HISTORICAL SKETCHES 
 
 OF rilB 
 
 COUNTy OF ELGIN 
 
 PUBLISHED BV 
 
 THE ELGIN HISTORICAL AND SCIENTIFIC INSTITUTE, 
 
 ST. THOMAS, ONT. 
 
 THE TIMKS PHINT, 
 
 '89s. 
 
'(*:■,■•,. J, 
 
 
 Entered according to Act ot the Parliament of Canada, in the year 1896, by 
 J. Wilkinson, Publisher, at the Department of Agriculture. 
 
 
 ?AAJ> 
 
 FC 
 
 3095" 
 
 £4/12 
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PREFACE. 
 
 The Elgin Historical and Scientific Institute was established 
 on the 29th day of Apri', 1891. One of its principal objects is 
 that of collecting and preserving records and memorials of the 
 early history of the County of Elgin. The pHiblic have shown a 
 sympathetic interest in the w^ork. By voluntary contributions 
 the nucleus of a library and museum has been formed which it 
 is hoped will in time grow to considerable dimensions. 
 
 The Institute, in now issuing its lirst volume, desires to 
 recognize the generous and public spirited action of the Council 
 of the County of Elgin in voting a sum to defray the expenses 
 of publication. , 
 
 Persons having old letters, books or manuscripts relating tr- 
 the early settlement of the County, or any arclueological remains 
 of the aboriginal inhabitants, are requested to depc^sit them with 
 the Institute. If the owners would prefer not to part with the 
 property in such articles, the Institute would be glad to take 
 charge of them as custodian for the owners for such period as 
 the latter may desire. 
 
 i 
 
 The special thanks of the Institute are due to the Very 
 Reverend Dean Harris, author of The History of the Early 
 Missions in Western Canada, to the Librarian of the Legislative 
 Assembly for Ontario, and Messrs. D. McColl, ex-M. P. P., H. B. 
 Donly, Richard Locker and others, for courtesies in connection 
 with the preparation and publication of this book. 
 
 St. Thomas, June 1st, 1895. ;; ■ ?,: 
 
: OFFICKRS , V 
 
 * ■ ' . ■ ■ ■■,'■■■ ■"''.■''.■..' 
 
 Elgin Histoihoal and Scientifk^ Institute • -i '. 
 
 ^ '■::'■'■-'. r/:^''-^ ., i891. , ' y v ■' ■'■' ' ■"■■■■ •' '"'■: 
 
 J.-iincK H. Coyne - - - - President 
 
 JiJix.F Ehmatingeh Vice-President 
 
 W. H. Mri{( H - - - - - - Secretary 
 
 J. S. RoHEUTsoN Treasurer '':i',X:0''-'^y 
 
 F. Hunt Editor ^' ";\, %vj-X 
 
 K. W. MivKay - - . - - - Librarian '''^'Sy'^'fM. 
 
 Frank L. Farley ' - - - - - Curator T ! .^^ 
 
 :'-.-'■ '^- COUNCIL ' ''']S''^:M^. 
 
 J. Wilkinson, W. R. Jackson, J. 8. Buierley, ; A^ 
 
 A. VV.C'AMPbell, and W. Atkin. . ' 
 
 ' . ^ 1892 , ,.' 'v .'Wk 
 
 JuwiE Ehmatinger - - *- - President . ;;•' r-- 
 
 Du. H. H Way . . . - Vice-President ^'^ft^ 
 
 W. H. MUKCH - . - - - Secretary , ; - ■ : ■; 'K-^:'W 
 
 K. W. McKay - ■- - - Treasurer " •" -^ '-'^'-''^l 
 
 J. H. Coyne Editor. V > ; 
 
 J. W. Stewart . _ _ . Curator and Librarian r;;; 
 
 %:"-■■.):. -':0^f'^' COUNCIL ' '■','-:''',, ■-•■./s.vImI: 
 
 ' ' 'f' 
 
 W. Atkin, J. S. Robertson, W. R. Jackson, A. W, Campbell 
 
 J. S. Brierley, J. Wilkinson, F. Hunt. ' {J'Ssi?! 
 
 "'"■■"'.■r.,'' 1893-4. '"■' ' ''„'-• ■':;■■; ;\;-;;vf--'^ 
 
 K. W. McKay - - - - President . ; '■^'iv:-^^- 
 
 W. Atkin Vice-President ; ;• 
 
 W. H. MuRCH : ;;-( - - ? - Secretary ; ....:}^UKw; 
 
 J. A. Bell - <• ; " : • " Treasurer 
 
 J, W. Stewart * - -? /*^ * Li^i'^r^ and Curator 
 
 Judge Ermatinger - - "• - Editor , , 
 
 COUNCIL 
 
 J. H. Coyne, J. S. Robertson, W. R. Jackson, A. W. Camp- 
 bell, J. S. Brierley, J. V/ilkinson, F. Hunt, Dr. Way. 
 
 . .i_.:ffa!ii 
 
ELGIN HISTORICAL AND SCIENTIFIC INSTITUTR 
 
 LIST OF MEMBERS. 
 
 Atkin, W. 
 Brierley, J. S. 
 Bell, James A. 
 Coyne, Jas. H. 
 Campbell, A. W. 
 Doyle, Matthew 
 Ermatiiiger, Judge 
 Ford, N. W. 
 Gilbert. M. A. 
 Glasgow, Chas. 
 Hunt, Frank 
 Hughes, Judge 
 Henderson, Chester 
 Jackson, W. R. 
 Jell, H. F. 
 Kains, John A. 
 Murch, W. H. 
 
 Moore N. W. • . 
 Marshall, John 
 McA<lani, Jos. 
 McKay, K. W. 
 McKenzie, Geo. 
 McCausland, J no. 
 McDougall, Colin 
 McLennan, J. C. 
 Oakes, Chas. 
 Robertson, J. S. 
 Stewart, J. W. . 
 Stacey, Jno. 
 Suffel, Geo. 
 Sutherland, Peter 
 Wilkinson, J. 
 Way, Dr. H. H. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 THE COUNTKY OF THE NEUTRALS. 
 
 The SouthwoM Earthwork, I -TiiK Nkutraks. I)e Laioche DailloiiV viait in 
 1626, 3 -Breheuf and Chauinouot's Visit in I64U I, 7 Cluunplain's Account of 
 the Neutrals in 161(5, 9— Lalemant's Account of the Neutiala in 1641, 12 — The 
 Iroijuois attack the Neutrals Hl.jO-l, 18— Thk Iroquui.s' Huntin(j tiiioimu, 20— 
 French Exploration, 21 -Dollier De Casson ami Galinee, 1665) 70, 21 -Stimu- 
 lating effect of thtiir exploration, 2iJ -Kettle Creek ( I'o'ity Riv(U), 23, 27, 28 — 
 The Indian Title, Session by the Iroijuoia, 17ltl, 28— Cession by the 
 Mi.iaissagas, 1784, 21) -Cession by the Chippawas, etc., 1790, 20 -Charle- 
 voix' visit in 1721. Descril>es the North Shore, 21)— The Buitish ()<;(;r- 
 PATION. Land Board at Detroit, 32 —Patrick McNifTs Exploration. On Lake 
 Erie "Settlement Impossible," 32 — Lieutenant-CJoveriior Sinicoe, 33 — His 
 journey to Detroit, 1793, 34 -Site of London selected for hia capit il, 33, 34, 36. 
 39, 42 — The Winter-express ; Traders ; Land-hunters, 41- McNitf's map of the 
 Thames, 1793, 42— Detroit surrendered to the United States, 1796, .34. 38, 43, 
 —Colonel Talbot, 44— Settles at Port Talbot, 1803, 44— State of Settlement 
 at that date. 
 
 THE TALBOT SETTLEMENT. 
 
 Colonel Talbot's birth and ancestry, 1 — Colonel Talbot's early career, 2 — 
 Colonel Talbot and the Duke of Wellington, 2 -Colonel Talljot's arrival in 
 Canada, 1790, 2 — Secretary to Governor Simcoe, 2 — Application for land grant, 
 1803. 2— Governor Si nooe's letter, 3 -Lands comprised in first grant, 4 — Aim 
 and object, 5— Extent of settlement, 6, — Conditions of settlement, 7 — Roads and 
 road making, 7 — Mode of recording allotments, 8 — ^Vai of i812-l.'> raids on 
 settlement, 10, 11, — An early settler's experiences, 12 — Early prices, 13 — Courts 
 and court houses, 15 — Turkey Point, 15 —Victoria, 15 — London, 15— Sandwich, 
 16— Death of Colonel Talbot, 16. 
 
 DEVELOPMENT O? THE COUNTY OF ELGIN. 
 
 Origin of Local Government, 1 — Canada, 5 — Quebec 1763 to 1788, 6 — District 
 of Hesse 1788 to 1792, 7— U. E. Loyalists, 8 Western District 1792 to 1798, 9— 
 London District 1800 to 1837, 14 — Organization, 14 — Proceedings of courts 1800, 
 14— Turkey Point, ,36— The London District, 36— Courts, 37— Records, 37— 
 Court of Requests, 37 — Vittoria, 37 — London, 39, County of Middlesex 1837 to 
 1852, 41— County of Elgin, 43. , 
 
 Appendix. 
 List of Surveys. 
 
 List of Parliamentary Representatives. 
 List of Wardens. 
 Municipal Nomenclature. 
 
 Illustrations. 
 Galinee's Map of 1670. 
 Portrait of Colonel Talbot. 
 Portrait of Thomas Looker. 
 
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 HE M.M.DOLLIER DE CASSON RT DEI GALINEE.AUSSIONNAIRES DE STSULPICE. 
 
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 tfoir Ui Isttr- d€ Mr Talon ^u lo Tlortmhrt lijo) 
 
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 icaise," and in "The History of the Early Missions in Western Canada." 
 nentioned book. 
 
 ^■xn or P'resh-water Sea of the Hurons," (These lakes were erroneously supposed to be but one), 
 f the Iroquois, which we broke up and threw into the water." Essex Peninsula : " Large prairies." 
 .'ror'l'ina-'l'oua." EastSide Gkanu River: "Excellent land." West SideGrand River (up 
 ara) Falls said by the Indians to be more than 200 feet high." Lake Ontario : "I passed 
 
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 Thia is a copy of Galinee's map of 1670, the first made from actual exploration in which Lake K. ie appears It was printed in I 
 ■■ ■ 1 at the service of the Elgin Historical and Scientific Institute, for use m this work by the 
 
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 was printe.l in KailWs "Histoire .le la Colonie F-ai.caise," and in "The History of the Early Missions in Western Canada." 
 ; Verv Reverend Dean Harris, the author of the last mentioned book. 
 
n W ,M r>' i i* . 'iT \' i 
 
 >M| |Pj ^ i l ^ W I'IIPS1tJ H >l^ 
 
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THE COUNTRY OF THE NEUTRALS. 
 
 BV 
 
 JAMES H. COYNE. 
 
 In that part of the township of Southwold included in the 
 peninsula between Talbot Creek and the most westerly bend of 
 Kettle Creek there were until a comparatively recent date 
 several Indian earthworks, which were well-known to the 
 pioneers of the Talbot Settlement. What the tooth of time had 
 spared for more than two centuries yielded however to the 
 settler's plough and harrow, and but one or two of these inter- 
 esting reminders of an almost forgotten race remain to gratify 
 the cariosity of the archaeologist or of the historian. Fortun- 
 ately, the moHc important of all i-^ still almost in its original con- 
 dition. It is that, which has become known to readers of the 
 Transactions of the Canadian Institute as the Southwold Earth- 
 work. It is situated on the farm of Mr. Chester Henderson, 
 Lot Number Four North on Talbot Road East. Mr. David 
 Boyle in the Archaeological Reports printed in 1891 has given 
 the results of his examinations of the mounds. A carefully pre- 
 pared plan made from actual survey by Mr. A. W. Campbell, C. 
 E., for the Elgin Historical and Scientific Institute of St. 
 Thomas, was presented by the latter to the Canadian Institute. 
 (a) These will together form a valuable, and, it is hoped, a per- 
 manent record of this interesting memorial of the aboriginal in- 
 habitants of South-western Ontario. 
 
 The writer of this paper has been acquainted with "the old 
 fort," as it was called, since the year 1867. At that time it was 
 in the midst of the forest. Since then the woods have been 
 cleared away, except within the fort and north of it. Indeed, a 
 considerable number of trees have been felled w^ithin the south 
 em part of the enclosure. In the mounds themselves trees are 
 abundant, and there are many in the moat or ditch between. 
 The stumps of those which have been cut down are so many 
 chronological facts, from which the age of the fort may be con- 
 
 (a) Mr. J. H. Scott, of St. Thomas, has made a number of photojrraphs of th® 
 mounds at the inatanoe of an American lady, who, it is underBtuod, will repro* 
 duce them in a work about to be published by her. 
 
 mtamm 
 
2 THE COCNTKY OF THK NKUTRAM. 
 
 jectured with some appi'oach to accuracy. A maple within the 
 enclosure exhibits 242 rinjfs of annual growth. It was probably 
 the oldest tree within the walls. A maple in the outer em- 
 bankment shows 197 rings; between the itmer and outer walls a 
 beech stump shows 219 rings, and an elm 266. Many of the 
 trees were cut down a good many years ago. Judging from 
 these stumps, it would be safe to calculate the age of the forest 
 at about two hundred years, with here and there a tree a little 
 older. Thf area enclosed is level. In the field south there are 
 numerous hummocks formed by the decayed stumps of fallen 
 trees. The walls were manifestly thrown up from the outside. 
 There is an exception on the south-east. Here the ground out- 
 side was higher, and to get the requisite elevation the earth was 
 thrown up on both walls from the intervening space, as well as 
 on the exterior wall from the outside. Each of the walls runs 
 completely round the enclosure, except where the steep bank of 
 the little stream was utilized to eke out the inner wall for five 
 or six rods on the west side, as shewn on the plan. Opposite 
 the south end of this gap was the original entrance through the 
 outer wall. The walls have been cut through in one or two 
 other places, doubtless by settlers hauling timber across them. 
 
 The writer accompanied Mr. Campbell on his visits in the 
 spring and fall of 1891. The members of the Elgin Historical 
 and Scientific Institute made a pretty thorough examination of 
 a large ash -heap south-east of the fort. It had, however, been 
 frequently dug into during the last score or two of years, w^ith 
 ample results, it is said, in the way of stone implements of 
 various kinds. There still remained, however, arrow-heads and 
 chippings of flint, stones partially disintegrated from the action 
 of heat, fragments of pottery whose markings showed a very 
 low stage of artistic development, fish scales, charred maize and 
 bones of small animals, the remains of aboriginal banquets. 
 Within the enclosure, corn-cobs were found by digging down 
 through the mould, and a good specimen of a bone needle, well 
 smoothed, but without any decoration, was turned up in the bed 
 of the little stream where it passes through the fort. 
 
 The original occupants were manifestly hunters, fishermen 
 and agriculturists, as well as warriors. Nothing appears to have 
 been found in the neighborhood, pointing to any intercourse be- 
 tween them and any European race. 
 
 nmumMWiw- 
 
THE COUNTRY OF THK NEUTRALS. 
 
 It would seem that the earth-work was constructed in the 
 midst of a large clearing, and that the forest grew up after 
 the disappearance of the occupants. A few saplings, however, 
 may have been permitted to spring up during their occupancy 
 for the sake of the shelter they might atford. These are repre- 
 sented by the oldest stumps above mentioned. 
 
 The question, who were the buiMers, is an interesting 
 one. To answer it we need not go back to a remoter period 
 than the middle of the seventeenth century, when the Iroquois 
 after destroying the Huron Settlements turned their attention to 
 the southwest, and the Neutral Nation ceased to exist. The 
 enclosure was, we may reasonably believe, a fortified village of 
 the Neutrals at the time of their evacuation of this province, 
 nearly a quarter of a millennium ago. > 
 
 Substantially all that is known of the Neutrals is to be found 
 in Champlain's works, Sagard's History, the Relations and Jour- 
 nal of the Jesuits, and Sanson's map of 1656. A digest of the 
 information contained therein is given in the following pages. 
 The writer has availed himself of one or two other works for 
 some of the facts mentioned. Mr. Benjamin Suite's interesting 
 and learned articles on " Le pays des grands lacs au XVIle 
 Siecle" in that excellent magazine, "Le Canada Francais," have 
 been most valuable in this connection. 
 
 The first recorded visit to the Neutrals was in the winter of 
 1626, by a Recollet father, De Laroche-Daillon. His ex- 
 periences are narrated by himself, and Sagard, who includes the 
 narrative in his history, supplements it with one or two addi- 
 tional facts. V. 
 
 In company with the Jesuit Fathers Brebeuf and De None, 
 Daillon left Quebec with the purpose of visiting and converting 
 the Hurons, who were settled in villages between the Georgian 
 Bay and Lake Simcoe. After the usual hardships, journeying 
 by canoe and portage, b}' way of the Ottawa and French Rivers, 
 they arrived at their destination. The ill-fated Brule told won- 
 derful stories of a nation, whom the French called the Neutrals, 
 and Father Joseph Le Caron wrote Daillon urging him to con- 
 tinue his journey as far as their country. 
 
 He set out accordingly on the 18th October, 1626, with two 
 
THK COUNTY OF THE NEUTRALS 
 
 other Frenchmen, Grenolle and La Vallee. Passing througli the 
 territory occupied by the Tobacco Nation, he met one of their 
 chiefs, who not merely ottered iiis services as guide, but fur- 
 nished Indian porters t(3 carry their packs and their scanty pro- 
 visions. They slept five nights in the woods, and on the sixth 
 day arrived at the village of the Neutrals. In this as well as in 
 four other villages which tiiey visited, they were hospitably 
 entertained with presenbs of food, including venison, pumpkins, 
 "neintahouy," and "the best they had." Their dress excited the 
 Hstonislnnent of their Indian hosts, who were also surprised that 
 the missionary asked nothing from thnm but that they should 
 rai:!e their eyes to heaven, and make the sign of the cross. 
 
 What excited raptures of admiration, however, according to 
 his narrative was to see him i*etire for prayer at certain hours 
 of the day; for they had never seen any priests beyond passing 
 glimpses when visiting amongst the neighboring Hurons and 
 Tobacco Indians. 
 
 At the sixth village, Ounontisaston, in which Daillon had 
 
 been advised to take up his abode, a counci' was held at his 
 
 instance. He observes that the councils are called at the will of 
 
 the chiefs, and held either in a wigwam or in the open air, the 
 
 audience being seated on the ground ; that silence is preserved 
 
 whilst a chief is addressing the assembly, and that what they 
 
 have once concluded and settled is inviolably observed and 
 
 performed by them. 
 
 Daillon explained that he had come on the part of the 
 
 French to make alliance and friendship with them and to invite 
 
 them to come and trade, and begged them to permit him to stay 
 
 in their country "to instruct them in the laws of our God, which 
 
 is the only means of going to Paradise." They agreed to all he 
 
 proposed and in return for his gifts of knives and other trifles, 
 
 they adopted him as "citizen and child of the country," and as a 
 
 mark of great affection entrusted him to the care of Souharissen, 
 
 who became his father and host. The latter was, according to 
 
 Daillon, the chief of the greatest renown and authority that had 
 
 ever been known in all the nations, being chief not only of his 
 
 own village, but of all those of his nation, to the number of 
 
 twenty-eight, besides several little hamlets of seven to eight 
 
 cabins built in different places convenient for fishing, hunting, or 
 
 -T. "H^l ■■W^^M.MWrilJIW.LHILBat^g.ffi-'; !ffl' 
 
THE COUNTY OF THE NEUTRALS. 
 
 culUvatin<^ tlie jrrouad. Souharissen had acquired his absolute 
 and extraordinary aiitliorifcy by iiis courage and liis success in 
 war. He hail been several times at war with the seventeen 
 tribes, who were the enemies of his nice, and f^om all he had 
 brought back the heads of thoae he had slain, or prisoners taken 
 alive, as tokens of his prowe'^s. His authority was without 
 exanjple amongst other tribes. - 
 
 The Neutrals are reported by Daillon as being very warlike, 
 armed only with war -club and bow, an<l dexterous in their use. 
 His companions having gone back, the missionaiy remained 
 alone, "the happiest man in the world," seeking to advance the 
 glory of God and to find the mouth of tho river of the Iro<piois, 
 (probably the Niagara,) in order to conduct the savages to the 
 French trading posts. He visited them in their huts, found them 
 very manageable and learned thei?* customs. He remarked that 
 there were no deformed people amongst them. The children, 
 who were sprightly, naked and unkempt, were taught by him to 
 make the sign of the Holy Cross. _ ' 
 
 The natives were willing that at least four canoes should go 
 to trade if he would conduct them, but nobody knew the way. 
 Yroquet, an Indian known in the country, who had come 
 huntinef with twenty of his tribe and secured five hundred beaver 
 skins, declined to give him any indication of the mouth of the 
 river; but he agreed with several Hurons in assuring Daillon 
 that a journey of ten days would take him to the trading post. 
 The missionary, however, was afraid of taking one river for 
 another and getting lost or perishing of hunger. 
 
 For three months he was treated with kindness. Then the 
 Hurons became jealous lest the trade should be diverted from 
 them. They accordingly circulated rumors through every 
 village, that Daillon was a great magician, that he had poisoned 
 the air in their country, and many had died in consequence, that 
 if he was not killed soon, he would burn up their villages and 
 kill their children, with other stories as extraordinary and 
 alarming about the entire French nation. The Neutrals were easily 
 influenced by the reports. Daillon's life was in danger on more 
 than one occasion. The rumor reached Brebeuf and De Noue, 
 that he had been killed. They at once despatched Grenolle to 
 ascertain the truth, with instructions to bring Daillon back if 
 alive. He acquiesced, and returned to the Huron country. 
 
■' ■ - ■ "- '*' i' .;■-.,- -■',':■'■:■' ■ 
 
 6 THE COUNTRY OF THE NEUTRAM. . . 
 
 He speaks of a Neutral village called Ouaroroiion, one day's 
 journey from the Iroquois, the people of which came to trade at 
 Ounontisaston. Their villaj]fe was the last of the Neutral 
 villages, and was probably east of the Niajrara River. 
 
 Daillon, like every other traveller, was charmed with the 
 Neutral country, which he pronounces incomparably t^reater, 
 more beautiful and better than any other "of all these countries." 
 He notes the incredible number of deer, the native mode of 
 taking them by driving them into a gradually narrowing 
 enclosure, their practice of killing every animal they find whether 
 they needed it oi not. The reason alleg^'d was that if they did 
 not kill all, the bea.sts that escaped would tell the others how 
 they had been chased, so that afterwards when the Indians need 
 ed game it would be impossible to get near it. He enumerates 
 moose, beaver, wild-cats, squirrels larger than those of France, 
 bustards, turkeys, cranes, etc., as abundant, and remaining in. 
 the country through the winter. The winter was shorter and 
 milder than "in Canada." No snow had fallen by the 22nd 
 November. The deepest was not more than two and a half 
 feet. Thaw set in on the 26th of January. On the 8th March 
 the snow was gone from the open places, but a little still lingered 
 in the woods. The streams abounded in very good fish. The 
 ground produced more corn than was needed, bo^i ?es pumpkins, 
 beans and other vegetables in abundance, and exceiient oil. He 
 expresses his surprise that the Merchants' Company had net sent 
 some Frenchman to winter in the Country ; for it would be very 
 easy to get the Neutrals to trade and the direct route would be 
 much shorter than that by way of French River and the 
 Georgian Bay. He describes the Neutrals' country as being 
 nearer than the Huron to the French, and as being on one side 
 of the lake of the Iroquois (Lake Ontario) whilst the Iroquois 
 were on the other. The Neutrals, howc^ver, did not understand the 
 management of canoes, especially in the rapids, of which there 
 were only two, but long and dangerous. Their proper trade was 
 hunting and war. They were very lazy and immoral. Their 
 manners and customs were very much the same as those of the 
 Hurons. Their language was different, but the members of the 
 two nations understood one another They went entirelj'^ unclad. 
 
 Sagard adds that "according to the opinion of some," the 
 
THK CUUNTBY OF THE NKlTTRAlJi. 
 
 Neutrals' country was eijjhty leagues (about 200 miles) in 
 extent, and that they raised very good tobacco which they 
 traded with their neighbors. They were called Neutpals on 
 account of their neutrality between the Hurons and the Iroquois; 
 but they were allies of the Cheveux Releves (the Ottawas) 
 against their mortal eneiniea of the Nation of Fire. Sagard. was 
 dissuaded by some menil)ers of the French trading company 
 from attempting to bring about a peace between the Hurons and 
 the Iroquois. It was supposed that this would divert the 
 trade of the Hurons from QUebec by sending it through the 
 Iroquois country to the Dutch of the Hudson River. At so 
 early a date did the question of closer trade relations between 
 the territories north and south of the lakes agitate the minds of 
 statesmen and men of commerce. 
 
 In the winter of 1C40-1, the Jesuit missionaries, Brebeuf 
 and Chaumonot traversed the country of the Neutrals. The 
 former composed a dictionary showing the differences between 
 the kindred dialects of the Hurons and Neutrals. Chaumonot 
 made a map of the country, which is not extant, but there is 
 reavson for believing that it was the authority for the delineation 
 of the territory on Sanson's map of 165(5 and Ducreux's Latin 
 map of 1660. From the facts hereinafter detailed it is highly 
 probable that they reached the Detroit River, and that they 
 visited and named the Neutral village of which the Southwold 
 Earthwork is the memorial. The lirst printed map in which 
 Lake Erie is shown was made b}"^ N. Sanson d'Abbeville, 
 geographer in ordinary to the King, and printed in Paris, with 
 "privilege du Roy" for twenty years, in the year 1656. It is a 
 map of eastern North America. The sources of information are 
 stated in general terms, which may be translated as follows: 
 " The most northerly portion ik drawn from the various Relations 
 "of the English, Danes, etc. Towards the south the coasts of 
 "Virginia, New Sweden, New Netherlands and New England 
 "are drawn from those of the English, Dutch, etc. The Great 
 "River of Canada, or of St. Lawrence and all the neighboring 
 "regions (environs) are according to the Relations of the French." 
 
 Now, we know that Father Raymbault visited Sault Ste. 
 Marie in 164' and mapped Lake Superior, and that Father 
 Chaumonot in the same year rendered the same service for the 
 
8 THE COUNTY OF THK NEUTRAL8, 
 
 Neutral Country. Sanson's map is fairly accurate for the upper 
 lakes, when compared with some maps publisheci at much later 
 periods when the lakes had become tolerably well known to 
 traders and travellers. It shows an acquaintance with the 
 general contour of Lakes Erie, St. Clair and Huron, with several 
 of the streams emptying int(j Lakes Erie and Huron on both 
 the Canadian and the American sides, with the names of tribes 
 inhabiting both shores, and with the locations of live towns of 
 the Neutrals, besides some towns of the Tobacco Nation. The 
 Neutral towns are given as S. Francois, (north-east of Sarnia) S. 
 Michel, (a little east of Sandwich), S. Joseph, (apparently in the 
 county of Kent), Alexis, (a few miles west of a stream, which 
 flows into Lake Erie about midway between the Detroit and 
 Niagara Rivers, and wdiere the shore bends farthest inland), (6) 
 and N. D. des Anges(on the West bank of a considerable river, 
 probably the Grand River, near where Brantford now stands). 
 The Detroit and Niagara Rivers and four streams flowing into 
 Lake Erie between them are shown but not named. The great 
 cataract is called "Ongiara Sault." The name Ongiara may, 
 however, be that of the Neutral village east of the Falls. Lake 
 St. Clair is called Lac des Eaux de Mer, or Sea-water Lake, 
 possibly from the mineral springs in the neighborhooil. The 
 country of the Tobacco Nation includes the Bruce peninsula and 
 extends from the Huron country on the east to Lake Huron on 
 the west, and Burlington Bay on the southeast. The Neutral 
 Country (Neutre ou AttioiLandarons) would embrace the whole 
 of southwestern Ontario south of a line drawn from the w^est 
 end of Lake Ontario to a stream winch flows into Lake Huron 
 about midway between Point Edward and Cape Hurd, and which 
 is probably the Maitland River. The tribes to the south of the 
 lakes are indicated from the Niagara River to Lake Superior. 
 The Eries or " Eriechronons, ou du Chat," are south-east of Lake 
 Erie ; the ' Ontarraronon" are west of what is probably the 
 Cuyahoga River; at the southwest of the lake appear the 
 "Squenqioronon;" west of the Detroit River are the "Aictaer- 
 onon ;" we.st of Port Huron the "Couarronon ;" Huron County in 
 
 {//) Alexis corresponds with the actual position of the Sonthwold Earthwork, 
 and the stream with that of Kettle Creek. 
 
THK OutlNTRY OK THE NKCTHaIA 
 
 Michiijan is occapied by the "Ariaetoeronon ;" at the head of 
 S'lginaw Bay and t'xtendiii<( southward throu;;h Michi^in aro 
 the "AsaistaeronouH on (hi Feu i' in the peninsula extending 
 nortli to Mackinac are the "Oukouarararonons ;" beyond them 
 Lake Michigan appears as "Lac de Puans;" then come the 
 northern penijisuUi and "Lac Superieur." Manitoulin Lsland i» 
 marked "Chaveux Releves;" the <ihi French name for the 
 Ottawas. The Tobacco Natit^n called "N, du Petun on 
 Sanhionontateheronons" includes villages of "S. Simon et S. 
 lude" in the Bruce promontory, "S. Pierre " near the south end 
 of the County of Bruce, and "S. Pol," southwest of a lake which 
 may be Scugog. 
 
 To return to the narratives, these rtgree in stating; 
 that the Neutrals, like their kinsmen of the Huron, Tobacco 
 and Lcxjuois Nations, were a numerous and sedentary race- 
 living in villages and cultivating their fields of maize, 
 tobacco and pumpkins. They were on friendly terms with the 
 eastern and northern tribes, but at enmity with those of the 
 west, especially the Nation of Fire, against whom they were 
 constantly sending out war parties. By the western tribes it 
 would appear that those west of the Detroit River and Lake 
 Huron are invariably meant. 
 
 Champlain refers to the Neutrals in 1616 as a powerful 
 nation, holding a large extent of country, and numbering 4,000 
 warriors. Already they were in alliance with the Cheveux 
 Releves (the Ottawas), whom he visited in the Bruce Peninsula, 
 against the Nation of Fire. He states that the Neutrals lived 
 two days' journey southward of the Cheveux Releves, and the 
 Nation of Fire ten days from the latter. The Nation of Fire 
 occupied part of what is now Michigan, probably as far east 
 as the Detroit and 8t. Clair Rivers. 
 
 Describing his visit to the Cheveux Releves, he adds: — "I had 
 "a great desire to go and see that Nation (the Neutrals), had not 
 "the tribes wliere we were dissuaded rae from it, saying that 
 "the year before one of ours had killed one of them, being at war 
 "with the Entouhoronons (the Senecas), and that they were 
 "angry on account of it, representing to us that they are very 
 "subject to vengeance, not looki)ig to those who dealt the blow, 
 "but the first whom they meet of the nation, or even their 
 
 
10 ' , THB COCNTRy OF THE NICTRALfl. 
 
 "friends, they make them bear the penalty, when they can catch 
 "any of them unless beforehaml peace had been uiade with them, 
 "and one had given them some gifts and presents for the 
 "relatives of the decease<l ; which prevented me for the time 
 "from going there^ although some of that nation assured us that 
 "they would do us no harm for that. This deci<Ied us, and 
 "occasioned our returning by the same i-oad as we luul come, and 
 "continuing my journey, I found the nation of the Pisierinij etc." 
 Brebeuf, who reckone*! the Hurons at more than 30,000, 
 describes the Neutrals in 1634 as much more numerous than the 
 former. The Relation of 1641 gives them at least 12,000, but 
 adds that notwithstanding the wars, famine and disease (small 
 pox), which since three years had prevailed in an extraordinary 
 degree, the country coul(J still furnish 4,000 warriors, the exact 
 number estimated by Champlain a quarter of a century earlier. 
 The name of the Neutrals is variously given as Attikadaron, 
 Atiouandaronk, Attio\iandaron, Attiwandaronk, but the last 
 is the more common. The name signified "people who spoke a 
 
 slightly different dialect," and the Hurons were known to the 
 Neutrals by the same name. The latter are mentioned in the 
 Relations as one of the twelve numerous and sedentary nations 
 who spoke a common language with the Hurons. The 
 Oueanohronons formed " one of the nations associated with the 
 Neutral Nation." They are afterwards called in the same 
 Relation (1639) the Wenrohronons, and are said to have lived on 
 the borders of the Iroquois, more than eighty leagues from the 
 Huron country. So long as they were on friendly terms with 
 the Neutrals they were safe from the drea<led Iroquois ; but a 
 misunderstanding having arisen between them, they were 
 obliged to flee m order to avoid extermination bj' the latter. 
 They took refuge, more than 600 in all, with the Hurons, and 
 were received in the most friendly and hospitable manner. 
 
 The Relation of 1640 speaks of a Huron map communicated 
 by Father Paul Ragueneau in which a large number of tribes, 
 most of them acquainted with the Huron language, are shov n, 
 including the Iroquois, the Neutrals, the Eries, etc. The 
 "Mission of the Apostles" was established among the Tobacco 
 
 Note. — This is a literal translation, and shows the crudity of Champlain's sailor style 
 of composition. 
 
TH« rOONTRY 0» -niK NEUTRALS 11 . 
 
 Nation by Oarnier and Jogues in 1640. Nine villages visite<l by 
 them were endowed by the missionaries with the names of 
 apostles, two of which are given in Sanson's map of 1666. (c) 
 In one "bourg" called S. Thomas, they baptized a boy five years 
 old belonging to the Neutral Nation, who died immediately 
 afterwards. "He saw himself straightway out of banish- 
 ment and happy in his own country." The famine had driven 
 his parents to the village of the Tobacco Nation. The devoted 
 missionaries add, that this was the fii-st fruits of the Neutral 
 nation. 
 
