NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY--Alnwick Township--1878

Township Facts - 1878:

Alnwick Township which is triangular shape, is bounded on the north and west by Rice Lake, south by Haldimand, east by the township of Percy. It contains about 20,400 acres, good land: population 1369. In 1850 it contained 691 inhabitants. It was surveyed in 1826 and again in 1835. The Indian Reserve in the northern part of the township contains some 3,500 acres of the best land. At the Reserve is the Indian village of Alderville. The natives are Mississagas: population about 250. Christianity and civilization have not done much in elevating the character of the Indians of Alnwick and Rice Lake. They are, it is true, better protected in their rights, by the law; they have the advantage of a church and schools and religious teaching, but they have not risen in the social scale, nor has their material prosperity been advanced.
North of Alnwick and twelve miles back of Cobourg is Rice Lake, so called from the large quantities of wild rice which grow along the edges, and in patches which protrude from the surface of the water. This lake is about seven miles wide by about thirty miles long, and is plentifully studded with small islands. It abounds with maskinonge (musky!), black bass, perch and other fish dear to the sporting fraternity, to whom it has been for many years a much- favored resort. The best spot for fishing is on the north side, at the mouth of the Otonabee River.

Settlers:

The earliest grantees of land were the GRANT and WRIGHT families, who obtained large tracts; John CANNIFF, James PECK, Cornelius and Saml. PECK, Jacob SHOEMAKER, Eunice POST, Henry YOUNG, John THOMPSON, Conrad and Isaac COLE, Mores CARNEHAN, John GREEN, Martin DRURYAS, Huldach HARRISON, Jas. HUGHES, Truman KNAPPER, John LAW, the HUGHES and MEYERS families, the BROWNs, CAMPBELLs, COCHRANEs, DOWNS, ALVINEs, HICKS, HILLs, HAWTHORNEs, LINTONs, MCCRACKENs, JOHNSTON, LAPP, LISCOMBE, LYNCH, MASTERSON, MILNE, MONTGOMERY, MUNCEY, MCEWEN, MCGUIRE, MCGRATH, MCLIN, HARVEYs, WEIRs, WHITTAKERs, TURNERs, SHERWINs, STEVENSONs, TOLLOCKs, QUINLIVANs.

The POSTs who took up land in the township some forty years ago were Americans, and like the COLEs who came in from the Bay of Quinte, have since sold out and gone away. The BROWNs are of Irish descent and are thriving farmers who have good holdings on the 3rd and 4th concessions. James CAMPBELL who has been for a number of years Reeve, is of Scotch descent, settled nearly forty years ago and owns a large amount of property. William DROPE , also Reeve for some years, is a mill owner. He is a north of Ireland man and an old settler of over forty years. Patrick DOWNS , an Irish Catholic, has been settled in the township for many years and farms 400 acres. John HICKS was an old settler, and is represented by his son Benjamin, an honest Canadian farmer. William HILL is a farmer who came in over twenty years ago and bought lands. The LAPPs were old grantees of land, but have moved away. The LISCOMBEs came in after 1835. Pat LYNCH, another Irish Catholic, came in upwards over forty years ago and has succeeded in hewing out of the forest a comfortable home and independence for himself and family. Launcelot MUNCEY is an active magistrate and a wealthy farmer, also of Irish parentage; he settled in the township many years ago. William WEIR, also Irish, settled after 1835. The WHITTAKERs, Irish, came in about the same time - one of them has been Clerk of the Council for many years, and is spoken of with much respect. The TURNERs are also Irish farmers who have been many years settled in the township. Several representatives of the families already named are prosperous settlers throughout the township.

Native Settlement:
On behalf of the Indians of Alnwick settlement, the following petitions were presented to the Legislature, by Peter PERRY, in 1829.:-

" To the Great Council Assembled in Parliament at York " "Fathers and Brothers:- We the undersigned Christian Indians residing in the vicinity of Rice Lake, having matters of general concern relating to our tribes, and desiring to lay the same before you, claim your protection. We have appointed five of our brethren to act on our behalf --
George POTASH, John COW, John CROW ,
John CANUA , John COEHE, Peter MANSON

Chiefs and principal men among us, to express to you, Fathers and Brothers, our feeling of friendship, and to present to you our humble petition wherein our grievances are specified. "We humbly pray that our brothers may be heard in our behalf, and they are hereby authorized to transact our affairs with you as if we ourselves were present. "And we your children, as in love and duty bound, will ever pray for our Great Father the King, and all his British subjects. Signed:

Joseph SOPER, James SHAUNY, Jacob IRON, Tamish KEZTRICK, Wm. BLACKBOSS, Peter NAHGUN, Bedford IRON, Wm. NAYANAKALOOK, Bowlan GONERNOR, John TAMISH, John SALT, Peter COW, Robert COW, Joseph SOPER Jr., Thos. NANAGISHKOOK, Peter PALCHE, John KAY, Peter NAHGE, John EATAWABIN, Shauny NEPANASICK, John KATEGOGOWAR, Martin QUAHMUHDEN, Isaac IRON, " Rice Lake, January 19th 1829

Another document lists additional members of the settlement:
"The Petition of the Chiefs and Principal Men of the Indians residing in the vicinity of Rice Lake, Newcastle District, ... "And we, as is love and duty bound, will ever pray to our Great Father the King and all his people.

George PANTANSH, John CROW, John CANUA, Peter NAGIN, John COW, Peter MANSON

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