CHAPTER I.

HISTORY

OF THE

Settlement of Upper Canada,

(ONTARIO,)

WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO

THE BAY QUINTÉ.

BY

WM. CANNIFF, M.D., M.R.C.S.E.,

PROFESSOR OF SURGERY UNIVERSITY VICTORIA COLLEGE, AUTHOR OF THE

“PRINCIPLES OF SURGERY.”

TORONTO:

DUDLEY & BURNS, PRINTERS, VICTORIA HALL.

1869.

TO

THE HONORABLE

SIR JOHN ALEXANDER MACDONALD, K.C.B., D.C.L., M.P.,

PREMIER OF THE DOMINION OF CANADA,

THIS VOLUME IS BY PERMISSION RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED,

AS

A RECOGNITION OF HIS ABILITIES AS A CANADIAN STATESMAN, AND AS A TRIBUTE

TO A LONG STANDING INHABITANT OF BAY QUINTÉ, WHO HAS GIVEN HIS TALENTS

AND ENERGIES TO LAY A SURE FOUNDATION FOR “A GREAT NORTHERN NATION.”

BY HIS RESPECTFUL ADMIRER,

WILLIAM CANNIFF.

PREFACE.

In the year 1861 a meeting was convened at the Education Office,

Toronto, with the view of establishing an Historical Society for Upper

Canada. The writer, as an Upper Canadian by birth, and deeply interested

in his country with respect to the past as well as the future, was

present. The result of that meeting was the appointment of a Committee

to frame a Constitution and By-Laws, and take the necessary steps to

organize the proposed Society, and to report three weeks thereafter.

The Committee consisted of the Hon. Mr. Merritt, Rev. Dr. Ryerson, Col.

Jarvis, Mr. DeGrassi, Mr. Merritt, J. J. Hodgins, Dr. Canniff and Mr.

Coventry. For reasons unknown to the writer, this Committee never even

met. The following year the writer received a printed circular

respecting an “Historical Society of Upper Canada” which had been

established at St. Catharines, of which Col. John Clarke, of Port

Dalhousie, was President; Hon. Wm. H. Merritt, Vice-President, and

George Coventry, of Cobourg, Secretary.

“HONORARY MEMBERS.”

“Chief Justice Sir John Beverley Robinson, Bart.,

Colonel Jarvis, _Toronto_,

Doctor Canniff, _Toronto_,

Henry Eccles, Esq., Q.C.,

William H. Kittson, Esq., _Hamilton_,

Henry Ruttan, Esq., _Cobourg_,

The Venerable Lord Bishop of Toronto,

Alfio DeGrassi, Esq., _Toronto_,

J. P. Merritt, _St. Catharines_,

Thomas C. Keefer, Esq., _Yorkville_,

Hon. George S. Boulton, _Cobourg_,

David, Burn, Esq., _Cobourg_.”

At the request of this Society the writer undertook to prepare a Paper

upon the Settlement of the Bay Quinté. Having been induced to take up

his abode for a time at Belleville, near which he was born, the writer

availed himself of every opportunity he could create while engaged in

his professional duties, during a period of five years, to collect facts

pertaining to the subject. After some months of labor, he was advised by

friends, in whose judgment he had confidence, to write a History of the

Bay Quinté, for publication.

Acting upon this advice, he continued, with increased energy, to collect

and elaborate material. In carrying out this object, he not only visited

different sections of the country and many individuals, but consulted

the libraries at Toronto and Ottawa, as well as availed himself of the

private libraries of kind friends, especially Canniff Haight, Esq., of

Picton. As the writer proceeded in his work, he found the subject

assuming more extended proportions than he had anticipated. He found

that, to write an account of the Settlement of the Bay Quinté, was to

pen a history of the settlement of the Province. Finally, he has been

induced to designate the work “A History of the Settlement of Upper

Canada.”

The labor, time and thought which has been given to the subject need not

to be dwelt upon. Every effort has been made, consistent with

professional duties, upon which the writer’s family is dependent, to

sift a mass of promiscuous material which has come under investigation,

so that grains of truth alone might fill the measure which this volume

represents.

Various sources of information have been duly indicated in the text; but

there are a large number of individuals, from whom information has been

obtained, whose names could not be recalled.

This work has been one of love as well as labor; yet time and again the

writer would have relinquished it had it not been for the words of

encouragement, volunteered by his friends.

The writer has explained the cause of his writing this volume. He now

presents it to the reader—to Canadians—to the world. He loves his

country so well, that he regrets an abler pen had not undertaken the

task, that justice might be more fully done to the worthy.

Fault may be found because of repeated and earnest protests against the

attitude assumed by the United States: the comments made in respect to

their history: the contrast drawn upon the subject of LIBERTY and

FREEDOM. The writer offers no excuse. He has endeavored to adhere to

truth. It is true these pages have been written during a period of great

irritation to Canadians, from the hostile and aggressive spirit which

the United States have displayed towards us; but a record has been made

which, it is trusted, will stand the test of the closest examination.

As to the work, apart from its historical character, no remark is

offered, except that the writer is perfectly conscious of errors and

imperfections. Time has not been allowed to polish; and while the pages

have been going through the press, other necessary duties have prevented

that close and undivided attention which the work demanded. But

subscribers to the volume were urgent in their requests to have the work

without further delays. The reader is referred to a page of _Errata_.

A concluding chapter it has been found necessary to omit, in consequence

of the size already attained. In this it was intended to discuss the

future prospects of the Dominion. The writer has unbounded faith in the

Confederation scheme. Before this scheme was initiated, the writer, in a

lecture delivered to a Toronto audience, uttered these words. Pointing

out the elements which constitute the fabric of a great nation, he

remarked that he “loved to contemplate the future, when all the British

American Provinces would be consolidated into a grand whole; when, from

the summit of the Rocky Mountains, would be seen—to the East along the

magnificent lakes and river to the Atlantic, and down the western slopes

to the Pacific—the ceaseless industry of the Canadian beaver, and the

evergreen Maple Leaf overshadowing the peaceful homes of Canada.” The

prospects now are far brighter than when those words were spoken; and

notwithstanding the obstacles—an unpatriotic company of Englishmen, the

unscrupulous designs of covetous Americans, and the apathy of the

British Government—the belief is broad and strong that the dream of the

future will be realized. There is life in the tree whose seed was

planted eighty years ago, and as it has in the past continued to grow,

so it will in the future.

In concluding these prefatory remarks, we desire to tender our thanks to

all who have assisted us directly or indirectly, by supplying

information, and by encouraging words. Particularly we thank those

gentlemen who gave their names as subscribers, some of them voluntarily,

years ago, before the work was fairly commenced; also the Hon. Lewis

Wallbridge, for procuring for us, when Speaker, copies of manuscript in

the Parliamentary Library, at Ottawa.

Finally, we express our obligations to the Publishers and Printers.

Toronto, 27th March, 1869.

[_Copy Right secured._]

CONTENTS.

A SKETCH OF FRANCO-CANADIAN HISTORY.

CHAPTER I.

PAGE

Antiquarianism—Records of the Early Nations—Tradition—The Press—

The Eastern World—The Western World—Importance of History—

Columbus—Colonization—Canada—America—Cartier—French Canadian

writers—Cartier’s first visit—Huguenots—Cartier’s second visit—

Jean Francois—Sir George E. Cartier—Establishment of the Fur

Trade—Champlain—Discovery of Lake Ontario—Bay of Quinté—Quebec

founded—First fighting with Indians—First taking of Quebec by

the British—Returned to France—The Recollets and Jesuits—Death

of Champlain—Foundation of Montreal—Emigration from France—The

Carignan Regiment—DeCourcelle—Proposal to found a Fort at Lake

Ontario—Frontenac—Fort at Cataraqui—La Salle—Fort at Niagara—

First vessel upon the Lakes—Its fate—Death of La Salle, the

first settler of Upper Canada—Founder of Louisiana—Discoverer of

the mouth of the Mississippi 1

CHAPTER II.

Cataraqui Fort strengthened—Kente Indians seized and carried

captive to France—Massacre of Lachine—Commencing struggle

between New England and New France—Siege of Quebec by Sir Wm.

Phipps—Destruction of Fort Cataraqui—Its re-erection—Treaty of

Ryswick—Death of Frontenac—Iroquois in England—Another attempt

to capture Quebec—Decline of French power—Population of Canada

and of New England—Continuation of the contest for the fur

trade—Taking of Fort Louisburg—Col. Washington, dishonorable

conduct—Inconsistency of Dr. Franklin—Commencement of seven

years’ war—Close of first year—Montcalm—His presentiment—Taking

of Fort Oswego—Of Fort William Henry—Fearful massacre—The state

of Canada—Wolfe appears—Taking of Frontenac—Duquesne—Apathy of

France—The Spring of 1759—Reduced state of Canada—Overthrow of

French power in America—The result—Union of elements—The capture

of Quebec—Wolfe—Death of Montcalm—Fort Niagara—Johnson—Effort to

retake Quebec—Wreck of the French army—Capitulation at Montreal—

Population—The first British Governor of Canada—The Canadians as

British subjects—The result of French enterprise—Rebellion 15

DIVISION I.

THE REBELLION OF 1776—THE THIRTEEN COLONIES.

CHAPTER III.

First American rebellion—Independence—Traitors made heroes—

Loyalists driven away to found another colony—The responsibility

of rebelling—Treatment of the Loyalists—The several colonies—The

first Englishman in America—Receives £10—English colonization—

Virginia—Convicts—Extent of Virginia—First Governor—Virginians

not willing to rebel—Quota supplied to the rebel army—New York—

Hudson—The Dutch—New Netherlands—Price of New Amsterdam (New

York)—First Legislative Assembly—Not quick to rebel—Quota of

rebel troops—Gave many settlers to Upper Canada—New Jersey—Its

settlement—A battle ground—Gave rebel troops; also loyal troops—

Furnished settlers to Upper Canada—Massachusetts—Captain Smith—

New England Puritans—The “Mayflower”—First Governor—Cruel

treatment of Indians—Massachusetts takes the lead in rebelling—

Troops—Loyalists—New Hampshire—Troops—Delaware—Settlement—Quota

of rebel troops—Connecticut—Education—Troops—Roman Catholics—

Toleration—Rhode Island—Providence—Inconsistency of the

Puritans—Roger Williams—North Carolina—Inhabitants—South

Carolina—Many Loyalists—Pennsylvania—William Penn—Conduct toward

Indians—The people opposed to rebellion—Georgia—Oglethorpe—

Policy of New England—New England 32

CHAPTER IV.

American writers—Sabine—Loyalists had no time to waste—

Independence not sought at first—Adams—Franklin—Jay—Jefferson—

Washington—Madison—The British Government—Ingratitude of the

Colonists—Taxation—Smugglers—Crown officers—Persistence—

Superciliousness Contest between Old England and New England 41

CHAPTER V.

The signers of the Declaration of Independence—Their nativity—

Injustice of American writers for 80 years—Cast back

mis-statements—The Whigs had been U. E. Loyalists—Hancock—

Office-seekers—Malcontents stir up strife—What the fathers of

the Republic fought for—Rebel committees—Black mail—Otis, John

Adams, Warren, Washington, Henry, Franklin—What caused them to

rebel—What the American revolutionary heroes actually were—

Cruelty, during and after the war—No Freedom—The political

mistake of the rebels in alienating the loyalists—The

Consequence—Motives of the loyalists—False charges—Conscientious

Conservatives—Rebellion not warranted—Attachment to the old

flag—Loyalists driven away—_Suppressio veri_—Want of noble

spirit towards the South—Effects—Comparison between loyalists

and rebels—Education—Religion—The neutral—The professions 46

CHAPTER VI.

Republicanism—The lesson of the first rebellion—The late civil

war—The Loyalists; their losses and hardships—Ignored by

Americans—Unrecorded—The world kept in ignorance—American glory—

Englishmen—Question of Colonial treatment—The reason why Great

Britain failed to subdue the rebellion—Character of the rebel

bravery—The great result—Liberty in England and United States

contrasted—Slavery—The result to U. E. Loyalists—Burgoyne—

Mobocracy—Treatment from “Sons of Liberty”—Old men, women and

children—Instances of cruelty—Brutality—Rapacity—Torture—The

lower classes—“Swamp Law”—Fiendish cruelty—Worse than Butler’s

Rangers—Seward and the Fenians—Infamous falsification—Close of

the war—Recognition of independence by Great Britain—Crushed

hopes of the Loyalists—In New York—Their conduct—Evacuation day—

The position of the Loyalists—Confiscation—“Attainting”—Seizing

Estates—Paine—Commissioners at Paris—British Ministry—Loyalists’

petition—King’s speech—Division of claimants—Six classes—The

number—Tardy justice—Noble conduct of South Carolina—Impostors—

Loyalists in Lower Canada—Proclamation—The soldiers’ families—

Journeyings—Meeting of families 52

CHAPTER VII.

