In 1794, William Berczy led 75 German families from New York State to Markham Township, an area know as German Mills today. Each family was granted 200 acres (0.8 km²). Because of hardships, many returned to York and Niagara and the area became a ghost town.
In 1797, because of the revolution in France in 1789, many nobility fled the country and set off for Canada to take advantage of free land grants in Upper Canada. They were totally unprepared for survival under such crude conditions and most of them returned to their homeland. "
The full context is at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Markham,_Ontario
In 1797, because of the revolution in France in 1789, many nobility fled the country and set off for Canada to take advantage of free land grants in Upper Canada. They were totally unprepared for survival under such crude conditions and most of them returned to their homeland. "
The full context is at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Markham,_Ontario