Lot 10 in the Town of Amherstburg
200 + Years in The Making
Original Occupant of the Lot
In 1798, Captain Hector McLean, the commanding officer at the garrison of Amherstburg, assigned the lot to William Fleming and his wife Archange “as he had a large family and no place for them”. Fleming housed his family in a one storey squared-timber house measuring 22 feet by 15 feet.
The War of 1812
During the war of 1812, William Fleming was a sailing master in the Provincial Marine.
After the War
Fleming continued to occupy this lot as well as another until his death in 1831 at the age of 76 years.
Thomas Paxton
An Amherstburg Merchant, was the next recorded owner of the this lot.
George Bullock
Thomas Paxton conveyed Lot 10 to George Bullock on April 12, 1839. This lot, which housed a 2 storey building, became known as “Bullock’s Tavern.”
British North American Hotel
An advertisement from the August 12, 1840 issue of The Western Herald refers to the Bullock’s “new house”. This became Bullock’s British North American Hotel, which included a bar that was unconnected with the house. Oral history relates that the hotel once had an archway cut through to the second storey to allow coaches and horsemen access to the stables in the rear of the lot. 
Sheriff’s Sale
On November 11th, 1841, A Sheriff’s sale was placed in The Western Harold which indicates that the property described as “Lot 10 on the East side of Dalhousie Street” was seized and to be offered for sale unless persons having any claims to the property made it known to Sheriff George Wade Foott on or before the day of the sale of February 11th, 1841. It appears as though George Bullock made claim to the property and it was not seized by the Sheriff. 
Lot 10 for Sale
On December 12th, 1841, George Bullock’s offered the Lot 10 property and hotel for sale in The Western Harold. The advertisement states that hotel “has the best fitted-out Saloon in Western Canada attached to it.” A negative connotation is now attached to the word “saloon”, but it appears from municipal records that a saloon was an establishment that offered more services than a tavern. Multiple advertisements over many years were placed in the local papers where George Bullock was offering the lot and hotel for sale.
Breweries Wanted
On September 29th, 1849, an ad was placed in The Amherstburg Courier stating: “BREWERIES WANTED… Wanted immediately, a competent Brewer, to take charge of the Malden Brewery; or the Brewery may be rented, sold or exchanged for other property. There is a fine opening for the Brewing Business in the thriving village of Amherstburg. Apply to GEORGE BULLOCK, Amherstburg.” While there are no actual findings that the Malden Brewery was actually located on Lot 10, there was an opening to take over a brewing business in Amherstburg.
Thomas Hirons
The lot and hotel was successfully leased to Thomas Hirons Jr where “his Larder is always supplied with all luxuries of the season, his Bar with pure choice liquors, and his stable is attended by a faithful and careful hostler. George Bullock moved to his family to Sandwich and subsequently become the Treasurer for Essex County. During the 1850’s hotel was partly used for an inn and party for a store operated by William Duff.
Lot 10 to be Held in Trust
George Bullock conveyed the property to a group of his friends, to be held in trust on his behalf. By 1860, George Bullock was found to have misappropriated funds from his job at the County and all his properties were being seized for defaulting on mortgages and debt. To escape prosecution, George Bullock absconded to Detroit, leaving his eight children living alone in Sandwich – his wife had died in 1860 of consumption. George was the father of Seth Bullock, the famous sheriff of Deadwood, South Dakota, however he was only 3 or 4 years old when the family left Amherstburg.
The Hotel
Was sold by Public Auction held on June 26, 1863 at the Salmoni House. James Webber, a former tenant of the property, was the highest bidder paying $1,100 for the property. The name of the hotel was then changed to the Webber House. James Webber died in November of 1864 at the approximate age of 49 years and passed the ownership to his wife Jane Webber. For the next few decades the location housed various small shops including a barber, a bakery, a tailor, a book store, and a motorcycle parts shop.
History
Reference – Marsh Historical Collection