Gradually, as roads were extended inland, settlers took up this land and made homes. Many of the refugees who settled in Lincoln and Welland in 1784, endured many hardships. They had to make their way through hundreds of miles of forest. Those who received land erected simple log homes which took no more than one or two days to build. Many settlers dressed in buckskin for lack of other clothing.
Women wove cloth to make their clothing.
During the summer of 1787, the Loyalists' evidence for claims of losses during the Revolution, began to be heard. In August, many Loyalists who had settled near Niagara went to Montreal to appear before the Commissioners. In 1788, Upper or Western Canada was divided into four new districts. When Fort Niagara across the river was surrendered to the Americans in 1796, the capital was shifted to York. In 1798, Upper Canada was again divided into 8 districts of 23 counties and 158 townships.