mr. .S. 1*. Stipe. As no surve\s had heen made,
the manner of loeatin<^ claims consisted in writinj^ the name of
the elaimant on a flattened stake, (h-i\ in<; it into ihe ground,
anil takinj^ formal possession. This thev did. Mr. Depew
M'leeted the farm, which has since that time home his name.
Mr. Stewart went farther west, and chose what in recent \ears
is known as the (irant farm. I'^rom the most trustworthy in-
formation ohtainahle, the autumn (»f I'jS^ apjiears to he the
time in which this journev was niade. The followinj^ vear
they moved their effects to this place and hecame permanent
settlers.

Ahout tlie same time Mr. Richard lieaslcv, who carried on
<|uitc an extensive trade with the Indians, laid claim to the
land where Dundurn Park is now situated, ile also pre-
empted the adjoining; property, known as IJeaslev's Hollow, and
afterwards erected a mill on the stream tlowinj^ into Coote's
Paradise. On his monument in the churchvard of Christ
Church Cathedral, Hamilton, the follow injif inscrij^tion is
found: "In meinorv of Richard Reaslev, lCs(|uire, who de-
parted this life on the i6th dav of Fehruarv, iS\2, aj^ed 80
years aiul j months, -the tn'st settler at the Head of the Lake."

Mr. Rohert Land was certainlv amonji; the very earliest
settlers at the " Heatl of the Lake," if not actually the first.
A \erv interesting^ and romantic incident is related in connec-
tion with his exj^erience in Canadian pioneer life. His earlv
honu' was on the hanks of the Delaware river, when the thir-
teen colonies cast off their allef^iance to the liritish crown, and
erected themselves into the Repuhlic of the United States.
Chcr'shinj^- the name of Briton as an honorahle hirthright, and
l)ein<i;^ loval to kinji^ and country, he cast in his lot with the
Pritish. Naturally of a coura<i;eous disposition, and filled with
a spirit of daring, he was frcciuently selected as the hearer of
important despatches. One night while engaged in this
dangerous duty he was fired at by the enemy. A partially
spent jnusket hall struck him. The wound thus infiicted pre-

E.^

loi ^^^ or \\ i:n r\\ oim ii.

[<>

If south
nil, now
II made,
iianit' of
j^rouiul,
Dc'pew
is name,
■lit years
[)rthv iii-
> be the
iii}^ \ ear
•riiiaiieiU

irried on
11 to tile
also pre-
llow, and

Coote's
f Christ
iption is
who de-
aged 80
e Lake."
»• earliest
the first.
1 eonnec-
lis earh
the thir-
owii, and
(1 .States,
ight, and
with the
lied with
bearer of

in this

partially

cted pre-

-.Mi

COL. KlJliKKT I.ANK.

1 ' ' ■■--!*

rilSroHICAI, SKKTtll ()!• THK

vented him from reacliin<^ his home. He was forced to con-
ceal himself in a thicket of underhnish, where he remained aU
nijjlil. As soon as lie liad rej^ained suiKcient stren<rth, he re-
sumed his jom-nev and reached his home. Here he found
nothiiijij left ])Ut the aslies of his cabin. His wife and ehiUh'en
had tjjone he knew not whither. Sorrowfully he turned from
this sad scene, and set liis face for Canada. Of that perilous
journey, its hardships, its danj^ers, and its privations, we shall
say nothinj^ further than that he reached \ia<i;ara in safety,
and found himself c^nce more on British soil. For some time
he remained in this place, but not being satisfied with his sur-
roimdings he determined to j^o still farther west. We next
find him settled in a lonely lo<^ cabin in a small clearing on the
southern shore of a beautiful Ixntv of water, called bv the
Jiuhans, Macassa, where we shall leave him while we trace
briefiv the historv of his wife and children during the long
period of their separation.

Mrs. Land supposing that her husband had been killed,
followed the British armv into New Brunswick. Bv dint
of hard labor and careful management, she contrived to bring
up her family until they could do something towards support-
ing themseh es. Her prospects in that colony not being satis-
factory she determined to goto Canada. She reached Niagara
in safetv, and learned that a man liearing the name of Robert
Land had settled somewhere near the Head of the Lake. This
unexpected news awakened within her the hope that this man
might be her long lost husband, for she had cherished in her
heart the hope that thev might meet again. She at oncy de-
cided to go to the Head of the Lake. To the great jov of all
the long separated family were united. For manv years thev
lived together in tlieir peaceful and happv home, enjoying the
respect and esteem of all with whom thev came in contact.

The history of the early settlement of this part of the
province would be incomplete without some reference to the
hardships endured and the dilliculties surmounted bv the
Horning familv in their long and tedious journey from their
cjuiet home on the Susc)uehanna river in Pennsvlvania to the

COINTY OK WKNTWOH'III.

5»

imhrokcn forests surrouiuliiifj^ tlu' lu-ad of Lake Ontario. Mr.
Kohert IIornin>^, a ^real j^rarulson of Mr. I.u(l\vi<;, or I^'wis
IIorniii<^, tlie fomuler of the family, has furnished the writer
with the followiiijr deseription of that nienioral)le vova<^e :
He savs, " Mv <;reat ^grandfather, Mr. Ludwi>; Ilorninjif, emi-
grated from HoHand in 1770, and settled in Montj(omer\
eountv, Pennsylvania, on the hanks of the Sus(iuehanna river.
Here his family <(rew up and remained with him until 171^7,
when his two sons, Abraham an(l Isaac, emij^rated to Ciui-
ada. They settled where East Hamilton now stands, and
built a Io<r shantv to the south of the residence of the late Dr.
Lewis vSprinj^er. When leavinj^ home, their mother, thouj^ht-
ful woman that she was, <jjave them a supply of jjarden seeds.
Amoujr them were some of her favorite flowers, which in due
time were planted around their lonely cabin in the forest.
Throuj^h the winter thev toiled late and early addinj^ to their
small clearinj^. Sprin<j came imd with it the opcnin<^ leaves
and flowers. To their j^reat joy they saw these <rarden favor-
ites bloominj^ <^aily, and recalling thoughts of home and friends
far away. .

" In 1788 their brother, Peter Horning, with his family and
two sisters started for Canada. Before leaving home they
liuilt a boat of suflicient size to carry their household effects.
Following the Susc[uehanna they reached a tributary that led
to the fh'st of a chain of lakes that crosses the State of New
^'()rk. L^p this stream they pursued their toilsome journev
anil crossed the first lake. Here they made their first pf)rtage
and reached the second lake. After crossing this they made a
second portage, and reached the shores of the third lake. Fol-
lowing the river that flows from this lake they foiuid them-
selves on the southern shore of Lake Ontario, where Oswego
now stands. Resting here for a short time, they pursued their
journey westward, coasting along the shore. JJefore reaching
Niagara, however, they encountered a very severe st'iiii
Their boat was driven ashore and broken in pieces, but tiicy
managed to save a portion of its cargo. Peter Horning then
started to walk to Niagara, while the remainder of the party

■Ba

■an

MIS TOHU .\[, SKKIC II Ol' IIIK

••. >

M ,

■V-

KKKl-.RT I.AM) S CAHIN.

((UN IN 'II u i:\ ludinii.

)

•:i!

lampi'd im tlii' ^liuri' until liilp should iUTi\f. Wlii-n lu'
ria(.lit.tl Nia<;arii lu- at omi' iiifornu-d \\\v auttuiritii's of hi-< tiiis-
hap. and lln'V promptly -^i-iit a Mr, St, Jdlni with a liuat and
iiH'W to hritij^ tlu fainiU and what ri-iiiaini-d of llu-ir hdusfhuld
fffi'rt>. riu' familv remained nc-ri' a short timt.' while I'eler
Ilornin;4 and his two sisters followed tiie Indian trail to the
lleail of the Laki'. Arriving here one (hiv the\ diseovered a
\u\l eahiu in a small clearing;. The eahin was open hut no per-
son was near. ( )ni' of the sisters saw tiie flowers and at onee
saitl. '" We are at the end of our journev ; I know it h\ these
tlowers. Mother j^avc the seed to Al)raliam. 'l'he\ eanuot
lie far awa\ ," \otiein<^ a path leadin<^ in a northerly diree-
tion, the\ followed it, aiul soon fouiul themselves on the shores
of a beautiful hody of water, now known as Murlin^ton IJay,
whither the t\yo youn<^ men had ^nine to lish, (ireat was the
njoiiin^ when the brothers reeo^ni/ed their friends from
i'ennsylv ania. In the eourse of a few days tlu' remainder of
the part\ arrived, and landed on the farm then occupied by
Mr, l)epe\y. Soon they were cpiietly settled in their lo^ cabin,
w here thev remained for many years.

" In iSjS, I'eter Iloniinf; purchased 2,300 acres of land in
.Sinu'oe County, which is still known as Ilorninj^'s Mills. Here
lu' remained until liS^S, when he returned to his old home in
Hamilton. While li\in<^ at IIornin<^'s Mills tw(j children were
stolen by the Iiulians, and no trace of thciii, nor yet any infor-
mation as to their fate, has eycr been receiycd by any of the
family."

This toilsome join-ney of the llorninj^ family coyered a
period of eiyht weeks. From this brief but im{)erfect descrip-
tion we can form some conception of the priyations, disconraj^e-
ments, and hardships endured by these pioneer families in their
efforts to prov ide themselves with comfortable homes in the
forests of Canada. Nor is this all. It brin<^s out in bold re-
lief the c()ura<^e, the perse\ erance, and the indomitable ener<^y
of these truly noble men and women.

IIISTOl.ICAK SKKTCII OF TllK

CHAPTER V

General Carlton — Ujiper Canada Divided in to Four Districts — Lunen-
burg— Mecklenburjj— Nassau — Hesse — Why so Called — The
Township the unit of our Munici])al System - - Local fJovernment by
Town Meetings and <Juarter Sessions — District Councils — Munici-
pal Act of 1S49 -" Surveying Townships — Land Boards — Augustus
Jones, Dep'ity Surveyor — Indian Reserve — Indian Line — Pur-
chase Line.

I\ 1786, Cicncral Carlton, under the title of Lord Dor-
chester, returned to Canada as (iovernor General. His atten-
tion was directed to the necessities of the western portion of
the province, which at that time was receivin<^ a larjj^e acces-
sion to its population hy the influx of U. E. Lo\alists. To se-
cure hetter j^tyvernnient and to j^ive everv facility for settle-
ment, he issued a proclamation on the 24th Julv, i 7SS, dividinj^
what is now the Province of Ontario into four districts. Their
names ami houndaries were fixed as follows ;

1. The district of Lunenhurji;, hounded on the east hy the
easterly limit of a tract called Lancaster, and extendinj^ west-
ward to a line runnin*^ north and south to the limits of the
province, and intersectinj^ the mouth of the river Gananocpie
ahove the rifts of the St. Lawrence.

2. The district of Mecklenhur<(, bounded on the cast by
the westerly limit of Lunenhurjif, and extendinji^ westward to a
line runninjif north and south to the limits of the province, and
inlcrsectinji the mouth of the river Trent, where it discharges
itself into the hay of Quinte.

3. The district of Nassau, hounded on the east by the west-
erly boundary of Mecklenburg, and extending to a line running
nortli and south to the limits of the province, and intersecting
the eastern projection of Long Point into Lake Erie on the
northern side of the said Lake Erie.

COrXTY OK WKNTWOKTH.

:s— Lunen-
illed — The
rernment by
Is — Munici-
— Augustus
Line — Puv-

Lord Dor-
Ilis atten-
portion of
arj^e acces-
ts. To se-
• for settle-
88, dividinji
icts. Their

cast l»y the

ndin<i wcst-

,mits of the

Ganano([ue

the east by
estward to a
province, aiul
it dischar<j;es

: by the west-

i line runnin^^

1 intersecting

Erie on the

4. The district of Hesse, which is to conijirehend the resi-
due of the said provin-e in the western or inhmd parts
thereof.

These names were doubtless selected because they reii.'!.-
sented royalist and protestant ideas. The jjjrand ducal family
of IJrunswick, I^uncnburg^ was a sovereijjn branch of the
house of Hanover. Queen Charlotte had been the princess of
Mccklcnburg-^\.vc\\\.7.. William HI was the head of the il-
lustrious house of Oranfje-AffiWrt!//, and the princes of Jfcssc
sent auxiliary forces to combat American rebels.

In Canada the township is the unit of our municipal sys-
tem and the orij^inal basis of local self <(overnment. Cities,
towns and incorporated yillaj^es are considered as units, similar
to townships,since the powers and functions vested in the local
representatives are based upon the same j^encnd jjrinciples.
Townships, towns and villaj^es are j^rouped toj^ether to form
counties for municipal purposes. Counties were ori<^inally
formed for military purposes and for the election of representa-
tives to the Legislative .assembly. They had no place in our
system of local self goxernment until county councils were es-
tablished by the municipal act of 1849. vSimilarly they are
grouped to form electoral divisions. The boundaries of these
divisions may l)e coterminous with the nnmicipal boundaries,
or they may very from them to suit the exigencies of ))arlia-
mentary representation. So far as the writer has been in-
formed, the unity of the township, town or village has never
been violated. These municipalities play a very important
part in our system of local self government. The representa-
tives elected by the peojjle form a corporation, and are vested
with power and authority to levy and collect taxes directly
from the people, a power that is not gi\en to any other
body.

The Legislature of Upper Canada in 1793 passetl an act to
provide for the nomination and appointment of parish and
town otticers, and introduced the system of local self govern-
ment by town meetings and (piarter sessions. This system re-
mained in force until 1841, when an act was passed to provide

Ills lOKK Al. SKKlCIl Ol- T 1 1 K

for tlic l)cttcr internal j^overnmcnt of this province bv tlie es-
tii])lislinient of local municipal bodies elected bv the people, and

called district councils.

CIS

The administrative functions exer-

tht

)v the maj^istrates m ([uarter sessions, and certain other
powers specifically named, were vested in these corporations.
This act was superseded by the municipal act of 1S49, which,
thouj^h amended and reconstructed bv successive parliaments.

IS not oeeii altered in anv or its essen

itial

principles.

Tht

first elections under its provisions were held in 1S50, but it was
not until 1S51 that the new plan made much of an impression

le countrv.

The local municipalities were divided int< '•ix

classes: (i) Townships. (2) Counties. (3) Police vil es.
(4) Incorporated villa<(es. (3) Towns, and (6) Cities, to
each of which were jijranted certain privileji^es and i)rero<^a-
tives.

Sir Frederick Ilaldimand in 1781 beifHH the work of sur-

\eviu<^ townships 1

was made

le. It

n l:

ppe

r Canada, but not much proj^ress

soon iK'cam
1

e evident that more vi<;t)rous iieas

ures were necessarv, and aecon

din<rl

V a survcvor jjeneral was

ion

thi

work was

)roset 11

ted

appointed. L nder his direct

vi<;()rouslv, and settlements were established for the distressed

Lovalists, who were resortinj^ to this province in lar^e

luim-

hers.

In each of the districts into which Upper Canada was then
divided. Land Hoards, as they were designated, were estab-
lished. The Nassau Land IJoard consisted of the followiniif

rsons

ieutenant-Colonel Hunter, or the otiicer com

maiul-

iiig, Lieutenant-Colonel Butler, I'eter Tenliroeck, Robert
Hamilton, Henjamin Pawling and Nathaniel Pettit. Their
first meeting was held in 1 7S9 in Navy Hall, Niagara, imme-
diately after the close of the Quarter Sessions. Their duties
w ere ( 1 ) To examine into tlie loyaltv aiul character oi all per-

sons

claiminy; or askin<; lands for

•ttl

setlleme

nt, if

approvec

1, thi

oath of allegiance was administered, and the survevors were
directed to locate tlie applicants on unclaimed lands. (2) To

V great many settlers located their

settle

all

ami disputes.

families on lands still unsurveyed. When the surveys were

forNTN OK \\i:\i\v()i«rii.

.1/

the es-
ple, iiiul
s cxer-
in other
orations.
I, which,
iaiiients,
•s. The
lit it was
ipression
1 int( '•ix

vil. es.
Jities, to

prcroj^a-

U of sur-
pro<j;ress
)us 1 leas-
iierai was
)rose(. iiled
distressed

,-oc lUUll-

was then

ore estab-

followin<j:

coniiiiand-

, Roliert

it. Their

ara, iinnie-

icir chities

of all per-

iroved, the

cyors were

- (^) 1'"
cated their
rveys were

roniijleted, disiiutes eoueeniiiij^ hoiindaries arose, and the Land
Hoard aeled as a court of adjudication. ( 7, ) To locate settlers
and have a general oversij^ht over all land matters. ( \ ) To
appoint road commissioners, and ( ^, ) To recommend such mea-
sures to the j^overnment as, in their opinion, woukl promote
the welfare and harmonv of tiie inhahitants.

On tile recommenilation of the Land Hoard Mr. Au<4iistus
|ones was, in June, 1791, ajijiointed Deputy Provincial Land
Surveyor for tiie District of Nassau. He had heen in active
work since \o\emher, 1 7S9, assistinj^ AL-. IMiilip l'r\ in his
surveys, and was therefore familiar witli the work recpiired of
him. IIavin<^ heen closely connectetl with the first sur\eys
around the head of the lake, a brief outline of liis personal
history will not be out of place. His second son, the Ke\.
Peter Jones, in his autobio<>raphy, says: "M\ father, Mr.
Augustus Jones, was of Welsh extraction. His "grandfather
emijrrateil to America jjrior to the .American Revolution, and
settled on the Hudson River, in the State of Xesv A'ork.
Mr. A. Jones, havinj^ linished iiis studies as a land surveyor
in the city of New \"()rk, came with a recommendation from
Mr. L'olden, son of the (jo\ernor of that State, to Lord Dor-
i iiester, (ioxernor (ieneral of Canaila, and was immediately
employed as a Deputy Provincial Surveyor in lavinji^ out
town plots, townships and roads in different parts of the
i'rovince. This necessarily hrou<^ht him in contact with the
Indian tribes. He learned their lanj^uaije, and employed many
of tiiem in his service. He became so much interested in the
Indian character that he resolved on takin<( a wife from
amon<^- tliem. Accordinj^jy he married mv mother, Tuhbena-
kan^uay, dau<rhter of a chief of the Mississa<;ua 'ribe of
the Ojibwav nation. Tliis took place at the (iraiul River in
1798. The issue of this union was Hve sons and live dauj^iiters.
My father beinj^ fuUv en^aj^ed in his work, left my eldest
hrotiier and myself entirely under the care and'manaj^ement of
my mother. She })referred the habits of her own people,
and for more than fourteen years we lived and wandered
abou* \ ith tlie Indians,"

-T

IIISroKK Al, SKKTCM Ol TlIK

Sir Fr.'ileritk i laUlimaiul, (jovenior (jeneral of Canada, on
the application of Capt. Joseph Jirant and other chiefs and
warriors of the Six Nation Indians, granted them in 17S4, and
to their posterity forever, the (irand River from its source to
its entrv into Lake Erie, and extending six miles on either side
of the river. The limits of this Indian Reserve were neither
definitelv iixed nor survijyed imtil 1791, when a plan of the
(irand River was laid before the Land lioard of Nassau.
Thev called Capt. Joseph JJrant and the principal chiefs and
warriors to aid them with their counsel and advice. After
carefid consideration it was unanimously agreed upon and de-
termined that the bend of the river eastward nearlv two miles
from its mouth or issue into Lake T^rie and the Alohawk vil-
lage near the bend of the river, northward, shall be the two
fixeil points. That a line drawn straight from one of these
points to the other shall form the centre line of the Indian
settlement or lands on the (irand River, and that two parallel
lines to this, six miles distant, on either side of the river, shall
form the bounds between them antl the district of Nassau.
This agreement was ratified on the first dav of February,
1 79 1. Tlie total cost of this survey was about four hundred
dollars.

This Indian line, a name b\- which it is familiarlv known
among the residents of that locality, forms the southerly
boundary of Hinbrook, (ilanford and Ancaster. Its bearing,
as laid down on the surveyor's plan, is north ( ° 30' west to a
point opposite the Mohawk village, where it changes its direc-
tion, and runs north 15' 40' west. This last named line forms
the western boundary of the (jore of lieyerly.

The Mississagua Indians claimed the lands lying along the
northern shore of Lake Ontario as far east as the Credit River.
To separate these from the lands alreaily purchased, a line run-
ning in a north-westerly direction, and familiarlv known as the
" Purchase Line," was surveyed. The starting point for this
sur\ ey was the " (31d outlet," connecting Burlington Hav with
Lake Ontario, and situated near the northern end of the Beach.
This line was run at an angle of north 45" west, and extended

COINI^- (>!■ W i:.\ I'WOKTII.

III ad a, on
liefs and
784, and
source to
ither side
L' neither
ui of the

Nassau,
liefs and
L-. After
n and de-
:wo miles
hawk vil-
e the two

of these
le Indian

parallel
ver, shall
• Nassau.
February,

hundred

Iv known

southerly

l)earing,

west to a

its direc-

iie forms

alonf? the
(lit River.

1 line run-
wn as the
t for this

Hay \\ith
he Heach.
extended

to a point distant about twelve miles from the water's edji^e.
From tbiis point the survevors were instructed to run a series
of r.ulial lines like the spokes of a wheel, with the view of
reachiii<;- the sources of the Thames. From this it is ([uite evi-
dent that the authorities knew \ jr\ little about the interior of
the comitrv. At a later date this line was extended some four
miles, and now forms the boundarv between the Counties of
\\ enlworth and Ilalton.

(»i.i> ( 01 Niv ( oiKi uorsK.

HIS roKK Ai. sKKicii oi- riii-:

CIIAI'TER \'I.

