Around 1830 due to an economic crisis a few families from the Montréal area began arriving at le Detroit settling along the river among the few old families already living in Tecumseh, Belle-River and Point-aux-Roaches. Already in 1834, there were enough new families in Belle River to justify the founding of a new parish, Saint Simon et Saint Jude. There was also a small settlement north of Riviere a la Tranche (renamed Thames River by Governor Simcoe) that was attracting newcomers.