108 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 
were two sons, Andrew and Nathaniel. Andrew married Sarah Smith 
in 1780, and in 1787, with wife and four children started for British 
territory. They crossed the Niagara in July, and within two weeks 
erected their log house on lot 15, Grimsby township. Andrew Pettit 
died 12th March, 1819. He is the ancestor of the Pettits of that 
section. His brother Nathaniel lived on a farm between Grimsby and 
Beamsville. He owned the land on which Grimsby now stands. 
Nathaniel Pettit owned lot No. 9 in the first and lot No. 9 in the 
second concession; Andrew Pettit owned lot No. 15 in the first 
and second concessions and the broken front; and John Pettit owned 
lot 12 on the front and in the first and second concessions. Grimsby 
village is situated on lot 9 in the first concession, and lots 9 and 10 in 
the second concession. 
Nathaniel Pettit was commonly known as Judge Pettit. He 
never married. Some descendants of his brother are of opinion that 
he returned to New Jersey; others think that he died and was buried 
on his own farm on the lake front. He was succeeded in 1796, as 
member, by Richard Beasley. 
The Second Riding of Lincoln was given one member. This riding 
consisted of the following townships:—Louth, Grantham and Newark, 
the three northwestern townships of the present county of Lincoln. 
Benjamin Pawling of Grantham township was a member of the first 
Legislature and as he lived in the second riding, it is a fair surmise 
that he was its representative. 
Benjamin and Jesse Pawling were brothers, sons of a Welshman 
who had settled in Pennsylvania. At the outbreak of the Revolu- 
tionary War they refused to take up arms against the British, and 
their property was confiscated or burned. Driven out, they made their 
way to Nova Scotia, whence by walking and canoeing they reached 
Quebec. Here they enlisted and fought till peace was proclaimed. 
Benjamin was a Captain-Lieutenant in Butler’s Rangers, and at the 
close of the war was advanced to be a Colonel. He was reported at 
Detroit about 1784, evidently intending to settle there, but he left 
for Niagara and drew land on the lake front. immediately east of 
Port Dalhousie. Jesse’s land was to the west of this. Benjamin was 
employed as a surveyor in the early days and was appointed a member 
of the first Land Board of Nassau in 1788. His oldest son Henry was 
a Captain of Militia during the war of 1812-14, and was a trusted 
carrier of despatches between Niagara and Detroit. He was present 
at the battles of Stoney Creek and Lundy’s Lane. Henry Pawling’s 
daughter married William Pay who is still living at St. Catharines, 
and who remembers the destruction of the Caroline, for he stood 
sentry on the Canadian side as she went over the Falls. There are 
