Crawford Purchase facts for kids
The Crawford Purchase was an important agreement made in 1783. It was a deal where the Mississaugas people gave up a large area of land to the British government. This land was along the northern shore of the St. Lawrence River and Lake Ontario. The British wanted this land so that Loyalists could settle there. Loyalists were people who stayed loyal to Britain during the American Revolution. This area is now part of eastern Ontario, Canada. In return for the land, the Mississaugas received various items.
Why the Purchase Happened
In 1783, many Loyalists and their Native allies were looking for new places to live. They wanted to settle in the eastern part of what is now Ontario. This land had once belonged to the Iroquois people. But by the 1700s, the Mississaugas had moved into the area. Before the British could officially organize the land for new settlers, they needed to make an agreement with the Mississaugas.
The Agreement Details
Frederick Haldimand, who was the governor of the Province of Quebec at the time, gave instructions to start talks about buying the land. Sir John Johnson, who was in charge of Indian Affairs, led these negotiations. However, the actual talks were handled by Captain William Radford Crawford. He was part of the King's Royal Regiment of New York.
The agreement was officially signed on October 9, 1783, on Carleton Island. This deal gave the British rights to a large piece of land. It stretched from a river called Toniata (which is now Jones Creek near Brockville) all the way to a river in the Bay of Quinte. The land also went inland about 30 miles (about 48 kilometers). This means the area covered stretched from near Gananoque to the Trent River.
In exchange for the land, the Mississaugas received many gifts. These included useful items like blankets, clothing, guns, and ammunition. They also received "as much red cloth as would make a dozen coats and as many laced hats." These gifts were their payment for the land.
The Crawford Purchase is considered a very important event in Canadian history. It was officially recognized as an Event of National Historic Significance on May 17, 1929.
