History of the Land

The Land on Which Glanmore Stands

Glanmore National Historic Site of Canada, in Belleville, Ontario, stands on traditional territory of the Haudenosaunee, the Anishinaabeg, and the Wendat. We hold respect and gratitude for the relationship Indigenous Peoples have with this land, stewards from time immemorial.

As a historic site and a community museum, Glanmore acknowledges its colonial past and will honour the Calls to Action laid out by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. The Museum is committed to being an ally and will work to develop lasting relationships in the pursuit of truth and reconciliation.

Indigenous Peoples are also part of Belleville’s community fabric. The Museum pledges to amplify Indigenous voices, culture, and history through exhibits and programs; presented in collaboration with Indigenous Peoples in our community, our region, and beyond.

The Crawford Purchase

This region was part of the Crawford Purchase of 1783 made at Carleton Island in the St. Lawrence River. The purchase took place between Captain William Redford Crawford, on behalf of the British Crown, the Mississauga Anishinaabeg who lived on the land, and Onondaga Chiefs.

The purchase involved lands in Eastern Ontario that extended west along the north shores of the St. Lawrence River and Lake Ontario. The land was sought after for the settlement of United Empire Loyalists and Mohawk Allies of the Crown after the American Revolution concluded. Following the purchase, the lands largely came under colonial control, which often separated Indigenous Peoples from their territory and traditions.

The Thurlow Purchase

A historical marker plaque located near 1 South Front St. in Belleville, Ontario summarizes the Thurlow Purchase, a subsequent claim, and negotiated resolution between Alderville First Nation and the Government of Canada. It reads:

“By the early 1700s, the Mississaugas (Anishinaabeg) had established settlements along the north shore of Lake Ontario. This territory had been occupied by the Mohawk (Iroquois) prior to the Mississauga moving into the region after the mid-17th century territorial struggles between the two. Following the conclusion of the American Revolution (1783), the British Imperial Crown settled an influx of Loyalists and Mohawks in the territory. In 1811, because of settler pressure, a 428 acre parcel set aside for the Mississauga Burial Ground at the mouth of and along the Moira River was negotiated for purchase from the Mississaugas. This became known as the Thurlow Purchase, and included the core of modern-day Belleville. With the intervention of the War of 1812, the transaction was not formalized until 1816. The Thurlow Purchase became the subject of a claim filed with the Government of Canada under the Specific Claims Policy. The claim concerned certain unfulfilled Crown obligations under the 1816 Agreement. A negotiated resolution was reached on March 4, 2010, almost 200 years after the original signing. This plaque reflects the final settlement of the purchase of these historic lands along the Moira River with the Alderville First Nation, descendants of the Mississaugas of this area.

Unveiled on August 6th, 2010 in conjunction with the City of Belleville, the Mississaugas of Alderville First Nation, and the Government of Canada.”

Discover more about the history of Alderville First Nation

Kenhtè:ke Kanyen’kehá:ka - Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte

Glanmore is near Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory, home to Kenhtè:ke Kanyen’kehá:ka - Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte. The Mohawks are considered the easternmost Nation within the Iroquois/Six Nation Confederacy and as such are referred to as the Keepers of Eastern Door. The original Five Nation Confederacy was made up of the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga and Seneca Nations. When the Tuscarora were adopted into the Iroquois Confederacy around 1722, the Iroquois became known as the Six Nations Confederacy.

Discover more about the history of Kenhtè:ke Kanyen’kehá:ka - Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte