1797 List of settlers, Cramahe Township

List of Settlers in Cramahe Tp, 1797 & 1799

Northumberland County

Home Page My database at Rootsweb Contact Me
Records of the Bay of Quinte

Cramahe Township, now in Northumberland County, was settled early and the lists below were prepared as "returns" to measure the improvments that had been made.
These men were granted land as "settlers" and not as Loyalists and likely all came from the States. As of 1794, a settler had only to occupy the lot and build a house to get a patent. Further conditions were added in 1798 requiring settlers to clear and fence 5 acres.

For these Cramahe settlers,
Asa Danforth and Aaron Greeley were acting as "agents" for American speculators called 'nominees' who were to get a fee for each settler who got a patent. Greeley was an authorized deputy surveyor who settled near Carrying Place in 1795 and then got involved with Danforth. When the scheme came to nothing he returned to the States in 1806. See They Left Their Mark, Surveyors and Their Role in the Settlement of Ontario, John L Ladell, Dundurn, 1993, Chap. 7.

There are 4 separate sets of these lists and all are presented below.  The Sept 1797 list has quite a few notes that were filed with the bundle and t
hese notes are indexed by name, date and a comment.



Use these links to jump up and down this web page.
  1. June 1797 list
  2. Sept 1797 list
    1. Index of Notes from the bundle above.
  3. May 1799 list
  4. June 1799 list - new Jan 2021
All four lists are found in the Upper Canada Land Petitions, LAC, RG 1 L3. Source notes with links to each film are provided below.

Names transcribed as written and can be a challenge to decifier. Let me know if you think names have been misread.
© Randy Saylor, Jan 2012, updated Jan 2021




1. List of Settlers in Cramahe by Danforth & Greeley agents for ?

Council Office, York
17 Jun 1797
The [list below] is a true list
Asa Danforth & Aaron Greeley
Entered in Land Book C page 82, 83
See subsequent List C227, No 3 [The above from image 677.]

[Source: UCLP, RG 1 L3, 1797, V91, bundle C3/228, C-1648, online at LAC, starts at image 673 with the list starting at image 674]

Names of Settlers Lot Con
Cramahe

Capt James Richardson 1 1st
John Spencer 2 Ditto
Capt Benjamin Richardson 4 Ditto
James Bottis 6 Ditto
Oliver Campbell 12 Ditto
William Campbell 13 Ditto
John Campbell 14 Ditto
David Turner Jnr [Turney - see note below]
22 Ditto
William Gates 24 Ditto
Barnabas McKeyes 26 Ditto
Aldredge Stanton 27 Ditto
Peres Cooper 29 Ditto
Aaron Wallice [Wallace]
30 Ditto
John Ogden 32 Ditto
John Ward 33 Ditto
Joseph Keeler 35 Ditto
John L Robberts [Roberts]
1 2nd 
John Belcher 2 Ditto
Obidiah Simson [Simpson]
4 Ditto
Samuel Sherwood 24 Ditto
John Turner 5 Ditto
John Nix 23 Ditto
Palmer Crandall 29 Ditto
Reuben Crandall 28 Ditto
George Palmer 31 Ditto
Nathaniel Gaffield - see note below
32 Ditto
John McSherman 34 Ditto
Elisha Alger 33 3rd
Cyrus Richmond 4 4th
John Dowling 31 Ditto
John Simson 7 Ditto
James Dowling 22 Ditto
Walter Warden
23
Ditto
Sylvester Richmond
5
Ditto
Timothy Olcoth?
10
5th?
Willim Obryant
19
5th
William Brunson
20
Dittto
Enoch Wright
2
4th
Stephen Campbell
16
1st
David Turner [Turney]
23
Ditto
Jeremiah Scripture
9
Ditto

Two notes form the above bundle
Elisha Alger 13 Sept 1807 Lot 33, Con 3 Privleged for lot of Cramahe as UE [image 673]
Reuben Crandall 20 Apr 1805 Lot 28, Con 2 Benjamin Ewing paid fee on the grant [image 676]



2. List of Settlers in Cramahe 1st Sept 1797

[Source: UCLP, LAC, RG 1 L3, 1797, V91, bundle C3/227, C-1648, online at LAC, starts at image 638]

Town of Cramahe Lots Concessions
Eldridge Stanton 27 1
Timothy Olcott 1 2
John Turner 7 2
David Turner [Turney as informed by descendant Mark Turney] 23 1
David Turner Jnr [Turney]
22 1
Nathaniel Gaffield
32 2
George Palmer 31 2
Palmer Crandall 29 2
Reuben Crandall 28 2
Henry Frint 26 2
Amos Beach 25 2
John Nix 23 2
Martin Frint 21 2
Barnabas McKeys 26 1
John Ward 33 1
Aaron Wallace 30 1
Simon Winn 16 5
Abraham Winn 17 5
Joseph Winn 18 5
John Sichler 19? 5
William Clark? 20 5
John Heaviland [Haviland]
18 6
William Brunson 20 1
John Frint 22 2
Elisha Alger 33 3
Lanson Bostwick  10 1
Aaron Ives 19 2
John Ogden 32 1
Cryus Richmond 4 4
Jeremiah Scripture 6 1
William Obryon 19 1?
James Richardson 1 5
Surfernus? Dygert 3 1
Benjamin Richardson 4 5
James Bothis 7 1
Oliver Campbell 12 1
William Campbell 13 5
Stephen Campbell 16 1
John Campbell 14 1
Isaiah Hall 29 5
Peris Cooper 24 1
Joseph Keeler? 35  & 35 1 & 2

   
[page 2]

John Belcher 2 2
Obediah Simson 4 2
John McThirnan 34 2
John Dowling 31 4
John Simson 7 4
Walter Warden 23 4
Sylvester Richmond 5 4
Enoch Weight 2 4
Garbrum Spring 10 4
Jason Yearns 8 4
John Burtley 8 2
Elisha Bristol 17 5
Joel Merriman 24 1
54 [total]

[signed]

Asa Danforth

Aaron Greeley

List of Settlers in Cramahe
Signed and ?? 1st Sept 1797
Peter Russell
See a former list 17th June 1797 C228, No 3




2a. Notes from the bundle above.
These notes are lengthy and go from image 640 up to 672.


Timothy Alcott 14 June 1802 5 acres of land cleared and fenced and comfortable house on Lot 10 Con 24 Isiah Hall JP
Joel Merriman 12 June 1802 5 acres of land cleared and fenced and comfortable house on Lot 1 Con 24 Isiah Hall JP
Peres Cooper 12 June 1802 5 acres of land cleared and fenced and built a good log house and has a family and is settled and that the lot was vacant the person who took it up went to the States soon after and has not since been herad of  on Lot 1 Con 2 A Chisholm JP
Anson Ives? 25 May 1801 5 acres of land cleared built a  house and has a family and is settled on lot 19 Con 2 Chisholm JP
Henry Frint 27 March 1809 Has paid Patent fees for himself and for his father John Frint
Palmer Crandell 23 March 1813 Elisha Renson? Agent paid fees
John Ogden 10 March 1809 Caleb Elsworth agent paid fees
David McGregor Rogers Esq 7 March 1808 paid fees
David Turney Jr
see image 665 to 668
undated certify 20 acres cleared lot 23 Con 1 with family and living on lot.  Alex Hagerman
Joseph Winn 1 Sep 1797 Joseph Winn, of Ameliasburgh, yeoman, lot 18, Con 5 as a settler. Fee and survey paid.
Peter Wyatt 2 Oct 1800 Joseph J Lency & Jeremiah Scripture swear that Peter Wyatt has built a house on lot 6, Con 1, Haldimand 18 by 20 and has cleared 5 acres
Stepehen Bowerman 2 Oct 1800 John Dowling swears that Stephen Bowerman has house 18 feet square and cleared 6 acres on lot 7, con 1 Haldimand
John Dowling 2 Oct 1800 Jeremiah Scripture swears that John Dowling has a house 16 by 18 on lot 31, con 4 Cramahe
Mathew Morris 2 Oct 1800 John Dowling swears that Mathew Morris has house 18 feet square and has cleared 5 acres lot 13, Con 2, haldimand
John Nix 27 June 1807 Cleared and fenced lot 23, con 2 Cramahe
John Nix 10 Nov 1807 David M Rogers paid the patent fees to John Nix located in Cramahe
John Ward 7 Apr 1811 paid fees, lot 33, con 1
John Ward and Alemnun Stephens 13 Apr 1811 Before Damian Cameron Esq, make oath that John Ward and Almenun Stephens, Cramahe, yeomen, lot 33, con 1 40 acres cleared and house built 30 by 18 and half the road front cleared and fit for carriages
Jeremiah Scripture
and John Dowling
22 Feb 1808 paid fees, lot 6, con 1 as a settler



3.  A list of the Settlers in the Township of Cramahe 13 May 1799
Stating the Improvments, each one has made as well as their Place of residence.

[See also a second similar list with some differences starting at image 207.]

[Source: UCLP, RG 1 L3, 1799, V92, bundle C4/145, C-1649, online at LAC, starts at image 203]

James Richardson No 1 in front about 1/2 acre partly, residing at Kingston
Benjamin Richardson No 4 in front, about 6 acres cleared - he has also cleared about 15 acres on lot No 5 and erected five small log houses
Jeremiah Scripture No 6 in front about 8 acres cleared
Jeremiah Beatys No 7 in front about 7 acres cleared
Oliver Campbell No 12 in front about 20 acres cleared
John Campbell No 13 in front about 2 acres cleared
William Campbell No 14 in front about 4 acres cleared
Stehen Campbell No 16 in front about 1 acres cleared
Zediah Hurd No 19 in front about 6 acres cleared
William Brunson No 20 in front about 3 acres cleared
David Turner Jr [Turney]
No 22, single man settled & improvedAbout 18 acres cleared part on both lots
David Turner Sr [Turney]
No 23 Family settled and improved
Alexr McDonell No 26 in front about 6 acres cleared
Eldridge Stanton No 27 in front about 15 acres cleared
Isiah Hall No 29 in front about 50 acres cleared - he has also partly cleared about 10 acres on lot No 28 in front
Aaron Wallace No 30 in front about 8 acres cleared


[Second page]
John Ogden No 32 in front about 16 acres cleared 
John Ward No 3  in front about 12 acres cleared; Sold to Beeman, and has settled and cleared about 12 acres more in rear of lot Do near the 1st concession line
Richard Ogden No 31 in 1" Concession  about 1 acres cleared 
Timothy Oldcott No 1 in 2nd Concession about 1 acre partly clear; he is said to have died in the States, the lot claimed by John Dowling & Gudger
John Belcher No 2 in 2nd Con - about 6 acres partly clear living at the Bay of Quinty
Obidiah Simson No 4 in 2nd Con - about 16 acres clear
John Turner No 7 in 2nd Con - about 1 acre partly clear; said he has left the Country and resides in the States
Martin Frint No 21 in 2nd Con - about 2 acres partly clear living at the Bay of Quinty
John Nix No 23 in 2nd Con - about 5 acres clear
Amos Beach No 25 in 2nd Con - about 6 acres clear
Henry Frint No 26 in 2nd Con - about 7 acres clear
Ruben Crandle No 28 in 2nd Con - about 10 acres clear
Palmer Crandle No 29 in 2nd Con - about 10 acres clear
George Palmer No 31 in 2nd Con - about 10 acres clear
Nathaniel GaffieldNo 32 in 2nd Con - about 15 acres clear
Elias Alger
No 32 in 3rd Con - about 6 acres partly clear
Cyrus Richmond
No 4 in 4th Con  l- triffling cleared
Silvester Richmond No 5 in 4th Con - a very triffling clearing, living at the Bay of Quinte
William Carle No 4 in 8th Con - about 10 acres clear
Daniel Mastin No 5 in 8th Con - about 3 acres clear
Paul VanWychule No 10 in 8th Con - about 2 acres clear
John Kerr No 11 in 8th Con - about 1 acres clear
Joel Merriman residing in the States; said to clear lot 24 in front; but has not made any improvements thereon but said that the half of the Improvements returned to Mrs Hall No 28 & 29 in front belong to him


A Jones D. A. S.
13 May 1799


4. List of Settlers in Cramahe June 1799
A Statement of the Settlement of the Township of Cramahe at this time made by the persons who were returned as actual settlers by Asa Danforth and Aaron Greeley in August 1797 at Niagara. [This later "Statement" by Greeley is dated 18 June 1799 at the bottom.]

[Source: UCLP, RG 1 L3, 1799, V92, bundle C4/145, C-1649, online at LAC, starts at image 207]

Concession & No of Lot Names of Settlers Remarks on the improvements and settlers shewing their Situation
Concession 1