A spirit of strife—The French war—British American troops—Former

comrades opposed—Number of U. E. Loyalists in the field—General

Burgoyne—Defeat—First reverse of British arms—The campaign—

Colonel St. Leger—Fort Stanwix—Colonel Baume—Battle of

Bennington—General Herkimer—Gates—Schuyler—Braemar Heights—

Saratoga—Surrender—The result upon the people—Sir John Johnson—

Sir William—Sketch—Indian Chief—Laced coat—Indian’s dream—It

comes to pass—Sir William dreams—It also comes to pass—Too hard

a dream—Sir John—Attempt to arrest—Escape—Starving—Royal greens—

Johnson’s losses—Living in Canada—Death—Principal Corps of

Royalists—King’s Rangers—Queen’s Rangers—Major Rogers—Simcoe—The

Rangers in Upper Canada—Disbanded—The Hessians 63

CHAPTER VIII.

Indian names—The Five Tribes—The Sixth—Confederation—Government—

Subdivisions—Origin—Hendrick—Death—Brant—Birth—Education—

Married—Teaching—Christianity—Brant elected Chief—Commissioned a

British Captain—Visits England—Returns—Leads his warriors to

battle—Efforts of Rebels to seduce Brant to their cause—

Attempted treachery of the Rebel Herkimer—Border warfare—

Wyoming—Attempt to blacken the character of Brant—His noble

conduct—Untruthful American History—The inhabitants of Wyoming—

The Rebels first to blame—Cherry Valley—Van Schaick—Bloody

orders—Terrible conduct of the Rebels, Helpless Indian families—

Further deeds of blood and rapine by the rebel Sullivan—A month

of horrible work—Attributes of cruelty more conspicuous in the

Rebels than in the Indians—The New Englander—Conduct toward the

Indians—Inconsistent—The “down trodden”—The Mohawks—Indian

agriculture—Broken faith with the Indians—Noble conduct of

Brant—After the war—His family—Death—Miss Molly—Indian usage—The

character of the Mohawk—The six Indians as Canadians—Fidelity to

the British—Receiving land—Bay Quinté—Grand River—Settling—

Captain Isaac, Captain John—At present—Mohawk Counsel 71

CHAPTER IX.

Individuals—Anderson—Bethune—Burwell—Butler—Canliff—Claus—Coffin—

Doune—Jarvis—Jones—McDonald—McGill—McGilles—Merrit—Munday—

Peters—Robinson—Singleton—Ross—McNab—Allen—Allison—Ashley—Bell—

Burritt—Casey—Carscallion—Church—Clark—Crawford—Dame—Daly—

Diamond 85

CHAPTER X.

Ferguson—Frazer—Gerollamy—Goldsmith—Harrison—Hudgins—Hicks—Howell—

Hover—Hogle—Ham—Herkimer—Holt—Jones—Johnson—Ketcheson—Loyst—

Myers—McArthur—Miller—Mordens—McDonald—McDonnell—McDonell—

Ostrom—Peterson 100

CHAPTER XI.

Rogers’ family—Ryerson—Redner—Sherwood—Taylor—Van Dusen—

Williamsburgh—Wright—Wilkins—Young—Officers who settled in

Niagara District 117

DIVISION II.

TRAVELING IN EARLY TIMES—ORIGINAL ROUTES.

CHAPTER XII.

Indian paths—Portages—Original French routes—Mer de Canada—

Original names of St. Lawrence—Ontario—Huron—Route by Bay

Quinté—Old French maps—Original English routes—Four ways from

Atlantic to the Lakes—Mississippi—Potomac—Hudson—Indian name of

Erie—From New York to Ontario—The Hudson River—Mohawk—Wood

creek—Oneida Lake—Oswego River—The carrying places—West Canada

Creek—Black River—Oswegotchie—The navigation—Military highway—

Lower Canada—An historic route—The paths followed by the

Loyalists—Indian paths north of Lake Ontario—Crossing the Lake—

From Cape Vincent to the Bay Quinté—From Oswego by Duck Islands—

East Lake—Picton Bay—Coasting Ontario—Two ways to Huron—By Bay

Quinté and Trent; by Don River—Lake Simcoe—Point Traverse—

Loyalists—Travelling by the St. Lawrence—First road—Long

remembered event 129

CHAPTER XIII.

Indians traveled by foot or by canoe—Secreting canoes—Primeval

scenes—Hunting expeditions—War path—In 1812—Brock—A night at

Myers’ Creek—Important arrival—The North West Company—Their

canoes—Route—Grand Portage—The Voyageurs—The Batteaux—Size—

Ascending the rapids—Lachine—A dry dock—Loyalists by batteaux—

Durham boats—Difficulties—In 1788, time from Lachine to

Fredericksburgh—Waiting for batteaux—Extracts from a journal,

traveling in 1811—From Kingston to Montreal—The expenses—The

Schenectady boats—Trade between Albany and Cataraqui—The Durham

boat—Duncan—Description of flat-bottomed boat by “Murray”—

Statement of Finkle—Trading—Batteaux in 1812—Rate of traveling—

The change in fifty years—Time from Albany to Bay Quinté—

Instances—Loyalists traveling in winter—Route—Willsbury

wilderness—Tarrying at Cornwall—The “French Train”—Traveling

along north shore of Ontario—Indian path—Horseback—Individual

owners of batteaux—Around Bay Quinté—The Last regular batteaux—

In 1819—“Lines” from magazine 135

CHAPTER XIV.

The first Vessel—The French—La Salle—The Griffon—Vessels in 1770—

During the Rebellion—Building at Carleton Island—Captain

Andrews—The Ontario—Col. Burton—Loss of the Ontario—The

Sheehans—Hills—Givins’—Murney’s Point—Schooner ‘Speedy’—Mohawk—

Mississauga—Duke of Kent—Capt. Bouchette—Paxton—McKenzie—

Richardson—Earle Steele—Fortiche—The Governor Simcoe—Sloop

‘Elizabeth’—First vessel built at York—Collins’ Report upon

Navigating the Lakes—Navy in Upper Canada, 1795—Rochfoucault—

Capt. Bouchette—Officers’ Pay—York, the centre of the Naval

Force—Gun Boats—The Loss of the “Speedy”—Reckoner—Dr. Strachan—

Solicitor-Gen. Gray—Canada took the lead in building Vessels—

First Canadian Merchant Vessel—The York—A Schooner on runners

round the Falls—Sending Coals to Newcastle—Upon Bay Quinté—The

Outskirts of Civilization—“The Prince Edward” built of Red

Cedar—In 1812—Schooner “Mary Ann”—1817—Capt. Matthews 147

DIVISION III.

THE LOYALISTS AS PIONEERS—THE ORIGINAL SURVEY.

CHAPTER XV.

Major Gen. Holland—Surveying on Atlantic Coast—An adherent of the

Crown—Removal to Montreal—Death—Major Holland—Information from

“Maple Leaves”—Holland Farm—Taché—First Canadian Poem—Head

Quarters of Gen. Montgomery—Hospitality—Duke of Kent—Spencer

Grange—Holland Tree—Graves—Epitaphs—Surveyor Washington—County

Surveyor—Surveyors after the War—First Survey in Upper Canada—

Commenced in 1781—The Mode pursued—Information in Crown Lands

Department—The Nine Townships upon the St. Lawrence—At the close

of the War—Non-Professional Surveyors—Thomas Sherwood—Assisting

to Settle—Surveying around the Bay Quinté—Bongard—

Deputy-Surveyor Collins—First Survey at Frontenac—Town Reserve—

Size of Township—Mistakes—Kotte—Tuffy—Capt. Grass—Capt. Murney—

Surveying in Winter—Planting Posts—Result—Litigation—Losing

Land—A Newspaper Letter—Magistrates—Landholders—Their Sons’

Lawyers—Alleged Filching—Speculators at Seat of Government—Grave

Charges—Width of Lots—Mode of Surveying—Number of Concessions—

Cross Roads—Surveyors Orders—Numbering the Lots—Surveying around

the Bay—The ten Townships—Their Lands—The Surveying Party—A

Singer—Statement of Gourlay 154

CHAPTER XVI.

The term Concession—First Concession of Land in Canada—The

Carignan Regiment—Seigniories—Disproportion of the sexes—Females

sent from France—Their appearance—Settling them—Marriage

allowance—The last seigniory—New Longeuil—Seigniory at

Frontenac—Grants to refugees—Officers and men—Scale of granting—

Free of expense—Squatting—Disbanded soldiers—Remote regions—A

wise and beneficent policy—Impostors—Very young officers—

Wholesale granting of land—Republicans coming over—Covetous—

False pretensions—Government had to discriminate—Rules and

regulations—Family lands—Bounty—Certificates—Selling claims—Rear

concessions—Transfer of location ticket—Land board—Tardiness in

obtaining titles to real estate—Transfer by bond—Jobbing—Sir Wm.

Pullency—Washington—Giving lands to favorites—Reserves—Evil

results—The Family Compact—Extract from Playter—Extract from

Lord Durham—From Gourlay—Recompense to Loyalists—Rations—Mode of

drawing land—Land agent—Broken front—Traitor Arnold—Tyendinaga 164

CHAPTER XVII.

Lines—Western Settlement, 1783—Population—Settlement upon St.

Lawrence and Bay—Number, 1784—Proclamation to Loyalists—Society

disturbed—Two kinds of Loyalists—St. Lawrence and Bay favorable

for settlement—Government provisions—State of the Loyalists—

Serving out rations—Clothes—Utensils for clearing and fencing—

The axe—Furniture—Attacking a last enemy—Tents—Waiting for their

lots—“Bees”—Size of dwellings—Mode of building—Exchanging work—

Bedsteads—Clearing—Fireing trees—Ignorance of pioneer life—

Disposing of the wood—No beast of burden—Logging—Determination—

All settlers on a common ground—Additional refugees—Advance—

Simcoe’s proclamation, 1792—Conditions of grants—The response—

Later settlers—Questionable Loyalists—Yankees longing for

Canada—Loyalty in 1812 181

DIVISION IV.

THE FIRST YEARS OF UPPER CANADA.

CHAPTER XVIII.

Father Picquet—Provision of Forts in Upper Canada just before

conquest—Frontenac—Milk—Brandy—Toronto—The several forts—

Detroit—British garrisons—Grasping rebels—Efforts to starve out

Loyalists in Canada—Worse treated than the Acadians—Efforts to

secure Fur Trade—The frontier forts—Americans’ conduct to

Indians—Result—Conduct of British Government—Rations for three

years—Grinding by hand—“Hominy blocks”—“Plumping mill”—The

women—Soldier farmers—The Hessians—Suffering—The “Scarce Year”—

Charge against the Commissariat officers—Famine—Cry for bread—

Instances of suffering—Starving children—No salt—Fish—Game—

Eating young grain—Begging bran—A common sorrow—Providential

escapes—Eating buds and leaves—Deaths—Primitive fishing—Catching

salmon—Going 125 miles to mill—Disconsolate families—1789—

Partial relief—First beef slaughtered in Upper Canada—First log

barn—A “Bee,” what they ate and drank—Tea introduced—Statements

of Sheriff Sherwood—Roger Bates—John Parrott—Col. Clark—Squirrel

swimming Niagara—Maple sugar—How it was made—Women assisting—

Made dishes of food—Pumpkin loaf—Extract from Rochefoucault—

1795—Quality of grain raised—Quinté Bay—Cultivation—Corn

exported—The grain dealers—Price of flour—Pork—Profits of the

merchants 191

CHAPTER XIX.

Kingston Mills—Action of Government—The Millwright—Situation of

the first Mill—Why Selected—The Machinery—Put up by Loyalists—No

Toll—Only Mill for three years—Going to Mill, 1784—The Napanee

Mill—Commenced 1785—Robert Clarke—An old Book—“Appenea” Falls—

Price of certain articles—What Rum cost, and was used for—The

Mill opened 1787—Sergt.-Major Clarke in charge—Indian Corn—Small

Toll—Surveyor Collins in charge—Becomes the property of R.

Cartwright, 1792—Rebuilt—Origin of Napanee—Price of Butter,

1788—Mills at Four Mile Creek, Niagara Falls, Fort Erie, and

Grand River—Mills on the St. Lawrence—The Stone Mills—Van

Alstine—Lake of the Mountain—1796—Natural Beauty, _versus_

Utility—The Mill—Van Alstine’s Death—Wind Mill—Myer’s Mill—Mill

at Consecon 206

CHAPTER XX.

Clothing—Domestic and Farming Implements—Style of Dress eighty

years ago—Clothing of the Refuges—Disbanded Soldiers—No Fresh

Supply—Indian Garments of Skin—Deerskin Pants—Petticoats—Bed

Coverings—Cultivating Flax—Sheep—Home-made Clothes—Rude

Implements—Fulling—French Mode—Lindsay Woolsey—The

Spinning-wheel—Young men Selecting Wives—Bees—Marriage Portion—

Every Farmer his own Tanner and Shoemaker—Fashions—How odd hours

were spent—Home-made Shoes—What Blankets were made of—Primitive

Bedstead—Nakedness—Bridal Apparel—No Saddles—Kingston and

Newark—Little Money—Bartering—Merchants from Albany—Unable to

buy—Credit with Merchants—The Results—Itinerant Mechanics—

Americans—Become Canadians—An old Stone-mason—Wooden Dishes—

Making Spoons—Other Hardships—Indians Friendly—Effects of

Alcohol upon the Mississaugas—Groundless Panic—Drunken Indians—

Women, defending Themselves—An erroneous Statement about Indian

Massacre in “Dominion Monthly Magazine”—Statement of an Old

Settler, Sherwood—Wild Beasts—Few Fire-arms—Narrow Escapes—

Depredations at Night—Destroying Stock—An Act of Parliament—“A

traveller’s statement”—The Day of Small Things—Settlers

Contented—The Extent of their Ambition—Reward of Industry—

Population in 1808—Importations—Money—The Youth 211

CHAPTER XXI.

