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| 28 THE TOWNSHIP OF CREENOCK (Continued) mostly Irish immigrants settled. These, the French Canadians and the Scots, were the groups most prevalent in early settlement. The census of 1861 notes a high percentage of residents as Canadian born,. These would have been childred and those moving from the already settled areas along Lake Ontario and Lower Canada. By 1852, Greenock had been surveyed, On September 27, 1854, when the Great Land Sale took place, the swamp was not sold, but was held by the Crown. As late as 1879, . the swamp was described as having no value because it had hindered transportation y | and was useless as farm land, yet it was that same swamp that was responsible for the first industry in the township. Sawmills had already appeared at Pinkerton, Chepstow and Riverédale by 1857 . As amazing as it was that the Township had come into existence so quickly, it yet remained to be developed. Some eatty settlers in 1851 were Adam Ritchie, Sr., and sons, John B., Sterling, and William D., There was the Hawthorne family, Hans, Thomas, and Samuel as well as Alexander Samuel and William Cunningham, In the same year JOhn Valentine bought land and a mill site near Paisley. In 1852 the first Post Office was established and named "Greenock" after the Township. J. B.Ritchie was Postmaster. This was,. in all, an encouraging start. ' When these settlers came they had to journey by boat as far as Kincardine. and then by wagon or on foot to Greenock. Some came by Durham with the mode of travel somewhat similar. | _ & |