1 Capt James Richardson but a small improvement living in Kingston and since the above return has drawn the lot for his services
2 Saffrenus Digart Not in the Country and made no improvement but is preparing to move on with his family immediately & settle
4 Benjamin Richardson Settled a family & large improvement
6 Jeremiah Scripture a singleman living in the Township and made considerable improvements
7 Jeremiah Bettys Settled a family and considerable improvements
9 John Spencer No improvements settled in the Township of Hallowell Midland District and one of the nominees of Haldimand
10 Lanson? Bostwick No improvements  & and not in the Country
12, 14, 13, 16 Oliver Campbell. William Campbell, John Campbell, Stephen Campbell at the time of the above return drew these lots as UE Loyalists and they have since moved into the Township and made considerable improvement on Lots 12 & 13. Report to Mr Rogers
17 Elisha Bristol? No improvement but has resided in the Township since the above return and is preparing to improve the lot as a single man
19 William Obrien Not in Country but the lot settled and improved by a man with a family from the States last year by the name of Hurd
20 William Brunson A single man settled and improved and has resided in the Country since the above return
22 David Turner Jr [Turney] A single man settled and improved and has resided in the Township since the above return
23 David Turner Sr [Turney] A family settled and improved considerably
24 Joel Merriman No  improvement a family in Partnership with with Huriah Hall who has made a large improvement on 29 in front and is now at the Onadagya Salt Springs manufacturing salt to bring to this Country
26 Barnabas McKeys the lot in Dispute with Alexander Mcdonell who is now settled on the lot and Mckeys residing elsewhere in the Township with his family
27 Aldridge Staunton A family settled & large improvement
29 Isaiah Hall [Hull?] A family settled & large improvement in partnership with Joel merriman
30 Aaron Wallace A family settled & considerable improvement
32 John Ogden A family settled & considerable improvement
33 John Ward A family settled & considerable improvement
35 Joseph Keeler One of the nominees of the Township



Concession 2

1 Timothy Olcott Dead and his wife since come in John Dowling a trfling improvement
2 John Belcher No improvement a single man settled in Adolphustown Midland District
4 Obadiah Simpson A family settled & considerable improvement
7 John Turner  No improvement & left the Country
8 John Bartley  No improvement not known where he is
19 Aaron Ives No improvement a single man and has resided in the Township since the above return
21 Martin Frint A family settled & improved
23 John Nix A singleman settled and improved
25 Amos Beech A family settled and improved
26 Henry Frint A family settled and improved
28 Reuben Crandell A family settled and improved
29 Palmer Crandell A family settled and improved
31 George Palmer A family settled and improved
32 Nathaniel Gaffield A family settled and improved
34 John McKinnon Dead settled by Thomas Everton with his family who obtained a warrant for lands in Novemeber 1797



Concession 3

3 Elisha Algar Referd to Mr Rogers



Concession 4

2 Enoch Weight? Not in the Country not improved
4 Cyrus Richmond No improvement a single man settled in Fredericksburg Midland District
5 Sylvester Richmond No improvement a family and settled in Fredericksburg Midland District
7 John Simpson No improvement not of age but resides in the Township
8 Jason Oyearns? No improvement not known where he is 
10 Gabrun Sprung No improvement not known where he is
23 Walter Warden No improvement & not in the Country
31 John Dowling No improvement now gone for his family and will settle immediately



Concession 5

16 Simeon Winn Referd to Mr Rogers
17 Abraham Winn Referd to Mr Rogers
18 Joseph Winn Referd to Mr Rogers
19 John Sickler?? [no note]
20 William Clark Dead No improvement and no heir in this Country



Concession 6

18 John Haviland The deed issued to him




York June 18 1799

Aaron Greeley




NATHANIEL GAFFIELD UE - the Loyalist With Two Names and An Early Resident of Cramahe Tp.
Nathaniel Gaffield was born about 1755 and captured in 1756 by Indians during the Seven Years' War. He was found in the latter part of the War and was given the name 'Amherst Ferrol' as his actual name was not known by then. The 'Amherst' first name was after British Commander Amherst. It was with this name he served during the American Revolution, initially in the Rebel Albany County Militia, but switching sides to close the war in (Jessup's) Loyal Rangers. After the War he returned to the US and somehow managed to reunite with his family and reclaim his original name. He returned to Canada, settling finally in Cramahe Tp. 

For a more detailed account see descendant Roger W. Reid's article in Fidelity Vol 18 No. 1 (Sep/Oct 1995), newsletter of Toronto Branch UELAC. Thanks to Peter W. Johnson UE for this additional information.

DAVID TURNEY Sr and JR
The names David Turner and David Turner Jr of lots 22 and 23, Con 1 are in all three lists. Mark Turney, a descendant informs that it should be Turney. This is supported by a single record in the Sept 1797 set of notes on image 665. Turney is clearly written but Turner follows on the remaining images of the note. Mark writes, "The name Turney is also listed on the 1878 Northumberland county atlas on the corresponding lots and concessions. Many of us still live in the area."

Turney it is. The clerks wrote Turner in the lists and they were probably copying field notes of some sort.