 In the fall of the same year " The Mission of the Angels " 
 was begun among the Neutrals. The lot fell upon Jean de 
 Brebeuf and Joseph Marie Chaumonot. The former was the 
 pioneer of the Jesuit Mission. He had spent three years among s 
 
 the Hurons from 1626 to 1629, and, after the restoration of 
 Canada to the French by Charles I, he had returned in 1634 to - 
 
 the scene of his earlier labors. His associate had only come 
 from Franc". the year before. Brebeuf was distinguished for his i 
 
 mastery of the native tongues, and Chaumonot had been [ 
 
 recognized as an apt student of languages. The plan of the ! 
 
 Jesuits was to establish in the new mission a fixed and per- j 
 
 manent re.sidencj, which should be the " retreat" of the mission- ' ;■ 
 aries of the surrounding country, as Ste. Marie was of those of 
 the Huron mission. •'; * 
 
 ' Lalemant from their report describes the Neutral Nation as 
 exceedingly populous, including about forty villages ("bourgs . V 
 ou bourgades.") The nearest villages were four or five days' 
 journey or about forty leagues (100 miles) distant from the 
 Hurons, going due south. He estimates the diflerence in latitude 
 between Ste. Marie and the nearest village of the Neutrals to the 
 south at about 1 " 55\ Elsewhere the distance is spoken of as 
 about thirty leagues. 
 
 From the first "bourg," going on to the south or south-west 
 (a mistake for south-east it would seem,) it was about four days' 
 journey to the mouth of the Niagara River. On this side of the 
 
 {c) The principal "bourg" was Ehwae, surnamed S. Pierre et S. Paul. If S. Pierre 
 on Sanson's map is the same place, this must have been near the southern end of the 
 county of Bruce. The other village or mission shown on the map is S. Simon et S 
 lude. 
 
 mssm% 
 
12 THK roCNTKY OF THK NKrTRVlJ«. 
 
 rivor, and not iHiyoijd it, as "fiome map" lays it <l<)wn, (Chain- 
 plain's, (loubtle88,) were most of the "Ihhu'jijs " of the Neutral 
 Nation Tliere were three or four on the other side towanls the 
 Eries. I^ilemaiit chiimH, and there is no doubt as to the fact, that 
 the French were the Hrst EurojteatiH to l)ecome accjuainted with 
 the Neutrals. The Huroiis and Inxjuois were sworn enemies to 
 each other, but in a wigwam or even a camp of the Neutmls 
 until recently each had been safe from the other's venj^eance. 
 Latterly however the unbridled fury of the hostile nations 
 had not respected even the neutral ground of their nnitual 
 friends. Friendly as they were to the Hurons and Irocjuois, 
 the Neutrals engaged in cruel wars with other nations to tho 
 west, particularly the Nation of Fire, as luis btjeji stated above. 
 Tho previous year a hundred prisoners had been taken from the 
 latter tribe. This year, returning with 2,000 warriors, the 
 Neutrals had carried off more tham 170. Fiercer than the 
 Hurons, they burned their female prisoners. Their clothing and 
 mode of living differed but little froni those of the Hurons. 
 They had Indian corn, beans and pumpkins in equal abundance. 
 Fish were abundant, different species being met with in different 
 places. The country was a famous hunting ground. Elk, deer, 
 wild cats, wolves, " black beasts" (squirrels) beaver at)d other 
 animals valuable for their skins and flesh, were in abundance. 
 It was a rare thing to see more than half a foot of snow. This 
 year there was U)ore than three feet. The deep snow had 
 facilitated the hunting, and, in happy contrast with the famine 
 which had prevailed, meat was plentiful. They had also n)ulti- 
 tudes of wild turkeys which went in flocks through the fields 
 and woods. Fruits were no more plentiful than amongst the 
 Hurons, except that chestnuts abounded, and wild apples were a 
 little larger. 
 
 Their manners and customs, and family and political govern- 
 ment, were very much like those of the other Indian trilies. but 
 they were distinguished from the Hurons by their greater 
 dissoluteness and indecency. On the other hand thny were 
 taller, stronger and better formed. 
 
 Their burial customs were peculiar, although similar customs 
 are reported at this day amongst some African tribes. The 
 bodies remained in their wigwams until decomposition rendered 
 
THI COCNTBV OF THK NltrXRAW. IJ) 
 
 them iiiHupportablo, wlioii they were put outHido on a scaffold. 
 
 S'jou aftorwanl, the bones were removed and arranj^ed within 
 
 their hoUHOH on lM)th 8id«'.s in sij^ht of th(^ inmates, where tfiey t-;' 
 
 remained until the feast of tlie dead. Having the.se mournful 
 
 objects U'fore their eyes, the women habitually induljjed in cries ■ 
 
 and laments, in a kind of chant. ' . ' ' , ' 
 
 The Neutrals were distinjjuiahed for the multitude and 
 (juality of their madmen, who were a privileged class. Hence it t 
 
 was common for bad Indians to assume the character of maniacs .| 
 
 in order to perpetrate crimes without fear of piiiiishment. 4 
 
 The Jesuits suffered very much from their malice. Some old 
 men told them that the Neutrals used to carry on war "towards" 
 a certain western nation, who would seem to have lived on the 
 (jiulf of Mexico, where the " porcelain, which are the pearls of 
 the country, ' was obtained from a kind of oysteix It is an 
 undoubted fact that a traffic was carried on with tribes as far 
 south as the Gulf of Mexico, frotn whom shells used for 
 wampum were obtained by successive intercfianges of com- 
 modities with interveninjjf tribes. They hail also some vajjue 
 notion of alligators, which are apparently referred to by the des- 
 cription, " certain a(|uatic animals, larger an<l swifter than elk," 
 ajrainst which these same people fiad "a kind of war," the details 
 of which are somewhat amusing, as dven by Lalemant. 
 
 The two Jesuits left Ste. Marit the 2nd November, 1640, 
 witli two French servants (probably "donnes,") and an Indian. 
 They slept four nights in the woods. Tlie fifth day they arrived 
 at the first village ("bourg") of the Neutra? Nation called 
 Kandoucho, but to which they gave the name of All Saints. 
 This is probably the same as N. D. des Anges on Sanson's map, • 
 and was not far perhaps from the site of Brantford. 
 
 Owing to the unfavorable reports which had been spread 
 through the country about the Jesuits, the latter were anxious to 
 explain their purposes to a council of the chiefs and old men. 
 The head chief, "who managed the affairs of the public" was 
 called Tsohahissen (doubtless the same as Daillon's Souharissen). 
 His "bourg" was "in the middle of the country;" to reach it, one had 
 to pass through several other villages (" bourgs et bourgades.") In 
 Sanson's map, Alexis is placed almost exactly "in the middle of the 
 country " of the Neutrals. No other village is marked on the 
 
14 THK COUNTRY OF TUB NEUTRALS 
 
 map, to whifh the expression could be applied. Its situation 
 nearly midway between the Detroit & Niagara Rivers, a few 
 miles west of a stream which flows into Lake Erie just where 
 the mouth of Kettle Creek would appear in a map of our own 
 century, corresponds with that of the Sonthwold earthwork. 
 Was *the latter the Neutrals' capital? We can only conjecture; 
 but the evidence of the Relations, the map and the forest 
 growth, all points to an affirmative answer. There is a strong 
 probability that it was here Tsohahissen reigned (if the expres- 
 sion is allowable in reference to an Indian potentate) as head 
 chief of the forty Neutral villages. Through the western gate, 
 doubtless, his warriors set out to wage their relentless warfare 
 against the Nation of Fire. Within these mounds, returning 
 satiated with blood, they celebrated their savage triumph, 
 adorned with the scalps of their enemies. 
 
 Brebeuf's Huron surname " Echon " had preceded him. He 
 was regarded as "one of the most famous sorcerers and demons 
 '•ever imagined." Several Frenchmen had travelled through the 
 country before him, purchasing furs and other commodities. 
 These had smoothed the way for the Jesuits. Under the pretext 
 of being traders, Brebeuf's party succeeded in making their way 
 in spite of all obstacles interposed. They arrived at the head- 
 chief's village, only to Hnd that he had gone on a war party and 
 would not return until spring. The missionaries sought to 
 negotiate with those who administered affairs in his absence. 
 They desired to publish the Gospel throughout these lauds, " and 
 " thereby to contract a particular alliance with them." In proof 
 of their desire, they had brought a necklace of two thousand 
 grains of " porcelain " or wampum which they wished to present 
 to "the Public." The inferior chiefs refused to bind themselves 
 in any way by accepting the present, but gave the missionaries 
 leave, if they would wait until the chief of the country returned, 
 to travel freely and give such instruction as they pleased. 
 Nothing cocld have suited the fathers better. First however 
 they decided to return in their steps and reconduct their 
 domestics out of the country. Then they would resume thoir 
 journey for the second time, and " begin their function." As it 
 bad been the servants however, who had acted the part of 
 traders, this pretext was now wanting to the Jesuits. They 
 
THE COCNTEY OF THE N|SUTR.UiS. 15 
 
 suffered everywhere from the malicious reports which had been 
 circulated as to their purposes in visiting the nation and the acts 
 of sorcery with which they were charged. The Hurons of the 
 Georgian Bay alarmed for the monopoly they had hitherto 
 enjoyed and jealous of the French traders, ht^d sent emissaries 
 amongst the Neutrals to poison their minds against the 
 adventurous travellers, by the most extraordinary calumnies. 
 
 For these reports two Huron Indians Aouenhokoui and 
 Oentara were especially responsible. They had visited several 
 villages, presented hatchets in the name of the Huron chiefs and 
 old men, and denounced their white visitors as sorcerers who 
 desired to destroy the Neutrals by means of presents. These 
 representations were so effectual that a council was at length 
 held by the chiefs and the present formally refused, although 
 permission to preach was granted. 
 
 From village to villagf. they passed, but everywhere the 
 doors were barred to them. Hostile looks greeted them 
 wherever they went. No sooner did they approach a village 
 than the cry resounded on all sides " Here come the Agwa. " 
 This was the name given by the natives to their greatest 
 enemies. If the priests were admitted into their dwellings at all, 
 it was more frequently from fear of the " sorcerers'" vengeance 
 than for the hope of gain, " God making use of everything in 
 order to nourish his servants." 
 
 In the graphic language of Lalemant : "The mere sight of 
 the fathers, in figure and habit so different from their own, 
 their gait, their gestures and their whole deportment seemed 
 to them so many confirmations of what had been told them. 
 The breviaries, ink-stands and writings were instruments of 
 magic; if the Frenchmen prayed to God, it was according 
 to their idea simply an exercise of sorcei-ers. Going to the 
 stream to wash their dishes, it was said they were poisoning the 
 water: it was charged that through all the cabins, wherever 
 the priests passed, the chilaitjn were seized with a cough and 
 bloody flux, and the women became barren. In short, there was 
 no calamity present or to conie, of which they were not 
 considered as the source. Several of those with whom the 
 fathers took up their abode did not sleep day or night for fear; 
 they dared not touch what had been handled by them, they 
 
 m 
 
^ii- A' 
 
 16 THE COUNTRY OF THE NEUTRALS. 
 
 returned the strangers' presents, regarding everything as 
 suspiciouH. The good old women alrea(iy regarded themselves 
 as lost, and only regretted the fate of their little children, who 
 .|»* might otherwise have been able to repeople the earth." 
 
 * The Neutrals intimidated thi fathers with rumors of the 
 
 Sv^neeas, who they were assured were not far oC They spoke 
 of killing and eating the missionaries. Yet in the four months 
 ^f, . of their sojourn Brebeuf and Chaumonot never lacked the 
 
 ffr necessaries of life, lodging and food, and amidst diificulties and 
 
 ||i inconveniences better imagined than described the}' retained 
 
 |:; their health. Their food supply was bread baked under ashes 
 
 :" after the fashion jf the country, and which they kept for thirty 
 
 r and even forty days to use in case of need. ♦ 
 
 "In their journey, the fathers passed through eighteen 
 
 "villages {hourgs on bourgades), to ail of which they gave a 
 
 5|]r "Christian name, of which we shall make use hereafter on 
 
 ll J " occasion. They stayed particularly in ten, to M'hich they gave 
 
 i| "as much instruction as they could find hearers. They report 
 
 y| ^' about 500 Fires and 3,000 persons, which these ten bourgades 
 
 ^X: " may contain, to whom they ,set forth and published theGovSpel." 
 
 (Lalemant's Relation.) (d) 
 
 Disheartened, the fathers decided to return to Kandoucho 
 or All Saints to await the spring. Midway, however, at the village 
 of Teotongniaton, or S. Guillaume, (perhaps in the vicinity of 
 P: Woodstock) the snow fell in such quantities that further progress 
 
 was impossible. They lodged here in the cabin of a squaw, who 
 entertained them hospitaWj^ and instructed them in the language, 
 dictating narratives syllable by syllable as to a school boy. 
 Here they stayed twenty-five days, " adjusted the dictionary and 
 " rules of the Huron language to that of these tribes (the 
 " Neutrals), and accomplished a work which alone was worth a 
 " journey of several years in the country." 
 
 Hurons from the mission of La Conception volunteered to 
 go to the relief of the daring travellers. After eight days of 
 travel and fatigue in the woods the priests and the relief party 
 arrived at Ste. Marie on the very day of St. Joseph, patron of 
 the country, in time to say mass, which they had not been able 
 
 
 ((/) In another place it is stated that there were 40 villages of the Neutrals in all. 
 
THE COUNTRY OF THE NECTRALS. 17 
 
 4 
 
 to say since their departure. 
 
 Amon<;st the eighteen villages visited by them, only one, 
 that of Khioetoa, called by the fathers Saint Michel, gave them 
 the audience their embassy merited. In this village, years 
 before, driven by fear of their enemies, had taken refuge a 
 certain foreign nation, "which lived beyond Erie or the Cat 
 "Nation," named Aouenrehronon. It was in this nation that the 
 fathers performed the first baptism of adults. These were 
 probably a portion of the kindred Neutral tribe referred to 
 above as having fled to the Huron country from the Iroquois* 
 Their original home was iji the State of New York. Sanson's 
 map shows S. Michel a little east of where Sandwich now stands. 
 
 Owing to their scanty number and the calumnies circulated 
 amongst the Indians respecting the Jesuits of the Huron Mission 
 the latter resolved to concentrate their forces. The Neuti'al 
 mission was abandoned, but Christian Indians visited the 
 Neutrals in 1643 and spread the faith amongst them with a 
 success which elicits Lalemant's enthusiastic praises. Towards 
 the end of the following winter a band of about 500 Neutrals 
 visited the Hurons. The fathers did not fail to avail themselves 
 of their oppartunity. The visitors were instructed in the faith 
 and expressed their regret that their teachers could not return 
 with them. A different reception from that experienced by 
 Brebeuf and Chaumonot three years before was promised. 
 
 Lalemant relates that in the sumujer of 1643, 2,000 Neutrals 
 invaded the country of the Nation of Fire and attacked a village 
 strongly fortified with a palissade, and defended stoutly by 900 
 warriors. After a ten days' siege, they carried it by storm, 
 killed a large number on the spot, and carried ofi 800 captives, 
 men women and children, after burning 70 of the most warlike 
 and blinding the eyes and "girdling the mouths" of the old men, 
 whom they left to drag out a miserable existence. He reports 
 the Nation of Fire as more populous than the Neutrals, the 
 Hurons and the Iroquois together. In a large number of 
 these villages the Algonkin language was spoken. Farther 
 away, it was the prevailing tongue. In remote Algonkin tribes, 
 even at that early day, tliere were Christians who knelt, crossed 
 their hands, turned their eyes heavenward, and prayed to God 
 morning and evening, and before and after their meals ; and the 
 
•'I 
 
 > 
 
 r. 
 
 18 THE COtTNTKY OF THE KETTTRALS. 
 
 best mark of their faith was that they were no longer wicked 
 nor dishonest as they were before. So it was reported to 
 Laleniant by trustworthy Hurons who went every year to trade 
 with Algonkin nations scattered over the whole northeipi part of 
 the continent. ■' :■"''■. :{::,r^'\-' '--''''^">:^f^;:"'^^.:,'A■:•■'v. -. ^: .i' 
 
 Ragueneau in the Relation of 1648 refers to Lake Erie as 
 being almost 200 leagues in circuit, and precipitating itself by "a 
 "waterfall of a terrible height" mto Lake Ontario, or Lake Saint 
 Louys. 
 
 The Aondironnons a tribe of the Neutrals living nearest to 
 the Hurons were treacherously attacked in their village by 300 
 Senecas, who after killing a number carried as many as possible 
 away with them as prisoners. The Neutrals showed no open 
 resentment but quietly prepared to revenue themselves. A 
 Christian Huron, a girl of fifteen, taken prisoner by the 
 Senecas, escaped from them and made her way to the Neutral 
 country, where she met four men, two of whom w^ere Neutrals 
 and the others enemies. The latter wished to take her back to 
 captivity ; but the Neutrals, claiming that within their country 
 she was no longer in the power of her enemies, rescued her and 
 she returned in safety to Ste. Marie on the Georgian Bay. 
 These incidents were the prelude to the storm which shortly 
 afterward burst. 
 
 In 1650 the principal part of the Iroquois forces was directtid 
 against the Neutrals. They carried two frontier villages, ia one of 
 which were more than 1600 men, the first at the end of autumn, 
 the second early in the spring of 1651. The old men and children 
 who might encumber them on their homeward jcumey were 
 massacred. The number of captives was excessive, especially of 
 young women, who were carried off to the Iroquois towns. The 
 other more distant villages were seized with terror. The 
 Neutrals abandoned their houses, their property and their 
 country. Famine pursued them. The survivors became scattered 
 amongst far-oft woods and along unknown lakes and rivers. In 
 wretchedness and want and in constant apprehension of their 
 relentless enemy, they eked out a miserable existence. 
 
 The Journal (April 22, 1651) adds that after the destruction 
 of the Neutral village in the previous autumn, the Neutral 
 warriors under the lead of the Tahontaenrat (a Huron tribe) had 
 
THE OOrUTBY OF THE NEUTRALS. , ^4, ^^ 
 
 followed the tissailants and killed or taken 200 of them ; and 
 1,200 Iroquois warriora had returned in the spring to avenge 
 this disaster. In August a Huron reported at Montreal the 
 capture of Teot'ondiaton (probably the village in which Brebeuf 
 composed his dictionary, and which is referred to in the Relation as 
 having been taken in the spring). The condition of the 
 Neutrals was desolate and desperate. In April, 1652, news 
 reached Quebec that they had leagued with the Andastes against 
 the Iroquois, that the Senecas hal been defeated in a foray 
 against the Neutrals, so that the Seneca women had been 
 constrained to quit their village and retreat to the Oneida 
 country; also that the Mohawks had gone on the war path 
 against the Andastes during the winter, and the issue of the war 
 was unknown. The last of July, 1653, seven Indians from the 
 Huron country arrived at Quebec and reported a great gathering 
 near Mackinac of all the Algonkin nations with the remains of 
 the Tobacco and Neutral Nations at A,otonatendie three days 
 above the Sault Ste. Marie (Skia,e) towards the south. The 
 Tobacco Indians had wintered at Tea,onto'rai ; the Neutrals to 
 the number of 800 at Sken'chio,e towards Teo'chanontian. These 
 were to rendezvous the next fall with the Algonkins, who w^ere 
 already on the spot to the number of 1,000. 
 
 This is probably the last we hear of the Neutrals under their 
 own name. Some of the survivors united with the remnant of 
 the Hurons at Mackinac and on Lake Superior ; and under the 
 name of the Hurons and Wyandots they appe<ir from time to 
 time on the page of history. Their removal to Detroit on the 
 establishment of the latter trading J)ost by Cadaillac, is perpetu- 
 ated by the name of Wyandotte, to the south of the City of the 
 Scraits. •.\-'"' :'•■';■ '•.•■-"'" ■"■,■,"-"" ■- .-';V ' 
 
 Parkman mentions the circumstance that an old ctiief named 
 Kenjockety, who claimed descent from an adopted prisoner of 
 the Neutral Nation, was recently living among the Senecas of 
 Western New York. 
 
 It is stated in the " History of the County of Middlesex" that 
 over 60 years ago, "Edouard Petit, of Black River, discovered 
 the ruins of an ancient building on the Riviere aux Sables, about 
 40 miles from Samia. Pacing the size, he found it to have been 
 40x24 feet on the ground. On the middle of the south or gable 
 
•h.' 
 
 f 1828-9." 
 
 
 
 180 THK COUNTRV OF THE MBUTRALS. 
 
 end, was a cliitnney ei«;hfceen feet high, in excellent preservation, 
 built of stone, with an open fire place. The tire place had sunk 
 below the surface. This ruin had a garden surrounding it, ten 
 or twelve rods wide by twenty rods in length, marked by 
 ditches and alleys. Inside the walls of the house a splendid oak 
 had grown to be three feet in diameter, with a stem sixty feet 
 high to the first branch. It seemed to be of second growth, and 
 must have been 150 years reaching its proportions as seen in 
 
 This must have been the mi.ssion of S. Francois shown on 
 Sanson's map. .r> ;: ;? •- i 
 
 THE IROQUOIS' HUNTING GROUND. «t 
 
 After the expulsion of the Neutrals, the north shore of Lake 
 Erie remained an unpeopled wilderness until the close of the last 
 century. The unbroken forest teemed with deer, racoons, foxes, 
 wolves, bears, squirrels and wild turkeys. Millions of pigeons ■) 
 darkened the sky in their seasons of migration. For generations . 
 after the disappearance of the Neutrals, the Iroquois resorted to 
 the region in pursuit 6f game. The country was described in 
 maps as "Chasse de Qistor des Iroquois" the Iroquois' l>eaver 
 ground. Numerous dams constructed by these industrious little 
 animals still remain to justify the description. . , , 
 
 The French built forts at Detroit, Niagara and Toronto to 
 intercept the beaver traffic, which otherwise might be shared by 
 the English on the Hudson and r.l(>hawk rivers; but for nearly 
 a huri<lred and fifty years no fAj^otleme.it was attempted on the 
 north shore. References to the region are few and scanty. 
 Travellers did not penetrate into the country. Coasting along 
 the shore in canoes on their way to Detroit, they landed as 
 rarely as possible for shelter or repose. There were forest paths 
 well known to the Indians, by which they portaged their canoes 
 and goods from one water stretch to another. One of these led 
 from the site of Dundas to a point on the Grand River near 
 Cainsville ; another from the latter stream to the Thames Rivpr 
 near Woodstock; and a third from the upper writers of the 
 Thames to Lake Huron. Besides these, there was a trail from 
 the Huntly farm in Southwold on the River Thames (Lot 11, 
 
THK OOnNTRY OK THK NEUTRaM. Si 
 
 Con. 1,) to the mouth of Kettle Creek; and a fifth from the 
 Rondeau to M'Grejjor's Creek near Chatham. These were 
 thoroughfares of travel and of such rude commerce as was car- 
 ried on by the savaj;jes with their French and EnjrliHh neighbors. 
 
 THE FRENCH EXPLORATION. 
 
 Joliet was the first Frenchman to descend Lake Erie 
 from Detroit. He had been sent by Talon to investigate the 
 copper mines of Lake Superior. He returned to Quebec in the 
 autumn of 1669 by way of the lower lakes, instead of taking the 
 usual route by the French River and the Ottawa. At the mouth 
 of Kettle Creek he hid his canoe. Thence he portaged, doubtless 
 by the well-known trails to the Thames and Grand rivers, until 
 h 3 reached Burlington Bay. (e). 
 
 ; At the Seneca village of Tinaouatoua, midwaj' between the 
 Bay and the Grand River, he met La Salle and the Sulpician 
 priests, Dollier de Casson and Galinee on their way to Lake Erie 
 and the Ohio Rtiver. The result of the meeting and of the 
 information given by Joliet was that the priests altered their 
 purpose and decided to proceed to Sault Ste. Marie and then to 
 the Pottamatamies, where they would establish their mission: 
 whilst La Salle, who evidently was dissatisfied with his com- 
 panions, went back with Joliet and, it is now pretty generally 
 believed, discovered the Ohio by journeying overland from the 
 Seneca villages south of Lake Ontario during the winter or the 
 following spring. Joliet gave the missionaries a description of 
 his route, from which Galinee was able to make a map which 
 was of great assistance in the further progress of their ex- 
 pedition, (f). The priests descended the Grand River to Lake 
 Erie, and wintered at the forks of Patterson's Creek, where Port 
 Dover now stands. After a sojourn of five months and eleven 
 days, during which they were visited in their cabin by Iroquois 
 beaver hunters, tliey proceeded westward along the north shore 
 of the lake. Losing one of their canoes in a storm, they were 
 obliged to divide their jJarty. ?our men with the luggage 
 proceeded in the twj^ remaining canoes. Five of the party, 
 including apparently the two priests, made the wearisome 
 
 (e) This is the most probable infeiience from the facts stated by Galinee. 
 
 (/) Galtnee's' map is reproduced iij Faillon's Histoire de la Colonie Prancaise. 
 
Si ..TUS OOCNTKY Of THK NS0TBAU. 
 
 journey on foot from Long Point all the way to the mouth of 
 Kettle Creek, where on the tenth of April, 1670, they found 
 Joliet'a canoe, and the party was reunited for the rest of the 
 long journey to the Sault. Upon leaving their winter abode 
 however the whole party had first proceeded to the lake shore, 
 and there on the 23rd March 1670, being Passion Sunday^ 
 planted a cross, as a memorial of their long sojourn, and offered 
 a prayer. The official record is as follows : 
 
 " We the undersigned certify that we have seen affixed on the 
 "lands of the lake called Erie the arms of the King of France 
 "with this inscription: The year of salvation 1669", Clement 
 "IX. being seated in St. Peter's chair, Louis XIV. reigning in 
 " France, M. de Courcelle being governor of New France, and 
 " M. Talon being intendant therein for the King, there arrived in 
 " this place two missionaries from Moixtreal accompanied by seven 
 " other Frenchmen, who, the first of all European peoples, have 
 - "wintered on this lake, of which, as of a territory not occupied, 
 " they have taken possession in the name of their King by the 
 " apposition of his arms, which they have attached to the foot of 
 "this cross. In witness whereof we have signed tlie present 
 
 "certificate." 
 
 \ "FRANCOIS DOLLIER, 
 
 ■ V - , " Priest of the Diocese of Nantes in Brittany. 
 
 "DE GALINEE, 
 "Deacon of the Diocese of Rennes in Brittany." 
 
 Galinee grows enthusiastic over the abundance of game and 
 
 wild fruits opposite Long Point. The grapes were as large 
 
 and as sweet as the finest in France. The wine made frotn them 
 
 was as good as vin de grave. He admires tl^e profusion 
 
 !i of walnuts, chestnuts, wild apples and plums. Bears were fatter 
 
 and better to the palate than the most "savory" pigs in France. 
 
 #v Deer wandered in herds of 50 to tOO. Sometimes even 200 
 
 I would be seen feeding together. In his enthusiasm the good 
 
 priest calls this region " the terrestrial paradise of Canada." 
 
 1 Fortunately for the explorers, the winter was as mild at 
 I Port Dover as it was severe at Montreal, Patterson's Creek 
 
 was however still frozen over on the 26th March, when, 
 ]• having portaged their goods and canoes to the lake, they 
 
 I embarked to resume their westward journey. They had to pass 
 
 k 
 
 '4 
 
THE COCNTRT OF THE NEUTBALS. 
 
 two streams before they arrived at the sand beach which 
 connected Long Point with the mainland. To effect the first 
 crossing they walked four leagues inland before they found a 
 satisfactory spot. To cross Big Creek, they were obliged to 
 spend a whole day constructing a raft. They were further 
 delayed by a prolonged snow storm and a strong north wind. 
 On the west bank was a meadow more than 200 paces wide, in 
 passing over which they were immersed to their girdles in mud 
 and slush. Arriving at the sandy ridge which then connected 
 Long Point with the mainland, they found the lake on the other 
 side full of floating ice, and concluded that their companions had 
 not ventured to proceed in their frail barques. They encamped 
 near the sandbar and waited for the canoes, which had doubtless 
 been delayed by the weather. The missionaries put themselves 
 on short rations in order to permit the hunters to keep up their 
 strength for the chase, and were rewarded with a stag as the 
 result. As it was Holy Week the whole party decided not to 
 leave the spot until they had kept their Easter together. On 
 the Tuesday following, which was the eighth day of April, they 
 heard mass and, although the lake had still a border of ice, they 
 launched their canoe, and continued their journey as before, five 
 of the party going by land. When they arrived at "the place 
 of the canoe," on the 10th great was their disappointment to find 
 that the Iroquois had anticipated them and carried it away. 
 Later in the day however it was found, hidden between two 
 large trees on the other side of a stream. The discoverers came 
 upon it unexpectedly whilst looking for dry wood to make a 
 fire, and bore it in triumph to the la,ke. The hunters were out 
 the whole day without seeing any game. For five or six days 
 the party subsisted on boiled maize, no meat being obtainable. 
 Being provided now with three canoes, the party paddled up the 
 lake in one day to a place where game was abundant. The 
 hunters saw more than 200 deer in a single herd, but missed 
 their aim. In their craving for flesh-meat, they shot and 
 skinned a poor wolf and had it ready for the kettle, when one 
 of their men perceived twenty or thirty deer " on the other side 
 " of a small lake on the shore of which we were." (g) The deer 
 
 (jf) Evidently the Rondeau. 
 
TlIK COUNTRY OF THE NEUTRAW 
 
 were surrounded and forced into the water, where 10 were killed, 
 
 the rest being permitted to eacape. Well supplied with fresh 
 
 and smoked meat they w.ent on nearly twenty leagues (about 
 
 fifty miles) in one day, " as far as a long point which you will 
 
 " find marked in the map of Lake Erie. We arrived there on a 
 
 "beautiful sand-beach on the east side of this point." (h) Hero 
 
 i| disaster overtook them. They had drawn up their canoes 
 
 |, beyond high water mark, but left their goods on the sand near 
 
 |j ■ the water, whilst they camped for the night. A terrific gale 
 
 '|; came up from the north-east, and the water of the lake rose until 
 
 f^ it swept with violence over the beach. One of the party was 
 
 i- awakened by the roaring of the waves and wind and aroused the 
 
 |; rest, who attempted to save their supplies. Groping with 
 
 % torches along the shore, they succeeded in securing the cargo of 
 
 ;<; Galinee's canoe, and of one of Dollier's. The other canoe load 
 
 i|f; was lost, including provisions, gooJs for bartering, ammunition, 
 
 I I and, most important of all, the altar service, with which they 
 
 !p intended establishing their mission among the Pottawatamies. 
 
 jif The question was debated whether they should take up their 
 
 I mission with some other tribe, or go back to Montreal for a new 
 
 altar service and supplies, and, returning at a later period, 
 
 establish themselves wherever they should then dfetermine. 
 
 Deciding in favor of the latteT view, they concluded that the 
 
 return journey would be as short by way of the Sault and the 
 
 French River as by the route which they had followed from the 
 
 east. In favor of this decision was the further consideration 
 
 that not only would they see a new country but they would 
 
 have the escort of the Ottawas who were assembling at the Sault 
 
 for their annual trading visit to Montreal and Quebec. Galinee 
 
 continues : " We pursued our journey accordingly towards the 
 
 : :{ " west, and after having made about 100 leagues on Lake Erie 
 
 ^ ;, "arrived at the place where the Lake of the Hurons, otherwise 
 
 : (V "called the Fresh-water Sea of the Hurons, or the Michigan, dis- 
 
 f :; "charges itself into that lake. This outlet is perhaps half a 
 
 V i, " league wide and turns sharply to the north-east, so that we 
 
 " were in a measure retracing our steps; at the end of six leagues 
 
 " we found a place that was very remarkable and held in great 
 
 U 
 
 (A) This was Point Pelee. 
 
THE COrNTBV OK THE NKL'TRAIJi. 2ft 
 
 "venor.itioa by all the sava^os of these rej^ions, because of a 
 " stone idol of natural formation, to which tiiey say they owe 
 "the success of their navigation on Lake Erie wh^'n they have 
 "crossed it without accident, and which they appease by 
 "sacrifices, presents of skins, provisions, etc., when they wish to 
 "en) bark on it." 
 
 " This place was full of huts of those who had come to pay 
 "homage to this idol, whicli had no other resemblance to a 
 'human figure than that which the imagination chose to give it. 
 " However it was painted all over, and a kind of face had beeD 
 "formed for it with vermillion. I leave you to imagine whether 
 " we avenged upon this idol, which the Iroquois had strongly 
 " recommended us to honor, the loss of our chapel," 
 
 " We attributed to it even the scarcity of food from which 
 " we had suffered up to that time. In fine there was nobody 
 " whoso hatred it had not incurred. I consecrated one of my 
 "hatchets to break this god of stone,, and then having locked 
 " canoes we carried the largest piece to the middle of the river, 
 " and immediately cast the remainder into the water, that it 
 "might never be heard of again." 
 
 "God rewarded us forthwith for this good act: for we killed 
 '' a deer that .same day, and four leagues farther we entered a 
 "little lake about ten leagues long and almost as wide, called by 
 " Mr. Sanson the Lake of the Salted Waters, but we saw no sign 
 "of salt. From this lake we entered the outlet of Lake 
 " Michigan, which is not a quarter of a league in width." 
 
 " At last ten or twelve leagues farther on, we entered the 
 " large.st lake in all America, called here "the Freshwater Sea 
 "of the Hurons," or in Algonkin, Michigan. It is 600 to 700 
 "leagues in circuit. We made on this lake 200 leagues and were 
 " afraid of falling short of provisior^s, the shores of the lake 
 " being apparently very barren. God, however, did not wish 
 "that we should lack for foorl in his service." 
 
 " For we were never more than one day without food. It is 
 " true that several times we Kad nothing left, and had to pass an 
 " evening and morning without having anything to put into the 
 " kettle, but I did not see that any one was discouraged or put to 
 " prayei*8 (sic) on that account. For we were so accustomed to 
 " see that God succored us mightily in emergencies, that we 
 

 H THE COHNTKY ur THE NRI7TKAUI. 
 
 " awaited with tranquility the effectH of his ^orMlness, thinking 
 "that Ho who nourished so man}' lwirl)arian8 in these wtxxls 
 " would not abandon his servants." 
 
 " We passed this lake without any peril and entered the Lake 
 "of the Hurcma, which comnmnicates with it by four mouths, 
 " each neai'ly two leagues in width." 
 
 *' At last wo arrived on the 25th Mfey, the day of Pentecost, 
 "at Ste. Marie of the Sault, where the Jesuit fathei-s have made 
 " their principal establishment for the missions to the Ottawiis 
 " and neighboring tribes." 
 
 Here tliey found fathers D'Ablon and Marquette in charge of 
 the mission, with a fort consisting of a square of cedar posts, 
 enclosing a chapel and residence. They had cleared and seeded 
 a large piece of ground. The Sulpicians remained only three 
 days and then hired an experienced gui<le to take them to 
 Montreal, where they arrived on the 18th June after a fatiguing 
 journey of twenty-two days. They had boen absent since the 
 6th July 1669, and were welcomed as if they havi come to life 
 again after being dead. It was their intention to return in the 
 following spring and renew their search for the Ohio River, 
 where they purposed establishing a mission ; but this intention 
 was never carried into effect. 
 
 " This famous voyage," says Dean Harris in his interesting 
 " 'History of the Early Missions in Western Canada,' stimulated 
 " to an extraordinary degree enthusiasm for discovery, and in 
 " the following year Talon sent out expeditions to the Hudson 
 " Bay, the Southern Sea, and into the Algonquin country to the 
 " north." Marquette, Tonty, Hennepin, Du Lhut, I^a Salle and 
 Perrot explored the Mississippi valley, and the head waters of the 
 St. Lawrence system, and almost the entire continent was claimed 
 by the French as belonging to New France. As far as appears, 
 there were no Indians having settled alx>des on the north shore 
 of Lake Erie for more than a century after the expulsion of the 
 Neutrals. Nor does any attempt appear to have been made by 
 the whites to explore south-western Ontario until the clos6 of the 
 last century. The Iroquois continued for a long period to range 
 its forests for beaver in the winter. The rivalry between the 
 French and the English for the control o* the vast western fur 
 
 
TRB COrNTRY OF THK NCrTRAUI. 
 
 trade led to the erection of outpoHtH by the English at Oswego 
 and by the French at C'atara<iui, Niagara, Detroit and Michili- 
 uiakinjic, during thelatterpartof the 17th century. English traders 
 sailed or paddle(J up the lakes to get their share of the traffic, 
 and were from time to tinie summarily arrested and expelled by 
 their rivals. Both parties tried to ingratiate themselves with 
 the natives. The French were as eager to maintain a state of 
 warfare between the Iroquois and the Indians of the upper lakes 
 — the Hurons, Ottawas, Pottawatamies, Ojibways etc. — as to 
 induce the former to kp«»p tho p«>ar.e with the white inhabitants 
 of Canada. There were two grea^ trade routes to Montreal, viz: 
 by MjU'kinac, the Georgian Bay and the French and Ottawa 
 River an<l by Detroit, Lake Erie and Niagara ; the Lake Simcoe 
 portage routes by the Trent River system, and the Holland 
 River and Toronto were also used. Trading or military parties, 
 under the leadership of La Salle, Tonty, Perrot, Du Lhut, 
 Cadaillac, passed along the coast of L. Erie in canoes; but 
 little record if any remained of their visits to the shores. Kettle 
 Creek was long called the Tonty River. It is so named in one of 
 Bellin's maps of 1755, and by the Canadian Land Board at Detroit 
 as lately as 1 793. The only northern tributaries of Lake Erie to 
 which names are given on the map of 1755 are the Grand 
 River, River D'Ollipr (Patterson's Creek), which in some maps is 
 called the River of the Wintering — a manitest reference to 
 Galinee and Dollier de Casson's sojourn in 1669-70 — the River a 
 la Barbue (Catfish Creek), the River Tonty (Kettle Creek) a 
 little east of P'te au Fort (Plum Point or else Port Talbot) and 
 the River aux Cedres (M'Gregor's Creek in Essex). The Thames 
 is descril)ed as a "River unknown to all geographers, and which 
 "you go up eighty leagues without finding any rapids (aaiUta)." 
 The Chenail Ecarte is indicated as the only outlet of tlie Syden- 
 ham river the map-makers assuming that Walpole Island was 
 part of the mainland. The mouths of four or five streams are 
 shown between Long Point and "the Little J^ake" (Rondeau), and 
 the shore is marked "The High Cliffs." "T!ie Low Cliffs" were 
 between the Rondeau and Point Pelee. In one of Bellin's maps 
 of 1755 in the present writer's possession Long Point is shown 
 as a peninsula, and the streams now in the' County of Elgin are 
 marked "Unknown Rivers," but the map firstly mentioned and 
 
28 THE OOUNTRT OF THK NEUTHALS. 
 
 published in the same year, is more complete, represents Long 
 Point as an islarwl, and names the Barbue and Tonty rivers and 
 Fort Point, {Fte au Fort) which are not named in the other. 
 The Tonty, moreover, is represented as an inlet by way of 
 distinction from the other streams (including the Barbue) which 
 appeal- as of equal insignificance The naming of Kettle Creek 
 after th i great explorer and devoted lieutenant of La Salle 
 indicates its consequence. It;; harbor was of paramount im- 
 portance to the navigation of these early days, but no doubt the 
 portage route extending from its mouth to the Thames exalted 
 the little river in the eyes of the explorers who honored it with 
 Tonty 8 name. (i). 
 
 THE INDIAN TITLE. 
 
 On July 19th, 1701, the Iroquois ceded to the British the 
 entire country between the lakes, "including the country where 
 "beavers and all sorts oi" wild game keep, and the place called 
 " De Tret," {j) but this appeara to have been a mere formality 
 as no possession was taken by the purchasers. , 
 
 The Ojibways have a tradition that they defeated the 
 Iroquois (called by them the Nottawas or Nahdoways) in a 
 succession of skirmishes, ending in a complete victory at the 
 outlet of Burlington Bay, and the final expulsion of thi 8'x 
 Nations from that pait of Ontario between the Great La cs. 
 The Ojibways then spread east and west over the country. "A 
 " treaty of peace and friendship was then made with the 
 " Nahdoways residing on the south side of Lake Ontario, and 
 ''both nations solemnly covenanted, by going through the usual 
 " forms of burying the tomahawk, smoking the pipe of peace, 
 "«,nd locking their hands and arms together, agreeing in future 
 "Jtto <;all each other Brothers. Thus ended their war with the 
 " Nahdoways," (Jfc) 
 
 (i) General John S. Clarke, of Auburn, N. Y., in correspondence with the 
 present writer, dwells upon the importance of the Kettle Creek portage route in 
 the seventeenth century. He ic a recognized authority upon the subject of Indian 
 trade routes. * 
 
 (/) History of Middlesex County, p. 17. 
 (k) "Peter Jones and the OJebway Indians," p. 113. ' 
 
 ' ligi^feiiiiiiiA'i 
 
THE COUNTRY OF THE NEUTRAI-S. 29 
 
 Whatever may be the truth of the details, there is no doubt 
 of the fact that the Ojibways or their kindred the jVj issisaa^as 
 were the sole occupants of Western Ontario at the time of the 
 conquest in 1759, except near the Detroit River where the 
 remnant of the Hjrons or Wyandots had settled. It was with the 
 Mississa^as that the Britisli negotiated in 1784 for the cession of 
 the country from the " head of the Lake Ontario or the Creek 
 " Wajrh^uata to the River La Tranche, then down the river 
 "until a south course will strike the mouth of Cat Fish Creek 
 •'on Lake Erie." On the 21pt May, 1790, Alexander M'Kee 
 announced to the Land-board at Detroit the cession to the 
 Crown by the Indians of that part of Upper Canada west of 
 the former grant. The surrender of the Indian title opened the 
 way in each division of the lake shore district for settlement. * 
 
 CHARLEVOIX'S DESCRIPTION. 
 
 In the year J 721 the distinguished traveller, Charlevoix, 
 passed throujt^h Luke Erie on his way up the Lake.-* and thence 
 <lovvn the Mississippi to New Orleans. The north shore of 
 Lake Erie, and chieiiy that part now embraced within the limits 
 of the County of Elgin, is singled out by him as the most 
 beautiful country he met with in his passage. Many travellers 
 since Charlevoix have admired the charming scenery at the 
 mouths of Otter, Catfish, Kettle and Talbot Creeks, but few if 
 any have described it so well. As Colonel Talbot was influenced 
 mainly by Charlevoix's description of t]ie country to est iblish 
 hi.» settlement at the outlet of Talbot Creek in 1803, the present 
 v/riter nmkes no apology* for reproducing the following extended 
 passage from the celebrated and gifted traveller: 
 
 Note. — The explanatory notes referring to the extract are by the late Leonidaa 
 Burwell, M. P. P., and are given by him in a letter to His Honoi, Judge Hughes, 
 which has been kindly presented by the recipient to the Klgin Historical and 
 Scientific Institute. 
 
 * The north shore of Lake Erie appears to have been bo little known to the 
 officials, that Kettle Cr^ek and Cat Fish Creek were continually confused 
 and taken as being one or different streams as chance would have it. The 
 Land-l)oaid considered that a surrender of the lands west of Kettle Creek 
 gave the Crown p!' the territory n«t previously ceded. The Indians at 
 Detroit who made the cession were the Ojibways, Hurons, Ottawas and 
 Pottawatamies. 
 
80 THE C0T7NTRY OF THE NEUTRALS. 
 
 "The 28th May, 1721, I went eighteen leagues and found 
 "myself over against the great river which conies from the 
 " East in forty-two degrees fifteen minutes. Nevertheleas the 
 " great trees were not yet green. This country appeared to me 
 " to be very fine. We made very little way the 29th and none 
 " at all the 30th. We embarked the next day about sun ri83, 
 " and went forward apace. The first of June being Whitsunday, 
 "after going up a pretty river almost an hour which comes a 
 " great way, and runs between two fine meadows, we made a 
 " portage about sixty paces to escape going round a point which 
 " advances fifteen leagues into the lake : they call it the Long 
 "Point. It is very sandy and produces naturally many vines, (i) 
 
 "The following days I saw nothing remarkable, but I coasted 
 "a charming^ountry that was hid from time to time by some dis- 
 "agreeable skreens, but of little depth. In every place where I 
 "landed I was enchanted with the beauty and variety of land- 
 " scape bounded by the finest forest in the world ; besides this 
 " water fowl swarmed everywhere. I cannot say there is such 
 "plenty ol game in the woods : but I know that on the south side 
 " there are vast herds of wild cattle, (m) 
 
 " If one always travelled as I did then, with a clear sky 
 "and charming climate on water as bright as the finest 
 " fountain, and were to meet everywhere with safe and pleasant 
 " encampings, where one might find all manner of game at little 
 "cost, breathing at one's ease a pure air, and enjoying the sight 
 "of the finest countries, one, woul<i be tempted to travel all one's 
 "life." 
 
 " It put me in mind of those ancient patriarchs who had no 
 " fixod abode, dwelt under tents, were in some manner master 
 ' of all the countries they travelled over, and peaceably enjoyed 
 "all their productions without having the trouble which is 
 " inavoidable in the possession of a real domain. How many 
 
 {/) This river i» what is now known as "Biff Creek" and answers this descrip- 
 tion at the present day. It enters the lake a little above Port Rowan. 
 
 (»i) This charming country is evidently, the greater part of it, the County of 
 Mgin, as the jtortage is not more than thirteen miles from the lx)undary lino of 
 Bayham. In passing up the lake one would meet with a great variety of 
 landscape as the sand-hilts in Houghton and the mouths of the Otter, Catfish and 
 other creeks would be passed. The lofty pines and chestnuts and oaks along 
 this coast, in thfeir original state no doulit appeared like the "finest forest in the 
 world." 
 
THE OOUNTBY OF THE NKUTRALS. Z' , , 81 
 
 "oaks represented to me that of Mamre? How many fountains 
 ■ " made me remember that of Jacob ? Every day a situation of 
 "my own choosing, a neat and convenient house set up and 
 " furnished with necessaries in a qua *.er of an hour, spread with 
 "flowers always fresh, on a fine green carpet, and on every side 
 " plain and natural beauties which art had not altered and 
 "which it can not imitate. If the pleasures suffer some inter- 
 "ruption either by bad weather or some unforseen accident, they 
 "are the more relished when they reappear. 
 
 " If I had a mind to moralize, I should add, these altema- 
 "tions of pleasure and disappointment which I have so often 
 " experienced since I have been travelling, are very proper to 
 "make us sensible that there is no kind of life more capable of 
 . " representing to us continually that we are only on the earth 
 . "like pilgrims, and that we can only use, as in passing, the goods 
 "of this world ; that a man wants but a few things; and that 
 "we ought to take with patience the misfortunes that happen 
 " in our journey, since they pass away equally, and wi i the 
 " same celerity. In short how manv things in travelling make 
 " us sensible of the dependence in which we live upon Divine 
 " providence, which does not make use of, for this mixture of 
 " good aud evil, men's passions, but the vicissitudes of the season.s 
 " which we may foresee, and of the caprice of the elements, 
 " which we may expect of course. Of consequence, how easy is 
 *• it, and how many opportunities have we to merit by our 
 " dependence on and resignation to the will of God ? 
 
 " They say commonly that long voyages do not make people 
 " religious, but nothing one would think should be more capable 
 " of making them so, than the scenes they go through." 
 
 THE BRITISH OCCUPATION. 
 
 The conq\iest of Canada in 1759 was followed by the occupa- 
 tion of Detroit and the upper forts by a British force under the 
 famous Major Robert Rogers. He followed the south shore of 
 Lake Erie, and near the site of Cleveland was met by the 
 celebrated Ottawa chief, Pontiac, who challenged his right to pass 
 through the country without the formal permission of its savage 
 
82 THE COtTNTEY OF THE NECTRALS. '^ , 
 
 sovereign. The operations of the conspiracy of Pontiac (1763-5) 
 are described in Parknian's glowing pages. The success of the 
 American Revolution Wiis followed by the settleuient not only of 
 the V. E. Loyalists but also of many of the disbanded British 
 troops in the most fertile districts north of the lakes. To locate 
 these advantageously a Land-board was established at Detroit 
 by the Canadian Government and it continued to perform its 
 functions until the surrender of that post to tlie United States 
 under the provisions of the Jay Treaty of 1794. 
 
 McNIFF'S EXPLORATION. 
 
 The Indian title to the whole north shore region having been 
 surrendereTd to the Crown, no time was lost in opening'the 
 territoi-y for settlement. Patrick McNiff, an assistant surveyor 
 attached to the Ordinance Department, was ordered by Patrick 
 Murray, Commandant at Detroit, to explore the north shore 
 from Long Point westward and investigate the quality 
 and situation of the land. His report is dated 16th June 1790. 
 The following extract is interesting: 
 
 " From Pointe aux Pins to the portage at Long Point, no 
 " possibility of making any settlement to front on the Lake, 
 " being all the way a yellow and white sand bank from 50 to 100 
 " feet high, top covered with chestnut and scrubby oak and no 
 " harbours where even light boats may enter except River Tonty 
 " and River a la Barbue, (n) A load boat may enter the latter 
 " having four and a half feet water on the bar ; on each side of 
 " River a la Barbue are flats of excellent lands, but not above 
 " fifteen or twenty chains wide, before very high land commences, 
 "which in many places does not appear to be accessible for any 
 " carriage. On the tops of these very high hills, good land, 
 "timber, some very large chestnut, hickory and bass. These 
 " hills are separated by dry ravines almost impassable from their 
 " great depth — on the back of Long Point very good land, not so 
 " hilly as what I have passed. Timber bass, black walnut and 
 
 (m) Kettle aud Cattish Creeks. 
 
THK OOCSTRT OF THE NBUTKAL8. 
 
 " hard maple, but marshy in front for twenty ox thirty 
 chains, (o) 
 
 In consequence of this unfavorable report, townships were 
 diricted to be laid out on the River Thajnes, instead of the lake 
 shore. 
 
 LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR SIMCOE. : V^ 
 
 In the year 1791 the Quebec Act was passed, dividing 
 Quebec into two provinces, and Colonel John Graves Simcoe 
 became the first lieutenant-governor of Upper Canada. Before 
 the Bill wus introduced into parliament, it was understood 
 that Simcoe had been selected by Pitt to govern the new 
 province, direct its settlement and establish constitutional, 
 government after the model of the British system. As 
 early as January, 1791, he had written a letter to Sir Joseph 
 Banks, President of the Royal Society, (p) in which after men- 
 tioning his appointment, he explained his own plans as to the- 
 administration, and stated his desire to profit by the ideas of his 
 correspondent whom he would wait upon for that purpose. 
 
 " For the purpose of commerce, union and power, I propose 
 " that the site of the colony should be in ^hat Great Peninsula 
 " V»etween the Lakes Huron, Erie and Ontario, a spot destined by 
 " nature, sooner or later, to govern the interior world. j, • 
 
 " I mean to establish a capital in the very heart of the 
 " country, upon the River La Tranchs, which is navigable for 
 " batteauxs for 150 miles — and near to where the Grand River,, 
 " which falls into Erie, and others that communicate with Huron 
 " and Ontario almost interlock. The capital I mean to call 
 " Georgina — and aim to settle in its vicinity I/jyalists, who are 
 " now i)i Connecticut, provided that the Government approve of 
 '' the system." 
 
 As a member of the House of Commons, Simcoe spoke in. 
 support of a provision in the bill for the establishment of an 
 hereditary nobility, which Fox had moved to strike out. The 
 report tates that Colonel Simcoe " having pronounced a pane- 
 
 (o) Record book of the LADd Board at Detroit, now in the Crown Lands Depart->^ 
 ment at Toronto. 
 
34 THE COONTRV OF THK NECTRALS. 
 
 "gyric on the British constitution, wished it to be adopted in the 
 " present instance, as far as circumstances would admit." The 
 provision was in the bill as finally passed. 
 
 Having proceeded to Quebec to enter upon the performance 
 of his duties, he appears to have utilized every opportunity for 
 informing himself of his new don)ain. He writes to Hon. 
 Henry Dundas from Montreal, December 7, 1791, in a letter 
 marked "secret and confidential," as follows: — 
 
 "I am happy to have found in the surveyor's office an actual 
 *' survey of the River La Tranche. It answers mv most 
 " sanguine expectations, and I have but little doubt that its 
 "communications with the Ontario and Erie will be found to be 
 " very practicable, the whole forming a route which, in all 
 " respects, may annihilate the political consequences of Niagara 
 " and Lake Erie. * » ♦ « jyjy iJeas at present are to 
 "assemble the new corps, artificers, etc., at Cataraqui (Kingston), 
 " and to take its present garrison and visit Toronto and the 
 " heads of La Tranche, to pass down that river to Detroit, and 
 " early in the spring to occupy such a central position as shall be 
 " previously chosen for the capital." 
 
 On the 16th July, 1792, the name of the River La Tranche 
 was changed to the Thames by proclamation of the Governor, 
 issued at Kingston. In the spring, he had written tliat "Toronto 
 " appears to be the natural arsenal of Lake Ontario and to afiord 
 " an easy access overland to Lake Huron." He adds: "The 
 " River La Tranche, near the navigable head of which I propose 
 " to establish the Capital, by what I can gather from the few 
 "people who have visited it, will afford a safe, more certain, and 
 " I am incline*^ to think, by taking <lue advantage of the season, 
 " a less expensive route to Detroit than that of Niagara."' 
 
 At Quebec Simcoe had met the Hon. Thomas Talbot, who had 
 joined the 24th Regiment as Lieutenant in the previous year. 
 Talbot was then a young man of twenty, whilst Simcoe was in 
 his fortieth year. A strong attachment sprang up between 
 these two remarkable men, and Talbot accompanied the 
 lieutenant governor to Niagara, in the capacity of private and 
 confidential secretary. After meeting the first Legislature 
 elected in Upper Canada during the fall of 1792 Simcoe decided 
 to make a journey overland to Detroit. He left Navy Hall on 
 
' V ' THK COUNTRY OK THE NEUTRALS. SB 
 
 the 4th February, 1793, and returned on the 10th March. His 
 travelling companions were Capt. Fitzgerald, Lieutenant Smith 
 (previously Secnitary to the Detroit Land Boaril, subsequently 
 the first Surveyor General of Upper Canada, an M. P. P., Speaker 
 of the House, etc , and afterward created a baronet), Lieutenants 
 Talbot, Gray, Givens and Major Littlehales. All of these were 
 prominent afterward in the history of the Province. Talbot 
 became the founder of the Talbot Settlement. Gray was 
 appointed Solicitor General ; he perishe<l in the schooner 'Speedy' 
 on Lake Ontario in 1804 with Judge Cochrane, Sheriff Macdonell 
 and others. Givens was afterward the well-known Colonel 
 Givens, Superintendant of Indian Affairs at York. Littlehales 
 was afterward Sir E. B. Littlehales, Secretary of War for 
 Ireland, during the Lord-Lieutenancy of the Marquis of 
 Cornwallia ; he married in 1805 the Lady Elizabeth Fitzgerald, 
 daughter of the Duke of Lt.'inster and sister of the unfortunate 
 Lord Edward Fitzgerald, (p) 
 
 The journey was made partly in sleighs but chiefly on foot. 
 Littlehales kept a diary of the occurrences on the way. The 
 route was by Ten- mile Creek, Nelles' house at the Grand River, 
 the Mohawk Indian village (a little below Brantford), the 
 portage route to the Forks of the Thames (London), and then 
 down or along the River to Detroit. Joseph Brant with about a 
 dozen of his Indians acconjpanied the party from the Mohawk 
 Village to Delaware, -doubtless to furnish them with game and 
 guide them over the long portage. The Indians excited 
 admiration by their skill in constructing wigwams of elm bark 
 to lodge the company. After leaving the Grand River the trail 
 passed a Mississaga encampment, a tj'ader's house, tine open deer 
 plains, several beaver dams, "an encampment said to have been 
 " Lord Fitzgerald's when on hia march to Detroit, Michilimacki- 
 " nac and the Mississippi," a cedar grove ; crossed a small 
 branch of the La Tranche, and the main branch soon after- 
 wards; " went betw^een an irregular fence of stakes made by the 
 " Indians to intimidate and impede the deer, and facilitate their 
 "hunting;" again they crossed the main branch of the Thame8,fg') 
 
 ip) Dr. ScaddiDg'a notes to his reprint of Ijittlehales' JournaL 
 ((/) This was uo doubt where London now is. 
 
THK COCNTRV OF THE NEUTKALS. 
 
 and " halted to observe a beautiful Hituatioii, formed by a bend 
 "of the river — a ^rove of hendock and pine, and a large creek. 
 " We passed some deep ravines and made our wigwam by a 
 " stream on the brow of a hill, near a spot where Indians were ) 
 " interred. The burying ground was of earth raised, nearly 
 *' covered with leaves ; and wickered over — adjoining it was a 
 " large pole, with painted hieroglyphics on it denoting the 
 " nation, tribes and achievements of the deceased, either as 
 " chiefs, warriors, or hunters." This was on the 13th February. 
 The food of the party consisted of soup and dried venison, to 
 which squirrel and racoon meat added variety. Littlehales 
 remarks about the latter : " The three racoons when roasted 
 " made us an excellent supper. Some parts were rancid, 
 " but in general the flesh was exceedingly tender and good." On 
 the 14th they encamped a few miles above the Delaware village. 
 During the day the diarist had " observed many trees blazed, 
 " and various figures of Indians (returning from battle with 
 " scalps) and animals drawn upon them, descriptive of the 
 " nations, tribes and nuniber that had passed. Many of them 
 " were well drawn, especially a bison." 
 
 " This day we walked over very uneven ground, and passed 
 " two lakes of about four miles in circumference, between which 
 " were many fine larch trees." 
 
 Next morning they walked on the ice of the river five or 
 -six miles to the Delaware village, where the chiefs received thera 
 cordially and regaled them with eggs and venison "Captain 
 " Brant being obliged to return to a council of the Six Nations, 
 '" we stayed the whole day. The Delaware Castle is pleasantly 
 " situated upon the banks of the Thames ; the meadows at the 
 " bottom are cleared to some extent, and in summer planted with * 
 " Indian corn. After walking twelve or fourteen miles this day, 
 " part of the way through plains of white oak and ash, and 
 " pas ing several Chippawa Indians upon their hunting parties, 
 "and in their encampments, we arrived at a Canadian trader's; 
 " and a little beyond, in proceeding down the river the Indians 
 "discovered a spring of an oily nature, wnich upon examination 
 "' proved to be a kind of petroleum. We passed another wigwam 
 "of Chippawas, making maple sugar, the mildness of the winter 
 " having compelled them in a great measure to abandon their 
 
 'f 
 
)' .,': " ' ' THE COUNTRY OK THE NEUTRAIA * . 17 
 
 •' annual hunting. We soon arrived at an old hut where we 
 " passed the night." 
 
 On the I7th, after a journey of four or five miles, they passed 
 the Moravian Village which had been begun in May, 1792. The 
 Delaware Indiana were "under the control, and in nmny particu- 
 " lars, under the command of foiir missionaries, Me8si*s. Zeis- 
 " berger, Senseman, Edwards and Young. ' They were making 
 progress towards civilisation, and already had corn fields and 
 were being instructed in different branches of agriculture. " At 
 " this place every respect was paid to the Governor, and we 
 " procured a seasonable refreshment of eggs, milk and butter. 
 " Pursuing our journey eight or nine miles, we stopped for the 
 " night at the extremity of a new road, cui by the Indians and 
 "close to a creek." 
 
 " 18th— Crossing the Thames and leaving behind us a new log 
 "house, belonging to a sailor named Carpenter, we passed a 
 " thick, swampy wood of blark walnut, where His Excellency's 
 "servant was lost for three or four hours. We then came to a 
 " bend of the La Tranche (Thames) (r) and were agreeably 
 " surpriseci to meet twelve or fourteen carioles coining to meet 
 " and conduct the Governor, who, with his suite, got into them, 
 ■" and at about four o'clock arrived at Dolsen's, having previously 
 " reconnoitred a fork of the river, and examined a mill of 
 " curious construction erecting upon it The settlement where 
 " Dolsen resides is very promising, the land is well adapted for 
 " farmers, and there are sonie respectable inhabitants on both 
 " sides of the river ; behind it to the south is a range of spacious 
 "meadows — elk are continually seen upon them — and the pools 
 " and ponds are full of cray fish." 
 
 " From Dolsen's we went to the mouth of the Thames in 
 " carioles, about twelve miles, and saw the remains of a consider- 
 " able town of the Chippawas, where, it is reported, a desperate 
 " battle was fought between them and the Senecas, and upon 
 " which occasion the latter, being totally vanquished, abandoned 
 *' tlieir dominions to the conquerors. Certain it is, that human 
 '■ bones are scattered in :»bundance in the vicinity of the ground, 
 " and the Indians have a variety of traditions relative to this 
 
 (r) Afterwaids referred to by the diarist as the high bank. 
 
38 THK roTNTRV OK THK NEL'TKAI^ . " < 
 
 ,■'■»'' "•'-■.■»■■'■ 
 
 ' ■ * ' ■ , f' ■ 
 
 "transaction." * . •• 
 
 We pa.s8 over briefly the Governor's reception at Detroit. 
 The Canadian militia on the east bank fired a feu <hi joie. He 
 crossed the river in boats amidst floating ice. The garrison of 
 Detroit was nnder arms to receive Hia Majesty's representative. 
 A royal salute was fired. 
 
 The farms, the apple orchards, windmills and houses close 
 together on the river bank • gave an appearance of population 
 and respectability. Talbot's regiment, the 24th, was stationed 
 at Detroit. Fort Lenoult and the rest of the works were in- 
 spected. The party visited at the River Rouge a sloop almost 
 ready to be launched. They went to see the Bloody Bridge, 
 memorable for the slaughter of British troops by Pontiac 30 
 years before. 
 
 On the 23rd, the Governor left Detroit on his homeward 
 journey, Col. McKee, Mr. Baby and others escorting His Excel- 
 lency as far as the high bank where the carioles had met the 
 party on the 18th. " Here we separated ; and each taking his 
 "pack or knapsack on his back, we walked that night to the 
 " Moravian village." 
 
 On the 27th the chiefs at the village entertained the party 
 with venison, and dancing, "a ceremony they never dispense 
 " with when any of the King's officers of rank visit their 
 " villages." 
 
 "28th. — At six we stopped at an old Mississaga hut, upon the 
 " south side of the Thames. After taking 8'»me refreshment of 
 "salt pork and venison, well cooked by Lieutenant Smith, who 
 " superintended that department, we, as usual, sang God Save 
 " the King, and went to rest." '. 
 
 "March 1st. — We set out along the banks of the river; 
 " then, ascending a high hill, quitted our former path, and 
 " directed our course to the northward. A good deal of snow 
 " having fallen, and lying still on the ground, we saw tracks of 
 " otters, deer, wolves and bears and other animals man}'^ of which 
 " being quite fresh induced the Mohawks to pursue them, but 
 " without success. W^e walked 14 or 15 miles and twice crossed 
 "the river, and a few creeks, upon the ice; once we came close 
 
 Note Peter Jones' statement us quoted ou page 28. 
 
THK COUKTRV OK THK NKUTRAL.8. W 
 
 " to a Chippawa huntinfr camp, opposite to a fine terrace, on the 
 " banks of which we encamped, near a bay. • • • 2nd. — 
 " We struck the Thaines at <me end of a low flat island 
 "enveloped with shrubs and trees; the rapidity and strength of 
 " the current were such as to have forced a channel throuj^h 
 " the main land, beinj^ a peninsula, and to have formed the 
 " island. We walked over a rich meadow, and at its extremity 
 " came to the forks of the river. («) The Governor wished to 
 " examine this situation and its environs ; and we therefore 
 " remained here all the day. He judged it to be a situation 
 "eminently calculated for the metropolis of Canada. Among 
 "many other essentials, it possessv's the following advantages: 
 " command of territory, — internal situation, — central position, — 
 " facility of water communication up and down thn Thames 
 " into Lakes St. Clair, Erie, Huron and Superior, — navigable 
 "lor boats to near its source, and for smtdl crafts probably to 
 " the Moravian settlement — to the northward by a small portage 
 " to the waters flowing into Lake Huron — to the south-east by 
 "a carrying phu'e into Lake Ontario and the River St. Lawrence; 
 " the soil luxuriantly fertile, — the land rich, and capable of being 
 " easily cleared, and soon put into a state of agriculture, — a 
 " piner}' upon an adjacent high knoll, and otiier timber on the 
 " heights, well calculated for the erection of public buildings, — a 
 " climate not inferior to any part of Canada." 
 
 "To these natural advantages an object of great consideration 
 " is to be added, that the enormous expenses of the Indian 
 " Department would be greatly diminished, if not abolished 
 " the Indians would, in all probability, be induced to become the 
 " carriers of their own peltries, and they would find a ready, 
 " contiguous, commodious, and equitable mart, honorably ad- 
 "vantageous to Government, and the community in general, 
 " without their becoming a prey to the monopolizing and 
 " unprincipled trader." 
 
 "The young Indians, who had chased a herd of deer in 
 "company with Lieutenant Givens, returned unsuccessful, but 
 " brought with them a large porcupine ; which was very 
 " seasonable, as our provisions were nearly expended. This 
 
 Is) Now the city of London. 
 
40^ THB COCNTRY Of THE NltTTRAUB. 
 
 " animal afforded uh a very good repaflt, and tasted like a pig. 
 "The Newfoundland dog attempted to bite the porcupine, but 
 " soon got his mouth filled with the barbed quills, which gave 
 " him exquisite pain. An Indian undertook to extract them, 
 " and with much perseverance plucked them out, one by one, and 
 " carefully applied a root or decoction, which speedily healed the 
 " wound." 
 
 " Various figures were delineated on trees at the forks of the 
 " River Thames, done wi h charcoal and vennillion ; the most 
 *' remarkable were the imitations of men with deer's heads" 
 
 " We Riiw a fine eagle on the wing, and two or three large 
 " birds, perhaps vultures." 
 
 " 3rd. — We were glad to leave our wigwam early this 
 "morning, it having rained incessantly the whole night; besides, 
 " the hemlock branches on which we slept were wet before they 
 " were gathered for our use. —We first ascended the height at 
 " least 120 feet into a continuation of the pinery already 
 " mentioned ; quitting that, we came to a beautiful plain with 
 " detached clumps of white oak, and open woods ; then crossing 
 " a creek running into the south branch oi the Thames, we 
 " entered a thick swampy wood, where we were at a loss to 
 " discover any track ; but in a few minutes we were released 
 " from this dilemma by the Indians, who making a cast, soon 
 " descried our old path to Detroit. Descending a hill and 
 " crossing a brook, we came at noon to the encampment we left 
 " on the 14th of February, and were agreeably surprised by 
 " meeting Captain Brant and a numerous retinue ; among them 
 " were four of the Indians we had despatched to him when we 
 " first altered our course for the forks of the River Thames." 
 
 On the 4th, after crossing brooks and rivulets, much 
 swollen by a thunder-storm, and passing the hut occupied by 
 them on the 12th February they noticed " very fine beech trees." 
 
 Next day : — "We again crossed one of the branches of the 
 •' south-east fork of the Thames, and halted in a cypress or cedar 
 " grove, where we were much amused by seeing Brant and the 
 " Indians chase a lynx with their dogs and rifle guns, but they 
 " did not catch it. Several porcupines were seen." 
 
 On the 6th they reached the Mohawk village, crossing the 
 river at a different place and by a nearer route than before. The 
 
THK COUNTRY OF THR NKUTRAtA, 4K 
 
 Indiatis Imd met the Governor with horses at " the end of the 
 "phiin, near the Salt Lick Creek." Th«^ party Hnally arrived at 
 Navy Hall on the 10th <Jay of March. 
 
 At thiH period the overland route from Detroit to Niagara 
 wa-s apparently well known. There was an annual "Winter- 
 " expreHs" each way, which Sinicoe met on his westwan' journey 
 on the 12th February and on his homeward route on the 5th- 
 March. Littlehales mentions a Mr. Clarke as being with it on 
 each occasion. On their first meeting, the express was 
 accompanie<l by a Wyandot and a Chippawa Indian. The 
 second time, Mr. Augustus Jones, the surveyor, was either with 
 or following it. He surveyed the north-west part of Southwold in 
 the following year. On the up trip, the Governor's party met 
 one man, who afterward proved to be a runaway thief from 
 Detioit. They were also overtaken by a traveller, who, as they 
 were subsequently informed, had got himself supplied with, 
 provisions and hoi'ses to the Grand River, and a guide from, 
 thence to Detroit, by the false representation that he had' 
 despatches for the Governor. " He quitted us under the 
 " plau.sible pretence of looking for land to establish a settlement." 
 
