EARLY HISTORY OF SETTLERS. 
N THE early history of Darlington, we find that Mr. John 
Burk, John W. ‘Trull, and Roger Conat, were the pio- 
neers, and first settlers of this Township. They emigrated 
together, with their families, from the United States to 
Canada, in the year 1794, and on the 2nd day of October, they 
landed from their boats on the beach of Lake Ontario, one mile 
west of Barber’s Creek, now Port Darlington. 
They were induced to come to this country, by a proclamation 
issued by Colonel John Greaves Simcoe, (then Lieutenant-Gov- 
ernor of Canada), that all males of the age of 18 years, who set- 
tled in the country, should be entitled to two hundred acres of 
land. 
In their journey from the Susquehannah River, their former 
home, they met with innumerable difficulties, and many hardships. 
Their families and effects were placed on board a Batteau (a large 
rude boat), which was coasted around the head of the lake, run- 
ning into bays and inlets, in order to avoid storms, or for the 
purpose of cooking their meals, and camping during the night ; 
while the stock, which consisted of two cows and one horse, were 
driven around the shore on foot, having to cross swamps, marshes, 
lagoons, outlets, and rivers, as best they could. Those in charge 
of the boats, having crossed the Niagara river into Canada, were 
received with great kindness by the Governor, who sent a man 
