The Naming of the Town

        In 1778, Peter Smith, a fur trader, landed at a creek and constructed a log house. Natives flocked to his trapping and fur trading business. His fairness in dealing brought him a good name and a monopoly in his transactions. The trading post was a well-known place and fur traders came to settle in the area, giving it the name Smith’s Creek. By 1790, Smith had acquired a fair amount of wealth and returned to civilization to enjoy it. His log house was passed on to another trader and the business and the arrival of new settlers continued. A village was born.

Smith's Creek in the beginning

        In 1817, Charles Fothergill decided to live in Smith’s Creek. He established a post office and was made postmaster, conferring the name "Toronto" on the village. A letter was sent to the Administrator of Upper Canada in Council and the name given to the village was reviewed. The council did not view it in favour "as there is already in this province and upon this lake, a Township named Toronto, the name you have given to the village at Smith’s Creek cannot be admitted of." It was then necessary to select another name for the community.

        But the name was still kept for some time, until there was a need to establish a port in the town. On June 15, 1819, John Beverley Robinson, the Attorney General, wrote the following note to John Small, Clerk of the Council: "I received an order yesterday to issue a fiat upon the order enclosed but I cannot until the port, intended to be established, has a name given it. That of 'Port Hope' seems suggested but I know not whether it has been decided upon."

        The next entry on the petition to name the town, in the handwriting of John Small, reads: "Received June 16 and ordered to be called Port Hope."