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Page 4 THE ADVANCE, BURFORD, ONT., WED., JAN. 14th. 1976 Burford Industries and Trades by Met Robertson Part One While the Township of Burford has never been noted for large industrial complexes or heavy industry, it has a history of trade skills and manufacturing that goes back into the mists of time. The great "Neutral" nation that inhabited this district for centuries, was one of the leading manufacturing and trading tribes of North America. The Andironon Ongniaaharonon, Wekrehonon and other tribes that made up the mighty confederacy known to the French as "Neutrals" and to the Iroquois as "Atirhogenrot" or "Rhagenratka"; traded far and wide with most of the other nations or the continent. Tobacco was a major trading commodity of the Neutrals and Burford Township, as to-day, produced vast quantities of a leaf that Champlain described in 1616 as being of excellent quality. Tobacco was highly sought after by other tribes and the Northern Algonquins exchanged furs, skins, quills and quill work for it while the Hurons traded wampum, fishing nets, fish and furs for the aromatic plant. Indeed, the Hurons were so aware of the commercial value of tobacco that they obtained more than they could use and peddled it by canoe as far east as Quebec. The Neutrals, themselves, traded to- bacco as far south as Mexico. Of equal importance to the 'Neutral economy was the manufacture of arrow heads and spear points which they produced from their flint beds near Pt. Colborne. This business had a political aspect as it protected the Neutrals from both the Hurons and Iroquois, neither of whom wanted to antoganize the nation that controlled the supply of flint. Until 1626, the Hurons acted as middlemen for the Neutrals and made great profits by selling Neutral products to the French. However, in that year, a crisis arose when the French priest Roche de la Daillon came into the Burford district. The Hurons, fearing that the Neutrals would start dealing directly with the French, started a successful smear campaign against Daillon in particular and the French, in general. As a result, great animosity arose between the French and Neutrals and the Hurons were able to continue their profitable role as middlemen. (Mrs. L. Montour-Woodlands Indian Cultural Educational Centre, Brantford). When the Neutrals were dispersed by the Iroquois in 1640, manufacturing and trade ceased in this district for over 100 years until the first settlers began to filter into the Township in the late summer of 1793. In the following few years Abraham Dayton esta- blished a mill north of Burford on the 6th. Concession and Thomas Homer did the same near the present boundary between Bur-ford and Blenheim Townships. Details of these businesses will be discussed in a separate section of this history. At about the same time, Benajah Mallory, Dayton's son-in-law, started a tannery on Concession 5, Lot 2 (R. C. Muir-"Political and Military History of Burford"-1913). Examination of early maps indicate that this tan yard must have been close to Dayton's mills. Mallory also reported that he had discovered iron ore along the Grand River and Whiteman's Creek and on March 5th. 1808 petitioned the Lieut-Gov. of Upper Canada for a land grant in order to set up a mining and smelting operation. As a result, Mallory obtained land from the Indians but nothing seems to have come of his mining enterprise. In about 1800 John Yeigh came into the Township from Pennsylvania, travelling by wagon with his wife and four sons. He obtained land on Concession 8, Lot 6, west of Burford (now owned by Mr. R. Poetz) and being a potter by trade, set up a pottery somewhere between Highway 53 and the creek. This primitive establishment turned out a rather heavy, but serviceable product that was very popular with the settlers. In 1807 a fulling machine and a carding machine had been added to Burford's early industries. The owners of these machines cannot be determined at the present tune. For those who are not familiar with the terms "fulling" and "carding"; a fulling machine was used to thicken and cleanse cloth for the manufacture of felt and a carding machine was employed to raise the nap on cloth and in the preparation of wool. The teasle, or "carding thistle" which still grows in abundance in the Township, was used in this process. The term "fulling machine" prompts such silly questions as-How can you fill a fulling machine so that you feel it will full felt? By 1809 a distillery had been built somewhere in the Township. No records exist testifying to the quality of the product turned out by this primitive still other than a rather crapulent letter from an early traveller who reported that Burford hotels dispensed a soul-destroying concoction made from "frosty old pumpkins, hemlock and potatoes". By 1817 Burford Township had 550 inhabitants and on December 5th. of that year, Lt-Col Bowen and his committee reported the f ollowing industries in their reply to Robert Gourlay's famous questionnaire concerning the district's resources- "One fulling machine, one carding machine-6 pence per Ib. for carding, 4 blacksmiths who charge for shoeing a horse 12 shillings, 6 pence, for an axe 12 shillings, 6 pence, for a scythe 8 shillings 8 pence. There are two tailors who charge 27 shillings 6 pence for making a coat and 10 shillings for pantaloons. Two shoemakers who charge 3 shillings, 9 pence for making a pair of shoes. Five carpenters who charge 10 shillings per day and found (board)." (Robert Gourlay-"Statistical Account of Upper Canada-1820") The committee also reported brick kilns at Harley and Bishops-gate that turned out bricks at 25 shillings a thousand. There is little information a-bout the state of industry in Burford Township until 1846 when the "Canadian Gazetteer" listed 2314 inhabitants. Burford or Clermont, had a population of 150 and boasted one cabinet maker, one wagon maker, two blacksmiths, a tailor and a shoemaker. By contrast, the village of Scotland with a similar population, had a tannery, a saddlery, a chair-maker, a cabinet maker, and a blacksmith plus a nearby carding factory and fulling mill. Outshining both villages, was nearby Mt. Vernon, or Spring- Continued on Page 5 The Country Shoppe King St.,Burford,Dial: 449-5374 All Denim Jeans, Skirts & Vests 25% off