Delaware in Middlesex County, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

Ebenezer Allan 1752-1813

Photographed by Tim Boyd, May 30, 2025

1. Ebenezer Allan 1752-1813 Marker

Inscription. Born in New Jersey, Allan joined the Loyalist forces in 1777 and served with Butler's Rangers and the Indian Department during the American Revolution. The founder of Rochester, N.Y, he moved to Upper Canada in 1794 and obtained 2,000 acres of land in this area. That year he built a gristmill around which grew the community of Delaware. Allan became involved in bitter disputes with the authorities over his land transactions, and at the outbreak of the War of 1812, joined the Americans. While engaged in spreading disaffection among the local settlers, he was arrested and imprisoned. Released early in 1813, he died shortly thereafter.

Erected by Ontario Archaeological and Historic Sites Board.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Settlements & Settlers • War of 1812 • War, US Revolutionary. In addition, it is included in the Canada, Ontario Heritage Trust series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1794.

Location. 42° 54.488′ N, 81° 25.265′ W. Marker is in Delaware, Ontario, in Middlesex County. It is at the intersection of Gideon Drive and Longwoods Road, on the right when traveling north on Gideon Drive. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 11578 Longwoods Rd, Delaware ON N0L 1E0, 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

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8 other markers are within 16 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Gideon Tiffany 1774-1854 (about 90 meters away, measured in a direct line); Arthur Stringer House (approx. 15 kilometers away); The Lawson Site (approx. 15.1 kilometers away); Isaac Crouse (approx. 15.6 kilometers away); King Street Bridge (approx. 15.7 kilometers away); Paul Peel (approx. 15.9 kilometers away); The Founding of London (approx. 15.9 kilometers away); Middlesex Court House (approx. 15.9 kilometers away).

Also see . . . Allan, Ebenezer (Dictionary of Canadian Biography).

Allan was twice brought to trial in the early 1800s, once for forgery and once for larceny. Although he was acquitted on each occasion, he did not escape the clutches of the law for long: in 1804 or 1805 he was convicted of an unknown offence and imprisoned in the district jail at Turkey Point, where he remained until some time in early 1806.

Allan’s experiences during these years, as well as his long period of imprisonment in British jails at the end of the Revolutionary War, probably explain why he became an American sympathizer after the outbreak of the War of 1812.

(Submitted on May 31, 2025, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario.)

Photographed by Tim Boyd, May 30, 2025

2. Ebenezer Allan 1752-1813 Marker

Map of Upper Canada, 1800, highlighting Allan’s Mills in Delaware Township image. Click for full size.

3. Map of Upper Canada, 1800, highlighting Allan’s Mills in Delaware Township

Source: York University

Credits. This page was last revised on May 31, 2025. It was originally submitted on May 31, 2025, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. This page has been viewed 119 times since then and 34 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on May 31, 2025, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.