Welcome to Route 1812 ~ Pathways to Peace ~ Western Corridor War of 1812-1814

Ontario Visited is pleased to welcome Pathways to Peace ~ Western Corridor 1812-1814 to our Article Section of Ontario Visited ~ War of 1812 Website. We thought we would start by introducing the Western Corridor 1812-1814 Projects. We welcome you to visit their website at www.westerncorridor1812.com for all details and current information.

Grand River Trail
Includes the communities of Oshweken, Caledonia, Cayuga and Dunville

About half of the Six Nations Confederacy, with a majority of Mohawks, settled along the Grand River in 1783.  There were some Delaware’s who made their homes south east of the present site of Cayuga and a few Mississauga’s remained along the south west bank of the river in Oneida Township. 

Joseph Brant, who had been Captain of the Indian Department during the American Revolution, was the leader and spokesman for the Six Nations.  When he saw the vastness of the territory, he invited his comrades and friends, who had served with him during the war and had lost their properties in the Mohawk Valley in New York State, to establish their homes in the Grand River Valley.

The first to arrive was Lt. John Young who had served for seven years in the Indian Department.  His father Adam Young, a private with Butler's Rangers, together with John's brothers, Daniel, a sergeant, and Henry, a private, made their homes on the shores of the river, southeast of York.

In 1784, following the American Revolution, Sir Frederick Haldimand, Governor-in-Chief of Canada, granted to the Six Nations a tract of land extending for 10 km (6 miles) on both sides of the Grand River from its source to Lake Erie.  This grant was made in recognition of their services as allies of the British Crown during the war and to recompense them for the loss of their former lands in northern New York State.  During the War of 1812, the Six Nations again reaffirmed their allegiance to the British and joined them in defence of their newly established home.

In later years large areas of this tract, including portions of the present counties of Haldimand, Brant, Waterloo and Wellington were sold to white settlers.  There is so much to see and do, plan to visit again. Join us with Ontario Visited’s next Blog issue as Route 1812 Journey continues…