Perth Military Settlement

Perth Military Settlement. Tay Basin. , The British government established the first Military Settlement in Canada in March, 1816 at Perth upon Tay in response to continuing fears of an American invasion following the War of 18 12. A depot was established with a Superintendent's office, King's Store, and land reserved for a courthouse/jail, grammar school and Church of England, all on the south side of the Tay River; Town streets were named to honour leading military and civic leaders like Gore, Herriott, Brock, Craig and Drummond., Loyal settlers, whether discharged soldiers from militia units like the Glengarry and Canadian Fencibles, and the "Swiss Regiments", or assisted civilians from Scotland, England and Ireland, encamped here on Cockburn Island while awaiting their lot locations, supplies and implements before starting a new life in the recently surveyed townships of Bathurst, Drummond and Beckwith., Large land grants, including choice Town lots, were given to the British half-pay officers who became the political and commercial leaders of the community. Surrounding lands, usually offered to regular troops and later civilian arrivals, were often found to be unfit for agricultural purposes. Poor rocky soil and extensive swamps led to the saying that "a groundhog must pack a lunch to cross a field.” The Military Settlement period ended in 1822 with Perth named the new capital of the Bathurst District., [Photo and illustration captions read] , . Map of Perth in 1822 in background., . Daverne ledger discovered during 1995 Thomas Wright building renovation., Trial of the Century , The Perth Military Settlement's first secretary/storekeeper and third superintendent, Daniel Daverne, processed over 4000 settlers during his 1816-1819 tenure. Harassed by overbearing half-pay officers, rowdy ex-soldiers, discontented farmers, troublesome employees and meddling officials, Daverne's controversial career was abruptly terminated over charges of embezzlement and abuse of powers. Renovation of the Thomas Wright building in 1995 revealed the Settlement's long-forgotten Record Book which portrayed Daverne in a more favourable light. In a 2005 mock "Trial", both sides of this extremely contentious episode were dramatized by the local legal and heritage community. Visit the Perth Museum and decide for yourself - Victim or Scoundrel!