 It appears that immediately after the capture of Niagara by 
 Johnston in 1759, merchants from New England and Virginia 
 had rushed in to participate in the fur-trade, which until that 
 time had been largely monopolized by the French. As might 
 be expected, many lawless acts were committed by these 
 adventurers, and various proceedings were adopted by the 
 Government to check and control them. After the American 
 Revolution land-hunters came into the peninsula and undertook 
 to purchase lands directly from the Indians. These purchases 
 were ignored by the Land Boards, who always repudiated the 
 idea that the Indians were proprietors of the land. No steps 
 were taken hovyever to locate settlers until the Indian title by 
 occupancy was surrendered to the Crown. Even then, Simcoe's 
 first step was to procure surveys for the purpose of establishing; 
 military roads, fortified posts, dockyards, etc., in order that when 
 the settlers caiue they might be easily defended against hostile 
 attacks, whether from the Indians, the United States troops, or 
 the French or Spanish, who it was believed might invade the 
 province by way of the Mississippi, the Ohio and the upper lakes. 
 
 • wsweaBi'r rss'r.-rw^-'KV-* ■ 
 
42 THK COUNTBV OF THF NKUTRAIA 
 
 Patrick McNiflTs survey of the River Thame.s, as far as the 
 upper Delaware village, wa8 tinished in 1793. Hia map is dated 
 at Detroit on the 25th June of this year. In it he mentions that 
 "from the entrance to the 12th lot of the 3rd township was 
 "surveyed two years since, from the 12th lot * * to the 
 "upper village was surveyed in April and May 1793." 
 
 The map gives the " road leading from the Delawares to the 
 " Moravian village," " corn-tields" along the east bank of the 
 river, an Indian village in the Southwold bend, and opposite on 
 the southerly bank the "road leading to the entrance of Kettle 
 " Creek (t) on Lake Erie. Five hours' journey." It also shows 
 the road leading to the Mohawk village on the Grand River. 
 
 The Moravian village is near the ^ite of the battle held, and 
 it is marked "commenced in Mn.y, 1792." The present location 
 of Dundas Street and the Longvvoods Road w.ouiv. appear to 
 correspond with the roads easit and west of Delaware as laid 
 down, (w) Simcoe in forwarding McNitt's survey to Mr. Dundas 
 on 20th September, 1793, thus refers to the Lake Erie region : 
 
 *' The tract of country which lies between the river (or rather 
 "navigable canal as its Indian name and French translation 
 "import) and Lake Erie, is one of the finest for all agricultural 
 "purposes in North America, and far exceeds the soil or climate 
 "of the Atlantic States. There are few or no interjacent 
 " swamps, and a variety of useful streams empty themselves into 
 "the lake or the river." 
 
 The Governor makes frequent reference in his correspondence 
 and state papers tc his plans- for establishing the capital of 
 Upper Canada at the upper forks of the Thames, to be called 
 Georgina, London or New London. Down to the very time of 
 his departure in 1796, and after the seat of government had 
 been transferred to York (now Toronto), he regarded the latter 
 as but a temporary capital, the real metropolis having yet to 
 be built at London in accordance with his original design. 
 
 Talbot remained in the service of the Lieutenant Governor 
 
 {/) This (lisposeB of the Htory told by Colontsl Talbot to Mrs. Jamieson in 1837. 
 He informed her that the name originated from his men havini; lost a kettle 
 in the croek. But the creek was called Riviere a, la Chaudiere or Kettle 
 River by the French, and that is one of the names given to it in D. W. 
 Smith's Gazetteer, of Upper Canada published in 1799. 
 
 (w) The writer has not been able tu see Mr. McNifiTa report upon this survey. 
 
t 
 THE COUWTRY OF THK ^BVrtUilS. 43 
 
 until June 1794, when as Major of the 5th Regiment he 
 departed for England under orders for Flanders, carrying with 
 him special letters of recommendation from Simcoe to Dundas 
 and to Mr. King, the Under Secretary of State. He had been 
 employed in various confidential missions. In 1793 he had been 
 sent to Philadelphia to await news from Europe, when war 
 with France was believed to be imminent. On the 22nd 
 August, 1793, we find Talbot in " the most confidential inter- 
 "course with the several Indian tribes," as Simcoe expresses it, 
 at the Miamis Rapids, where he had met the Unitevl States 
 Commissioners and the Confederated Indians to consider the 
 boundary question. In April, 1794, Simcoe was himself at the 
 Falls of the Miami, and he repeated the visit during the 
 following September, going by way of Fort Erie. This visit 
 was a prolonged one; for we find that in October he met an 
 Indian Council at Brown's Town in the Miami country. It is 
 probable Talbot accompanied him in his capacity as military 
 secretary. The construction by Simcoe of the fort at the foot 
 of the rapids of the Miami in the spring of that year was 
 an audacious step, which might easily have produced a new 
 war between the United States and England, although Simcoe 
 believed it had had the opposite result, and prevented war. 
 All disputes between the two nations were however concluded 
 by the treaty of 1794, usually called the Jay Treaty. Provision 
 was made for the abandonment of the frontier posts hitherto 
 occupied by English garrisons. Forts Niagara, Detroit, Miami 
 and Michilimackinac received American garrisons in 1796 or 
 shortly thereafter ; English troops were stationed in new forts 
 at St. Joseph's Island, Maiden, Turkey Point, Fort Erie, Toronto, 
 etc. The English flag floated no longer south of the great lakes. 
 During the year 1796, Simcoe went to England on leave of 
 absence, and he never returned o Canada. 
 
 COLONEL TALBOT. 
 
 The Honorable Thomas Talbot received his company and his 
 majority in the same year, 1793. He was Colonel of the Fifth 
 Regiment in 1795, at the early age of twenty-five. After eight 
 
44 THK COtTNTRT Of THB NBUTRALS. 
 
 years of military service on the Continent, partly in Flanders 
 and partly at Gibraltar, he was still in 1803 a young man with 
 every prospect that is usually considered alluring to ambition. 
 Suddenly, to the amazement of his friends and the public, he 
 abandoned the brilliant career upon which he had entered under 
 so favorable auspices, cut himself loose from civilization itself, 
 and buried himself in the recesses of the Canadian forest. He 
 determined to settle on the north shore of Lake Erie, where he 
 had previously selected a location on one of his journeyings with 
 Governor Simcoo. Talbot had formed plans for diverting the 
 stream of immigration from the United States, or rather for 
 continuing its current as far as Upper Canada. He would 
 attract settlers from New York, Pennsylvania and New 
 England, who were dissatisfied with republican institutic^ns '^r 
 allured by the fertility of the Lake Erie region, and would 
 build up a loyal British community, under the laws and institu- 
 tions of the mother land. 
 
 It was a memorable event in the history of the County of 
 Elgin, w^hen on the 2l8t day of May, 1803, landing at Port 
 Talbot, he tool^ an axe and chopped down the first tree, thus 
 inaugurating what has since been known as the Talbot Settle- 
 ment. Henceforward, Colonel Talbot, Port Talbot, the Talbot 
 Road, and the Talbot Settlement, are names inseparably 
 connected with the history of the making of Upper Canada. 
 
 At that time the nearest settlement on Lake Erie wa8 near 
 Turkey Point, 60 miles away. In 1802 there was but one 
 settled minister west of Niagara, Father Marchand, of Sandwich, 
 a Roman Catholic priest. There were but seven clergymen 
 settled in the whole Province. The record (v) states, however, 
 that " Besides, there are several missionaries of the Methodistical 
 " order, whose residence is not fixed." Even at that early day 
 the circuit-rider threaded the maze of forest between the 
 Long Point clearings and thooe near the mouth of the Thames, 
 and made his way down the Detroit River to the Essex shore of 
 Lake Erie, where there was a fringe of settlement. But, 
 generally speaking, the country north of Lake Erie to the 
 borders of Lake Huron and the Georgian Bay was still a 
 wilderness of continuous unbroken forest, 
 (v) Tiffiuiy's Upper Canada Almanac, Niagikra, 1802. 
 
^ 
 
 COLONEL TALHOT. 
 
THE TALBOT SETTLEMENT. 
 
 BY 
 
 C. O. EBMATINGER. 
 
 The Talbot Settlement — with which civilized life in this 
 and surrounding counties began-uiay be Baid to have commenced 
 with the nineteenth century. Colonel Talbot, the founder of the 
 Settlement, is said to have traversed the tract now compriHing the 
 County of Elgin in company with Lieutenant-Governor Simcoe, 
 proceeding from the lake shore to the forks of the Thames, before 
 the dawn of the century, (a) 
 
 Whether this may be accepted as an historical fact or not, it is 
 manifest the Colonel must, before forming his plan of settlement, 
 have been possessed of so: ne information regarding the Township 
 of Yarmouth and country surrounding it, leading him to believe 
 it suitable for the purpose he formed, "as being from the 
 nature of the soil favoiable to his design of raising hemp for 
 exportation, and also affording scope for the establishment of 
 such a number of families as may be induced to follow him into 
 the province." (6) It may be said that his subsequent abandon- 
 ment of the hemp industry indicates that he had no personal 
 knowledge of the locality before he settled in it. Yet, the fact 
 remains that he did select this locality for some reason and did 
 settle it. 
 
 The Honorable Thomas Talbot was born at Malahide, County 
 of Dublin, Ireland, 17th July, 1771. His parents Richard Talbot 
 and Margaret Baroness Talbot, were of the Talbots of Malahide 
 Castle, a family descended from Richard de Talbot, of the 
 time of William the Conqueror and ancestor of the Earl of 
 Shrewsbury. " Apart from its achievements, this is one of the 
 oldest families in the English aristocracy which traces alike its 
 
 (a) E. Ermatinger'B Life of Col. Talbot, Page 13. 
 
 (i) See extract from Lord Hobart's letter dated ioth February, 1803, app. to 
 
 Journal of Awenibly U. C, 1836, No. 22. 
 
2 ■ THE TALBOT SETTLKMENT. 
 
 descent and its surname from the Norman conquerors of Eng- 
 land ; and it may really be said that there has hardly been a 
 time during the last eight hundred years in which the Talbots 
 have not been of considerable account in public life. " (66) 
 
 Colonel Talbot's early education was obtained in the 
 public free school of Manchester, and at the age of eleven 
 years he obtained a commission in the army, and became at the 
 age of 17 or 18 yeai-s one of the aides-de-camp to a relative, 
 then Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, the Marquis of Buckingham. 
 Arthur Wellesley, afterwards the renowned "Iron Duke" of 
 Wellington, was his brother aide. This was in 1786-88. These 
 two companions in early years renewed their acquaintance at 
 long intervals. They met for the last time at the advanced age of 
 four-score years and doubtless indulged in a retrospect of their so 
 widely divided lives. The great Duke died 14th September 
 1852; Colonel Talbot on 6th February 1853. The Duke of 
 Wellington had accomplished a life work of the greatest conse- 
 (juenceto the whole of Europe. Colonel Talbot's life work, though 
 carried on in comparative obscurity, was of equal consequence to 
 tlie settlers of the Talbot settlement, in far oft'Cansida, and th^ir 
 descendants. 
 
 In 1790, Mr. Talbot joined the 24th Regiment, as Lieutenant 
 at Quebec, and in the following year was attached to the suite of 
 the first Lieutenant-Governor of Upper Canada, General Simcoe, 
 with whom he continued as his private and confidential secretary 
 Home four 3'ears, when he joined his regiment in Europe, having 
 previously received both his company and majority. In January 
 1796 he became Lieutenant-Colonel of the 5th Regiment of Foot, 
 vvith which he served on the continent, and atGibralter, until the 
 Peace of Amiens. 
 
 Early in the year 1803 Colonel Talbot applied to the Home 
 Government for a grant of lan<l in the " distant Township of 
 Yarmouth in the County of Norfolk." (c) His application \vas 
 
 (M i Encyclopedia Britt&nica 9th e^l. vol. 23, p. 25. 
 
 fc) See extract from Lord Hobart'a letter already referred to. Also letter of 
 (rcneral Simcoe, dated 11th February, 1803. It is elsewhere pointed out in this 
 volumne that Yarmouth was then in the County of Suffolk as constituted by the 
 U. C. Legislature, though immediately adjoining the County of Norfolk on the 
 West. 
 
, /-:. THE TALBOT SRTTLEMKNT. 3 
 
 endorsed by General Siincoe in a letter in which he speaks of 
 Colonel Talbot and of his services to himself and Lhe colony in 
 terms of the highest praise, and especially in the confidential 
 measures he took for the preservation of peace, for "hia most con- 
 fidential intercourse with the several Indian Tribes, and occasion- 
 ally with His Majesty's Minister at Philadelphia," — which 
 duties without any salary or emolument, he executed to the 
 Lieutenant-Governor's "perfect satisfaction." ,. - - " 
 
 "I consider these circumstances," continues General Simcoe 
 addressing Lord Hobart, "as authoriising me in general terms to 
 recommend Mr. Talbot to your consideration and protection. - 
 Mr. Talbot's specific application, which I beg leave to support to 
 the utmost of my power, consists of two points. The first is the 
 grant of five thousand acres of land as a field officer, actually and 
 bona-Jide meaning to reside in the Province for the purpose of 
 establishing himself therein. The king's bounty having been 
 extended to the field officers who had served during the American 
 war, in grants to a similar extent (exclusive of an allot- 
 ment for every individual which their families might consist 
 of) it M'as judged expedient by myself, Mr. Chief Justice 
 Osgoode, and other confidential officers of the Crown in 
 that colony, to extend the provision of five thousand acres to any 
 field officer of character, who, hona-flde, should become a 
 settler therein, it being obivous that it was for His Majesty's 
 interest that a loyal set of European gentlemen should, as 
 speedily as possible, be obtained to take the lead in the several 
 districts. This principle, my Lord, was acted upon at the time of 
 my departure from the country, and should I at this moment have 
 remained in the government thereof, I could have seen no reason 
 whatever for departing from it. In consequence, had Mr. Talbot 
 been totally unknown to me, except by his character, and the 
 high rank he had borne in the King's service, I should have 
 thought him a most eligible acquisition to this province, and on | 
 this public ground, without hesitation, have granted him 5,000 
 acres on the same principles that had been laid down and acte«l 
 upon — tliis is the first part of Mr. Talbot's request. The second 
 request of Mr. Talbot is, that these 5,000 acres may be graiited 
 in the Township of Yarmouth, in the County of Norfolk, on Lake 
 Erie, and that the remainder of that township may be reserved 
 
THE TALBOT SETTIiEMENT. 
 
 for Huch a period as may appear advisable to government, for the 
 purpose of his settling it, on the following specific plan, namely: 
 that 200 acres sljall be allotted to him for every family he shall 
 establish thereon; 50 acres thereof to be granterl to each family 
 in perpetuity and the remaining 150 acres of each lot to beconie 
 his property, for the expense and trouble of collecting and 
 locating them." . . •; > 
 
 Although it was found that the grant of 5,000 acres could not 
 be made in the Township of Yarmouth, in one block, in the 
 position desired by Col. Talbot, as large grants had already been 
 made there to the Baby family and the Canada Company, it was 
 made in the Township of Dunvvich ; while further lands were from 
 time to time granted in that and other townships according to 
 the plan of settlement proposed in the second part of Col. 
 Talbot's application as stated by General Simcoe. The cultiva- 
 tion of hemp upon which Col. Talbot based great hopes at first, 
 when applying for lands in Yarmouth, was abandoned as either 
 unprofitable or unsuitable to the needs of tlie settlement. 
 
 It may be of interest to here mention the lands comprising the 
 5,000 acre grant. They were covered by two patents both dated 
 7th May, 1804, or two weeks less than a year after the day the 
 Colonel landed at Port Talbot, and cut the first tree in the new 
 settlement, — a day long after celebrated annually under the name 
 of tliH Talbot anniversary as a general holiday and festival, — 21st 
 May, 1803. The lands comprised in one patent were lots 14 to 24, 
 inclusive, and lots A and B, in the 11th Concession of Dunwich, 
 together witJi broken lots 14 to 24, inclusive, and broken lots A 
 and B, in the 12th Concession. Those covered by the other 
 patent Were lots 22, 23 and 2 1 in the 9th and broken lot 5 and 
 lots 21 to 24, inclusive, and lot A, in the 10th Concession. With 
 the exception of lot 5 in 10th Concession, they formed a solid 
 block at and west of Port Talbot, a demesne of great natural 
 beauty of situation and fertility of soil, where the doughty 
 Colonel is reported, on landing with General Simcoe some years 
 before, at the mouth of Talbot Creek, to have announced, — "Here 
 will I roost!" {(i) The isolated lot 5 in the 10th Concession 
 appears to have succumbed to the beating of the lake storms and 
 gone to the fishes, as it no longer appears on the map. 
 
 (t/) E. Ermatinger's Life, p. 15. 
 
THR TAIiBOT SETTLEMENT. 
 
 Oeneral Simcoe, in tlie letter already (juoted, proceeds to say, 
 that the possibility had been suggested to Colonel Talbot by the 
 representative of the government to whom he had presented his 
 application for the grant of land, of procuring settlei-s in the old 
 co\intry, but that many reasons opposed themselves to that idea, 
 "but should it be practicable to turn the tide of emigration, 
 which government cannot prevent from taking place to the 
 United States, idtimatdy to rest in this province, I Ix'g to 
 consider it as an object of the greatest national importance, and 
 that will speedily fulfil the idea with which I undertook the 
 administration of that government, under my Lord Greenville's 
 auspices, of elevating this valuable part of His Majesty's 
 Dominions from the degrading position of a petty factory, to be 
 a powerful support and protection to the British Empire ; in some 
 instances, such a plan in the infancy of the government had 
 great success, as T had the honor of pointing out to your 
 Lordship, and Mr. Talbot, from habit, observation and nature, in 
 my judgment, is perfectly well suited to give it a wider extent. 
 His plan is to introduce himself amongst a large body of Welch 
 and Scotch families, who arrived at New York in the sunnner of 
 1801, and who have temporarily fixed themselves in the interior 
 of that State, many of whom are disgusted with the dissolute 
 principles of the people there, {e) and feel a strong inclination 
 to return under the government of England, but do not possess 
 the means of purchasing land or paying the fees demanded by 
 the Province on grants. " 
 
 Whether Colonel Talbot introduced himself among the body of 
 settlers referred to or not, it is certain that a considerable num- 
 ber of settlers who had been more or less permanently settled in 
 the United •States, came to the Talbot settlement (J) \ and that 
 
 (e) Governor Simeoe has been charged with undue hatred against the United 
 States. Be this as it may, it seems to have Ijeen part of his policy to 
 encourage the repatriation of British families from that country. See extracts 
 from Travels of the Duke de la Rochefoucault Liaucourt, published in Gourlay's 
 Statistics of Upper Canada, Vol. 2, p. 142. 
 
 (f) According to a list of settlers on Talbot Road attested by M. Burwell, M.P., 
 in 1817 appearing in Gourlay's Statistics of Upper Canada, Vol. 1, p. 352, out 
 of 25 settlers therein named, 11 were natives of the United States ; all of whom 
 came in before or during the war of 1812, and many of whose descendants are 
 still resident here. 
 
THi: TALBOT SETTLEMENT 
 
 in many cjvses they found it difficult to pay even the fees required 
 to take up their patents from the Provincial Oovernment after 
 Colonel Tallx)t iiad assigned them their lands, (g) a fact which 
 caused some conflict between the Colonel and the Provincial 
 Governnjent. Indeed his difficulties with the j^overnment 
 officials at York necessitated the Colonel's repairing occasionally 
 to England, where on all occasions he seems to have gained the 
 ear of the Home Government and succeeded in retaining the 
 authority assumed by him in the settlement, an authority more 
 extensive and independent than that of any other individual in 
 the country -an authority t<Jo, which it is now generally ailmitted 
 was wisely administered in the interests of the settlers and the 
 country generally. 
 
 In his memorial to the Secretary of State for the Colonies 
 written in 1822, and appearing among the documents published 
 by order of parliament in 1836, Colonel Talbot names 23 townships 
 as then composing "the whole of what is at present called the 
 Talbot settlement, " which he goes on to say, " has now become 
 the most compact and flourishing settlement in Upper Canada, 
 containing as it does, a population of at least 12,000 souls, and 
 establishing an uninterrupted communication between the East- 
 ern and Westt-m extremities of Lake Erie, and the settlements to 
 the Northward." (h) 
 
 From the return published in the appendix of the Journal of 
 the House of Assembly for 1836, it appears that the lands placed 
 in the hands of the Hon. Thomas Talbot, under orders in 
 Council and orders from the Lieut. Governor for the time being 
 amounted to 518,000 acres, lying in 28 townships, the population 
 thereof being estimated in 1831 at nearly 40,0^0. By a state- 
 ment given by Colonel Talbot to Mrs. Jameson, the authoress, in 
 1837, the acreage then settled by him had risen to 650,000 
 acres, of which ' "^.700 were cleared and cultivated, while the 
 population had increased to 50,000. "You see !" said he gaily, 
 " I may bcwist, like the Irishman in the farce, of having peopled a 
 whole country with my own hands. " (i) 
 
 (g) See Colouel Talbot's letter to the Lieut. -Governor, dated July 29, 1831, 
 
 App. Journals, L. A. U. C, No. 22, p. 18. 
 
 (h) App. Jour. 1836 (No. 22) p. 10. 
 
 (i) Sketohes in Canada, by Mrs. Jameson, (new edition) p. 106. 
 
THK TALAOT 8KTTLEMKNT. 
 
 It muHt not be assumed that the whole of this vast tract was 
 aettliMl by Colonel Taltot on the original terms granted him, viz. 
 160 of every 200 acres on which he had placed an actual settler. 
 The Colonel had in 1820 completed the location of the lantls put 
 under his direction by virtue of ordem from His Majesty's Gov- 
 erament in England, by placing settlers upon 50 acres for every 
 two hundred {j), and obtained a right of pre-emption of 100 
 acres additional for each of his settlers, which many availed 
 themselves of — while much of the land he afterwards settled did 
 not come within the terms of his grant. 
 
 The conditions on which free grants were made to settlers 
 were that the settler should clear and sow ten acres of land, 
 build a house of prescribed dimensions and open one half the 
 road in front of his farm, all within three years. Failing this, 
 he forfeited his claim. If he performed the condition8,he obtained 
 fifty acres free, and the other 150 acres at $3 per acre ; and a right 
 to a further 100 acres, on payment of cei^tain fees, was conceded 
 also by the Provincial Government, as already stated. 
 
 The provision as to road making soon resulted in the settle- 
 ment becoming noted for possessing some of the best roads in the 
 province — notably the Talbot Road, the main artery of the 
 .settlement. Colonel Talbot's foresight in the location of grants 
 to actual settlei*s and the relegation of Crown and Clergy 
 Re-»erves to the rear of them, as well as the duty of road-making 
 imposed on the settlers, brought about this result; and his policy 
 was commended by the Home authorities for general adoption by 
 the Provincial Government, (k) who had indeed already 
 endeavored to introduce his mode of settlement generally 
 throughout the Province, according to the Colonel's statement 
 contained in the memorial sent by him to the Secretary of State 
 for the Colonies m 1822, already referred to. A perusal of the 
 dispatches and other documents published in 1836 leads to the 
 conclusion that Colonel Talbot's policy generally, as to the 
 opening up of the Country, commended itself to the Home 
 Government, and it is fair to assume that the influence which the 
 
 (J) See letter from Col. Talbot to Sir Peregrine Maitland of 25th March, 1820. 
 App. Journals ls36. 
 
 (i) See Lord Bathurst'a dupatoh of 9th April, 1822, App. Journals, 1836, (No. 22,) 
 p. 9. 
 
 "'V^M9m^!WBsi^''^-v^'^"^''*"r 
 
• THB TAUIOT 8KTTLKMRNT. 
 
 Colonel was able to bring to bear to overcome the opposition of 
 the Provincial (Joverninent was the result of a proper apprecia- 
 tion by the Home authorities (<f the situation, rather than of any 
 family or other influence — a recognition of the fact that the 
 Tallx)t settlement was a<lvancing in a manner unexcelled in any 
 part of the province. 
 
 The Crown an«l Clergy Reserves, however, though n^legated 
 to the rear, were long a source of complaint, as impeding the 
 improvement of the country, (l) But time has gradually etfaced 
 this grievance. 
 
 The manner in which the land transactions of the settlement 
 were recorded by Colonel Talbot in early days, has been the sub- 
 ject of much comment. It certainly possessed the merit of 
 simplicity, resembling in some respects the Torrens system of 
 land transfer now in force in certain parts of the province. The 
 permanency, which is one of the characteristics of the latter 
 system, was not however so scrupulously provided for in the 
 Colonel's simple method — indeed permanency of title could not 
 of necessity obtain, where the performance of settlement duties 
 was the chief condition, until those duties had been perfonned as 
 well as the necessary fees paid, entitling the settler to obtain his 
 patent. Until the settlement duties were performed, the settler's 
 title rested on a simple entry in pencil of his name on his lot by 
 the Colonel upon the map kept by him at Port Talbot. If he 
 deserted his land or failetl in the performance of his duties, his 
 name was subject to erasure by the Colonel's rubber, and its place 
 to be taken by that of some other more deserving settler. When 
 his settlement duties were performed, the ^^ettler obtained from 
 the Colonel a certificate to that effect, entitling him, on payment 
 of the prescribed fees at York, to obtain his patent from the 
 government. 
 
 Simple as this method was, and liable to abuse in the hands of 
 one of a dishonorable or unjust character, to the credit of Col. 
 
 (/) Among the reports seut to Gourlay in answer to questions submitted by him 
 to the various townships in 18i7, are those from the townships in the present 
 County of filgin, everyone of which winds up with a complaint as to non-resident 
 lands and crown reserves retarding settlement. These reports were adopted at 
 meetings of the principal settlers of each township, and present many interesting 
 facts and statisticH. Unfortunately the book in which they are preserved is now 
 out of print— vtho' a copy remain ft in the Legislative Library at Toronto — 
 tiourlay 8 Statistical Account of Upper Canada published in 1822. 
 
TIIK TALIOT srrrivKMKNT. If 
 
 TaIl)ot he it Haiil, tlmt no abuses uie rcconlod, no unjustico 
 appears over to have b.jeii done. The HettUu"H jjenerally had 
 coiiHck'nce in the Colonel's integrity, and found that their eonfi- 
 dence was not misplaced. Where their duties were icasonably 
 pei-forined they obtained their certificates ; but, difficult <us no 
 doubt were found the performance of the.se simph; duties of 
 building a small log house, making half the road in front and 
 clearing and sowing ten acres iA' land, within three yars, the 
 settlers often ♦^nuid it more difficult to obtain the small sum of 
 money neces.sary to enable them to take out their patents, and, hav- 
 ing implicit confi lonce in the integrity of Colonel Talbot, and the 
 potency of his certificate, they often left these patents '^lumbering 
 in the pigeon holes at York for long periods — insomuch that the 
 Provincial Uovernment at one time complained that upwards of 
 5,000 dee<ls remained to ha taken out by the settlers located 
 under the superintendence of Colonel Tallwt. (m) 
 
 The Colonel soon after establishing himself at Port Talbot 
 found that he had some rough customeix to <Jeal with, who would 
 not hesitate to employ physical force, or even weapons, to enforce 
 their demands or take revenge for their disappointment, in case 
 these deman<ls were denied them. As a precautionery measure 
 therefore, he conducted his land business through a 
 window, a moveable pane of glass in which afforded a 
 convenient opening for connn.mication with the visitor without. 
 Jeffrey Hunter, the faithful attendaiit of the Colonel, handed 
 down the maps. The laconic " Well, what do you want?" with 
 which the Colonel opened the interview, and the "Jeffrey, set on 
 the dogs ! " with which he is said to have closed an unsatisfactory 
 one, have become historical expressions. 
 
 The wisdom of placing within the reach of one man 150 acres 
 of the public domain for every 50 acres settle«J by him would no 
 doubt now provoke much opposition. This is not the place to 
 enter into a discussion of the question, which has been more or 
 less discussed in connection with our northwest colonization 
 companies of recent date ; yet it may not be out of place to point 
 to the beneficial results of an early and evenly distributed settle- 
 
 (w) See Letter of Lord Goderich to Sir J. Colborne dated 6th February, 1831. App, 
 Journals, 1836, Vol. 1, p. 18. See also Col. Talbot's reply to Sir J. Colborue, 
 dated July 29, 1831, at same page. 
 
 .,.,^i6^^,^^,^.,:s...:... :.! 
 
10 THE TALBOT 8ETTLKMKNT. 
 
 nient of this fine district and to the fjict that elsewhere large 
 tracts, — whole townships in some cases, — were by the Provincial 
 authorities granted to indivichials, as well as to the Canada 
 Company, and that such tracts were allowerl in many cases to 
 remain undeveloped until the demand for new territory raised 
 the price to a profitwble one for the owner. That settlers them- 
 selves had a preference for the Talbot settlement, even with the 
 limited grants given them there, to settling in other districts 
 where large grants could be had, is indicated by the public 
 documents already referred to, particularly that signed by Chief 
 Justice Powell, (a) Either that was the reason of their "flocking" 
 (as Chief Justice Powell termed it) to the Talbot settlement, or 
 else the other desirable lands of the Province had been so 
 disposed of to individuals or corporations as to be practically 
 unavailable for settlement. So far as Colonel Talbot was himself 
 concerned, the opinion has been expn'ssed that he could have 
 bought all the land he acquired, at the time he obtained his con- 
 cession from the govennnent, or later, for the amount he after- 
 wards expended in settling it. 
 
 During the war of 1812-15 the settlement suffered at the hands 
 of American marauders and their sympathisers on this side of 
 the line, some of whom visited Port Talbot and destroyed Colonel 
 Talbot's mill, the only one at that time in the settlement. The 
 Colonel tells the story bnefly himself, in his memorial to the 
 Secretary of State already referred to, jus follows : — 
 
 "That so early as the breaking out of the late war with the 
 United States of America, your memorialist h&d conquered the 
 principal difficulties which obstruct the growth of new settle- 
 ments, and as the produce of lands sold at a fair price, your 
 memoralist hail a reasonable prospect of being rewarded for his 
 Icng and vigor-^/US executions, and an expense of upwards of 
 £15,000. That from the chanicter of the Tallxit settlement and 
 the principles of loyalty inculcated amongst its inhabitants it 
 became peculiarly obnoxious to the e»emy and the more so as 
 your memorialist during the war couunanded the militia of the 
 London and Western districts and infused into them the spirit 
 of his own settlers ; two expeditions were therefore sent against 
 Port Talbot, by which the settUjment was nearly ruined. That 
 
 ») App. JouratiU, 1836 No. 22, p. 13. 
 
 
THB TAIJSOT 8BTTLBMBNT. 11 
 
 your memorialist returning to Port Talbot on the restoration of 
 peace, found a large farm which he had cleared and bix)ught into 
 cultivp,tion, completely laid waste h\ the enemy, his grist and saw 
 mills, erected by him at a very heavy expense for the accomoda- 
 tion of the surrounding settlers, burnt to the ground— all his 
 effects carried off or destroyed, and his people reduced to the 
 utmost distress and poverty. Nevertheless he did not despair, 
 but diligently set himself to repair the damages he had sustained 
 in the best manner he was able. " (o) 
 
 The buildings of Colonel Burwell, near Port Talbot were 
 among those burnt on this occasion, the Colonel (Burwell him- 
 self) having been carried off as a prisoner on a former 
 occasion. (/)) 
 
 Two months later (Nov. 1814) the work of destruction in the 
 settlement and as far East as the Grand River, was almost com- 
 pleted, so far as mills and produce were concerned, by a raid made 
 bv a force of Kentuckians and Indians under General McArthur, 
 who entered the Country with the avowe<l purpose of destroying 
 ill mills, to cut oft' supplies from the British forces. They proceeded 
 from the Detroit to the Grand River, returning by way of the 
 Talbot Road, pillaging the settlers, but allowing three niills in 
 the Long Point Country to escape them in their rapid retreat, {q) 
 
 These reverses however were not allowe<l long to clieck the pros- 
 perity of the 8ettlen)ont, ai7.1 after the close of the war mills were 
 soon erected in St. Thomas and el.sewhere throughout the settle- 
 ment, to once more take the place of ihe rough wootJen beetle and 
 mortar in which the grain of the earlier pioneers was poun«ied 
 into coarse flour. 
 
 The militia of the settlement, who rendered excellent service 
 in this war as well as in the rebellion of 1887, were, of necessity, 
 but poorly trained and equipped. Indeed there could have been 
 no training at all previous to the war of 1812, when however a 
 number of the Talbot militia were at the capture of Detroit by 
 General 13rock, and rendered service also on the Niagara frontier. 
 
 (o) App. Journal, 183fl, (N«.. 22) p. 10. 
 
 (f<) See (liRpatoh of Lt. General Drummond, datetl Sept. 19th, 1814, Canadian 
 
 ArchivcB C. 685, p. 2()8, Michigan Pioneer, Ac. Coll V^ol, 15 p. B62. 
 
 (<f) See diBpatches of Capt. Bostwick, dated 3rd Nov. 1814, Mr. Chanilters lUtb 
 
 Nov. 1814 and Col. Talbot, Can. Archives o. 686, 139, 187, 677, Mich. P. and 
 
 H. Coll, vol. I.-, pp. 659, 667, «77. 
 
12 THE TALBOT SETTLEMKNT. 
 
 Subsequently an annual training day was appointed — the Kin^j's 
 birthday, 4th June, — when the militia gathered by regiments and 
 performed such evolutions as their meagre opportunities for 
 discipline would allow, finishing the day by toasting the King, 
 and much jollity. Rough and un<lisciplined as they were, the 
 militia of those early days stood the test of active service in a 
 manner which drew enconiums from the highest military author- 
 ities, and went through hardships, cold and privation, in defence 
 of their country, which seem well nigh incredible in the present 
 comfortable, peaceful times. 
 
 "The Hrst iniprovement in this settlement," says an old 
 settler (r) speaking of the settlenient along Talbot Road, "was 
 in 1810. In 1812 the Americans declared war against Great 
 Britain, and Canada was the theatre of their operations ; so that 
 improvement in the settlement was suspended for three years, 
 which was a trying time for eujpty purses and lonely women, 
 while the hushan<ls were on duty to protect a home that was yet 
 in embryo. Yet the thoujrht of that home carried to the heart a 
 thrill of pleasure which the wealthy cannot enjoy, for the reason 
 that anticipation stimulated to actitin for years, or until the 
 object was obtained, wh^^'eas easily accjuired possession often 
 soon cloys, so that the gratification anticipated is of shoi t (hira- 
 tion." — A wholesome truth is here somewhat obscure<l bv wealth of 
 language. The narrator proceeds : "The first act of a settler 
 was with aXe in hand to select a spot on which to erect a shanty ; 
 tlien felling the huge tre-^s to a circmnference that others could 
 not reach the building when erected ; then the timber had to be 
 cut piled and burned to form a starting p(^int for iinther 
 improvement. The shanties were uniforndy built of logs with 
 elm bark for roof atid floor. Then came the furniture which was 
 invariably of home manufacture. The bedsteacl was made of 
 poles with bark taken of! and basswood bark for ' 'cord, and 
 the tools for its construction were an axe and an auger. The 
 table leaf was made from a piece of wood two inches thick, split 
 from the centre of a large log, and holes made with a two inch 
 auger to receive the h^gs ; the seats were tripods, the material 
 and workmanship the same as the table. Then cradles were 
 ready for use by putting rockers to a sjvp-trough. I knew one 
 
 (r) Garrett Oakea' "Tales of a Pioneer" in the London /;r< Press. 
 
THE TALBOT SETTLEMENT. 13 
 
 family where the same sap-trough served to rock four of their 
 babes in succession. The mortar was in«li8penyable in each 
 family. This article was made by cutting a log three feet long 
 and 15 inches in diameter. Tlie log then stood on eml and a 
 fire kept burning in the centre till it formed a bowl-shaped con- 
 cavity to hold ten or twelve quarts. Into this a quart of corn 
 wjvs put and with a heavy wooden pestle pounded to the required 
 degree of fineness, which process had to be repeated morning 
 noon and night — or go without the indispensable johnny cake." 
 
 The settler whose remarks have been just quoted gives the 
 prices of goods during the early days of the settlement, when 
 there was no ctore west of Long Point and but one there ; — 
 established in 1807 : "Broadcloth $20 per yard ; printed cottons, 
 §1 ; steau) loom cottons, $1 ; brass buttons a York Shilling each ; 
 pins, 50 cents a paper ; green tea, $2 per lb ; tob»cco, $1 ; nut- 
 megs, 25c. each : board nails, 25c. per lb; shingle nails, 30c. ; 7x9 
 glass, 25c. a light ; aiul every other article in proportion" 
 Taking the long journey to Port Ryerse into account as well as 
 the prices, one wonders that the merchant had any customers 
 fnmi this district — but necessity compelled, and we nmy only 
 hope that the nutmegs did not turn out to be of the maimfac- 
 tured wooden variety, when brought home ! " During the war, " 
 we are told, nearly all the settlers had to go to Port Ryerse for 
 their salt, pay $12 a bushel for it and carry it home on their 
 backs. In the winter of 1818 I went to I^ong Point and paid 
 $G for 28 pounds, a neighbour offering to take it home in his 
 sleigh. He staid over night on the road, but left his lotid exposed, 
 so that a c<jw destroyed the salt, killed herself, and caused me to 
 return to replace the loss. This necessitated two hundred miles 
 of travel on foot, and $12 in cash, to realize 28 pounds of salt. 
 During an unusual scarcity a pedlar came with a horse load. I 
 took fourteen poun<ls for whien I paid $8. Two of my neigh- 
 bcui's, David Brush and Moses Rice, went to Hamilton and paid 
 $75 for a barrel, and, allowing for their time, expenses and team, 
 it cost them $100. But, a few days after, peace was 
 proclaimed, and in a short time salt could be had at Port Ryerse 
 for $12 a barrel. " A settler who could be accounted "worth his 
 salt " in those days must have been considered an acquisition 
 indeed to the conununity ! 
 
14 THE TAI43UT 8BTTLKMBNT. 
 
 Stores were, before the lapse of many years, however, opened 
 nearer home, in St. Tliomas and elsewhere in the settlement, 
 making the comforts of life more accessible and less costly than 
 in the earliest days. The hardships, the privations, the discom- 
 forts, of those earliest and even later days . re very great and 
 real, though borne with great cheerfulness. Bad roads, or none 
 at all, scarcity of everything, except fuel and perhaps game, poor 
 clothing, rude huts, rather than houses, the wolf literally at the 
 door, or howling near it, every night — such seem to have been 
 the common lot cf all the first settlers. Mi*s. Amelia Harris in 
 her memoirs (r) of early life at Long Point tells how by tlay 
 the men took their cow with them to the woods to browse upon 
 the branches of the trees they were felling, at night fjistening her 
 to the door latch of the house to prevent her falling a prey to 
 prowling wolves. Sheep were unknown in the Talbot settlement 
 during its first ten or twenty years, flax forming the staple 
 material for clothing. The climate was quite as rigorous — if not 
 more so — then as now, — yet the hardy settlers battled with the 
 forest and defied the frost king, despite the lack of woollen gar- 
 ments antl other things accounted luxuries then — necessaries 
 now. 
 
 The rude ox-team dragging a pole split at the further end and 
 parted in shape of a V, a board nailed across to hold the load, 
 kept in place by wooden pins — this rough team arul carriage ot 
 the early settlers has given place to the best of horses, wagons 
 and carriages, the express train, the electric trau), the pneumatic 
 tired bicycle of the present day — all within le.sn than a century. 
 Macadamized roads, paved streets, Hteel railways, have taken 
 the place of the primitive bridle paths and rough corduroy roads: 
 gas, coal oil and electric lights, the pine knot and tallow- «lip. 
 The sickle, with which the early pioneers reaped among the 
 stumps of the freshly felled forest trees, gave place to the scythe 
 and the cradle, they in turn to the mowiiigand reaping machines, 
 they, through various stages of developement, to the present self- 
 binders, — and this within the memory of living men who have 
 used them all. Few, very few, of the original log houses and 
 outbuildings remain. In their place we now see on every side 
 handsome, slate roofed, brick residences, mammoth barns with 
 
 (r) See Ryerson's Loyelista of America Vol. 2, p. 230. 
 
THK TAI.BOT 9RTTIiEME»fT. 18 
 
 stone basementa, in which cattle are housed with far better pro- 
 tection from the weather than the early fanners and their fami- 
 lies enjoyed. Hundreds of acres of smiling fields, oidy too 
 thoroughly cleared of forest trees, waving with golden grain or 
 freshly worked with modern machinery, or green in pa.-ture, 
 meet the eye everywhere throughout the country, where once the 
 hardy pioneer hewed out with his axe a few acres from the all 
 embracing forest, to raise the means of sustenance — his descend- 
 ants now perhaps burning imported coal in their houses, so valu- 
 able and scarce has wood become. Shall tho.se whose lives may 
 span the next century witness advances and changes greater than 
 these ? 
 
 In the early years of the Talbot Settlement the Courts for the 
 London District which embraced a large portion of the settlement 
 were held at Turkey Point, or more strictly speaking at the 
 " Town of Charlotteville, " (s) on the high land overlooking the 
 point. The Township of Charlotteville was not one of those 
 settled by Colonel Talbot, but formed part of what was known 
 as the Long Point settlement. The Court House having been 
 destroyed by fire, a statute passed in 1815, (t) authorized the 
 removal of the District Courts to " the immediate vicinity of 
 Tisdale's mills in the Township of Charlotteville " and a new 
 Court House and Gaol were accordingly erected at Vittoria, which 
 became the capital of the London District. This Court House 
 having also fallen a prey to the flames, the Courts were ordered 
 in 1826 to be holden " within some part of the reservation hereto- 
 fore made for the site of a town, near the forks of the River 
 Thames in the Townships of London and Westminster in the 
 County of Middlesex, so soon as a Gaol and Court House shall be 
 erected thereon " (a) and the same year Thomas Talbot, Mahlon 
 Burwell, James Hamilton, Charles Ingersoll,and John Matthews, 
 of Lobo, were ap}K)inted Commis.«ioners to erect the buildings, 
 were authorized to borrow £4,000 for that purpose, the Commis- 
 sionera to first meet at the " Village of St. Thomas, in the 
 County of Middle.<^ex " on the first Monday in March, 1826, to 
 select a President and Vice-President, (v) The Gaol and Court 
 
 (v) 7 (leo. 4, Cap. 14. 
 
 is) See 8t«t. of U.C., 41, Geo. 3, Cap. 6, (1801.) 
 
 (t) See fiftth Geo., 3 Cap. 16. 
 
 (u) 7 Geo. 4 Cap. 13. 
 
|0 THE TAIJJ«T SBTTI^KMENT. 
 
 House at London were accordingly built, the Courts removed 
 thither and a town begun-dastined to be, ere many yeai*s, a large, 
 handsouie and prosperous city. 
 
 The Western part of the Talbot settlement (w) was 
 judicially served by the District Courts of the Western District 
 held at Sandwich. 
 
 Sandwich and its neighborhood ha<l a white population along 
 the Detroit River during the French Regime long previous to the 
 comnumcement of the Talbot settlement. The Township of 
 Sandwich as well as Romney, Mersea, Gosfield ami Maidstone, 
 was however included in what was known as the Talbot settle- 
 ment in 1822 and previously (x) and the^e townships were no 
 doubt all largely settled by, or the titles to their lands 
 granted under the supervision of Col. Talbot. Over the vast 
 tract of country extending from the Detroit River on the west 
 to the Long Point settlement on the east, Colonel Talbot was 
 practically sovereign. That improved rapidly under his 
 management was (juite apparr c from its condition at the time 
 of his death, while now no niore beautiful, thriving and populous 
 agricultural vlistrict can be found perhaps in Canada. Its people 
 are chiefly of English, Irish, Scotch, Auierican, French and 
 German descent, the French in the west, the Germans scattered 
 through Aldborough and some other townships. The district 
 now contains considerably above 300,000, including three pros- 
 perous cities, some half dozen towns and innumerable thriving 
 villages. Its aggregate we ,1 '" ^>: great. 
 
 Colonel Talbot died in his 8Hui year, at London, in his own dis- 
 trict, in 1853, on his return from a sojourn of a year or so, in 
 Great Britain. His remains were interred in the picturestjue little 
 churchyard at Tyrconnell, where a plain but massive stone slab 
 covers their last resting place. He never married. A consider- 
 able portion of his property was in his lifetime made over by the 
 Colonel to his nephew, the late Lord Airey, military secretary, at 
 the Horse Guards, who had, as Colonel Airey, resided with his 
 
 (7f) The Talbot District establiaheil by Statute in 1837 — must not be confused 
 with the Tall>ot Settlement, as it embraced but a small portion of the settlement 
 proper, though named no doubt in honour of the Colonel who had settled the 
 Western Country. 
 
 (x) See Col. Talbot's memorial to the Secretary of State, for the Colonies app to 
 Joum. 1836, No. 22, p. 10. 
 
THE TALBOT SETTLBMENT. 
 
 17 
 
 family at Port Talbot for some time, dnrinjjf hia uncle's life. The 
 balance of the land.s and other property Colonel Talbot devised 
 to the late George Macbeth, formerly M.P. for West Elgin. 
 
 " I have accomplished what I resolved to do — it is done, " said 
 Colonel Talbot to Mrs. Jameson in 1830, "but I would not, if 
 any one was to oiler me the universe, go through again the 
 horroTfi I have undergone in forming this settlement. But do 
 not imagine I repent it; I like my retirement (y) ." 
 
 {jf) Mrs. Jameson'B Sketches in Canada, (new e«lition) p, 107. 
 
THOMAS L()(;KKU. 
 
 WAKDKN 1852-5. 
 
DEVELorMENT (»F THE COUNTY OP ELlilN. 
 
 BV 
 
 K. W. McKAY. 
 
 ORIGIN OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT. 
 
 It is HiUi\ that Uovernment by town inet'tingK \h the oldest 
 form of (Government in the world, and the student of ancient 
 History is familiar with the Comitia of the Ron)ans and the 
 Ecclesia of the Greeks. These were popular as8end>lies held 
 usually in the market plju*e, the Roman Forum and the Oreek 
 Agora. The Oovernment carried on in tlieni wiis a more or less 
 (]ualitied Democracy. 
 
 The principle of the Town Meeting however, is (jlder than 
 Athens or Rome. Long before streets were built or fiehls fence<l 
 men wandered around the earth hunting for foo<l in familj'' 
 parties. These were what we call Clans, and are supposed to have 
 been the earliest form in which civil 8t)ciety appeared on the 
 earth. Each Clan usually had a Chief or head man, useful more 
 particularly as a lejwler in war times. Its Civil Government, 
 nule and disorderly enough, was in i)rinciple a pure democracy. 
 When a Clan, instead of n»oving from place to phice, fixed upon 
 some spot for a pernianent residence, a village grew up there 
 surrounded by a l)elt of vacant land or somewhat later by a 
 stockaded wall. The belt of land was called a " mark " and the 
 wall wa>i" called a " tun " ; afterwards the enclosed space came to 
 be known sometimes as a " mark " and sometimes as a '• tun " or 
 town, and in England the latter name prevaileil. It was customary 
 to call them by their clan names. Town names of this sort are 
 to be found all over England, and point us back to a time 
 when each was the stationary home of a Clan. These old 
 English towns hod their Tungeuiot or Town Meetings in which 
 By-Laws were made and other important business transacted. 
 The principal officers were the Reeve, the Beadle and the Tithing 
 Man or petty Constable, At first these officers were elected by 
 the people, but after awhile as great loids usurped jurisdiction 
 over the land, the Lord Stewart or Bailiff came to supercede the 
 
DKVKIAJI'MKNT UF TUI COUNTY. 
 
 Rcovo or Beadle. After the Nurinan Conquest, the Townships, 
 thus brought under the sway of jjreat L.<jr<lH, came to b«^ {ijener- 
 ally known by the French name of " Manor" or dwellin;^ places. 
 When the taxes ini pained by the Lords l)ecaine evcessive, the 
 people rebeUed with the result that tiiis issue h'»s l>een tried 
 over and over again in every Country, and in every age, with 
 various results. How nine!) the taxes shall \ie, an<l who is to 
 decide how much they shall be, are always (juestions of the 
 greatest importance. A very laige part of what litis been done 
 in the way of making hi.story has been to settle these questions, 
 whether by discussion or by blows, whether in Council Chambei's 
 or on the battle field. 
 
 After the English had been converted to Christianity, local 
 Churches were gradually set up all over the Country, ami districts 
 called parishes were assigned for the administrations of the 
 Priests. The Parish generally coincided in area with the Town- 
 ship, and in the coui-se of the Thirteenth Century we find that 
 the Parish had acquired the right of taxing itself for Church 
 purposes. Money needed for the Church was supplied in the 
 form of Church rates voted by the ratepayers, at the vestry 
 meetings. The officers of the Parish were the Constable, the 
 Bailiff ami the Vestry Clerks, the Beadle, the Way- Wardens or 
 Surveyors of Highways, ami the Hay-wards or Fence-viewers, 
 and common drivers or Collectfjr of Taxes, and at the beginning 
 of the Seventeenth Century Overseers of the Poor were added. 
 There were also Church Wardens, usually two for each Parish ; 
 whose duties were primarily the care of the Church property, 
 assessing the rates, and calling the vestry meetings. The officers 
 were all elected by the ratepayers. 
 
 In addition to the Parish or Township, we find upon examina- 
 tion that a map of England shews the Country to be divided into 
 Countie.s. We have seen how the Clan, when it became stationary 
 was established as a Town or Township, and in these early times 
 Clans were generally united more closely into tribes, made up 
 of a number of clans or family groups. The names of the tribes 
 were applied tirst to the people and afterwards to the land 
 they occupied. A few of the oldest county names in England 
 still shew this plainly, for example Middlesex was originally 
 
UEVKIiUPMKNT Ur THK CXIUNTY. 
 
 occupied by tho Middle Suxona. Each tri^x^ had itH leader whoao- 
 title was " Kaldonimii," or eldcrniaii, and as they increased in 
 iniluence they ti)<»k the title of kin«^. The little kin;;d<)in» 
 coincided sonietirneH with a single nhire, sometimes with two or 
 more nhireH. The Shire was j;i)verned by the Shire Mote which 
 was a repi-esentative Ixuly. Lmis of Lands, inclulinjr Abbots and 
 Priors, attende< I it, as well as the Keexe an<l fonr selectmen from 
 each Township. As the cities and boroujjhs ^rew into importance 
 they sent representative Burners to these meetings. This Shire 
 Mote wjiH both a Ijc^islative Iw^ly atul a Conrt of Justice. After 
 the Norman (Conquest the Shire lH';;an to be called by the Frenciv 
 name Couiity because of its similarity to the small pieces of 
 Territory in that Country goverr«ed by Counts. The officers of 
 the Shire Mote were the Shin Reeve or Sheriff, who was at first 
 elected by the people an<] held t)ffiee for life, but who was after- 
 wards appointed by the King for a term of one year. The 
 Coroner or " Crow ner " was especially the Crown officer of the 
 Court, and the Justice of the Peace. In 1^2 the Justices of the 
 Peace in each County were authorized to hold a Court four times 
 a year. 
 
 The origin of municipal institutions in this country is due 
 to the people who first came from England to America. They 
 were dissatisfied with the way Church affairs were carried on in 
 the Old Country, and were desirous of establishing a reform, 
 whereby moml)ei's of the congregation should have more voice 
 than formerly in the Church goverinnent. It was owing to their 
 inability to secure a reform of this nature that they ciossed the 
 ocean, .settled in groups, and built their houses near together so 
 that th'>y could all go to the same Church. Thus a Parish, which 
 for municipal purp(xses is called a Township, wjis formed and 
 consisted of as niany fanns as were within convenient distance 
 from the meeting house. Around the meeting house a village 
 gradually sprang up with the customary tavern, store and town 
 hall. 
 
 A Township, taken as a whole, and in relation to the govern- 
 ment of the country, may be looked upon as an individual who 
 obeys the Government, not because he is inferior to or that he is 
 less capable than his neighbor for governing matters, but because 
 
^ DKVKiy.PMKNT Of TMK C<»USTY. 
 
 he jicknovvledjfcH the r.cility of an asH!)'.'iati()n with hiH fellowiuen, 
 and bwaiiMf he knows that no Huch association can oxist without 
 n re|rulatin»if force. As the Townshijw increased in nundK'r, they 
 became a part of hir<;er districts cuIUmI counties, without which a 
 systiMM of united self j^ovennnent would he far fioni coniplete. 
 
 In H'uM) tlie first County was (established in Massaclnissetts as 
 a judicial district with its Couit House, (Jaol and Sheriti* The 
 early Kn^lish settlers were used to a (.'oinity as a district f'lr the 
 Administration of Justice, and tlu'V hroujfht with them Coroners, 
 Sheriffs and Quirter Sessions. In Virginia a dilferent county 
 Hystem was introduced. There was an insurmountable distinction 
 b(>tween the owners of plantations and the miuj and women who 
 had l>et?n indentured " white service." An aristiK'ratic type of 
 society was larpdy develoj)ed in Virj^inia, as readily »is the 
 •jemocratic type wjih <lev«doped in New Knj^huHJ. 
 
 In Virginia the syst«'m was that of the English Parisli, witli its 
 Church Warden and Clerk, and the Vestry composed of tv elve 
 chosen men elected by the ])eople of the Parish. The difference 
 ljetw(!en the New Knj^land Townshij) and the Virjjinia Parish in 
 respect of K(df-j;overnment was (piite plain : in New Enj,dand the 
 Township wjw the unit of th<' representation of th«' Colonial 
 L«?^isbiture : in Vir<^inia not the Parish, but the County was the 
 unit of rej)resentation. I'Ik^ conditions which made the New 
 England Town Abietiu}^ were absent, the only alternative w»is a 
 kind of representatrve j.onernment and ivv this the County wjis 
 a small enouji^ii area. There were usually in each (>)unty eiyjht 
 Justices Of the Peace, and their Court was a counterpart of the 
 Quart<'r Sessions. In addition to the Administration of .lustice 
 these Cotirts superintended the construction r.n«l renair of hij,jh- 
 MvnyK and ftridj^es, and for this purpose divided the County into 
 precincts, appointinj^ annually for each precinct a. highway 
 surveyor. The first representative j^overnment in America was 
 established in Virginia. In Kil!) the co'uiists secured the a])p<>int- 
 mcnt of a Covernor and Council in Enj^iand, and there wasadded 
 a p^enerai Jissembly composed of two burgesses from each y)lanta- 
 tion or settlement ejected by the inhabitants ; this assendji' met 
 for the fii-st tiriein the Church at Jamestown on .'U)th Jtdy, 161!). 
 Iti 1G34 whc-n the Counties were re organized the Burj^esses sat 
 
I>EVKt,()rMKNT OK THK rOI'NTY. 
 
 for Counties. This syHt«'iu of (lovenitiK'nt was coiitiinu;d until 
 lon^' after the wur of indepuudunce. 
 
 CANADA. 
 
 The ilevelopujcnt of (-ivtuula <i^ the abole of civili '.ation was 
 not so rapid as that of her sisUu" country to the South, for the 
 rujf^ednessof the land, the opposition ofsavat^e triiHis, internecine 
 WHifare between settlers, the severity of the winter season, 
 toji^etlier with many other obstacles, otlereii little encouragement 
 to early settlers. ♦ 
 
 Oriffinally the hoin«! of several tribes of Indians, who lived by 
 the chase, prairie-laiul and forest were in the sivme condition as 
 they had been a thousand years before the first pioneer from the 
 eastern world penetrated into the jjloom of the forest or wended 
 his toilsome and danj;»?rous course alon^ the vast water-ways 
 that led to the inceritjr. 
 
 The brave .)ac<|ues Cartier, with his followei-.s, to«)k possession 
 of the land in the nairie of his sover«M^n, Francis 1., in 1534. 
 Th«^ followin;^ year he made another visit. (Mitered the (jiulf on 
 St. Lawrence's Day, nan>e<l j;ulf and ^reat river, for this reason, 
 the St. Lawrence, .sailed up to the Indian villaj^e Stadac<ma, 
 (Quel)e-c) and continuing his voyage retudieil another Indian 
 vilhi'-is called Hocnelapi, which he namcMl Mount Iloyal (Mon- 
 treal). Seventy years afterwards ('ham{»lain and l*ont<;rave were 
 sent out from France to trade with the Lidians in furs, and 
 8ubse(|\ke)«tly, from a favorable icpieseiitation of th»! fertility iind 
 btiauty o\' the new country, French colonists wen^ indueeol to 
 innni^rate. Several families arrived in New France, jis it w»i8 
 then called, tradesmen built hous»»s soldiers erected forts, and a 
 knowledge of (/hristianity wiut imparted to the sa\a/^es by 
 Fnuich clergynjen. From the colony to the south, som*- Kn^lish 
 traders came and in conse<jUence of wars at diftei-ent times 
 betweejj Enjj^land and France aiul iR'tween the Knjjlish (\)lonies 
 and the Mother Country, the early history of Canada is (me of 
 much bloodshed. Indian tribes sidt>d with Ijoth nationalties in 
 the country and frij^htful atrocities were connnitted on either 
 Hide. In 17i;i, the treaty of Utrecht ^ave Acadia (Xovia Scotia), 
 New Foundland and H udson Bay Territory to Knjjiatjd. leaving; 
 
UKVKLOl'MENT OF THB COUNTY. 
 
 Canada, Cape Breton and Louisiana to France. About this time 
 Quebec had a population of 7,000, Montreal 2,000, and the whole 
 of Canada about 25,000. Trading poyts were established in the 
 west on the slKU'es of the lakes, the principal being Kingston, 
 Newark (Niagara), and Detroit. 
 
 QUEBEC 1763 to 1788. 
 
 By the Treaty of Paris signed on February 10th, 1703, Canada 
 passed under British rule. In the month of October following 
 the treaty, a proclamation w»is published under the great seal of 
 Great Britian for erecting four new Civil Governments, those of 
 Quebec, East Florida, West Florida and Granada, in the countries 
 and islantls in America wliieh had t ^en ceded by the definite 
 treaty. During the interval from the capitulati(Mi of Montreal 
 in 1760, to the conclusion of; peace between the two mother 
 countries in 1703, Canada w^as held under occupation by British 
 troops. General Murray, with his headquarters at Quebec, was 
 the chief officer over the colony. The afi'airs of the Country 
 were regulate*) b}'^ a Council, composed of military officers. 
 
 On the 21st of Noventber, 17G3, Captain James Murray was 
 appointed Captain General an<l Governor-in-Chief of the Province 
 of Quebec by Royal Commission. From the wording of the 
 proclamation and conmiission it appears to have been His 
 Majesty's intention with respect to the Province of Quebec, to 
 a.sKnnilate the laws and government of it, to those of the other 
 Amen n Colonies and Provinces, which wer,> under His Mtijesty's 
 immediK',e government, an<l not to continue the Municipal laws 
 and customs by which the conquered people had been here-to- 
 fore governed, any further than as those laws might be necessary 
 to the preservation of their property. This was found to bo 
 impracticable as the people had been accustomed to the French 
 laws since 1003. Instead of a complete introduction of the 
 English laws, a compromise was adopted. In criminal cases, Trial 
 by Jury, an<l English Legal forms were established ; in civil cases 
 ' that etfected property an<l inheritance, the ancient laws of the 
 Colony were allowed to have force, but a considerable period 
 upwards of fourteen years, elapsed before any definite constitution 
 
DEVELOPMKNT OF THE COUNTY. 
 
 or real settled modes of administration of laws can be said to 
 have been introduced. 
 
 In 1774 when Sir Guy Carleton, the successor of General 
 Murray, was Governor of the Colony, the Quebec Act was passed 
 which provied for the appointment of a Council for 
 the affairs of the Province of Quebec to consist of 
 persons resident therein, not exceeding twenty-three or 
 less than seventeen to be appointed by the King. This 
 Council hafl the power to make ordinances for the peace, welfare 
 and good government of the Province with the consent of the 
 Governor. Every ordinance passed had to be transmitted to 
 England for the approval of the King. 
 
 In 1788, under the authority' of two Acts passed by the 
 Legislative Council, Lord Dorchester, Governor, by proclamation 
 issued on the 24th day of July, 1788, divided the Province of 
 Quebec into five districts. The two most westerly districts were 
 called Nassau and Hesse. In the words of the Proclamation 
 Nassau was bounded "on the East by the North and South Line 
 intersecting the mouth of the river now called Trent, discharging 
 itself from the West into the Bay of Quinte, and extending so 
 far Westerly as to a North and South line intersecting the 
 extreme projection of Long Point into the Lake Erie on the 
 Northerly side of the said Lake Erie." 
 
 The District of Hesse was to "comprehend all the residue of 
 our said Province in the Western or inland parts thereof, of the 
 entire breadth thereof from the S(nitherly to the Northerly bound- 
 ary of the same. 
 
 THE DISTRICT OF HESSE.-1788 to 1791 
 
 The formation of the District of Hesse is the first recognition 
 o5 the necessity of some system of administration of justice in 
 what is now Western Ontario. On the day the procla- 
 mation forming the District was issued the following officers 
 were appointed therefor : — Justices of the Court of Common 
 Pleas, Duperon Baby, Alexander McKee and William Robertson. 
 There were also eight Justices of the Peace, a Sheriff named 
 
DKVKL'»PMRNT OR TIIK COUNTY. 
 
 Qrej^or McOre^or, a Clerk of the Court of Connnon Pleas, a 
 Clerk of the Peace aiul Sessions of the Peace, Thoiuaa Smith, Esq. 
 
 At this time the District of Hesse comprehemled a very lar^e 
 ami iindetiiied territory ; the only inhabitants were in the settle- 
 ments around Detroit. These wore computed at alxnit 4,000. The 
 public buildings at Detroit w ere the barracks, government house, 
 council house where the Indians delivered their speeches, an<l 
 other building connected with the fort and naval dock yard. 
 
 In September, 1781), an order was i.ssued from Quebec to th« 
 board of Justices in the District of Hesst;, <letining the lands for 
 settlement in Canada, " beginning at the Western boundary of the 
 last purcluise made by the Crown from the Indians, West of 
 Niagara,( which Western bounciary connnenced at the mouth of the 
 Barlow or Orwell River, now known a8 the C^attish Creek 
 empt^'ing into Jjike Erie at Port Bruce ; thence up a line North 
 sixteen degrees West. This line, when prcKiuced as directed, is 
 very near the location, if not exactly on the Western Town Line 
 of Dorchester hereafter referred to iti the formp*ion of the County 
 of Norfolk in 17})2 jvs the Western boundry thereof.) Then 
 " extendin'- - ng the whole of the border of I^ake Erie to the 
 Straits o' i. .jit up to such distance towards L»ike Huron and 
 to such depth from th' shore as they might deem expedient." 
 These were to be surveye*! and parcelled out for the accomodation 
 of emigrant loyalists ami other settlers, but Ix'fore any part could 
 be granted to individuals tlie whole had to Ix; ceded to the Crown 
 by the Indians. After this had Imhmi done the magistrates were 
 authijrized to .select the prop<;r site for a country town fur the 
 district. A situation opposite the island of Bois Blanc was 
 recommended as the best, and for the purpose of deciding this the 
 Magistrates were ordered to consult with the officers of the 
 Militia and other English inhabitants. After the town site had 
 been decided upon, the Surveyor of the District was to lay out 
 the Townships and procee*! to receive applications and issue 
 certificates for town and farm lots. Those who already occupied 
 improved farms were to receive certiiicatcs. 
 
 U. E. LOYALISTS. 
 As soon as the struggle had ended in the old Colonies by 
 
nRVRLOPMKNT OK THB tHHTSTY; 
 
 their successful assertion of iudepetideiice a vaist migration of 
 Loyalists took place into Canada, These people, who had l)een 
 accustomed to the exorcise of the electoreal privilege, join(Ml with 
 those of their countr^^nen who had previously settle<l there in 
 demanding a moditication of the Quebec Act, and the establish- 
 ment of a Lineal Lejrislature. This resulted in the passaj^e of the 
 Constitutional Act, bein«( 31, Gearge III, chaj)ter !U, by which 
 representative institutions were conferred an<l the whole Province 
 <livi<led into two, with the desij^nation of Ui)per and Lower 
 Cana la, now known as tha Provinces of Ontario ami Quebec. 
 
 WESTERN DISTRICT 1792 to 1798. 
 
 In July, 1792, Governor Simcoe l)y pnK'lamation issued from 
 the Govennuent House of Kingston, under the authority of the 
 Constitutional Act, divide<l the Province into nineteen counties. 
 Th«! Sixteenth, or County or Norfolk, vv»is"lioundcd on the North 
 and Kast by the County of Lincoln, an<l the River La Tranche 
 iiow called the Thauies. (The Eastern Ixmndary was tiie (irand 
 River which fonned the Western boundary of the lirst 
 and fourth ridings of the C'ounty of Lincoln. ) On the 
 South si<le by the Lake Erie until it meets the Harlue 
 to be called the Orwell River," (now known as tlie Cattish 
 Creek emptying into the lake at Port Jiruce.) " thence up 
 a line North sixteen degrees West until it intersects tlu; river 
 La Tranche or Thames."; "thence uj* the said rivei- until it meets 
 the North-West Ixnnidary of the West Riding of the County ot 
 V'ork." This line from the; mouth of the Orwell river, when pro- 
 duced as <l(!.scril)ed, is very near the location, if not exactly on the 
 Western Town-line of the Towjiships of North and South Dor- 
 chester The Seventeenth, or (bounty of Snrtblk, was bounded on 
 the Ea.st by the County of Norfolk : on the South by I^jike Erie 
 and until it meets the carrying place from the Point au Pins 
 unto the Thames; on the West by the .saul carrying place, thence 
 up the said Riv«?r Thames until it meets the North-West l^ound- 
 ary of the County of Norfolk."' This placed the territory now 
 known as the Townships of Malahi<le, Dorchester and Ray ham 
 in the County of Norfolk ; the remainder of the present County 
 formed part of the County of Sutiblk. 
 
10 DKVKLOl'MKNT OF TIIK CX>UNTy. 
 
 In this division of the Province into Counties, but very little 
 attention seems to have been paid to the boundaries of the four 
 districts into which the Province ha<l l)een already divided. If 
 we consider the circumstances that bo surveys had been made in 
 the District of Hesse, except in the nei^hborhoo<l of Detroit, and 
 the fact that the greater part of the country oi; both sides of the 
 Grand River was thickly populated by Indians, it was evidently 
 the intention to divide the District of Ht^sse into four Counties, 
 namely, Norf(ilk,SuttbIk, Essex an<J Kent ; the three tii*st occupy- 
 ing all the territory South of the Thames. The County of Kent 
 occupying all of the country not being territories of the Indians 
 not already included in any of the other counties extending 
 Northward to tlie Hu<lson Bay, and Southwaril of the said line to 
 the utmost extent of the country known by the name of Canada 
 
 For the purpose of representation the fourth riding of the 
 County of Lincoln which was Ixjunded on the Ejust by the Niagara 
 River, on the South by Lake Erie, on the West by the Grand 
 River or Ouse, and on the North by the Chippawa or Welland 
 River and the road leading from the forks of the Welland to the 
 Grand River, was united with the County of Norfolk for the 
 purpose of sending one representative to the House of Assembly, 
 The County of Suffolk and the Couniy of Essex were also joined 
 together for the same purpc>se. 
 
 The first session of the tii-st Provincial Parliament was con- 
 vened at Niagara on the I7th <lay of September, 1792. The 
 session histed twenty-eight days. Eight Acts were passed; the first 
 "to introduce English law as the rule fcr decision in all mattei*8 
 of controversy relative to law and civil rights." The second " to 
 establish trials by Jury"; the third, "to establish the use of the 
 Winchester measure and a standard for other weights and 
 measures " ; the fourth, " to abolish all sunnnary proceedings in 
 Courts of Common Pleas in actions under ten pounds sterling " ; 
 the fifth, "an Act to prevent accidents by fire " ; sixth, " for the 
 more easy pay anil speedy recovery of small debts " ; seventh, " to 
 regulate the tolls to be taken in mills" and the eighth ' for build- 
 ing a gaol and court house in every district within the Province, 
 and for altering the names of the Districts." 
 
