Ontario, Canada
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The first known inhabitants of Haldimand County, circa 1600, were an Indian tribe known as the Neutrals or Attiwandaronk. There were as many as 40 Neutral villages in a territory that ranged from what is now Dundas, On., through the Niagara Peninsula, across the Niagara River and into New York State. One of the largest of these villages is said to have been built on the Grand River, near Caledonia.
The Indian tribe was known as the Neutrals because they traded with both the Huron and Iroquois, maintaining their neutrality even during the battles that were fought between those two tribes. However, around 1650, the Iroquois attacked and entirely wiped out the Neutrals and destroyed Huron villages in the area, as well.
Over the next century, Haldimand County was host to the transient Chippawas (Mississaugas), French explorers and Jesuit missionaries. But no real attempt was made to settle the area.
After the American Revolution the loyal Indians, the Six Nations, who had lost their lands in the Mohawk Valley of New York State, petitioned the British government for land. In 1784 a tract of land, purchased from the Mississaugas, was granted to the Six Nations. This land extended six miles on either side of the Grand River from its source to its mouth on Lake Erie.
When white settlers began to pressure the Indians to sell some of their prime land along the Grand River, approximately 350,000 acres of the Crown Grant was divided into six blocks to be sold.
Four new districts were created by the colonial government, in 1788. They were Nassau, Hesse, Lunenburg and Mecklenburg. Nassau stretched from the Trent River to Long Point, and included what is now Haldimand County. In 1792, the districts were renamed and counties and townships created.
The county became part of the Niagara District, and eventually included Canborough, Dunn, Moulton, North Cayuga, Oneida, Rainham, Seneca, Sherbrooke, South Cayuga, and Walpole Townships. Butler’s Rangers, Mennonites, and Germans were its earliest pioneers. The earliest white settlement was said to have been established in 1784.
Haldimand County has been part of Nassau District, Home District, and Niagara District. It was incorporated on January 1, 1800 but remained part of the Niagara District until 1850. In 1974 it became known as the Regional Municipality of Haldimand-Norfolk.
Swiss soldier of fortune and British Colonial Governor. He served in various Continental armies, including that of Frederick the Great. He joined the British army in 1754 and held several responsible positions in North America, including that of commander in chief, 1773-1774. In 1778 he became Governor of Québec, and was successful in securing the province against internal disturbance and American attack.
Before leaving his command late in 1784, he assisted in the settlement of some 7,000 loyalist refugees from the United States.
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