Norfolk County

Moses Sovereen’s mill in Waterford was burned in 1814 by American General McArthur and his troops. The mill was set on fire three times and, each time, Sovereen put the fire out under threat of death. Finally he was seized,...

On August 8, 1812, Major General Isaac Brock travelled to Culver's Tavern in Norfolk to give a passionate speech to the reluctant recruits, appealing to their patriotism to the crown. With this speech, he attempted to disarm the enemy and...

General Brock continued from Culver’s Tavern to Port Dover, successfully mustering a force of about 50 regulars and 250 militiamen. Travelling in open long boats along the north shore of Lake Erie, they arrived in Amherstburg five days later. Since...

This barn quilt represents the Battle of Nanticoke, which took place Nov. 13, 1813. The log cabin design signifies the cabin of John Dunham, where the Norfolk volunteer militia routed a band of American marauders who had been pillaging area...

In May 1814, Amelia Ryerse received unwanted fireside guests when American soldiers arrived with orders to burn. As her mother pleaded with the commanding officer to spare their home, an officer wordlessly gathered coals from the hearth. Every building was...

Finch’s Mill (Fisher’s Glen) was burned on May 14, 1814 by Lt. Col. John Campbell and his American troops. As in the raids that took place simultaneously on Dover Mills and Ryerse Mills, the troops slaughtered livestock and destroyed private...

Star of Hope - pattern used in this location recognizes the hope that exists in times of hardship. During the War of 1812, many people on both sides of the conflict lost crops, livestock, barns, homes, and even family members....

One of the area’s earliest settlers, Lucas Dedrick, came to Long Point in 1793 and was granted a 200 acre parcel that included the current site of Bird Studies Canada’s headquarters. The Nature Conservancy of Canada, the Natural Heritage League...

American and British ships met at Long Point, one of the many sites where prisoners were exchanged during the War of 1812. British prisoners, held in Frankfort, Kentucky, were marched to Sandusky, Ohio, in July and August 1814. They suffered...

“Doctor” John Troyer (1753-1842) was a Tunker – a Baptist religion offshoot – from Pennsylvania who settled on the flats below this property in 1793. He was an herbalist, diviner, hunter, farmer and miller whose superstitions and fear of witches...

John Backhouse, the original owner of the Backhouse Grist Mill, was a Colonel in the Norfolk Militia as well as the local Justice of the Peace. The gristmill was built in 1798 and was one of the few mills not...

Legend has it the Tisdale Mill located in Vittoria escaped burning in the 1814 American raids because Thomas Bowlby, a pioneer mason from the district, appealed to General McArthur, also a mason, for leniency. There was a large Masonic community...

Established in 1796, Vittoria remained untouched by the Americans during the War of 1812 despite having been surrounded by troops. In 1815, a courthouse with jail and registry office was constructed making Vittoria the most active and important commercial centre...

This quilt pattern was inspired by a quilt that has belonged to the homeowners’ family for four generations. John Alton and his wife Margaret Walker settled in Houghton in 1854 and built the house presently on this property. The Walkers...

The Tisdale Mill located in Vittoria was not burned in 1814 as Thomas Bowlby a pioneer Mason from the district appealed to General McArthur, who was also a Mason to spare the mill because there was a large Masonic community...

Fort Norfolk was a minor fortification built at Turkey Point.  Following the retreat of British Major-General Procter from Amherstburg in 1813 the British decided to construct a fort on Turkey Point Hill to defend the southwestern end of Upper Canada....

According to local legend, in August 1813 Captain Robert Barclay briefly abandoned his naval blockade of American warships in Erie Harbour to deliver “a pretty widow from Amherstburg” to Port Ryerse. Once ashore, he and his officers were invited to...

In 1814, a party of American Marauders, consisting of John Dickson, John Robinson, Henry Dochstader and ten others unnamed Americans murdered Captain William Francis, former confidante of Sir Isaac Brock at his farm (presently Selkirk Provincial Park). Captain Francis had...

In the early spring of 1812, the Norfolk Militia was organized into two regiments commended by Lieut.-Col. Joseph Ryerson and Lieut.-Col. Robert Nichol. Members of the Norfolk Militia saw action at most of the battles on the Niagara Frontier.  It...

After the Battle of Malcolm’s Mills on November 6, 1814 Brigadier General Duncan McArthur led an estimated army of 700 men south, taking militia prisoner, burning mills, homes and barns and stealing provisions. When they reached Port Dover they did...

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