Presented by: Bill Thompson
Sponsored by:
Summary:
The Nelles Family were United Empire Loyalist settlers who had a strong and enduring relationship with their Indigenous neighbours at the Grand River.
Description:
The Nelles Family were United Empire Loyalist (UEL) settlers from the Mohawk Valley in New York who because of their long-standing relationships with the Indigenous people and their British military service received large tracts of land on the Grand River from the indigenous people and from the British in what is now Grimsby, known then as The Forty. They fought alongside the Indigenous warriors in the American Revolution and the War of 1812. They lived and maintained strong ties with the local people at the Grand River and many descendants still live in this area. When family established a home at the Forty it became a respite for travelling warriors and a place of welcome for their Indigenous friends. We will discuss their early arrival and their enduring relationship with their Indigenous neighbours through trade, personal relationships and common interests. The discussion will include historical maps and letters that reflect the interrelationship between the Indigenous people and the Nelles Family as new arrivals. A battle in the War of 1812 was fought on the Nelles family property at the Forty and the Indigenous warriors from the Grand River were a major factor its successful outcome. We will briefly outline the effects of this battle. Joseph Brant and the Nelles family were close friends and this friendship endured for several generations as shown through letters and documents.
