Joseph Wixson 
settles in Upper Canada 
1799		 Since the end of British rule in 1783, thousands of Loyalists had left the new independent states of the Thirteen Colonies. They arrived mostly in still-British colonies of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Quebec. By the time Joseph also chose to make the trek to British North America, it was the 1790's and the destination of choice was Upper Canada. There, new Lieutenant-Governor Simcoe was offering free grants of land to "Late Loyalists", agriculturalists from New York and Pennsylvania. Late Loyalists were typically Americans who chose to stay, but not fight when colonial independence was sought; many were pacifists, Quakers and Mennonites. 

In 1799, earlier story Joseph and his wife Deborah Townsend (b.1774), joined two other couples from Chemung Town, New York and headed for Upper Canada. They were led by Deborah's brother Abraham Townsend (b.1771) and his wife Statira Keeney (b.1778). Deborah's sister Elizabeth Townsend and her husband Anthony Hendrick, completed the party. Their destination was the Town of York, capital of Upper Canada -- at a population of 669.
 
typical Loyalist encampment
 
York & 
Scarborough 
1799-1802		 Joseph and Deborah stayed in York for at least a year, and this was where their first child Randal was born 7 Mar 1799. They may have lived in an area of town called Bay in 1800, but were to be found in the nearby Township of Scarborough from 1801-02. Here son Townsend and daughter Mary were born. (13) 

The Hendricks were recorded in Scarborough at that time, but Abraham Townsend doesn't appear again until he and Joseph apply for land grants in 1802. 

Historical summary: first decade of the 1800's 
Land is granted in Pickering 
1802		 By 1802, a request had been made for land by both Joseph and Abraham and they received 200 acre plots in the neighbouring County of Ontario by that December. Travelling east along the newly laid Kingston Road, the two would have eventually come to a bend in the path where the way straightened out, following the line of the newly surveyed concessions of Pickering Township. The area was sparsely settled, but little land had actually been cleared. Leading north from the turn in the road would be a path dividing lot numbers 18 and 19 on the second concession. Their land was on the ninth concession, 14 kilometres walk over rolling, forested hills and valleys formed by the crisscrossing flow of Duffin's Creek. Abraham took lot 20, and Joseph settled on lot 18 (5). 

Joseph was joined by his brother Joshua's family in 1804. Joshua  had fled the United States after being charged a debt he was unable to pay.
Joseph Wixson and politics 
1810's		 Joseph Wixson was a farmer, and continued to acquire land around his property, and elsewhere in Pickering. He was also interested in politics and contributed to the growing community. Since 1807, the pioneers in the area met regularly in their homes and held town meetings. They were responsible for setting up a local administration to manage tax assessments and collection, road building, making by-laws, and keeping record. For example, at one such meeting, those present determined that should fences be built, they aught to be four and a half feet high, with no more than five inches between the rails. 

In 1811 Joseph was appointed one of two Poundkeepers, and Abraham became the Collector as well as one of several Pathmasters. By 1816, Joseph received a patent for his land on the 9th concession, and soon bought the farm immediately east, forming a property of 400 acres. 

Historical summaries: 1810's  

Joseph's eldest son Randal became an elder in the Baptist Church founded by Joshua. Deborah also took part in the services held since 1821, but it doesn't seem as though Joseph joined the parish until much later.
Randal marries Annis Fenton 
1826		 Randal, elder in the Baptist Church and a school teacher, removed to West Gwillimbury for a time where perhaps he met Annie (Annis) Fenton. They were married on 31 Aug 1826 (14). Their only child known thus far is Samuel Wixson born circa 1827. Randal received a grant in Brock Township in 1829 -- east half of lot 9 in concession 6.
Joseph's family take up their land 
1820's- 1830's		  Jesse was farming his own land by 1834, as was Townsend the next year. Joseph Junior remained on  his father's farm. The Pickering properties were clustered around the 8th and 9th concessions, near the original homestead, with one farm just north in Uxbridge Township. 

Wixson farms: 1821 

Sarah Jane, Elizabeth and Louisa (or Lois) married Webster, William and Jonathan Stevens, respectively. Mary and Clarissa died young, and it is assumed, unmarried. 

Historical summaries: 1820's 
Follow the families of continue this story Joseph and Randal  into the politically turbulent 1830's.