I was pleasantly surprised to find a rich vibrant art community located here with an Art Trail and many galleries. It is also considered the gastronomical center for all of Ontario so it was a treat to find great restaurants as well as great food shops. I could feel right at home here. There are also many wineries and a Wine Trail.
It is interesting when things fall into place. I had a few birth and dates relating to Marysville, Prince Edward, but I could not find out anything else when researching on the internet. The plan was to drive through the area and get a sense of place.
I learned that the village of Marysville no longer exists, however, while at the Mad Dog Gallery in Picton the owners showed us a map of the area from mid 1800's . I could see precisely where the village of Marysville was originally located. It was interesting that this gallery was the only gallery we went into that day and that they happened to have the map hanging in their living area. The owners of the gallery were able to guide us to the location of Marysville and they also gave me a contact for local genealogical research.
The sign at the Bay of Quinte where we took the ferry to Prince Edward, Ontario reads:
BAY OF QUINTE LOYALIST SETTLEMENT
This region was among the first in present-day Ontario to receive loyalist settlers following the American Revolution. Surveying began in 1783, and by the following year five townships had been laid out between the Catarquit River and the east end of the Isle of Quinte (Kingstown, Ernestown, Fredericksburgh, Adophustown, and Marysburgh). Loyalist refugees and discharged soldiers arrived to take up land grants in these five Catarquit townships in 1784. That same year, Iroquois loyalists settled lands granted to them on the north shore of this bay. These and other loyalist settlements west of the Ottawa River prompted the British government to establish the province of Upper Canada in 1791.
My great great great grandfather who was born in 1790 in Brooklyn Kings, New York and died in Marysburg, Canada in 1851. He came to Canada as young man and his son was born in Marysburg in 1812. It was great to be able to visit the place.
Originally from Canton, China, Andrew moved to Canada in 1972. Lui now lives and works in Montreal, Quebec. He studied in Italy, the United Kingdon and Canada from 1972-75.