Constitutional Act of 17(^1 — John (Iravus Simcoe -- His Early Life -
Visits America — Elected Member of the British Parliament — Aj)-
jKjinted P^irst Governor of Upper Canada — A Government Orj^an-
ized — Province Divided into Counties — First Session of Parlia-
ment — Formal Ojjening — Acts Passed — Governor Simcoe \'isits
Detroit — Survey of the (iovenn)r's Road — First Survey of Town-
ships — Townships Numbered — Names Substituted for Numbers ~
Plans Re.ijistered — The L of (Jlanford — Surveys Completed.

RKiKKKN't K has l)een made incidentallv to Upper Canada,
hut it was not until Mav, I79i,that the British parliament
passed an act for the division of the Province of Quehee into
two parts. The westerlv portion was called Upper, and the
easterly, Lower Canada. This act went into force on the 26th
of Decemher, 1791, and Colonel Simcoe was appointed the first
ji^overnor of the western province. In Upper Canada the
Lej^islative Assemhly consisted of sixteen representative^
elected hy the people, and the Lej^jislative Council of seven
councillors nominated l>v the Crown. A provincial court oi
appeal was constitui'd, the Enjj^lish tenure of land hv free and
common socage adopted, and provision made for the support
of the Protestant clerj^y. Tithes were enforceahle, hut Protest-
ants were protected from payin<ij them in support of the Roman
Catiiolic clerjry.

John (iraves Simcoe, the first <:fovernor of Upper Canada,
was an Enj^lishman by birth and education. He attended the
free j^rammar school at Exeter until he was fourteen years of
ajj^e, when he was removed to Eton, and afterwards to Merton
colle<i^e, Oxford. Shortly after leaviuf^ eollejije he oh ained a
commission as ensiji^n in the 35th Rej^iment, when he was only
nineteen years of age. This regiment was ordered to Americn
to take part in the Revolutionary war. Here he distinguished

C()rNI\ ()!• WKNTWOinil.

Barly Life —
anient — Ap-
ment Organ -
in of Piirliu-
iimcoe Visits
,-ey of Town-
r Numbers -
npleted.

per Ciinadii.

parlianiciit
QucVtec into
per, iind tlu-
on the -:6th
nted the first

Canada thr
presentatives
icil of seven
cial court oi

hy free and

the snpport
:, hnt Protest-
)f the Roman

pper Canada.

attended the
teen years of
•ds to Merton
he oh ahied a
II he was only
sd to America

distinguishc<l

himself hv his enerjfv, sound judfi^ment anc' thorouf^h military
kno\vle<l<^e, and succeeded in procurinjij a commission as cap-
tain of a company in the 40th Re<jiment. This company won
<4reat honor at the hattle of Hrandywiuc. Captain Simcoe
was promoted to th-' rank of major, and placed in command of
the rejifimcnt known far and wide as the Queen's Raiif^ers.
The special duties of this regiment were principally those of
scouts or light cavalrv, and thev were accorded certain privi-
leges not given to anv other corps. He remained in command
of this regiment until the surrender of Lord Cornwallis at
^ Orktown. On account of enfeehled health he was allowed to
retiM-n to England as a prisoner on parole. Here he remained
until he was relieved from parole hv the conclusion of a treaty
of peace hetween the mother country and her colonies. In rec-
ognition of his eminent services. His Majesty conferred upon
him the rank of lieutenant colonel of the arm v.

During his military career he had acquired a reputation in
luigland, and in 1790 was elected a memher of parliament.
He took an active part in the discussion that arose on the Con-
stitutional Act. IJeing intimately acquainted with its provision
and sviiipathi/ing deeply with the n-fugee loyalists, he seemed
the most eligihle person to appoint as governor of I'pper Can-
ada. Accordingly he was appointed, and his suhsec[ucnt career
fully justified the confidence placed in him.

He arri\ed at Kingston after a long and tedious journey up
the St. Lawrence, and on the 8th of July, 1792, took the oaths

)f oH

ICC,

an(

)roceeded at once to organize a government.
The following persons were appointed memhers of the Legis-
lative Council: William Osgoode, chief justice; John White,
who came out from Lngland for this pin'pose in 1792, attorney
general ; I'eter Russell, receiver general ; D. W. Smith, sur-
veyor general; William Jarvis, provincial secretary; James
Small, clerk of the council ; Thomas Talhot was private secre-
tary, and Major Littlehales, A. D. C. to the governor. Mr.
Gray w as appointed solicitor general ; Thomas Ridout and
Wm. Chewett, assistant sury<'vor generals ; Peter Clark, clerk
of the Legislative Assembly; John (i. Law, usher cf the

IIISTOKKAK SKKTCII OK IIIK

■,-!''t7{

V. I

black rod ; Colonel John Butler, superintendent of Inilian
affairs. The council ''haniber was at Navy Ilall, Newark,
now Niajjara.

A proclamation was issued 1)\' the (iovern(jr on the i6tli
July, 1792, dividing the province into nineteen counties for the
pi.rpose of electinjif representatives to the Lejj^islative Assembly.
The limits of these counties were determined more bv the num-
ber of inhabitants than by the extent of territory embraced
within their limits, due allowance bein<( made for prospective
settlements. The following are the names of the counties begin-
ning at the eastern boundary of the province : (Jlengarry, Stor-
mont, Dundas, Grenville, Leeds, Frontenac, Ontario, Addington,
Lennox, Prince Edward, Hastings, Northumberland, Durham,
York, Lincoln, Norfolk, Suffolk. Essex and Kent. Sixteen
representatives were elected. At that time, what is now known
as North Wentworth, formed part of the west riding of
York, and South Wentworth part of the Hrst riding of I^in-
coln. York was divided into two ridings, the east and the
west, and extended from the County of Durham westward to
the river Thames, then called La Tranche, and embraced all
the territory north of the western part of Lake Ontario, Lake
Geneva, and a carrying jilace from Lake Geneva to Mt)hawk
village. Lincoln was divided into four ridings, the first, sec-
ond, third and fourth, and had the Niagara river for its east-
ern boundary. Lake Erie and the (iraiul river west to Mo-
hawk village for its southern boundary, and Lake Ontario,
Lake Geneva and the west riding of York for its northern
])oundary. By this proclamation the name of Lake Geneva
was changed to that of Burlington liny.

The first parliament of Upper Canada was summoned to
meet at Niagara on the 17th day of September, 1792, and was
prorogued on the 15th day of October following. The names
of sixteen representatives elected by the people were : John
Macdonell, John Booth, J. W. Baby, Alexander Campbell,
Philip Dorland, Jeremiah French, Ephraim Jones, William
Macomb, Hugh Macdonell, Benjamin Pawling, Nathaniel
Pettit, David William Smith, Ha/leton Spencer, Isaac Swayzy,

If I

C(Jl'N'l^' OI" WKN r\Vf)|{ III.

Indian
>«c\vark,

the 1 6th
; for the
sscnihlv.
he nuin-
nihraeed
)spective
;s beji^in-
ry, .Stor-
din<(t()n,
Durham,
Sixteen
V known
din<r of
of Lin-
and the
tward to
raced all
io, Lake
Mohawk
tirst, sec-
its east-
to Mo-
Ontario,
northern
■ Geneva

noncd to
and was
le names
e : John
'amphell,
William
•sathaniel
Swav/v,

Mr. Young and John White. The members present sub-
scribed to the oaths of ofHce, except Philip Dorland, who. be-
ing a Quaker, refused to be sworn. His seat was therefore
declared vacant, and Peter \'anAlstine elected to till the

vacancy

To impress the people of this province with the fact that
thev were a part of the liritish Empire, the Governor opened
parliament ivith all the pomp and cercmonv that distinguished
the opening of the British parliament. Soldiers were drawn
up in line to form a guard of honor to His lOxcellency, the
mem])ers of the Legislative Council ga\ e notice of his pres-
ence, the members of the Legislative Assemblv appeared at
the bar of the House, and the Governor read the speech from
the throne. In it he cited his authoritv for callin<r them to-
gether, spoke approvingly of the many wise provisions of llie
Constitutional Act of the previous year, referred to the trusts
and duties committed to their care, allude<l in tlattering terms
to the many advantages possessed bv the colonv, and con-
cluded by expressing the hope that it would soon be settled
with a contented and prosperous people.

When the formalities of opening the session had been con-
cluded, the legislators proceeded actively to business. The
following acts were passed, received the royal assent, and be-
came law: I. An act to repeal certain portions of the Que-
bec Act of 1775, and to introduce the English law as the rule
of decision in all matters of controversv relative to propertv
and civil rights. 2. An act to establish trial by jurv. 3. An
act to establish the Winchester bushel, and a standard for other
weights and measures. 4. An act concerning courts of com-
mon pleas. 5. An act to prevent accidents by Hre. (). An act
for the more easy and speedy recovery of small debts. 7. An
act to regulate the tolls to be taken at mills (not more than
one-twelfth for grinding and bolting). 8. An act for build-
ing a gaol and court house in each district, and to change the
names of the districts. The name of Lunenburg district was
changed to that of Eastern district, Mecklen])urg to Midland,
Nassau to Home, and Hesse to Western, Owing to tlie time

V-i — ^ -T i -r i Tn- I T

HIS roKii Ai. ski; 11 II 01 111 1-;

( Srpt. ijtli), at whiili the I'arliainciit was suninioiU'd to iiu't-t.
oiilv li\f ivprc'sciitati\ fs eltctcd by tlic pi-oplc, and two iiicin-
l)C'rs of the Lt'^islati\ c Council, wt'iT prt-sriit at the openiii<,f
tLrcmoiiics. 'I'he rt'inaii\in<^ incmhers could not atti'iul to their
parlianientarN duties, as thev were recpiired at home to secure
their crops and Ihiish their fall work. The seal of ^o\ern-
iiient was removed from \ia<(ara to ^'()rk in 1797, and the
l*ro\ iucial Parliament was opened in a wooden huildinj^ near
the Don. i'arliament street received its name from this
event.

(>o\ ernor Simcoe, with a small partv of oilicers and men.
started from Niagara on the |.th of I'ehruarv, 17*^3, to visit the
])()st at the Straits of Detroit, and to review the soldiers stationed
at that place. On their journev thev visited Mohawk \illaLCe,
the home of Capt. |osei)h IJiant. Thev went from this place
to the Delaware Indian villaj^e on the Thames, Capt. Hrant
and a hand of his l)ra\es accomj)an\ in<^ them. Here thev re-
mained for a short time, and then jjroceeeed to Detroit, where
the\ re\ iewed the 2 \{h Kej^iment, anil examined the fort. On
the return trip a dav was spent examininj^ the countr\ around
the present site of the city of l.ondon, which in the opinion of
the (iovernor was a \erv desirable situation for the metroj^olis
of Canada. Lord Dorchester fa\()red Kingston. A com-
promise was a<rreed upon, and Toronto, then called ^'ork. be-
came the capital.

When the (iovernor returned to Xiaj^ara, he issued the fol-
lowing instructions to Mr. Au<^ustus Jones, Deputv Provincial
Sur\e\()r: •■' \"()u are to proceed immediateh to Burlinj^ton
IJay (formerly Lake (ieneva), and from thence to the extent
of bateau navi<jation in Coote's Paradise, at or near a creek
(Beaslev's creek) which falls from the mountain, and thence
commence vour survev bv rumiin<^, measuring and sli<^htl\
markin<r a line south 77*^ west, until von strike the river
Thames, which it is conjectm-ed, vou will do near the Cpper
Forkes." When Mr. A. Jones had completed this survey, and
sent his report to the <jfovernment, it was found that this line,
instead of runninjr south 77" west as conjectured, ran south

((H\r> or \v i;\ I w I II! I II.

^>S

I to meet,
^vo iiicm-

(1 to tlu'ir
to secure
f j^oveni-
j^ aiul the
(lin<^ near
From tliis

aiul men.
() visit the
s stationed
,k village,

this i)lace
apt. Uraiit
e they re-
roit, where
I fort. On
try arouiul
opinion of

metropoh>
A eom-

^'orl<, he-

led tlie fol-

Provincial

Hurhn<jtoii

the extent

•ar a creek

and ihence

jul sU^hlly

; the river

the I'ppei-

survey, and

at this hue,

, ran south

lAl'l. JOSKIMI HKANT.

IMS roinc Ai. sKKitii OK niK

78" ;^c)' west. 'I'lic'sc iiistruilions hear the date of March 19th,

Tlic first surveys made in the Niaj^ara peninsula were two
towiisiiips froiitiii«; on the Niaj^ara river, and exten(Hnj( as far
south as the W'elland ri\er. Tiiese were known as Town-
ships Xos. I and .», in the district of Nassau. On the west
side of N'o. I, au<l exten(hii<f westward to Coote's Paradise, a
raiij^e of townsliips was surveyed, and were known as Town-
.■^liips Nos. ^, 4, 3, 6, 7 and 6, in tlie district of Nassau. In the
rear of No. 7 another township was surveyed. These surveys
were made in 1790 and 1791. On the north side of Lake
Geneva a portion of a township was surveyed in 1791, and
called the Township of (ieneva.

On the 18th Decemlier, (Governor Sinicoe issued a procla-
mation desi<^natin<;- these townships hy names instead of nurn-
hers, as follows: No. 1, Newark, changed to N'iaj^ara in
1800; 2, Stmiiford ; 3, (irantham ; 4, Louth; 5, Clinton; 6,
(irimsby ; 7, SaltHeet ; 8, Harton. The one in the rear of No.
7, or .SaltHeet, was called Binbrook. These names were chosen
from the names of places in the counties of Lincolnshire and
^'orkshire, in Knj^land.

The township of SaltHeet is divided into eij^ht concessions
or rows of lots, and a broken front. These concessions are
subdivided into seventeen blocks, each containiu}^ two lots.
These lots have a frontajje of twenty chains, by a depth of
Hfty, and contain one hundred acres each. The starting point
in the survev is a line, called a base line, running at right
angles to the western boundary of the township of Grimsby,
and at a convenient distance from the lake shore. Around
each of these blocks, a strip of land one chain in width, is re-
served for a road allowance. The concession lines run north
72" west, and the side lines south 18° west. Accf^rding to the
returns of the assessors for 1894, ^'^'^ township '>nta
28,1 73 acres.

The general plan of survey in Barton is si 10 that of

SaltHeet, with this exception, that each concessi . ontains onh
twenty-one, instead of thirty-four lots. The concessi' i lines,,

KH NIN ()!• WKNTWolllll.

f'7

■ch i9tli,

iTc two
\ir as far
Town-
thi- west

radisc, a
s T«)\vn-
In the
u surveys

of Lake
1791, and

a proela-
of miin-
iajjara in
liiiton ; 6,
nir of No.
;re chosen
shire ami

oncessions
ssions are
two lots.
I depth of
ting point
r at rijijht
Grimsby,
. Around
idth, is re-
run north
ding to the

ip )UlU

10 that of
ntaiii^ onl\
ssi< a lines,

and the side lines run in the same direetit)n as tlie eorrespond-
ing lines in Saltfleet, hut the concession lines are not coter-
minous since the base line was run farther to the north. It is
estimated tiiat the numher of acres in tliis township, aicording
to the origiiuil survey, was about I7,i^()<), but this has been re-
duced to 1^,762, the remainder being occupied by the citv of
Hamilton. In both of these townships the concessions are
numbered from the lake, southward, and the lots, from the
eastern boundary, westward.

When the township of Minbrook was first surveyed, it con-
sisted of four concessions, each containing five blocks. These
were nundiered 1, 2, ;^, 4 and 5 respectively, beginning at the
easterlv boundarv, and contained 1,000 acres each excepting
ninnber ^, which contained 600 acres. This township lies im-
mediately in the rear of, and adjacent to the township of .Sult-
Heet. The concessions are nund)ered from north to south, and
run parallel to those in Saltfleet, with their side lines at right
angles to the concessions, both lines having the same bearing
as the corresponding lines in Salttleet and Harton. In a subse-
(juent sm-vev these blocks were subdivided into live lots, each
containing Joo acres. This townshi}), as first surveyed, con-
tained 18,400 acres, but in the vear 1800, the L of (ilanft)rd
was detached from (ilanford, and joined to IJinbrook, and now
it contains 26,387 acres.

The copies of the original plans in the Crown Lands
office, Toronto, show that the townships of Saltfieet, Harton,
IJinbrook, and part of a township on the north side of Lake
(ieneva,called the Township of (ieneva (now East Flamboro'),
were surveyed in 1791 by Augustus Jones, Deputy Provincial
Surveyor, and countersigned by Samuel Holland, Surveyor
(General, and at a later date by D. W. Smith, acting Surveyor
General for Upper Canada. These plans contain the names
of each proprietor, inserted in his own lot, and are dated
Nassau, 23th October, 1791.

Reference has already been made to the survey of the
Governor's road, sometimes called Dundas street, westward
from a point on the south shore of Coote's Paradise to the

Ills KdCH A I. SKKTCII.

forks of thf 'J'liamt's. In May, 1793, Mr. A. Jones was in-
structed l)y the surxevor general for Upper Canada -" To
proceed to Coote's I'aradise, and from thence alonj^ the road
arked to the riser Thames, which you report to rim south

77' west, until von intersect the north-east houndary of the
hmd occupied hv the Six Nation Indians, runnin<r north 15 .40'
west, and there commence your survey hy adivieasurinjr, niark-
in<i^ and layin*^ off so much of tliree tovynships, as is iiereinafter
mentioned."

The Hrst lownsiiip was surveyed on the nort.i '..ide of this
road. Each concession was divided iriio s!\ hlocks, with an
allowance of one chain f(<r roa<ls hetween these hlocks, and l)e-
tween the concessions. I*2ach l)lock was suhdivided into six
lots, each lot haviii}^ a fronta<^e of 20 hy a depth of 100 chains.
These lots were nund»ered from west to east, and the conces-
sions from south to north. The j)lans prepared hy Mr. A.
Jones, and rej^islered in the survevor <(enerars office, show that
this township extended twelve miles from front to rear, an<l
covered an area of 108 scjuare miles. The hearinjjs of the -on-
cession lines are south 77" west, and of the side lines n .•th
13" west, or in other words the former run thirteen dcj^'rees
south of a line running due east and west, and the latter the
same distance west of a line runninj^ due north and soulii.
The Indian line runs north 1 ^^ 40' west, while the western
houndarv of this township runs north 13" west. A •^•ore of
land is thus left hetween these two houndaries, whuli remained
separate from any imini( i|)atit y until 182', when it was made a
part of Beverly.

The second township on the north side of this road wa^
surveyed on the same {general plan, with similar co.icessions.
hlocks, lots and road allowances, and extended from the eastern
houndary of the first township to the north anj^le of Coote's
I'aradise, the U»ts heinj^ nuiid)ered from west to east, and the
concessions from south to north.

On the northern shore of Lake (ieneva, Mr. A. Jones, in
1791, surveyed a portion of a township to which th<' name of
Geneva was <^iyen. I''our concessions and a hroken front were

WilS 111-

the road
nil south
• of thi-
h 15 40'
<£, mark-
rciiiaftcr

L' of this
with an
,, ami bc-
iiito six
)o chains.
L" conccs-
V Mr. A.
■;ho\v lliat
rear, and
f the -oii-
nes n -.-th
1 dcj^recs
latter the
md soutii.
e western
\ oore of
1 remained
as made a

road \va^
),ieessions.
Lhe eastern
i)f Coote's
st, and llie

. Jones, in

ic name of

front were

inSTOKICAI. SKETCH OF TlIK

«l^

«*

surveyed. These concessions were divided into seven lots
eacli. After completiiifif the survey of the first concession in
the second township, he was instructed to divide each of the
seven hlocks in the different concessions of the township of
Geneva into two lots, each lot to have a frontajjje of ahout 23
chains, and a depth of 87 chains. In this section of the second
township the concessions were to run at rijifht angles to the
north-eastern boundary line, a line running north 45" west from
the outlet at the northern end of the Beach. A road allowance
of one chain was left between lots 7 and 8, and is known as
the Centre road.

The third township was to consist of that triangular tract
of land boiuuled on the north by the Governor's road, on the
southwest bv the Indian line, and on tl.e southeast bv the
western boundary of the township of Barton. This tract was
surveyed on the same general plan as that adopted for the sur-
vev of the first township, which lies immediatelv to the nortli
and adjacent thereto. The concessions, blocks, lots and road
allowances correspond in form and size with those of the ad-
joining townships on the north. The lots were numbered
from west to east, and the concessions from north to south.
Similar lines are described by the same bearings, and run in
the same directions^.

In December, 1793, Governor Simcoe changed the designa-
tion of the various townships, surveyed in the old district of

assau.

om numbers to names. The names assigned to the

first eight townships iiave alreadv been given. (Jf those sur-
vevcd during the summer of 1793, by Mr. A. Jones, the name
of Beverlv was given to the first on the north side of Dundas
street, and Flamborouyh to the second, while the third, situ-
ated on the south side of said road, receiveil the name of
Ancaster.

In December, 1793, instructions

were triven

to Mr.

Jones to survev outlines of a new township between Barton
antl the Indian lands on the (Jrand river, lie was further in-
structed to extend the line forming the western boundarv of
Barton in a southerly direction, until it intersected the north-

COL'NTV OF WliNTW OltTII.

vcn lots
rssion in
h of the
nship of
about 23
ic second
s to the
vest from
lUowiince
mown as

ular tract

icl, on the

St by the

tract was

)r the svn--

the nortli

and road

of the ad-

mnnbcred

1 to south.

md run in

le desij^na-
district of

ned to the
those sm--

i, the name
of Dundas
third, situ-

e name o<^

to Mr. A.
een Barton
further in-
boundarv of
1 the nortli -

easterly boundary of these lands. This extended line was to
form the western boundary of the new township, to which the
name of Glanford \yas jj^iyen. The concessions were to rim
parallel to those in Barton, and to have a depth of 66 chains,
with an allowance of one chain for roads between concessions.
These were subdiyided into lots hayin<^ a frontaji^e of 2814
chains, and a road allovyance of one chain was reseryed be-
tween each group of liye lots. Some of the work having been
done in a careless manner, the survey of this township was re-
vised and a corrected plan registered in the surveyor general's
otlice, and countersigned by Thomas Ridout, surveyor general.
The lots in Glanford contain 1S8 acres, instead of 100 or 200
as in the other townships. When the survey of Glanford was
completed it was found that a tract of lanil, lying between
Binbrook and the Indian lands, still remained unsurye\ed. In
1794, Mr. Jones surveyed this, and laid it out on the same plan
as that adopted in Glanford. It received the name of the L of
Glanford, and remained a part of that townsliip until 1800,
when it was attached to and matle p..rt of the township of
Binbrook. This explains why there is a skip from four to
seven in mnnbering the concessions in this latter township, and
affords a reason for the variation in the form and si/e of the
lots in these two sections of it.

