The summer of 1796 passed away with few incidents at Ryerse Creek, except the arrival of settlers.

This year there was total failure of the grain crops, not only in the new settlements, but throughout the United States.

The Indians alone had preserved maize from destruction by the racoons, squirrels and bears, which had invaded the settlements by thousands in search of food, as there were no nuts in the woods.

The settlers had now to depend upon the Indians at the Grand River for their bread, and they continued to sell their maize at the same price as formerly, and during the year of scarcity never raised it.

My father procured his year’s supply, but there were no mills; the nearest ones were south of the Short Hills, seventy miles distant.

Lucky was the family that owned a coffee mill in the winter of 1797.  My father had a number of hands getting out timber for his mills and clearing land, and when they returned from their work in the evenings they used to grind in the coffee-mill maize for the next day’s consumption.

They soon learned the exact quantity required, and each man ground his own allowance, dividing that of the rest of the household amongst them.

The meal was made into johnny-cakes, eaten hot for breakfast, cold for dinner, and the remainder in mush and milk for supper; and upon this fare they enjoyed perfect good health, were always cheerful and apparently happy.

The greatest good-feeling existed amongst the settlers, although they were of all nations and creeds and no creeds.  Many of those families who had remained neutral during the revolution to save their property, and still retained their preference for the British government, now sought homes in Canada, or assisted their sons to do so.  The Quakers and Yunkers were amongst the best settlers, as they always brought some property with them, and were generally peaceable and industrious.

Lands were so easily obtained, and so much encouragement was given by Government to settlers, that many of the half-pay officers and soldiers who had gone to New Brunswick found their way here, as well as many of the idle, discontented, dissipated, vicious and worthless of the United States.

But at the Settler's Home all were made welcome; the meals, victuals and night’s lodging were freely given to all, and for years after, to my recollection, during the summer season our house was never free from travellers; not that there was any particular merit due to our hospitality, for the man who would have closed his door against a traveller would have been looked upon as worse than a savage.

Continued...>

Copyright 1994-2014 John Cardiff and Port Ryerse Environmental and Historical Society

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