Ann Durham Morden and her family were one of the first to arrive in what is now Flamborough, but before settling into a comfortable and safe lifestyle here, they had faced nothing but challenges and anguish. For the Mordens, life was more about surviving happily than becoming successful.
The Morden family originated in Yorkshire, England, and it was from here in 1762 that 20-year-old Ralph Morden left in search of religious freedom and a new life in New Jersey. He arrived in America where it is believed that he joined the Society of Friends. Later, he emigrated to Pennsylvania where he met Ann Durham, whom he later married. As a farmer, he and his family of nine children lived a contented life, always respecting the environment to its fullest. Ralph became a registered guide and became friends with the area Indians. Ann learned the Mohawk language, and reputedly was a translator of the language for others in the community.
When the American Revolution began, the Mordens supported the British Crown but took no part in the hostilities. They tried to ignore the conflict and continue their life as Quakers, however, Ralph became more involved in the conflict than he wished. A friend, Robert Land, planned to escape from the hostilities of war and move to Canada, and requested Ralph, with his wonderful knowledge of nature, to guide him by foot through the rebel guarded hills. Ralph agreed to meet Land in the Poconos, but was confronted by soldiers when he arrived. Land was shot, but somehow escaped, while Ralph was arrested and taken captive. Ralph innocently claimed that he was simply helping a friend, however, he was accused of treason, being a British spy, and inciting the Indians to attack. He was hanged in Pennsylvania in 1780.
The death devastated the Morden family and the three young sons protested their father’s death by joining the British army. They fought throughout the war with area militias and rejoined their family when their mother, Ann, received advice from Robert Land to resettle in Upper Canada, at the head of Lake Ontario. Over 400 people from Pennsylvania with similar hopes made their way by foot to Upper Canada and in 1787, Ann, her four sons, three daughters, nephew and two orphaned granddaughters finally entered Cootes Paradise, the utopia that Robert Land had promised them. They had brought few belongings, but among them, the only cradle that the children would sleep in.* Records would later show that the Mordens were among the first to settle in Upper Canada.
The family found the remote new home and lands difficult, but eventually managed to farm and establish a self-sufficient homestead. When land east of the Head of the Lake was surveyed, the Mordens applied for Loyalist grants and were given almost 1800 acres of untouched property in West Flamborough Township. They settled originally in the first concession, then near Rock Chapel and along the Flamboro’ Stream, near Greensville. They continued their ties with the local aboriginal people, but were persuaded by other settlers to become members of the Methodist Church. They cleared a few acres, built log houses and small barns to shelter their oxen. They used outdoor stone ovens to bake bread and candles for lighting.
The first saw mill on Flamboro’ Stream, now known as Spencer Creek was erected about 1801. James ‘Big Jim’ Morden, a son of George, added a flour mill with his son Jonathan in 1841, which passed down through the family until it was destroyed by fire in 1905. John Morden built a chopping mill on the site and also operated it until 1915. The family became involved in the community and became known as “a founding family of West Flamborough Township”. They were involved in local politics, James Morden served as a Reeve and member of West Flamborough Township Council for 20 years. They were involved in every aspect of community life from business to church, and have resided in West Flamborough Township continuously since 1793.
Although Ann and her son John moved to London in 1808, where Ann died in 1832, her legacy as a strong and determined pioneer in Flamborough are still remembered. And, the Morden cradle that was carried through hundreds of miles of bush to Upper Canada remains in the Dundas Heritage Society Museum as a tribute to her bold will and tremendous courage.*
© The Waterdown-East Flamborough Heritage Society 2002, 2023.
After contacting the Dundas Museum & Archives for a photograph of the Morden cradle, we were provided with the provenance of the cradle that is in their collection. The information, compiled by W. Raymond Cummins, can be read at this link. The Morden cradle is unlikely to have been material from the estate of Ann Morden, and is more likely that it was brought to Canada from Pennsylvania by another ancestor, Samuel Morden. Many thanks to the DM&A for providing images and information to augment our article.
