Way back in 1789 ,the year George Washington became President of the United States, approximately 50 United Empire Loyalists settled on the banks of the Bay of Quinte, at the mouth of the Moira river. The Loyalists were individuals who after the American Revolutionary War wished to remain loyal to King George III of England.
Originally Belleville was known as Thurlow Village, Singleton's Creek and Meyers' Creek, all named after prominent local residents. One such resident, John Walden Meyers built and ran a number of businesses including a grist mill where people came from towns east and west to grind their wheat. He is credited with building the first brick house in Upper Canada in 1794, the bricks having come from his own brick kiln.
Belleville did not get its' current name until 1816 when the Lieutenant-Governor of Upper Canada, Sir Francis Gore, visited with his wife, Lady Anabella. Apparently the residents of the then Meyers' Creek were so taken with Lady Anabella that they decided to change the name to Belleville.
The town became a hub for business with a strong lumber trade that supplied wood to all parts east and west as well as Great Britian. Eventually the lumber trade became less prominent replaced by factories that produced everything from furniture to carriages to cast iron.
Today Belleville Ontario is still the central hub of the Quinte Region with a diverse population, good employment opportunities, and terrific recreational/leisure choices.
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