When the townships now forming the county of Wentuortii
were first surveyed, a plan was jireparcd and registered lii (lie
Siirveyor general's office. The boundaries were duly fixed and
marked, but only one or two concessions were subdivided into
lots with fixed metes and bounds. As these were taken up for
settlement, other concessions were surveyed in detail, roads
opened, and the lots assigned to those coming in as settlers.
Soon, however, the land jobber or speculator apjilied for and
received large grants, one person alone lia\ ing no less than
6,600 acres in the township of Ancaster, with smaller (piantities
in other parts of the county. Mr. A.Jones was the surveyor
selected to fix the metes and bounds of the townships in Went-
worth, and to prepare the necessary plans for the sm-veyor
general. Other surveyors were employeil to eompleti- certain

I '■

f I

IlISTOIUCAr, SKKTCII OK TllK

parts of the work, originally planned by Mr. Jones. Among
the earliest of these are Messrs. Iredale, Stegnian, Law, Philps,
Whclock and (Jrant. These surveys were practically com-
pleted about the close of the eighteenth century.

COINTV OK \\ KNTWOK Til.

/.3

CHAPTER VIT.

Roads — l^undas Street — King's Landing Plaee — Second Division
into Counties — (lore District Formed — Representatives in the
First District Council — Hrant Separated from Wentworth — Hal-
ton Separated — Wentworth as now Constituted — Wardens Elec-
ted—County Treasurers — County Clerks — P. S. Inspectors —
County Councils — Act of 1896 — Commissioners Appointed — Re-
port of CommissicMiers — Members of the New County Coimcil —
Ward ". Elected.

Biii.niN'c; roads and opcninjj^ up ways of comiminicatioii
in these earlv days neccssarilv involved a <rreat amount of labor.
Trees had to be felled, underlirusli cut and cleared awav, cor-
duroy bridj^es made over low and wet places, and the smaller
stumps and other obstacles removed. At first these roads were
merely patlis throu<^h the forest, and frecpientlv followed tlie
Indian trails. These paths were widened into roads as occa-
sion required, so that sleiii^hs could pass alon<^ them in winter
and wajjfons or carts in summer.

Many of these early roads were of necessity verv irrej^ular
in their course, according' as the wav was obstructed by hills,
streams or swampy places. As the country j^rew older, and
the population increased, these roads were straijji'htened, the
hills levelled, the roadways j^^raded, and the streams bridged.
At first this work was done bv the residents of each locality,
acting under a pathmaster appointed by the Quarter Sessions.
Some of the most important of the leading thoroughfares, how-
ever, received aid from the government.

Governor Simeoe originated a plan for supplying Upper
Canada with two great thoroughfares, one to extend from
Kingston on the east to Lake Huron on the west, and the other
from Toronto to Lake Simcoc. That portion of the former
running from Toronto westward is called Dundas street, while

ii ii

HIS TOintAI. SKKICII ()|- TIIK

thill i'Xtc'iuliii<r eastward is called the Kinirston road. Y()ii<;c
street is the name }^ivei) to the one rimiiiiij^ north to Lake
Sinicoe. Two purjK)ses were to be served hv these roads.
The first, and at that time doubtless the more important, was
that of a <^reat military hij^iiwav, and the second, of a jj^reat
commercial road to <^ive the outlvinijf districts eas\ access to
the i)orts on I^<ike Ontario.

Dundas street was sur\eved at a distance of about three
miles north of the lake shore. This position was selected in
order to avoid the diflicultv of brid<^ing the streams near their
outlets into the lakes, and for j^reater safety in sendinj^ sup-
plies or forwardinjr troops in case of war. It passes throuj^h
Kast Flamboro' about the centre of the third concession and
continues in a westerly direction until it strikes the road allow-
ance between the third and fourth concessions of West Flam-
boro'. Here it turns to the south as far as Rockview, thence
to the southeast across lot 23 in the thir{l concession, thence in
a circuitous course south and west, until it reaches the Kin<;'s
landing; place, where it intersects the road leadinji^ westward to
the Thames. On the early maps this latter road is called Dun-
das street, but is now generally spoken of as the Governor's
Road.

The Kinj^'s landinjr place consisted of a block of land cou-
taininj^ about 60 acres, and was reserved as a town plot, at the
head of bateau navi<jjation on the west of Coote's Paradise. It

ost-d of 20 acres of the southern end of lot 17 in t

was comp

first concession of West Flamboro'

and 40 acres

)f th

e north

ern part of lot ^3 of the first concession of Ancaster. In iS
it was surve\ed as a tow 11 jilot. ami received the lumie of Coote
Paradise, which was afterwards chan<jed to Dundas in ho

lOo

nor

)f Sir llenr\-

uiulas.

An act was passed in 1 79S di\ idiu<^ the province into twentv-
two counties, which were "grouped into nine districts. The
townships of Ancaster, Harton, Uinbrook, (ilanford and vSall-
fieet formed part of the new district of Xia<^ara, while Jicverly
and Fland)oro' remaineil in the old Home district. It was at
this time that Flamboro' was divided into East and West. Tlu'

fOlNTV Ol- WKN'IWOK 1 II.

/.-)

lo Lake
c roads,
ant, was
a j^rcat
u-ccss to

)ut three
;lecte(l in
car tlieir
liiiji sup-

throuj^h
ssion and
lad allow-
est Flani-
■w, thence

thence in

he Kind's

estward to

died Dun-

Jovernor's

land con-
ilot, at the
iradise. It
)t 17 in tile

the north-
In 1800
; of CooteV
;is in honor

nto twenty -
:ricts. The
d and Salt-
lile Hcverly
It was at
West. The

\V11.,I.\M MARTIN, WAKDIvN I S()().

:'. i'l

msTOKICAI. SKETCH OK TIIK

royal assent to this act was reserved, aiul it did not come in
force until rst January, 1800.

From 1800 to 1816 no changes were made in any of the muni-
cipalities around the "Head of the Lake." At the latter date the
new district of Gore was formed from parts of the Niagara
and Home districts. It was named in honor of Sir Francis
Gore, one of the early governors of this province. From its
earliest settlement to this date, North Wentworth had for elec-
toral purjjoses, formed part of the west riding of York, and
South Wentworth part of the first riding of Lincoln. This
new district was divided into two new counties named respec-
tively Wentworth and Halton. The former comprised the
townships of Saltfieet (including liurlington Heach), Barton
including liurlington Heights), ]iinl)rook, Glanford, Ancaster,
and so much of the county of Haldimand as lies between Dun-
das street and the village of Onondaga, commonlv called Hears-
foot, while the latter was composed of the townships of Tra-
falgar, Nelson, East and West Flamboro', Dumfries, Water-
loo, Woolwich and Nichol, together with the reserved lands
in the rear of Blenheim and Blanford.

The next important change in the system of local self-
government in this province was the establishment of district
municipal councils. In January, 1842, elections were held pur-
suant to the act chap. 10, 4th and 5th \'ictoria, when the fol-
lowing persons were duly elected to represent the various
municipalities, viz. :

NAME. TOWNSHIP.

Agnew, Andrew Nassagaweya.

Biggar, Herbert Brantford.

Bowen, Arthur Barton.

lUichanan, Alexander Dumfries.

Capron, Hiram Dumfries.

Clarke, Samuel Trafalgar.

Coleman, James West Flamboro'.

Condon, J Saltfleet.

Dresser, Frederick Ancaster.

COINTY ()!• WKNTWOKTM.

/ /

come in

ic imini-
datc the
Xiajiara

Francis
''rom its
for elcc-
jrk, and
1. This
I respec-
•iscd tlic
, Barton
\ncastcr.
en Dun-
t;d Bcars-

of Tra-
^, Water-
zed lands

ocal self-
of district
held pnr-
1 the fol-
ic varions

NAMK. roWNSllII'.

Good, Allen IJrantfortl.

Ilannon, Joseph (ilanford.

llif^j^ison, John I'uslinch.

Hopkins, Caleh Nelson.

Kennedy, Chas Escjnesin*^.

Miller, John Nelson,

^lillard, I. K Kast Flanihoro.'

AIcKerlie, John IJinbrook.

McXaujjhton, Alex Esipiesini^.

Nesbit, Stephen I5everl\ .

Xichol, Alex Puslinch.

Robinson, Walter Beverly.

Servos, D. K liarton.

Spohn, Philip Ancaster.

Spencer, Joseph West Flamboro'.

Waddell,' Thos Salttleet.

White, John Trafal<;ar.

John Wetenhall, Esq., was appointed the first warden hy
commission nnder the <^reat seal of tiie Province and servctl
five years. The first session opened on the Sth February,
1S42, vSamuel Clarke, Esq., was elected the second warden
and served three years.

The Act passed in 1S41 establishing District Councils was
repealed in 1S49, when the Harrison Municipal .Vet was
passed. In 18^0 the first elections were held under its pro-
visions, Robert Spence, Esq., afterwards postniaster-general,
was chosen first warden of the united counties of Wentworth
and Halton, and served in that capacity for three years. The
county of Brant was formed in 185 1, and the municipality was
called the United Counties of Wentworth, Halton and Brant,
but at the expiration of one year Brant was erected into a sep-
arate county municipality. Wentworth. aiul Halton remained
imited until the close of 1854, when Halton became a separate
county for municipal purposes. The act separatinj^^ Halton
from Wentworth was passed in 1853, but did not <jo into effect

m
.1

.jr

i;
H

HIS TOIUCA I. SKKTlll oh IIIK

until iiTtain loiulitioiis wen- fiillilli'd. Wlii-u all mattff^ of
(liffcrcmi' utTc amiiahlv adjusted, and the londitions of separ-
ation t'onipiied with, the act of separation was carried into
effect ii\ proclamation of the ( iox ernor ( ieneral. John Ileslop,
for mans years clerU and treasurer of Aneaster, was electid
tirsi warden of the lountv of W'enlwortli, and served four
\i'ars in succession. Since iS^^ W'entworth has remained ii\
its present form, and now comprises the follow in>^ municipal-
ities, vi/. : Aneaster, IJartou, l}e\erlv, l{iut)rool<, I'Mamhoro'
I'^ast. I'landioro' West, (ilanford, Saltfleet, Waterdown and
Duiulas.

The follow in;^ list jrives the names of the different wardens
elected in W'entworth, the municipalities tliev represented, and
the position thev illled in tiie township munici])alities :

Yi:.\K.
.S56

185S

i86(»
1S61
186.'
1863
1864
1865
1 866
1867
1868
1869
1870

N A M I'.

oKH( K

MCNICII'AI.I r\.

|ohn 1 leslop Kee\ e Aneaster

CIO

(to

CIO

Alexander IJrown . , Deijutv Keeve

do
do

CIO

Hast Flanilioro'
do

CIO

Alva (J. |ones Kecve .SaltHect

R. U. Waddell do

I {arte

omas

IV.

1871 Alon/o ICji^leston ,
fames .S^)merville,

,872

i«73
1874

1875 Peter Wood do

Thomas Stock do

do do

. West Flamhoro'

Aneaster

Diindas
, East Flamlioro'

ever I V

COCNTV HI- \\ K\ r\\ <l|{ 111.

7''

(;. s. coLNSKLi., »:oi:mv ci.kkk.

'mm

YKAR.
1S76
1S77
1S78
1879

iSSo
1881
1882
188,:?
1884
1 885
1886
1887
1888
1889
i8()()
1 890
i89t
1892

1894
1895
1 896

HISTUKKAl, NKKICII (»l TIIK

\ A M K.

F. M. CarpcntiT ,

OUKK. MI'NH II'Al.n V.

Reeve Salllleet

'I'lioiiiiis .Stock do

Joliii Weir, jr do

Thomas Slock do

do do

William Sexton .... do

do do

Thomas Lawrv .... do

do do

T. 11. A. IJej,nie do

I. W. jardine do

A. K.' Warden do

John Ira Flatt do

John \V. (Jajfe do

Fast Flamboro'
West Flamboro'
l'2ast Fluiuhoro'

do
Ancaster

do
liartoii

do
Dniidas
SaltHeet
Duiulas

I'2ast Flamboro'
liartoii
Beverlv

Uo1)ert Ferj^uson . . . do

M. S. Wilson Deputy Keeve Duiulas

John Dickenson. . . .Ree\e n. . .(ilanford

Arch. Cochrane .... do West F^lamboro'

Peter Reid do SaltHeet

Wm. McClure isl Denut\ Ree\e. . Heverlv

I. (). McCJret^or

l<^ee\e Waterdown

Will

lam

Marl

Bin)

)rooK

When the (iore District Council was or<(ani/ed in 1842,
Mr. Ilenry Heaslev was appointed treasurer. He remained in
olHce four years, when Mr. James Kirkpatrick was chosen to
succeed him. Mr, Kirkpatrick's term of oHice extended from
the be^inninjj; of 1846 to the close of 1876, when he retired.
His successor was Mr. John T. Stock, who tendered his resij;-
natioii to take effect on the ist of Auj^ust, 1895. The present
treasurer, Mr. Archibald Cochrane, was then appointed as the
successor of Mr. Stock.

Dr. E. Cartwrij^ht Thomas was chosen clerk of the (iore
District Council at its orj^anization in 1840, and remained in
ofKce one year, when he was appointed sheriff. He was suc-
c'eeded by ^Ir. H. W. Jackson, who served in this capacity

col SIN OK \VK\ r\\ OK III.

I ITY.

boro'
iiil)()r()'

nboro'

iiin

)\vn

lioro'

in 1842,
mined in
ln)scn to
led from
c retired.
nis resiji;-
e present
ed as the

the Gore

iiained in

was suc-

capacity

four years, when he retired. His successor was Mr. |ame->
Duraiid, wiio remained in olliec until the close of iSf<)< wliiii
the District Councils were superseded by the Comity Couiuil>.
In iS^o the first County Countril for the united counties of
Wentworth and llalton was or«jani/.ed, and Mr. Charles ( ).
Counsell was ai)pointed clerk. He remained in othce until his
death in October, iSOo, when he was succeeded bv his son,
Mr. (i. S. Counsell, who now discharj^es the duties of this ollice.

In 1S71 Mr. J. H. Smith was appointed Public School
Inspector, and has held oiHce since that time.

Modifications in our system of local self-jjoyernment arc
fre(|uently made, especially in workinj^ out the details of our
assessment ami municipal systems. In recent \ cars the num-
ber of members sent to our county councils throu<^hout the
proyince, as well as the cost of niaintaininj^ them, has increased
to such an extent that some chaiifjes in the constitution of these
'foyernin'' Ixxlies were rendered necessary. These chanircs are
embodied in an act passed during the second session of the
ei<fhth lej^islature of Ontario and cited as " The County Coun-
cils Act, 1896." I'nder its proyisions each county is diyided
into not less than four nor more than nine diyisions or district>.
The fundamental basis for this division is ])opulation, but
assessed value and extent of territory are also taken into consid-
eration. Local municipalities are not to be divided except where
it is plainly necessary to do so in order to arrive at a just and
e([uitable division, but no ])ollin<^ sub-division is to be di\ided.
These districts arc technically called "County Council Divisions''
and are desij^nated bv numbers, as '* First Count \ Council
Division," " Second County Council Division," and so forth.
In each division the county councillors, who must be residents
of such division, are elected by l)allot each alternate year. 'I'iiis
j^ives the persons elected a two year's term of ofhce. N'oters
have the option of castin*^ both their votes for one candidate, or
they may }^ive a vote to each of two candidates. This is an
attempt to solve the problem of minority representation as l>e-
tween local municipalities. Xo member of the council of a
local municipality, nor any clerk, treasurer, assessor or collector

Ills

1 <>|{ 1

is I'lii^ilil

c ;is

rani'

idatc

prox idc'd

f..r

tlu-

]).-..

)ir n

voiintiii^

tin-

\ ()ti-->.

•1' i li

(|iialitu':it

inns

..f

\()tC

; s ai

rniUr ill

till

>ril\

of 1

L'liuiuil

iipixiiiil

> (iimiiii-

I A I. ><K III II oi I III-;

'I'lii- fii-i'fssarv iiiai hiiu'rv is iliil\'
UMiiiiiatidii of landidatrs. icrordin^ and
iriii;^ who is I'li'itcd, and lixiiiL;- tlir
id ( aiididati-s.

llii-< art tlu' Liciitt'iiant ( io\\'nior-iii-

•sioncTs I(» di\ i(U' tlu' \ arioiis idimtii's

in this proxiiiii- into --iiilalik- distriits. His honor |n(li,fc' Ik-ll,

of Kent. ;ind liis honor J iid^^r noriu'. of ICssf\, win- appointt-d

to toriii thr lUHH'ssarv roiiiilx lonm il dixisions in W'l'iitw orth.

IIr' following; i> lliiir report on this matter:

•

/'" //is //(i)/i>r tilt- /./t/itii/iii/f ( invrruor in (Oiiiicil .

\Vi'. t

u- nndi-r-i^^ni-d ( oinmissioiKTs, ajjpointrd imilir

' Thf L'oimlN' L'oiiiuil's Act of i.S(/),' h\ tlu- I "'.■iitniant (>o\cr-
nor in Coinuil, to <h\ idi- thr Count \ of W'c-nt worth ir.to L'ounlv
Couiuil (h\ isions, report : That ha\ iiij; (hilv heard and con-
sidered all thi- evidence ad(hice«l liefore us. and ha\ in<^ had (hie
ri'i^ard to the proxision-^ of the said act. \\ (.• ha\«.' (hvided ilu'
said Conntx into six L'ountv Council (hvisions as follows, that

IS to sa\

•• I. I'he I'irst Counlv Council Division to consist of t!
low nsliip of l}e\ erl\ .

"J. The Second Coiinl\ Council Division to loiisisl of tin
town>hip of Ainaster.

Till' Third CJoimtv Council Division to consist of ll

township of l"lainhor<»u;ih I'^Jist.the village of W'aterdovv n, and
that part of the tov\nshi])of i"lanihorou;j;h West 1\ inj^" north of
a line hetweeii tlu- north and s<iuth hal\ i-s of lots one to t w ent\ -
one, inchisi\e, in ihi- fourth concession, and also comprisin<^ the
south halves of lots six and se\eu' in the fourth concession of

said tovvnshi

" I'he i'ourth Count v Council Div isioii to i (insist of the tow a
of Dundas and all that part of the township of l'laml>orou;^h
West not imlude<l in the Third Countv Council Division as
hereiiihefore set ffirtli.

(ll Tl'isi' lii'lf liilH forni imrl 'if ii (lOlliliL; flivisjuM niifl tin linv spcciHlly 'liiccts
tliat " ill no I'liHi' hIiiiII iiollin^ niili-diviniuiin In' ili\ iiled.

llll\

Cdt'N I'l ■ i| WIN rw (H; 111.

ami

llu-

■in-

itii'

nti'il
i.rlh,

luk-r

)\ cr-
untv

lon-

lIlU'

thr
tliiil

the

.f !lu

.f ilu'

ilMil

rtli <>

(.•nt\ -

1- llu'

ion ot

L- tow 11

iron;^li

ilOll il^

DR. J. o. M ',kl i.uK, W \K|i| \ 1 -^i)-

diirct-

^Hfl^

i 4 ^

IIISTOKICAI. SKETCH OK TIIH

"5. The Fifth Coiinlv Council Division to consist of the
township of Barton and (Jlanford.

"6. The Sixth Countv Council Division to consist of the
township of Saltfleet and Hinhrook.

" All of which is respectfully submitted.

"Dated at Hamilton, in the said County of Wentworth, this
eleventh dav of lulv, A. D. 1S96.

'( Si<i;ned )

A. Hki.l

)

C. R. IIOUNK, \

Commissioners.

'J'he fli'st election under this act was held on Monday, the
4th of (aiuiarv, i<S97, when the followin<^ county councilors
were elected :

First Countv Council I)i\ ision, Alex. Ironside, Thomas S.
1 lenderson.

Second Countx Council Division, ICdward Kenrick, W. A.,
J. 15. Calder.

Third Countv Council Division, |. (). McGregor, M. D.,
T. l\ ICasterhrook.

Fourth Countv Comuil Division, ICdvvard Collins, David

Fatt

erson.

I'Mfth C<Hi,it\ Council Division, James Marsiiall, ) olni W

.la^e.

Sixth Countv Council Division, Murrav I'ettit, N,

Corne

Til" Countv Council lield its tirst session under the new
rej^ime on I'uesday, the 2<)tl) of Januarv, iS<>7, when Dr. J. ( ).
Mc(>ren(>r, of W'aterdown, was dulv eleitcd warden.

COrXTV ()|- WKNTWOKTII.

CHAPTER \'1II.