Sweat of the brow—No beast of burden—No stock—Except by a few—

Horses and oxen—From Lower Canada—York State—Late comers,

brought some—No fodder—First stock in Adolphustown—Incidents—

Cock and hens—“Tipler”—Cattle driving—First cow in Thurlow—First

house in Marysburgh—The first oxen—No market for butter and

cheese—Sheep—Rev. Mr. Stuart, as an Agriculturist—Horses at

Napanee—An offer for a yoke of steers 220

CHAPTER XXII.

Old channels of trade, and travel—Art and science—New channels—The

wilderness—Loyalists Travelling on foot, from Kingston to York—

Formation of roads—Act of parliament—1793—Its provisions—Crooked

roads—Foot-path—Bridle-path—King’s highway from Lower Canada—

When surveyed—Road from Kingston westward—Its course—Simcoe’s

military road—Dundas street—Asa Danforth—Contract with

government—Road from Kingston to Ancaster—Danforth road—1799—

Misunderstandings—Danforth’s pamphlets—Slow improvement—Cause—

Extract from Gourlay—Thomas Markland’s report—Ferries—1796—Acts

of parliament—Statute labor—Money grants—Commissioners—Midland

district—Distribution—The Cataraqui Bridge Company—The

petitioners—An act—The provisions—The plan of building—The

bridge—Toll—Completing the bridge—Improvements of roads—McAdam—

Declines a knighthood 224

CHAPTER XXIII.

Ode to Canada—Early events—First English child in America, 1587—In

New England—First French child, 1621—First in Upper Canada,

1783—In Prince Edward—Adolphustown—Ameliasburgh—North of the

Rideau—Indian marriage ceremony—Difficulty among first settlers

to get clergymen—First marriage in America, 1608—First in New

England, 1621—First in Canada, 1621—Marriageable folks—No one to

tie the matrimonial knot—Only one clergyman—Officers marrying—

Magistrates empowered—Legislation, 1793—Its provision—Making

valid certain marriages—Further Legislation, 1798—In 1818—1821—

1831—Clergymen of all denominations permitted to marry—Methodist

ministers—Marriage license, 1814—Five persons appointed to

issue—A noticeable matter—Statements of Bates—Mode of courting

in the woods—Newcastle wedding expeditions—Weapons of defence—

Ladies’ dresses—The lover’s “rig”—A wedding ring—Paying the

magistrate—A good corn basket—Going to weddings—“Bitters”—Old

folks stay at home—The dance, several nights—Marriage outfit—

Frontier life—Morals in Upper Canada—Absence of irregularities—

Exceptional instances—Unable to get married, Peter and Polly—A

singular witness—Rev. Mr. Stuart—Langhorn—McDowell—How to adorn

the bride—What she wore—A wedding in 1808—On horseback—The

guests—The wedding—The banquet—The game of forfeits—The night—

Second day wedding—The young folks on horseback—Terpischorean—An

elopement by canoe—The Squire—The chase—The lovers successful—

The Squires who married 232

CHAPTER XXIV.

Burying places—How selected—Family burying place—For the

neighborhood—The Dutch—Upon the Hudson—Bay Quinté—A sacred spot

to the Loyalists—Ashes to ashes—Primitive mode of burial—The

coffin—At the grave—The father’s remarks—Return to labor—French

Burying-place at Frontenac—Its site—U. E. Loyalists’ burying

place at Kingston—The “U. E. burying-ground,” Adolphustown—

Worthy sires of Canada’s sons—Decay—Neglect of illustrious dead—

Repair wanted—Oldest burying-ground in Prince Edward—Ross Place—

At East Lake—Upon the Rose farm—“The Dutch burying-ground”—

Second growth trees—In Sophiasburgh—Cronk farm—In Sidney—Rude

tomb stones—Burial-place of Captain Myers—Reflections—Dust to

dust—In Thurlow—“Taylor burying-ground”—The first person buried—

Lieut. Ferguson—An aged female—Her work done—Wheels stand still 243

DIVISION V.

THE EARLY CLERGYMEN AND CHURCHES.

CHAPTER XXV.

French missionaries—First in 1615—Recollets—With Champlain—

Jesuits, in 1625—Valuable records—Bishopric of Quebec, 1674—

First Bishop of Canada, Laval—Rivalry—Power of Jesuits—Number of

missionaries—Their “relations”—First mission field; Bay Quinté

region—“Antient mission”—How founded—First missionaries—Kleus,

Abbe D’Urfé—La Salle to build a church—The ornaments and sacred

vessels—The site of the “Chappel” uncertain—Bald Bluff, Carrying

Place—Silver crosses—Mission at Georgian Bay—The “Christian

Islands”—Chapel at Michilmicinac, 1679—The natives attracted—

Subjects of the French King—Francois Picquet—La Presentation—

_Soegasti_—The most important mission—The object—Six Nations—The

missionary’s living—“Disagreeable expostulations”—Putting

stomach in order—Trout—Picquet’s mode of teaching Indians—The

same afterwards adopted by Rev. W. Case—Picquet’s success—

Picquet on a voyage—At Fort Toronto—Mississaugas’ request—

Picquet’s reply—A slander—At Niagara, Oswego—At Frontenac—Grand

reception—Return to La Presentation—Picquet in the last French

war—Returns to France—By Mississippi—“Apostles of Peace”—

Unseemly strife—Last of the Jesuits in Canada 249

CHAPTER XXVI.

First church in New York, 1633—First Dominie, Rev. Everardus

Bogardus—The Dutch, Huguenots, Pilgrims—Transporting ministers

and churches—First Rector of New York, Wm. Vesey—Henry Barclay,

1746—First Catholic Bishop in America, 1789—Episcopalian Bishop,

1796—Moral state of Pioneers in Canada—Religion—No ministers—No

striking immorality—Feared God and honored their King—The

Fathers of Upper Canada—Religious views—A hundred years ago—

“Carousing and Dancing”—Rev. Dr. John Ogilvie—First Protestant

clergyman in Canada—Chaplain, 1759, at Niagara—A Missionary

Successor of Dr. Barclay, New York—Death, 1774—Rev. John

Doughty—A Graduate ordained—At Peekskill—Schenectady—A Loyalist—

A Prisoner—To Canada—Chaplain—To England—Returns—Missionary

Resigns—Rev Dr. John Stuart—First clergyman to settle—His

memoir—The “Father of the U. C. Church”—Mission work—The five

nations—The Dutch—Rev. Mr. Freeman—Translator—Rev. Mr. Andrews—

Rev. Mr. Spencer Woodbridge, Howley—New England missionaries—

Rev. Dr. Whelock—The Indian converts—The London society—Rev. Mr.

Inglis—John Stuart selected missionary—A native of Pennsylvania—

Irish descent—A graduate, Phil. Coll.—Joins Church of England—To

England—Ordination—Holy Orders, 1770—Enters upon his work 255

CHAPTER XXVII.

At Fort Hunter—Mr. Stuart’s first sermon, Christmas—Officiates in

Indian tongue—Translates—The rebellion—Prayers for the King—The

Johnsons—Rebels attack his house—Plunder—Indignity—Church

desecrated—Used as a stable—A barrel of rum—Arrested—Ordered to

come before rebel commissioners—On Parole—Limits—Idle two years—

To Albany—Phil—Determines to remove to Canada—Not secure—

Exchanging—Security—Real estate forfeited—Route—Negroes—The

journey, three weeks—At St. John’s—Charge of Public School—

Chaplain—At the close of the war—Three Protestant Parishes—

Determines to settle at Cataraqui—Chaplain to Garrison—

Missionary—Bishop of Virginia, Dr. Griffith—Visits Mr. Stuart—

Invitation to Virginia declined—“Rivetted prejudices,”

satisfied—“The only refuge clergymen”—Path of duty—Visits the

settlements, 1784—Mohawks, Grand river—Reception of their old

pastor—First church—Mohawks, Bay of Quinté—Remains in Montreal a

year—Assistant—Removes to Cataraqui, 1785—His land—Number of

houses in Kingston—A short cut to Lake Huron—Fortunate in land—

5000 settlers—Poor and happy—Industrious—Around his Parish,

1788—Two hundred miles long—By batteau—Brant—New Oswego—Mohawk

village church, steeple, and bell—First in Upper Canada—Plate—

Organ—Furniture—Returns—At Niagara—Old parishioners—Tempted to

move—Comfortable, not rich—Declines a judgeship—New

Mecklenburgh—Appointed Chaplain to first House of Assembly—

Mohawk Mission—At Marysburgh—Degree of D.D.—Prosperity—Happy—

Decline of life—His duties—Illness, Death, 1811—His appearance—

“The little gentleman”—His manners—Honorable title—His children—

Rev. O’Kill Stuart 260

CHAPTER XXVIII.

A Missionary—Chaplain at Niagara—Pastors to the settlers—Chaplain

to Legislature—Visits Grand river—Officiates—A land speculator—

Receives a pension, £50—1823—Rev. Mr. Pollard—At Amherstburgh—

Mr. Langhorn—A missionary—Little education—Useful—Odd—On Bay

Quinté in Ernesttown—Builds a church—At Adolphustown—Preaches at

Hagerman’s—Another church—A diligent pastor—Pioneer preacher

around the bay—Christening—Marrying—Particular—His appointments—

Clerk’s Fees—Generosity—Present to bride—Faithful to sick calls—

Frozen feet—No stockings—Shoe buckles—Dress—Books—Peculiarities—

Fond of the water—Charitable—War of 1812—Determined to leave

Canada—Thinks it doomed—Singular notice—Returns to Europe—His

library—Present to Kingston—Twenty years in Canada—Extract from

Gazette—No one immediately to take his place—Rev. John Bethune—

Died 1815—Native of Scotland—U. E. Loyalists—Lost Property—

Chaplain to 84th Regiment—A Presbyterian—Second Legal Clergymen

in Upper Canada—Settled at Cornwall—Children—The Baptists—Wyner—

Turner—Holts Wiem—Baptists upon river Moira—First Chapel—How

built—Places of preaching—Hayden’s Corners—At East Lake—The

Lutherans—Rev. Schwerdfeger—Lutheran settlers—County Dundas—

First church east of Kingston—Rev. Mr. Myers lived in

Marysburgh—Marriage—His log church—Removes to St. Lawrence—

Resigns—To Philadelphia—Mr. Weant—Lives in Ernesttown—Removes to

Matilda—Not supported—Secretly joins the English church—

Re-ordained—His society ignorant—Suspicious—Preaching in shirt

sleeves—Mr. Myers’ return, by sleigh—Locking church door—The

thirty-nine articles—Compromise—Mr. Myers continues three years

a Lutheran—He secedes—The end of both Seceders—Rev. I. L.

Senderling—Rev. Herman Hayunga—Rev. Mr. Shorts—Last Lutheran

minister at Ernesttown, McCarty—Married 267

CHAPTER XXIX.

Bishop Strachan—A teacher—A preacher—A student—Holy Orders—A

Presbyterian—Becomes an Episcopalian—A supporter of the “Family

compact”—Sincere—His opinion of the people—Ignorant—Unprepared

for self-government—Strachan’s religious chart—He was deceived—

The Methodists—Anomalous connection—A fillibustering people—

Republicanism egotistical—Loyalty of the Methodists—American

ministers—Dr. Strachan’s position—His birth place—His education—

A.M., 1793—Studying Theology—Comes to Canada—A student of Dr.

Stuart’s—Ordained Deacon—A missionary at Cornwall—Rector at

York—Archdeacon—Bishop of Toronto—Coadjutor—Death—A public

burial—Rev. Mr. McDowell—First Presbyterian at Bay Quinté—

Invited by Van Alstine—On his way—At Brockville—Settles in a

second town—His circuit—A worthy minister—Fulfilling his

mission—Traveling on foot—To York—Marrying the people—His death—

His descendants—Places of preaching—A Calvinist—Invites

controversy—Mr. Coate accepts the challenge—The disputation—

Excitement—The result—Rev. Mr. Smart—Called by Mr. McDowell—

Pres. clergyman at Brockville—Fifty years—An earnest Christian—A

desire to write—“Observer”—A pioneer—A cause of regret—Not

extreme—Mr. Smart’s views on politics—The masses uneducated—The

“Family Compact”—Rise of responsible government—The Bidwells—

Credit to Dr. Strachan—Brock’s funeral sermon—Foundation of

Kingston gaol—Maitland—Demonstration—Sherwood’s statement 273

CHAPTER XXX.

