The English Beginnings of Sherbrooke
By Lynda Fischer
1 In the early 19th century, in a province of mostly French-speaking colonists, Sherbrooke, Quebec (first known as "Ktinékétolékouac" by the Abenaki natives that lived here), and the area of the Eastern Townships (the southeast corner of Quebec) had an English-speaking majority.
2 Many immigrants came to this area from Britain, but there were also many American pioneers moving to Quebec at that time. During the American War of Independence (1775-1783), many people living in American colonies voluntarily supported the British Crown. After the war they immigrated to Canada. Abraham Hyatt was one of these United Empire Loyalists, and he moved his family from America to Canada. His son, Gilbert, was granted land where the St Francis and Magog rivers met. This area had been referred to as "Big Forks" by the English to distinguish it from another nearby convergence of rivers they called "Little Forks." Gilbert Hyatt built mills at Big Forks, and other pioneers moved to the area. This little settlement then became known as Hyatt's Mills; however, in 1818 it was re-named Sherbrooke after the Governor General Sir John Coape Sherbrooke.
3 Sherbrooke's growth was slow at first. It was quite isolated and didn't have good roads to get to it. Nevertheless, it became the first judicial district of the Eastern Townships and had the first jail built in the area. It attracted more and more businessmen and landowners and was becoming the main center for the Eastern Townships area. More rapid growth began in the 1840's after the completion of the Grand Trunk Railroad between Montreal and Portland, Maine. The ensuing industrialization changed Sherbrooke.
