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Prince Edward County an Island paradise.

Prince Edward County is an island community encompassing less than 700 square kilometres but features more than 800 kms of shoreline. Prince Edward County has a long and rich history starting with Native inhabitants and United Empire Loyalists .  This is a very basic history of the “County” and how some of the places came up with their names. For those that like to really delve into history please find below a list of resources. The earliest inhabitants of the County were Algonquin and Iroquois aboriginal people. These people had no concept of land ownership and typically lived a nomadic existence. In 1787, the British Crown signed a treaty with the natives in Carrying Place (known as “The Carrying Place). This treaty known as “The Gunshot Treaty” ceded all the land from the Bay of Quinte to the Etobicoke River (Toronto), and from Lake Ontario north to Lake Simcoe and the Rice Lakes. The first permanent settlement of Prince Edward County was a result of the American Revolution of 1776-1783. Those loyal to the British forces during the war (United Empire Loyalists) migrated to many different parts of Canada, including Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec and of course the County. The Loyalists were given lots here in the County in areas known as Fifth Town, Sixth Town and Seventh Town. In  1783 Governor Sir Frederick Haldimand ordered Surveyor General Samuel Holland to survey the lands west of Cataraqui (Kingston) in anticipation of the arrival of the Loyalists. …Keep checking back as I expand on this history and bring us up to the present day.

County Names

Picton

The town of Picton get it’s name From Sir Thomas Picton. Sir Thomas was a British military hero who served under Lord Wellington. Picton’s military career included such things as helping to capture the islands of St.Lucia, St.Vincent and Trinidad.

Wellington

Wellington was named in honour of the Duke of Wellington (Arthur Wellesley). The “Iron Duke” was one of the leading military and political figures of 19th century Britain. He was twice Prime Minister of Britain and at the Battle of Waterloo , he commanded the allied army that defeated Napoleon.

Bloomfield

Bloomfield was named after an officer who served with distinction under the Duke of Wellington.

Glenora

Like most towns with “glen” in the name it is of Scottish origin meaning valley. The ora is the Latin word for gold.

Athol

Of Scottish origin – named for the Dukes of Atholl, from the Stewart line of kings.

Prince Edward County

Named for the fourth son of King George III, Prince Edward Augustus the Duke of Kent. He was Queen Victoria’s father and the commander-in-cheif of British North America.

Adolphustown

Adolph was another child of George III.

Marysburgh/Sophiasburgh/Ameliasburgh

All named from the Princesses of the Royal Household

Demorestville

Named for Guillaume De Morest a business man whose mill occupied the site below the hill.

Milford

Named after the many mils built at the ford at the base of the river.

Hillier

Named for Major Hillier, secretary to the Governor of the Provence.

Consecon

Based on the Native word for the lake, which translates as pickerel or “con-con”.

Bay of Quinte

This is also based form the Native language. It was likely from the Iroquois word for meadow – “kenta or kahenta”

Carrying Place

From “The Carrying Place” as this was a bustling portage route.

Waupoos

Another Native word, meaning rabbit.