First Edition Published June 6,
2016
Second Edition Published January
14, 2018
Third Edition Published January
1, 2020
Copyright by Fred Blair
Additions and changes are in blue text.
January 2, 1815
In York
Jean Paul Radelmuller arrived in the
Town of York in 1804 planning to retire from service after having served as a
hussar, a porter in the royal household, and a steward to the
lieutenant-governor of Nova Scotia. In
1809, he became the first lighthouse keeper on Gibraltar Point on Toronto
Island and remained in that occupation until he was murdered on this day. John Blueman and John Henry, who may have
been stationed at the blockhouse on the point, were charged with his
murder. Men on guard duty were known to
have visited Jean Paul for a drink.
John Blueman served in the Glengarry Light Infantry on the Niagara
Frontier in 1812 and 1813.[1]
On March 31st, twelve
jurors found John “Blowman” and John Henry not guilty.[2]
January 8, 1815
The Battle of New Orleans
January 10, 1815
In York
There
was a post-war recession. Cut backs on
immigration and government spending, reduced land values, a reduced population,
a scarcity of currency, and delayed compensation for war losses would all hurt
the province economically for years.
Societies for aiding paupers increased in number.[3]
The
ban of Americans was understandable because they had just been at war with
Britain and some issues would take years to resolve.
Why
ban Tunkers and Quakers but not Mennonites?
All three religious groups had exemptions from carrying arms when
serving in the Upper Canada militias.
The
Scots were included because the Scottish lords had passed a law that banned
emigration from Scotland. The rate of
emigration had badly reduced the labour force there.
January 24, 1815
Benjamin Ewing, of Haldimand
Township, was impressed with his sleigh and horses to drive General Drummond’s
baggage to York. After about 40 miles of
travel, one of his horse’s shoes came off.
He repeatedly asked to stop and have the shoe put back on but was
ordered to proceed to York. The horse
was injured and had difficulty making it to York.
On his journey home, Benjamin was
forced to stop and leave the injured horse in someone’s care. About February 1st, Richard Hare,
who was journeying to York, was asked by Benjamin to stop and check on the
horse’s condition. Richard noted that
the horse was still suffering from a hip injury. He called in about 3 days later and found
that the horse had died.[4]
January 31, 1815
In Prescott
Jacob Mills certified that he had
cut 20 cords of wood from Colonel Edward Jessup’s land in Prescott during 1814
and January of 1815 which he burnt to make charcoal for the British
Engineers. He cut another 50 cords from
the same land with the help of Stephen Green and processed it into charcoal as
well for the same regiment.[5]
In Ancaster Township
On Benjamin Smith’s farm in,
they thrashed and cleaned wheat, thrashed oats, made a number of trips to the
mill, got a horse, cut and hauled wood, delivered horses to A. Horning’s for
the Light Horse, ground axes and put in helves, went to Burlington, had a horse
shod at John Dannel’s, and went to Samuel Glover’s, Hatt’s, and John
Akeman’s. Peter House helped with the
farming.
New Year’s Day was on a Sunday
and Benjamin, Nancy, and Pegg went to a meeting. On the 8th, Benjamin went with
Isaac Smith and his wife to the burial of Mr. Peer. Benjamin was lame on 2 separate days. On the 20th, he went to a trial at
Hatt’s. On the 22nd, Benjamin
started a journey to the Town of York and returned on the 25th. He bought six barrels of pork and he and his
travelling companions stayed overnight at Cuddy’s, at the Credit River, and at
John Wills’.[6]
Private Joseph Dennis, 3rd
Lincoln, illness, January, 1815
Widow Elizabeth Dennis
Private Daniel McPherson,
Addington, illness, January 3, 1815
Widow Jane McPherson[7]
February 1, 1815
At Niagara Falls
Sometime during the month, the 82nd
Regiment took thirty gallons of beer and some tools from Robert Stuart’s
brewery at Niagara Falls.[8]
February 16, 1815
In York
News of the Treaty of Ghent arrived
at York. The York Gazette published an
“Extra” edition.[9]
Photo of the War of 1812
Memorial in Ottawa
February 17, 1815
The Treaty of Ghent was ratified in
the United States Senate and was signed by President James Madison.
February 19, 1815
Near York
James Phillips and Jesse Vancleaff
certified that William Wager was returning to York with the 89th
Regiment when they observed William’s mare, which was heavy with foal, driven
too far and beaten for several miles.
