Before the American Revolution, all the 13 Atlantic Colonies south of Canada were loyal to the King of Great Britain - King George III. When the American Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776, many of the Loyalists were unable to live peacefully with the Revolutionists, as the Loyalists were thought to be outlaws and traitors. Property was seized, homes burned and some Loyalists were even arrested and imprisoned.

Georgia, South Carolina and New York were the Loyalists' strongholds, with most of the members for the British forces originally from the New York colony. By 1776, about 100,000 citizens were living east of the Ottawa River (Dist. of Quebec) - practically no white settlement had taken place west of the Ottawa River (Dist. of Montreal). The War of Independence went on for several years until 1783.

Thousands of families (mostly farmers) escaped to Nova Scotia (from which in 1784, the Province of New Brunswick was formed) and about 6,000 (lower than was once believed) had immigrated to the Province of Quebec (later known as Quebec and Ontario) - these lands being under British rule. After the disbandment of the various corps which were raised for the King, the officers and soldiers were rewarded grants of land by the British Government. - 10,000 acres for Lieut. Colonels on down to Privates who received 200 acres. They were also provided 3 years supply of clothing and food, also lumber to build homes.

The land in the District of Montreal, fronting the St. Lawrence River was surveyed in 1783 and by 1784, fourteen townships (known by number only) were ready for settlement. They were set out approximately 10 miles square and divided into concessions by lines running parallel to the river. The townships, numbered from east to west - 6, 7 & 8 (later named Edswardsburg, Augusta & Elizabethtown) were settled by families of Major Edward Jessup's Corps (Loyal Rangers - raised in 1776); townships 7 & 8 were also settled by the 2nd Battalion of the King's Royal Regiment of New York (KRRNY) - raised in 1780. These three townships in 1784 had a population of 495 which included women and children. Many of the men whose families were not yet in Canada returned to the United States to gather them in. The settlers who were involved in active military service were given land grants at the river shore. The land inshore went to civilian United Empire Loyalists.

By July of 1784, in townships 6, 7 & 8, 50 lots were settled and a number or huts were built in each of the townships fronting the St. Lawrence River. By October, the population totalled 567 residents. The first grist mill to service the whole area was built the same year at Cataraqui (Kingston) which was the only one for 3 to 4 years.

In 1788, Sir Guy Carleton (Lord Dorchester) - Governor General of Canada, divided the District of Montreal into 4 districts - from east to west - Lunenburg, Mecklenburg, Nassau and Hesse and on July 24th named the townships. From east to west, the townships in the District of Lunenburg were now named Lancaster, Charlottenburg, Cornwall, Osnabruck, Williamsburg, Matilda, Edwardsburg, Augusta and Elizabethtown. Each district had a land board to award grants of 200 acres which were now being allotted to non-combatant Loyalists, to their sons upon reaching age 21 and to their daughters when eligible or upon marriage. By 1791, roughly 10,000 refugees had settled west of Montreal in the Province of Quebec.

Loyalist refugees had been trickling north to the harsh trackless wilderness of Canada throughout the war. The first to arrive reached Fort Niagara in 1776. Others moved up the Hudson River valley and emerged on the St. Lawrence River where they were eventually housed in refugee camps. At war's end the trickle became a flood. Not only did the ex-servicemen from several Loyalist regiments have to be resettled but so did several thousand civilian refugees. The Loyalists who journeyed to the northern shores of the St. Lawrence had many hardships as the only way of travelling was by canoe, ox cart or on foot. There were no roads - they travelled by the rivers and Indian pathways through the woods which were infested with wild animals such as bears, wolves and cougars. Not only did they have to carry their few worldly possessions of clothing and household goods but had to camp at night by the wayside. They also had to provide food for themselves along the many miles to their destination.

From the township of Elizabethtown on the 24th of June 1789, ISAIAH CAIN and DAVID CAIN (son?) petitioned to the Hon. Commissioner for the Land Dept. for lands in the District of Lunenburg. Quoting from the Petition -

The Memorial of Isaiah Cain & David Cain Humbly sheweth that your Memoralists in Consequence of this Loyalty, and attachment to the British Govt. have lost a considerable property & suffered imprisonment in the States - - Your Memoralists therefore prove that they may be indulged in this settlement, with his Majestys Bounty of Land & other privileges of the British Govt. - As in Duty bound your Memoralists shall ever pray, - - - Isaiah Cain, David Cain

 Archives of Ontario - U.C. Land Petitions RG1-L3, C Misc./4 C-1731 

The next day, on the 25th, DAVID CAIN was admitted on condition that he settles his land in one year from that date. It is a mystery as to the relationship between David and Isaiah -- also why Isaiah was not also admitted on the 25th of June.