The Quakers—Among the Settlers—From Penn—Duchess County—First

Meeting-house—David Sand—Elijah Hick—Visiting Canada—James

Noxen—A first settler—Their mode of worship—In Sophiasburg—The

meeting-house—Joseph Leavens—Hicksites—Traveling—Death, aged 92—

Extract, Picton Sun—The first preaching places—First English

church—In private houses—At Sandwich—The Indian church at the

bay—Ernesttown—First Methodist church—Preaching at Niagara—First

church in Kingston—At Waterloo—At Niagara—Churches at Kingston,

1817—In Hallowell—Thurlow—Methodist meeting-houses, 1816—At

Montreal—Building chapels in olden times—Occupying the frame—The

old Methodist chapels—In Hallowell township—In the fifth town—

St. Lawrence—First English Church, Belleville—Mr. Campbell—First

time in the pulpit—How he got out—The old church superseded—

Church, front of Sidney—Rev. John Cochrane—Rev. Mr. Grier—First

Presbyterian Church in Belleville—Rev. Mr. Ketcham—First

Methodist Church in Belleville—Healey, Puffer—The site of the

church—A second one 279

CHAPTER XXXI.

The first Methodist Preachers—The army—Capt. Webb—Tuffey—George

Neal—Lyons—School-teacher—Exhorter—McCarty—Persecution—Bigotry—

Vagabonds—McCarty arrested—Trial—At Kingston—Banished—“A

martyr”—Doubtful—Losee, first Methodist missionary, 1790—A

minister—A loyalist—Where he first preached—“A curiosity”—

Earnest pioneer Methodist—Class-meetings—Suitable for all

classes—Losee’s class-meetings—Determines to build a

meeting-house—Built in Adolphustown—Its size—The subscribers—

Members, amount—Embury—Those who subscribed for first church in

New York—Same names—The centenary of Methodism—New York

Methodists driven away—American Methodist forgetful—Embury and

Heck refugees—Ashgrove—No credit given to British officers—

Embury’s brother—The rigging loft, N. Y.—Barbara Heck—Settling

in Augusta—First Methodist Church in America—Subscribers—“Lost

Chapters”—The Author’s silence—What is acknowledged—“Severe

threats”—Mr. Mann—To Nova Scotia—Mr. Wakely “admires piety”—Not

“loyalty”—Second chapel, N. Y.—Adolphustown subscribers—Conrad

VanDusen—Eliz. Roblin—Huff—Ruttan—The second Methodist chapel—

The subscribers—Commenced May, 1795—Carpenter’s wages—Members

Cataraqui Circuit—Going to Conference—Returns—Darias Dunham—

Physician—First quarterly meeting—Anecdotes—Bringing a “dish

cloth”—“Clean up”—The new made squire—Asses—Unclean spirits—

Losee discontinues preaching—Cause—Disappointment—Return to New

York—Dunham useful—Settles—Preachers travelling—Saddle-bags—

Methodism among loyalists—Camp-meetings—Where first held in

Canada—Worshipping in the woods—Breaking up—Killing the Devil—

First Canadian preacher—Journey from New York 285

CHAPTER XXXIa.

Henry Ryan—Ryanites—He comes to Canada—His associate, Case—At

Kingston—A singer—Preaching in the market-place—Their treatment—

In office—His circuit—1000 miles—What he received—Elder—

Superseded—Probable cause—A British subject—During the war of

1812—President of Conference—“High-minded”—Useful—Acceptable to

the people—Desired independence by the Canadians—How he was

treated—His labors—Brave—Witty—“Fatherless children”—“Impudent

scoundrel”—Muscular—“Methodists’ bull”—“Magistrate’s goat”—Ryan

seeks separation—Breckenridge—Conduct of the American

Conference—Ryan’s agitation—Effect upon the Bishops—First Canada

Conference—At Hallowell—Desire for independence—Reasons, cogent—

Fruit of Ryan’s doings—The way the Conference treated Ryan—

Withdraws—No faith in the United States Conference—Ryan sincere—

“Canadian Wesleyans”—The motives of the United States Conference

questionable—The wrong done Ryan—Second Canada Conference—Case,

first Superintendent—Visit of Bishop Asbury—Account by Henry

Bœhm—Asbury an Englishman—During the rebellion—A Bishop—His

journey to Canada—Crossing the St. Lawrence—Traveling in Canada—

An upset—“A decent people”—His opinion of the country—The Bishop

ill—At Kingston—Bœhm at Embury’s—A field meeting—Riding all

night—Crossing to Sackett’s harbor—Nearly wrecked 295

CHAPTER XXXII.

McDonnell—First R. Catholic Bishop—A “Memorandum”—Birth-place—in

Spain—A priest—In Scotland—Glengary Fencibles—Ireland, 1798—To

Canada—Bishop—Death in Scotland—Body removed to Canada—Funeral

obsequies—Buried at Kingston—Had influence—Member of Canadian

Legislative Council—Pastoral visitations, 1806—A loyal man—A

pioneer in his church—The Bishop’s Address, 1836—Refuting

Mal-charges—Number of the R. C. clergy in 1804—From Lake

Superior to Lower Canada—Traveling horseback—Sometimes on foot—

Hardships—Not a politician—Expending private means—Faithful

services—Acknowledged—Roman Catholic U. E. Loyalists—First

church in Ernesttown—McDonnell at Belleville—Rev. M. Brennan—

First church in Belleville—What we have aimed at—The advantages

to the English Church—The Reserves—In Lower Canada—Dr. Mountain—

Number of English clergymen, 1793—A Bishop—Monopoly initiated—

Intolerance and exclusion swept away—An early habit at Divine

Service 303

CHAPTER XXXIII.

First Sabbath teaching—Hannah Bell, 1769—School established, 1781—

Raikes—Wesley—First in United States—First in Canada—Cattrick—

Moon—Common in 1824—First in Belleville—Turnbull—Cooper—

Marshall—Prizes, who won them—Mr. Turnbull’s death—Intemperance—

First temperance societies—Change of custom—Rum—Increasing

intemperance—The tastes of the pioneers—Temperance, not

teetotalism—First society in Canada—Drinks at raisings and bees—

Society at Hallowell 308

CHAPTER XXXIV.

The Six Nations—Faithful English Allies—Society for Propagation of

Gospel—First missionary to Iroquois—John Thomas, first convert—

Visit of Chiefs to England—Their names—Their portraits—Attention

to them—Asking for instructor—Queen Anne—Communion Service—

During the Rebellion—Burying the plate—Recovered—Division of the

articles—Sacrilege of the Rebels—Re-printing Prayer Book—Mr.

Stuart, missionary—The women and children—At Lachine—Attachment

to Mr. Stuart—Touching instance—Mr. Stuart’s Indian sister—

Church at Tyendinaga—School teacher to the Mohawk—John Bininger—

First teacher—The Bininger family—The Moravian Society—Count

Zinzendorf—Moravian church at New York—First minister, Abraham

Bininger—Friend of Embury—An old account book—John Bininger

journeying to Canada—Living at Bay Quinté—Removes to Mohawk

village—Missionary spirit—Abraham Bininger’s letters—The

directions—Children pleasing parents—“Galloping thoughts”—

Christianity—Canadian Moravian missionaries—Moravian loyalists—

What was sent from New York—“Best Treasure”—The “Dear Flock”—

David Zieshager at the Thames—J. Bininger acceptable to Mohawk—

Abraham Bininger desires to visit Canada—Death of Mrs. Bininger—

“Tender mother”—Bininger and Wesley—“Garitson”—“Losee”—“Dunon”—

Reconciled to Methodists—Pitying Losee—Losee leaving Canada—

Ceases to be teacher—Appointing a successor—William Bell—The

salary—The Mohawks don’t attend school—An improvement—The cattle

may not go in School-house—The school discontinued 312

CHAPTER XXXV.

The first Church at Tyendinaga grows old—A Council—Ask for

assistance—Gov. Bagot—Laying first stone of new Church—The

Inscription—The Ceremony—The new Church—Their Singing—The

surrounding Scenery—John Hall’s Tomb—Pagan Indians—Red Jacket—

His Speech—Reflection upon Christians—Indians had nothing to do

with murdering the Saviour 319

CHAPTER XXXVI.

Mississauga Indians—Father Picquet’s opinion—Remnant of a large

tribe—Their land—Sold to Government—Rev. Wm. Case—John Sunday—A

drunkard—Peter Jones—Baptising Indians—At a camp-meeting—Their

department—Extract from Playter—William Beaver—Conversions—Jacob

Peter—Severe upon white Christians—Their worship—The Father of

Canadian missions—Scheme to teach Indians—Grape Island—Leasing

Islands—The parties—“Dated at Belleville”—Constructing a

village—The lumber—How obtained—Encamping on Grape Island—The

method of instruction—The number—Agriculture—Their singing—

School house—The teacher—Instructions of women—Miss Barnes—

Property of Indians—Cost of improvements—A visit to Government—

Asking for land—“Big Island”—Other favors—Peter Jacobs at New

York—Extracts from Playter—Number of Indian converts, 1829—River

Credit Indians—Indians removed to Alnwick 323

DIVISION VI.

EARLY EDUCATION IN UPPER CANADA.

CHAPTER XXXVII.

Education among the Loyalists—Effect of the war—No opportunity for

Education—A few Educated—At Bath—A common belief—What was

requisite for farming—Learning at home—The school teachers—Their

qualifications—Rev. Mr. Stuart as a teacher—Academy at Kingston—

First Canadian D.D.—Mr. Clark, Teacher, 1786—Donevan—Garrison

Schools—Cockerell—Myers—Blaney—Michael—Atkins—Kingston, 1795—

Lyons—Mrs. Cranahan—In Adolphustown—Morden—Faulkiner—The school

books—Evening schools—McDougall—O’Reiley—McCormick—Flogging—

Salisbury—James—Potter—Wright—Watkins—Gibson—Smith—Whelan—

Articles of Agreement—Recollections—Boarding round—American

teachers—School books—The letter Z 329

CHAPTER XXXVIII.

Mr. Stuart’s school—Simcoe—State Church and College—Grammar

schools—Hon. R. Hamilton—Chalmers—Strachan—Comes to Canada—

Educational history—Arrival at Kingston—The pupils—Fees—Removes

to Cornwall—Pupils follow—Strachan, a Canadian—Marries—Interview

with Bishop Strachan—His disappointment—A stranger—What he

forsook—300 pupils—Their success—Stay at Cornwall—Appointments

at York—A lecturer—At Kingston—Member of Legislative Council—

Politician—Clergy Reserves—Founds King’s College—The thirty-nine

articles—Monopoly swept away—Voluntaryism—Founds Trinity

College—Bishop Strachan in 1866—What he had accomplished—Those

he tutored—Setting up a high standard—“Reckoner”—Sincerity—

Legislation, 1797—Address to the King—Grammar Schools—Grant,

1798—Board of Education—Endowment of King’s College—Its

constitution—Changes—Upper Canada College—Endowment—“A spirit of

improvement”—Gourlay—The second academy—At Ernesttown—The

trustees—Bidwell—Charges—Contradicted—Rival school—Bidwell’s

son—Conspicuous character—Bidwell’s death—Son removes to

Toronto—Academy building, a barrack—Literary spirit of Bath—

Never revived—York 334

CHAPTER XXXIX.

Extract from Cooper—Educational institutions—Kingston—Queen’s

College—Own’s Real Estate—Regiopolis College—Roman Catholic—

Grammar School—Attendance—School houses—Library—Separate School—

Private Schools—The Quaker School—William Penn—Upon the Hudson—

Near Bloomfield—Origin of school—Gurnay—His offer—Management of

school—The teaching—Mrs. Crombie’s school—Picton ladies’

Academy—McMullen, proprietor—Teachers—Gentlemen’s department—

Popular—The art of printing—In America—Book publishing—First in

America—Books among the loyalists—Few—Passed around—Ferguson’s

books—The Bible—Libraries at Kingston and Bath—Legislation—In

Lower Canada—Reading room at Hallowell—Reserves for education—

Upper Canada in respect to education—Praiseworthy—Common School

system bill introduced 1841—Amended, 1846—Dr. Ryerson’s system—

Unsurpassed 341

CHAPTER XL.

First Newspapers, 1457—Year, 66—English Newspapers—In America—In

Canada—‘Gazette’—Founder—Papers in 1753—Quebec ‘Herald’—Montreal

‘Gazette’—‘Le Temps’—Quebec ‘Mercury’—Canadian ‘Courant’—‘Royal

Gazette’—First in Newfoundland—‘U. C. Gazette’—First paper—

Subscribers—Upper Canada ‘Guardian’—Wilcox—Mr. Thorpe—

Opposition—Libel—Elected to Parliament—York Jail—Leader—In 1812—

Deserted—York ‘Gazette’—Kingston ‘Gazette’—Only Paper—News sixty

years ago—In Midland District—Rev. Mr. Miles—Pioneer of

Journalism—His Birthplace—Learns the printing business—Mower—

Montreal ‘Gazette’—Kendall—Partnership—To Kingston in 1810—The

printing office—Kingston ‘Gazette’—Mr. Miles sells out—The

concern purchased—Mr. Miles asked to be Editor—Their kindness—

Gratitude—Second Volume—Extract from ‘Gazette’—The Price—

Kingston ‘Chronicle’—Upper Canada ‘Herald’—‘Canadian Watchman’—

Mr. Miles at Prescott—Returns to Kingston—Enters the Ministry—

Loyal Subject—In 1812—On Duty—Archdeacon Stuart—Col. Cartwright—

Contributors to ‘Gazette’—Our Thanks—A Watch—Faithfulness—“A

Good Chance”—Subscribers at York—Kingston ‘Spectator’—‘Patriot’—

‘Argus’—‘Commercial Advertizer’—‘British Whig’—‘Chronicle’ and

‘News’—First Daily in Upper Canada—Paper Boxes—Brockville

‘Recorder’—A Reform paper—McLeod—Grenville ‘Gazette’—Prescott

‘Telegraph’—‘Christian Guardian’—Reform Journals 350

CHAPTER XLI.

