Near Amherstburg in Essex County, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

Simon Girty U.E.

1741 - 1818

Photographed By Dale K. Benington, August 9, 2010

1. Simon Girty U.E. Marker

Inscription. Girty's life crossed cultural boundaries between native and white societies on the frontier of American settlement. In 1756 his family was captured by a French-led native war party in Pennsylvania. Simon was adopted by the Seneca, then repatriated in 1764. An interpreter at Fort Pitt (Pittsburgh), he became an intermediary with native nations. In 1778, dismayed over rebel policy on the natives, Girty fled to Detroit. During the Revolutionary War and subsequent conflicts in the Ohio Valley, he was employed by the British Indian Department while serving Native Nations as a negotiator, scout and military leader. Angry at his defection and fearful of his influence, Americans made Girty a scapegoat for frontier atrocities. He is buried here on his homestead.

Erected by The Bicentennial and Toronto Branches, United Empire Loyalists' Association of Canada, with assistance from the Ontario Heritage Foundation.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Native Americans • War, US Revolutionary • Wars, US Indian. A significant historical year for this entry is 1756.

Location. 42° 4.238′ N, 83° 6.967′ W. Marker is near Amherstburg, Ontario, in Essex County. Marker is on Front Street South (Provincial

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Highway 20) south of Bingham Road, on the left when traveling south. This historical marker is located on the east side of the roadway, opposite the riverside, in front of a residence, in plain view of where the Detroit River empties into Lake Erie. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1173 Front Street South, Amherstburg ON N9V 2M5, Canada. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Colonel Matthew Elliott (approx. 1.6 kilometers away); Capture of the Anne, 1838 (approx. 1.6 kilometers away); Bellevue 1816 (approx. 2.5 kilometers away); Lt. - Colonel William Caldwell (approx. 3.3 kilometers away); The Great Sauk Trail (approx. 3.6 kilometers away); The Commissariat Office (approx. 3.6 kilometers away); Amherstburg Navy Yard (approx. 3.6 kilometers away); The Battle of Lake Erie (approx. 3.6 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Amherstburg.

More about this marker. This historical marker is located on Simon Girty's homestead and in the front yard of a residence that is just two houses south of where Simon Girty's gravestone is also located in front of another residence.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. To better understand the relationship, study each marker in the order shown.

Also see . . .
1. Simon Girty

Simon Girty's Gravestone image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Dale K. Benington, August 9, 2010

2. Simon Girty's Gravestone

Close-up view of Simon Girty's gravestone. The inscription seems to read as follows: Simon Girty, 1741-1818, A faithful servant of the British Indian Department for Twenty Years.

. Ohio History Central website entry (Submitted on August 21, 2010, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio.)

2. Simon Girty. This is a link to information that is part of the "Historical Narratives of Early Canada" series. (Submitted on August 21, 2010, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio.)

Photographed By Dale K. Benington, August 9, 2010

3. Simon Girty U.E. Marker

View looking north along Front Street South, with the featured historical marker in the right foreground and Simon Girty's gravestone in the distant background, just to the left of the distant tree.

Photographed By Dale K. Benington, August 9, 2010

4. Simon Girty U.E. Marker

View of the backside of the historical marker, looking west across Front Street South, at the Detroit River emptying into Lake Erie.

Photographed By Dale K. Benington, August 9, 2010

5. Simon Girty's Gravestone

Photographed By Dale K. Benington, August 9, 2010

6. Simon Girty's Gravestone

View of Simon Girty's gravestone at it's location in front of a residence on Front Street South, two houses north of the historical marker.

Photographed By Dale K. Benington, June 15, 2013

7. Simon Girty U.E. Marker

View of the Simon Girty gravestone and then of the historical marker which is located in front of the next house down the street.

Photographed By Dale K. Benington, June 16, 2013

8. Simon Girty U.E. Marker

A panoramic view, looking south, showing on the left side of the picture the Simon Girty gravestone and then the historical marker, and on the right side of the picture showing the mouth of the Detroit River emptying into Lake Erie (click to enlarge the picture).

Photographed By Dale K. Benington, June 15, 2013

9. Simon Girty U.E. Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on June 21, 2022. It was originally submitted on August 21, 2010, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio. This page has been viewed 3,019 times since then and 30 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on August 21, 2010, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio. 7, 8. submitted on June 17, 2013, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio. 9. submitted on January 13, 2014, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio.