As far back as 1787, Alexander McQueen and his sons located in Bertie Township, Welland County on Lake Erie on land now in the village of Crystal Beach but in their time completely wild. Several miles to the east Fort Erie stood guard over the mouth of the Niagara River.
The McQueen family received their government grants east of the Crystal Beach location, a substantial block of land on the western approach to Windmill Point on Lake Erie.
The original family included Alexander McQueen Sr. and his children Alexander McQueen Jr., Daniel McQueen, Ann McQueen (wife of John Young) and possibly James McQueen.
On an undated surveyor’s map probably drawn in the early 1790’s, one Alex McQueen (perhaps Senior) was named on Lot 24, Front Concession of Bertie Twp. in the present village of Crystal Beach. Another Alex McQueen (probably Junior) was named on Lot 17, in the front, first and second concessions west of Windmill Point on Lake Erie. Dan McQueen was next to him in Lot 16.[1]
In an Upper Canada Land petition received by the Executive Council on 2 July 1793, Alexander McQueen, Daniel McQueen and Alexander McQueen Jr. were among the signers stating that they lived in the neighbourhood of Point Ebino (sic: Point Abino) and stating the need for a gristmill. The petition was granted by the Executive Council.[2]
Alexander McQueen Jr. filed an Upper Canada Land Petition dated 26 January 1799 stating that he came into the province in 1787. He improved a lot of land given to him by the government. Alexander requested a town lot at Newark (Niagara-on-the-Lake). This was not approved by the Executive Council.
On 17 May 1802 the Crown granted to Alexander McQueen a patent for all 80 acres in Lots 17 and 18 Broken Front Concession, 200 acres in Lots 17 and 18 Concession 1 and 130 acres in Lot 17, Concession 2 from Lake Erie, Bertie Twp.[4]
In an unrecorded transaction, Alexander McQueen sold to James McQueen 230 acres in Lots 17 and 18 Concession 1 with Broken Front and Lot 17 Concession 2 from Lake Erie, Bertie Twp. commencing at a post in front of the Front Concession marked 16/17.
On 6 September 1796, Daniel McQueen filed an Upper Canada Land Petition stating that he came in the Province in 1787 with a wife and one child. He received a Land Board Certificate for 250 acres and located it in Bertie Twp. He requested a warrant for the lot and received the recommendation of the Executive Council for Lot 16, Concessions 1 and 2, Bertie Twp.[5]On 14 March 1798 the Crown granted to Daniel McQueen a patent for all 40 acres in Lot 16 Broken Front Concession, 100 acres in Lot 16 Concession 1 and 100 acres in Lot 16, Concession 2 from Lake Erie, Bertie Twp.[6] In an unrecorded transaction Daniel McQueen sold to Jeremiah Kettle 60 acres parts of Lots 15 and 16 Broken Front Concession from Lake Erie, Bertie Twp. In another unrecorded transaction, Daniel McQueen sold to Mathias Haun Jr. 180 acres in Lot 16 Concessions 1 and 2 from Lake Erie, Bertie Twp.
In an unrecorded transaction Daniel McQueen purchased from Benjamin Canby 100 acres in Lot 14 Concession 1 from Lake Erie, Bertie Twp. On 4 May 1801 Daniel McQueen sold this land to Asa Oliver (A30 #58).[7]
Perhaps a brother of Alexander and Daniel McQueen, James McQueen succeeded to Alexander’s lands in Bertie Twp. and continued there after the rest of the family moved to Norfolk County. The following are his land transactions in Bertie Twp. from the Abstracts of Deeds Register.
In an unrecorded transaction, Alexander McQueen sold to James McQueen 230 acres in Lots 17 and 18 Concession 1 with Broken Front and Lot 17 Concession 2 from Lake Erie Bertie Twp. commencing at a post in front of the Front Concession marked 16/17
On 6 May 1806 (Reg 13 May 1806) James McQueen and Mary his wife sold to Alexander Douglas 230 acres in Lots 17 and 18 Concession 1 with Broken Front on Lake Erie Bertie Twp. commencing at a post in front of the Front Concession marked 16/17 for $1500 or ₤375 (A86 #7687)
On 2 January 1811 (Reg 13 Feb 1817) Alexander Douglas and Margaret his wife sold to James McQueen 100 acres Lot 13 Concessions 1 and 2 from Lake Erie, Bertie Twp. for $150 (A153 #5121)
On 10 January 1811 (Reg 13 Feb 1817) James McQueen and Mary his wife sold to Silas Carter 84 acres part of Lots 13 Concessions 1 and 2 from Lake Erie Bertie Twp. for $400 (A134 #5132)
On 10 January 1811 (Reg 13 Feb 1817) James McQueen and Mary his wife sold to Christopher Woolever 66 acres part of Lot 13 Concession 2 from Lake Erie, Bertie Twp. for $200.00 (A155 #5123)
On 27 January 1824 (Reg 27 Jan 1824) James McQueen sold to Joseph Marsh 100 acres in Lot 17 Concession 2 from Lake Erie, Bertie Twp. (A62 #584)
Sources:
[1] Undated Surveyor General’s Map of Bertie Twp., Welland Co., Archives of Ontario map A2
[2] Upper Canada Land Petition, Archives of Ontario “S” Misc 1787-94, Document Number 150
[3] Upper Canada Land Petition, Archives of Ontario “M” Bundle 2, Document Number 212
[4] Abstracts of Deeds Register of Bertie Township, Welland County, Ontario
[5] Upper Canada Land Petition, Archives of Ontario “M” Bundle 2, Document Number 249
[6] Abstracts of Deeds Register of Bertie Township, Welland County
[7] Ibid.