My search for the Hewson of Innisfil family

[Naphtali]

I am trying to find out about the first settlers named HEWSON in Simcoe (County), near Innisfil. This is in Ontario, Canada, near Toronto.

Their farmstead has been abandoned since 1936. The owners were a family named Hewson, who had owned it since the inception of Innisfil until, perhaps, when it was abandoned during the Great Depression.

The first settlers were the Hewson family who came by way of the Holland River and Lake Simcoe to settle at what they called Hewson's Point (later named Big Bay Point) on March 30, 1820.

Identifying where the Hewsons came from -- say -- before the turn of the nineteenth century is historically important.

I'm about out of ideas. Innisfill's Chamber of Commerce archivist has no useful information available. And I haven't a clue where to look.

[Mrs Graybeard]

Naphtali,  I found this information at:
 
http://www.waynecook.com/zinnisfil.html

I hope it helps.
Mrs. GB


THE VICINITY OF BIG BAY POINT
The first person to disturb the woodland peace in Innisfil was Mr. Francis Hewson, of Big Bay Point. This man came to Canada from Ireland in 1817, leaving his family in their native country until he should prepare a home for them in the forest. At Big Bay Point he purchased 500 acres of land, and in 1820 the family arrived there becoming the pioneers of the township. Shortly after their settlement, he was appointed a magistrate, and in this capacity for some years he tied all the matrimonial knots of the district. He was the first magistrate in the county, and performed the first marriage ceremony. The children of this family were: -- Fannie, Francis, William, and Anna. Francis removed at an early date to Duntroon, in Nottawasaga, and became, in 1850, the first treasurer in that township. William became a millwright and built saw and grist mills in 1852 at Painswick on the large stream thenceforth known as Hewson's Creek. Anna, the youngest, was the first white child born in Innisfil; and became Mrs. Davis, of Galesburgh, Illinois.

Owing to the lonely situation beside the Lake Simcoe waterway, over which passed the entire traffic between the frontier and the upper lakes, the house of the Hewson family sheltered many early travellers, fatigued by the toil of the journey. Amongst them were Sir John Franklin and his party, who passed through in 1825. After a residence of a few years at Big Bay Point, the family removed away, their farm became deserted, their fields were again overgrown with woodland, and nature once more reigned supreme. The forest of second growth trees which then appeared upon the scene of their first experiences, makes the place so attractive at the present day for those desiring to find retirement in the heated months of midsummer. In early years, Big Bay Point was called Hewson's Point from the connection of this family with the place. In 1834, Mr. Hewson left the Point, and with his family became a resident of Barrie.