Town of Georgina
Famous Traitor
Many of the early maps of North Gwillimbury listed thousands of acres through concessions 4, 5, 6, and 7 in the name of the famous American Revolutionary War traitor, Benedict Arnold.
As a reward for his services to the British Crown, Arnold and his family were granted 16 400 acres of land in North Gwillimbury on 1799, October 29.
When Arnold died 5 000 of his personal acres were forfeited to the Crown, but his widow, Margaret, received 3 000 acres, and seven of his children 1 200 acres each.
Town other sons, Henry and Richard asked the Surveyor-General for 2 000 acres each, but they were ruled ineligible.
The Arnold family never moved to North Gwillimbury, and later the land was sold.
Source: Georgina Advocate - Our History December 1992. Reproduced with permission