First Edition Published June 6,
2016
Second
Edition Published January 14, 2018
Third
Edition Published December 1, 2020
Copyright
by Fred Blair
Additions and changes are in blue text.
December 1, 1814
At Kempenfelt Bay
During the month, Dr. Dunlop and a
party of thirty-five men from the Canadian Fencibles began to clear a road from
Kempenfelt Bay on Lake Simcoe to Penetanguishene on Lake Huron. By February, they were seven miles from
Penetanguishene.[1]
At Burlington Heights
John Chambers of Flamborough West Township had a contract to
construct a large barracks for the officers at Burlington Heights. Sometime during the month, the troops
“attending the masons” entered the building and removed the carpenter’s
tools. The lost tools were valued at 5
pounds. John also claimed for his and
his workers lost wages, as he was unable to complete the contract without his
tools. Oren Grant and Ebenezer Blair
certified the claim as John’s employees.
They had been paid 12 shillings and 6 pence per day. John was only allowed 5 pounds for his tools.[2]
Ebenezer arrived in Upper Canada in
1803, moved to Ancaster Township about 1812, and was employed as cabinet
maker. He also served as a private in
the 2nd York Militia.
In Prescott
During December, the British completed the construction of Fort
Wellington.
December 9, 1814
At Brockville
Sometime between the 9th
and 13th, the store of Charles Jones in Brockville was broken into
and robbed by soldiers of the British 57th Regiment. The goods taken had belonged to John Grant of
Elizabethtown. Items taken included:
72 black silk handkerchiefs at 8
shillings & 6 pence each
2 gross of double-gilt coat
buttons at 2 pounds
12 mahogany cased compasses at 8
shillings each
1 gross of coat buttons at 16
shillings
48.5 yards of apron check at 8
shillings & 4 pence per yard
3 reams of foolscap paper at 35
shillings each
2 reams of Bath paper at 35 shillings each
1 half gross of black lead pencils
at 20 shillings
72.5 pounds of soap at 1 shilling
& 8 pence per pound
1 dozen pair of braces at 20
shillings
12 fine crimson shawls at 20
shillings each
12 pair of beaver gloves at 72
shillings each
56 pounds of tea at 6 shillings
& 3 pence per pound
300 quills at 7 shillings & 6
pence
24 fine pocket knives at 20 to 21
shillings each
12 pen knives at 26 shillings each
12 double-bladed knives at 32 shillings each
12 black ink-powder at 4 pounds
& 10 shillings
3 plated hats at 17 shillings
& 6 pence each
12 pounds of coffee at 2 shillings
each
and other items
John Robinson of Elizabethtown certified that he had purchased
some of those goods from a soldier of the 57th. The regiment’s quarter master had been
ordered to make a donation to John Grant to cover the loss. In 1815, John made a war loss claim in which
he valued the lost goods at about twice the amount he had received from the
quarter master. The claim was rejected.[3]
December 11, 1814
Near York
Captain Stephen Heward of the 3rd York Militia
was commanding a small detachment of men impressing teamsters for the military
again. They would continue this work
until December 26th.[4]
December 15, 1814
In Hartford, Connecticut
The Hartford Convention
opened to discuss New England’s grievances with the ongoing war. With the end of the war in France, Britain
was able to send more ships across the Atlantic to blockade American ports. Coastal trade and fishing outside harbors
became limited and resulted in economic losses that pushed the federal
government close to bankruptcy.
The New England states wanted to
limit the power of slave states to declare war and to restrict trade. They needed their militia at home to defend
their ports rather than serving in American armies in the Niagara
Frontier. Secession from the union was
also discussed as well as signing a separate peace with the British.[5]
December 24, 1814
In York County
A Return of the 3rd York
Militia recorded the effective strength of the regiment at 331 men of which 276
were privates. Six men were sick, 57
were exempt from service because of their age, and 3 had died since the last
Return. Twenty-one men had deserted to
the enemy. Seven were absent without
leave and 8 were on leave. Four men were
exempted as they had aged parents to support.