The Evils of War— Its ICtYects on Canadians— Injuslico ot" this War —
The Situation in Canada — A Crisis Reacla-d — Some Causes Af-
fecting the War— " HerHn Decree " — First " Order-in-Council " —
Second " Order-in-Council " — " Milan Decree " — " l':nil)arjr(, Act "
— " Non-Intercourse Act " — Repeal of the " Order-iii-Couiicill " —
Con(iuest of Canada the Real Olijcct of War-- American ()])inions
l<-or and Against War — Formal Declaration ot War - Campaign
of 1S12 — Camjjaign of 1813— First Retreat of C.eneral N'iiicent —
Ciovernment House Destroyed —The Crisis of tiic War- Battle of
Stony Creek Mrs. Secord's Journey — Keavcr Dam - Xaval Fn-
gagement olT liurlington H(;ach— Reverses in the West - Tecum-
seh — Rende-z.vous at Ancaster — Council of War at Hurlington
Heights— Results of the War.

(jlv the splc'iulor of its trappiiijrs, l)y the martial ardor whicli

it inspires, by the heroic l)ravery of its tlevotees. and 1)\ the

poi.ip and paj^eantry of its siirroini<nn,i;s, war carries the mind

of man away from its stern realities and shockin<r barbarities,

where

" Naked plains and ravag'd fields
Succeed to smiling harvests and the fruits
Of peaceful ' labor.' "

Could we, if oidy in imagination, \ isit tiie battle tiel.l after tlie
stni<4<fle is over, ami see thi' inan<.,'led forms of tin- dead and
<lyin<^, witness the desolation and destruction that follow in its
train, and liear tlie wail of the w idow and orphan as the\ mourn
o\er loved ones, how differentiv should w t- look upon it I
With what deep feelin<,'s of solici'nde would our hearts be
stirred if even rumors of uarshoulil reach the ipiiet of our
homes! IJut how muth t^reatei would tiu' intensitxof these
feelin<rs be if the pleasant vallevs and iiills of oiu" nati\e !antl
shoidd ever resound to tile measurtd tread of invadini; armiisl

IIISTOKICAI. SKKTCll OI- THE

Some such thoujjhts must naturallv have arisen in the minds
of these pioneer settlers when tliev learned that the authorities
of the American Republic had ojx-nlv proclaimed war a<(ainst
(ireal IJritain. Amonj^ the peacea]>lv disposed inhabitants of
Canada, whose onlv crime appears to have been a warm at-
tachment to the mother countrv and an honest devotion to her
lavvs and institutions, these alarminj:^ reports must have spread
feelinjjs of terror and dismay. To see their homes and their
lovetl ones exjMised to all the hardships and privations of an
unprovoked war, and to witness the ruin of their countrv at
the hands of a kindred people speakin<^ the same language,
and holding in common the traditions of a glorious past, nerved
them to deeds of val(»r and aroused a spirit of resistance that
must ever command the respect and admiration of their pos-
teritv. OiM- forefathers had not forgotten the bitter experiences
of the Revolutionarv struggle, nor yet had the courage which
animated them during these trving times died out in the l)reasts
of their sons. True in their devotion to British rule, and in-
spired bv a deep jjatriotic enthusiasm, ihev at once organized
themselves into battalions of militia, took up arms, and were
readv to lav down their lives in defence of iiome and countrv.

Whi'tever reasons there ma\ have been to provoke the
colonists to revolt in 1776, it is cjuite evitlent that the verdict of
historv does not in any wav recognize the justice (f the de-
claration of war in 1S12. The dilhculties that aro ,e during the
few preieding vears might have Iteen peaceablv atljusted bv
the diplomatic agents of the two countries, had not a reckless
Democratic majoritv bent on contpiest, determined to invade
the honu's of their peaceful and inoffensive neighliors to the
north. This llu v did, but not one acre c*^ territory was an-
nexed, nor vet <lid tiiev gain one single permanent advantage.
( )n the C()ntrar\, it strcngtliened the allegiance of the Canadian
people and bciiiid tliem uk re closclv .0 tlie throne of (ireat
ISritain.

At this time the situation in Canada was indeed precarious.
With a ))opulation of less than ^i i(),(m»<) all told, and these wideh
.scattered in small settlements without any means of raj)id com-

COLNTV t)l- U KNTW t)K I II.

iminication, with a \oi\(r and exposed houndarv, and with tlu-
mother country embroiled in European wars, is it at all snr-
j)risin<i^ that the hearts of these sturdy pioneers were tilled uitli
mis<jivin<j;s as to the fate of these colonies? Did not tlie bur-
den seem jjreater than they could bear ? Had thev not been
stronji^ in their allej;iance to (ireat liritain, and true to tlu
principles of their forefathers, these provinces wouUl have been
concjuered, and Britain woidd have been stripped of her col-
onial jiossessions in America. However, Providence had de-
cieed otherwise, and we are now left to work out our destiny
as part of that (ireater Britain " upon whose shores the sun
never sets." ^lay we then, as Canadians, be true to our coun-
try, loyal to that great Empire of wiiich we form a part, and
c\er bear in mind that this is the

" Land of the beautiful and brave,
The freeman's home — the martyr's j^rave,
The nursery of jj^iant men,
Whose deeds have link'd with every ^\cn
And every hill and mountain stream
The romance of some warrior dream."

In the western province the siti;ati(<n was even more des-
perate than it was in the east. When the war broke out it
was estimated that the population of I'pper Canada did not
exceed 80,000. These were <rroui)ed in snudi settlements al()n^•
the frontier, and were exposed to attack both b\ land and
water. The princijjal centres were alon;,; the noithcrn baid\s
of the St. Lawrence, at Kinystou, arounil the Ba\ of C^uintc,
at York (now Toronto), aroimd the head of Lake ()ntario, and
alon<^ the Xiaj^ara river, with a few settlements on Lake I^rie
and the River Detroit. When we consider the sparseness of
the population, for it did not exceed that ol the C(uint\ of
W'entwortli and the Citv of Hamilton condniied, Awd the loii;^
frontier thev were called u])on to defend, the outcome of the
war is indeed _«(ratifvin>i^. Nor was the want of population the
onl\ ilrawback. The means of comminiiiation between the>e
widely separatetl settlements was particidarly bad, for the
countrv had been settled less than thirty vears, anil the rouds

IHSTOUIC AI, SKETCH OK TlIK

in most cases were merely paths cut throiij^jh the forests. This
rendered the transportation of troops and supplies a lon<( and
arduous task. The rapid concentration of an army at a {jiven
point is essential to the successful cle^^ence of any country. In
addition to tiiese disadvantaj^es the mother countrv was en-
jjfaji^ed in war on the continent, and could not furnish the neces-
sary troops to defend her colonies as she would have done had
she been free from European entan<!^lements.

There are crises in the lives of nations as in the lives of
men. .So in these colonies a crisis had come, and that was
whether thev should maintain their allej^iance to Britain intait,
or become a part and parcel of the American Republic.
Thanks to the resolute determination of these j^rand old U. E.
Lovalists and their descendants we are still under the care and
])rotection of the British llajj^. James Paissell Lowell savs :

" Once to ever\' man and nation comes the moment to decide,

In the strife witli Truth and Falsehood, for the j^jood or evil side;

Some j^reat cause, (iod's new Messiali, olYerinj^ each the bloom or bli.ijfht,

Parts the ji^(3ats upon the left hrmd, and the sheep upon the rij^ht.

And the choice goes by forever, *t\vixt that darkness and that light.
♦ «**♦**

Backward look across tlie ages and the beacon moments see,

That, like peaks of some sunk continent, jut through Oblivion's sea,

Xot an ear in court or market for the low forboding cry

Of those crises, God's stern winnowers, from whose feet earth's cluifT

must tly,

Never shows the choice momentous, till the judgment hath passed by."

Tfie crisis in the colonies was oidy a part of a jfreater crisis
in the historv of mankii\d thai was reachiii"" its culminatin<r
point on the conliuenl of ICuropc. Inloxicatid b\ his success
in the pi.st, and lured on bv an insatiable andiition, Napoleon
crossed the Xieman on ids fatal nuirch to Moscow, six da\s
after President Mailison had issued his declaration of war
Hjjainst (Jrcat Jiritain. Like Alexander of old, he followed the
phantom of I ni\ersal En)pire. It eluded his j^rasp. lie died
an exile twi St. Helena.

The United States declared war a<»ainst (ireat Hritain on
tke liJth Junt.-, it) 1 2, exactly three years before the decisive

COIN TV ()!• WKNTWOUIII.

«9

crisis

(1 the

battle of Waterloo. Sotiie of the causes that led to the j,fra(l-
iial estran<(ement of the ijood will of the voun^ Kepublic from
the mother country and cveiituallv hrouj^ht about the declaration
')f war are to he found in the series of events that occurred in
ICurope duriu}^ the six precedin<^ years. Hmhittered l)y the mem-
ories of the terrible blow inlh'ctetl on his navy at Trafalgar and
the Nile, Napoleon, Avhen the Prussian monarchy had been
humbled at Jena, turned fiercely ui)on ( Jreat Britain, and attempt-
ed the destruction of her commerce by issuint^ the famous" Ber-
lin Decree." ' Tliis decree was formally i5romul<;ated on the
J 1st of Xoyember, 1806, from IJerliii, the Prussian ia])ital.
AhhouLjli it dill not extinguish Hritish commerce, vet it in-
llicted serious damaj^e upon it, and caused heavy losses to main
of her merchants. The rij^orous enforcement of this deiree
compelled the Hritish ministr\ to atlopt defensive measures.
Accordingly, on the 7th of January, 1807, the tirst " Order-in-
L'(Hincil"''' was issued. At lirst this was well received in the
I nited States, ])ut afterwards it was made a pretext for war.
In ]uiu', 1S07, an unfortunate incident (jccurred in the too ri<^id
enforceme' t of the "rit^ht of search." The ^\merlcan fri<>at!'
Chesapeake hatl on l)oani some deserters from the Hritish
na\ y, whose return had been demanded by the Hritish Consid
at Norfolk, ami by the cajjtains of the vessels from which they
liad deserted. These demands were refused. Aitin^ under
instructions from ^Vdmiral Herkele\. Captain Humphries, of II.
M. ship Leopard, followed the Chesapeake to sea, and, cominj;
up with her, intimated that he desired to send a message to the
commander. A letter was sent askin<; that the deserters, whose
names were f^iven, be restored to the Hritish. Commodore
Harron, the commander of the Chesapeake, refused to comply
with this recpiest, whereupon the Leopard tired a broadMde.
A short skirmish ensued, which ended in the American \es>el

strikinjif her colors and restorinj^ the dest rtcn
aroused a stroiii; feclin<; of antipathy a

j^amst
f

Tl
Hriti

us llUKlC

lent

im. w

h.ch

was j^reatly streiifj^thened hv llu' i^^sue or an aiij^ry jM'oc
tion by the President on the Jiul of July foUowinj^.

(1) Ht'e " liorliii Docrec" in last C'liaptor.

(2) .See " Order-in-Council " in UhI Chapter.

a'Ma-

i ■

)

IlISTOinCAI- SKK'rtll ol- I'lIK

ICvt'iits in Europe forced the Hritish ministry to issue a
second " Onler-in-Couneil," which was done on the iith of
Novenil)er, rSoj. Napoleon, on the 17th of the following; De-
cember, issued the '' Milan Decree" as an answer. Intelli-
jfence from Euroj)e plainly indicated to the American authori-
ties that the policy of France did not exempt tiie I'nited States
from the operations of the " Berlin Decree." Actinj^ upon this
information Conj^ress, on the 25th of December of that year,
passed the " Embarj^o Act," which excluded all foreiji^n vessels
from sharin;4 in the coastinj^ trade.

Public opinion, which was constantly beinj; fomented b\
dema<^o<j^ues and parti/an politicians, steadily increased in its
hostility towards (ireat iJritain. To allay this feelinj;, and to
offer reparation for the affair of the Chesapeake, the British
ministry sent an envo\' extraordinary to America. His mission
failed owinj^ to the refusal of tiie President to withdraw the
proclamation of the 2nd of Julw The " Embarj^o Act" seri-
ously injured American commerce, and was soon supersedeil
by- a '' Xon-Intercourse Act," wliich failed to satisfy either its
promoters or the public, and was therefore repealed. Another
maritime encounter between the American 44-fj^un frij^ate, Presi-
dent, and the British iS-<^im sloop, Little Belt, which was de-
stroyed on this occasion, added to the complications already
existing"-. The American captain was trieil by court martial
aiul acc|uitted. (ireat Jiritain accepted the official statement
that no hostility was intendetl on the part of the American
jjjoyernment. The Americans had made an offer that if France
would withdraw her decrees, or ICnj^land the orders-in-council,
she would prohibit her commerce from the other. Napoleon
promisetl to revoke the " Berlin" and " Milan Decrees" if the
Americans woidd carry out the policy of non-intercourse with
IJritain. This they did, but Napoleon failed to fulfil his
l>romises.

The downfall of the Bercival ministry in (ireat Britain
brought Lord Liverpool to the premiership. With him was
associated I^ord Castlereaj^h as Secretary of Foreij^n Affairs.
Twelve days after tiiis ministry was formed the obnoxious

COIN TV Ol- \VI;N TWOKIII.

nolht-r

Trcsi-

as (k--

Iready

martial

itcincnt

lUc'i-iLau

FraiKC

COUlK'il,

ipolt'ou
' if the
so witli
Uil liis

liritaiii

lini was

Affairs.

)n(»xiuus

" Ordors-iii-Coimcil " were revoked. Iliit it was too late. L'oii-
}^ress had already declared war a«j;aiiist (ireat Uritaiii, and was
massinj^ her armies alon<^ the frontier of Canada.

From the tone of the President's messaj^e, and the tenor nf
the speeches delivered in Con<4ress l)y some of the leadini^
memhers of the Democratic part\, it was clearlv foreshadowed
that Canada would he the ohjective point. Thev were ([uite
confident of an easy conquest, as mav he seen from the followin<^
extracts from speeches made in Conjj^ress ])rior to the deilara-
tioii of war. Dr. Eustis, I'nited States Secretarv of War, said :
" VVc can take Canada without sokliers ; we ha\e oidv to send
oflicers into the provinces, and the people, disaffected towards
their own government, will rally round our standard." The
lion. Henry Clay, who, in 1S14, sij^ned the treat v of peace as
one of the commissioners, expressed himself still more stronj^lv :
" It is ahsurd to suppose we shall not succeed in our enterprise
aj^ainst the enemy's provinces. \\'e have tl.' L'aiuidas as much
under our command as (ireat Hritain has the ocean, aiul the
way to concpier her on the ocean is to drive her from the land.
We must take the continent from them. I wish never to sec
a i)eace till we do. (Jod has jjiven us the power aiul the
means; we are to hlame if we do not use them. If we iict the
continent she must allow us the freedom of the seas." '

The proclamation issued hy IJri<^adier-(ieneral v^myth, of
the army on the Xia<i;ara, and addressed "to the soldiers of the
centre," leaves still less douht as to the ultimate purj^ose of the
American authorities. We fj^ive a few extracts from this docu-
ment which is dated at " Camp, near Huffalo, 17th No\end)er,
1S12":

'"'' Companions in arms! The time is at hand when you will
cross the streams of Nia<;[ara to ron(/?ii'r Canada, and to secure
the peace of the American frontier.

" ^'ou will enter a country that is to he one of tiic I 'nitcd
States. You will arrive atuonjj^ a peo])le who are to hecome
yonr fc/lozc citizens. It is not against thcni that we come to

(1) Qnutod from the Canadian Magazine.

<)2

HIS lOlilC Al. SKKIl II Ol' llii-;

iiiakf war. It is ai^aiiist tliat t^(»\ t-rmiu'iil wliich liohis thciii as

vassal s.

" ^'o^l will makt.' thi-> war as littlr as possihlt- distrt'ssful to
the Canadian pcopk-. If tlu'N arc peaceable, thev ari' (d l>e
seeiire in their persons, and in their properix as far as onr
imperious necessities will allow."

He eoiuludes his proelaination with the followin<; appeal :

Sohfivrs itf every corps

IS in your power to retrieve

the honor of vonr countrv , and to eo\er voursehes w ith <^Ior\ .
lC\er\ man who perforins a <^allant aelion shall have his name
made known to the nation. Kewards and honors await tlu'
brave. Infann and eontempt are reserved for eowards.

Von came to Naiupiish a valiant
foe; I know the choice vou will make. Come on, mv heroes I
and when von attack the enemv's batteries, let yonr rallyinjjf
word be Tiiii Cannon lost a r Dinuoir ok I)i:aiii." '

It is to be borne in mind, however, that the .\iiierican peo-

" ('(i/iipaitiofts in arms

e were l)v no means unanimous m

eir

esire lor wai

line

the

matter was unc

ler d

iscussion It was \ ij^orouslv op-

posed bv manv inlhiential members of Congress, and was
Ihiallv carried bv a comparativelv small majorilv. In the New
Enjjfland States popular feelinj; v\ as very stron<^ ajrainst it, and
the intensity oT this feelinjj^ on the part of the inhabitants of
Boston and ,icinity was shown by displaying; their Hajrs at

half-

mast as an emiilem of mournin<f, and i)v mass meetm<rs at

1 b

whicii resolutions were jiassed denouncing it as sulivi-rsive o
the principles of American libertv, and antaj^onistic to their

national interests.

Its

principal advocates were tiie represe

Ml-

tatives from southern and western .States, while those from the
north and east were stroiii^lv opposed to it.

The Amerit

cans were ambitious of securinj; possession o
and controlling; the destinies of the whole of North America.
Actuatetl by this motive, and takinj; advantage of the time
when Britain was en<;a<;ed in a tierce stru<;<;le with the lirst

Xapolet

)n, aiu

I wh

en siie w

as taxed to the utmost to maintain

(1) Quoted fr'>iii An^lo-Aiiifriciui Maga/.ine.

I OIN'IN Ol \Vi:\ I U ol! I 11.

•otrievi-
1 i^lory.

S llilllH'

ait tlu'

valiant
heroes I
rallying

•an pc'o-
|()r war.
isly op-
lul was
lu- New
t it, and
itants of

11a<,^s at
.•tin<is at

rsive of

to their
epresen-

roni llie

ssion of
Vmerica.
llie time
the first
maintain

her siipremaey, nay, t \en w hen lur \ ir\ i\i>ienii'
tlie ;,M-eat powers of i:nroi)e was thn-aUiied, the A

as oiu- (it

Mieri( an

C'onj^ress openly derlared war. Their

i\ ow ed (>l)j(.'i I w as to

redress eertain alle^a-d iL,'rii-\ anees, iiotahls sdmi' •• ( )rders.iii.
Couiuir'' prohihitinj^- all forei},Mi \essels from tradiii'^ witli the
I'renei-., and the " rij^ht of seareh " for deserters from the naw,
hnt the real jinrpose as shew n hy ^nhseipient aition>was the
ae(|uisition of the ])ro\ inee. of i{ritish North America. 'I'hese
" Orders-in-Couneil " as well

as tile '• n-'hl of

seaiH li

ormed

the

•hief

•rroniH

Is of

I'omplamt. w eii' w ithdraw i

hicli

1 h\'

liritain, hnt the Ameriians still persisted in ;4oini^- on with the

w ar.

The plan of eampai^ni adopted hy the Anurieaiis was to
invade Canada hy way of Lake Champlain in tin- east. li\ the
Nia<,fara ri\er in the leiitre, and hy tlu' Kivi'r Detmit in tlie
west. Sir Isaai' l»roek, who was administrator dnriiii; the al>-
senee of Sir l'"raneis (iore, deternhned to make tlu' first attack.
L'()nsec|ucntly he sent Captain Uoherts to I'ort Miihillimai. k-
inae, which was surprised and taken. This eonllrmed the al-
lej^iance of the northwest Indians, and secured a xaluahU' stra-
tejfic j)oint to the Hritish. (ieneral Hull crossed the Detroit
river at Sandwich, summoned the Canadians to lav do\'. n their
arms, and suhmit themselves to the Americans. This tluv
hravelv refused to do, and detied holh him and his arm v. In
the meantime (Jeneral IJrock issued a prochnnalion from his
heacUiuarters at l"'ort (ieorj;;e, to allav the fears and strengthen
the hands of the people in the west, lie also sent Colonel
I'roctor with a small force to aid the i^arrison at Anduirstliurt,'-,
(ieneral Hull was driven hack to Detroit, and forced to surren-
der, which he did with the hest j^race possihle. AioiiLi the
Niat^ara river the ^\mericans were di-feateil at (.^ueiiistoii
lleij,dits, w hile at Rouse's Point, in the east, they retired after
a slij^ht skirmish. Douhtless the temiier of the Canadian peo-
ple was a disappointment to them, for they anticipated an easy
V ictory. In this thev were very much deceived, for instead of
l>eiu<,f welcomed with open arms they met with the most deter-
mined resistance. Thus ended the campaij^Mi of loiJ.vvith the

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IIISTOIUCAI. SKKTCll ()!• TIIK

British siic-ccssful -^ i jjoints, but with the loss of their l)ravc
coiniiiaiulcr, Sir Isaac Hrock, —

" The niiiid that thouj^ht for Hriiuin's weal.
Tile hand that grasped the victor's steel."

Tnc Americans coiulucteil the campaii^n of 1813011 lines
somewhat similar to that of iSi2,but instead of attemptinj^ the
con([uest of the whole of Hritish North America, thev concen-
trated their efforts on the province of Upper Canada. The
American forces had l)een <;reatlv stren<;tliened during the win-
ter, both on Lake Ontario and alon<^ the Xia^jara frontier.
Commodore Channcev made an attack on York, the capital of
I'pper Canada, and on the 27th of April succeeded in captur-
ing^ it. Here thev remained until the 2iul of Mav, destrovinj^
tile public l)uildin<.js and plunderin>i^ the churches and lil)rarv.
Thev then made a descent upon l'\)rt (jcorji^e, at the mouth of
the Niagara river, where (ieneral X'iiicent was stationed with
an arniv iiuml)erin<i^ something less than 1,400 men. l^einjif
unable to hold this position a<;ainst the superior forces concen-
trated upon it, he retreated towards l}urliii<rtoii Heights.

