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BRANT'S FORD

© Mary M. Alward

The history of Brantford, Ontario where I live can be traced back three centuries. At that time, the Iroquois lived in the forest wilderness of the Grand River Valley. Captain Joseph Brant, chief of the Six Nations was the main figure in the history of this city. Joseph Brant was known to his people as Thayendanega. He and his warriors fought with the English during the American Revolution. When the war ended, Brant chose to remain with the Crown and asked for land in Canada where he and his people could live in peace. After meetings and negotiations, Brant and the Six Nations were granted a tract of land six miles on either side of the Grand River from its source near Dundalk, Ontario to its mouth.

In 1784, Brant led his people out of the Mohawk Valley in Upper State New York to the Grand River Valley of what is now Ontario. They crossed the Grand River at a shallow eddy. This became known as Brant's Ford.

Because they were unaware of the location of the headwaters of the Grand, the Iroquois failed to settle there. Around Brant's Ford, Brant sold some of the adjoining land to white men who had befriended him. He believed that his people could learn farming and agricultural skills from the white men.

John Stalts was the first white settler to arrive in Brant's Ford. He arrived in the village in 1805 and by 1818 the white population had increased to twelve people. By 1823, one hundred whites resided here.

In 1826, the white population called meetings to choose a name for the small village. After many suggestions and much discussion, the name Brantford was chosen in honor of Captain Joseph Brant.

Supposedly in 1830, what remained of the Native village site was sold to white settlers. The village was incorporated as a town on July 28, 1847. By this time the Natives, pressured by the Europeans, had moved their people to the south side of the Grand River. Here, they used land that had been held in trust for them to build homes and longhouses. A Band Council dominated over Native land. The land became know as the Six Nations Reserve. It is now called Six Nations of the Grand River. The County of Brant was established in 1852. It includes the Six Nations.

On May 31, 1877, the town of Brantford had a population of 10,000. Through a Special Act of Parliament, it became a city. Today, it is a prosperous community.

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