I was born and raised in the Eastern Townships of Quebec. My family roots go back very far in this area. Understanding the historical background of this region is essential in the research of our family tree.
Basically, the foundation of English speaking Canada really starts after the American War of Independence, ending in 1783. During the period of 1783-1784, ten of thousands of those loyal to the British Crown left the new United States of America and settled in Canada - mainly in the Maritimes and Ontario. As for the Eastern Townships, those who came from the United States much later into this regions were NOT United Empire Loyalists. Rather, these Americans were known as the "late Loyalists." They came for different reasons other than loyalty to the British Crown.
In 1791, two new provinces were formed in British North America: Upper Canada (Ontario), and Lower Canada (Quebec). The original inhabitants of the Eastern Townships, the Abenaki First Nations people, were very few in number, having been decimated by diseases carried by Europeans. At this time, the total population of Eastern Townships was about 2,000 souls, most of whom were Americans who settled in thinking that they were living in Vermont. They had no idea they had travelled beyond the US border into a foreign country.
The British, observing these wayward Americans settling into this region, and wanting to absorb the French speaking culture of Lower Canada into an English speaking world, decided to encourage more American settlement into the region. Thus, the Eastern Townships were surveyed to provide more systematic settlement, and this surveying into township divisions is what gave the region its name.
Each township was approximately 10 miles by 10 miles. Further surveying divided each township into land areas averaging about 200 acres. The surveying was accomplished by 1793, and the Stanstead Township, being on the border with Vermont, was one of the first townships settled by the American immigrants.
One of the complaints by the 13 Colonies prior to the the American War of Independence was that they wanted more land to settle but the British would not allow them to go beyond the Appalachian Mountains. The Americans, even after winning their independence, and still being land hungry, would rather settle in land nearby rather than going west for hundreds of miles into the Ohio River valley. The Eastern Townships of Lower Canada was ideal for them. All they had to do was put up with British rule again, and for many, this was of little consequence.
At the time, although the land was fully surveyed, the Eastern Townships was truly a pioneer area. Although land acquired through grants was attractive, this regions was, to say the least, quite untamed. It was more or less completely forested and mountainous. The climate was harsh particularly in the winter months, and there were no infrastructures built such as roads, bridges, etc. In fact, it was a very long time before roads were even built, nonetheless maintained, and this was a major complaint by Townships inhabitants for decades.
The American settlers who first came here were essentially pioneers, using technology not that far removed from medieval methods for clearing land and tilling soil. Only the courageous, naive, or deluded came to claim their free land.
By 1825, when the Erie Canal in the US was finally completed, this spelled the end of American immigration to the Townships. However, by that time, the British were then encouraging immigration from the UK, which started around 1820. From the UK, mainly the Irish and Scots came, with promises that the climate in the Townships was like that in the south of France and that the rivers were excellent for transportation - both terrible lies. At least the Americans had no such misconceptions when coming to the Townships, but many of the UK immigrants left in complete despair finding this free land contained in a climate so harsh, and wherein transportation through the area was next to impossible via any method. Even though the UK pioneers were given free land, free farm implements, and free food for a year, it mattered very little. Only the very tough and stubborn stayed.
In 1850, the British encouraged the French Canadians to move into the Townships, and by 1870, they became the majority of the population. But prior to 1850, the Eastern Townships was an entirely English speaking region of Canada. It was in these first 60 years that my relatives came from the US and from the UK.
At the time, although the land was fully surveyed, the Eastern Townships was truly a pioneer area. Although land acquired through grants was attractive, this regions was, to say the least, quite untamed. It was more or less completely forested and mountainous. The climate was harsh particularly in the winter months, and there were no infrastructures built such as roads, bridges, etc. In fact, it was a very long time before roads were even built, nonetheless maintained, and this was a major complaint by Townships inhabitants for decades.
The American settlers who first came here were essentially pioneers, using technology not that far removed from medieval methods for clearing land and tilling soil. Only the courageous, naive, or deluded came to claim their free land.
By 1825, when the Erie Canal in the US was finally completed, this spelled the end of American immigration to the Townships. However, by that time, the British were then encouraging immigration from the UK, which started around 1820. From the UK, mainly the Irish and Scots came, with promises that the climate in the Townships was like that in the south of France and that the rivers were excellent for transportation - both terrible lies. At least the Americans had no such misconceptions when coming to the Townships, but many of the UK immigrants left in complete despair finding this free land contained in a climate so harsh, and wherein transportation through the area was next to impossible via any method. Even though the UK pioneers were given free land, free farm implements, and free food for a year, it mattered very little. Only the very tough and stubborn stayed.
In 1850, the British encouraged the French Canadians to move into the Townships, and by 1870, they became the majority of the population. But prior to 1850, the Eastern Townships was an entirely English speaking region of Canada. It was in these first 60 years that my relatives came from the US and from the UK.
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