Robert Hubbs of Hallowell affirmed that the mare had been left at his
stable on the 22nd and that he had been unable to save the
animal. All 3 men believed that the mare
died from fatigue. William made a war
loss claim for the value of his lost mare.[10]
February 24, 1815
John Fairman of Sophiaburgh Township
in Prince Edward County had been employed to deliver commissariat stores from
Kingston to York. While in York, he had
been impressed to convey 2 officers and their baggage to Ernestown, near
Prescott. One of the horses took sick
but the officers would not release the horse from service. The horse died on the 24th about 20
miles east of York and about an hour after leaving Daniel Way’s Inn in
Pickering.[11]
February 26, 1815
William Wright, of Marysburgh, was
in the transport service conveying supplies between Kingston and York with
Captain James Wright, of the Prince Edward Militia. William reported that after leaving York on
the journey back to Kingston, one of James’ team of horses fell down dead about
8 miles from the town. The same horse
had fallen at about the same place before arriving in York. Henry Bird, who was assisting them, reported
that the horse had died of hard labour as it was carrying a heavy load for the
Canadian Fencibles and that they had not been able to obtain any fodder for the
horses in York.[12]
William later reported that the
weather had been stormy, the snow deep, and it had taken them 8 days to reach
York.[13]
From the Wright family history, it
was not clear whether William was James’ brother or uncle.[14]
February 28, 1815
In Ancaster Township
Benjamin Smith and his family
cut wood, thrashed oats and wheat, had the mare shod at Rose’s, and broke
flax. Benjamin travelled to York a
number of times as a teamster.
Benjamin
and his wife, Nancy, visited Stephen Smith’s and Jonathan Kelley’s homes. On the 5th, Benjamin, John Kelley,
and George Book made a trip to the Town of York and returned on the 8th. They bought loads of rum and stayed overnight
at the gate and Clever’s tavern. On
their return they left their loads at the Burlington store and collected their
pay at Kerby’s. On the 10th,
Benjamin, John Kelley, George Book, and Peter House went to Burlington. On the 11th, Benjamin, Peter
House, Abraham Smith, John Rule, William Shaver, and Warner stayed together at
night. On the 12th, they
arrived at Fort George and left their loads there. On the way back, Benjamin and Abram Smith
picked up Benjamin’s mare at Silas Smith’s and got salt. On the 24th, Benjamin and Nancy
went to Hatt’s. On the 26th,
he made another trip to York, picked up loads, and left them at Hopkin’s on the
way back.[15]
People
living on the Niagara Frontier would have received word of the peace treaty
during this month. Benjamin Smith
continued to write in his diary and he and his family prospered on their farm
in the coming years. Benjamin died in
1851 and was buried in Bowman United Church Cemetery in Ancaster Township.[16]
Upper Canadian Service Deaths
Private Pierre Cabasiere,
Incorporated Militia, illness while a prisoner of war,
February, 1815, widow Ann
Cabasiere
Teamster Daniel Cook, Lincoln,
illness, February 1, 1814
Widow Elizabeth Cook[17]
March 1, 1815
In Upper Canada
During the month, the price of hay
dropped from 30 to 14 dollars per ton over a fortnight. Oats in Kingston dropped from 10 to less than
4 shillings.[18]
March 25, 1815
The Incorporated Militia was
disbanded.
March 27, 1815
Army Bills currency was still in
circulation and estimated at just under one and a quarter million pounds on
this date. The Bills were recalled in
1815 but many were reluctant to part with them because they gained six percent
interest over the first five years and were still a secure form of currency because
they could be redeemed for British government bills on demand. There was still a need for a paper currency
in the Canadas and Montreal merchants would form the Bank of Montreal in 1817
to take advantage of this demand.[19]
March 28, 1815
In York
A Court of Oyer and Terminer and General Gaol Delivery was held at
York in the Home District by Justice Thomas Scott. William Moody was found guilty of the felony
of killing a heifer and was sentenced to be hanged by the neck until dead.
Gideon Orton was found guilty of
sedition and was sentenced to be confined for one calendar month, to pay a fine
of 5 shillings, and to stand in the pillory during the month for one hour
between noon and two o’clock.
Gideon was a blacksmith in Markham Township. A number of men testified against him. Stillwell Wilson reported that Gideon had
said that the Upper Canadians would be treated better by the Americans than
they were by the British. Edward
Saunders declared that Gideon had said that he had hidden in the woods to avoid
militia service during the American invasion and that Gideon had tried to
persuade him from supporting the British.
