FROM THE ARCHIVES BY MARY WATSON
WASAGA’S PART IN THE WAR OF 1812
Wasaga Beach and its surrounding area was first occupied by the Algonquin, who gave the
Nottawasaga River its name. Nottawa means Iroquois and Saga means “mouth of the river”. The
Algonquin lookouts posted along the river would pass along the word Nottawasaga if they saw
enemy Iroquois raiding parties approaching. This meant “Iroquois at the mouth of the river”.
(Information taken from the on-line Ojibwa-English Dictionary)
In the early 1800’s, Upper Canada was drawn into the struggle between Great Britain and the
United States. As the most accessible and vulnerable part of the British Empire, Upper Canada
was to bear the brunt of the American attack. As we all learned in school, the United States
declared war on Great Britain in 1812.
The British had early success controlling the Great Lakes until September 9, 1813, when a battle
between six British and nine American ships took place on Lake Erie. This battle saw the capture
of all six British ships, with the Americans gaining control of the Upper Great Lakes. The last
surviving British ship of any significance was the British Schooner The Nancy, a fur-trading vessel
that was pressed into service during the war.
HMS Nancy
On August 13, 1814, three American ships arrived at the mouth of the Nottawasaga River, and
found The Nancy hidden up river. The Nancy was burned to the waterline by its Commander,
Lieutenant Worsley on August 14, 1814, to save its capture by the Americans. After the
Americans left the area, the surviving crew built several small boats and made their way on Lake
Huron to Fort Mackinac.
The war ended soon after, with the British keeping control of the Upper Great Lakes and Upper
Canada. Around 1814-15, the British established Fort Nottawasaga or Schoonertown about four
miles from the mouth of the Nottawasaga, The military establishment was later moved to
Penetanguishene, but a government storehouse was left for use by provincial land surveyors in
the 1820’s and 1830’s.
Over the years, the sunken hull of The Nancy helped form an island in the river and it is
speculated that the charred remains came to rest against a small sandbar, with the resulting
obstruction impeding the flow of silt and sand from the river. The landform is now known as
Nancy Island.
Raising of The Nancy
The remains of The Nancy were discovered in the Nottawasaga River in 1911 by C.H.J. Snider.
Interest in the site was renewed several years later and in 1924, Dr. F.J Conboy found an
American 24-pounder roundshot (cannon ball). He secured support from the Federal and
Provincial Governments to excavate the remains the Nancy and the hull was recovered and
placed on Nancy Island. The Nancy Island museum was officially opened on August 14, 1928, to
commemorate this part of the War of 1812.
Nancy Island Museum 1941
The original hull is preserved and displayed at the Nancy Island Museum, along with artifacts of
that era. The Nancy Island Museum was opened as a single building in 1928 to house the
remains. It has evolved to include a theatre, museum, replica lighthouse and outdoor artifacts and
is now known as The Nancy Island Historic Site. A cairn behind the present museum marks the
spot where The Nancy was found.
Cairn on Nancy Island
The Nancy Island Historic Site has undergone many changes over the years since its modest
beginning, and Ontario Parks will be replacing the orientation building in preparation of the
upcoming War of 1812 Bicentennial. Nancy Island is the most viable and related site to the War
of 1812 in the Southern Georgian Bay Region. An open house was held recently to show the
public architectural plans for the welcome centre which will house a gift shop, staff offices,
meeting space, tourist information, washrooms and interpretative centre relating to both Nancy
Island and Wasaga Beach.
Many thanks to Marilyn Beecroft, Natural Heritage Education Specialist of Ontario Parks for
contributing parts of this story.
First printed in the “Wasaga Sun” on 21Jul2010
Mary Watson is Archivist for the Wasaga Beach Archives. If you would like to contact Mary with any
historical information, pictures or questions, you can e-mail her at [email protected].