Free Hidden Ontario by Terry Boyle Page B

purchase of various tracts of land by the government, land that was paid for at the rate of only a few cents an acre.
    It was the beginning of massive immigration into Southern Ontario. Within 41 years (1781–1822), all of this land was surrendered to the British Crown; 8.5 million acres were surrendered by the Mississaugas, alone. This was land bordered by the River Thames on the west, Gananoque River to the east, Lake Simcoe to the north, and the Ottawa River to the northeast.
    In 1784 an agreement was made with the Mississauga bands for the sale of land east of the Etobicoke River and west of the Trent River for the purpose of British settlement. At the time, the Natives from the Bay of Quinte, the Rice Lake and Lindsay area, the Toronto area, and the Thames district travelled to Carrying Place for the formal exchange of land for gifts and money. Sir John Johnson, superintendent general of Indian Affairs, was present and distributed arms, ammunition, and tobacco to the Native parties.
    The lands, as they were negotiated, were known to be bordered by the Tobeka Creek (Etobicoke) on the west and the Crawford Purchase on the east, running from Lake Ontario as far back as Rice Lake; west of Rice Lake, as far back as a day’s journey, or more commonly “the distance at which a gunshot can be heard.” For this reason it became known as “The Gunshot Treaty.” Notably, the Gunshot Treaty was not ratified until the 1923 Williams Treaty, because no payment was ever made for the 1787 cession of parts of the counties of Northumberland, Durham, and York.
    During the Toronto Purchase in 1805, Chief Quenepenon bitterly complained to British officials about the treatment of Natives by early settlers. He stated, “The inhabitants (of Toronto) drive us away instead of helping us and we want to know why we are served in that manner. Colonel Butler told us the farmers would help us, but instead of doing so, when we encamp on the shore, they drive us off and shoot our dogs and never give us any assistance as was promised to our chiefs.
    â€œThe farmers call us dogs and threaten to shoot us in the same manner when we go on their land. Our dogs, not knowing that they are doing wrong, run after sheep and pigs. When Sir John Johnson came up to purchase the Toronto lands we gave them without hesitation and were told we should always be taken care of and we made no bargain for the land but left it to himself (to determine the price). Now you want another piece of land. We cannot say no. But it is hard for us to give away any more land, the young men and women have found fault with so much having been sold; it is true we are poor and the women say it will be worse if we part with any more.”
    Despite these misgivings, Quenepenon produced a map of birch bark representing the Burlington Bay tract. He then spoke, “We ask no price, but leave it to the generosity of our Father.”
    The first missionary groups to begin work with Natives were the New England Company, formed in 1694 in the New England colonies. The New England Company, a non-commercial missionary society, moved to Upper Canada in 1822. Their goal was to work for and help settle the Natives. In 1829 the New England Company received a land grant for 1,600 acres in the north end of Smith Township, Peterborough County. The company’s mission was to settle those Natives living in the remote parts of Newcastle District. The Native community of Curve Lake, originally Mud Lake, was born.
    The company was also responsible for sending missionaries to Rice, Mud, and Scugog Lakes, Bay of Quinte, and Grand River to establish missions. Since the missionary society was wholly-dependent on private donations, costs were always kept at a minimum.
    The property at the Mud Lake settlement was a tax-free grant from the government to the North West Company. Ten to 12 families resided in the Mud Lake vicinity and wished to remain there. The company agent, Reverend