Wentworth County, Ontario Genealogy

Canada Ontario  Wentworth County

Getting Started
1. What information do you wish to locate about your ancestor? To choose the sources you need to search first, please click on RECORD SELECTION TABLE: Ontario, which will help you decide.

2. From the above Record Selection Table, which sources do you wish to check in this county? To check the availability of your sources of interest as well as to check the websites that have them online, please click on this county's SOURCES LINKS TABLE.

3. Do you know the location that you wish to search in this county? If so, please check for some possible sources and some online information about your location of interest, by clicking on this county's POPULATED PLACES TABLE.

4. For further information regarding your sources of interest, see "4 Resources" ABOVE in the "CONTENTS" table and click on the source of interest.

Remember that you should always try to get an original copy of that source to verify information.

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The Geography
To begin at the very beginning, Wentworth County’s nature is tied to the two geographical features that dominate it: the Great Lakes and the Niagara Escarpment. The Saint Lawrence River, Lake Ontario, Burlington Bay, the Desjardins Canal and Coote’s Paradise, provided means of transport well into the interior, assisted in settlement and made possible the establishment of shipping and industry. The escarpment, part of a formation over 700 miles long, forms a cliff 300 to 330 feet high running about 2-2.5 miles from the lake and bay, with a deeply eroded western section where the Dundas and Ancaster valleys lie. The combination of water and height would result in mills.

Exploration and Settlement
The earliest settlers were, of course, First Nations people, the Neutrals (refusing to engage in the wars between the Iroquois and the Hurons), who occupied much of Southwestern Ontario. They left their permanent mark in the making of two trails, now called King Street and York Street, in the City of Hamilton. By the end of 1652, the Neutrals had been completed annihilated by conquering Seneca, a tribe of the Iroquois. So, the area was inhabited by the great Five Nations (later Six Nations).

The first Europeans to come to the interior were Étienne Brulé and Robert de La Salle, French explorers in the 1600’s. But they formed no settlement, leaving the land as they found it.

Settlement began in earnest in the wake of the American Revolution, as those who preferred to remain under British rule left, or were forced from, their American homes. They moved to many areas of what was then Upper and Lower Canada, where their loyalty was rewarded by free land.

Famously (at least locally) was Richard Beasley, a man of many parts but mostly merchant, who settled on Burlington Heights at the Head of the Lake in 1777, on the land now occupied by Dundurn Castle. He was followed by Robert Land, in 1778, a member of the King’s Forces who lost his land and his family in the Revolution. There is a nearly unbelievable story of how the family was reunited in 1791.

About 10,000 loyalists came to Ontario settling near the Bay of Quinte, Niagara Peninsula, and along the Saint Lawrence River. They were followed by many non-Loyalists in search of cheap land, and by many of the Native people who had fought for Britain.

In 1788 through 1793, the townships at the Head of the Lake were surveyed and named. This included all the townships of what became Wentworth, Haldimand and Halton Counties. The land was claimed only very slowly. Meanwhile, the village of Ancaster had been founded and was rapidly becoming a bustling centre of industry with mills. Dundas also had mills.

The principal historical divisions of the county were: Ancaster, Barton, Beverly, Benbrook, Flamborough East, Flamborough West, Glanford, Saltfleet. All but Benbrook and Glanford are separated at least in part by the escarpment.

At various times the townships of Caistor, Seneca (both in Haldimand County) and Onandaga (Brant County) were part of Wentworth.

The new land was barely scratched at when the War of 1812-14 broke out. All adult men had to belong to the local militia, and some joined the regular troops, most of whom were British. Burlington Heights was a critical defensive point across the harbour and the Head of the Lake. But the famous local battle was the Battle of Stoney Creek in 1813, resoundingly won by the British forces.

The area had had many names, just as the province had many divisions. In 1816, Halton and Wentworth were named the District of Gore; at this time Wentworth included some townships now in Haldimand County. In 1853, Wentworth County was declared a separate entity.

In 1833, the Town of Hamilton was incorporated with a population of about 1,000, far smaller than neighbouring Ancaster. The 1837 Rebellion interrupted life (briefly) and the local Militia was lead by Alan MacNab, whose “castle” was completed. He was knighted the following year for his actions. In 1846, the City of Hamilton was chartered, the first telegraph wire (to Toronto) was strung and The Hamilton Spectator was founded. “The Spec” is still publishing.

Changes
In 1973, under Provincial order, the county and city reluctantly united into the Regional Municipality of Hamilton-Wentworth, with two tiers of government. In 2001 the Region was further amalgamated into the City of Hamilton. Although the name of Wentworth County has officially disappeared, it lingers in the names of many organizations, just as the many local historical groups preserve the old townships.

Neighboring Counties
Historical Halton, Wellington, Waterloo, Brant, Haldimand, Lincoln  Modern  Halton, Wellington, Waterloo, Brant, Haldimand, Niagara

Biographies
Figures from History

Robert Land -- First UEL arrival

Richard Beasley -- first settler at the Head of the Lake

Sir Alan MacNab -- Prime Minister

George Hamilton -- settler and founder of City of Hamilton

James Durand -- a founding father

Nathaniel Hughson -- a founding father

Medicine

William Osler -- the father of Modern Medicine

Elizabeth Bagshaw -- early female physician, founder of the first planned parenthood clinic in Canada

Cemeteries
At this time, please read about Cemeteries in the Province of Ontario Resources - Cemeteries.

Census Records
At this time, please read about Census Records in the Province of Ontario Resources - Census.

Church Records
At this time, please read about Church Records in the Province of Ontario Resources - Church Records.

Court Records
At this time, please read about Court Records in the Province of Ontario Resources - Court Records.

Directories
At this time, please read about Directories in the Province of Ontario Resources - Directories.

Genealogy
At this time, please read about Genealogies in the Province of Ontario Resources - Genealogy.

Land and Property Records
At this time, please read about Land and Property Records in the Province of Ontario Resources - Land and Property.

Local Histories
At this time, please read about Local Histories in the Province of Ontario Resources - History.

Maps
At this time, please read about Maps in the Province of Ontario Resources - Maps.

Military Records
At this time, please read about Military Records in the Province of Ontario Resources - Military Records.

Newspapers &amp; Obituaries
At this time, please read about Newspapers and Obituaries in the Province of Ontario Resources - Newspapers.

Probate Records
At this time, please read about Probate Records in the Province of Ontario Resources - Probate Records.

Taxation Records
At this time, please read about Taxation Records in the Province of Ontario Resources - Taxation.

Vital Records
At this time, please read about Vital Records in the Province of Ontario Resources - Vital Records.

Societies and Libraries

 * Hamilton Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society

Web Sites
Pioneer Families of Wentworth County (one that settled in Wentworth County Ontario prior to 1860).