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Before the area was settled in the early 1800's, it was predominantly covered by deciduous and coniferous forest. Prior to the arrival of the Europeans, the area at the mouth of what we now call the Twelve Mile Creek was a fertile marshy area teeming with fish and wildlife and inhabited by the Aboriginal peoples. The Neutral Indians. |
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The first record of human settlers to the Niagara Peninsula, came from southwestern Ontario between 1300 and 1400 A.D. One of the earliest native tribes called themselves the "Onguiaahra". It is a name from which the "Niagara River" originated. Among the early settlers were an Iroquois group of Indians called "Atiquandaronk" (Attouanderonks). Their name was given to them by their enemies, the Huron Indians and the Iroquois Indians. The French explorers that came to Niagara gave this Indian tribe the name "Neutrals" because of their position and status as peace keepers between the two warring Indian nations - the Huron's and the Iroquois. The Neutral Indians were the leaders of a group of ten tribes of the Iroquois Nation. Other tribes included the Seneca, Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, Huron, Petun, Erie and the Susquehannock. The Neutral tribe was governed by a "Queen of Peace" named "Jikonsaseh". She preserved the peace and neutrality of the Neutral tribe as well as maintaining a separation between the Huron's in the West and the Iroquois in the East. Jikonsaseh lived in a village called "Keinuka" which was located just east of the Niagara River. In the early 1600's, the Neutrals had a population of 20,000 - 40,000. The Neutrals were well structured and had a developed hierarchy both politically and economically. The Neutrals brought with them many skills. In addition to being peace keepers and fierce warriors, they were also traders, farmers and business people. The Neutrals brought the humble beginnings of industry to the Niagara Frontier. In 1626, the first European, Etienne Brule arrived in Niagara. This signaled the beginning of the onslaught of European explorers coming to the "New World" (North America) including Niagara. Brule may have the first of the white missionaries to visit the Neutral Indians. The Seneca Indians occupied the east bank of the Niagara River near Lake Ontario. In 1639, fearing the Seneca Indians, the Wenroe Indians, a transient tribe who lived in villages along the east side of the Niagara River, escaped to Huron territory with the aid of the Neutral Indians. In 1640, the state of war broke out among the Seneca and Huron Indians. This war began when a Seneca warrior was killed by a Huron Indian while attempting to take refuge in a Neutral Indian village. The warrior was an Onondaga Indian Chief, Annenraes. The Seneca blamed the Neutral for their part in the killing of the chief. The Seneca planned to avenge his death by attacking the Huron and Neutral Indians. In 1647, the Seneca along with a group of Onondaga Indians began advancing towards Huron territory. On route, the Onondega war party met Chief Annenraes in the forest. Contrary to reports of his demise, Chief Annenraes was alive and safe. The Seneca continued with their plan to wage war against the Huron and the Neutral Indians. In 1649, the Seneca and other members of the Iroquois Nation attacked the Wenroe and Huron Indians. As the Indian wars continued over the next six years and soon the Huron Nation in the north was in ruins and scattered throughout the country. The warring Iroquois Indians were victorious. They no longer had any enemies that would divide their warriors. In 1652, the Iroquois moved into the Niagara area, forcing the Neutral Indians eastward to the area of Albany, New York. By 1653, the Neutral Indians had all but ceased to exist as an Indian Nation. Some of the remaining Neutrals were adopted by the Seneca while others joined the Huron's at Mackinac. Butler's Rangers On September 15, 1777, Major John BUTLER was issued orders to raise eight companies of Rangers. These Rangers were to be "composed of men who understood Native American Indians, be accomplished woodsmen and have considerable endurance." The Rangers were headquartered at Fort Niagara, first living in garrison, and then in barracks on the west side of the Niagara River. They were uniformed in green coats, Ranger caps and dark-colored accouterments for concealment in the woods. Many Rangers added articles of Indian dress, such as moccasins and leggings. While the Corps fought as a major unit at Wyoming, Cherry Valley, Chemung, on Sir John Johnson's and Major John Ross's raids, most of the expeditions were mounted by company or company plus sized units. A key factor in the successes of the Rangers was the close co-operation of the various Indian nations with which it served. The Corps fought in what is now New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Virginia, Kentucky and Michigan. It has been described by military historians as the most active and successful Provincial Corps in the Northern Command during the Revolution. Butler's Rangers were disbanded after the war in 1784. Many of the men and their families moved to and settled in Canada, where their descendants are living today. The Lincoln and Welland Regiment (Canadian Army) is the military descendant of Butler's Rangers.
On disbandment, over 800 men served in the Rangers, and most of them took up new residences in Upper Canada as United Empire Loyalists. Many of the officers and men, and their sons, served their King in the militia of Upper Canada, in particular the Lincoln Militia, during the War of 1812. Their descendants have continued to serve the Crown in both regular and reserve units until the present day. Lincoln and Welland Regiment(Canadian Army), with headquarters in St. Catharines, Ontario, is the military descendant of Butler's Rangers.
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