Background
He was born in Aughnacloy, Northern Ireland in 1739. His ancestors are believed to have originally lived in Scotland with the surname Erskine.
He was born in Aughnacloy, Northern Ireland in 1739. His ancestors are believed to have originally lived in Scotland with the surname Erskine.
He was instrumental in the establishment of British rule in Upper Canada. He came to North America with the British Army in 1758. After the British took over New France, he entered the fur trade and operated a trading post at Fort Michilimackinac.
From 1786 to 1789, he was part of a group of trading companies known as the Miamis Company.
In 1789, he was named justice of the peace at Detroit. When Detroit was turned over to the Americans in 1796, he became a justice of the peace for the Western District and moved to Sandwich (Windsor) in 1802.
Askin was connected to the Family Compact through a number of business and social ties, particularly associating with James McGill, who underwrote much of his debt. Concession 2 lot 14, Barton Township.
Where present day Hamilton, Ontario is, was part of the original Crown Grant to John Askin on July 10, 1801.
He sold to Nathaniel Hughson Senior, who sold to James Durand around 1806. John Askin was the father of John Askin, Junior., a fur trader like himself. The senior Askin died at Sandwich in 1815.
Through these connections, he assumed a number of political roles, including lieutenant-colonel for the local militia, member of the Land Board of Hesse, and local magistrate.