Port Hope in Northumberland County, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

Port Hope Early Settlement

Photographed by Tim Boyd, June 7, 2025

1. Port Hope Early Settlement Marker

Inscription. Archaeologists have confirmed that people of the First Nations lived here for over 1,000 years. From 1650 on, Dutch from Albany traded furs with the Iroquois and later French and English traded with the Mississaugas. By 1788 fur trader Peter Smith built a log cabin and for 40 years the area was called Smith's Creek. When Upper Canada was formed in 1791, Lt. Gov. Simcoe awarded the area to Elias Smith and Jonathan Walton, acquaintances from the American Revolution on condition they build mills and attract "loyal" settlers. In June 1793 they landed the pioneer families of Myndert & Polly Harris, Nathaniel & Ann Ashford, Lawrence & Mary Johnson, James Stevens and Nathaniel Haskill. By 1799 there were 41 families plus Nathan Walton and Elias & Catherine Smith who settled permanently with grown children John, Elias Jr., Mary, Susannah Batter and Catherine Sculthorpe, Smith's Creek was renamed Port Hope in 1819. By 1826 it was a prosperous village with St. Mark's Church as its featured structure.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1788.

Location. 43° 57.063′ N, 78° 17.52′ W. Marker is in Port Hope, Ontario, in Northumberland County. It is at the intersection of Walton Street and Mill Street North, on the right when traveling west on Walton Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2 Walton St, Port Hope ON L1A 1M8, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Kawarthas Northumberland Area

and in Eastern Ontario.

It is also in Central Canada.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Great Lakes,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

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

the Viceroyalty of New France,

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the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

and Rupert’s Land.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Great Farini (here, next to this marker); Aboriginal Settlement (here, next to this marker); Signor Farini (William Leonard Hunt) 1838-1929 (here, next to this marker); Port Hope Capitol Theatre / Le Théâtre Capitol de Port Hope (about 90 meters away, measured in a direct line); Farley Mowat (about 150 meters away); St. Mark’s Church 1822 (about 150 meters away); Myndert Harris 1748-1823 (about 150 meters away); History of the Ganaraska Watershed (about 150 meters away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Port Hope.

Photographed by Tim Boyd, July 6, 2025

2. Port Hope Early Settlement Marker

Map of Upper Canada in 1819, showing Hope Township and Smith’s Settlement image. Click for full size.

3. Map of Upper Canada in 1819, showing Hope Township and Smith’s Settlement

Source: Brock University digital map collection (public domain)

Credits. This page was last revised on June 10, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 10, 2025, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. This page has been viewed 189 times since then and 63 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 10, 2025, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.