George Sisler stated that Gideon had said that he intended to collect
the reward offered by the Americans for militia officers who acted against
them. James Degeer said that Gideon
had helped Benjamin Thrail and Stephen Nobles raid Jesse Ketchum’s tannery shop
in York and later claimed that they had been given the stolen items by the
Americans.[20]
Upper Canadian Service Deaths
Private Adam Forbes,
Incorporated Militia, illness, March 6, 1815
Widow Anna Forbes[21]
Private Hugh Thomson, Oxford,
disease, March 10, 1815,
Orphaned children to Catharine
Poole[22]
April 1, 1815
In Kent County
During the summer of 1814, the sons
of George Ward found a howitzer with a five and a half-inch barrel in the River
Thames, in Howard Township. The British
had abandoned it during General Proctor’s retreat the year before. Unable to turn the gun over to the British,
George decided to move the piece to Camden Township where it was buried to hide
it from the Americans. George was later
captured by the Americans and threatened with hanging if he did not reveal
where the gun was hidden. In the spring
of 1815, after the ground had thawed the howitzer was unearthed by George and
delivered to the British 37th Regiment who were stationed in the
area.[23]
George Ward was born in Ireland in
1743. He began his military career there
and arrived in Quebec in 1776 with the British 58th Regiment and
served with the British during the American Revolution. After the war he served again in Britain and
returned to Quebec in 1791 where he was discharged. In 1797 he obtained a land grant on the
Thames River in Camden Township, Kent County.
During the War of 1812 the British trusted him with provisions and to
deliver dispatches. He reported that
when the Americans captured him that they had hung him 3 times until he was
almost dead.[24]
April 25, 1815
In Ernestown
During the war the Ernestown Academy
had been converted into a barracks for the use of the 89th
Regiment. An inspection revealed that
there was damage to the floors, windows, doors, and walls, as well as desks,
drawers, and stage. It was also reported
that the keys had been lost.[25]
April 30, 1815
In York
Between July 27, 1814 and June 21, 1815,
the 3rd York Militia returned arms, accoutrements, ammunition, and
flints to the ordnance store in the garrison in York on 4 occasions. The stores were classified as serviceable,
repairable, or unserviceable. The largest
return was made on April 30th.
Ninety-six serviceable muskets and 56 repairable ones were
returned. Accoutrements included 133
bayonets, 127 serviceable pouches, 117 pouch slings, 100 serviceable bayonet slings,
15 musket slings, 57 serviceable and 56 unserviceable scabbards, 68 breast
plates, 350 flints, and 3180 serviceable and 820 unserviceable cartridges.[26]
May 18, 1815
In Burford
Township
While passing through the township
on their way home, a group of allied warriors stopped at Samuel Miller’s and
killed a cow and 2 hogs.[27]
May 31, 1815
In York
By this time, 147 militia men had
been nominated for an Upper Canada Preserved Medal. On January 12, 1813, the Loyal and Patriotic
Society had had fifty medals struck at a cost of 100 sterling. The medals had arrived in the province on
December 2, 1814 and officers were asked to begin nominating men who had acted
with “personal courage or fidelity in the defence of the province.” Not all of the nominations had yet been
received. More medals had to be ordered.
The selection process was hampered
by a lack of details about why some men had been selected by their
officers. No residents of York were
nominated.
John Beverley Robinson and William
Chewett, officers of the 3rd York Militia, were given the
responsibility of deciding which nominees deserved a medal. They broadened the list of entitled men
eligible for a medal and another 562 medals had to be struck. Non-commissioned officers were to receive a
larger silver medal than privates, officers were to receive a gold medal, and
prominent heroes, like Brock, were to receive one of twelve large gold medals.
In August, John Beverley Robinson
was given the funds to purchase the additional medals in England.[28]
June 1, 1815
In Delaware Township
A party of Western warriors
returning from Burlington Heights to Sandwich stopped at the home of George
Lutz in Delaware Township, entered the house, and set it on fire. The two-storey frame house was 36 by 30 feet
in size and had a front stoop attached.[29]
On the Niagara Frontier
Thomas Vercheres, of Amherstburg,
travelling through the Niagara District, reported he saw burnt homes, fields
torn up, forts demolished, and forests burnt.
Some prominent business men in the
area, like Thomas Cummings and George and Alexander Hamilton, had their
companies destroyed.[30]
June 5, 1815
In York
A Return of the 3rd York
Militia reported that the effective strength of the regiment was 313 men. Twenty-eight men were sick or lame, 39 were
exempt by their age, and fourteen by certificate. Sixty-two were absent without leave and 13
with leave. Twenty-five men were exempt
because they were Quakers, “Menonists”, or Tunkers. Eleven men had been removed from the
regiment. Two men were absent but had
not been warned. Other men with
exemptions included one miller, one ferryman, one express carrier, and one
coroner. Of the officers unavailable to
serve, there was one man in each of Scotland, Cornwall, Queenston, Lundy’s
Lane, and the United States. The total
strength of the regiment was 529 men.[31]
A previous Return had been made on
December 25, 1814.