First paper between Kingston and York—Hallowell “Free Press”—The

Editor—“Recluse”—Fruitless efforts—Proprietor—Wooden press—Of

iron—“Free Press,” independent—The “Traveller”—Press removed to

Cobourg—“Prince Edward Gazette”—“Picton Gazette”—“Picton Sun”—

“Picton Times”—“New Nation”—“Cobourg Star”—“Anglo-Canadian” at

Belleville—The Editor—Price—The “Phœnix”—Slicer—“Canadian

Wesleyan”—“Hastings Times”—The “Reformer”—The “Intelligencer”—

George Benjamin—The “Victoria Chronicle”—“Hastings Chronicle”—

Extract from Playter—“Colonial Advocate”—“Upper Canada Herald”—

“Barker’s Magazine”—“Victoria Magazine”—Joseph Wilson—Mrs.

Moodie—Sheriff Moodie—Pioneer in Canadian literature—Extract

from Morgan—“Literary Garland”—“Roughing it in the Bush”—

“Eclectic Magazine”—“Wilson’s Experiment”—“Wilson’s Canada

Casket”—The “Bee” at Napanee—“Emporium”—The “Standard”—The

“Reformer”—“North American”—“Ledger”—“Weekly Express”—“Christian

Casket”—“Trenton Advocate”—“British Ensign”—The “Canadian Gem”—

“Maple Leaf”—Papers in 1853—Canadian papers superior to

American—Death at Boston—Berczy—Canadian idioms—Accent—Good

English—Superstition—Home education—Fireside stories—Traditions 358

DIVISION VII.

THE TERRITORY OF UPPER CANADA—THE BAY QUINTÉ.

CHAPTER XLII.

The Indians—Their origin—Pre-historic Canada—Indian relics—

Original inhabitants—Les Iroquois du nord—Original names—

Peninsula of Upper Canada—Champlain exploring—Ascends the

Ottawa—His route to Lake Nippissing—To Lake Huron—French river—

The country—Georgian Bay—Lake Simcoe—Down the Trent—A grand

trip—Bay Quinté and Lake Ontario discovered—War demonstration—

Wintering at the Bay—A contrast—Roundabout way—Erroneous

impressions 366

CHAPTER XLIII.

Name—Letter, “Daily News”—“Omega” Lines—The writer—Conjectures—

Five Bays—Indian origin—Kentes—Villages—_Les Couis_—Modes of

spelling—Canty—The occupants, 1783—Mississaugas—Origin—With the

Iroquois—The _Souter_—Mississaugas, dark—At Kingston—Bay Quinté—

Land bought—Reserves—Claim upon the islands—Wappoose Island—

Indian agent—Indians hunting—Up the Sagonaska—Making sugar—

Peaceable—To Kingston for presents 374

CHAPTER XLIV.

Appearance—Mouth of Bay—Length—The Peninsula of Prince Edward—

Width of Bay—Long Reach—Course of Bay—The High Shore—Division of

bay—Eastern, central, western—Taking a trip—Through the Reach—A

picture—A quiet spot—Lake on the mountain—A description—Montreal

Gazette—Beautiful view—Rhine, Hudson—Contrast—Classic ground—A

sketch—Birth place of celebrated Canadians—Hagerman—A leading

spirit—Sir J. A. McDonald—Reflections—A log house—Relics of the

past—Lesson of life—In the lower bay—Reminiscences—The front—

Cradle of the province—Shore of Marysburgh—In the Western Bay—

Cuthbertson—Up the bay—A battle ground—Devil’s Hill—In the

depths—Prosperity—Geological supposition—Head of bay—The past 383

CHAPTER XLV.

The “Big Bay”—Musketoe Bay—Mohawk Bay—Hay Bay—“Eastern Bay”—Site

of Ancient Kentes—The name—Old Families—An Accident, 1819—

Eighteen Drowned—Extract from Playter—Searching for the Bodies—

Burying the dead—Picton Bay—Appearance—The “Grand Bay”—Upper

Gap—Lower Gap—Kingston Bay—A Picture—Recollections—A Contract—

Ship Yards—Extract from Cooper—Inland Lakes 395

CHAPTER XLVa.

Islands—Possessed by Indians—The “Thousand Islands”—Carleton

Island—History of Island—During the rebellion—Wolfe Island—The

name—Howe Island—Old name—County of Ontario—Garden Island—

Horseshoe Island—Sir Jeffry Amherst—The size—Indian name—

“Tontine”—Johnson’s Island—The Island won—Present owner—First

settler—The three brothers—Small Islands—Hare Island—Nut Island—

Wappoose Island—Indian rendezvous—Captain John’s Island—

Bartering—Hunger Island—Big Island—First settlers—Huff’s Island—

Paul Huff—Grape Island—Hog Island—Smaller Islands—Mississauga

Island—A tradition—The carrying place—Its course—Original

survey—History—American prisoners—Col. Wilkins 402

DIVISION VIII.

THE FIRST TEN TOWNSHIPS IN THE MIDLAND DISTRICT.

CHAPTER XLVI.

The French—Their policy—Trading posts—Cahiaque—Variations—Name of

river—Foundation of Fort Frontenac—A change—Site of old fort—La

Salle’s petition—A Seigniory—Governors visiting—War Expedition—

Fort destroyed—Rebuilt—Colonial wars—Taking of Fort Oswego—

Frontenac taken—End of French domination 410

CHAPTER XLVII.

Cooper’s Essay—Loyalists naming places—King’s Town—Queen’s Town—

Niagara—Spanish names—Cataraqui from 1759 to 1783—Desolation—The

rebellion—Station, Carleton Island—Settling—Refugees at New

York—Michael Grass—Prisoner at Cataraqui—From New York to

Canada—Captain Grass takes possession of first township—First

landholders—A letter by Captain Grass—Changes—Surveying forts

and harbors—Report to Lord Dorchester—Kingston, _versus_

Carleton Island—The defenses—Troops—King’s township—First

settlers—“Plan of township No. 1”—First owners of town lots—

Names—Settlers upon the front—First inhabitants of Kingston—A

naval and military station—The Commodore—Living of old—Kingston

in _last century_—New fortifications 419

CHAPTER XLVIII.

The situation of Kingston—Under military influence—Monopolist—

Early history of legislation—In 1810—Gourlay’s statement—Police—

Modern Kingston—Lord Sydenham—Seat of government—Perambulating—

Surrounding country—Provisions—An appeal for Kingston as

capital—Barriefield—Pittsburgh—Building of small crafts—Famous—

Roads—Waterloo—Cemetery—Portsmouth—Kingston Mill—Little

Cataraqui—Collinsby—Quantity of land—Early and influential

inhabitants—Post masters—“Honorable men”—Deacon, Macaulay,

Cartwright, Markland, Cummings, Smiths, Kerby—Allen McLean,

first lawyer—A gardener—Sheriff McLean—“Chrys” Hagerman—Customs—

Sampson, shooting a smuggler—Hagerman, M.P.P.—Removes to Toronto 430

CHAPTER XLIX.

The second town—Ernest’s town—King George—His children—Settlers of

Ernesttown—Disbanded soldiers—Johnson’s regiment—Major Rogers’

corps—The “Roll”—Number—By whom enlisted—An old book—Township

surveyed—Settling—Traveling—Living in tents—A change—Officers—

Names—Occupants of lots—Mill Creek—The descendants—Quality of

land—Village—The settlers in 1811—The main road—Incorporation of

Bath—Trading—Fairfield—The library—Bath by Gourlay—Bath of the

present—Bath _versus_ Napanee—In 1812—American Fleet—Wonderful

achievement—Safe distance from shore—Third township—

Fredericksburgh—After Duke of Sussex—Surveyed by Kotte—A promise

to the disbanded soldiers—Johnson—Fredericksburgh additional—A

dispute—Quantity of land—Extract from Mrs. Moodie—Reserve for

village—Second surveys 439

CHAPTER L.

The fourth township—Adolphustown—After Duke of Cambridge—Quantity

of Land—Survey—Major VanAlstine—Refugees—From New York—Time—

Voyage—Their Fare—Names—Arrived—Hagerman’s Point—In Tents—First

Settler—Town Plot—Death—The Burial—A Relic—Commissary—Dispute of

Surveyors—The Settlers—All things in common—An aged man—Golden

rule—Old map—Names—Islands—The township—Price of land—First

“town meeting”—Minutes—The Officers Record—Inhabitants, 1794—Up

to 1824—First Magistrates—Centre of Canada—Court Held in Barn—In

Methodist Chapel—“A Den of Thieves”—Court House erected—

Adolphustown Canadians—Members of Parliament—The Courts—Where

first held—Hagerman—Travelers tarrying at Adolphustown 448

CHAPTER LI.

Marysburgh—Origin—Once part of a Seigniory—Survey—Hessians—Old

map—The lots—Officers of the 84th Regt.—Original landowners—

Indian Point—McDonnell’s Cove—Grog Bay—“Accommodating Bay”—

“Gammon Point”—Black River—“Long Point”—Reserves—Course pursued

by the Surveyor—Number of Hessians—Their sufferings—Dark tales—

Discontented—Returning to Hesse—A suitable location—Not U. E.

Loyalists—Received land gratis—Family land—Their habits—Capt.

McDonnell—Squire Wright—Sergt. Harrison—The Smith’s—Grant to

Major VanAlstine—Beautiful Scenery—Smith’s bay—“The Rock”—Over a

precipice 458

CHAPTER LII.

Sixth township—Name—Survey—Convenient for settlement—First

settlers—A remote township—What was paid for lots—“Late

Loyalists”—Going to Mill—Geological formation—Along the fronts—

High shore—Grassy Point—Its history—Marsh front—Central place—

Stickney’s Hill—Foster’s Hill—Northport—Trade—James Cotter—

Gores—Demerestville—The name—“Sodom”—First records—Township

meetings—The Laws of the township—Divided into parishes—Town

clerk—Officers—The poor—The committee—Inhabitants, 1824—Fish

Lake—Seventh Township—The name—Survey by Kotte—At the Carrying

Place—Surveyor’s assistant—No early records—First settlers 465

CHAPTER LIII.

Prince Edward—The name—Rich land—Size of peninsula—Shape—Small

Lakes—Sand hills—The Ducks—Gibson’s rock—The past—First settler—

Col. Young—Prospecting—Discovery of East Lake—West Lake—Moving

in—Settlers in 1800—East Lake—Capt. Richardson—“Prince Edward

Division Bill”—Office seekers—Township of Hallowell—The name—

Formation of Township—First records 1798—The officers—The laws—

Magistrates—Picton—Its origin—Hallowell village—Dr. Austin—Gen.

Picton—His monument—Naming the villages—A contest—The Court

house—An offer—Enterprise—Proposed steamboat—Churches—Rev. Mr.

Macaulay—Rev. Mr. Fraser—Rev. Mr. Lalor 476

CHAPTER LIV.

Eighth Township—Sidney—Name—Survey—Settlement, 1787—Letter from

Ferguson—Trading—Barter—Potatoes—Building—Cows—No salt to spare—

First settlers—Myers—Re-surveying—James Farley—Town Clerk at

first meeting—William Ketcheson—Gilbert’s Cove—Coming to the

front—River Trent—Old names—Ferry—Bridge—Trenton—Its settlement—

Squire Bleeker 485

CHAPTER LV.

Ninth town—Thurlow—Name—When surveyed—Front—Indian burying ground—

Owner of first lots—Chisholm—Singleton—Myers—Ferguson—Indian

traders—To Kingston in batteau—Singleton’s death—Ferguson’s

death—Distress of the families—Settled, 1789—Ascending the

Moira—Taking possession of land—Fifth concession—John Taylor—

Founder of Belleville—Myers buying land—Settlers upon the front—

Municipal record—Town officers—1798—Succeeding years—Canifton,

its founder—Settling—The diet—Building mill—Road—River Moira—

Origin of name—Earl Moira—Indian name—Indian offering—

“Cabojunk”—Myers’ saw-mill—Place not attractive—First bridge—The

flouring-mill—Belleville—Indian village—Myers’ Creek—Formation

of village—First Inn—Permanent bridge—Bridge Street—In 1800—

Growth—A second mill—McNabb’s—Sad death—Captain McIntosh—Petrie—

Inhabitants, 1809—Dr. Spareham—Naming of Belleville—Bella Gore—

By Gore in council—Petition—Extract from Kingston Gazette—

Surveying reserve—Wilmot—Mistakes—Granting of lots—Conditions—

Board of Police—Extent of Belleville—Muddy streets—Inhabitants

in 1824—Court-house—First Court, Quarter Sessions—Belleville in

1836 489

CHAPTER LVI.

Tenth township—Richmond—Origin—Quantity of land—Shores of Mohawk

Bay—Village on south shore—Original land holders—Names—Napanee—

The falls—The mill—Salmon River—Indian name—Source of Napanee

River—Its course—Colebrook—Simcoe Falls—Name—Clarke’s Mills—

Newburgh—Academy—The settlers—“Clarkville”—No records 503

DIVISION IX.

THE EARLY GOVERNMENT OF UPPER CANADA.

CHAPTER LVII.

Military rule—Imperial Act, 1774—French Canada—Refugees—Military

Government in Upper Canada—New Districts—Lunenburgh—

Mecklenburgh—Nassau—Hesse—The Judges—Duncan—Cartwright—Hamilton—

Robertson—Court in Mecklenburgh—Civil Law—Judge Duncan—Judge

Cartwright—Punishment inflicted—First execution—New Constitution

of Quebec—1791, Quebec Bill passed—Inhabitants of Upper Canada 505

CHAPTER LVIII.

Simcoe—His arrival in Canada—Up the St. Lawrence—An old house—“Old

Breeches’ River”—Simcoe’s attendants—The old veterans—“Good old

cause”—“Content”—Toasting—Old officers—Executive Council of

Upper Canada—First entry—Simcoe inducted to office—Religious

ceremony—“The proceedings”—Those present—Oath of office—

Organization of Legislative Council—Assembly—Issuing writs for

elections—Members of Council—Simcoe’s difficulty—At Kingston—

Division of Province—The Governor’s officers—Rochfoucault upon

Simcoe—Simcoe’s surroundings—His wife—Opening Parliament in

1795—Those present—Retinue—Dress—The nineteen counties—Simcoe’s

designs—Visit of the Queen’s father—At Kingston—Niagara—A war

dance 509

CHAPTER LIX.

General Hunter—Peter Russell—Francis Gore, 1806—Alex. Grant—Brock—

1812—United States declare war—Prompt action—Parliament—

Proclamation—The issue—Second proclamation—General Hull—His

proclamation—Bombast and impertinence—The Indians—Proclamation

answered—Hull a prisoner—Michigan conquered—To Niagara—At

Queenston heights—“Push on York Volunteers”—Death of Brock—

McDonnell—War of 1812, the Americans—Extract from Merritt—What

Canadians did—Brock’s monument—General Sheaffe—General Drummond—

Invading the States—What Canada will do—Lord Sydenham—A tribute

by Dr. Ryerson—Union of the Provinces 517

CHAPTER LX.

Kingston—First capital—First act of government—Niagara—Selecting

the capital—Niagara in 1788—Carrying place—Landing place—Newark—

In 1795—Mr. Hamilton—The inhabitants—Little York—The Don—The

Harbor—Survey—De la Trenche—London—Inhabitants of the Don—Yonge

street, a military road—Governor at York—Castle Frank—York in

1798—The Baldwins—In 1806—Buffalo—York, 1813—Taken by the

Americans—The Combatants—Toronto—“Muddy York”—A monument

required 526

CHAPTER LXI.

Parliament—Simcoe’s Proclamation—Nineteen counties formed—Names

and boundaries—First elections—Names of members—Officers of the

House—A Quaker member—Chaplain—Meeting of Parliament—The Throne,

a camp stool—Address—To both houses—Closing address—Acts passed—

Simcoe’s confidential letters—A contrast—A blending—2nd Session—

The Acts—Quarter Sessions—3rd, 4th, 5th Sessions—New division of

Province—1798—Modes of punishment—Burning the hand—Whipping—

Salaries of officers—Revenue first year—The members of

Parliament—Education—Offering for Parliament—A “Junius”—Early

administration of justice—“Heaven-born lawyers”—First

magistrates 533

DIVISION X.

THE EARLY MILITIA OF UPPER CANADA.

CHAPTER LXII.

Militia Act, 1792—Simcoe—No faith in the Americans—His views—

Military Roads—Division of Districts—Military purposes—The

officers—Legislation—The expenses—Repeated Legislation—

Aggressive spirit—The Enrolment—Hastings Battalion—“Something

brewing”—List of Officers—Col. Ferguson—Col. Bell—Leeds Militia—

Officers’ clothing—The Midland District—Prince Edward—Training

Places 544

CHAPTER LXIII.

In 1812, around Bay Quinté—The declaration of war—The news at

Kingston—The call to arms—Hastings—Events at Kingston—In 1813—

Attack upon Sacket’s Harbor—Oswego—American fleet before

Kingston—Royal George—Kingston prepared—Chrysler’s farm—A

“Postscript”—Along the St. Lawrence—Ribaldry—The Commissary—

Capt. Wilkins—Quakers—Rate of pay—American prisoners—The

Wounded—Surgeons, Dougal, Meacham—Jonathan Phillips—Militiamen’s

reward—Militia orders—Parliamentary grants 551

CHAPTER LXIV.

The Six Nations in 1812—American animus—“Manifest Destiny”—Mohawk

Indians—A right to defend their homes—Inconsistency—American

savages—Extract from Playter—Brock’s proclamation—Indian

character, conduct, eloquence—Deserters in 1812—Few of them—

Court-martials—The attempts at conquest by the Americans—The

numbers—Result of war—Canadians saved the country—And can do so—

Fraternal kindness 564

DIVISION XI.

ADVANCE OF CIVILIZATION.

CHAPTER LXV.

Canada’s first step in civilization—Slavery in America—By whom

introduced—False charge—Slavery in Canada—History—Imperial Acts—

Legislation in Canada—The several clauses—In Lower Canada—

Justice Osgood—Slavery at the Rebellion—Among the U. E.

Loyalists—Those who held slaves—Descendants of the slaves—“A

British slave”—“For sale”—“Indian slave”—Upper Canada’s Record—

Compared with the States—Liberty—Why the United States abolished

slavery—Honor to whom honor is due 569

CHAPTER LXVI.

Returns to the Pioneer—Bay Region—Garden of Canada—Clogs—False

views of settlers—Result—New blood—Good example—Anecdote—The

“Family Compact”—Partiality—Origin of the _Compact_—Their

conduct—The evil they did—A proposed Canadian Aristocracy—What

it would have led to—What may come—“Peter Funks” 580

CHAPTER LXVII.

Agriculture—Natural Products—Rice—Ginseng—Orchards—Plows—Reaping—

Flax—Legislation—Agricultural Society organized by Simcoe—A

Snuff Box—Fogies—Silver—Want of help—Midland District taking the

lead—Societies—Legislative help—Prince Edward—Pearl Ashes—

Factories—Tanneries—Breweries, Carding Machines—Paper—Lumber—

First vehicles—Sleighs—Waggons—Home-made—Roads—First Public

Conveyances—Stages—Fare—Building Greater—Sawing Mills introduced

by the Dutch—First Brick Building—Myers’ House—Its past history—

Furniture from Albany—Currency—Paper Money—Banks—First

Merchants—Barter—Pedlars—On the Bay 587

CHAPTER LXVIII.

Steam vessels—Crossing the Atlantic in 1791—First Steam Vessel—

Hudson—The second on the St. Lawrence—First across the Atlantic—

In Upper Canada—_Frontenac_—Built in Ernesttown—The Builders—

Finkle’s Point—Cost of Vessel—Dimensions—Launched—First Trip—

Captain McKenzie—‘_Walk-in-the-Water_’—_Queen Charlotte_—How

Built—Upon Bay Quinté—Capt. Dennis—First year—Death of Dennis—

Henry Gilderslieve—What he did—Other Steamboats—Canals—First in

Upper Canada—Welland Canal—Desjardin—Rideau—Its object—Col. By—A

proposed Canal—Railroads—The first in the world—Proposed Railway

from Kingston to Toronto, 1846—In Prince Edward District—

Increase of Population—Extract from Dr. Lillie—Comparison with

the United States—Favorable to Canada—False Cries—The French—

Midland District, 1818 599

DIVISION XII.

THE UNITED EMPIRE LOYALISTS—THE FATHERS OF UPPER CANADA.

CHAPTER LXIX.

Definition—A division—Their principles—Our position—Ancestry—

Dutch—Puritans—Huguenots—New Rochelle—English writers—Talbot—

Falsehoods—Canadian and English ancestry—Howison—Maligner—

Gourlay’s reply—Palatines—Old names 616

CHAPTER LXX.

Character—Hospitality—At home—Fireside—Visitors—Bees—Raisings—

Easter Eggs—Dancing—Hovington House—Caste—Drinks—Horse-racing—

Boxing—Amusements—La Crosse—Duels—Patriotism—Annexation—Freedom—

Egotism—The Loyalists—Instances—Longevity—Climate of Canada—A

quotation—Long lived—The children—The present race—A

nationality—Comparison—“U. E. Loyalist”—Their Privileges—Order

of Council—Dissatisfaction 624

CHAPTER LXXI.

Notice of a Few—Booth—Brock—Burritt—Cotter—Cartwright—Conger—Cole—

Dempsey—Detlor—Fraser—Finkle—Fisher—Fairfield—Grass—Gamble—

Hagerman—Johnson’s—“Bill” Johnson—Macaulay—The Captive,

Christian Moore—Parliament—Morden—Roblins—Simon—Van Alstine—

Wallbridge—Chrysler—White—Wilkins—Stewart—Wilson—Metcalf—Jayne—

McIntosh—Bird—Gerow—Vankleek—Perry—Sir William Johnson’s

children 642

APPENDIX.

Roll of the 2nd Battalion King’s Royal Regiment 667

The Governors of Canada 670

Indian Goods 671

ERRATA.

Page 29, 12th line from top, instead of “1859,” read “1759.”

Page 80, 4th line from bottom, instead of “are equally,” read “were

equally.”

Page 102, 16th line from bottom, instead of “removed to the town,”

read “to the fifth town.”

Page 104, instead of “Hodgins,” read “Hudgins.”

Page 104, 16th line from top, instead of “1859,” read “1809.”

Page 130, 4th line, 2nd paragraph, instead of “South,” read “North.”

Page 138, heading of page should be “Voyaging.”

Page 192, bottom line, instead of “dispersed,” read “dispossessed.”

Page 257, 19th line, “gloomy,” read “glowing.”

Page 288, 19th line, “glowing a picture,” should have “of”

following.

Page 293, instead of “Wesleyanism,” read “Wesleyans.”

Page 371, 14th line, instead of “1815,” read “1615.”

Page 437, 10th line from bottom, instead of “Lawer,” read “Lawyer.”

Page 585, 15th line, after “Governor,” read _they were generally_.

Page 596, 3rd line, after “often,” read _inferior_.

HISTORY

OF

THE SETTLEMENT OF UPPER CANADA,

WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THE BAY OF QUINTÉ.

INTRODUCTION.

CHAPTER I.

A SKETCH OF FRANCO-CANADIAN HISTORY.

CONTENTS—Antiquarianism—Records of the Early Nations—Tradition—The

Press—The Eastern World—The Western World—Importance of History—

Columbus—Colonization—Canada—America—Cartier—French Canadian

writers—Cartier’s first visit—Huguenots—Cartier’s second visit—

Jean Francois—Sir George E. Cartier—Establishment of the Fur

Trade—Champlain—Discovery of Lake Ontario—Bay of Quinté—Quebec

founded—First fighting with Indians—First taking of Quebec by the

British—Returned to France—The Recollets and Jesuits—Death of

Champlain—Foundation of Montreal—Emigration from France—The

Carignan Regiment—DeCourcelle—Proposal to found a Fort at Lake

Ontario—Frontenac—Fort at Cataraqui—La Salle—Fort at Niagara—First

vessel upon the Lakes—Its fate—Death of La Salle, the first

settler of Upper Canada—Founder of Louisiana—Discoverer of the

mouth of the Mississippi.

There exists, as one characteristic of the nineteenth century, an

earnest desire on the part of many to recall, and, in mind, to live over

the days and years that are past; and many there are who occupy more or

less of their time in collecting the scattered relics of bygone days—in

searching among the faded records of departed years, to eagerly catch

the golden sands of facts which cling to legendary tales, and to

interpret the hieroglyphics which the footsteps of time have well-nigh

worn away. To this fact many a museum can bear ample testimony. The

antiquarian enjoys intense satisfaction in his labors of research, and

when he is rewarded by the discovery of something new, he is but

stimulated to renewed exertion. In the old world rich fields have been,

and are now being explored; and in the new laborers are not wanting.

