Commentary
The tyrants of 1789-94, through imprisoning and killing thousands based on their class, religion, dissent, and regional identity, forced many refugees to flee to neighboring countries. Most found refuge in England, a time when a strong parliamentary aristocracy was at its height. Some of these refugees even tried to establish a Royalist colony in Canada.
Despite initial support and resources, the isolated French settlement faced challenges in adapting to the land and developing their farms. Predictions of failure from figures like Robert Hamilton proved to be correct.
The work was so difficult that many workers abandoned their tools and ran away. Progress was slow for those who stayed, and observers noted that the restless colonists never truly settled down.
âI fear the Count de Puisaye is beginning to grow weary of his Colonial Project,â wrote Peter Russell, the Administrator of Upper Canada, to ex-Governor John Graves Simcoe. âHe now believes the distance for navigation is too great, the roads are impractical, and the challenges of transportation insurmountable. He wishes for a location on the lake where the nobles, elderly, and women can engage in less strenuous activities.â
The Windham colonists eventually split, with only a small number wanting to remain in their township, which they later abandoned. One settler, Quetton St. George, became a successful merchant but returned to France after Napoleon’s defeat.
Today, Richmond Hill is a diverse community with a significant Chinese, Iranian, and Italian population, among others. The area has evolved from its origins as a French Royalist enclave to a thriving multicultural hub.
For Count Puisaye and the remaining colonists, the Niagara Peninsula became their new destination. Puisaye built a house north of London and wrote memoirs to justify his noble failures. His estate near Niagara-on-the-Lake is commemorated by a house on the Niagara Parkway and a stone marker near Line 2.
Despite his sophisticated French background, commercial wine-making in the region did not begin until the 1870s. Puisaye passed away in 1827 as a British subject.
The views expressed in this article are the author’s opinions and do not necessarily reflect those of The Epoch Times. Please rephrase the text.
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