Grenville County, Ontario

Merrickville, Rideau River c.1838

Grenville Countyis aformer countyin theCanadian provinceofOntario.It fronted on the north shore of theSaint Lawrence River,between the towns ofKingstonandCornwall.The county was created in 1792, and named in honour ofWilliam Grenville, 1st Baron Grenville,who was theBritish Secretary of State responsible for the coloniesin 1790.It consisted of five townships, which were settled primarily byUnited Empire Loyalistsin the late 1700s after the Revolutionary War. Prior to being settled by Europeans, the area was home to many generations of native cultures.Grenville County merged withLeeds Countyin 1850 to createLeeds and Grenville County.The county covered an area of 272,261 acres (110,180 ha).

History

Prior to European settlement, numerous Native American villages were present in Grenville County; when the settlers first arrived, these natives still occupied the area and were essentially forced out by the settlements.The French briefly occupied this area at present-day Johnstown, in what was to become Edwardsburgh township, and at Pointe au Baril (present day Maitland) in what would be Augusta township. These French settlements date back to 1670 and 1759 respectively.

In the late 1700s while the region was part of the BritishLununberg Districtin theProvince of Quebec,land was surveyed in and around what would later become Grenville County to be distributed as land grants to theUnited Empire Loyalistsand their families for their loyalty to the Crown. The emphasis of the Crown government was on military defense, economic growth and political stability. The strategy was to increase the population, maintain efficient military districts, and develop political counties and townships to be dotted with agricultural hamlets and towns and commercially-oriented cities. There was not emphasis on industrial development because of lack of basic infrastructure in the region. The first townships laid out were called the Royal Townships. Situated along the St. Lawrence River where land was most productive and travel was convenient, two of these townships were to become part of Grenville County – Edwardsburgh, Royal Township Six, and Augusta, Royal Township Seven. In 1791 theProvince of Upper Canadawas created from part of the Province of Quebec. The Upper Canada partition of Lunenberg District was renamed Eastern District in 1792; Grenville County was one of the counties created in 1792. Shortly after theLoyalist refugeearrivals, Irish and Scottish immigrants began to settle in the area as well.

The European settlers dotted the new townships with small agricultural communities which were mostly self-sustaining. These communities were established out of necessity, as roads in the area were not well-established during nineteenth century and people were travelling on foot or via horse and buggy.Every few kilometres, a village or hamlet was usually present; these villages usually each had their own churches, schools, cemeteries and temperance halls, as well as pioneer businesses such as cheese factories, saw and grist mills, blacksmiths, limekilns, post offices, general stores or asheries.Most residents made their living through small-scale mixed farming operations.But there was an ennui; theDurham Reportled to merging the Colony of Upper Canada on 10 February 1841 as Canada West into the (United) Province of Canada, thus assuring lower cost funding for long term improvements in Canada West and more dynamic prospects inBritish North America.

One reason counties existed was so inhabitants could conduct legal transactions efficiently, as each county was the seat of a county court. As transportation improved within some counties, their political consolidation with neighboring counties could occur leading to better integration and centralization efficiencies. On 1 January 1850, Grenville county was amalgamated with the neighbouring county of Leeds, to become the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville,while Johnstown District was abolished. Prior to confederation, the area of Upper Canada was divided by districts, which held the counties, which held the townships; districts changed often in name and in area making records from this era appear confusing.During the mid-1800s within Canada West, counties began amalgamating as transportation improved and the districts were dropped as counties increased in population. At the founding of the Dominion ofCanadaon 1 July 1867, Grenville County, amalgamated with Leeds, became part of Ontario, with Ontario now being divided neatly by counties.

Territorial evolution

The original county was constituted in 1792, and was anelectoral districtfor the newLegislative Assembly of Upper Canada:

... which county is to bounded on the east by the westernmost line of the county ofDundas,on the south by theriver St. Lawrence,and on the west by the easternmost boundary line of the late township of Elizabethtown, running north twenty-four degrees west until it intersects theOttawa or Grand river,thence descending the said river until it meets the northwesternmost boundary of the county of Dundas. The said county of Grenvill is to comprehend all the islands in the said river St. Lawrence nearest the said county, in the whole or greater part fronting the same.

In 1798, theParliament of Upper Canadawithdrew parts of Grenville andLeedsto formCarleton Countyand the three counties together were constituted asJohnstown District,effective at the beginning of 1800. Grenville consisted of the following townships:

Organization of Grenville County (1800)

The townships of Edwardsburg Augusta Wolford Oxford on the Rideau Marlborough Montague North Gower South Gower

In 1838, the townships of Marlborough and North Gower were transferred toCarleton County,and the township of Montague was transferred toLanark County.

When the Johnstown District was abolished in 1850, Grenville County was united withLeeds Countyto form theUnited Counties of Leeds and Grenville.

Original townships

Main articles:Augusta, Ontario;Edwardsburgh/Cardinal;North Grenville;andMerrickville–Wolford

Battle of the Windmillin New Wexford, Edwardsburgh, 1838

The five remaining townships at 1838 were Augusta, Edwardsburgh, Oxford-on-Rideau, South Gower, and Wolford.

• Augusta township(still exists), covers an area of 75,083 acres (30,385 ha). It was first surveyed in 1783, and was named in honour ofPrincess Augusta Sophia,second daughter and sixth child ofGeorge III.This township is located along the southern border of Leeds and Grenville along the St. Lawrence River.
• Edwardsburgh township (nowEdwardsburgh/Cardinal), covers an area of 66,669 acres (26,980 ha). The township was first surveyed in 1783, and was named in honour ofPrince Edward,fourth son and fifth child of George III.This township is located along the southern border of Leeds and Grenville along the St. Lawrence River, east of Augusta township.
• Oxford-on-Rideau township (Now part ofNorth Grenville), covered an area of 59,350 acres (24,018 ha) and was first surveyed in 1791. The township was later amalgamated in the 1990s with South Gower township and the town of Kemptville to become North Grenville.This township was located north of both Edwardsburgh and Augusta townships, between Wolford and South Gower.
• South Gower township (Now part ofNorth Grenville), covered an area of 27,709 acres (11,213 ha) and was first surveyed in 1799. This township was located north of Edwardsburgh.
• Wolford township (now the village-status municipality ofMerrickville-Wolford) covered an area of 46,851 acres (18,960 ha) and was first surveyed in 1795.It was named for the Devonshire seat ofJohn Graves Simcoe.This township was located west of Oxford-on-Rideau, and north of Augusta. In the 1990s, Wolford township became known as its own municipality, and was renamed Merrickville–Wolford.

See also

• List of Ontario census divisions
• List of townships in Ontario
• Augusta Township
• Edwardsburgh/Cardinal Township
• North Grenville Township
• Leeds and Grenville County
• Johnstown, Ontario
• Spencerville, Ontario
• Maitland, Ontario
• North Augusta, Ontario
• Prescott, Ontario
• Kemptville, Ontario
• Merrickville–Wolford, Ontario
• Upper Canada

External links

• 1951 map of Grenville CountyArchived2012-11-22 at theWayback Machine