Since the days when man first trod the virgin soil of this globe, he has

ever been accustomed to preserve the more important events of his life,

and, by tradition, to hand them down to his children’s children; and

likewise has it been with communities and nations. Every people who are

known to have occupied a place upon the earth, have left some indication

of their origin, and the part they played in the world’s great drama. In

recent days, facts pertaining to nations and particular individuals are

preserved in all their amplitude, through the agency of the Press. But

in former centuries, only a few symbols, perhaps rudely cut in solid

stone, commemorated events of the most important kind. The historians of

Eastern nations have had to look far back into the misty past, to learn

the facts of their birth and infant days; while the dark days of

barbarism hang as a thick veil to obstruct the view. The middle ages,

like a destructive flood, swept away, to a great extent, the records

previously in existence. But out of the _debris_ has been exhumed many a

precious relic; and the stone and the marble thus obtained, have

supplied valuable material on which to base trustworthy history.

In recording the events which belong to the Western world—this broad

American continent—the historian has far less of toil and research to

undergo. It is true the native Indian, who once proudly ruled the vast

extent of the new world, has a history yet undeveloped. An impenetrable

cloud obscures the facts appertaining to his advent upon this continent.

The nature of his origin is buried in the ocean of pre-historic time.

But in reference to the occupation of America by Europeans, the

subjugation and gradual extermination of the Indian, the life of the

pioneer, the struggles for political independence, the rapid growth and

development of nations; all these results, embraced within the space of

a few centuries, are freely accessible to the American historian.

The importance of history cannot be questioned; the light it affords is

always valuable, and, if studied aright, will supply the student with

material by which he may qualify himself for any position in public

life. In the following chapters it is intended to draw attention more

particularly to the new world, and to examine a few pages in the history

of North America.

In the absence of any data upon which to base statements relating to the

aborigines, we may say the history of the new world begins with the

memorable and enterprising adventures of Christopher Columbus, in 1492;

although there is evidence that America had been previously visited by

the people of Northern Europe, about the year 1000. The steady flow of

emigrants which commenced a century later, from the old world to the

new, of bold, energetic people, is a spectacle of grand import.

Almost every nation of Europe has contributed to the colonization of

America. All, however, were not at first actuated by the same motives in

braving the perils of the deep—then far greater than at the present day—

and the dangers of the wilderness. The Spaniards were searching for the

precious gold. The English desired to acquire territory; the Dutch

sought to extend their commerce; and the French, it is said, were, at

first, intent only on converting the pagan Indians to Christianity.—

(Garneau.) Space will not permit to trace the course of events in

connection with the first settlements in America; the history of the

several colonies, the bloody Indian wars, the contentions between the

different colonizing people, the rebellions of the colonies and their

achievement of independence. We shall mainly confine ourselves to those

events which led to, and accompanied the settlement of Upper Canada.

Canada, the coast of which was first discovered by John Cabot, in 1497,

is an honorable name, far more so than America. It has been a cause of

complaint with some that the United States should appropriate to their

exclusive use the name of America. But it is quite right they should

enjoy it. It is after a superficial impostor, Amerigo Vespucci, who

availed himself of the discoveries of Columbus, to vaunt himself into

renown.

The word Canada is most probably derived from an Iroquois word,

signifying Cabin. It has been stated on the authority of a Castilian

tradition, that the word was of Spanish origin. The Spaniards, looking

after gold, ascended the St. Lawrence, but failing to find the precious

metal, exclaimed “Aca nada,” (Here is nothing.) The natives hearing the

land thus called, when Europeans again visited them, upon being asked

the name of their country, replied “Canada,” in imitation of the

Spaniards. Again, Father Hennepin asserts that the Spaniards, upon

leaving the land, gave it the appellation “El Cape di nada,” (Cape

nothing,) which in time became changed into Canada. But Charlevoix, in

his “Histoire de la Nouvelle France,” says that Canada is derived from

the Iroquois word “Kannata,” pronounced Canada, which signifies “love of

cabins.” Duponcion, in the “Transactions of the Philosophical Society of

Philadelphia,” founds his belief of the Indian origin of the name

Canada, on the fact that, in the translation of the Gospel by St.

Matthew into the Mohawk tongue, by Brant, the word Canada is always made

to signify a village. Taking the whole matter into consideration, there

appears the best of reasons to conclude that Canada, a name now properly

bestowed upon the Dominion, is of Indian origin, and signifies the

country of a people who are accustomed to live in villages or permanent

cabins, instead of in tents and constantly changing from one place to

another.

The history of French Canada is one of unusual interest—from the time

Jacques Cartier, in 1534, with two vessels of less than 60 tons burden

each, and 122 men in all, entered for the first time the Gulf of St.

Lawrence—up to the present day. It was not until the first decade of the

17th century, nearly a hundred years after Cartier first landed, that

successful colonization by the French was accomplished. Nevertheless,

Canada has as early a place among the colonies of America as New

Netherlands or Virginia, which are the oldest States of the neighboring

Union. Virginia was planted in 1608; New Netherlands (now New York,) was

not settled until 1614. Prior to that, in 1609, Hudson had ascended the

river now bearing his name, as far as the present site of Albany; but at

the same time the intrepid Champlain was traversing the wilds of the

more northern part of the territory to the south of Lake Ontario.

Although the history of New France is one of great interest, yet, in

this local history, space can only be allowed to glance at the course of

events in connection therewith. But French Canada is not in danger of

suffering for want of historians to pen the events of her life. Already

enthusiastic countrymen have done justice to the patriotism, valor and

ability of the Franco-Canadian race. And, at the present time, earnest

workers are in the field, searching among the records of the past,

stowed away in Paris, with the view of making known all that can be

learned of their sires. We find no fault with the intense love they bear

to their language, their laws, their religion, their institutions

generally. Such is characteristic of a high-spirited race; and, as

common Canadians we rejoice to have so devoted a people to lay with us

the foundation of our northern Dominion.

It has already been said that Jacques Cartier first landed in Canada in

1534. At this time the pent up millions of Europe, lying in a state of

semi-bondage, were prepared to strike off the chains which had hitherto

bound them, both in mind and body, to the select ones, who claimed that

prerogative, as of Divine origin, and to avail themselves of the vast

territory which Columbus had recovered from oblivion. Then was the

future pregnant with events of the most startling nature—events fraught

with interests of the most colossal magnitude. While America was to open

up a new field for active labor, wherein all might pluck wealth, the art

of printing, so soon to be in active operation, was to emancipate the

mind, and cast broadly the seeds of universal liberty. Already was being

broken the fallow ground, in the rich soil of which was to germinate the

great truths of science.

In May, 1535, Cartier set out on his second voyage to the New World, in

“La Grande Hermion,” a vessel of 110 tons, accompanied by two other

vessels of smaller size, with 110 men altogether. Reaching Labrador in

July, he on St. Laurence Day entered St. John’s River; and thus arose

the name of St. Lawrence, afterward applied to the mighty river now

bearing that name. Guided by two natives, Cartier ascended the St.

Lawrence as far as the Isle d’Orleans, where he was received by the

Indians in a friendly spirit. Cartier having determined to stay the

winter, moored his vessels in the St. Charles River, with the Indian

village of Stadaconé upon the heights above him. The same autumn he

ascended with a small party to visit Hochelaga, now Montreal. Here he

found a considerable village of fifty wooden dwellings, each fifty paces

long, and twelve and fifteen broad. This village was fortified. An aged

and withered chief accorded Cartier a distinguished reception; after

which Cartier ascended to the top of the mountain, to which he gave the

name Mont Real, or Royal Mount, a name subsequently given to the village

which has become the commercial capital of the Dominion, and which is

destined to rival even New York.

Cartier’s stay in Canada during the winter was attended with much

distress, and the loss by death of twenty-six of his men; while most of

the rest were almost dying, being, it is related, saved by the medical

skill of the natives. In the Spring he returned to France, carrying with

him several Indians. It was five years later before another visit was

made to Canada, owing to the civil and religious wars existing in

France. It was the cruel laws enacted and put in force at this time in

France that expatriated so many noble Huguenots who were dispersed

throughout Great Britain, Ireland, and afterward America, the blood of

whom yet flows in the veins of many of the descendants of the loyal

refugees from the rebelling States of America. In the Summer of 1541

Cartier again set sail for the St. Lawrence. He was to have been

accompanied by one Jean Francois de la Roque, a brave and faithful

servant of the king, to whom had been conceded the privilege of raising

a body of volunteers to form a permanent settlement upon the St.

Lawrence. But unforeseen difficulties prevented his sailing until the

following year. In the meantime Cartier, to whom had been given command,

with five ships, had, after a tedious passage, reached Canada, and

ascended to Quebec. The intending colonizers immediately went ashore and

commenced the work of clearing the land for cultivation. The winter was

passed in safety, but in the spring, tired of waiting for the Governor,

who ought to have followed him the year before, and discovering signs of

hostility on the part of the savages, he determined to return to France.

So he embarked all the men and set sail. Before he had reached the

Atlantic, however, he met la Roque, with some two hundred more

colonists, who desired Cartier to return, but he continued his course to

France. Jean Francois landed safely at Quebec. In the autumn he sent

home two vessels for provisions for the following year, while he

prepared to undergo the severity of the coming winter, a season that

brought severe trials, with the death of fifty of his men. The following

year he set out with seventy men to seek fresh discoveries up the river,

but he was unsuccessful. France, again immersed in war, paid no

attention to the request for succor in the New World, but ordered

Cartier to bring back the Governor, whose presence as a soldier was

desired. With him returned all the colonists. Thus the attempt to

establish a settlement upon the St. Lawrence failed, not, however,

through any want of courage, or ability on the part of Cartier, the

founder of Canada. The name thus immortalized and which disappeared from

the history of Canada for many years, again occupies a place. And, Sir

George Etienne Cartier, of to-day, although not a lineal descendant of

the first Cartier, holds a position of distinction; and, as one who has

assisted in effecting the Confederation of the provinces, his name will

ever stand identified, as his great predecessor and namesake, with the

history of our Canada.

In 1549, Jean Francois a second time, set out for Canada with his

brother, and others, but they all perished on the way. This disaster

prevented any further immediate attempt at settlement in Canada.

The commencement of the seventeenth century found France again in a

state suitable to encourage colonial enterprize, and she, in common with

other European nations was directing her attention to the yet unexplored

New World. At this time one Pont-Gravé, a merchant of St. Malo,

conceived the idea of establishing a fur trade between Canada and

France; and to this end he connected himself with one Chauvin, a person

of some influence at court, who succeeded in obtaining the appointment

of governor to Canada, with a monopoly of the peltry traffic. These two

adventurers, with a few men, set out for Canada, but arrived in a state

of destitution. Chauvin died, while the others were preserved alive by

the kindness of the natives. Chauvin was succeeded by De Chastes,

Governor of Dieppe; and Captain Samuel Champlain, who had distinguished

himself as a naval officer, was appointed to command an expedition about

to proceed to the New World.

The name of Champlain is indelibly fixed upon the pages of Canadian

history. It was he who traversed trackless forests, ascended the most

rapid rivers, discovered the Lake of Ontario, by way of Bay Quinté, and

gave his name to another lake. It was in 1603 that Champlain set out

upon his voyage. He had but three small vessels, it is said, of no more

than twelve or fifteen tons burden. He ascended as far as Sault St.

Louis, and made careful observations. He prepared a chart, with which he

returned to France. The king was well pleased with his report, and De

Chaste having died, Governor de Monts succeeded him, to whom was

granted, exclusively, the fur trade in Canada. But their operations were

confined, at first, to Acadia, now Nova Scotia. In 1607 De Monts

abandoned Acadia and directed his attention to Canada. Obtaining from

the king a renewal of his privileges, he appointed Champlain his

lieutenant, whom he despatched with two vessels. The party arrived at

Stadaconé, on the 3rd of July. The party commenced clearing land where

the lower town of Quebec now stands, and erected cabins in which to

live. Having determined to make this the head-quarters of his

establishment, he proceeded to build a fort. Thus was founded the

ancient capital of Canada upon the Gibraltar of America. The powers

granted to Champlain were ample, whereby he was enabled to maintain

order and enforce law. During the well nigh one hundred years that had

passed away since Cartier attempted to colonize, great changes, it would

seem, had taken place among the Indians. Altogether different tribes

occupied the Laurentian valley; and the former Indian villages of

Stadoconé, and Hochelaga had been entirely destroyed, Champlain found

the Indians of this place, the Algonquins, at enmity with other tribes

to the west, the Iroquois. The Algonquins were glad to form an alliance

with him against their long standing enemy. It suited the purpose of

Champlain to thus ally himself; but the policy may well be questioned;

at all events it inaugurated a long course of warfare between the French

and the Iroquois, which only terminated when Canada became a British

dependency. He, no doubt, was ignorant of the great power and

superiority of the confederated five nations which formed the Iroquois

people. The first encounter between Champlain and the Indians took place

the 29th of July, 1609, by the lake which now bears his name, which had

been known by the Indians as Lake Corlar. The Iroquois, who had never

before seen the use of fire-arms, were naturally overwhelmed with

surprise at this new mode of warfare, by which three of their chiefs

were suddenly stricken to the earth; and they beat a hasty retreat,

leaving their camp to the pillage of the enemy. The following year

Champlain again set out with his Indian allies, and a second time drove

them from the well contested field by the use of fire-arms. It was on

this occasion he first met the Hurons, which were to become such fast

allies, until almost exterminated. But the time came when the Iroquois,

supplied with arms and trained to their use, by the Dutch, became better

able to cope with the French. In 1612 Count de Soissons succeeded De

Monts. Champlain, who was again engaged in war, was at the same time

endeavoring to advance the peltry traffic, a trade that had many

vicissitudes, owing to the changing opinions at home, and the uncertain

support of merchants. He commenced the erection of a fort at Montreal,

and formed an alliance with the Huron Indians.

