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150900 GRAPE AND SAWGUIN ISLANDS Mm" ""4 E' 69' surrounding territory Mission on Grape Island is published by the 7th Town Historical Society. @1987 Richard Boehme. All rights reserved. No part ofthis book may be reproduced in any way without permission from the author. Produced by County Magazine Printshop Ltd., 71 Main St., Bloomfield, Ontario, Canada KOK 160. Printed in Canada. ISBN 0--9691935-2-1 Mission on Grape Island MISSION ON GRAPE ISLAND By Rev. Richard Boehme INTRODUCTION In 1987, two beautiful little islands rest peacefully and quietly in the waters of the Bay of Quinte near the mouth of Marsh Creek. Sawguin is now a farmer's field, connected to Huff Island by a Causeway. Grape Island lies silent and alone all winter, but is awakened in the spring as one family comes to spend the summer months in their cottage there. This is a striking contrast to 160 years ago when some 200 Indian men, women and children lived on Grape Island and cultivated Sawguin. These were Christian Indians who had moved to the islands under the auspices of the Methodist Church. The life of this Mission lasted only 10 years, but it was a decade of fascinating history. 1824 Although the establishment and settlement of the Grape Island Mission did not take place until 1826-27, its beginnings can be traced to the year 1824. In that year_the first session of the Canada Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church was held in Hallowell (Picton), beginning August 25. William Case was transferred from Upper Canada District to Bay Quinte as Resident Elder, succeeding the rebellious Henry Ryan. Elder Case soon became personally involved with Indian mission work in this area. This was an involvement that lasted all his life. Mission an Grape Island 3