There were also twent-give men exempted as they were
Quakers, Menonists, or Tunkers, one as a miller, 5 as postmen, and one as a
ferryman. One man had been removed from
the regiment. One was employed in the
president’s office, 3 in the Commissariat, 3 in the Incorporated Militia, one
in the 41st Regiment, one as the district paymaster, and one was
residing at Lundy’s Lane. The total
number of men on the muster roll was 515.[6]
A previous Return was made on June
4, 1814. A later Return was made on June
5, 1815.
The 1st York Militia
reported their effective strength as 410 men in 10 companies. An additional 137 men were exempted from
service.[7]
December 25, 1814
The Treaty of Ghent was Signed
Although the treaty had been negotiated, both governments had
yet to accept it.
War of 1812 Memorial in Ottawa
December 27, 1814
In York County
Sergeant Asa Patrick commanded a
detachment of six privates of the 3rd York Militia that impressed
teams until January 13, 1815.[8]
December 30, 1814
In Britain
The Treaty of Ghent was approved in the British parliament. However, it would not be ratified by the
United States Senate until February.
December 31, 1814
In Ancaster Township
Benjamin Smith’s diary entries
were too faint to read until December 7th. On the farm in Ancaster Township they hauled
dung, bought a steer, cut and hauled wood, cut down trees and burnt the logs,
made trips to the mill, cleaned up buckwheat, Peter House helped thrash oats,
thrashed wheat, killed two hogs, cut up the meat, and salted it, made axe
handles, and took two axes to Burkholder’s.
Benjamin helped Wil and Isaac Smith with their work.
Benjamin
was sick for 2 days during the month.
Christmas fell on a Sunday and Benjamin was at home. He “settled” with Isaac Horning and made a
trip to Burlington, where he saw the Light Horse practise, near the end of the
month.[9]
Upper Canadian Service Deaths
Private Elijah Durfey [Durphy], Incorporated Militia, disease,
December 9, 1814,
Orphaned child to Frederick Hinds
Sergeant George Marlatt, 2nd York, disease, December 28, 1814
Private John Martin, Addington Dragoons, illness, December 4,
1814
Widow Sarah Martin [10] [11] [12]
1815
At this time, the war was almost over. Events in January, 1815 and after have been
compiled in the Post War Stories. War
veterans received pensions in 1875 and many lived well beyond that year. Later stories on how the war affected life in
Upper Canada appear in this last chapter.
Sources:
[1] C.J.B.L. Porter, An Inventory of the Historical
Resources of Wasaga Beach: The
Nottawasaga River, A Route to the North-West, 1785-1830, Ministry of Natural
Resources Huronia District Wasaga Beach, 1973.
[2] Collections Canada,
War of 1812, Board of Claims and Losses, Microfilm t-1131, pages 693-696.
[3] Collections Canada, War of 1812, Board of Claims and
Losses, Microfilm t-1126, pages 544-546.
[4] Collections Canada, War of 1812: Upper Canada Returns, Nominal Rolls and
Paylists, Microfilm t-10384, pages 421-426.
[5] Hartford Convention, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hartford_Convention, accessed Nov. 24, 2018.
[6] Collections Canada, War of 1812: Upper Canada Returns, Nominal Rolls and
Paylists, Microfilm t-10384, page 256.
[7] Collections Canada, War of 1812: Upper Canada Returns, Norminal Rolls and
Paylists, RG9, Militia and Defence, Series 1-B-7, Microfilm t-10383, pages
1035-1037.
[8] Collections Canada, War of 1812: Upper Canada Returns, Nominal Rolls and Paylists,
Microfilm t-10384, page 570.
[9] Benjamin Smith’s Diary, Benjamin Smith Fonds F582, Ontario
Archives, Toronto, Ontario.
[10] List of
Orphan Children whose Fathers have been killed in Action, or have died from
Wounds received or Disease contracted on Service, poster at the Ontario
Archives.
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