June 8, 1815
On Michilimackinac Island
Lieutenant Colonel Robert McDouall, commanding the fort, made a
presentation to Chief Mookomaanish (Little Knife or Damn Knife) of the
Odaawa. The certificate read, “I do
hereby certify that the bearer hereof, the Ottawa Chief, the Little Knife, is
an Indian of a most respectable character, a brave warrior, and has always been
distinguished for his loyalty and attachment to the British Government. His six brothers are also highly deserving,
and I strongly recommend the whole to the kindness and protection of the future
commanding officer of His Majesty on Lake Huron. I perform this duty with the more pleasure
from the noble act of mercy and generosity shown by the said Chief the Little
Knife to a Young American whom he took Prisoner on the Wabash and who had
previously wounded him by not only sparing his life, but by bringing him with
kindness and attention to this Garrison.
In testimony of my approbation of his conduct upon this occasion which
will be so gratifying to the King, his Great Father, and to encourage similar
acts of mercy (in future) to the vanquished and unresisting, I, in his name,
present him with a silver mounted sword, in token of his merit.”
Mokomanish and 9 of his men attacked a party of Americans on the
River Wabash in which he was severely wounded in the knee. They killed 9 soldiers and took one prisoner.[32]
Summer, 1815
In York
A number of issues resulting from
Upper Canadian militia service were dealt with.
Incorporated Militia veterans, who were entitled to a land grant for
their service, had the acreage of the grant increased from 50 to 100 acres for
privates and 200 for officers. There
were also complaints of back pay still being owed some militia men. Officers of the Incorporated Militia were
demanding half-pay after they were retired.[33]
November 2, 1815
John Trull of Darlington
Township and James McClure of York Township were each fined 100 pounds for
“uttering counterfeit army bills.” Army
bills were currency created by the British military to use in purchasing
supplies in Upper Canada during the war.[34]
John Trull Sr. and Jr. served as
privates in the 3rd York Militia and 1st Durham
Militias. James McClure served as a
private in the 3rd York as well.
December 20, 1815
The first meeting of the committee
to examine war loss claims met. The
committee was composed of William Drummer Powell, Chief Justice Thomas Scott,
and John Strachan. They made a review of
the claims presented to committees during the summer at Amherstburg, Fort
George, York, Kingston, and Fort Wellington.[35]
February 26, 1816
Michael Hartney of Markham Township made the first of two Upper
Canada Land Petitions. He was born about
1788 and in 1816, his father Patrick was the barrack master at the York
Garrison. Michael was a shoemaker in the
Town of York and was married. A number
of men served in more than one regiment during the war and Michael was an
example of families fleeing the Niagara Peninsula while the men continued to
serve. In 1812, while living in
Chippawa, he had been a flanker in the 3rd Lincoln Militia. When the Americans captured Fort George on
May 27, 1813, Michael retreated as a member of the 41st British
Regiment and continued to serve with them until the Battle of Stoney
Creek. A number of Upper Canadian men
had taken part in the retreat to Burlington Heights. By July 30th, he was a private in
the 3rd York Militia escorting American prisoners from Stoney Creek
to the Town of York. He continued his
service with this regiment into 1814 and was promoted to sergeant.[36]
[37]
May 1, 1816
A first draft of the war loss claims
report was completed. It included
information on 2759 of the 2884 claims presented to the commissions in
1815. From these claims the estimated
loss was over 390 000 pounds but only over 256 000 pounds had been certified as
acceptable.[38]
May 21, 1816
In Upper Canada
Many of us in Ontario now start most our spring planting after
this date, as the last frost was probably earlier in the month. In 1812 and 1814 there were major volcanic
eruptions in the southwest Pacific Ocean.
In April, 1815, there was another in Indonesia that was one of the most
violent eruptions recorded. By the
spring of 1816, dust in the upper atmosphere was reducing sunlight in Upper
Canada. From June 6th to 9th,
a severe frost killed plants as far south as Virginia and there were snow
squalls in Montreal. There was another
severe cold spell in mid August and another in September that both killed
crops.
Wheat and vegetables were scarce the
following winter. With no hay to feed
their cattle, farmers began slaughtering their livestock. Food was scarce in Europe as well. The year was known as the “year without a
summer.”
Several families in Newmarket had a
schooner load of flour delivered from the Genesee River that sold for $13.50 a
barrel upon its arrival. Some of the
inflated prices for were:
Wheat at $3.00 a bushel
Flour at $15.00 a barrel
Butter at 75 cents a pound
Salt at the Town of York at
$120.00 per barrel
John Bogart of Bogarttown, near
Newmarket, found a salty spring and boiled the water down to make salt to cure
his winter meat.
