Port Ryerse in Norfolk County, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

Port Ryerse 1794-1994

Photographed by Tim Boyd

1. Port Ryerse 1794-1994 Marker

Inscription. This memorial commemorates the bicentennial of Port Ryerse and its residents, past and present. The local shipping industry was the foundation for the village and prospered most during the mid - 1800's, exporting lumber and grain. The forged anchor was recovered from the harbour near the original pier by divers in 1977. The millstones were discovered near the site of the gristmills on Young's Creek in Port Ryerse. Samuel Ryerse built the first mill circa 1797. It was burned in 1814 by invading Americans during the War of 1812. Two other gristmills were built on this site, both burned, one in 1860, the other in 1890. The date stone is from the brick school house built in 1871.

Millstones donated by:
Levi Brian Atkins, Bill and Betty Calder, Michael J. Sparks
Date stone donated by the Cookson family,
anchor donated by Brooke Sowden, Scott, Mike & Lorraine Fletcher
Memorial erected 1994 by the Port Ryerse Historical and Environmental Association with the assistance of the Ryerse/ Ryerson family and the Ontario Heritage Foundation.

Erected 1994 by Port Ryerse historical and Environmental Assoiation.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers

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• War of 1812 • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Canada, Ontario Heritage Trust series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1794.

Location. 42° 45.346′ N, 80° 15.402′ W. Marker is in Port Ryerse, Ontario, in Norfolk County. It is on King Street South 0.2 kilometers south of Commercial Road (Norfolk Road 57), on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Port Ryerse ON N3Y 4K2, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Southwest Ontario Area

and in Southwestern Ontario.

It is also in Central Canada.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony,

the Viceroyalty of New France,

the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

and Rupert’s Land.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Lieut.-Col. Samuel Ryerse (within shouting distance of this marker); To Honour the Pioneers (within shouting distance of this marker); William Pope (approx. 1.3 kilometers away); The Summer Garden (approx. 5.4 kilometers away); Christ Church, Anglican- 1844 (approx. 5.4 kilometers away); Commercial Fishermen Monument (approx. 5.4 kilometers away); The District Capital (approx. 5.4 kilometers away); Port Dover Lighthouse (approx. 5.4 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Port Ryerse.

Also see . . . Port Ryerse.

Lieut-Colonel Samuel Ryerse was a United Empire Loyalist who fought with the British during
Photographed by Tim Boyd, October 2, 2024

2. Port Ryerse 1794-1994 Marker
the American Revolution and came to Upper Canada and founded Port Ryerse in 1794 where he was granted 3000 acres of land. He built a grist mill at the mouth of Young's Creek and a settlement grew up around it. Ryerse remained involved with the military as Lieutenant of the County of Norfolk and was also the chairman of the Court of Quarter Sessions. Lieut-Colonel Samuel Ryerse was the first District Judge of the Long Point Settlement and the founder of the Norfolk Militia. Samuel Ryerse, was the brother of Colonel Joseph Ryerson and uncle of Egerton Ryerson. Ryerse built the first mill in Norfolk in 1796. He was a friend of John Graves Simcoe, the first Lieutenant-Governor of Upper Canada.

(Submitted on December 7, 2024, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario.)

Port Ryerse area in 1819 image. Click for full size.

3. Port Ryerse area in 1819

Source: Brock University

Port Ryerse Schoolhouse, ca 1900 image. Click for full size.

4. Port Ryerse Schoolhouse, ca 1900

Port Ryerse Harbour, ca 1860 image. Click for full size.

5. Port Ryerse Harbour, ca 1860

Painting by local artist William Pope

Credits. This page was last revised on January 4, 2025. It was originally submitted on December 7, 2024, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. This page has been viewed 269 times since then and 38 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on December 7, 2024, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.