On the nth of May, 1813, while the American ileet were
on their wav to Niagara, thev destroveil '"■ (joveniment House "
on Hurliiioton lieach. The following account of this place is
taken from a topographical description of I'pper Canada issued
under the authoritv of Lieutenant (jovernor Sir Francis (iore :

" At the south end of the Jieach is the King's Head, a good
inn, erected for the accommodation of tra\ ellers liv order of liis
Excellencv, Major (ieneral Simcoe, tlie Lieutenant Governor.
It is beautifullv situated at a small portage leading from the
heatl of a natural canal ( Lottridge's Inlet), and connecting
iJurlington Hav with Lake Ontario. Burlington Bav is per-
haps as beautiful and romantic a situation as any in interior
America, ])articularly if we include with it a marshy lake which
falls into it, and a nolile promontory ( Burlington Heights) that
divides them. This is called Coot's Paradise, and aliounds with
game." The King's Head Inn was more familiarlv known as
'• (iovernment House," ami was used as a distril)uting centre

•-}'

COrXTN ()!• W K\I\V()I{ Til.

for presents to the Indians, who recei\L'(l t^ifts ar.nualh us
compensation for lands taken for settlement. AmonLj- those
who had ehartj^e of this inn were An^ustus I ones, William
IJates and Rohert Lottritl»;e.

Affairs in L pper Canada were rapidlv approachinf,' a erisis
that was to decide the fate of the Canadas. There were onlv
some 2,io(j Hritish troops available for tlie defence of the L'p-
])er Province. These were assisted 1)\ a noble band of militia
who were determined to contest e\er\ foot of i^round. The
American armv on the Xiaj^ara frontier numbered fulK 6,()()(),
and this, with the superioritv of the .American tleet on Lake
Ontario, rendered ♦"le concpiest of this province extremeK prob-
able. After the capture of Nia<;ara, and the retreat of (Jeii-
eral \'incent to Hurlinj^toii Ileij^hts, the militar\ authorities
were so disheartened that thev determined to disband the mili-
tia, and abandon the western ])ortion of this iM-ovince to its
fate. .\ccordin<rlv. on the jSth of Mav the militia were (lis-
banded, and told that thev mi<,rht jj^o home if thev chose to do
so. .Some few returned to their homes to })rotect their fami-
lies, and look after their private interests, but the <^reat ma-
joritx followed tlie armv to l?urlin<^ton lleij,dils, determined to
do all in tiieir power to dri\e out the invaders. The Hon. W.
II. Merritt, in his journal of the war, says : "I stron^lv sus-
l^ected from the indifferent manner in which the militia were
treated, that the I pj>er Province was to be abaniloned, whidi
o]>inion was entertained b\ most people. * * * * I f,j|i
in a sad dilemma. The thouj^ht of abandonini^ the countrv
and leaviu": e\ervthin">" that was near and dear to me was most
distressing^,"

Uurinj^ the ni<jht of the 5th and the mornin;^ of the 6th of
June the bisttle of vStonx' Creek was fonj^ht, with the ad\ anta<;e
decidedly in favor of tlie Britisii. For a more detailed account
of this memorable battle the reader is referred to the next chap-
ter. A few days after tlic successful issue of this midni<(ht
sortie Lieutenant Fit/<^il)bon, with a detachment of the }9th,
a small body of Indians and a few militia, captured Colonel
Bocrstler's force at Heaver Dam, securinti^ upwards of ^(Kj pris-

! .'I

I ^

IlISl'OlUC- M. SKKTCII OK TlIK

n f

VI.

tti i

i.b'M

I i:

oners. It was just prior to this l)attlc that Mrs. Secord iiukIl'
her heroic jouniev on foot throuj^h the forests to warn tlie
British of their (hmj^er,

Mrs. Seeord, widow of the hite James Seco»-d, who was
fatally wounded at Qtieenston, obtained information of tlie
plans of the Americans to surprise Lieutenant Fit/<ijihhon,
then stationed near Heaver Dam. She was slij^ht in j^erson,
delicate in health, and worn with care an<l anxietv on account
of the death of her husliantl, and tlie loss of her home. The
danjfers with whi.-h she was surrounded, and ditliculties she
overcame while making this niemoral)le journev, are here Ljixen
in her own words : " I shall commence at the battle of Queen-
ston, where I was at the time the cannon halls were flvin^
around me in everv direction. I left the place durinji^ the en-
j^agement. After the battle I returned to Queenston, and tlien
found that my husband had been wountled, mv house ])hm-
dered and mv property destro\ed. It was while the Ameri-
cans had possession of the frontier that I learned the ])lans of
the American commantler, and determined to put the liritish
troops under Fitz<ribbon in possession of them, and, if jxjssi-
ble, to save the British troops from capture, or perhaps total
destruction. In doinj^ so I found I shoidd have <rr<'at dit^icultv
in <^ettin^- tIirou<fh the .:\merican jjfuards, which were ten miles
out in the country. Determined to persevere, however, I left
early in the morninjif, walked nineteen miles in the month of
June over a rouj^h and ilifHcult j)art of the country, when I
came to a field belon<;inj; to a Mr. Decamp, in the nei^hlior-
hood of the Heaver Dam. liv this time davlij^iit had left me.
Here I found all the Indians encamped; by moonliij^ht the
scene was terrifyinjjf, and to those accustomed to such scenes,
mij^ht be considered <;rand. I'pon adyancin<i; to the Indians
they all rose, and with some yells, said, "woman," which made
nie trend)le. I cannot express the awfu! feelinj^ it <j^a\ e me ;
but I did not lose mv presence of mind. I was determined to
persevere. I went up to one of the chiefs, made him under-
stand that I had {^reat news for Capt. I''itz<^ibbon, and that he
must let me pass to his camp, or that he and all his party

COIN ^^■ Ol- WK.NTWOKlll.

would he all taken. TIu- chief at first objected to let ine pass,
but finally consented, after some hesitation, to -o witli me t('.
Fitzcrihbon's station, which was at the Heaver 1 )am. wliere I
had an interview with him. I told him what 1 had come for,
and what I had heard,— that the Americans intended to make'
an attack upon the troops under his command, and would, from
their superior numbers, capture them all. I returned li,,me
next day exhausted and fatij,nied." ' For some time after this
event military affairs remained very ipiiet alony the Niagara
frontier.

On the J8th of Septendx-r, the scpuidron on Lake Ontario,
under command of Commodore L'hauncey, met the British
off Toronto harbor. The- Amer-'c;i!.,, secin;^ tuev iiad the ad-
vanta.ije both in armament and in tonnaoe, at once ffered
battle. The Hritish Admiral seein<i: clearly the disad. .. ..a-cs
under which he labored, declined to accept the challen,«,^e, know-
in<j^ that it probably meant the destruction of his Heet. In the
skirmish which ensued, the l?ritish ship Wolf had her maintop
mast and mainyard severely damajied, and the Roval (ieorL^e,
under Captain Mulcaster, had her foretop mast shot awav.
The American vessel Tompkins had her foremast, and the
Pdve her bowsprit and mainmast badly injureil. One of the
heavy guns on the Pike l)urst, killing some 22 men. and doing
serious damage to the vessel. The liritish directed their course
towards liurlington Jiay, the Americans gave -hase, but the
pursuit was soon reliiuiuished. An American writer savs,
" This much is clear, that the Hritish were beaten and forced
to Hee, * * * l,ut in good weather the American force was
so superior that l)eing beaten would have been no disgrace to
^ eo." This naval battle was witnessed by manv of the old
residents of Saltfleet, who c-'ine to the brow of the mountain
and watched it vvitli eager interest.

In the west (ieneral Proctor had met with such a series of
reverses that he deemed it prudent to retire to P.urlington
Heights, where he hoped to join the army of the Centre, under

(1) Quoted from Aiif^Io-Aiacricaii irafjiizinc,

II. SroiSIC Al. SKKTCII ()!■ I I II-.

I' v.

M :

General \'iUccnt. The American army opposed to him, and
which mimV)cred fullv 6,000 men, of whom from 1,200 to 1,500
were ca\ah-v and n.ounted riHemen, were under the command
of (icneral W'iUiam Ilenrv Harrison. Encumhered as the
JJritish were with a larj^e amount of haj^f^ajje, their mo\ements
were necessarily slow. This enaliled the Americans to o\ er-
taUe them and force a battle, which they did at Morayiantown,
a yilla<;e on the riyer Thames. The entire force opposed to
the .Vmericans amounted to 476 men, of whom not more than
20 were draj'oons, and a liody of Indians numlierinsf about
500, under ihe celebrated Indian Chief, Tecumseh. This bat-
tle was fought on the 5th of October, and the Americans were
yictorious.

It was at this battle that the celebrated Indian warrior Te-
cumseh met with his death in the forty-fourth year of his age.
A \yriter in the Anglo-American Magazine thus describes this
noble Indian: "'He was of the Shawnee tribe, liye feet ten
inches high, and with more than the usual stoutness, possessed
all the agility and perseyerance of the Indian character. His
carriage was dignified, his eyes penetrating, and his counter.-
ance, eyen in death, betrayed the indications of a lofty spirit
rather than of the sterner cast. Had he not possessed a certain
austerity of manners, l^.e could neyer haye controlled the way-
ward passions of those who followed him to the battle. He
was of a silent habit, l)ut when his elocpience l^ecame roused
into action by the reiterated encroachments of the Americans,
his strong intellect could supply him with a ilow of oratory
that enabled him as he goyerned in the field so to preside in
the Council." He was wounded in the thigh duriny: the early

art of the ])attle, and was carried tt) the r

ear

where he cheered

his warriors and directed them in battle. Suddenly these cries
ceased, and he was found still in death, a rifle shot had pierced
hi.-i l>rcast. His body was borne far into the forest he lo\ ed so
well, where he was buried. His friends ' ased all traces of
his graye, and took a solemn oath neyer to reyeal the place of
his sepulture, well knowing that the Americans, in their in-

tot N r\ (>l WKNTWOI! I II.

tcnsL- hatred towards him, woidd dcsc-cralc his j^ravf and dis-

honor Ins rcMiams.

The (k- feat of the Uritisli at Mora\ iaiitown forced them to
continue their retreat. After a lonj,' and toilsome joni lU-v. (hir-
in»( which they encUired severe privations, and suffered j^nvatU
from the liardships incident to a march through an ahnost un-
broken forest, they reached the \ iliaije of Ancaster on the 17th
of the same month. When the inhaltitants of this (|uiet countrv
phice heard of tlie reverses in the west, and saw the stra<;^Hn^
•groups of soldiers as thev entered the villat^e, their minds were
lilletl with <^rave apprehensions as to their own safetv. It
seemed to them inevitable that thev should witness the destruc-

tion of their homes and j^ropertv
but as no victorious army f

e panic spread rajiidly

(lb

as no victorious army rollowed, (juiet was soon restore

.1.

The remnant of l*roctor''s army reached Burlin<;ton Heii^hts,
where thev met the Ce.itre annv on their retreat from Niaijara,
for Sir Geort^e Prevost had issued orders toCJeneral \'incent
to evacuate all the British posts, and to retire to Kin>4^ston witii
the least possible del;i\-. At l>urlin<;-ton IIei;rhts they held a
council of war, wlien it was decided that the western part of
the province should be defended at all hazards.

^Vs the purpose of this sketch is simply to narrate the
events directly affectiuf^ tile interests of this portion of tlie
proyince, it will not i)e necessary to continue in detail the

records o

f th

is war. Sutlice it to say that the liritish were
victorious at Chrysler's Farm, Chateauj^uay, La CoUe Mill,
Chippewa and Lunch's Lane. In the early part of 1S14, the
<;eneral European war ceased for a while, and this left iJritain
free to look after her interests in America. The seat of war
was transferred ahnost entirely to the L'nited States, her ports
blockaded, and lier commerce seriously crippled. On the i [th
of Deceml)er, 181 f, the Treaty of (ihent was concluded and
peace restored.

When the war bej^an the Americap.s were coniident of
victory, and felt assured that the Canadas would soon l)ecome

a part of the Renid)lic. The results were not <fr

atifv

in<r either

to their pritle or their ambition, nor did thev add to their laurels

lOO

iri'^'IOKICAI. SKKTlll <)l- riiK

SIS ;\ nation, (^ii the coutrarv thev suffered dcfi-at. wlu-n tin-
\ itlorv was \\ ithin rt-ach ; tliuv sent j^lowin;^ reports innoient of
truth, and unbacked hv aetion, and thev issued pompous procla-
mations whicli accomplished nothinj^. Tn short, the conduct of
the war from the first was marked hv incompetenc\ on the
part of the managers, a lack of enthusiasm in the armies, aiut
a mutual want of confidence in the commandin*^ <^enerals.
They saw their merchantmen captured, their foreitjn trade de-
stroyed, their revenues decreased, and the credit of the nation
impaired to such an extent that th v could not ncifotiate a
loan with which t(j prosecute the war. When happily this un-
fortunate slrui^jifle was l)rou<_(ht to a close, the j^rievance of
which the .\mericans complained -the ri<jht of search and the
freedom of neutral nations in times of war — formed no part of
the treaty of peace. The results hrieHv summed up were,
heavy losses to the nation without anv correspondin<j henetit.

The Canadians suffered mucli from this war. Their homes
were wrecked, their i)rojKTtv destroved, their farms left im-
tilied, and in some instances their towns and villaji^es were
sacked and burned. The loss of life was jijreat when com-
pared with the smallness of the i)opulation, their expenses nere
hciivy considering^ the sovn-ces of income and the wealth of the
])eople, while trade and commerce were almost totally demoral-
ized. On the other hand this war developed a stron<;- Cana-
dian sentiment, strcnj^theiied them in their allegiance to the
mother land, inspired them with a spirit of self-reliance, antl
iinitetl the IJritish and French in their patriotic devotior to a
common country. The recurrence of another such war is not
at all probable, l)ut should it ever come, which God f()rl)id, the
same spirit of devotion, the same heroism of action, and the
same indomitable coura<^e would characterize the desce ulants of
those l)rave pioneers who suffered and ilied for the cause of
home and country.

tot \ IN Ol U ICN ru

OKI II.

lOI

TlK. Crisis of tlK. \\\u- - Events \>v.,,ain^ th. Battle - LmulinK of the
Amencans - W. H. M,,rilfs I)ra,^o„.„s - Reconnoissance bv Col
Harvey -(,en. Dearborn's Movements - (General Winder's A.l-
vanee— Chandler's i^riKude - Deseription of Stonv Creek iiur-
linj,non Heijjhts — Hamilton - Amerieai's at Stony Creek Posi
tion of American Army - Plannin^^ the ..tlaek Advance of the
British -Isaac Corman Taken Prisoner - William Creen's Xijrht
Journey — Countersign (Jiven - Corman's Second Arrest - " Billv
Green, the Scout"- F. G. Snider's Account -Col. Harvey's At-
tack - Perilous Position of the 49th - Capt. Merritt's IC scape' -^ Re-
treat of Americans - Statement of Losses ^- ConchuliiiK Remarks.

A ncTLKK with tn.e perspective -ives to the eve an accurate
representation of the scene which it depict.s, so tlie placiiio- of
the battle of Stony Creek, and the eoinicil of war at nin-lin;Jton
Ilei^^hts in their true historical perspective, enables us to form
a more correct estimate of their importance. The time at which
these events occurred was --ndoubtedly the crucial period of ,,ur
history, and the loyalty and devotion of the people were tried
as if by lire. The crisis of the war was .safely pas.sed, althou^rh
unknown to the actors in the stru<r<rlc. l'!,cse two places are
indeed historic jrround, and as Canadians we shoidd show our
appreciation of their true worth by erecting some moiunnent
to commemorate these events.

" Yet this ' battle ' sways the future, and behind the dim unknown
Standeth God within the shadow keeping watch above his own.
We see dimly in the present what is small and what is jsH-eat,
Slow of faith, how v\-eak an arm may turn the iron helm of fate."

By the kind permission of J. P. Merritt, Kscp, of Oakhill,
owing extract from the diarv of the late

St. Catharines, the foil

Hon. W. II. Mcrritt, M. P., describing th

the liattlc of Stonv Creek, is herewith inserted

e events precedinj

lOJ

iiisioif u Ai. sKKic II oi riii:

" Oil till' (.■M'liinj^ of tlu- J<^tli of April I was di-piiti'd 1)\
Hrij^iulicr (iciicral \ iiut-iit to l)rin<^ dowii all tlu- boats from
Hurlinjftoii, which was acconiplislu-.l in sixteen iioiirs. I'lu-
I'liinn, with their fleet, returned to Fort Xistj^ara. I'roin this
time till the J^th of Mav every man was turned out at two
oVloek in the morninj^, and r'-niained under arms. Some men
were twelve nij^hts in suceession on j^uard. Our small force
was formed into three divisions; Col. M\ers, with ' Kin<:;s,'
and two comi)anies of militia, defended the lake coast to the
Four Mile Creek ; Col. Ilarvev, with three companies of New-
fouiullaiids and three companies of (jlen<^arr\s, one company of
thejist, one company of the4|th, and two of militia, up the
river to Queenslon ; (ieneral N'incent, with the jyth re<;iment
and militia, in rear of Fort (ieorj^e, to act as occasion mi<^ht
reciuire. Col. Ilarvev and mvself rode up and down the river
durinj^ the nij^ht and slept at dav. On the J^th the enemv
commenced operations hv cann()nadin<; Fort Cieorge, which
thev burned. For want of ammunition we were unable to re-
turn the tire. On the 27th, at four in the morninjif, thev were
discovered under cover of a thick fo<^. They commenced to
land at 9 a. m. Our rij^ht and left divisions were obli<^ed to
fall back on the rcser\ e, w hich, numbering but 800 men, were
forced to retire.

"After fuuling the boats commanded liy Commodore Bar-
clav who was at Twenty Mile Creek with the light company
of the Kings, and ordering the troops down, I returned with
them as far as ' Shipman's,' where I w as met by a message
and ordered to go to De Cow's, to which place the army htid
retreated. Remaining all night, I took the party through the
woods, arriving there next mornhig at 9 o'clock on the 28th of
May.

" This dav the militia were disbanded and the rej;ulars
marched to (irimsby on the way to liurlington Heights. Early
on the 29th I returned to the Twelve, at Shipman's, where the
enemy had its advance guards. I remained at my father's un-
til midnight, when I returned to Grimsby to report. Here T
was ordered to remain with the troops and a few militia until

I <»t \ I ^ ,)| w i;\ I \\(,i! I ,,.

toj

.-., ..ffl,,,h, c,u.,nv. Thnr a,,,H.an.,uv n.x, .lavuUl, a

Haj, „f tn.c-e, .shortly f. wc-,1 l>y a panvuho.. f..,..;. ,,,,,,,

mc to retreat t„ Stony Creek o,, the .s. of (..ne. D.ni,,.. ,he
next week ue had several skinni>,hes in whirl, I Ins, ..m. .,f
my men.

Mr. Merritt ha.l ,,rex ionsly organized a o.n.panv of .Ira-
;,'.,c.ns, and with tlu-se he was .letailed to pn.tec-. tlu- rear of ,1,.
retreatm;,. army. Hein^^ well ae.p.ainted with this s.^ion of
c<nnury,he was able to ,1,, this work effeetiv eh . ahho,,.. 1, i,
taxed his men to the utmost as thev had little res"t and s.anelv
any sleep for six or eij,du days. His ae.|naintance with the
people enabled him to keep well posted in all the nu venunts
of the mvaders. He nsed this knowle.l^.e to the ^reat a.lvant-
aj,^e of the IJritish, but the enen.y with their lan-e inNadin-
force <lrove the pickets of the rear jruard across the bi-. .reek
near the Red IIill,an,l as far west as Aikman's. This was the
p<,sition of the iJritish when the Ana-ricans encanuu-d near
Stoin Creek late in ' "

crritt, continiiinsr h

le afternoon of the 5th of |

inie,

IS narrative, sa\ s

reconnoissance bv Colonel H

Kenney revealed the fact that tl
e ni'^ht at Stonv Creek, and tl

men on the lake shore. On th

near midni<,rht when Mr. Merritt and

arvey and Cornet Mc-
le enemy were encamped for

Kit they hatl a part\ of

!,=;<)()

e return of the ]5artv sonietii

were lyinjr on the j^rass fast asl
either by Cornet McKennev
militia, that it would be a <:<n
their c

numl

)er o

f otl

icer:

eep, a suj^jreslion was made

or Mr. (

)d id

>eoroe, an ensi<ni in the

ea to attack the ei

lemv m

imp, and probably surprise them before davli<>ht shJwed

the real state of their numl

lers. Col. H

vey approved of tin

plan and prop(,scd it to General X'inccnt, who after a little de-

liberation proceeded t

all who left their h<

o carry it into effect, much to the jo\ of

f h

eart.

omes a tew days ago in ^ri^f and sadne.^

In the silence of

vance was

(le

>adl

quie

tly

a warm summer's nif^ht the order to ad-
preparations for a

iven, and never were lire

y grapple with an invading foe more heartil

It has been truly and eloquently said that the battle of

V recei\ed

.Stonv

I.. I

llt*-l(i|!ll A I. SK i: I I II (II I III.

ii '

(.'I'ci'k wii'^ lU'itlii'i' a \\ iiUrloi) nor iiii I nlxiTinim. Iml lliiil tlu'
isMic- ill >takt.' fnf iIk' iiii'ii 111 till' N ia^iira ])i.niiisula xsiri.'.
i'\ rr\ tliin;^' i'i|iial, a> inipurtaiil in tlu'ii- i\'-^iilt> a> tlu' >iiiii's-, of
tin- most tU-arl\\vt»ii tii'ld tliat c'\ i-r tlu' i()ni|iu'r(ir> iX'stod upon.''

