British Colonial Farm, 1774 - 1780

British Colonial Farm, 1774 - 1780. Mackinaw City Historical Pathway. , John Askin, an American immigrant during the French and Indian War, arrived at Michilimackinac with the British., John Askin immigrated to Albany, New York, from Northern Ireland in 1758 at the age of 19. He started work in a fur trading office and in 1763 set up his business in Detroit. There he acquired the paid position of post commissary for the newly captured Fort Michilimackinac where he amassed considerable wealth., The American Revolution interrupted supply lines, encouraging Askin to start a local farm., Food was grown in small gardens at the fort, but most was acquired in trade with local Indians or shipped in from eastern Canada or Europe. The American Revolution caused food shortages. Perhaps in desperation, Askin received title to about four acres of marginally farmable land three miles southwest of the fort., Askin departed a year before the fort was moved to Mackinac Island., In the summer of 1780, after a disagreement with the new commandant, Askin moved to Detroit. The farm fell into ruin. Amateur historians identified the site in 1981. A short archaeological investigation followed. The site is now protected by law., [Captions:] , John Askin lived occassionally at the farm based on the upper class dish remnants excavated. The farm was worked by Askin's servants and Indian slaves., Food was stored in cool cellars., A few exploratory trenches and a resistivity study led to a preliminary site plan.