In the year 1615, the Iroquois were collected near the foot of Lake

Ontario, a body of water as yet unseen by Europeans. At the request of

the Indians, it has been said Champlain set out to attack them, after

having ascended the Ottawa. The course taken by him, and the disastrous

result are given in connection with the discovery of the Bay Quinté. The

year 1628 saw Canada, as well as the colony of Florida, pass under the

power of the “Company of the Hundred Partners.” The same year saw Quebec

in a state of great distress, the inhabitants almost starving, and a

fleet of British war vessels at the entrance of the St. Lawrence

demanding the surrender of the fort. War was then existing between

England and France, arising out of the intestine war of France, between

the Huguenots and the Catholics, which had resulted in the subjugation

of the former, many of whom had sought refuge in England and entered her

service. Two of the vessels now threatening French Canada were commanded

by Huguenots, one Captain Michel; the other David Kertk. The latter

demanded the surrender of Quebec, but Champlain concealed the great

straits to which he was reduced and bravely withstood the famine and

cold through the long winter, in the hopes of relief in the spring,

which was destined never to reach him. Instead of relief, the spring

brought three vessels of war, commanded by Kertk’s two brothers, Louis

and Thomas. The demand to surrender could no longer be refused, and upon

the 29th July, 1618, the English took possession of Quebec. Louis Kertk

became Governor, while Champlain accompanied Thomas Kertk to Europe.

Quebec remained in British possession until the treaty of

St-German-en-Laye, signed 29th March 1632, by which England renounced

all claims upon New France.

Quebec was governed by Louis Kertk during the three years it was in

possession of England, and he returned it to the French, it was alleged,

a heap of ruins. On the ensuing year, the “Hundred Partners” resumed

their sway, and Champlain was re-appointed Governor, who came with much

pomp and took possession of Fort St. Louis with the beating of drums.

Hereafter emigration from France was accelerated. Even some of the

higher classes sought in Canada, repose from the troubles incident to

religious and domestic war, although Catholics. The Jesuits were now

superseding the order of Recollets, and were earnestly seeking to

convert the Hurons; and at the same to secure their trusty allegiance.

For two years prosperity continued to smile upon the province, and in

1635 the Jesuits laid the foundation stone of the College of Quebec. But

the same year took from New France its chief and its greatest friend.

Champlain died on Christmas day in Quebec, after “thirty years of

untiring efforts to establish and extend the French possessions in

America.” This great discoverer, and founder of Quebec left no children,

his wife remained in Canada four years, when she returned to France.

Following the death of Champlain was the terrible onslaught by the

Iroquois upon the Hurons, whom they entirely destroyed as a nation,

leaving but a remnant under the protection of the French. In 1642 M. de

Maisonneuve laid the foundation of Montreal, the village consisting of a

few buildings with wooden palisades, was then called “Ville-Marie.”

Maisonneuve gathered here the converted Indians to teach them the art of

civilization.

The successor to Champlain was M. de Chateaufort: but we cannot continue

to even sketch the history of the several Governors, and the successive

steps in Canadian development only so far as they bear upon our subject.

In 1663 the population along the St. Lawrence numbered to between 2,000

and 2,500. In 1665 the number was increased by emigration, and by the

arrival of the Carignan regiment, a veteran body of men who became

permanent settlers, and who aided much in controlling the Indians and

maintaining the power of the French. The same year live stock was

introduced, and horses for the first time were seen in Canada. About

this time commenced, in earnest, the struggle between England and France

for the supremacy of the fur trade. The viceroy, M. de Tracy, began to

erect regular forts upon the Richeleu. In 1671 there was a rendezvous of

Indian Chiefs at Sault St. Marie, and through the influence of Father

Allouez, the several tribes consented to become subjects of France. In

the same year M. de Courcelles, now Governor, in pursuance of the

attempt to govern the fur trade, conceived the idea of planting a fort

at the foot of Lake Ontario. But he left before the work had commenced,

and was succeeded by Louis de Buade, _Conte de_ Frontenac, after whom

the fort, subsequently erected, was called.

As the founder of the first settlement in Upper Canada, whose name is

now so familiar, as belonging to a County, we may make space to say of

Frontenac, that he was a gentleman of good birth, and had gained great

distinction, having attained to the rank of Brigadier-General. He was

somewhat proud and haughty, but condescending to his inferiors. His

instructions from his master, the King, on coming to the Canada, were to

secure the aggrandizement of France. Emigration in large numbers from

France having been forbidden, he was to seek the increase of numbers in

New France by stimulating early marriages. And to this day, the rate of

increase by birth, among the French, is considerably greater than with

the Anglo-Saxon.

He was to foster agriculture, the raising of stock, to increase the

fishing operations, and the trade abroad; and he was instructed to take

measures to construct a highway between Canada and Acadia, a plan which

is only now about to be accomplished in the Intercolonial Railroad.

Frontenac, likewise received very explicit instructions as to his

procedure towards the Jesuits and Recollects; and he was charged “to

administer justice with the strictest impartiality.” The Colony being at

peace, Frontenac’s principal difficulty was in dealing with the Church,

and he found it necessary to take high-handed steps to bring the Clergy

into subjection to the State. There had been for years a struggle with

respect to the liquor traffic among the Indians; the Bishops being

opposed to it, while the Governor favored it for the purpose of

furthering the trade in furs. The dissentions between parties became so

great, and representations to the home authorities became so frequent

and vexatious that Frontenac and the Intendant were both recalled in

1682. But during the incumbency of Frontenac, explorations had continued

in the west, and the fort at Cataraqui had been fully established; and

the Mississippi had been discovered by Pére Marquette and M. Joliet, in

1673. That same year Frontenac set out 29th of June, from Montreal, with

an expedition for Cataraqui, arriving there 12th July. There was at this

time one Robert Cavalier de la Salle, a native of Rouen, who had come to

Canada when a young man, full of a project for securing a road by a

northwestern passage to China. He was a man of ability and energy, but

without means. But he managed to obtain the favorable notice of Governor

Frontenac, who regarded him as a man after his own heart.

In the time of de Courcelles he opened a trading post near Montreal, now

Lachine, so called from La Salle’s belief that a pathway to China would

be found thence across the Continent by the waters of the Ottawa or

Upper Lakes. The discovery of the Mississippi caused no little sensation

in Canada; and La Salle lost no time in asking permission and assistance

to continue the western explorations, declaring his belief that the

upper waters of the Mississippi would, if followed to their source, lead

to the Pacific Ocean. He consequently submitted a petition for a certain

grant of land at Cataraqui to the king, Louis X. (See under history of

Kingston.)

Thus it seems that La Salle, a name greatly distinguished in connection

with the discovery of the mouth of the Mississippi, stands connected

very intimately with the foundation of Kingston. For him a Seigniory was

here erected, and from this point he went forth on his eventful voyage.

He was a man of much energy and lost no time in setting out. His boats

laden with goods, and likewise with material for constructing a

brigantine, and a fort, set sail for the Niagara River. The first steps

La Salle prepared to take was to erect a second fort at Niagara, and

then to build his vessel upon the waters of Lake Erie.

The construction of the defensive work of the fort, however, suited not

the views of the Indians, so he satisfied himself with a palisaded

storehouse. In the winter the vessel was commenced, six miles above the

Falls. By the middle of summer it was ready to be launched, which was

done with a salute of cannon, and the chanting of a Te deum, amid great

rejoicing. There was also great demonstration among the Indians, who

designated the French “Otkou,” or “men of a contriving mind.” The vessel

was named _Griffon_, and on the 7th August, 1679, with seven guns, and

small arms, and loaded with goods she entered Lake Erie. A few day’s

sail and Detroit, or the strait was reached; and on the 23rd August, she

was cutting the waters of Lake Huron. In five days Michilmicinac was

gained; then the voyageur proceeded to the western shore of Michigan,

where he cast anchor. The wonder of the Aborigines, as they witnessed

this mounted craft, and heard the thunder tones of the cannon, may be

conceived. But this first vessel upon the western lakes, which had at

first so prosperous a voyage, was doomed to early destruction. Men of

enterprise and success invariably have to encounter enemies born of

incapacity and jealousy, who in the absence of the victim, may sow the

seeds of evil. La Salle had not a few of such enemies, it would seem, to

encounter. After his departure his creditors had seized his possessions,

and he, as soon as he heard of it, loaded the _Griffon_ with peltries

and despatched her for Niagara. But the _Griffon_ never reached Detroit,

the waters of Lake Huron swallowed her up, and all on board. La Salle

proceeded with thirty men to the lower end of Lake Michigan, and laid

the foundation of another fort. He then continued westward to the

Illinois River, and formed still another fort. But this chain of forts

thus established by La Salle, was not destined to accomplish the great

end aimed at. Among the opponents of La Salle, were not only those

jealous of his success, but likewise rival merchants, who were ill

pleased to see the fur trade monopolized by one; and then, there was the

growing trade by the English. These many obstacles and the loss of his

vessel with its cargo, and of a second one, in the Gulph of St.

Lawrence, about this time, valued at £22,000, had the effect of

seriously crippling him; yet his was a nature not easily overcome.

Leaving Father Hennepin to explore the Illinois River and the Upper

Mississippi, he set out March 2nd, 1680, for Montreal, accompanied by

four whites and an Indian guide.

Two years later and the indomitable La Salle, nothing daunted, who had

compounded with his creditors, and suffered repeated disappointments, is

found traversing the forest, for the Mississippi, to descend that stream

to its mouth. He reached the Mississippi, 6th February, 1682. Descending

the stream he stopped at the mouth of the Ohio to erect a fort. He then

continued his easy course down the Father of rivers, and reached its

mouth on the 5th April, and took formal possession of the territory in

the name of the king, calling the place after him, Louisiana. The glory

thus won by La Salle, was not to be crowned with the success,

financially, that ought to have followed. At this juncture Governor

Frontenac, seemingly the only friend La Salle had, was called home to be

followed by M. de la Barre. A continuation of the persecutions and

misrepresentations of his conduct, led to the sequestration of Fort

Frontenac, as well as Fort St. Louis, and in the following year he was

called upon to defend himself at court, which he was able to do. The

result was an order to reinstate the founder of Louisiana on his return,

in Fort Frontenac, and to repair all damages which his property had

sustained in that locality.

La Salle was graciously received by the king on account of his discovery

of the mouth of the Mississippi, and was commissioned to begin a

colonization of Louisiana. The same unfortunate luck continued to attend

him. He sailed July 24th, 1684, from La Rochelle with two ships of war

and two other vessels, having some 500 persons in all. The fleet was

commanded by M. de Beaujeu. Between the commander and La Salle, a

misunderstanding arose which ended in decided aversion. One of the ships

was captured by the Spaniards, and the others overpassed the mouth of

the Mississippi by many leagues. The commander instead of assisting to

carry out La Salle’s object, did all he could to thwart him. One of the

vessels was run upon the reefs and lost. Finally Beaujeu left La Salle

with his people upon a desert shore without provision, and put out to

sea. Although 120 leagues distant from the Mississippi, in Texas, La

Salle set some of his people to cultivate the land, and began to

construct a fort. But the craftsmen were deficient. The seed sown did

not grow, the savages became troublesome, and one evil after another

rapidly succeeded until his men were mostly all dead. As a last resort

La Salle determined to set out for Canada to proceed to France. It was

early spring and the indomitable discoverer found but slow progress; at

last some of those accompanying him, mutinied together and resorted to

force, during which La Salle was mortally wounded. Thus perished the

discoverer of the mouth of the Mississippi, the founder of Louisiana, as

well as the first land owner of Upper Canada. It is worthy of note here

how great was the territory of France in America at this time. It was a

vast region, embracing within its limits the Hudson’s Bay territory,

Acadia, Canada, a great part of Maine, portions of the States of Vermont

and New York, with the whole of the valley of the Mississippi. And a

great portion of this ought, to-day, to form part of Canada, some of

which would, were it not for the indifference, or stupidity of English

commissioners, and the contemptible trickery of Americans, such as the

act of concealing the fact of the existence of a certain map by Daniel

Webster, which would prove adverse to his pretentions.

It has been deemed appropriate to follow La Salle in his steps, not

alone because he was the first settler in Upper Canada, who held land

property; but because we learn of the way in which the French,

originally struggling to gain a footing in the Lower St. Lawrence,

gradually extended westward, carrying in one hand the Cross, and with

the other, planting forts for the purpose of trade, and erecting such

defences as the uncertain character of the natives rendered necessary.

We learn how it came, that fort after fort, whose ruins may yet be

traced across the continent, were planted along a route which commenced

at the mouth of the mighty St. Lawrence, extended along the western

lakes, and then turning southward terminated at the mouth of the

majestic Mississippi.

INTRODUCTION.

(CONTINUED.)