Settlers to Prince Edward County

A historical examination of who they were and why they came [*]

Page 5 - Loyalist Settlements

It was necessary for Loyalists to travel by water instead of land because there were no official roads that stretched great distance over the new land. People were more familiar with water travel than land travel and the St. Lawrence River, Lake Ontario, Trent River System and Ottawa River were oft-used transportation routes. Prince Edward County is strategically surrounded by water and therefore enjoyed a great deal of popularity when compared with Belleville at the time. The Marysburgh/South Bay part of Prince Edward County was the first to be settled and was called "Fifth Township" for the time being. Sophiasburgh was the next area of the County to become settled and was called "Sixth Township". Ameliasburgh was the last and "Seventh Township" to be settled in Prince Edward County.

Loyalists may have been mistreated and driven from their homes in the Thirteen Colonies, but they were able to find a safe haven in Canada. With the same hard work, determination and perseverance that North America's original settlers possessed, Loyalists built Canada and Prince Edward County in particular into what it is today. The County is a friendly and abundant corner of Ontario, but it might still be covered in forest if it weren't for the efforts put forth by the Loyalists 223 years ago.

* [back] - This project was developed by Isabel Slone (one of the Society's 2007 "summer students") and was in part funded with a grant from Young Canada Works, in part with a grant from the Municipality of the County of Prince Edward, and in part with this Society's research funds.