John Burch was one of the first settlers at upstream Niagra falls. He immigrated in 1772 from London to New York area. Burch served the British as keeper of the stores from 1779 to 1783. He was rewarded for his loyal service to the Crown with a large tract of land along the shore of the Niagara River, from Chippawa Creek to the Upper Rapids, and also was appointed over time to several positions of local importance. He died March 7, 1797 at age 55.

1783 (according to the village history of Chippawa).. John Burch was granted a parcel of land on the opposite side of the Chippawa Creek. His tract of land extended westward along the banks of the Niagara River to Cedar Island. Here, Burch built a plantation.

1785 described by a traveler as a very sensible, well-informed character, his conversation pleasing and instructive and his communications very novel.

1785 Certificate of John Burch dated at Fall Mills on 14 Sep 1795 attached to the Upper Canada Land Petition of Andrew Miller This certificate doesn't show any Everingham family connection, but does show that the Burch's took-in other Loyalist children.
"This is to Certify that the Bearer Andw Miller came into this Province some Time in year 1778 or 1779 being then Marry'd in my House. Removed to take up a farm for himself his fathers family were Good Loyalists but were unfortunately Kild as was his uncle by a small scout of Indians that were unknown to them the Boy has ever shewn the strongest attachment to the British Government wile with me & since refused to stay with his family conections in ulster county when Mrs Burch took him out to see them in the year 1785 [Signed] John Burch' [Upper Canada Land Petitions LAC "M" Bundle 2, Petition Number 149c]

1786, June, John Burch was made Justice of the peace for the Niagara region. He thus became known as John Burch, Esquire. Also in 1786, James Everingham, wife Chloe and three sons moved to the same area and John Burch built a saw mill and a grist mill along the banks of the Niagara River where the current Toronto Power Station building now stands.

1788 James & Chloe Everingham have a daughter Eliza born January 1788. By 1791, Chloe Everingham dies and James is a widower with 4 children.

1791 John and Martha Burch take in James Everingham's 4 children. Why & how, is still a mystery. He was either a faithful friend of Everingham, or the children were sold as indentured servants to provide for their care. There is no definitive proof of why the children went to Burch.

1793 Widower James Everingham marries Catherine Lemon and has a child in 1794 and 1795. By 1797, James is dead.

1796 According to Upper Canada Land Petition of Catherine Everingham, widow of James Everingham received at the Executive Council Office on 1 Jul 1796, she stated that "her husband (James Everingham) by former wife, had 4 children, presently living with John Burch Esq."

1797 Certificate of John Burch dated at Fall Mills on 9 Jan 1797 "This is to Certify that the Certificate below (Catherine Everingham) is True & that the said James Everingham came into this province in the year 1786 & that he brought with him a wife & three children & had one more child after he came. Upon death of his first wife he brought the said four children & delivered them to my care & support which I have done near seven years. To Whome it may Concern [Signed] John Burch" Burch died in 1797 and his property and mills were sold to Samuel Street Junior. The War of 1812 placed everyone and everything in harms way. One of the major battles of the war took place on July 4th 1814 south of the village. Four thousand American troops were encamped along the south side of Street's Creek (Ussher's Creek). The British had four hundred and ninety men protecting Fort Welland. Samuel Street had continued to operate the mills until they were burned to the ground by retreating American troops during the War.

John Burch was a land-wealthy Mill operator & later Magistrate at Chippewa Creek, north of Niagara. He married Martha Ramsey and they had one son. It is unknown why James Everingham left his 4 young children with Mr. Burch. Were they friends? Did James work for Burch?... June 2017, family historian; Tom Phillips suggested - maybe they were indentured servants of Mr. Burch. Although Burch's statement doesn't suggest servants, he states they had been "under his care," and they were quite young. As a single widower, James Everingham would have had no way to take care of them and still work. He may have seen this as a way for his children to be taken care of. Until the late 18th century indentured servitude was very common in British North America. This possibility makes sense and is very possible. Indentured servitude wasn't outlawed in the Americas until 1917. It may be cooincidence but the Everingham children had at least three "Martha's" and three "John's" when naming their own children. Servants or not, John & Martha Burch must have taken good care of the Everingham children since William Everingham named a daughter "Martha Burch Everingham". Similar to William Everingham, Andrew Miller named his oldest son "John Burch Miller."

1823 Martha Burch died Nov 28, 1823, age 77. This according to a plaque put up by the Niagara Parks commission in 1989. This info comes from Drummond Hill Cemetery, Niagara Falls, Ontario, CAN... also buried at this cemetery; Laura Secord (1775-1868), Canadian heroine of the War of 1812.