So maiiN (li'striptioiis of this inidiiiLjIil sorlir liavi' appiarid
l!iat it i- a diiruiilt iiiattiT to docidr whii'li i> tlu' most aiiiiratf.
Tlu- writir has KHisnltt'd otlii iai docimu'iil-', lollfitid a-, far as
possiliK' till' traditions lomu'cti'd witli this liattlr, and i^aliu'ri'd
informatifiii Iroin all souni's uNailahk' with tiu' view of nivin^
a full and trust wdi'thy ai'coiml of it. I ii doiiiL;- so lu- has (pioti'd
frii'K from an artirU' pri'pari-d li\ 1'^. I>. Ui^^^ar, lCs(|., and pul>-
lishfd in the Hamilton S])(.'ctator in I uiii.', li^'JT,. Tlust.' c-x tracts,
whicli lontain .. graphic (Ifsi-riplion of tin- hattk'-litld and its
rn\ iroiniu'iits, art' sup])lc'nunti'd li\ foot notes, and 1)\ a few
pai"ai;i'a])lis I'ontaininy' some adchtional inlorination which was
deemed I'ssentiai to compK'te the narrative:

"When N'inceiit retreated towards C^iieeiiston he was fol-
lowed h\ the American, Col. Scoll, who succeeded in making;
prisoners of liftv IJrilish re<^u!ars. As soon as the\ iiad t.ikv n
possession of the now dismantk'd and untenahk- firt and town
( consisting' t>f a fi'W ruiiu'd houses), (ien. l)ear!>orn was in-
formed that (_'ol. I'roitor was on his \\a\ from the Detroit
frontier to effect a junction with (Jen. N'inceiit at rMirlini^toii
Ileii^jhts. ."^upposini; this information to he correct I)earli<irn
proposed lo ilespatch part of his ann\ to cut off \'incent"s re-
treat and thus pre\enl their joining;. This wasa<^reeil upon,
and (ien. \\'in(ler, at his own reipiesl, was appointed to the dut\ .
Accordin^h he set out, hut took the wront^ i"oad and was ohlim-d
to nturn. This causetl a ruinous delay of two da\ s, h\ which
time X'incent had Ljained the IIei<^hts, and of course the idea
of headiiii^ the retreat was then <;iven U|,. Dearhorn's inlen-
teution was to transport his troops to Hurlinyton Hay 1iv the
tleet, "hut,' sa\s Auchinleck, Mhe cal)inet at Washinjftoii hail
^iven this arm of the expedition a different direction.' So two
more (hivs were spent in uuresultinji^ delilierations as to how to
proceed. 1 will l)e pardoned for dii^ressinj^- somewhat from
die sul)ject to remark that it was fortunate for the British that

«.t>l \ I \ III W I.N 1 UUU 111.

Kj:

• (

takv II

1 town

IS iii-

L'troit

rl loni
c-
upoii,
liity.

which
idea
iiUcn-
>y the
11 had
I) two
ow to
from
1 that

io6

IIISTOIIICAI, SKETCH OK TIIP;

they were opposed by the coniinander that thev were. (ien.
Dearborn was a man much advanced in years and was suffer-
ing from ill health at the time. In his younger days he had
distinguished himself in the Reyolution as a man of activity
and daring ; but was now in his dotage almost, and had he
even possessed physical health and full powers of mind, it is
doubtful if his abilities as a leader would have been equal to
the task before him. His mananivres at the taking of York
were ill-planned in the extreme, and his action in this and suc-
ceeding enterprises, clumsier and more ill-planned. The old
general was recalled from his command just a month after the
battle of Stony Creek, and (ien. Wilkinson, another old and
equally incompetent leader, appointed as his successor.

"• Again General Winder started with a brigade in pursuit
of the British. This brigade, which included a corps of dra-
goons ; Col. Burns' detachmeni of cavalry ( stated In G. Au-
chinleck to numV)er 250) ; and Archer's and Towson's artillery,
amounting to only 800 men, accoriling to ]. B. Lossing, the
writer of 'Sketches t)f the War, 1812.' Another American
work, however, states them at 1,450. Winder pushed rapidly
on to the Twenty Mile Creek, at yyhich place he was told that
\'incent was posted strongly at Burlington Heights, and had
received reinforcements from Kingston. Believing this (an
invention, no doubt, of some unscrupulously patriotic denizen)
to be true, he haltetl in his pursuit, and sent a recpiest to Dear-
born for more troops. In compliance with this another brig-
ade was sent, under the command of General Chandler, who
being the senior officer, took the chief command on his arrival.
Lossing says that Chandler's brigade counted 500 men, making
the total American force 1,300. Auchinleck, the Canadian his-
torian of the war, with a fairer appearance of accuracy, puts
them down at 3,450. W. II. Merritt, s leaking of them as en-
camped at Stony Creek, says there were ' 2,000 in the lane to
the left, in advance of their artillery' (and cavalry, which
numbered 250). Placing the artillery at the moderate number
of 350, there would then be 3,100. Besides these, a body of
troops, whose number is unknown, came up the lake in seven-

tOlNTV OK WKNI'WOK rn.

lo:

teen batteaux. Rcciiiciii}^ the contlictiiij,' statements of a dozen
different authorities to a fair avcraj^e, tlie two hrij^ades could
not have been less than 2,800 men. Chandler and Winder
now moved forward to the Forty Mile Creek, where thev drove
off the mounted militiamen muler Capl. Merritt. Ilavinj; here
ascertainetl more accurately the position and stren<,nh of the
British they proceeded on their march, and towards evening
on the 5th of June they arrived tired, hunj^ry and thirstv, at a
place which was soon to be the scene of disaster and defeat to
themselves, but a most brilliant and j^lorious success for the
British — vStony Creek,

" liefore jjiving a \ iew of the subsecpient incidents it mav be
^vell to ^ive some idea of what constituted Stonv Creek and
Burlinjrton lleij^hts, so that the reader mav better understand
the relative position and surroundinj^s of the two armies. Nei-
ther of these two places had anv claims at that time to the title
of village even. Stonv Creek was a stream wliicli took its rise
in a swampv tract of woodland some miles bevond or south of
that rid<^e of land known as the ' mountain,' the same ridge
over which the great Niagara thuntlers, and winding north-
west poured over this ; then running northward through the
present village emjjlied into a snuill lagoon which stretches in
from the shore of Lake Ontario. The creek is not perennial
but in the spring and fall a most beautiful falls is formeil at
the escarpment where the water jiours over from its summit in
one unbroken descent of So to 100 feet. The great, symmetri-
cal reijular oval wall of grev rocks from whose sunnnit the
water pours into a rocky basin beneath ; the majestic evergreen
crown of pines and hemlocks encircling and overlooking its
brow with conscious imperiousness ; the undergrow tli that over-
hangs and fringes like a valance the rugged edge of rocks;
and further on the shrubbery which carpets the steep banks of
the canon that gazes on the rich vallev beneath; ami the graiul
and picturesque l)oulders piled confusedly together ( anil which
bear still on their faces the evidence of old Ontario) make up
a picture which the traveler might look upon himdredsof times
without losing anv of its variety or enchanting picturesquencss.

tmmimim

loS

HISTORICAL SKETCH OK TlIK

After leaving the foot of the falls its waters dash gaily down
over rocky ledges to the level below and then course over a
complete bed of small, loose stones to its -outlet. From this it
derives its name of " Stoney Creek." Our ancestors spelt it
" Stoney," and that error is now a confirmed custom with the
inhabitants, though it has been discarded in this sketch. A
narrow, crooked, rough road ran west from Queenston to the
Heights, ' and round the lake to York and Kingston. On this
road, hard by Stony Creek, lived Edward Brady, who kept a
small lojj tavern. About a hundred vards east of the creek
and nearly opposite him, lived Stephen Jones (father of the
present Judge of the Countv of IJrant), who also kept a log
tavern. Another log shantN- was built close to this, but the oc-
cupant's name is in oblivion. Adam Green, (after whom
(ireentown is called) lived on the hill in a log house west of
the creek, on the spot now occupied bv H. Spera's house. Just
below this on the l)ank was an old water-power saw-mill.
Nearly a half mile west of the creek, and overlooking the bat-
tle ground from a hill on the south was James Gage's house ;
his brother William lived some distance across the road on an-
other hill. The house of the latter is the only one that still
stands entire, as it stood then. Nearly between these two,
close by the road was a little log cabin in which a man named
Lappin lived. An unfinished frame house (said to be the only
frame house in the parts except one) stood by the creek.
There was only one more building besides these, but it was
the finest and best of all. it was the old church.

" It stood upon a hill ; a gentle hill,
Green, and of wild declivity,"

and in the centre of what is now the grave yard, a yard then
dotted by scarce a tombstone. It was built by the Wesleyan
Methodists, and was, with the single exception of the Grand
River stone chapel, the oldest church in Western Ontario, or
(it if-', said) in the whole Province. Long before the year 1800
the settlers used to come a distance of twenty or thirty miles to

(I) This road was built ou the old Indian trail from Niagara to Mohawk village.

COIN TY ()!• WKNTWOKTH.

109

listen to itinerant preachers in this church. It was built with
the labor of the settlers ami without money ; its clapboardetl
sides never saw paint ; its inside walls never knew plaster or
whitewash ; its humble altar <rlittered with not an onuiment,
no crreat chandelier shetl its li<jht on a fashionably dressed
audience at night, nor organ pealed its thundering accompani-
ment to a trained choir. Its only steeple was the chimney top
that towered over its old Hre-place — for there were no foundries
or stoves then. .Still its pious congregation looked proudly
upon it as a grand edifice, ( Years after the war it was re-
paired and refitted, however, and was still the finest chapel in
this part of the country. It was torn down in 1871.) Two
miles west of vStony Creek, VV^illiam Davis kept a tavern, near
the bank of the Big Creek close by the road. It was here that
Colonels Harvey and Murray boarded for a time during the
war. The story is told how an awkward and verdant youth
named McNabb (afterwards Sir Allan) was intnxluced to
^lurray in this house, and became so confused in being pre-
sented to one whom he tliought so great a man that he kicked
over his chair in rising ; and how he afterw ards said he be-
lieved he would have rushed out of the house had he not been
brought to his senses bv a grim smile of assurance from Mur-
ray, Farther up the road was another house -still standing
on the present site of Bartonville — then the only representative
house of that village. Farther yet was Mr, Aikman's place,
and shortly beyond a stone habitation, the ruins of which have
been lately pulled down,

" As near as I liave been able to ascertain, the ground on
which the city t)f Hamilton now stands was then owned as fol-
lows : Geo. Hamilton, after whom the city was named, owned
200 acres south of the road — which is now King street, and
east of James street. Bounding this on the north, and extend-
ing from James to Wellington streets, was Ilughson's farm,
whose name is still preserved in Ilughson street, The"-^ twi)
farms were bounded on the west by the property of William
Wedge; and on the east by the farms of Ephraim and Col.
Robert Land. Tbousrh these were called ' farms,' nothing

ito

HISTORICAI- SKETCH OK TIIK

grew on them but a low undergrowth, indicative of niarshv
ground, called ' scrubby oak.' A man named Barns kept
tavern in a small frame house on the present corner of King
and James streets, and was said to own icx) acres of land some-
where in that part. This old signless frame tavern may be
said to have bce« the germ and beginning of the city of Ham-
ilton. These buildings enumerated, planted in the midst of an
unknown forest, like so many islands in an ocean, were all that
then was of Stony Creek and Hamilton — a name then un-
known as a locality. That part of Hamilton now known as
' Dundurn Castle ' was termed the Heights as well as the high
land on the other side of the canal. On the grounds around
the site of the castle, and in other places entrenchments were
cut and trees felled for some distance around, with their
branches pointing outward, as a sort of chei'al dc-frise^ traces
of which may yet be seen in the present cemetery. And be-
hind these entrenchments was Vincent's camp.

" It has been said that the Americans reached Stony Creek
late in the afternoon of the 5th of June, 1813. One of the
British dragoons who had been stationed a distance below the
Creek as a look-out came riding through the hamlet at full
gallop, firing his pistol and shouting that the enemy were com-
ing. As he was a notorious liar the alarm was received doubt-
fully. Another dragoon, John Bradv, rode eastward, upon
this, to reconnoitre, and ere he had advanced half-a-mile sud-
denly came upon them. A short distance before him a deer
path ran down to the road from the mountain, and this he re-
solved to gain in the face of the enemy. Putting spurs to his
horse, he rode up, screened by the fire of two log heaps that
were burning by the road, and firing off his piece at them,
darted up the deer path to the mountain. As he wheeled
several muskets answered his own shot, but the bullets whistled
harmlessly by or struck the intervening trees. Brady climbed
the mountain and in less than two hours was at Vincent's
camp at Burlington heights. The advance cavalry of the
Americans soon pranced up before Brady's tavern, when,
among other things, they appropriated the family's bread that

COLNTV OF WENTWOKTII.

Ill

had been freshly baked the same afternoon. The clatterin<^ of
cavalry hoofs, the elankinjf of swords, the heavy rattle of the
artillerv, and the lonj; and stran<re arrav of invadin<r soldiers
as they filed alon<f the narrow road, strnck the few inhabitants
of the hamlet with wonder and astonishment. It was soon
whispered about amonj^ them that a battle was to be fouj^ht
the next dav, and as may be expected the wives anil maidens
of the vicinity were in threat consternation. Arrived at the old
church the advance j^^uard encountered Capt. Williams, whom
they drove to the west side of the liij^ Creek. Williams and
his men mounted the west liank of the Bi<^ Creek and, tiring
from thence, killed one man and mortally wounded another,
who was carried into Davis' tavern. The sun was j^ettin}; low
in the west as the advance and main body found themselves on
a piece of high and uneven land surrounded by a dense forest
where it was impossible to camp on account of the inpenetra-
ble underwood — unless it would be in the contracted limits of
the road. Under these circumstances the men were ordered to
fall back on Stony Creek. Soon after they were gone an
American surgeon was sent to attend the wounded man at
Davis'. He seemed in great excitement ; swore at the men
under his charge for not hurrying to obey his orders, and was
sure they would be scalpetl if they did not get away at once.
So the wounded man was tumbled into one of the beds and
they rattled off in their wagon, bed and all. It seems he had
heard the shouts of Williams' men and imagined them to be
Indians. (W^ithout discussing the question of cruelty and
savagery practiced by the Indians on both sides during this
w^ar it will be proper to mention that the Americans stood in
singular dread of the British Indians, tuid were in constant
terror of the scalping knife, to which feeling was owing partly
their defeat in this conflict, though, be it remembered, not a
solitary Indian was in the battle.) It is related that some of
the men on their way back to Stony Creek stopped at a well
to drink. One of them said to a comrade, ' I think I will take
this piece of land (pointing to a small clearing) when Canada
is conquered.' This man was found the next day among the

i 1 a

mSTOiUCAI. SKETCH OF THE

slain. The poor fellow is still vvaitin<( for his farm liencath an
applctrec that sheds its bloom on each returninj^ 6th of June
over the ji^round where the soldiers were buried.

" A small tributary stream of Stony Creek ran down past
(ja«je's house, distant about half a mile at that point from the
main stream, and was enclosed by a low, level, woodless strip
of ground called the ' flat,' which was itself walled in on either
side by an abrupt bank about ten feet hij^h. The road at this
place was not then fjjraded, but pitched immediately down these
banks; and it was on the eastern one that Chandler ordered
his cannon to be planted, so that they might sweep the road to
the west. On each side of the road, near the guns, slept the
artillerymen. Immediately in rear of this (Towson's) artil-
lery. Col. Jiurns and his cavalry camped. In a cleared field
south of the road towards (iage's house, a body of nearly 2,000
Americans pitched their tents, stretching along and above the
bank ; 500 lay in a lane in the flat west of the stream and to
the right front of the artillery. Archer's artillery and another
body of men occupied a position towards the lake. And finally,
in advance of the rest a party of about fifty took possession of
the old church. All the settlers in the vicinity were taken and
held as prisoners lest they should carry any information to
Vincent. Three of them (whose names I could mention) were
confined in Lappin's log cabin, in uncomfortable proximitv to
the cannon, and a guard placed over them. Chandler, Winder
and some of the principal officers occupied Gage's house (while
the family were put down cellar) and used his barn and out-
houses as store-rooms for their baggage. The troops were
ordered to sleep on their arms that night; the cannon stood in
readiness to sweep the road ; and full directions were given by
Chandler when and how to form in line of battle should any
attack be made. Thus for the first time, the tents of a Cana-
dian enemy were spread upon Stony Creek ground, and for
the first time the smoke of an enemy's camp fires arose on
Wentworth air. The men took their much-needed supper, and
lay down upon their arms weary and exhausted from their long,
tiresome day's march. The noise and bustle of the camp grad-

COINTV OK WKNTWORTII.

••3

ually (lied out, as the men sou<rht their rest, and the darkness
closed in. Characteristic of June the nijjht was hot and breeze-
less, as the day had been clear and sultry. There was no moon ;
the horizon oi', all (luarters was entomljed in a mountain of dark
clouds from which the "heat li«rhtnin<r " shot out at intervals,
and illuminated the tree-tops with its dull Hickeriuf,' «(lare.
Soon the men were asleep, and the only sounds to be heard
were the sullen tread of the sentinels, the distant wail of some
bird or animal, and the dyin<r eracklc of the camp fires, w hieh
revealed indistinctly the j^rey pyramids around them, and the
forms of outlyinj^ soldiers.

" Let us now leave the Americans to the slumber which
was fated to be so suddenly and abruptly broken, and follow
the motions of the Hritish.

"Towards eveninj^ \'incent had sent out Col. John Harvey,
his deputy-adjutant f^eneral, for the purpose of reconnoitrinj^
the enemy. Takinj^ ensigns McKenny and Georji^e, two oflicers
of W. II. Merritt's company, he went forward with the liji^ht
companies of the 49th, and met Williams' company at Hi<^
Creek. While Ilarvev, Georf^e and McKennv were ascendinj;
the east bank of the creek in advance of the men, thev came
npon an American with a Hritish prisoner. The American
levelled his piece to fire on them, when Harvey called out to
the British soldier to seize him, which was no sooner said than
the gun was wrested from him, and the captor was captive.
Harvey lent his pistol to George Bradshaw, he being w ithout
small arms, and the American, whose name was '\'anderberg,
was conducted by him to the presence of Vincent. The Brit-
ish soldier had strayed from the road in the early pan of the
day, returned without knowing that the enemy had advanced
so far, and was seen and seized. The reconnoitering partv
now went cautiously forward to a position from which they
could view the enemy. Here thev saw that the extended line
of encampment of the enemy was scantily guarded, and scat-
tered and disconnected, the artillery poorly supported, and the
cavalry placed awkwardly in the rear of the artillery. Mc-
Kenny and George both suggested a night sortie upon them.

114

IllSTOKICAI- SKETCH OK TIIK

Harvey saw at once the feasibility of it and concurred. Har-
vey has always been looked to as the first who proposed this
scheme of ni<^ht attack, but the honor of it really belonj»s to
these two, McKenny clainiiu}^ to have spoken of it first (see
W. H. M.'s 'Journal"). At ni}^ht they returned and proposed
the night attack to \'incent, who without much deliljeration
moved to carry it into effect. He acceded to it more readily
as he knew full well how very critical his situation was. York
was in the grasp of the enemy and an active and powerful fleet
was on the lake to oppose him. And should he delay action
till the next day an outnimibering army would be on his posi-
tion at the very time when he had but ninety rounds of amuni-
tion for each man. W. H. Merritt, who understood perfectly
well the state of affairs, spoke of it thus : ' All my hopes de-
pended on this bold enterprise, for had we not attacked them
they would have advanced the next morning, and in all proba-
bility we would have retired without risking an action, as our
force was not one-third of theirs. Proctor and the whole up-
per country would then have fallen.' It was the result, then,
of this night attack upon the enemy that was to decide the fate
of the western portion of the province.

"An order to move forward startled the sleeping officers and
men from the grass whereon they were reposing, and instantly
the camp was alive with preparations to march. It was about
half-past ten that the last of the brave seven hundred and four
who were to honor themselves and their posterity in this daring
encounter, disappeared from the waning light of their campfires
down the lonely road eastward. Stealthily they took their way
beneath the grand wall of trees that rose on either side of the
road, and in places arched together overhead, closing them in
profound night and darkness. As the little phalanx wound along
their sinuous path towprd the enemy's encampment not a word
was spoken nor a sound of any kind escaped their ranks. On
they stole down the west bank of Big Creek, then up the eastern
like a train of noiseless ghosts. Just as they arrived at Davis's
the slumbering echoes of the woods awoke upon their ears with
the sound of a gun, in the very direction of the enemy. The

COUNTY l)F WKNTWOUTH.

I I

whole body halted almost without the word of conmiaml. This
report called for increased caution ; some information was
gleaned from Davis; and an order went around to have the
charges drawn from every gun, lest by some accident they
should go off, and perhaps defeat the oidy scheme by wliich
they could hope for success. They now formed into sections,
and with the light companies of the 49th in the van and \'incent
at the head of the rear column, thev once more proceeded.
Their movements were now attended with greater caution, for
they were not certain that the report heard was not an alarm at
their approach. They arrived in sight of tiie llrst sentry at
nearly two o'clock on vSimday morning (6th). Col. Harvey,
who was to conduct the attack, was in front of the light com-
panies with another man of the 49th, and observed the sentry
reclining against a tree which leaned partially over the road
about a hundred yards west of the church. 1 have never been
able to discover for a certainty whether the countersign was
obtained ; or if it was, how it was done. Lossing asserts that
it ' was obtained from a treacherous dweller near, who by false
pretenses had procured and con\cyed it to (ieneral N'incent.'"

