"There remained the possibility of an overland attack from the north shore of Lake Erie. Could such an attack be successfully met? To answer this question he made a trip to Turkey Point in 1795. Arriving there, he found himself on a lofty promontory overlooking Long Point Bay, Before him Turkey Point stretched south- ward for several miles, separating the outer from the inner bays, its level surface covered with a magnificent growth of unbroken forest. The end of this point reached almost to the chain of low, willow-covered islands that extended to Long Point, but between was a channel with abundant depth of water for the largest ships of the day. Behind him stretched beautiful level plains, interspersed with clumps of pine, cedar, oak and walnut.

"Here, then, was a commodious, land-locked harbour affording perfect protection under every circumstance. Here was level ground near the water's edge for a naval establishment. Here was a lofty height with an ascent so precipitous that a small fort would give ample protection. And, tributary to it all, was an area where settlement was already begun, and which could soon be turned into prosperous farms.

"So favourably was the Lieutenant-Governor impressed with the location, and so well did it fit in with his plans for the defence of the projected capital, that he determined to have a town laid out upon the heights. Instructions were accordingly given to Thomas Welch, the pioneer surveyor, to lay out a town which he named the Town of Charlotteville.

"A year or two before this visit, Frederick Mabee, a Loyalist refugee from Massachusetts had settled with his wife and family at the foot of the heights. A log cabin was erected and the task of clearing the land was begun. But the old pioneer was not to live to see the fruits of his labours. When the Lieutenant-Governor�s party reached Turkey Point, he had already been laid to rest upon the heights in a rude coffin hollowed from a walnut log, the first white man, so far as known, to be buried in Norfolk County. It was in the humble home of the widow Mabee, just below the heights, that the distinguished visitors were entertained.

"The youngest son of the widow had so pleased the Lieutenant-Governor by his attentions to his wants, that Simcoe determined to show his appreciation in a manner befitting his position. Accordingly he made the lad a grant in his own name of the little clearing at the foot of the hill, confidently believing that when the town upon the heights became established, the property would make its youthful owner wealthy. That it should turn out otherwise was due to no fault of the Lieutenant-Governor.

"The town, which was to be provided with a military work and to have a naval establishment nearby, was to form the first line of defence, upon the south, of the projected capital of London. The soldiers and officers were to form the nucleus of a settlement, which should be characterized by its intense and unflinching loyalty to Great Britain. Failure, however, to have his plans in this respect approved by the Governor-General, Lord Dorchester, and his own withdrawal from the province on leave of absence soon after, were two of the causes which prevented the proposed town from becoming the important metropolis he anticipated. Had Charlotteville become established in accordance with Simcoe's plans the whole subsequent history of the County of Norfolk would have been materially changed.

"But though the town never fulfilled the expectations of its founder by becoming a great centre of population, and though today practically nothing remains to mark its site, yet for fourteen years it was the municipal and judicial metropolis of the entire London District, and played an important part in all matters that concerned the welfare of the rapidly growing settlement."

*Addendum: In regard to the extent of Norfolk during the first half of the 19^th century, as referred to in this article on Governor Simcoe, the following explanatory note is provided by William K. Nixon, curator of the Norfolk Historical Society:

 "A map prepared for Governor Simcoe by Surveyor- General David William Smith and published in London, England in 1800, shows the County of Norfolk as extending from the Indian land on the east to the great bend of the Thames River on the west (the western boundary of the township of Dunwich), and from Lake Erie on the south to Dundas street on the north. A later map, dated 1819, shows it to have about the same size as at present, except that it included the townships of Walpole and Rainham.

"Whatever may have been Governor Simcoe�s intention, the county was only used as an electoral division for the Legislative Assembly, and for grouping the militia. Local government, law and justice were administered in the Districts, which were made up from groups of townships without regard to county boundaries. The townships that now make up the county of Norfolk were from 1800 to 1836 included in the District of London. After the latter date, a District of Talbot was created, which included only the townships in Norfolk County. In 1850 the Districts were done away with and the counties became the divisions of local government.