 The District named Hesse was hereafter called the Western 
 
 ^•■ » i j ia M ii i . 
 
DRVRIX)PHSNT OF THK COUNTY. 11 
 
 District. Section 13 of this Act enacted that the gaol and court 
 house for the We.stern District should be built in the manner sot 
 fortli, and as near the present Court House as conveniently may 
 be. This was at Detroit. 
 
 The first Act of the Second Session of the fii-st Parlianient 
 wius "for tlie better regulation of the militia." The second was 
 an Act " to provide for the nomination and appointment of parish 
 and town officers." This Act provided that "any two of His 
 Majesty's Justices of the Peace acting within the Division in 
 which any parish, township, reputed tf)wnHhip, or phu;e may be, 
 may issue their warrant giving eiglit (hvys previous notice to the 
 const ible of such parish, township, reputed township, or place 
 authorizing him on a day to be fixvxl by the said Justices in the 
 present year, and on the first Monday in the montli of March in 
 every ensuing year, to asvsemble the inhabitant householders, 
 paying or liable to pay to any public ji-ssessment or rate of such 
 parish, township, reputed township.or place, in the parish church 
 or chapel or in some convenient place within the said parish * * 
 for the purpose of choosing and nominating the parish or town 
 officers hereinafter mentioned, to serve in their respective offices 
 for the year next ensuing, at which meeting the said constable 
 shall preside." The office of constable appears to have still 
 retained some of its ancient dignity in the estimation of the 
 colonists. The inhabitant householders who assembled, were 
 authorized to cnoose a (cleric of the Parish or Township, whose 
 duty it should be " to make a true and complete list of every 
 male and female inhabitant within the limits of the Parish or 
 Township, and return the same to tlie Justices acting as afore- 
 said," and " to enter and record all such matters as shall 
 relate to the saitl P irish, Town or Township, and shall apper- 
 tain to his office." They were also authorized to choose two 
 persons to serve as aasessors, one person to serve as collector of 
 taxes, and not less than two or more than six persons as specified 
 in the warrant issued by the Justices, to serve as overseers of 
 highway.s. The duty of these officers was " to oversee and 
 perform such things em shall be directed by any Act to be passed 
 touching or concerning the highways and roads," and to serve as 
 fence viewers. They were also to choose a pound-keeper, and 
 
12 DEVEUH'MENT OF THB COUNTT. 
 
 two pei*Ho»i8 to Herve Jis town wardens, but, " as H<x)n an any 
 church wjiH built for performance of iJivine Hervice according; to 
 the UHc of the Church of Eu^huid with a parson or minister (hily 
 appointed thereto," the liouseholders should choose one of those 
 wardens and the parson or minister nominate the other. The 
 two HO chosen and nonnnated were declared "a corporation to 
 represent the whole inhabitants of the town or parish, "and as 
 such " may have a property in the goods or chattels of or 
 belonging to the parish, and may prosecute, or defend in all 
 presentments, indictments or actionsfor and on behalf of the in- 
 habitants of the said parish. "Persons neglecting or refusing to 
 take the oath of office, and discharge the duties were 
 subject to a penalty of forty shillings in each case, and the 
 magistrates at a special Sessions, could naniD one or more persons 
 to fill the positions they left vacant. The Act did not define the 
 duty of any of these officers further than to state that the over- 
 seers should do whatever may be directed respecting the high- 
 ways by any Act to be passed, and that as fence-Niewers they 
 should, upon receiving proper notice view and detennine upon 
 the height and sufficiency of any fence "conformably to any 
 resolutions that may be agreed upon " at the meeting so held. 
 And the pound-keeper was authorized to impound all cattle 
 found trespa.ssing upon any land properly fenced, and any stallion 
 of more than one year oM that may be found roaming at large. 
 The same Act authorized the Magistrates at Quarter Sessions to 
 appoint a high constable for each District annually, and 
 constables for each Township. 
 
 If the Township did not contain 30 inhabitants it was not 
 lawful for the Justices to issue their warrant calling a meeting 
 therein, and said Township was joined to the Township adjacent 
 thereto that contained the smallest number of inhabitants. 
 
 The system of County Government then introduced was similar 
 to that already established in the state of Virginia. Chapter 4 
 of the Act of this Session was to regulate the laying out and 
 mending and keeping in repair the roads and highways in the 
 Province. 
 
 Chapter 6 was to fix t\ie times and places of holding the Courts 
 of General Sessions of the Peace within the several Districts of 
 the Province. 
 
 *n « » - «» i wi>-g.ir i nTi»<ni ij ni"< i Wi .i -i iii r rt)» Hw i m>' i miM i irteTgiwpri'»r \{ imm0»v i,'iit^'mttii^r,f«!,m iWiwuiBKBTiiiJii'iwrnivi' ■ 
 
PBVRI.OPMBNT OF THK C017NTY. If 
 
 Under the authority of tlie Act 'i3 (ieo. Ill, it was ilirectod 
 that the CourtH ol Quarter Soasions of the Peace for the WeHtern 
 District of the Pmvince, shouhl cotnnience ami l>e holder in the 
 Tow of Detroit, and that special Sessions of the Peace should 
 commence and l)e holden yearly and in every year in the Town 
 of Miehilimackinae. By Chapter 4 of the Acts passed by the 
 first Parliament <m the 3rd June, 179() it was enacted that the 
 Court of General Quarter Sessions of the Peace for the Western 
 District shall conunence and he holdeti in the Parish of Assump- 
 tion, now Sandwich, in suth place as n»ay be f()un<l to be most 
 convenient for the Maj^istrates of said District or the major part 
 of them, on the second Tuesdays of the months of July, Octol)er, 
 January an<l April until such time as it shall seem ex}je<lient to 
 the Magistrates or the major part of them to remove and hold the 
 same nearer to the Island called the Tshmdof Hois Blanc (opposite 
 Andierstburg,) beinjif near the entrance to the River Detroit. The 
 District Court for the cojijnizancc of small cases was also at this 
 time remove*! from the town of Detroit, and onlere<l to be held 
 at and in the same place wherein the CJeneral Qtiarter Sessions 
 were to be held. This change was necessary owing t<^ the 
 evacuation of Detroit by tlie British in 1795. The work of 
 surveying Townships under direction of the Provincial Govern- 
 ment was now being carried on, and during the second sessifm of 
 the Second Parliament, held at York in 1798, an Act was passed 
 constituting the Township of London, Westminster, Dorchester, 
 Yarmouth, Southwold, Dunwich, Aldb(jrough and Delaware, to 
 form the C.ounty of Middlesex, and also to constitute the Town- 
 ships of Burford, Norwich, Dereham, Oxford upon the Thames, 
 Blanford and Blenheim as the County of Oxford. The Town- 
 ships of Rainham, Walpool Woodhouse, Charlotteville, 
 Walsingham, Houghton, Middleton, Windham and Townsend 
 were formed into the County of Norfolk. Section 37 of this Act 
 enacted "that the Counties of Norfolk, Oxford and Middlesex 
 with so much of this province as lies to the westward of the 
 Home District and the District of Niagara, to the southward of 
 Lake Huron antl between them and a line drawn due north from 
 a fixed boundary (wiv re the eastermost limit of the Township of 
 
 — >»itWini>riirrt»-ii.iH>8Mi»«iailijta>T»"V> ■ 
 
14 DKVKLOPMKNT Of THE COIINTT. 
 
 Oxfonl intersect* the River ThaiiieH) till it arrives at Lake 
 Huron, be constituted to form the District of London. 
 
 DISTRICT OF LONDON~t800-1837. 
 OROANIZATION. 
 
 With the promuljjation by Proclamation bearin^r <lato the first 
 day of January, 1800 of the Act passed establiNhin«( tlu! District of 
 London, a j^eneral connnission of the Peace wjis issued for the said 
 District The following extract from the original reconls will 
 shew the manner in which the Commission was received, the 
 District organized, and a General Quarter Sef^sions of the Peace 
 established : — 
 
 DISTRICT OF LONDON, UFPEIl CANADA. 
 
 On the first day of April, in the year of our Lord one thousand 
 eight hundred, and about noon on the same day, a packet was 
 delivered to me by Samuel Ryerse, Es(|uire, which packet con- 
 tained a General Commission of the Peace for the District of 
 L(mdon, dated at York the first day of January, one thousand 
 eight hiindred. And in and by the said Commission of the Peace 
 the following Honorable Gentlemen and Gentlemen are appointed 
 to be His Majesty's Justices of the Peace, in and for the District 
 of London, that is to say, the Honorable John Elmsley, the 
 Honorable Peter Russell, the Honorable Phineas Shaw, the Hon- 
 orable James Baby, the Honorable Alexander Grant, the Honor- 
 able John McGill, the Honorable David William Smith, the 
 Honorable William Dummer Powell, the Honorable Henry 
 Allcock, Samuel Ryerse, William Spurgin, Peter Teople, Thomius 
 Hornor, Benjamin Springer, John Backhouse, John Beemer and 
 Wynant Williams, Esquires ; also three other comnnssions nomi- 
 nating and appointing me to be Clerk of the Peace, Clerk of the 
 District Court an«l Registrar of the SuiTogato Courts. Also, a 
 Coramitjsion dated at York the twelfth day of February, one thous- 
 and eight hundred, nominatitig and appointing Samuel Ryerse, 
 Thomas Hornor, Escjuirea, and myself to be coranussioners for tak- 
 ing the acknowledgements of recogni sance or recognizances of bail 
 
DRVKI-OPMRMT Of THK COrNTY. IS 
 
 or bails for the Court of Kitijf's Bfiicli ; jiIho, Dcdiinus Poti'Htatcin 
 dated at York, the tii*Ht (hiy of Januai-y, one titouHAud eight 
 hundred, iioiiiinatii)^ and appointing Samuel RyerHo, VVMIIiani 
 Sj)urgin and Peter Teeple, KHcjuireH, to be ConunisHioners for 
 adinir.iHtering the oathH prescribed by law to the otficerH of tho 
 Govennnent. 
 
 Tfiomah Welch, C. P. 
 April 1st, 1800. 
 
 April 2nd, 1800. 
 
 At a nieeting "f the Magintratts resident in the TownshipH of 
 Charhjtteville and Wtxxlhou.se, who met at the house of Jamos 
 Munro, in C'harlott<(ville, for the j)urj)os(.' of carrying into execu- 
 tion tho intention of His Majesty's CommissionerH of the I*eace for 
 the District of London, the following persons were duly swoni 
 into office according to law, that is Ui say : — VVilliam Spurgin, 
 Esijuire, by Samuel Ryerse, Estpiire; Samuel Ryerse, Escjuire, by 
 William Spurgin, E.squirc ; and Peter Teeple, E.S(juire, by Sanniol 
 Ryerse, Esipiire, as Justices of the Peace; Thomas Widch, Estjuiro, 
 by San»uel Ryerse, Es(iuire,as Clerk of the Peace, all })etween the 
 hours of 9 and 12 o'clock in the foi-<'nw)n of the same day. 
 
 Thomas Wku;h, 0. P. 
 
 The aforesaid Justices then formed themselves into a special 
 Session of the Peace. 
 
 Tiit».MA.s Wkjx^h, C. p. 
 
 The Court of Special Sessions of the Peace opened in due 
 form ; Samuel Ryerse, Escjuire in the chair. 
 
 Ordered by the Court that a Venire he made out in due form 
 re(juiring and connnanding the Sheriti of tiie District of I^fjndon, 
 to nmke Proclanuition throughout the District, that a General 
 Quarter Sessions of the Peace, in and for the District of L<jndon, 
 will be holden at the house of James Munro, in Charlotteville, on 
 Tuesday, the eighth of this present month of April, at ten o'clock 
 in the forenoon of the same day, and to sunnnon a jury for the 
 said Court, which being done, the Court is adjourned to Tuesday 
 next, at 10 o'clock a. ni. 
 
 Thomah Welch, C. P. 
 
 April the 8th, 1800. 
 
 District 
 OF London. 
 
 TO WIT: 
 
 The General Quarter Sessions of the Peace holden 
 
 ■v. )';w«iytT?ii S A^> ? Pup7,;< i H i j i " ii« ^:y<»i| i %F .'.;^^ 
 
16 DEVELOPMENT OF THE COUNTY. 
 
 at the house of Jamea Munro, in Oharlotteville, in and for the 
 said District on the eighth day of April, in the fortieth year of 
 the reign of our Sovereign Lor'i George III, of Great Britain, 
 France and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, and so forth, 
 and in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred ; before 
 the Justices of our said Lord the King, assigned to keep the 
 Peace in the said District, and also to hear and determine divers 
 felonies, trespasses and other misdemeanor^ in the said District 
 comuiitted, and of the Quorum. 
 
 1. Samuel Ryerse, Esquire — Chairman. , '. 
 
 2. William Spurgin. V > 
 
 3. Peter Teeple. ' ' 
 
 4. John Beemer, and 
 
 5. Wynant Williams, Esquires, associate Justices attending. 
 
 ' ;■■ : , Joseph Ryerson, E-sqcire, vSheriff, . ' 
 
 • ■ » . V ; Thomas Welch, Clerk of the Peace. 
 
 ' : . GRAND INQUEST. , ' 
 
 1. Dan Millard — Foreman. 8. William Cope. 
 
 2. Nathan B. Barnum. 9. Jacob Buckner. :]' 
 
 3. William B. Hilton. , 10. Peter Walker. 
 4i. Robert Munro. ' IL Phillip Force. 
 
 5. Silas Secord. 12. James Mathews. 
 
 6. Lucas Tederick. 13. John Gustin. j ; - 
 
 7. John Davis. 
 
 April the 8th, 1800. 
 
 The Court met according to appointment or adjournment and 
 opened in due form. 
 
 Wynant Williams and John Beenier Esquires took and sub- 
 scribed the oaths subscribed by law, as Justices of the Peace, in 
 and for the District of London, the oachs administered by Samuel 
 Ryerae, Esquire, in open Court, between the houns of 9 and 12 
 o'clock in the forenoon. J' 
 
 William Budd Gould, gentleman, is appointed by the Court to 
 be High Constable of the District of London, and sworn into 
 office, according to law, in open Court ; and Constables for the 
 present year were at the same time nominated and appomted by 
 the Court, viz. : — Moses Rice for Charlotteville, sworn in open 
 Court. Albert Berdan, for Woodhouse, Walpole and Rainham 
 
 P 
 
DKVELOrMENT OF THE COUNTY. 17 
 
 and Crier of the Quarter Sessions and District Court, and sworn 
 in open Court. Simon Mabee, for Walsingham, sworn in open 
 Court, and John Muckle, junior, for Townsend and Windham, 
 and sworn in open Court. 
 
 The Grand Jury sworn in due form, and the charge given 
 them by the chairman. 
 
 Simon Mabee. Constable attending the Grand Jury. ! 
 
 - ' ■ • ^ • April, the 8th, 1800. 
 
 The Grand Jury present, the publick roads of the District as 
 being not laid out according to law, by ratjans whereof they are 
 grievio'is and a public nuisance. • : • • 
 
 Ordered, that Juries be summoned and sworn in different 
 parts of the District, to view and report on the grounds on which 
 roads are required to be laid out. 
 
 Personal applications in Court for better regulations of the 
 publick roads in different Townships, viz. : — 
 
 For Charlotteville, Dan Millard. 
 
 For Tov isend and Windham, Jabez Collver, Sr. 
 
 For Woodhouse, Richard Mead. 
 ; The Court is adjourned to two o'clock p. m. 
 
 The Court met according to adjournment, and opened in due 
 form. . .'-■.-'..•' "^'v' ■•''■■;;&• ^. ^: ', '^" ■■-"- '■■' '-■..;> "'"^ ':",'- ■-.■■-■.■■ 
 
 Samuel Ryerse sworn into oflRce as Surrogate, and Thomas 
 Welch also sworn into office as Registrar of the Surrogate Couit ; 
 both sworn according to law in open Court. 
 
 The Grand Jury dismissed by the Court at four o'clock p. m. 
 
 The Court is adjourned until to-morrow at ten o'ck)ck a. ra. 
 
 ; ^.. April the 9th, 1800. 
 
 The Court met according to adjournment, and opened in due 
 form. 
 
 1. Samuel Ryerse, Esquire, Chairman. 2. W^illiam Spurgin. 
 
 3. Peter Teeple. 4. John Beemer, and 
 
 5. Wynant Williams, Esquires, associate Justices. 
 Joseph Ryerson, Esquire, Sheriff 
 
 The petition of James Munro of Charlotteville, praying to be 
 recommended by the Court in order to obtain a License to keep a 
 house of public entertainment at the house he now dwells at, was 
 read in Court, and the prayer of the Petitioner granted. 
 
18 DEVELOPMENT OF THE CODNTY. 
 
 The petition of Joseph WooUey of Walsingham, praying to 
 have hia Statute Labor on the highways lessened, was read in 
 Court, and his labor on the publick roads stated by the Court, at 
 two days for the ensuing year. 
 
 The petition of Titus Finch and others for a road, read in 
 Court and ordered to lie on the table. 
 
 The petition of Walter Anderson of Charlotteville, praying to 
 have his Statute Labor on the Highways lessened, was read in 
 Court, and the prayer of the petitioner granted, stating his 
 statute labor on the public highways at four days for the ensuing 
 year. .„ ^^,.,^^_, ..„ ,.^, ,.„,,,._,. . ., ,,„ _^. ■ , , , ..,^-^ _„_, 
 
 ; " ' ORDERED BY THE COURT ) ; V;^ 
 
 That no composition for labor on the highways for the 
 ensuing year, be permitted within the District of London. 
 
 The Court is adjourned to Saturday next at 9 o'clock a. m 
 
 April the 12th, 1800. 
 
 The Court met according to adjournment, and opened in due 
 form. , ■- L ■ ■/'■ ^ - ; ■• 
 
 1. William Spurgin, Esquire, in the chair. 2. Peter Teeple. 
 
 3. Wynant Williams, and 4. John Beemer, Esquires, associate 
 Justices. 
 
 The opinion of the Court being taken, respecting Mr. 
 Jabez CoUver's papers, the Court is of opinion that with the 
 addition of his oath if required, his ordaination may be sufB- 
 ciently authenticated. 
 
 The petition of sundry inhabitants of Charlotteville, praying 
 for a road to be laid out in that Township, read in Court and 
 ordered to lie on the table. 
 
 Nathan Bunnell Barnum, and Finlay Malcom are appointed 
 by the Court to be each of them a keeper of a standard for 
 weights and measures within the District of London, and the 
 Clerk of the Peace is ordered by the Court, to notify them 
 respectively of their appointment as soon as possible. 
 
 ORDERED BY THE COURT. 
 
 That Samuel Ryerse, Wynant Williams and John Beemer 
 Blsquires, do act as Justices of the Court of Request, and Com- 
 missioners of Highways in and for that Division of the District 
 
DEVELOPMENT OF THE COUNTY. 19 
 
 of London which is composed of the Townships of Rainham, 
 Walpole, Woodhouse and Townsend. The Courts of Request for 
 the said Division to be holden at the house of James Clendennen 
 in Woodhouse. 
 
 That William Spurgin and Peter Teeple, Esquires, do act as 
 Justices of the Court of Request, and Commissioners of Highways, 
 in and for that Division of the District of London which compre- 
 hends tl\e Townships of Charlotteville, Walsinj^ham, Houghton 
 and Miudleton. The Courts of Request to be holden at the 
 dwelling house of Miden Stacy in Charlotteville. 
 
 The petition of Silas Secord and others, praying redress of 
 grievances on account of the officers appointed in this County? 
 particularly of the person whom the Petitioners state is 
 appointed Deputy Sheriti ; was read in Court, and ordered by 
 the Court to be filed of record. ;^ . ' 'v .; ; * 
 
 Dan Millard Esquire, of Charlotteville, is appointed by the 
 Court to be Treasurer of the District of London. ; • 
 
 The Court do resolve as follows, that is to say : , 
 
 1st. That as soon as the Court can be furnished with certain 
 information of what is allowed in the Court of Quarter Sessions 
 for the District of Niagara for extra services performed by the 
 Clerk of the Peace in the line of his duty. a .-,.. -^ 
 
 2nd. Fees to the Town Clerks for services performed in the 
 line of their duty. 
 
 8rd. Fees to the Pound -keepers for the services performed in 
 the line of their duty. 
 
 4th. Fees to the Crier of the Court of Quarter Sessions for 
 services performed in the line of his duty ; the Court will proceed 
 to take order therein accordingly. 
 
 5th. That the Court will proceed to consider and determine of 
 the ways and means for defraying the expenses which will be 
 incurred in procuring seals, books, etc., etc., for the several 
 Coufts of Quarter Sessions, the District Court and Surrogate 
 Court of this District. 
 
 The Court is adjourned to the Second Tuesday in July next. 
 
 Thomas Welch, 
 
 Clerk of the Peace. 
 
20 DEVELOPMBNl' OF THE COUNTY. 
 
 District ] July 8th, 1800. 
 
 OF London. [ 
 
 TO WIT : j The General Quarter Sessions of the Peace, holden 
 at the House of James Munro, in Charlotteville in and for the 
 said District on the eighth day of July, in the fourtieth year of 
 the Reigfn of our Sovereign, Lord George the Thu-d, oi Great 
 Britain, France and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, and so 
 forth. Before the Justices of our said Lord, the King, assigned 
 to keep the Peace in the said District, and also to hear and 
 determine divers felonies, trespasses and other misdemeanors in 
 the said District committed, and of the Quorum. 
 
 The Court met according to adjournment, and opened in due 
 form. 
 
 1. Samuel Ryerse, Esquire, Chairman. 2. William Spurgin. 
 3. Peter Teeple. . , 4. John Beemer. 
 
 5, Thomas Hornor. * 6. John Backhouse, 
 7. and Wynant Williams, Esquires, Associate Justices. 
 
 Joseph Ryerson, Sheriff. 
 
 Thomas Welch, Clerk of the Peace. 
 Proclammation made in due form, and the Commission of the 
 Peace, and the Act of Parliament for the better securing the 
 Province against the King's enemies publickly read. 
 
 THE GRAND INQUEST. 
 
 1. Isaac Gilbert, Foreman. 8. Job Slaght, Sr. 
 
 2. Walter Anderson. 9. Philip Sovereign. 
 
 3. Robert Henderson. 10. John Culver. 
 
 4. Joseph Lemon. 11. Michael Shoaff. 
 
 6. Larrance Johnson. 12. William Dill. 
 
 6. Daniel McCoU, Jr. 13. John Sovereign. 
 
 7. Abraham Powell. 
 
 Moses Rice, Constable attending the Grand Jury. 
 
 The Grand Jury sworn and their charge delivered to them in 
 due form, by the Chairman. 
 
 John Backhouse, Esquire took and subscribed the oath pres- 
 cribed by law, as one of His Majesty's Justices of the Peace for 
 this District in open Court. Oaths administered by Samuel 
 Ryerse, Esquire. 
 
DEVELOPMENT OF THE COUNTY. 21 
 
 RULE OF COURT. 
 
 The Clerk of the Peace shall be allowed to ask, demand and 
 receive of and from each person claimingja Bill of Indictment, the 
 sumof Ten Shillings, lawful money of this Province, and two shil- 
 lings like money for each subpoena, except in extraordinary cases 
 where the Court may think proper to order otherwise. 
 
 The proceedings of the last April Sessions being publickly 
 read by order of the Court, and the opinion of that session 
 relative to the proof offered by Jabez Collver, sr., of his ordination 
 to the Ministry of the Gospel, is protested against by Samuel 
 Ryerse, Esquire. 
 
 Artimus Rogers is nonnnated and appointed by the Court to 
 be Constable for the Township of Burford. 
 
 Hammon Lawrence is appointed by the Court to be Constable 
 for the Township of Oxford. 
 
 Proclamation being made in due form, aud the Justices of 
 the Peace called upon to give in their record, a conviction and 
 six shillings line against Daniel McColl, jr., for profane swearing 
 on the 28th day of June last. 
 
 Silas Secord appears in Court on Recognizance at suit of the 
 King, and is discharged on paying costs. 
 
 The Court is adjourned t > to-morrow at ten o'clock a. m'. 
 
 July the 9th, 1800. 
 
 The Court met according to adjournment and opened in tlue 
 form. 
 
 1. Samuel Ryerse, Esquire, Chairman. 2. William Spurgin. 
 3. Peter Teeple. 4. Thomas Hornor. 
 
 5. John Beemer, and 6. John Backhouse, Esquires, 
 
 Associate Justices. 
 Joseph Ryerson, Esquire, Sheriff. 
 
 Thomas Welch, Clerk of the Peace. 
 
 The Grand Inquest and Traverse Jurors called and dismissed 
 by the Court. 
 
 A Report of the Road between Townsend and Windham, also 
 in the Township of Oxford and Burford, and on Dundas street 
 was read in Court. 
 
 ORDERED BY THE COURT. 
 
 That the Commissioners of Roads, in and for the Townships 
 
22 DKVKLOPMENT OF THK COUNTY. 
 
 Windham and Tovvnsend, do proceed and lay out the above roads 
 as soon as it can ^onviently be done. The said four reports being 
 delivered to the Commissioners of roads by order of the Court. 
 
 Ordered by the Court, that John Beenier and Thomas 
 Hornor, ELsquires, do act of Justices of the Peace and Commis- 
 sioners of Roads in and for the Townships of Windham and 
 Townsend in the County of Norfolk, ami also in and for the 
 Counties of Oxford and Middlesex. And that the places for 
 holding the Courts of Recpiest for the above division shall be at 
 the dwelling houses of Mordecai Sayles, in Townsend, and John 
 Fowler in Burford alternately. And that John Backhouse. 
 Esquire, do act as a Justice of the Peace in the Court of Request 
 holden at the dwellinjr house oi Moiden Stacv in Charlottevillle* 
 and as a Commissioner of Roads for the Township of Charlotte- 
 ville and Walsingham. • - ^> 
 
 Hammon Lawrence, of the Township of Oxford, is appointed 
 by Court to ba a keeper of a standard for weights and measures 
 asreeablv to the Provincial Statute in that case made and 
 provided. 
 
 The petition of Han;mon Lawrence of Oxford, praying to be 
 recommended for the purpose of obtaining a license for keeping a 
 publick house of fintertainment at the house he now dwells at, was 
 read in Court, and the prayer of the Petitioner granted. 
 
 The petition of John Fowler of the Township of Burford^ 
 praying to be recounnended for the purpose of obtaining a license 
 to keep a publick house of entertainment at the house he now 
 dwells at was read in Court and the prayer of the petitioner 
 granted. U*- 
 
 The Court is adjourned to Saturday next at three o'clock in 
 the afternoon. > *• - ' . .. I • 
 
 July the 12th, 1800. 
 
 The Court met according to adjournment and opened in due 
 form. 
 
 1. Samuel Ryerse, Esquire, Chairman. 
 
 2. William Spurgin. 
 
 3. And Wynant Williams, Esquires Associate Justices. 
 
 Joseph Ryebson, Esquire, Sheriff 
 
 Thomas Welch, Clerk of the Peace. 
 
 The Treasurer of this District is notified by the Court, he 
 
DBVKLOl'MBNT OF THE OOUNTV, 2S 
 
 being present in Court, that he must give bonds with good and 
 
 sufficient security, (as sjon as assessed rates in and for this 
 
 District shall be ordered t ) be collected) in the penal sum of one 
 
 hundred and twenty-two pounds lawful money of this Province, 
 
 for the faithful discharge of the duties of his office as Treasurer. 
 
 The Court is adjourned to the second Tuesday in October 
 
 next. . , y 
 
 ' Thomas Weixjh, Clerk of the Peace 
 
 District 1 • October the 14th, 1800. 
 
 OF London. '- 
 To Wit : The General Quarter Sessions of the Peace, holdea 
 
 at the hou.se of James Munro in Charlotteville, in and for the 
 
 said District, on the Fourteentii day of October, in the Fortieth 
 
 . year of the Reign of our Sovereign, Lord George the Third, of 
 Great Britain, Frano and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith and 
 so forth. Before the Justices of our said Lord the King, assigned 
 to keep the Peace in the said District, and also to hear and 
 determine divers felonies, trespasses and other misdemeanors in 
 the said District coran)itted, and of the Quorum. 
 1. Samuel Ryerse, Esquire, Chairman ; 2. William Spurgin, 3' 
 Peter Teeple, 4. John Backhouse, 5. Thomas Hornor, and 6 John 
 
 ■ Beemer, Esquii'es, associate Justices. 
 
 Joskph Ryerson, Esquire, SherifiF. " , i. ^ 
 
 . V -■ - . V .' . Thomas Weu;h, Clerk of the Peace. 
 
 ' The Court met according to adjourmnent and opened in due 
 
 t; form. '", .\ ^ .•'.<;■> '; - '■-*'.;/ ■.^. '':■:";''-■■ ,• 
 
 - Motion of Samuel Ryerse Esquire, that the Justices will 
 nominate a Chairman, which being done, Samuel Ryerse, Esquire, 
 was unanimously chosen. , v> 
 
 \, ; THE GRAND INQUEST. "^ -^ ^ 
 
 1. Nathaniel Landon, Foreman; 2, Justice Stephens; 3, 
 David Parmer; 4, Josiah F. Deen ; 5, Hugh Graham; 6, Samuel 
 Baker; 7, John Fowler; 8, Charles Burch ; 9, John Wells; 10^ 
 James Smiley; 11, Elijah Mudge; 12, Alexander Hoy; 13, John 
 Mudge ; 14, Roswell Matthews; 15, Reuben Dayton; 16, John 
 Eaton ; 17, Thonias Sayles. » 
 
 The Grand Jury duly sworn, and their charge delivered to 
 them by the Chairman. 
 
24 DKVKLOPMKNT OF THK COUNTY. 
 
 Constable attending the Grand Jury. 
 
 Motion by William Budd Gould, High Constable of the 
 District, requesting leave to resign the office of High Constable, 
 the Court will accept of his resignation, he continuing to serve 
 during the present Sessions of the Peace. 
 
 The Petition of William Hambly of Woodhouse, praying for a 
 Road to be opened on lands i^served for that use in that 
 township. .,,.,>, - , ,_ . , , 
 
 ORDERED BY THE COURT. 
 
 That all reserves for Roads as the same are marked off in the 
 Map of each Township within this District, be henceforward left 
 uninclosed for the purpose of the King's Highways only. 
 
 Daniel McColl, James Munro, John McColl, Jabez Collver, 
 jr., Nisbitt Collver, Aaron Collver, John Cullver, appeared in 
 open Court and acknowledged Mr. Jabez Collver, sr., to be their 
 settled JVrinister of a congregation of Presbyterians in the 
 District of London. 
 
 The Court is adjourned until to-morrow at ten o'clock a. m. 
 . .f r October the 15th, 1800. 
 
 The Court met according to adjournment, and opened in due 
 form. 
 
 Samuel Ryerse, Enquire, Chairman ; William Spurgiu, Peter 
 Teeple, John Backhouse, Thomas Homor and John Beemer, 
 Esquires, Associate Justices ; Joseph Ryerson, Sheriff ; Thomas 
 Welch, Clerk of the Peace. 
 
 The Petition of Frederick Oustine of Rainham, praying to be 
 recommended for the purpose of obtaining a license to keep a 
 public house of entertainujent at the house he now dwells at, w^as 
 read in Court, and the prayer of the petitioner granted. 
 
 Dan Millard sworn in Court, to give evidence to the Grand 
 Jury. 
 
 Ordered by the Cf 'irt, that a road leading from Lake Erie to 
 the Mills of John Backhouse, Esquire, as it is now marked and 
 in part opened between lots number Sixteen and Seventeen, be 
 henceforward considered and kept in repair as a public highway. 
 
 John McColl and John Coltman, sworn in Court, to give 
 evidence to the Grand Jury. 
 
,,' . DKVKLOPMENT OK THE COUNTY, 25 
 
 The Grand Jury having presented the Road from James 
 Munro's to Burford. 
 
 Ordered by the Court, that the Counnissioners of Highways 
 do iniuiodiately proceed t(i open that part of the said road that is 
 already hiid (nit. 
 
 Jolin Fowler brought before the Court by the complaint of 
 John McColl, for selling spiritous litjuors without License. 
 
 By the Court, no coniphiint can lie in John Fowler's case, he 
 being considered as having authority to retail spiritous licjuors. 
 
 John Davis and Luther Cooley being presented by the Grand 
 Jury for selling spiritous li(juors. 
 
 - Ordered by the Court, that summonses do immediately issue 
 for John Davis and Luther Cooley to appear at the Bar of this 
 Court, at two o'clock on Friday next, in the afternoon, to answer 
 to the above complaint. Artiums Rogers, Constable, is appointed 
 to serve the above summonses. 
 
 The Court is adjourned in due form till to-morrow at ten 
 
 o'clock a.m. 
 
 Thomas Weu:!h, C. P. 
 
 • ' ' October the 16th, 1,800. 
 
 The Court met according to adjournment, and opened in due 
 form. The same Justices as yesterday. 
 
 Abraham Powell, sworn in Court to give evidence to the 
 Grand Jury. 
 
 Motion of Thomas Horner, Esq.,that movable stocks and whip- 
 ping post be immediately erected at the expense of the District 
 and paid for out of the tirst collection of assessments for this 
 District. Carried unanimou.sly in the affirmative. 
 
 Samuel Ryerse, Esquire, agrees to have the same innnediately 
 erected on the above terms. 
 
 Motion of William Budd Gould, High Constable for leave of 
 absence from the Court, to go to Murphy Creek, near Long Point 
 on a pressing occassion. Granted. . " . : 
 
 Abraham Powell recognized in the sum of five pounds lawful 
 money of this Province, to appear at the next Court of Quarter 
 Sessions of the Peace for this District, to give evidence for our 
 Lord the King, against Samuel Miles. 
 
 High Graham, recognized in the sum of five pounds, lawful 
 money of this Province, to appear and give evidence for our Lord 
 
 ■ :?m'm:m;is"'m'!Ti 
 
so DKVRI>OPMKNT Or TH« COUNTY. 
 
 the Kin|^, against Luther Cooley at the next General Quarter 
 Sessions of the Peace for this DiHtrict. ' 
 
 , David Parmer, reeognized in the suui of five pounds, lawful 
 money of this Province, to appear and give evidence for our Lord 
 the King, against John Davis at the next General Quarter 
 Sessions of the Peace for this District. 
 
