Southern Ontario due to attacks by the Five Nations Iroquois. Some Huron families returned to the Detroit River environs in the latter portion of the 17th century, where they re-established villages as early as 1679. They were later joined by Odawa (Ottawa) and Pottawatomi groups.

Although they continued to utilize the Detroit River environs into the 18th century, these groups were often forced to temporarily relocate due to hostilities with the Fox (CRM Group et al. 2005). Under British control and following a 1790 Crown purchase of lands, the area was targeted for municipal development, with two major parcels of land reserved for local native groups who were still living here. One of these was located in what would become Sandwich (now City of Windsor). The latter reserve, named the Huron Church Reserve (Canada 1992:1), was located between French farms that fronted the Detroit River. It was ceded to the British Crown in 1797, with the exception of a small portion in the northwest corner (Canada 1992:193-194). The subject property falls within the former Huron Church Reserve.

2.3.2 18th and 19th Century and Municipal Settlement

A brief discussion of 19th century settlement in the town, township and city is provided below, along with a general summary of historic land use. This will provide a general context for evaluating archaeological potential.

Early French Settlement

French explorers and missionaries had explored the Detroit River in the late 1670s and their reports were well received in France. In 1701, Sieur de Lamonthe Cadillac, former commandant at Fort Michilimackinac, came to the Detroit River and established a fur-trading post (Morgan 1991:17). Cadillac proceeded to erect a fort to protect his country’s interests and named it Pontchartrain (Morgan 1991:18). Once Cadillac had established a presence, he invited the Ottawa, Pottawatomi, Wendat and Chippewa to come to his fort on the north side of the river and he offered them protection (Lajeunesse 1960:21).

With the encouragement of the governor at Quebec, French settlement extended to the south shore of the river soon after. The long narrow lots along the river are a remnant of the early French system of landholding. Early French settlement focused on the community of Sandwich and along Turkey Creek (CRM Group et al. 2005:2-16). Settlement along the south side of the river was assisted in 1742 when Reverend Armand de la Richardie relocated the Jesuit mission to Bois Blanc (Bob-Lo) Island (Morgan 1991:18). Many of the earliest European settlers of the Windsor area were men like Baby, Dumouchelle, Goyeau, Jannesse, Langlois, Marentette, Meloche and Ouellette, who received land grants from the French Crown (H. Belden & Co. 1881:7). Early on, much of the local economy was centred on the fur trade.