But -- on the 29th of October 1789, ISAIAH CAIN preferred to the Land Board at Augusta a petition addressed to His Excellency the Governor in Council for a grant of 200 acres of land in the Township of ___(blank)___ in the District of Lunenburg. His loyalty and character were examined and he was found duly qualified to receive a single lot of about 200 acres - the oath of fidelity and allegiance were administered to him by the board.

 Archives of Ontario Township Papers RG 1 CIV 

ISAIAH was now eligible for 200 acres but was not as yet told which lot he could occupy in one of the townships.

The custom was for a settler, upon locating on his property, to immediately create a shanty or lean-to from the boughs of trees. This would be his only shelter from the weather until the winter set in when hopefully he had his log hut built with help from his neighbours. The huts could be 20 ft x 15 ft, built of round logs for a height of 7 or 8 ft with an elm bark roof - one window and a door with the open stone fireplace serving for both cooking and keeping the house warm. By 1789, the British Govt. was not supplying the Loyalists with rations of flour, pork, beef, salt & butter; they now had to rely on their own resources, often surviving famine and disease. Within a year, the settler was expected to clear and fence 5 acres of land. Their first crops consisted of oats, barley and wheat - they relied heavily on oat porriage.

It was in the same year, 1789, on Nov. 9th that Sir Guy Carlton, the Governor General of Canada, wished to honour the men who remained loyal to Great Britain and "joined the Royal Standard in America before the Treaty of Separation in the year 1783," so proposed to the Executive Council that a register of persons falling into this category be prepared. Each person so listed was then allowed to have the designation "U.E." (United Empire Loyalist) after his name. ISAIAH CAIN became one of the persons honoured, along with his family.

Now, with the inflow of Loyalists, the English settlers demanded their own government, so the Canada Act (31 Dec. 1791) was born dividing the Province of Quebec into two provinces - Upper and Lower Canada separated by the Ottawa River. The first Governor of Upper Canada, Lieut.-Governor John Graves Simcoe on the 16th June 1792 divided the Province into counties then later (1792), the names of the districts were changed (from east to west) - Eastern, Midland, Home & Western.

It was not until the 10th of January 1793 that ISAIAH CAIN presented his certificate of satisfactory examination (29 Oct. 1789) to the Acting Surveyor in Dundas when he was assigned Lot #15 in the Township of Yonge in the 4th concession which he was authorized to occupy and improve within one year. Front of Yonge Twp. (in Leeds Co.) was not completely surveyed until 1794 so Isaiah was allowed the S½ only as the N½ had been allowed to Capt. Joseph Jessup (1200 acres of his allotted 3,000 acres). In the confusion, Isaiah settled on Lot 15 (200 acres) in the 3rd concession and on 29th May 1798 at Elizabethtown petitioned to His Honor Peter Russell Esquire, Administrator of the Government of Upper Canada in Council:

The Memorial of Isaiah Cain U.E. Humbly sheweth that your Memorialist has occupy'd Lot No. 15 - 3 Concession, Township of Yonge for 2? years. Erected a decent House and Barn upon the same, and has cleared upward of 30 acres humbly solicits your Honor and Honourable Council to be confirmed in the above Lot, also permission to purchase from Government such a Quantum of Land as a Person of his description may be deemed entitled to Land in Duty Bound Will Ever Pray - - - -Isaiah Cain

 Archives of Ont. - U.C. Land Petitions RG 1L3, C4/112C-1649 

It was noted that on 25 July 1798, no resolution was taken on this petition before enquiry could be made respecting the rights the Petitioner had to set down on the King's lands without the intervention of the King's Surveyers. However, ISAIAH CAIN was eventually confirmed on Lot No. 15 - 3 Concession on 17 May 1802 (Patent Date which was issued 13 Mar. 1810).

The 200 acre lots in Yonge Twp. were approx. ¼ mile wide and 1¼ miles deep. Being a Loyalist, Isaiah's 200 acre lot was free of any settlement fee but since he had 100 acres extra, a fee had to be paid for the piece of property (S½ lot 15, Concession 4). After agent, Charles Jones paid into Receiver General's Office in York 3 pounds, five shillings & 2 pence, on 25 Feb. 1812, Isaiah was then confirmed on this lot 29 Feb. 1812 (Patent Date which was issued 3 Mar. 1812).

By July of 1798, a new district was formed, - Johnstown District was carved out of the Eastern District, - this new district contained Leeds, Grenville and Carleton Counties.

So, after many backbreaking years of felling trees, clearing and cultivating his land, building his log house, fencing in property etc., a farm under the ownership of ISAIAH CAIN was now established in YONGE TOWNSHIP and A VILLAGE WAS ABOUT TO BE BORN.

[from "Introduction to Canada and Province of Quebec" and "Cains Emigration & Settlement" by Margery Callen at http://www.homestead.com/caintown/]