There is a tradition that the statement made by Lossing is
not wholly devoid of truth. The person referred to as '' a*
treacherous dweller near," was Mr. Isaac Corman, who then
lived on lot 22, in the 3rd concession of SaltHeet. It appears
that when the advance pickets of the invading army ap-
proached Stony Creek on the afternoon of the 5th of June,
they saw a man setting gate posts at the end of the lane lead-
ing to his house. They took this man prisoner and marched
him to the lake shore where some 1,500 of the Americans
were encamped. He was left in charge of an ofHcer who at
first treated him with scant courtesy. Hearing this otticer
speak of Kentucky, he informed him that he too was a Kentuck-
ian. This produced a great change in the bearing of the
officer, who after this declaration treated him as a friend and
not as a foe. They engaged freely in conversation when Cor-
man told him that he was a cousin of General W. H. Harrison,
then commanding the American army in the west, and as boys

Tl6

IIISTOKICAI- SKETCH OK THE

they had inany a time played toj^ether at school. This estab-
lished confidence, and the officer <^ave him permission to return
to his home. Mr. Corman asked how he was to pass the
sentries. The officer, placinji^ the fullest confidence in his in.
teji^rity, jjave him the countersif^n, and he at once started on
his way.

In the meantime Mrs. Corman had become very anxious as
to the fate of her husband. While busy with her household
cares, who should come in but her youngest brother William,
then a young man of 19, and who was afterwards known as
*' iiilly (Jreen the scout." .She informed him that her husl^and
had ])een made a prisoner while at work, and was then in the
hands of the Americans. Thev talked the matter over very
earnestly, when young (ireen determined to make a search for
his missing brother-in-law, and if possible find out where he
was confined. He started in the direction of the lake shore
and was fortunate enough to meet his brother-in-law at Davis'
on his way home. Here Corman gave the countersign to
young (ireen, who at once started for his home on the mount-
ain. It was now getting quite dark. After several narrow
escapes from being captured 1)y the sentries he reached his
home. It is said that on one occasion so completely was he
hemmed in that he got down on all fours and trotted across the
road like a dog, and made good his escape into the woods.
When he reached home, he got a horse from his brother Levi,
and followed the bush road bv wav of Mount Albion as far as
the top of the mountain south of Hamilton, where he left his
horse with a friend. He then proceeded on foot to Burlington
Heights, where he met Col. Harvey and gave him the counter-
sign. Col. Harvey consulted with General Vincent and his
brother ofiicers, when they decided to make a night attack on
the enemy. Preparations were at once made, and the army
began its march to Stony Creek. The weight of evidence
fixes the time of this attack as about 2 o'clock in the morning
of the 6th of June. It is said that he piloted Col. Harvey and
his men on their march through the forests and led the ad-
vance at Stonv Creek.

COINTV (J|- WhSrWOKTM.

I I

The American C()untersi<,'ii used on this oioasion, so trach-
tion says, consisted of the first syllal)les of (Jeneral \V. II.
Harrison's name, and was j^iven in llie followiiijf niamier :
Sc-ntry to stranj^er,— " Who <,'ofs there?" Straiii^^r, »' A
friend." Sentry,-- " Approach friend and ;,n\e the counler-
sij^n." The sentry then takes tlie position of " eharjje," and
presents the point of his bayonet to the l)rc-ast of the stran},'er,
and keeps it there until the countersij^n is <,riven. Stran«.rfr at
point of bayonet,— " Will." Sentry, "Ik-n." Stranj^er,
" liar." The sentry lowers his nuisket and allows the slraii<,u'r
to pass.

It seems quite evident that the liritish authorities had ob-
tained the American countersij^ii from some source, for thcv
not only passed the sentries, but reached the centre of the
camp before the Americans were aware of their jiresence.

Corman, after partin<; with vounji^ (Jreen, continueil his
journey eastward to his own home. Ilearinj^ a noise behind
him, he turned to discover the cause, when he was seized by
three American soldiers who took him prisoner a second time.
They accompanied him home and remained on jjuard at his
house over nij^ht. Earlv next morninj^ news came that the
American army was in full retreat. On hearing; this the
guards forsook their posts and joined their retreating com-
rades. In their hurry to depart they left some sacks and a
soldier's canteen. These articles were kept for many years by
the Corman familv as mementoes of this visit.

The reader will pardon a slight digression here in order
that a brief account of the young man who carried the counter-
sign to Col. Harvey may be given. " l^illy (ireen the scout"
was the youngest son of Adam Green v. ho emigrated from
New Jersey to Canada in 1792, and settled on the mountain in
Saltfleet, a little to the south of Stony Creek. As a boy he
shunned companionship, and loved to wander in the woods
alone. He was an expert climber, seemed to have no sense of
danger, and was perfectly at home in the forests. It is said that
he could climb almost any tree, run out on one of its branches,
jump across to the limbs of another, and thus go from tree to

irS

HtSTOiniAt. SKKTCII OK TIIK

trt'c imic'li as a stjuirrt'l docs. IIi- was activf in niovc-ineiit,
(|ui(k ill (leciHioii, very iinpulsivi', and si-ldoin tlioiij^ht of the
C()nst'(|U(.'iKcs (»f any act. IIciicc he was well fitted for any
<larinj^ atlveiiturc, and :;eemed to delij^Iit in (hiiij^cr of anv kind.
He differed from the other nicnihers of his father's family, and
led (|iiite an cvcntfid life. lie thed in SaltHcet in the S(j[h year
of his a^fc.

Mr. F. G. Snider, of Ancaster, who was tlien a ineinher of
the Hank company of tlie 49th, and took part in the battle of
Stony Creek, makes the followin}^ statenient concernin<j the
manner in which the countersij^n was obtained: He says, —
" A little before 2 o'clock in the morninfj we drew near the
American lines. Col. llaryey sent two men forward to recon-
noitre wliile the main body halted. They were challenj(ed by
the first sentry. One of fheia replied to the challenj^e and
said, " A friend." The sentry said, " Approach friend and
jjiye the countersifjn." The man challen<^ed did not haye the
countersij^n, but he approached, aiul when the sentry pre-
sented the point of the bayonet to his breast, leaned forward
to whisper the countersij^n, jifot past the point of the bayonet,
jijrasped the sentry by the throat, and threw him down, \yhen
his companion came up, presented a pistol to his head, and
ordered him to j^iye the countersi<;n or die. The disarmed
sentry yrnxc the countersij^n, and was taken prisoner. The
second sentry was approached and the challcnj^e jriyen. This
was answered as in the former case In' the two men, and the
countersign found to be correct. In the meantime the British
had adyanced, and the pickets, seeing^ there was no hope for
them, <^aye up their arms. They then approached the old
Methodist church and found that the two generals — Chandler
and Winder — were sleeping within; they yere secured as
prisoners, and the British adyanced to the centre of the camp,
when the battle began in earnest."

Continuing his narrative Mr. Higgar says :

" In contradiction to this a ' 49th man ' gives his printed
testimony as follows: 'I had ]>een driven in that afternoon
from Stony Creek, and was well acquainted with the ground.

tots TV (>!• WKNTWoin II.

119

The cautious silciuf ohscrvod ( spi-akiii;; of tluir miinli ddwii |
was most painful: not a whisper was pi-rmitti-d ; i-\fu our
footsteps wore not allowi-d to he lu-ard. I shall ih-mt foi^ct
the a},'oiiy tauscd to tlu- senses hy the stealthiness with w hieh
wc proceeded to tlie inidnij,'ht slau^'I'ter. I was nol aware
that any other force accompanied us than the (irenadiers, and
when we approached near the creek I ventured to whisper to
Col. Harvey, ' We are close to the enemy's camp, sir! ' 'Hush!
I know it,' was his reply. Shortly after, a sentry challen<,a'(l ;
Dieii, Danford and the leadinj; section rushed forward and
killed him with their hayonets ; his hleedinj,' corpse was last
aside, and we moved on with hreathless laution. A second
challenge 'Who comes there?' another rush, and the poor
sentinel is transfixed, hut his a<joni/.ed j^roans alarmed a third
who stood near the watch fire ; he challen<,fed and immediately
fired and fk-d.' Xot a moment was now to he lost. IIar\ev,
whose plans ha 1 been jJerfectly orj^ani/.ed hefore startin^f, in-
stantly ordered his men to deploy into line, lie and Col. I'itz-
j^ihbon took the road straij^hl ahead : Major IMenderlelh swept
round to the left, and Major Oj^ilvie with a party of the 49th
opened to the ri<jht. In the meantime the sentry at the church
door had been approached in the shade of the trees and killed,
and the whole party — who were lyin<^ in all parts of the church
with their heads peacefully pillowed on their coats and ]>oots
were made prisoners. The excitement of the men, w rouj^ht
by subdued silence, was now at its greatest intensitv. With
wild and terrific yells they burst with fixed bayonets into the
fiats upon the astonished Americans. The frenzied outburst
of voices seemed to fairly shake the woods; and in the next
short minute the whole fiats and the opposite hill was a scene
of crazy commotion and disorder. The five hundred in the
lane flew madlv to the hill, leaving their blankets, knapsacks
and some of their arms behind. Tho IJritish halted at the de-
serted camp-fires of the enemy to load their guns and replace
their flints, which some of them had taken out for safety.
While this was being done, Col. Fitzgibbon rushed up to the
cannon, saw that the artillerymen were not yet by them, hur-

I 20

UISTOKICAI, .SKETCH OK TJIE

ricd back and ordered the captain of the rtrst compaiiv to
char<(e upon them. The company was at once on the double-
(juick march in the face of the guns; but hardly had they gone
twenty feet l)efore a man sprang to touch off one of the can-
nons. It hung fire; the captain yelled to his men to 'break off
from the centre or they would all be killed,' but the words had
no more than gone from his lips when the thundering explo-
sion came, and, not his men, but the captain himself and two
of his officers lay dead in the road. IJy this time the Ameri-
cans had somewhat recovered from their first confusion, and
while the IJritish were stil) loading, the dark hill, for nearly a
half-mile in extent, was suddenly illuminated with a crashing
volley. It was a grand and awful sight ; none but those who
actually witnessed it can form a true conception of the ghastly
su})limity of the spectacle. FollowMng the dreadful Hash and
crash came a silence yet more impressive, broken through by
the clinking of ramrods and groans of the wounded and dving.
Now an ominous ' click click-click ! ' rattles along the gloomy
hill, succeeded by another echoing roar of musketry, and a
shock of artillery ; and again the trees, the tents, and every-
thing about lives as in a momentary day ; and again the whiz-
zing bullets are followed by moans and dying words. But
now the flashes came from the flats also, and from simultan-
eous volleys the firing runs into an incessant roar, the hill and
the valley are continuous sheets of living flame, and the sky is
Vjright with the glare. The guard at the cabin door near the
foot of the hill had fled with the rest, and now directly in the
face of the fire the four men who had been confined therein
ran excitedly towards the British. Strange to tell, they reached
the lines in perfect safety. Then again the bayonets are fixed
and the British dash forward ; in rushing through they get
confused, but Plenderleth rallies them, and on towards the can-
nons they push ; up the hill they spring, and

' Flash'd all their sabres bare,
Flash'd as they turned in air,
Sabring the gunners there.
Charging an army, when

All the world wondered.'

COUNTY t)I' WKN TWOKTH.

121

"Three cannons and timiln-cls, with thirty men and one of
the f^fenerals, were taken in the tierce charj^^e liy Plenderleth.
Ogilvie had char<,'ed np towards Ciaj^e's, and liad captured the
other jjfeneral while comin<r out of the house. At ahout the
same time the two American <!jenerals were lost to their men,
Vincent was lost to the British, and was supposed to he killed
or wounded. Under these circumstances Col. IJurns became
leader of the Americans, and Harvey assumed command of the
British. The 49th were on the hill pressinjr onward when
Burns' cavalry assailed them, cut throujjjh the ranks, and drove
them back down the hill. In chan<i;in<r so rapidlv their posi-
tions at this time, the opposinjj^ sides became mixed, and more
confusion prevailed. In this state of affairs nearlv Hftv of the
49th British regiment were taken prisoners, and a number of
Americans were also taken by the British. The Americans
now began to retire, which they did without pursuit. As it
was getting daylight, Ilarvev thought it prudent to retire too,
as day would soon discover to the enemv the insufKciencv of
his force and probably incite them to renew a conflict which
he was not alile to keep up. As soon as day began to break,
Capt. Merritt was sent down to ascertain, if possible, what
had become of the missing general. lie arrived at the scene
of the midnight carnage, and was viewing over the ground not
thinking of the enemy, when he was accosted bv an American
sentinel under Gage's house with ' Who goes there? ' At this
unexpected challenge he was about to surrender, as both his
pistols were in the holsters, when he bethought himself of a
ruse, and turning to the sentinel, and riding towards him in-
quired, ' Who placed you there r' Supposing him to be one
of their own oflicers, tiie sentinel returned that he was put
there by his Ci^ptain who had just gone into the house with a
party of men. The captain then asked him if he had foimd
the British general yet, at the same time pulling out his pistol.
At the sight oi' the weapon leveled at him, the sentinel dropped
his gun and gave himself up. Just then a man, without any
gun, ran down the hill. Capt. Merritt called him and he
obeyed the summons. Thus securing the two prisoners unob-

122

IIISTORICAI. SKKTCH OF TirE

served by the party of men in the house, he took them off to
the Heights, but found no trace of Vincent. A large body of
the enemy reappeared on the battle field between seven and
eight o'clock, and proceeded to destroy the provisions, car-
riages, spare arms, blankets, etc., which they could not take,
and then retreated, leaving their own dead to be buried by the
British. As they passed from the scene of their discomfiture,
their band struck up the then popular air, ' In My Cottage
near the Wood,' and to this lively tune the disordered army
left the hamlet of Stony Creek forever.

" They did not halt till they reached the Forty Mile Creek,
where they encamped over night. But Sir James Veo having
sailed from Kingston on the 3rd, with his squadron for the
purpose of annoying the enemy at the head of the lake, ap-
peared off this creek at daylight of the 7th. Being becalmed,
it was impossible to get within range with the large vessels,
but the schooners lieresford and Sidney Smith were tugged
up and commenced fire. This added to a panic caused by some
Indians appearing on the brow of the mountain, and firing into
the camp, caused the Americans (now reinforced by Generals
Lewis and Boyd) to break camp and retreat to Fort George,
leaving behind 500 tents, 100 stand of arms, 140 barrels of flour,
and about 70 wounded men, who were duly taken care of. But
the Americans met a sevc'rer loss in the destruction and capture
of all the batteaux that were in co-operation with the land
forces. Twelve of them were taken with all their contents by
the Beresford, and the residue of five driven on shore, where
their crews deserted them, and joined the flying army.

" When Capt. Merritt returned to camp without the Gen-
e.al, George Bradshaw and John Brant (a half-brothir to the
celebrated Joseph Brant) started again in search. They met
him emerging from a side path, arrayed in a borrowed hat and
on a borrowed horse. He had lost himself, he said, in the
woods while the battle was going on ; and in the general ex-
citement lost hat, sword, and horse. On his return to camp he
was greeted with loud cheers from his men, who had almost
given him up as killed or taken prisoner. '

(1) See Col. Harvey's letter of the 6tli of June In the last chapter.

COl-NTV OF WENTWOKTM,

123

" The following is the statement given in an American ac-
count (Lossing's) as the return of killed and wounded at Stony
Creek: the British had 23 killed, 100 wounded, and 55 miss-
ing. The Americans had 17 killed, 38 wounded, and 99 miss-
ing.

" Somewhat at variance with this is Vincent's official report,
which says : ' The action terminated before daylight, when
three guns and one brass howitzer, with three tumbrels, two
Brigadier-Generals, Chandler and Winder, first and second in
command, and upwards of 100 officers and privates remained
in our hands. * * * it ^ould be an act of injustice were
I to omit assuring yom- Excellency, that gallantry and discipline
were never more conspicuous than during our late short action ;
and I feel the greatest satisfaction in assuring; vou that everv
officer and individual seemed anxious to rival each other in his
efforts to support the honor of His Majesty's arms, and to
maintain the high character of JJritish troops. * * General
return of killed, woui ded, and missing: i lieutenant, 3 ser-
geants, 19 rank and file, killed; 2 majors, 5 captains, 2 lieu-
tenants, I ensign, i atljutant, i fort-major, 9 sergeants, 2 drum-
mers, and 113 rank and file, wounded; 3 sergeants, and 52
rank and file, missing.' A veteran, John Lee, who assisted in
burying the deatl, counted them himself^ disagrees with both,
and affirms that there were buried that day sixty-one jnen of
both sides.

" This loss in a half-hour's fight made a large gulf in 704
men. The severe loss on the British side is easilv accounted
for in the fact that they were exposed to the light of the camp
fires where they suffered fearfully before they were prepared
to return the fire. From the position of the dead and wounded
next morning it was known that they lost as much from those
two first volleys as in all the rest of the fight. Most of the
Americans were wounded with luiyonets. All the honor of
this sharp and effectual repulse of an enemv outnumbering
them four to one, is tlue to the decision, energy and judgment
of Col. Harvey as the leader of a brave, active and faithful
band of men.

ia% HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE

" Many came the next clay to witness the scene of the en-
gagement. Men, horses, guns, swords and baggage vverc
strewn on every part of the ground. The old church was shat-
tered and riddled with balls in every jiart, and wore its marks
of ill-usage down to the year 1820. The bodies of the dead
were conveyed on an old wood sleigh to their graves, the set-
ters of the neighborhood assisting in the mournful task. Part
of them were buried where some of them had slept, but the
night before — on a projecting point of the hill east of the
creek and a little distance north of the present road. The
others — without distinction of country — slumber in the grave-
yard close to the spot whereon the old church stood. No stone
is yet erected to perpetuate their memory or designate their
sleeping place ; but rebuking the descendants, two apple-trees
stand patient sentinels over them, and as each sixth of June
rolls round, shake the snowy laurels from their own heads to
perfume and hallow their anniversary dav ! As their lives
were arduous and warlike, so let their slumbers be light and
peaceful — both friends and foes — and when they wake to the
notes of the last, final bugle call, may they find the honored
place in Paradise given to those who spend their life and blood
in the good and noble cause of Country ! "

.-tr ,/■■:. ■

mmmm

COrxTV OF WKNTWOUTM.

125

CHAPTER \.

Wm Bates' Letter -Note of Hand - Berlin Decree -First Order-in-
Counc. - 1 etter from Col. Harvey Vindicating General Vincent -
General Hull s Proclamation - Sir Isaac Brock's Proclamation.

WILLIAM bates' LETTER.

"Head of Lake Ontario, Sept. 14th, 1799.
"Dear Augustus,—

" I wrote you some time ago but haven't had any chance to
send It. I received a letter from brother Tonathan and one
from Mr. IJlain, by Samuel Jarvis' wife. Mr. Hhiin wrote that
he should set out for this place in al)out four weeks from the
date of his letter-the last of July. I shall look for him soon.
Jonathan offers to send me lirazon, if I thought it would an-
swer. I have a plenty of grain and hay, and must have him
by all means, but the trick is to get him here. I would be glad
of his saddle and bridle with him. I have written to Jonatlian
to go to the post office at Albany. He will get his letter as
soon as you get t^is. If you have the least thought of moving
into this province to live, it would be well for you to conclude —
the sooner the better. The new Governor is likely to make
great alterations for the better. He was much displeasetl with
the conduct of the administration of the government. He said
they took better care of themselves than they did of the in-
habitants, and was much displeased with their having 100 acre
lots joining the town, and not leaving it as a commons for a
town privilege. He has promised the inhabitants that when
he returns in the spring, that he will see that they shall be pro-
vided with lands for a commons, that if those who owned the
100 acre lots joining the town would not give them up for a
commons, he would build a block hou.se on each of them and
make it King's land, which he had a right to do. He also
found fault with their neglecting to encourage ministers in the

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128

iriSTOUICAL SKETCH OK TltE

settlements, and said that he would give every indulgence to
ministers from the States that would choose to come and reside
here. He said that if any person that knew a minister in the
States, of good character, who wished to come in, to let him
know and he would get the Bishop's approbation immediately,
that it was his wish to have such ministers for two reasons, vi/. :
it helped to unite with the States, and would be likely to give
great satisfaction to the parishioners, and secondly, a clergyman
from England would be likely to be above himself, wishing to
live in the English style, which could not be supported in this
new country. I am of the opinion that he will make great al-
terations for the better. Mathews was at my house this week,
and was enquiring about you. He says that the barracks and
a block house are to be built in front of his house, which will
make the stand more valuable to have the garrison so near the
town. I wish you would make it convenient to come, and
bring lirazon with you. If you haven't sold your horses, and
they are in good order, they will fetch £']o. Weeks has sold
his horses for jt'85. I have keeping, and will keep them till
you can make sale of them, for nothing. Cattle are still high.
Cows fetch £\o. I sold a yoke of oxen a few days ago for
$100 in hand. I want you here to make out well. To mv
mind this is as good a stand for trade as is in the country. I
have reason tc believe that I can have a store of goods for ask-
ing for it. Colonel Smith said he felt disposed to help me,
and if I did not get this place to my mind, then he would give
me a good chance on his farm nine mile from town, and would
set me up with goods and potash kettles to do business. It is
my opinion you can't do better than to come here and see for
your own satisfaction, and judge for yourself. If you should
come and like to move by sleighing, I have room enough, and
will provide you with provisions for a year, and will be able to
do it within myself. I am at a loss what to say to you, not
knowing your intentions. Tell your wife that I am sure she
would be pleased with this situation, and I hope that won't
prevent. I think I may expect tr see you here soon, and will
lay in salmon for your family, as now is the season. I am go-

COINTV 0|- WKNTWOKTII.

