wainfleet market town near Skegness in Lincolnshire uk

Crest:
A Cranberry Bush, indicative of the natural flora in this area, on a wreath of colours argent and gules.

Supporters:
The Mississauga Indian, representing the tribe that settled along Lake Ontario. The Franciscan Priest, representing Father Daillon, the first white man 1626-1678, being among the priests that established the settlement.

The History of the County of Welland published by the Welland Tribune Printing House, 1887 stated "It may be said that English Speaking Canada had no existence before immigration of the United Empire Loyalists from the United States which began in 1783.

The earliest settler of Wainfleet Township was David Morgan Sr. who, with his son David, paddled a canoe across Lake Erie to reach Point Industry. This was during the Revolutionary War. Point Industry in 1840 was renamed Morgan's Point in his honour. He brought corn and potatoes with him to start a crop. From his first crop of corn, he and his son loaded a bag in his canoe, paddled down Lake Erie and the Niagara River to Chippawa, portaged around the falls and on down Lake Ontario to Kingston to the nearest grist mill, then back home the same route with his bag of corn meal.

Soon after, in 1785, Street's grist mill was built at Niagara Falls so the settlers living along Lake Erie could paddle down to the mill. But for those inland the trip was made on horseback. Later, the two Zavits Brothers built the first grist mill in Wainfleet Township at Sugarloaf.

The first record of the survey of Wainfleet Township was in 1788 when Lieut. P.R. Frey was instructed to proceed with the survey of this part of the Niagara Peninsula. At that time it was a part of Lincoln County. It was named Wainfleet by Lieut. Gov. Simcoe after Wainfleet England, as it also had an extensive marsh. Wainfleet appeared under it's present name on the map of Upper Canada in 1798.

Some settlement had preceded the surveys giving rise to many disputes later. The British Government gave grants of land to retired officers and men for their services to their county as some wished to remain and make their homes here. After the American Revolution, there were many former British subjects and Pennsylvania Dutch who, wishing to remain under the British flag and to escape persecution in the newly formed United States, settled in the Niagara Peninsula. These loyal people were know as the United Empire Loyalists and received a grant of land from the British Government and some supplies with which to start a new life. The first child born to each United Empire Loyalist family received a grant of 200 acres. Among those receiving grants dating between 1796 to 1813 are many familiar names, descendants of early settlers, such as:

McGill, Canby, Zavitz, Smith, Burk, Gleason, Furry, Misener, Doan, Cook, Minor, Kinnaird, Gibson, Hardison, Hamiltion, Cochran, Wilson, and Chambers.