 Silas Secord, presented by the Grand Jury, for wilful and 
 corrupt perjury ; Preceipt issued for Silas Secord to appear on 
 the Seventeenth instant, at ton o'clock in the forenoon of the 
 «ame day. 
 
 The Grand Jury dismissed by the Court. 
 
 The Court . journed till to-morrow at ten o'clock a.m. 
 
 Thomas WEiiCH, C. F. 
 
 October the 17th, 1800. 
 
 The Court met according to adjournment and opened in due 
 form. 
 
 1, Samuel Ryerse, Esquire, Chairman ; 2, William Spurgin ; 3. 
 
 Peter Teeple ; 4, John Backhouse, 5, Thomas Hornor, and 6, John 
 
 Beemer, Esquires, Associate Justices. 
 
 Joseph Ryerson, Esquire, Sheriff. 
 
 Thomas Welch, Clerk of the Peace. 
 
 Ensign John Eaton, appeared in Court and took the oath 
 prescribed by law as a Militia Officer. 
 
 Luther Cooley being Indicted by the Grand Jury for selling 
 spiritous liquors without License, appeared on Process and pleaded 
 not guilty, recognized to appear at the next sessions of the Peace 
 to prosecute his Traverse to affect himself in the sum of 40 
 pounds. Artimus Rogers and John Mudge in the sum of 20 
 pounds each. 
 
 John Davis, being indicated by the Grand Jury for selling 
 spiritous liquors without License, appeared on process and pleaded 
 not guilty ; recognized to appear at the next sessions of the 
 Peace, to prosecute his Traverse, to affect, himself in the sum of 
 40 pounds, and John McColl and Albert Berdan each in the sum 
 of 20 pounds as his sureties. 
 
 Silas Secord, being indicated by the Grand Jury for wilful 
 and corrupt perjury, on the 20th day of September last, appeared 
 in Court on process, recognized to appear at the next Assizes to 
 be holden in and for this District, himself in the sum of 100 
 
DBVKLOPMKNT OP THE CI'DNTT. 27 
 
 pounds, aii(' John McCoU and Moses Rice each in the sum of 50 
 pounds as his Hecuritiea. 
 
 Dan Millai'd, leco^nizerl to appear at the next AsHizes to be- 
 holden in an<i for this I)i8trict to prosecute Silas Secord on 
 behalf of the Kinj^, himself in tlie sum of 100 pounds and Albert 
 Berdan and Othniel Smith as his securities, each in the sum of 
 60 poun<ls. 
 
 Ordered by the Court, that process shall issue against Samuel 
 Miles at the suit of the Kin^, to be bound over in recognizance to 
 appear at the next session of the Peace. 
 
 The Court is adjourned till to-morrow at ten o'clock a.m. . 
 
 Thomas Welch, C.P. 
 
 OcTOBEii, the 18th, 1800. 
 
 The Court met according to adjournment and opened, etc. 
 
 The Petition of Moses Rice of Charlotteville, pra3'ing to be 
 recommended for a Tavern License. Granted. 
 
 Justices attending to-day the same as yesterday. 
 
 Bejamin Fairchild, Ensign of the Militia of Norfolk, came into 
 Court, and took the oath of Allegiance as such. 
 
 Thonifxs Hornor, Esquire, with Joseph Ryerson, Esquire and 
 Benjamin Fairchild entered into regular Recognizance, as the 
 said Thomas Hornor being appointed by His Excellency the 
 Lieutenant Governor, Register of Deeds, C(mveyance8, Wills and 
 other Incumbrances, etc., etc., for the Counties of Oxford and 
 Middlesex, before Samuel Ryerse, William Spurgin, Peter Teeple, 
 John Backhouse and John Beemer, Esquires, Justices; who 
 approved of the principal and securities. And the said Thomaa 
 Hornor was swoni into office as Registrar as aforesaid, before 
 Samuel Ryerse, and William Spurgin and John Backhouse, 
 Elsquires. in open Court. 
 
 John Bostwick is appointed by the Court to be High 
 Constable of the District of London. 
 
 Ordered by the Court that William Budd Gould's resignation 
 of the office of High Constable is accepted of. And that the 
 Clerk of the Peace do furnish him with a certificate thereof, and 
 of his services whilst in that office. 
 
 Ordered, that the Court do meet in Special Sessions of the 
 Peace, at the Town of Charlotteville on Monday the Third day of 
 November next, at ten o'clock in the forenoon, to consider of 
 
28 , : . .j : DEVELOPMENT Oi- THK COUNTY. ' 
 
 ways and means for building a Gaol and Court House at the 
 Town of Charlotteville aforesaid for the District of London. 
 , The Court is adjourneil until the day prescribed by law. 
 
 Thomas Welch, Clerk of the Peace. 
 
 November the 3rd, 1800. — Special Sessions. 
 
 The Special Sessions of the Peace met at the Town of 
 Charlotteville according to the ord^rof Sessions of the eighteenth 
 of October last, the Court opened in due form. 
 
 Present in Court, William Spurgin, Peter Teeple, and John 
 
 Backhouse, Esquires, Justices. ,.. 
 
 Thomas Welch. Clerk of the Peace. ' ' ' 
 
 ORDERED BY THE COURT. 
 
 That the Clerk of the Peace do publish in the name of the f 
 
 Coui't according to written orders and directions to be made out ' / 
 
 and sent him, by William Spurgin, Esquire concerning the object v 
 
 of this Special Session. And that a Special Sessions will be v 
 
 holden at this place on Monday the Tenth of this present month^ 
 
 in order further to proceed touching and concerning the object of 
 
 this special sessions. To which time, this special sessions being 
 
 adjourned in due form. 
 
 Thomas Welch, Cleik of the Peace. 
 
 November, the 10th, 1800 — Special Sessions. 
 
 The Special Sessions of the Peace met according to adjourn- 
 ment and opened in due form. 
 
 Present in Court, Samuel Ryerse, Esquire, Chairman ; 
 Wynant Williams, William Spurgin, Peter Teeple, and John 
 Backhouse, Esquires, Associate Justices. 
 
 Thomas Welch, Clerk of the Peace. 
 
 Levi Comber agrees to build a Gaol and Court House at this 
 place for the sum of Three Hundred and Twelve Pounds Ten 
 Shillings, lawful money of this Province, and to wait for liia pa}' 
 by receiving the annual interest yearly, ther.'for, until the 
 District shall be able to pay the principal ; mason work, brick, 
 stone, lime, window glass, nails, spikes, locks and hinges 
 excepted. 
 
 Ordered by the Court; that Samuel Ryerse and Wynant 
 Williams, Esquires, be and are by this Special Sessions appointed 
 a committee to assemble and meet at the House of the said 
 
DEVELOPMENT OF TIIK CorNTY. 29 
 
 Samuel Ryerse, Esquire, on Saturday the Fifteenth day of this 
 
 present month in order to enter into a contract in form with the 
 
 8aid Levi Comber, to perform the said buildin«;8 ; and that the 
 
 Clerk of the Peace do notify each person recommended for a 
 
 Tavern License, to produce the same licenses at the next General 
 
 Quarter Sessions. / ■ •■ ■ 
 
 Thomas Wel(ih, Clerk of the Peace. 
 
 November, the 15th, 1800.— Special Sessions. 
 
 The Special Sessions met according to appointment in 
 
 Committee. 
 
 Present in Committee, Samuel Ryerse, Esquire, ) ^ ., , 
 
 1 ur i-urir u • h Lomnnttee. 
 
 and Wynant Wilhams, lii.squire. 
 
 John Backhouse, Esquirely ., 
 and Peter Teeple, Esquire,/ 
 
 Thomas Welch, Clerk ^t the Peace. 
 
 Levi Comber having declined the business of the contract for 
 builcMng a Gaol and Court House at the Town of Charlotte ville. 
 
 Ordered by the Court that the Clerk of the Peace do publish 
 
 that a Special Sessions will be holden at the house of James 
 
 Munro on Saturday the thirteenth day of December next, where 
 
 proposals will be received by the Magistrates for the District of 
 
 London, for the contract for building a Gaol and Court House at 
 
 the Town of Charlotteville. A plan or plans of the said building 
 
 will be produced at the time and place aforesaid for public 
 
 inspection, and of the party contracting to perform the work, 
 
 good and sufficient security will be required. 
 
 Thomas Welch, Clerk of the Peace. 
 
 December, the 13th, 1800 — Special Sessions. 
 
 The Special Sessions met according to adjournment and 
 opened in due form. - . 
 
 1, Samuel Ryerse, Esquire, Chairman; 2, William Spurgin; 3, 
 
 Peter Teeple ; \. Wynant Williams ; and 5, John Beemer, 
 
 Esquires, Associate Justices. 
 
 Thomas Welch, Clerk of the Peace. 
 
 No proposals being offered to the Court, of the contract for 
 building a Goal and Court House. The following description is 
 ordered by the Court to be published by the Clerk of the Peace, 
 that is to say : — 
 
 Any person or persons who may be willing or inclined to 
 
30 ." I>KVEl.OPMEKT OF THE COUNTY. ■yf,''\y-":'T 
 
 undertake to erect and complete a Gaol, on the ground laid out 
 and set apart for thflt purpose, at the Town of Charlotteville in 
 
 and for the District of London, are hereby desired to deliver their 
 proposals in writing sealed, into this office, before the second 
 Tuesday in January next, and at the General Quarter Sessions 
 of the Peace, then to be holden in and for the District aforesaid, 
 the lowest bidder will be employed to erect and complete the said 
 Gaol, provided such person or persons do then and there enter 
 into Bonds with good and sufficient security for his or their per- 
 formance. The description of the said building as agreed upon 
 by His Majesty's Justices of the Peace this day in Special 
 Sessions of the Peace assembled at Charlotteville, in and for the 
 District aforesaid, is as follows, that is to say : — To be built with 
 squared logs of white oak ten inches thick, on a foundation of 
 black walnut logs, so deep in the ground that the lower floor of 
 the building may be below the surface of the earth. The build- 
 ing is to measure thirty-four by twenty feet from outside to out- 
 side, and ten feet from floor to floor, and to be divided into three 
 rooms of twelve feet by ten each, and the remainder to be an entry ^ 
 to be lined as the outsides. The partition walls to be made with 
 squared logs six inches thick. The whole building is to 
 be weather boarded with inch and quarter boards, not to exceed 
 ten inches in width, and to be lapped with feather edge, and the 
 whole building is to be lined with good two inch white oak 
 plank to be lapped, halved or groved at each joint, and spiked 
 with such spikes as are usually made use of for such purposes. 
 The budding is to be covered, first with inch and quarter 
 white oak plank, then with good shingles, the plank to be lapped 
 with feather edge. The logs of the floors are to be squared 
 white oak ten inches thick, and laid close together side and side, 
 and the floors over those logs to be two inch white oak plank to 
 be lapped, halved or groved as aforesaid. There is to be a good 
 brick chimney in each of two of the rooms with a three feet 
 back to each, with the customary fleer. The four doors one out- 
 side and three inside are to be made of two inch white oak 
 plank doubled and spiked in the usuali manner ; with a lock and 
 key to each door of the usual size and strength. There are to be 
 a window in each of the two rooms with iron grate§ to each 
 
 r"' 
 
DEVELOPMENT OF THE COHNTY. 31 
 
 window, to be more particularly described at the time of makings 
 the contract, an'd the whole to be completed on or before the 
 second Tuesday in October next. 
 
 Thomas Wei^iCH, Clerk of the Peace. 
 This Special Session is adjourned till the 2nd Tuesday in 
 January next. 
 
 ' , ;/, Thomas VVeixjh. Clerk of the Peace. ■ 
 
 In 1801 an Act was passed which provided that the Courts 
 of General Quarter Sessions of the Peace for the District of 
 London should be holden in the Town of Charlotteville on the 
 second Tuesday of the months of March, June, September and 
 December. Charlotteville was situated in the south-west part of 
 the Township of that name in the County of Norfolk at Turkey 
 Point. It was sometimes called Port Norfolk, and it was here 
 the building was erected which was used as a Court House up to 
 the year 1816. 
 
 The foregoing proceedings of the Quarter Sessions will serve 
 to illustrate the success that attended the organization of the 
 District. 
 
 The following extracts of the proceedings up to September the 
 9th, 1809, will show the progress made by the Court as anoflBcial 
 body, and the extent to which Townships comprising the present 
 County of Elgin were interested. 
 
 April 14th, 1801, a Constable appears to have been necessary 
 for the County of Middlesex, and Timothy Kilburn, of Delaware, 
 was appointed to fill that office, during the same sessions it was 
 ordered that the Township of Oxford and the County of Middle- 
 sex were to be a distinct division of the District, and that 
 Thomas IngersoP and Daniel Springer were to act as Justices of 
 the Court of Request and Commissioners of Roads for the said 
 division ; the Court of Request co be holden alternatively at the 
 houses of Thomas Springer of the Township of Delaware and 
 Hammon Lawrence of the Township of Oxford. 
 
 March 10th, 1803. — A memorandum shows that the Gaol, 
 although previously onlered, had not been finished. The Grand 
 Jury then present that it is highly necessary that there should be 
 a publick Goal in this County for the reception of prisoners, and 
 that the one erectad on the public ground, if finished, would 
 
DEVKLOI'MENT OF THE COUNXy. 
 
 answer the present purpose. At this time the Courts were being 
 held in the house of Job Lodor. 
 
 June 15tli, 1803. — It was decided to hold a Special Sessions 
 to receive proposals From any person who may be willing or 
 desirous to coiiti'act for finishing the Gaol at Turkey Point. ■ ,. 
 ' ' October 4th, 1803. — It was proposed and aij;reed to have a 
 Court House erected on the public ground at the Tom'u of 
 Charlott wille of the following description: — A frame bullditig 
 forty feet in length by twenty-six feet h' width, to be two 
 Btorif^s higli the first or lov er story to be ten feet betwev^n floor 
 and ceiling, and the second or upper story to be eight feet high. 
 The building to be rected on a foundation of white oak timber 
 squared, the same to be sound and of sufficient thickness, the 
 building to be shingled and to have two sufficient floors, an entry 
 of eight feet wide to be made from the front door across one end 
 of the lower story, from which winding stairs are to be erected to 
 ascend to the second story, two rooms are to be partitioned off in 
 the second or upper story, for the Juries. Nine windows are to 
 be made in front, and ten in rear, of twenty four lights each, 
 seven by three. The fro.it door to be made of inch and a half 
 plank, C panel, to have a good Sufficient lock and key. Two 
 windows are to be finished in the first story opposite each other, 
 so as to afford sufficient light to the Bar, besides two windows of 
 fifteen lights each behind the Judge or Chairman's seat. The 
 rest of the windows are to be cased and nailed up for the present 
 the Bar. table, Justices' seat, benches for the Bar, and a table for 
 each jury room, and benches for the same are to be finished ; the 
 three inside doors to be temporary ; a seat and writing table for 
 Clerk, to be made between the bench and the Bar. Note — The 
 house to be raised, shingled, weather boarded and floored, and the 
 bench for the Judge and Justices, Judge or Chairman's writing 
 desk. Clerk's seat and table, the bar and table and benches there- 
 for, the four windows below and two above to be finished, the 
 rest of the windows cased and nailed up. The front door to be 
 finished, and the other three temporary doors to be made and hung- 
 Comprehends the present contract proposed by the Court to be 
 performed by the next Assi.^es for tliis District. 
 
 December the 10th, 1803. — The contract was let to Job 
 Lodor for 250 pounds. 
 
DEVELOPMENT OF THE COtTNTY. SS 
 
 May 19th, 1804. — The site of the Gaol seems to have 
 again engaged the attention of the Justices, after making an ex- 
 amination of it they gave as their opinion that the "Debtor's room 
 lA sufficient for the reception of prisoners of that description 
 excepting the lock, which the Court agrees to send for." An 
 aofreement was also niade with Mr. Job Lodor to undertake the 
 business of Gaoler for the salary of £25 which the Court agreed 
 to allow him for one year. ' r > /^^ 
 
 December 11th, 1804. — The Court of Quarter Sessions 
 Assembled at the Court House, but innnediately adjourned to 
 the house of Job Lodor, / 
 
 JA.NUARY" 26th, 1805. -We have an evidence of settlement in the 
 Township of Dunwich, the Court ordering " that the Township of 
 Dunwich be included in the next year's assessment with that of 
 Delaware. " 
 
 March 12th, 1805. — Application was made by Thomas 
 Noland, "to be recomended for the purpose of obtaining a license 
 to keep a house of public entertainment at Port Talbot in the 
 Township of Dunwich. Allowed. " 
 
 March 13th, 1805. — The following amusing case is reported ; 
 John McColl is brought into Court in custody of the under 
 Sheriff, charged with high crimes and misdemeanors by William 
 Hutchison, Esquire. John McColl, the prisoner, asked William 
 Hutchison, Esquire, "What he wanted with him?" William 
 Hutchison, Esquire, in answer said, " To find Bad for the Peace 
 and good behaviour and your appearance at the next Assizes. '' 
 
 The prisoner said: " Will you take land, or horses, or money, or 
 dogs for the security, I have two good dogs." William Hutchison 
 Esquire, answering said : " No, none but personal security will 
 
 do. " 
 
 Benajah Mallory, Esquire, appearing at the Bar, William 
 Hutchison, Esquire, threatened to send him to gaol, and demand- 
 ed bail for his good behaviour, which Benajah Mallory positively 
 refused to give, said he had done nothing and plead priviledge, 
 as being a member of Parliament. 
 
 The prisoner John McColl, said : "Speak up Captain Mallory, 
 you are a gentleman, you are the only gentleman in the house," 
 William Hutchison, Esquire, said : "If you open your mouth again, 
 
34 DEVKLUFMKNT OF THE COUNTY. 
 
 I will order you to be put in the stocks. " The prisoner then ^nped 
 his mouth wide open and said : " I shall want some more 
 whiskey." William Hutchison, Esquire, then ordered the prisoner 
 to be put in the stocks, and the under Sheriff commanding 
 assistance took the prisoner out ol the Court room and reported 
 upon oath with the oath also oi' the High Constable that the 
 prisoner was rescued out of their hands by Philip Fonger, 
 Constable of Charlotteville, Josepl) Miller, of Charlotteville, 
 Miller ; Peter Coombs, of Charlotteville, Carpenter ; Robert 
 Munro, of Charlotteville, Farmer ; and many others, and by the 
 oath of Henry Bostwick and the under Sheriff that Anthony 
 Sells of Charlotteville laborer, being conmjanded to assist in 
 putting the prisoner in the stocks, disobeyed those orders and 
 
 fled. ■-.■>./...■:•.:-.•.'-;:(•-:::■'...■,.:,;, 
 
 13th June, 1805. — In order to better maintain the dignity of 
 Court, it was decided to procure 12 staves for the Constables of 
 the District, the staves to be seven feet m length and one and 
 three-quarter inches in thickness with the name of the Township 
 on each staff in plain legible letters. 
 
 November 16th, 1805. — A Commission was received appoint- 
 ing John Bostwick, Sheriff cf the District of London. 
 
 11th December 1805. — That the Whipping Post previously 
 erected was use<l, is shown by the record of the case of The 
 King vs. Peter Coombs, indicted of petty larceny, on this date. 
 " The sentence of the Court upon the prisoner is that he shall 
 receive 20 lashes on his bare back, well laid on, the Sheriff being 
 ordered by the Court to have the above sentence put into 
 immediate execution. " It is done accordingly. 
 
 That the prisoners in the District Gaol were not allowed 
 to have a fire in the building is shewn by the record 
 of the Petition of Ebenezer Allan, presented to thie Court 
 on this date, when it was ordered that Ebenezer Allen, the 
 prisoner above named be allowed the use of fire in the Gaol 
 provided he, the said prisoner, secured the Sheriff to his satisfac- 
 tion, and if the Sheriff is willing to comply with this additional 
 order, and not otherwise. 
 
 March 12th, 1806. — The system of paying members of the 
 Provincial Legislature at this time was different from that of the 
 
DKVELOPMK.VT Of THE COCXTY. 35 
 
 present clay The following entry appears on this date, " It is 
 ordered that a full rate of assessment be collected for the present 
 year, and one-tifth be added to pay Benajah Mallory Esquire, the 
 representative in Parliament in this District for his services fts 
 such, for 39 days in the secmd session of the fourth Provincial 
 Parliament at 10 Shillings per day amounting to 19 pounds 10 
 shillings." 
 
 June 10th, 1806. — Thomas Talbot's name appears for the 
 first time among those of the Justices in Session, and he attended 
 for one day only. During the next few years there is nothing to 
 shew that he took any interest whatever in the proceedings of 
 these Courts. ' - 
 
 June 10th, 1807. — Ebenezer Green was appointed Constable 
 for Dunwich and Aldborough, and Thomas Talbot, James 
 Burdick, Archibald McMillan, and Daniel Springer were 
 appointed Members of the Court of Request for the County of 
 Middlesex. The Legislature having granted money to the 
 District for the purpose of Roads, it was agreed that 50 pounds 
 be expended in the Township of Westminster, and 150 pounds on 
 the north side of the River Thames, so as to meet the provincial 
 road through the )iVestern District, and the members of the 
 Court of Request, with the exception of Colonel Talbot, were 
 appointed to superintend the surveying and laying out of the 
 road. - •,'• :;'a- ' -•' *.W','-^;:, ': 
 
 The increased dignity and importance of the Quarter Sessions 
 Court is shewn by the following order : " That no person what- 
 ever shall be admitted within the Bar unless business calls him 
 there, and that a Constable do attend at the entrance of the d(X)r 
 to stop any person coming in who has no business there, except 
 as!<ed in by the Court." 
 
 September 9th, 1807. — The financial business of the District 
 having assumed sufficient proportions, it was ordered "that a book 
 should be. purchased for the purpose of entering all accounts 
 which shall pass this Court in future, and that all former 
 accounts as far as the same shall be ascertained,, shall be entered 
 in the said book particularly specifying the particulars of each 
 respective account. " 
 
 December 8th, 1807. — The Gi-and Jury declare themselves 
 entirely satisfied with the Treasurer's account up to the year 
 
36 DEVKLOPMKNT OF THE COUNTY. 
 
 1806 inclusive, and said that in this account p wolfs' scalp which 
 was in arrearn was accoiinued for. 
 
 That there was a difficulty in making collection of taxes 
 levied by the District Court, is shown by a reference in nearly 
 every session to the dilatory manner in which the Collectors 
 made their returns. 
 
 In 18G8 John Quick was appointed Constable for Dunwich, 
 and Samuel GuarDsay was appointed C )llector. 
 
 June 14th, 1809. — Joseph Smith was appointed Constable for 
 Dunwich. • '■■v■,,^j••■•'^^'^■,. ;::■..-••,-- . ■ '^ - ,•■.,,:•:," -■:■,■-',■■>- 
 
 ■. I-.'- ■■■"■•■■'■■■ '^ TURKEY POINT. •' . ■' ''■'.' ■']■■<' 
 
 Turkey Point, was an original Government Reservation flelected by 
 (Governor Simcoe, for a ToMn and Garrison. 
 
 In 1798, instructions were issued hy D. W Smith, A.S.G., to Mr. Welch, "to 
 take a sketch of the ground above the point which may be suitable for a town. 
 The groun<l immediately above Mrs. Mal>ee'B old house has been set apart and 
 approved for that purpose. * * * In the projection of this sketch you will 
 have regard to such a situation as may Ije fit for Barracks and such other 
 accomo<lation as may be looked for in providing space for a small fort. " It was 
 situated in the South-West part of the Townnhip of Charlotteville, and was at 
 one time called " Port Norfolk. " 
 
 THE LONDON DISTRICT. . ,v . •: 
 
 Dr. Ryerson, in "The Loyalist of Ameritja, " published a historical 
 memoranda by Mrs. Amelia Harris, of EMon Hj^use, London, Ontario, only 
 daughter of the late Colonel Samuel Ryerse who settled at Long Point, (Port 
 Ryerson) in 1794. She refers to the forma' ion of the London District as follows : 
 
 "About this time the London District was separated fron the Western, and 
 composed what now forms the Counties or District of Middlesex, Elgin, Huron 
 Bruce, Oxford and Norfolk. The neceisary appointments were made, and the 
 London District held its own courts and sessions at Turkey Point, six miles alwve 
 us on the Lake Shore. The people, in a most patriotic manner, had put up a 
 log house, which served i.he double purpose of court house and gaol. The Courts 
 were held in the upper story, which was entered by a very rough stairway, going 
 upon the outside of the building. The gaol consisted of one large room on the 
 ground floor, from which any prisoner could release himself in half an hour unless 
 guarded by a sentinel. The juries for some years held their consultations under 
 the shade of a tree. Doubtless it was pleasanter than the close lock-up jury-room 
 of the present day. My father, in addition to his other commissions, was 
 appointed Judge of District Court and Judge of the Surrogate Court. Turkey 
 Point is a very pretty place ; the grounds are high, and from them there is a very 
 fine view of the bay and lake. 
 
 2. General Simcoe had selected it for a County Town, and the site of » 
 future city. Now it boasts of one house, an inn kept by Silas Montross. There 
 was also a reservation of land for Military purposes. But the town never 
 prospered ; it was not in a thoroughfare, and did not possess water privilegetk 
 
DKVFt.orMKNT OK THE COUNTY. Vt 
 
 Twenty yeara afterwards it contained V>ut the one nolitary house. The County 
 town waa changed to a inon* favorable situation, Vittoria. " 
 
 COURTS. 
 
 From 18<KJ to 1H03 the Courts vere held in the house of Mr. James Manro, 
 in the Township of Charlotteville. In tlie latter year they were moved to the 
 house of Mr. Job Lodor, innkeeper, situated at Turkey Point, he havinfjp 
 furniHhed increased ancomniodalions, and were continued to 1)e holden there until 
 a log gaol and a two story framed Court House were erected near the same place, 
 at the expense of the district by Mr. Job Lodor, the contractor. In this Court 
 House the Courts were held in the first story, and tlie second was divided off for 
 Jury rooms. 
 
 The Courts continued to be held at this house until it became necessary to 
 appropriate the building for the use of the Troops, during the war of 1812, — '13 
 and '14. {From the Oxford Gazt/teei- by Thoa. S. Shenston.) 
 
 RECORDS. 
 
 1'he Records of the Quarter Sessions Courts with the exception of the years 
 1810, — 11, — 12, are complete. 
 
 Early reports of the Assize Courts are very irregular, and, with few excep- 
 tions, are of little use for historical purposes. 
 
 The names of the Judges who attended these Courts were Powell, Allcock, 
 8cott and Thorpe. They always came by water and were often several days 
 behind time in consequence of the weather. 
 
 The first entry in the Road Register of the London District was made by J. 
 B, Askin, Clerk of the Peace, under an order of Session dated 12th January^ 
 1822. The entry shews an examination by A. A. Rapelje, Surveyor for the 
 Townships of Walpole and Rainham, of a road from the bank of Lake Erie, 
 on the eastern line of Rainham Township to the western limits of the 
 Township of Walpole. Richard Bristol, deputy surveyor, laid out a road January 
 11th, 1821, from the line between lots five and six Talbot Street ff> the conflux of 
 Otter Creek and Lake Erie. In 1821, Louis Burwell Deputy for John Bostwick, 
 surveyor, laid out a road from the mouth of Kettle Creek to Talbot road. In 
 1822 part of this rootl from Goodhue's mills to their still house, was reported 
 unpracticable and the root! was altered so as to run from the mill by the house 
 of Daniel Rapelje, and thence to the summit of the said hill, keeping along the 
 brow on the lands of William Drake. 
 
 Note — This is the road leading from Turvill's Mills, in St. Thomas, north 
 around the bend of the hill west of the Court House. 
 
 COURT OF BEQUESTS. 
 
 The Court of Requests established by 32 Geo., Ill Chap. 6, provided for the 
 trial by two or more Justices of the Peace of all disputes in the matter of debt 
 and contract where the amount involved did not exceed ten pounds. 
 
 VITTORIA. 
 
 In 1815 an Act was passed to repeal Sec. of 41 Geo. Ill, Chap, 
 6, which provided that the Courts of General Quarter Sessions for 
 the District of London should be holden at Charlotteville, and 
 providing that from and after the passing of the Act " the Courts 
 of the General Quarter Sessions of the Peace and the District 
 
38 DEVKLOI'MKNT OF THK COUNTY. 
 
 Courts in and for the said District Hhall be holden and assemble 
 at the most convenient place in the iiiiuiediate vicinity of Tisdale's 
 MilJH in the Township of Charlottoville in the said District, and 
 the Majjjist rates dt the next ensuing Quarter Sessions of the 
 Peace to be holden in and for the said District, shall be and they 
 are hereby authorized to make choice of a place in the vicinity of 
 the said Mills in the Township of Charlotteville as aforesaid 
 whereon to erect a Gaol and Court House for the said District. " 
 The Magistrates as directed, decided to erect a gaol and Court 
 House for the said District at Vittoria, which is situated near the 
 eastern corner of the Township of Charlotteville, and it was here 
 that a brick Court House was built at an expense of Nine 
 Thousand Pounds ; the Government contributing Two Thousand 
 Pounds. This building was used until 1826 when it was partially 
 destroyed by fire. 
 
 To describe the proceedings of the Courts held at Vittoria the 
 following extracts are taken from the Pioneer Sketches by 
 Garrett Oakes, Esquire, who speaks from pensonal observation 
 having attended as Constable and Juryman. " All Magistrates 
 and Constables were in those days ordered to attend at each 
 session of the Court of King's Bench or pay a penalty, for at 
 these Coui'ts the Grand Juries were composed of Magistrates 
 , only, and as there were four Quarter Sessions annually the 
 Constables were in duty bound to attend five Courts each year. 
 As I was living fifty miles from Vittoria I had to travel going 
 and returning three hundred miles a year, or nine hundred 
 miles in three years. This I had to do on foot, at the same time 
 carrying provisions to last until my return home, and I had to 
 do it without one cent to pay. There was no accommodation at 
 Vittoria for one-tenth of those attending Court. But I had 
 plenty of company every night when there. We used to make 
 field beds in the Court Room with our knapsacks of provisions 
 as a substitute for pillows. During our absence from home we 
 were usiially unable to get a cup of tea or cofiee to assist degluti- 
 tion. But the Jurymen had the advantage of the Constable, for 
 when a case t)f debt was tried each juror received twenty cents 
 from the prosecutor. Yet those of us who lived within fifty 
 miles of Vittoria were favored, when compared with such as 
 
DBVEM)PMKNT OF THB COUNTY. 39 
 
 livetl at the western limit of Middlesex, for these had to 
 travel one hundred miles to attend Court when their only road 
 was made by clearing off the underw(X)d and old lojjs to the 
 width of twelve or fifteen feet, a roa<l that went win<lingbt;tween 
 and around big trees, and following the high ground to avoid the 
 swamps and impassable places. It was inevitably necessary to 
 sleep two nights in the woo<ls before reaching Vittoria, and the 
 same of course on the return journey. " , . 
 
 LONDON. . ,.^ ' • ■•,..■./'"■•:.:'- ' • ■•. 
 
 In 1826 an Act was passed to " establish a District Town in- 
 the District of Lonrlon in a m )re central position than at present, " 
 and enacted "that the Courts of General Quarter Sessions of the 
 Peace and the District Courts should be holden and assembled in 
 some part of the reservation heretofore made for the site of a 
 town near the forks of the River Thames in the Townships of 
 London and Westminster in the County of Middlesex. General 
 Simcoe, afterwards Governor, when making a tour through 
 Upper Canada, gave as his opinion that the forks of the Thames 
 would be an eligible situation for a town. This site was surveyed 
 by Colonel M. Burwell in 1826 under the authority of an Act 
 pjissed in that year which ordered "that the Town shall be 
 surveyed and laid out under the direction of the Surveyor 
 General within the Reservation heretofore made for tho site of a 
 town in the Townships of London and Westminster in the County 
 of Middlesex in the said District of London. " The Act directed 
 that a tract or space of land not less than four acres should be 
 designated as reserved for the purpose of Gaol and Court House 
 within the said Town plot. Thomas Talbot, Mahlon Burwell 
 James Hamilton, Charles Ingersoll and John Matthews were 
 appointed Comrxissioners for the purpose of erecting on said 
 reserved tract as aforesaid, a good and sufficient Gaol and Court 
 House of brick or stone, and for the purposes of defraying 
 the expenses of erection of the building, the Commissioners were 
 authorized to raise by way of loan, the sum of Four Thousand 
 Pounds, and to levy an additional rate of one third of a penny on 
 the pound until this sum and all interest thereon were paid. The 
 Commissioners were ordered to hold their first meeting in St. 
 Thomas. Garrett Oakes, in his pioneer, sketches refers to the 
 
 ^ 
 
40 OKVKLUPMRNT OF THE COUNTY. 
 
 location of the Court House at London as follows : — " When the 
 Court House at Vittoria vvhh burned it was deteruiineu 
 to erect a new one on a rcHcrve made by Governor 
 Sinicoe, the first Governor of Upper Canada, for the site 
 of a town to be called Lc>n<lon. The building was con- 
 structed of flat logs, and on the ground floor was a log 
 partition to separate the gaol from the gaoler's room. The Court 
 room above was reached by staiix outside. As soon as the house 
 was roofed, William Parke, the old Vittoria Gaoler, removed to 
 London to assume his office in the new building, and I assisted 
 him to finish the Court room in a rough manner as a makeshift 
 until the new Court house shouk} l)e ready for occupation. In 
 the year 1828 I attended Court in London." 
 
 Up to the year 1834 the Justices in Session managed all local 
 matters pretty much as they please*!, and in that year an Act 
 was passed which provided that the inhabitant householders at 
 their annual township meetings should appoint not less than 
 three nor more than eighteen persons to be fence viewers. The 
 meetings were also authorized to determine what should be con- 
 sidered a lawful fence, and the Act provided at great length 
 what the powers, duties and remuneration of fence viewers 
 should be, and how their decisions should be enforced. By this 
 Act also provision was made for opening ditches and watercourses 
 among the several persons interested, as the fence viewers might 
 decide. 
 
 In 1835 an important change was made; several Acts 
 previously passed respecting town meetings were repealed, and 
 it was provided that the Township Clerk should assemble the 
 inhabitants of the Township being house holders and free holders 
 at a place agreed upon at the previous yearly meeting. This 
 meeting was empowered to choose the following Township 
 officers: — The Clerk, three Commissioners, one Assessor, one 
 Collector, and any number of persons they thought proper to 
 serve as overseers of Highways, Roads and Bridges and as Pound 
 Keepers. The Collectors gave bonds to the District Treasurer to 
 whom they paid the proceeds of the rates levied, and the Town- 
 ship Clerks gave bonds to the Commissioners. The most 
 important change was the appointmeut of Commissioners to 
 
DKVKLOI'MKNT U-r THK COrNTY. 41 
 
 whom were now traiiHferred many of the powers reHpectinjy the 
 construction an<l repairs of bri«ljr(.H and roads previouHly held and 
 exercised by the JuHtices in Quarter SesHions. The Boanl of 
 Commissioners were require<l to meet thioe times at the phice in 
 which the last Township meetiuj; was hehl, and were authoriz/'d 
 to hold us many other meetin^rs a8 they thought best at atiy 
 place they choose They were to receive from the District 
 Treasurer Five Shillings per day for their services. The Quarter 
 Sessions still maintained the authority they formerly held in 
 reference to the administration of Justice, the location and 
 alteration of highways and other matters general to the District. 
 This was the Municipal system in vogue at the time of the 
 Rebellion of 1837, which led to the abolition of separate Provin- 
 cial Governments and brought about Legislative union. 
 DISTRICT OF LONDON OR COUNTY OF MIDDLESEX— 1837 to 1852. 
 
 In March 1837, an Act was passed setting apart the County of 
 Oxford as the District of Brock and the County of Norfolk as 
 the District of Talbot, so that we have now to consider only the 
 , County of Middlesex or District of London, 
 
 Up to this time no mention has been made of the Townships 
 of Malahide and Bayham. When the Counties of Norfolk, 
 Oxford and Middlesex were formed in 1798 these Townships had 
 not been surveyed, but were unoccupied territory, included 
 within the boundaries of the District of London. \. hen surveyed 
 in 1810 by M. Burwell, they were not placed in any particular 
 County. In 1837, when the Counties of Oxford and Norfolk 
 were set apart as the Districts of Br-ock and Talbot respectively, 
 Norfolk included only the Townships referred to in the Act of 
 1798, leaving these Townships in the County of Middlesex. 
 
 In 1839, the Township Commissioners provided for in the 
 Act of 1835, were named Town Wardens. The change whereby 
 the people were intrusted with the freest of action in the elec- 
 tion of municipal oflficers, viz : the Clerk, Assessor, Collector, 
 Commissioners or Wardens does not seem to have been much m 
 the direction of popular self-government, as officers thus chosen 
 were not intrusted with any of the duties or powers which are 
 necessary for really eflScient Municipal Government, but any Act 
 that took from the nominative Magistracy any of the powers 
 
42. tEVKLOPMENT OF THE COUNTY, 
 
 they exercised was appreciated. This system was continued up 
 
 to the year 1841, when tlj'i legislature of the United Provinces 
 
 endeavored to create a nuinicipal system that would meet all the 
 
 requirements of Upper Canada. 
 
 In 18 to the authorities recognized the necessity of leaving the 
 
 people free to control their own internal affairs and giving up 
 that system of paternal government which had worked so 
 unsatisfactorily. Uome difficulties arose in dealing with this 
 question on account of the position taken by Lower Canada. 
 During th^ suspension of the constitution in French Canada an 
 ordinance had been passed by a special Council to -provide for 
 the better internal government of the Province for the establish- 
 ment of local or municipal institutions therein. 
 
 The Province was divided into Districts and the Governor 
 
 and Council determined the number of Councillors and appointed 
 the Warden. Consequently the system in operation in Lower 
 Canada was entirely controlled by the Government. It was the 
 desire of the Upper Canadians, who had been gradually educated 
 for more popular local institutions, to elect the Warden and 
 their officers. This furnished the basis of the Municipal Act of 
 1841 which provided for District Councils, to be composed of one 
 or two members to be elected at the regular meeting in each 
 Township, and hold office for three years, retiring in rotation ; 
 the Council was required to meet four times a year. The 
 Warden, Treasurer and Clerk were appointed by the Governor of 
 the Province. Every By-Law passed had to be approved of by 
 the Provincial authorities. The Governor had the power to 
 dissolve District Councils at any time. To the District Councils 
 were transferred the powers of the Quarter Sessions with 
 reference to the administration of municipal atiairs. 
 
 On the 10th February, 1842, the tirst District Council in the 
 County of Middlesex met at London. Andrew Moore and John 
 Burwell represented Ba^'ham ; Daniel Able and James Brown, 
 Malahide ; Thomas Hutchinson and John Oill, Yarmouth ; George 
 Elliott and Levi Fowler, South wold ; Thomas Coyne, Dunwich ; 
 Thomas Duncan, Aldborough ; William Niles, Dorchester. John 
 W^ilson was appointed Warden by the Governor and George S. 
 Eraser, Clerk pi'o tern., and the appointment of Mr. J. B. 
 Strathey as Cierk of the Distiict Council was announced before 
 
DEVELOPMBNT OK THE COUNTY. , . 43 
 
 the second meeting in May of the same year. The Council of 
 the liOndon District continued until 1849, when a municipal 
 system essentially the same as that we enjoy to-day waw intro- 
 duced. The inhabitants of every Township liaving one hundred 
 or more resident free-holders or house-holders on the tax collec- 
 tors' Roll were made a body corporate. The Township Council 
 was to consist of five members elected by a general Township 
 vote or by Wards. The Councillors wero to elect one of them- 
 selves Reeve and a Deputy Reeve for each 500 freeholders or 
 householders on the Collectors' List. Townships containing less 
 than one hundred free holders and householders were by By-Law 
 of the District Councils to be attached to some other adjacent 
 township. Under the preseat system the Reeve is elected by the 
 direct vote of the electors as are also the Deputy Reeves in ' 
 Townships not divided into Wards. In Townships divided into 
 Wards, a Reeve and four Councillors are elected, and the Coun- 
 cillors appoint from among themselves a Deputy Reeve for 
 each 500 names on the Township Voters' List. 
 
 COUNTY OF ELGIN. 
 
 • In July of the year 1846 an agitation for the partition of the 
 extensive district of Middlesex was commenced. The principal 
 reasons urged were that it was two un wield to manage its 
 own affairs with prudence and economy, that the inhabitants of 
 the Tov/nships east and west of St. Thomas had to pass through 
 that place on their way to London, that the interests of the 
 northern and southern portions of the district were separate, that 
 no improvements of importance had been made in the southern 
 part of the District, that everything was done to benefit London 
 and its immediate neighborhood. The principal objection urged 
 was the expense of building a Court House and Gaol. In the 
 month of August official notice was given that an application 
 would be made to the Provincial Parliament at its next session, 
 for setting off the Townships of Aldborougn, Dunwich, South- 
 wold, Yarmouth, Malahide, Bayham and South Dorchester into a 
 new District. On the morning of Thursday, the 27th day of 
 August the Town of St. Thomas put on its gayest appearance. 
 The St. George's Amateur Band made a circuit of the Township 
 passing through the villages of Sparta and New Sarum, and 
 
44 DEVELOPMENT OF THE COUNTY. 
 
 returning to St. Thomas at 12 o'clock noon, the hour appointed 
 for a general meeting of the inhabitants to take into considera- 
 tion the moat feasible means of obtaining a partition of the 
 London District. The balcony of the Mansion House in which 
 the meeting was held wore a splendid appearance. Flags were 
 flying ; a diagram of the old District, and banners inscribed "Our 
 Queen and Country, a Division of tV.e District '" presented by 
 Mr. Walthew assisted in improving the appearance of this 
 important meeting. Murdock McKenzie Esquire, was appointed 
 to the Chair, and T. Hodge, Esquire, Secretary. Resolutions 
 were passed unanimously and with unbounded applause 
 approving of the proposition presented for the separation of the 
 District, and it was in this way that the first impetus was given 
 to the movement which resulted in St. Thomas being made the 
 County Town of the new District. As an inducement Mr, 
 Benjamin Drake offered gratuitously a sufficient quantity of land 
 in the most central part of the Town for a site for a Market 
 place. Court House and Gaol. A large Executive Committee 
 having been appointed, meetings were ordered to be held 
 to take the sense of the other Townships. The " Canadian 
 Freeman " published in St. Thomas, advocated very strongly the 
 division of the District, and the " Western Globe" published in 
 London, expressed the views and opinions of the opposition. 
 
 Among the Villages in the County which were at this time in 
 a flourishing condition, are mentioned : Hall's Mills, Yarmouth 
 Mills, Talbot Mills, Jamestown and St. George's Town : of these 
 but very little trace can be found at the present time. 
 
 Among the different propositions for the division of the 
 District that were prominently advocated, was that Malahide, 
 Bayham and South Dorchester, Houghton, Middleton and part 
 of Durham should form a separate District with Vienna as the 
 County Town. Considerable opposition emanated from Port 
 Stanley, where the people were at flrst warm advocates for divi- 
 sion, but when it was ascertained that St. Thomas and not Port 
 Stanley, would likely be the County Town of the new District, 
 they got up an opposition Petition. 
 
 The Legislature seems to have been considering a general Act 
 for the Division of the Counties and Districts of the Province, 
 and the matter was delayed during some two sessions. In 1851 
 
DEVELOPMENT OF THE OOUNTY. 45 
 
 L. Burwell, Chairman of a Committee of the London District 
 Council, appointed to consider a proposal for the division of the 
 County reported as follows : — " Understanding that the Govern- 
 ment intend, during the ensuing session, to introduce a Bill for 
 the purpose of dividing the larger Counties, your Committee have 
 given attention to that portion referring to Middlesex. Your 
 Committee are of the opinion that the division line proposed, 
 running east and west, embracing the six fi*ontier townships, and 
 portions of Delaware, Westminster and Dorchester, will be 
 opposed by a majority of the inhabitants of this County, and that 
 a division for other than electoral purposes is unnecessary ; and 
 that for electoral purposes the line should run north and 
 south, embracing Dunwich. Aldborough, Mosa, Ekfrid, Caradoc, 
 Metcalfe, Lobo, Adelaide and Williams, as the new County, and 
 that the same be called the County of Elgin. " This Committee 
 further reported in favor of giving Bay ham to Oxford County 
 in lieu of a portion of Nissouri to be attached to Middlesex. 
 
 In August of the same year an Act was passed establishing 
 the County of Elgin to consist of seven Townships as at present. 
 The Counties of Middlesex and Elgin were to be united for 
 Municipal, Judicial and other purposes. This Act also provided 
 for the division of the Township of Dorchester at the line 
 between the 6th and 7th concessions south of the River Thames. 
 The Act made provision, by Proclamation of the Governor, for 
 the Town Reeves and Deputy Reeves of certain Counties 
 including Elgin, to be iormed into provisional municipal Coun- 
 cils, and also provided for the dissolution of the union of the 
 Counties so soon as the Court House and Gaol was erected and 
 completed at the County Town. " i ' 
 
 Under the authority of a proclamation bearing the signature 
 and Seal of James Hamilton, Sheriff, Upper Canada, Middlesex 
 and Elgin, the provisional Council of the County of Elgin met in 
 the Town Hall, St. Thomas, at 12 o'clock noon on the 15th April, 
 1852 ; David Parish was Chairman appointed by proclamation. 
 The following were members of the Provisional Council: — 
 
 Duncan McCoU, Reeve, Aldborough. 
 
 Moses Willey, Reeve, Dunwich. 
 
 Colin Munro, Reeve, Southwold. 
 
 
46 
 
 DBVELOPMBNT OF THE COUNTY. 
 
 Nicol McColl, 
 Elisha S. Ganson, 
 Leslie Pierce, 
 David Parish, 
 Thomas Locker, 
 Lewis J. Clarke, 
 Jacob Cline, 
 John Elliott, 
 J. Skinner, 
 
 Deputy Reeve, 
 Reeve, 
 
 Deputy Reeve, 
 Reeve, 
 Reeve, 
 
 Deputy Reeve, 
 Reeve, 
 Reeve, 
 
 Southwold. 
 
 Yarmouth. 
 
 Yarmouth, 
 
 St. Thomas. 
 
 Malahide. 
 
 Malahide. 
 
 South Dorchester. 
 
 Bayham. 
 
 Bay ham. 
 
 Deputy Reeve, 
 
 E. S. Ganson, was elected Warden. 
 The erection of the County buildings was then proceeded with 
 on a block of land donated to the County of Elgin by Benjamin 
 Drake, Esquire, and in September 1853, an agreement was 
 arrived at by the Committees appointed by the two Counties to 
 adjust the debt between them preparatory to dissolution. 
 
 In accordance with the Proclamation dissolving the union of 
 the unit^ Counties of Mid<ilesex and Elgin published in the 
 Canada Gazette, the 30th day of September, 1853, the first meet- 
 ing of the County Council of the County of Elgin was held in 
 County Buildings, St. Thomas, on Tuesday, the 8th day of 
 November 1853. Thomas Locker, was Warden at this time. 
 
''1^ 
 
>nOJHOM_dO AiMnoo 
 
SURVEYS. 
 
 Statement of the several Township-^ cr)u»pri,se;l in the County 
 of Middlesex before its Division, with the dates of survey, 
 superficial extent in acres of eacli Township, and names of tha 
 surveyors by whom the surveys were made. 
 
 TOWNSHIP. 
 
 Aldborough , 
 
 Aldborough 
 
 Aldborough 
 
 A. and Dunwich 
 
 Aldborough 
 
 Dunwich 
 
 Dunwich 
 
 Dunwich 
 
 Dun. and Aldborough 
 
 Dunwich . . , 
 South wold 
 Southwold . 
 Southwold , 
 Southwold , 
 
 Southwold . 
 SouthMold . 
 Southwold 
 
 Southwold 
 
 Yarmouth . . . 
 Yarmouth. . . 
 Yarmouth . . . 
 Malahide. . . . 
 Malahide.. . . 
 
 Bayham 
 
 Bayhanfi 
 
 Dorchester S. 
 
 Dorchester North . 
 
 Dorchester North . . . , 
 
 Dorchester S 
 
 Dorchester S 
 
 Dorchester S 
 
 D. and Westminster. 
 
 Dorchester North . . . 
 
 PATE OF 
 SURVEY . 
 
 1797. 
 
 1803. 
 1797. 
 1811. 
 1832. 
 1799 
 1803. 
 ,1832. 
 
 ..1811. 
 
 .1819 
 ,1830. 
 ,1797. 
 ,1797. 
 
 ,1809. 
 ,1809. 
 ,1850. 
 
 1854. 
 
 1799. 
 ,1809. 
 ,1819. 
 ,1809. 
 ,1810. 
 ,1818. 
 
 '809. 
 
 1810. 
 
 ,1799. 
 1799 
 
 Dorchester North . 
 
 .1793 
 
 .1847. 
 .1852. 
 
 1858. 
 
 ,1868; 
 
 SUPER- 
 FICIAL 
 ACRES. 
 
 NAME OF 
 SURVEYOR. 
 
 Law & Hambly 
 
 78,000 
 
 70,0(X) 
 
 68,600 
 
 71,000 
 
 59,400 
 f50,000 
 
 32, 600 N 
 43,200 s 
 
 Hambly . . . , 
 
 Law 
 
 M. Burwell. 
 
 Carroll 
 
 Hambly . . . 
 Hambly . . . 
 Springer . . . 
 
 M. Burwell. 
 
 Lowe 
 
 M. Burwell. 
 M. Burwell. 
 Hambly . . . 
 Hambly . . . 
 
 REMARKS. 
 
 1 , 2, ami 3 C<m. , Law, 
 West Line, Haml)ly. 
 
 Crown & Clergy 
 Talb3t Road. 
 
 lies. 
 
 M. Burwell. 
 M. Burwell . 
 C. Fraser . . . 
 
 C. Fi-aser 
 
 Jones 
 
 M. Burwell. . . . 
 M. Ilurwell. . . . 
 M. Burwell. . . 
 M . burwell . . . 
 M. Burwell. . . . 
 M. Burwell. . . . 
 Wilmot (partial.) 
 
 Hambly. 
 
 Hambly 
 
 Lowe 
 
 Jones 
 
 Wni. Smiley . 
 C. Fraser 
 
 Wm. McMillan. 
 
 S. Peters . 
 
 Line between S. & D. 
 5 to 12 Con.,E. Line. 
 C0U.A.B..I to 11 & S. 
 Vy. & N. E. Boundar'» 
 Talbot Road through- 
 see Aldborough. 
 1, 2, 3, and 4th Cons. 
 South part. 
 Nortii part. 
 R. TImme.s in Southw'd 
 Traverse of the front 
 and part of outlines, 
 also Yarmouth etc 
 Talbot Road through. 
 Part of 3nlCon. under 
 12 Vic. C. 35, Sec. 31. 
 Municipil survey of 
 Talbot road Eaml W. 
 
 See Soutliwohl. 
 
 Talbot road through. 
 
 Talbot road through. 
 E. & W. & base line 
 1,2,3,4,5, 6,7,8,9, 
 10, 11, 12, & 13 Con. 
 1, 2, 3, 4, and5thCou 
 and Wesiern line. 
 River Thames in 
 1 , 2 and 3 Concession* 
 
 Clergy lots Cons A&B. 
 Line between (survey 
 under 12 Vic. C. 35) 
 Municipal survey line 
 between Ist and 2nd 
 cons S. of Thames. 
 Municipal survey E. 
 Survey of Ist Con, 
 line (S. D. ) 
 
TOWNSHIP. 
 
 Dorchester North . . . 
 Dorchester Xorth . . , 
 
 Weatininster 
 
 Westminster 
 
 Westminster 
 Westminster 
 
 Westminster 
 
 W, and I>orche8ter. 
 
 Westminster 
 Westminster 
 Westminster 
 
 London (town). . . 
 Loudon (town). . . 
 
 London (town). 
 
 London (town). 
 London Road. . 
 
 London 
 
 London Townplot. 
 London Millsite. . . 
 London Township. 
 
 Lobe. 
 
 Lobo. 
 
 Delaware . 
 
 Delaware 
 
 Delaware., 
 
 Delaware. 
 
 Ekfrid .. 
 
 Ekfrid... 
 
 Mosa 
 
 Adelaide 
 
 Adelaide Village. 
 
 DATK OF 
 aCRVKY. ! 
 
 .185» 
 .1859. 
 
 .1821). 
 .1824 
 
 1821 . 
 1810. 
 
 1862, 
 
 1839 
 
 1857. 
 
 1859. 
 
 .1836. 
 .1810. 
 
 ..1819. 
 
 .1833 
 1830. 
 
 .1829. 
 .182() 
 .184B. 
 .1855. 
 
 .1820. 
 
 .1820, 
 
 .1798. 
 
 1793. 
 .1852. 
 
 1855. 
 
 1820. 
 .1820. 
 .1820. 
 .1833. 
 
 8UPKR- 
 FICIAL 
 A0RB8. 
 
 36,600 
 
 105,200 
 
 48,600 
 
 27,600 
 
 56,150 
 
 49,600 
 43,000 
 
 Bostwick. 
 C. Fraser. 
 
 NAMK or 
 
 8URVEYOH. 
 
 S. Peters 
 
 W. G. Wonhain. 
 
 Burwell 
 
 Burwell 
 
 Mount . . 
 Watson 
 
 P. Carroll for 
 Bound'y Comr's. 
 C. Fraser 
 
 Wm. McMillan 
 
 Carroll . . 
 Burwell. 
 
 Burwell 
 
 Rankin. . . . 
 
 McDonald. 
 
 I 
 
 RKMARK8. 
 
 Munici))a] survey Con 
 
 B(S. D.) 
 
 Municipal survey l> 
 
 line between N. D. 
 
 N. Oxford. 
 
 Partial connecting 
 
 Talbot Road 
 
 and Loudon Wharn- 
 
 clilTe Highway. 
 
 2ml Concession 
 
 Traverfe of Timmes & 
 
 1, 2, ami 3 Cons. 
 
 3rd to 9th Cons. 
 
 See Dorchester. 
 
 Line between (survey 
 
 under 12V. C. 35.) 
 
 Part of B. and 1 Con. 
 
 Municipal Survey 2nd 
 Concession 
 
 Municipal Survey line 
 in front of 2 Con 
 
 Ist to 5th Con. (see 
 
 Westminster). 
 
 6th to 16th Cons. A. 
 
 B. and L. Cons. 
 
 Mill privilege 
 
 2nd At 3rd Con. E&W 
 
 of London Road. . 
 
 Front tier of lota. ■' 
 
 
 McDonald. . . . 
 M. Burwell, . . 
 
 Carroll 
 
 B. Springer [Lots 31. 32, 11th Cn. 
 
 j(Municipal S) 
 Burwell Part of \V. line B F. . 
 
 & lat & 2nd Con. and 
 
 line between 10 anil 1 1 
 
 lots 
 Burwell W. line 3 to 13 Con. 
 
 and 8ide roads also 
 
 rear line. 
 Hambly 2, 3, 4, & 5th Con. & 
 
 S. Boundary. 
 Jones 1 & 2 Cons and river 
 
 lots. 
 W. McMillan. . . . Survey under 12tli 
 
 Vic. C. 35 1st Con. 
 B. Springer M unicipal Survey lots 
 
 31 &32 nth Con. 
 Burwell 2nd to 8th Con. K. S. 
 
 W. and rear lines. 
 Burwell Long woods road and 
 
 ranges in rear. 
 
 Burwell • 
 
 Carroll 
 
 (,>arroll 
 
The above is a list certified by tlie Assistant Commissioner 
 Crown Lands Department, Quebec, 5th March, 1860. 
 
 NoTK : —There is however in the ( 'rown I^n<l8 Department a map by Auguatua 
 Jont'8, tlie Surveyor, of iiis survey of the North-west part of South wold, 
 made in the year 1794. It shows the base-line and the Concessions running 
 from it to the Dunwiuh town line. The field notes of this survey were never 
 fyled, and were no doubt lost or destroyed. 
 
 » • » » ' 
 
 Patents for lots in Dunwich were issued in 1795. So that an early survey in 
 that Township was overlooked by the Crown Lands Department in making, 
 up the above statements. 
 
 « • • * 
 
 The original instructions under which the Townships were named and blocked out 
 before beinu; sub-divided into lots have not been found. , " 
 
 By 16 Vic., Chap. 225, Errors iu the early surveys of Aldborough were cor. 
 
 reeted. ■ , . - 
 
PARLIA MENTARY REPRESENTATIVES. 
 
 UPPER CANADA LEGISLATURE 1702 TO 1841. 
 
 Year ok Ei.kction. (Norpoi k and 4TH RintNr, or Lincoln) 
 
 1792 D. W. Smith. 
 
 1797 D. W. Smith. ■ ' 
 
 SuFKor.K AND Essex. 
 
 James Baby. 
 James Baby. 
 
 1800 
 1804 
 1809 
 
 1813 
 
 1817 
 
 LONDON DISTRICT. 
 
 D. W. Smith. 
 Benajah Mai lory 
 Benajah Mallory 
 
 Norfolk 
 
 Robert Nicol. , 
 Robert Nicol. 
 
 Oxford and Miudlesf-x 
 
 M'. Burwell. 
 M. Burwell. 
 
 Dining the h'fth Session of the Seventh Parliament, (March, 
 1820) an act was parsed which provided "that from and after 
 "the end of the present Parliament ejich and every County now 
 " formed or organized or that may hereafter be orj.^anized the 
 ''population of which shall amount to one thousand souls, shall 
 "be represented by one member and such County or Counties 
 " that amount to four thousand souls by two members." Mr. 
 Burwell in his address to the electors of the County of Middle- 
 sex at the next j^eneral election says : "By the provisions of 
 " this law of which I had the honor of being the mover a 
 " County having a population of one thousand souls will return 
 "one member to the House and a County having a population of 
 " four thousand souls will return two members, so that the 
 " County of Oxford with which we have heretofore been incor- 
 " porated will this Session send its own member and tlie County 
 " of Middlesex one." Oxford Gazetteer by T. S. Shenston. 
 
1820 
 
 1825 
 1820 
 18:n 
 18:i5 
 18;J6 
 
 184l 
 1844 
 1848 
 
 1852 
 
 • OOtTNTV OF MTDDLC8CX. 
 
 Miihlon Burwell. 
 Johti Matthews. John Rolph. 
 
 John Matthews. 
 Mahlon Burwell. 
 Eliaa Moore. 
 EliuH Moore. 
 
 ■> ■ i. 
 
 Johu Rolph. 
 RoHwell Mount. 
 Thomas Park. , , 
 
 Thomas Park, '"'"i, 
 
 UNITED PARLIAMENT 1841 TO 1867,;| jiohT 
 
 County or Miodlbsbx. l.UHlry.H 
 
 ' ' . Thomas Park. JljoavjM 
 
 Edward Ermatinfrer. fnfi ivaA 
 William Notman. iv/oH iymJ 
 
 MlDULBSKX AND ElUIN. 
 
 if.'AL r'.crKAl. 
 
 k>,i 
 
 8C;81 
 
 1854 
 1857 
 1861 
 1803 
 
 Crowell Wilson. 
 
 COUNTY OF KL<nN. 
 East Riding. 
 
 George Southwick. 
 Leonid as Burwell. 
 Leonidas Burwell, 
 Leonidas Burwell. 
 
 1881 
 
 soar. 
 
 ?.()8f 
 
 yjjfV.ol .H. .1. 
 
 George Macbet^.', 
 George Macbetn. ' 
 
 Geor^ Macbeth ,0 ;;;;:; 
 
 John ScobiO. . ,. . , 
 
 (Z) . On petition Mr. Macbeth was unseated and Mr. Scoble took hiS pUoe, ' <IH| 
 
 0V81 
 ITHl 
 S:T81 
 
 ONTARIO LEGISLATURE 1867 TO 1895. 
 
 [;: 
 
 1867 
 1871 
 1875 
 1878 
 1879 
 1883 
 1880 
 1888 
 1890 
 1894 
 
 1867 
 1872 
 1874 
 1874 
 1878 
 1882 
 1887 
 1891 
 
 D. Luton. 
 J. H. Wilson. 
 J. H. Wilson. 
 
 If. 
 J/. 
 
 ;i' 
 
 ilnl 
 
 Nicol McColJ. 
 , ipijomas Hodgip^.,!, 
 
 felcolm (), Muprp-, 
 
 David I^clia\v(3, 
 JoUiji Cascade., jij 
 John Cajscaa^n,^^ y^ 
 
 Dug^ija McCol|^/j^ 
 Donald' Macnj^.]^ 
 
 HOUSE OF COMMONS 1867 TO 1895K .<;l .T. 
 
 " West Elgin 'i.'-^'jii i?.. — V.Ilol, 
 
 John H. Munro. 
 George E. Casey. 
 George E. Casey. 
 
 T. M. Nairn, (ob.) 
 C. O. Ermatinger. 
 T. M. Nairn. 
 J. C. Dance. 
 H. T. Godwin. 
 C. A. Brower. 
 
 tkvi Elgin' 
 
 kot£^V^#'^ 
 
 .A 
 
 T\>f 
 8781 
 6781 
 
 0^81 
 188 [ 
 i'881 
 8881 
 1-88 [ 
 o88t 
 (■(88 ,r 
 
 George E. Casey. 
 George E. Casey. 
 George E. Casey. 
 George E. Casey. 
 
 r 
 
 0i>8l 
 l(f81 
 
 (•) Mr. Munro was unseated by the Court and M^' Hotlgiiis sat, fr6tn ISt^^i 
 
 1878, when he resigned in order to become a candi(Ui|.^ jn; Tjvron^ fo| <^^ 
 
 Houso of Commons. _ _ _ ;io«4MUHt i^H-.L C^i 
 
 Wm . Hary ey • (o^- ) y, - 1 
 Colin .Mac(^pug9,|l. ^^ ^ 
 
 ThomaLS Arkell.. , 
 
 T r ' ' tr "iiT'i' ■■'J 
 
 John Jti, vijil^n. 
 A. B.^IijigjPani. 
 
LIST OF WARDENS COUNTY OF ELGIN. 
 
 1852 E. S. Ganson and Thomas Lockek 
 
 186tS Thomah Lockek 
 
 1854 Thomas Locker - - - 
 
 1855 Thomas Locker 
 
 1856 Randolph Johnson - - - 
 
 1857 Randolph Johnson 
 
 1858 Levi Fowler - - - * 
 
 1859 Levi Fowler 
 
 1860 James Armstrong 
 
 1861 J. H. Jones - - - . 
 
 1862 J. H. Jones - . *.' - •' 
 
 1863 Daniel Luton 
 
 1864 George Suffel 
 1866 John Clunas 
 
 1866 T. M. Nairn .... 
 
 1867 T. M. Nairn 
 
 1868 T. M. Nairn - - .. . 
 
 1869 T. M. Nairn 
 
 1870 T. M. Nairn . - - . 
 
 1871 T. M. Nairn 
 
 1872 John Ellison .... 
 
 1873 John McCausland 
 
 1874 John McCausland - . . 
 
 1875 George Suffel - -' - 
 
 1876 George Suffel 
 
 1877 Samuel Day 
 
 1878 Edward Hegler 
 
 1879 T. W. KlRKPATRlCK - - 
 
 1880 James Martin - - - 
 
 1881 Manuel Payne - - 
 
 1882 J. B. Mills - ■^- ■ - 
 
 1883 John A. Miller - - ;•,. 
 
 1884 A. J. Leitch - - - "w 
 
 1885 Samuel S. Glutton 
 
 1886 James Hepburn ... 
 
 1887 J. C, Dance - 
 
 1888 Donald Turner 
 
 1889 H. T. Godwin - - 
 
 1890 John J. Stalker - . . 
 
 1891 A. N. Cline ... 
 
 1892 M. S. Lyon - - - 
 
 1893 A. A. McKillop - - - 
 
 1894 W. M. Ford ... - 
 
 1895 John Thompson . - . 
 
 Pro\ JHional Wardens 
 Malaliiile 
 Malaliide 
 Malahicle 
 
 - Yarmouth 
 Yarmouth 
 
 • Southwold 
 Southwold 
 
 - Yarmouth 
 Bay ham 
 
 - Bayham 
 Yarmouth 
 Vienna 
 Dorchester 
 
 - Malahide 
 Malahide 
 
 - Malahide 
 Malaliide 
 
 - Malahide 
 Malahide 
 
 - Southwold 
 Malahide 
 
 - Malahide 
 1 Vienna 
 
 - Vienna 
 Yarmouth 
 
 - Dorchester 
 
 ! A Id borough 
 
 - Yarmouth 
 Port Stanley 
 
 - Springtield 
 r Yarmouth 
 
 - Dunwich 
 Aylmer 
 
 - Yarmouth 
 
 S. Dorchester 
 
 - Southwold 
 Bayham 
 
 - Aldborough 
 
 S. Dorchenter 
 
 - Malahide 
 Dunwich 
 
 - Bayham 
 Aldborough 
 
MUNICIPAL NOMENCLATURE 
 
 The County wh» iwiirKMl Elgin in honor of th»' Earl of Eljfin, 
 Govern* »r-Oenerai of Canada from 1847 to 1854. 
 
 Townships. 
 
 AMborongh ho called after a Town in the County of SuflTolk' 
 Englaiul. The townyhip wa8 in the County of Suffolk when 
 Hurveyed in 1797. 
 
 Dunwich HOcalle<l for the same reawjuH ah thoHe j^iven in the 
 CAHe of Aldhorough and also a.s a compliment to Earl Stradbr:)ke, 
 who wjiH called ViHCount Dunwich and whose family name was 
 Rous. 
 
 Southwold waH called after a Seaport in Suffolk, England, 
 for the Hame reanonH ah those given in the case of Aldborough. 
 
 Yarmouth w>is so called after a seaport town in the County 
 of Norfolk near the Ixwndary of Suffolk an<l also as a compli- 
 ment to Francis Seymour or L<jrd Cornway, who in 1793 was 
 made Earl of Yarmouth. 
 
 Malahide owes the origin of its name to Malahide Castle, 
 the houie of Richard TaH)ot, father of Colonel TallK)t. 
 
 Bayham was so called as a compliment to Lord Camden, 
 who was Viscount Bayham. Lord Camden was Secretaiy-of- 
 war and Colonies in 1804 and I^rd President of the Council 
 1805-7. 
 
 Towns. 
 
 Dutton was named after an official employed in the con- 
 struction of the Canada Southern Railway. 
 
 Aylmer was first called Troy, but in 1835, just before the 
 Rebellion, a meeting was held in Caswell's Avagon sliop to decide 
 upon a name for the place. The majority were in favor of Troy, 
 but the name Aylmer, from Lord Aylmer, then Governor-Gen- 
 eral, was in some manner sent to the Post Office Department. 
 
 St. Thomas was named as a compliment to Thomas Talbot, 
 the founder of the settlement. : ," 
 
 Springfield so called when the grist mill in the east end of 
 the village was raised over a large spring, one of many in the 
 village. The post office, " Clunaa," was afterwards moved one 
 mile south and the name changed to to Springfield. 
 
 Vienna was first named Shrewsberry by Col. Burwell, but 
 the people did not like the name, so it was named Vienna by the 
 Edison family, who were quite influential people, their ancestors 
 having originally come from Vienna, Austria. 
 
 Port Stanley, named after Lord Stanley, afterwards Earl 
 Derby, father of the late Governor-General of Canada, the 
 present Earl Derby. Lord Stanley was visiting Col. Talbot 
 about the time the place was named. 
 
Dorchester (Township) so called as a compliment to Sir Guy 
 ' Carleton, who was three times appointed Governor General, and 
 held office from. 1766 to 1796. For his services he was made a 
 peer of the realm under the title of Lord Dorchester. 
 
 .iif-.jK . 
 
 .1 
 
 'to na'f> iJHBO 'tii7 (II liff'i uH:'ivj aiiT n'ni'ff 
 
 ■iit!(i oj'.w fi OH ,i(nu,(i i.ij liiii .io(i i>:i) el'.' ' 
 
 i'">'i \r,Un')ui\(n 'j^'tup a-iyv/ oriv/ ,Yir(Tif;1 .i^ ..,, u;