129

ill

ing to the Credit to get my winter store, never was finer at ten
for a dollar, that weigh fifteen pounds each. If you come this
fall, I shall be able to treat you to roast duck till you are tired.
They have just come, and the rice is just ripe, which will make
them verv fat. If what I have saitl won't move vou, I don't
Know what will. I have not seen Mr. Barton since I left you,
nor heard from him since I wrote to you before. I hear he is
doing well. I think you have heard from him since I have.
Weeks talks of not goin<r down this fall. Vou mav tell Mr.
Street that I have not spoken to Dr. Allen about his note, for
this reason, I was at his house, and found his circumstances
such that it was not convenient for him to pay till fall. lie
has 30 acres of wheat that is very good, and 40 acres of corn
planted which will enable him to pay, and if he is not willing,
I know which way to make him, so I look upon the debt to be
safe, and will get it this winter. You must give my resjiects
to Dr. Thompson. Tell him I have not got the pay for the
harness to spare yet, but have not forgot his favor. I want
you to get my mill irons and still to Schenectady, and I can
get them from there any time. If you can get them there
soon, they can be brought to me this fall, which would be of
great consequence to me. The mill irons will fetch i'So a set.
The still can be put to immediate use. They would clear a
.£100 this season. I have not time to write Alexander Thomp-
son. Tell him he may depend on good encouragement in his
gristing, and if he will come I will engage him for what will
pay his expenses. He must not faii of coming with you, and
ride one of vour horses, and Crosjwell the other. I think
there is no doubt of Crosswell getting what he can do. I shall
be looking for you with your aides-de-camps. Mr. Hlain in-
formed me that the yellow fever had made its appearance,
which I am sorry for. 1 have nothing to say about politics, as
they are scarcely heard of here. We have peace and plenty.
All of my family are getting better. Should John Laml) not
have got his pay, nor sold the mill irons, if he will send them
to me, I will get the money for him. If his clover seed were
here it would fetch the cash. Harry is sick with the fever and

130

IIISTOHICAI. SKKTCH t)K TItK

Hffuc. It is uncertain when ho will set out for home. He was
to have set out in this month hut the aj^ue will prevent. Mr.
Chisholm is still sick. It is uncertain when he will be able to
\fo home. The enclosed letter to William Chisholm you will
forward to him, as he wishes an answer soon. Should you
come, V)ring me in a good beef or two, and I will pay you well
for them. I will enj^afje you Jt'io at the least. You must
take what I have written in this letter. I have not room nor
time to say much more. I send you a sample of the wild rice,
which is plentiful here. There arc 50 acres within one mile
of this that would produce 20 bushels per acre if it could be
saved. My respects to Mr. Ueers and to the Rev. Mr. Chase,
and to all friends. Becky joins with me in love to you and
lietsy and the children. Should you not come give your as-
sistance in sending Urazon and you will much oblige.
" Your loving brother,

"WiLMAM Bates."
" Mr. Augustus Bates,

" Thorpsfield, County of Delaware,
"and State of New York."

Evidently Mr. Bates sold his still, as the following promis-
sory note shows :

" For value received I promise to pay Thomas Mears fif-
teen pounds seven shillings and three pence. New York cur-
rency, (it being money advanced and expenses paid (<n two
stills belonging to William Bates) within two months from the
date. Witness my hand, Saltfleet, January 8th, iSoi.

" (Signed,) Augustus Bates."

BERLIN DECREE.

" I. The British islands are placed in a state of blockade,
2. Every species of commerce and communication with them
is prohibited ; all letters or packets addressed in English, or in
the English characters, shall be seized at the post-ofKce, and
interdicted all circulation. 3. Every British subject, of what

CorSTY ()|- WKNIWOHIir.

•,v

ir-

rank or coiulitioii whatever, who shall he found in tlio coinitrics
occupied l)y our troops, or those of our allies, shall he ina<le
prisoners of war. 4. Every warehouse, merchandise, or prop-
erty of any sort, heloiif^inj^ to a sid)ject of (ireat Hritaiti, or
cominj( from its manufactories or colonies, is declared ^ood
prize. 5. Commerce of every kind in ICn<;lish floods is pro-
hibited ; and every species of merchandise beloufiinj^ to I'^nj^-
land, or emanatinjj from its workshops or colonies, is declared
}^ood prize. 6. The half of the confiscated value shall he de-
voted to indemnifyinjj those merchants whose vessels have
been seized by the En«(lish cruisers, for the losses which they
have sustained. 7. No vessel cominji^ directly from Enj^land,
or any of its colonies, or haviii}^ touched there since the publi-
cation of the present decree, shall be received into any harbour.
8. Every vessel which, by means of a false declaration, shall
have effected such entry, shall be liable to seizure, and the ship
and cargo shall be confiscateil, as if they had also belonged to
England. 9. The prize court of I'aris is intrusted with the
determination of all questions arising out of this decree in
France, or the countries occupied by our armies ; that of Milan»
with the decision of all similar questions in the Kingdom of
Italy. JO. This decree shall be communicated to the kings of
Spain, Naples, Holland and Etruria, and to our other allies,
whose subjects have been the victims, like our own, of the in-
justice and barbarity of English legislation. 11. The minis-
ters of foreign affairs, of war, of marine, of finance, and of
justice, of police, and all postmasters, are charged, each in his
own department, with the execution of the present decree."

ill
id

BKITISH OKOEK-IN-COl NC1I-.

" At the Court at the Queen's Palace, January 7, 1S07.

PKESENT,

" The King's Most Excellent Majesty in Council.

" VV^hereas the French Government has issued certj-in
orders, which, in violation of the usages of war, purport to

'.v

IMSTOHIC'AI, SKKTCH OK TIIK

l)r()liil)it till' coiuiuorcc of all neutral nations w ith his majesty's
dominions; and also to prevent such nations from tradinj; with
any other country in any articles the jjrowth, produce, or man-
ufacture of his majesty's dominions ; and whereas the said
Ciovernment has also take.i upon itself to declare all his majes-
ty's dominions to he in a state of blockade, at a time when the
fleets of France and her allies are themselves conlhied within
their own ports, by the superior valour and discipline of the
British navy ; and whereas such attempts on the part of the
enemy would {^ive to his majesty an uncjuestionaljle rij^ht of
retaliation, and would warrant his majestv in enforcinj^ the
same prohibition of all commerce with France, which that
power vaiidv hopes to effect a<^ainst the commerce of his
majesty's subjects, a j)rohibition which the superiority of his
majesty's naval forces mij^ht enable him to support, by actually
invcstinj; the ports and coasts of the enemy with numerous
scpuidrons and cruisers, so as to iiuike the entrance or approach
thereto manifestly dan<jerous ; and whereas his majesty, thoufjh
unwillinji^ to follow the example of his enemies, by proccedinj;
to an extremity so distressinj; to all nations not cngaji^ed in the
war, and carrvinj^ on their accustomed trade, yet feels himself
bound by a due rejjard to the just defence of the rij^hts and in-
terests of his people, not to suffer such measures to be taken
by the enemy, without takinj; some steps on his part to re-
strain this violence, and to return upon them the evils of their
own injustice ; his majesty is thereupon pleased, by and with
the advice of his privy council, to order, and It is hereby
ordered, and no vessel shall be permitted to trade from one
port to another, both which ports shall belon<j to, or be in the
possession of France or her allies, or shall be so far under their
control as that British vessels mav not freelv trade thereat;
and the commanders of his nuijesty's ships i>l w r and pri-
vateers shall be, and are hereby instructed ♦^o warn ever}'
neutral vessel comin<^ from any such port, and destined to
another such port, to discontinue her voyage, and not to pro-
ceed to any such port ; and any vessel, after being so warned,
or any vessel coming from any such port, after a reasonable

COfNTV (»l- W K\ I WOUIH.

i^^

tiino shall have hccn affonk-d for rc-iiix in;,' information of tliis
his majesty's orders whieh shall he found proeeedinj; to another
such port, shall he captured and hrou^ht in, and to^'etlur with
her earj^o, shall he eondennied as lawful prize. And his
majesty's priiuipal secretaries of slate, the lord's eommissioners
of the admiralty, and the jud<,'es of the hi^di court of admiralty,
and courts of vice admiraltv , are to take the necessarv meas-
ures herein as to them shall respectively appertain.

" W. Fawkknkk."

ne
he

ri-

rv
to

COl.ONKI. II.\I<\KVS I.KITKH.

" lUin.iN(; roN Heights, Sunday, 6th June, 1^13.
"Mv Dkak Colon k I. :

"The enemy havin<^ dared to pursue (as he arro<;antlv
termed it) this division by movinj^ a corps of 3,500 men with
four field jjuns, and 150 cavalry, to Stony Creek (within ten
miles of this position), I stron<jly urj^vd General N'incent to
make a forward movement for the purpose of hreakinj^ up this
encampment. In the course of yesterday afternoon, our ad-
vance posts (at Davis', eifi;ht miles from here towards Forty-
mile Creek), consistin<j of the li<^ht company of 49th re«jiment,
was driven in. I instantly went out for the purpose of recon-
noitering, and found the enemy had ajjain withdrawn to his
camp at Stonv Creek. I therefore recommended to the jijeneral
to move the Hve companies of the Kinj^'s (say 2S0) and the
49th regiment (say 424) — total, 704 men — which was accord-
ingly done at half-past eleven o'clock. General Vincent ac-
companied these troops, the conduct and direction of which he
was so good to give me. The troops moved in perfect order
and profound silence ; the light companies of the 49th and
King's in front, the 49th regiment in the centre, and the King's
as a reserve. In conformitv with directions I had given, the
sentries at the outside of the enemy's camp were bayoneted in
the quietest manner, and the camp immediately stormed. The
surprise was tolerably complete, but our troops incautiously ad-
vancing and charging across the line of the camp fires, and a
few muskets being fired (notwithstanding my exertions to

'34

IHSTORICAL SKETCH OK THE

check it), our line was distinctly seen liy the enemy, whose
troops in some dcj^ree recovered from the panic, and formed
upon the surrouudinj^ heij^hts, poured a destructive fire of
muski try upon us, which was answered on our part bv re-
peated charj^es whenever a body of the enemy could be dis-
covered or reached. The Kinj^'s rejjiment and part of the 49th
charjjcd and carried the four field pieces in very gallant style,
and the whole sustained with undaunted firmness the heavv
fire which was occasionally poured upon them.

" In less than three-quarters of an hour the enemy had com-
pletely abandoned his guns and everything else to us. Our
loss has been severe, but that of the enemv much more so.
Our trophies, besides the three guns and howitzers (two of the
guns, bv-the-l)ve, were spiked by us and left on the ground
for want of means of removing them), are two brigadier-gen-
erals, one field ofiicer, three captains, one lieutenant and about
100 men prisoners.

" General ^'incent, being too much hurried and fatigued to
write to-day, has desired me to forward to you with this letter the
returns of killed and wounded, as well as those of the prisoners
and ordinances retaken. The l)rigadier-general's dispatch will
be forwarded to-morrow. In the meantime he desires me to con-
gratulate his Excellency on the complete and brilliant success of
the enterprise, and on the beneficial results with which it has
already been attended. Information has just been received
that the enemy has entirely abandoned his camp, burnt his
tents, destroyed his provisions, ammunition, etc., and retired
precipitately towards the Forty-mile creek. Our advance party
occupy the ground on which his camp stood.

" I am, my dear colonel, very faithfully, etc., yours,

" ( I>ig«i<-'d ) J. IIak\ Kv, Lieut-Coi., D. A. G."

" P. S. This is sent bv Capt. Milner, who proceeds with
IJrigadicr-Generals Chandler and Winder, and who, from hav-
ing been present both in the action of this day and that of the
27th ultimo, and all the intermediate operations, is perfectly

tOlNTV („. nK.VTU(,KTl,.

'35

qualified to <rivc his Fv,-,.ii

on those sul^ects '^'"""'^: ^ ->' -»tisfactorv inf.>r„,ation

A lie circumstances in uh;,-l, r ''•^'-

copy." """" '' "' »l"ch, moreover, I hav c no

Gen. \ incont's rc-ouc-st .„„l I ., V ' ""' "rillen at

tc" over the date- r .'wV' '","'r'""""^-""" "H.-

Iflr.I.'.s I'lU)CI..V.MATI(,.v.

" Inha])itant.s of Canada.

s.::^;:; t:;: dC: ;;: :r t ""■'''''' '"^ ^■"'-

sion.,, the i„sul,s „,„, i,,,,,,,, i,,;-,,, ,'•! ?n'>''. "'"' "'"""'-
-re left then, no a,.erna,7v ,,,,', ^r, ■•';""" ""'^- °"«
>l.t.onal suhnnssion. The Arinv ,,„ ^ ''""""'™ '"■ "'"""•

the territor, of c.;na,i-, ,,.„ "'"'""' "' ^^ '"">' "ovv waves over
a..., it hrin«s nei^tla,. r't.rdHH;,';.:"?"'''-' "■''"'-

ciis, no interesti,;';;::::; : : ,^"::;;;';::,'7■|'-".. - "- -"■■

have seen her i„jns,iee; :,„t , d ,,!'" '^ ""'">• >""
one, or reth-e,,., the other " , ' ,„ ; t /"" '" '"""''■ "^^
P"«erf,d to affo,.d vo„ ever . e - ^^ ^'.^ ""■ "'"^'''""'y

rights and vour expee.atio ^ "•"'"' "'"' "'-r

hiessin«sofeivd,poLe:i;':;;dr^::^ ruCiv';;:,,";;;"""""

cessary result, individual ;nul 1. ... "'"''>""" t'^^'T ne-

hi! li),

which gu\n (I

III a stri

ccision to our councils and

.le

for

tMiero^^y to our

and tnumphantlv th

"Hicpendenco, and which conducted

roujrh the stor

my period of the rcvohit

lihvrty
"'1 let,
us .safelv

136

IIISTOKICAI. SKKTCII OK TIIK

that liberty which has raised us to an elevated rank amonjj the
nations of the world, and which has afforded us a <jreater mea-
sure of peace and security, of wealth and improvement, than
ever fell to the lot of any country.

" In the name of my country, and by the authority of Gov-
ernment, I promise you protection to your jjersons, property
and rights. Remain at your homes ; pursue your peaceful and
customary avocations, raise not your hands against your breth-
ren. Many of your fathers fought for the freedom and inde-
pendence we now enjoy. Being children, therefore, of the
same family with us, and heirs to the same heritage, the arrival
of an armv of friends must be hailed by you with a cordial
welcome. You will be emancipated from tyranny and oppres-
sion, and restored to the dignified station of freemen. Had I
any doubt c-f eventual success, I might ask your assistance, but
I do not. I am prepared for every contingency — I have a
force which will look down all opposition, and that force is but
the vanguard of a much greater. If contrary to your own in-
terests and the just expectations of my country, you should
take part in the approaching contest, you will be considered
and treated as enemies, and the horrors and calamities of war
will stalk before you. If the barbarous and savage policy of
Great Britain be pursued, and the savages let loose to murder
our citizens, and butcher our women and children, this war
will be a war of extermination. The first stroke of the toma-
hawk, the first attempt with the scalping knife, will be the
signal of one is.'.iscriminate scene of desolation! ^Yo white
man found fighting by the side of an Indian^ xvill be taken
prisoner , instant destrnction tvill be his lot. If the dictates of
reason, duty, justice and humanity, cannot prevent the employ-
ment of a force which respects no right, and knows no wrong,
it will be prevented by a severe and relentless system of re-
taliation. I doubt not your courage and firmness — I will (not)
doubt your attachment to liberty. If you tender your services
voluntarily, they will be accepted readily. The United States
offer you peace, liberty and security — your choice lies between
these, and war, slavery and destruction. Choose ihen, but

lOlNTV <)!• W KN r\\ OKIll.

',S7

c'lioose wisely; and mav lie, who knows the justice of our
cause, and who holds in his hand the fate of nations, <^uide vou
to a result the most compatible with vour rij^hts and interest,
your peace and happiness,

"\V. IIILL,
'^ I'.y the (icneral, A. P. Hull,
"Captain of 13th, V. S. l<e<,M.
"of Infantry and Aid de Camp."

" II. q. Sandwich,
"July Sth, 1812

liKOCK S l'U()<. I.AMATION.

" The unprovoked declaration of War, by the I'nited States
of .America, a<i^ainst the United Kinj^dom of (rreat Britain and
Ireland and its dependencies, has been followed bv the actual
invasion of this Province, in a remote frontier of the Western
]3istrict, bv a detachment of the armed force of the I nited
States. The otticer commandinji;' that detachment has thouj^ht
proper to invite Ilis Majesty's sut)jects, not merelv to a cpiiet
and unresistin*> submission, but insults them with a call to seek
voluntarily the protection of his (iovernmenl. Without con-
descendiufj to repeat the illiberal epithets bestowed in this ap-
peal of the American commander to the people of I'pper
Canada, on the administration of His Majesty, every inhabitant
of the Province is desired to seek the confutation of such iii-
<lecc ;*. slander, in the review of his own particidar circum-
stances. Where is the Canadian subject who can truly athi *>
to h!M)soif that he has been injured by the (Government in his
persoii, Ins liberty, c-r his pn)perty? Where is to be found in
a v ijr.rt of the world, a <(rowth so rapid in wealth and pros-
perity ii? ihis colony exhibits? Settled not thirty years by a
band oJ ■ . .., rans, exiled from their former possessions on ac-
count of their loyalty, not a descendant of these brave peoi)le
is to be found, who, under the fosterin<j liberality of their Sov-
ereijifii, has not accpiired a property and means of enjoyment
superior to what were possessed by their ancestors. This un-
eqi'ulleil prosperity could not have been attained by the utmost
;,'eralitv of the (iovernment, or the perseverin<; industry of

tai

HIS roKicAr, skktcii oi- iiik

the people, hail not the maritime power of the mother country
secured to its colonies a safe access to every market where the
produce of their lahor was in demand.

" The unavoidal)le and immediate conseipience of a separa-
tion from (ireat IJritain, must be the loss of this inestimable
advantafi^e ; and what is offered you in exchan<^e? to ])ecome a
territory of the United States, and share with them that exclu-
sion from the ocean which the policy of their present <;overn-
ment enforces — you are not even flattered with a participation
of their boasted independence, and it is but too obvious, that
once exchanged from the powerful protection of the L'nited
Kingdom, you must be re-annexed to the dominion of France,
from whicii the Provinces of ' \ nii.la were wrested by the arms
of (irebt liritain, at a vast exj j "^ blood and treasure, from

no other moti.e but to rvlicvi , ungrateful children from
the oppression of a cruel neignl)or; this restitution of Canada
to the Empire of France, was the stipulated reward ft)r the aid
afforded to the revoltetl colonies, now the United States; the
debt is still (\\\c^ and there can l)e no doubt ])ut the pledge has
been renewed as a consideration of commercial advantage, or
rather for an expected relaxation in the tyranny of France over
the commercial world. Are you prepared. Inhabitants of I'p-
per Canada, to become willing sul)jects, or rather slaves, to tlie
Uespol who rules the Xatio'is of Europe with a rod of iron?
If not, arise in a body, exert your energies, co-operate cordially
with the King's regular forces, to repel the invader, and do not
give cause to your chikh-en, when groaning under the oppres-
sion of a foreign master to reproach you with having too easily
parted with the richest inheritance of this Earth — a participa-
tion in the name, character, aiul freedom of Britons.

" The same spirit of justice, which will make every rea-
sonable allowance for the unsuccessful efforts of zeal and
lovalty, will not fail to punish the defalcation of principle ;
every Canadian freeholder, is l)y deliberate choice, l)ound by
the most solemn oaths to defend the monarchy as well as his
own projicrtv ; to shrink from that engagement is a treason
not to be forgiven : let no man suppose that if in this unex-

mmmmm

ni; K:-ft*»'.»*5**-:>^B(lT: .«ifcjfl-),il«;B

COINTV Ol- WKN rWOKIII.

•:v)

pcctcd stru<r<,rlc, His Majesty's arms sliouUl he conipcllcd t<.
yield to an overwhelminjr force, that the Province will he
eventually ahandoned ; the endeared relation of its first settlers,
the nitrinsic value of its commerce, and the pretensions of its
powerful rival to repossess the Canadas, are pledj,res that no
peace will he estahlished l)etween the I'nited States, and (nvat
Britain and Ireland, of which the restoration of these I'ro-
vinces does not make the most prominent condition.

" JJe not dismayed at the unjustifiahle threat of the com-
mander of the enemy's forces, to refuse cpiarter shoultl an In-
dian appear in the ranks. The hrave hands of natives whicii
inha])it this colony, were, like His Majesty's suhjects, punished
for their zeal and fidelity, hy the loss of their possessii)iis in
the late colonies, and rewarded l)y His Majesty with lands of
superior value in this Province; the faith of the British ,l,m)\ -
ermnent has never yet heen violated, they fed that the soil
they inherit is to them and to their posteritv protected from
hase arts so frequently devised to overreach their simplicitv.
By what new principle are they to he prevented from defend-
inj,^ their property? If their warfare, from hein<,' different
from that of the white peojile, is more terrific to the enemy,
let him retrace his steps -they seek him not and cannot ex-
pect to find women and children in an invadinj,^ armv ; hut
they are men, and have etiual ri<(hts with all other men to de-
fend themselves and their property wlien invaded, more es-
pecially when they find in the enemy's camp a ferocious and
mortal foe, usinjf the warfare wliich the American commander
affects to reprobate.

"This inconsistent and unjustifiahle threat of refusinjj qua,--
ter for such a cause as heinj,'^ found in arms with a hrother suf-
ferer in defence of invaded rij^hts, must he exercised with the
certain assurance of retaliation, not onlv in the linnted opera-
tions of war in this part of the Kinjf's Dominions, hut in e\erv
quarter of the glohe, for the national character of Jiritain is not
less distintruishetl for humanity than strict retributive justice,
which will consider the execution of this iidiuman threat as de-

f4o

IIISTOKICAI. SKKTCII.

libcrativc murder, for which every subject »)f the offending-
power must make expiation.

"ISAAC BROCK,
" Maj. Gen. and President.
"Head Quarters, Fort (ieorji^e, 22nd July, 1S12.
"■ Hy order of His Honor the I'resident,
"J. ]}. Glejijr, Capt. A. D. C."

" fools' (oi.i.kok,

Iin<

cut.