In 1817 and the following years,
weather patterns gradually started to return to normal.[39]
During the war, a Private John
Bogart served in the 3rd York Militia. This may have been John Sr.’s son.
June 24, 1816
Instructions sent to Alexander McDonald of the Glengarry
Fencibles to recruit men for Lord Selkirk’s Red River Settlement.
“Mr. Alex. McDonald will please to
engage in Lord Selkirk’s name a number not exceeding thirty of the discharged
men of the Glengary [sic] Fencibles, taking
care not to
engage any of a bad character, and as far as possible to procure men of Steady
behavior Sober, industrious and capable of being useful as farmers &
mechanics the terms are to be the same as granted to the De Meurois [Meurons]
and as expressed in the printed contracts the Wages not to exceed Eight Dollars
per month.
Mr. Cumming
or Mr. A. McDonell will procure one or two Boats for the Conveyance of the
Party and will supply provisions sufficient for the passage to York, when a
further supply for the Voyage will be procured from Mr. Alex Wood – in Case the
party do not overtake Lord Selkirk before he leaves the Sault St. Marie for
Lake Superior,
a letter will
be left at Mr. Charles Ermatinger’s with directions for Mr. McDonald’s farther
progress, the party ought if possible set out about the 1st. July & ought
not to be delayed beyond the 5th. or 6th.m the men will Receive each a thin
pint [point] Blanket for their equipment and it is to be hoped that the
contents of their Knapsacks will be sufficient for all other purposes anything
else that is Supplied, must be charged to
Account –– it
will be desirable not to give the men their advance of Wages until they pass
the portage of Young Street, Say at New Market but this must be left to Mr.
McDonald’s discretion according to the Circumstances, not exceeding in any case
twelve Dollars of advance, It will be desireable [sic] to engage among the men
a Sufficient number of experienced Boatmen to Manage the Boats; but it will be
further necessary for Mr. Cummings to engage a guide acquainted with the
navigation of the Lakes as far as the Grand Portage, to whom wages will be
given according to the Customary rates for such a trip. Two or three Sergeants, who are fit to be
employed in a
confidential situation will receive gratuities in proportion to their merit
&
services, to
the extent of double pay, if their conduct be perfectly satisfactory: but the
rate cannot be fixed, till after their arrival at Red River when there may be
sufficient experience of their conduct.”
Selkirk collection: C-3. p. 2361.
January 1, 1817
Private Peter Lee of the Coloured Corps died of an illness and
left a widow, Mary Lee.[40]
Was the Coloured Corps still in
service in 1817?
April, 1817
Officials in Britain were reminded
that over 28 000 pounds of militia back-pay had not yet been received. The British treasury was still recovering
from war debts from the Napoleonic Wars.[41]
June, 1817
Robert Gourlay arrived in the
province and began examining Upper Canadian complaints and became politically
active. One of the first he heard was
that low immigration was affecting the price of land.[42]
January, 1818
In Grimsby
William Crooks of Grimsby reported
that the number of livestock in the area had recovered to pre-war levels. A study of war loss claims estimated the loss
of livestock in the province to have been almost eight thousand horses, cattle,
sheep, and hogs.[43]
In Nova Scotia
During the War of 1812, American
privateers were harassing ships one the Atlantic coast. They were operating out of Castine, in what
would later be part of the State of Maine.
The British Royal Navy captured the port and collected customs money on
goods traded there. The peace agreement
returned this area back to the Americans but the British earned had seven
thousand pounds in custom duties while they held control of that area.
George Ramsay, 9th Earl
of Dalhousie and lieutenant governor of Nova Scotia, used the money to create
an endowment for the establishment of a non-sectarian college in Halifax. Dalhousie College was established in 1818 but
classes did not begin until 1838.[44]
May 1, 1818
In
Upper Canada
An act was
passed stating that army bills issued by the British during the War of 1812
would no longer be legal tender as of October 31st.[45]
November 24, 1819
The Loyal
and Patriotic Society received 4000 pounds from England. Although the money had been raised to assist
war veterans the society decided to spend it in the construction of the Toronto
General Hospital. Tenders were requested
on this date.
This new
was not received well in the rest of the province as the funds had originally
been raised for relief throughout the province not just the Town of York.
The
promised war medals had not yet arrived.[46]
February 22, 1820
Chief
Justice William Campbell suggested that the war medals in storage be melted
down and be sold to support a hospital fund.
Although the resolution was passed it was not carried out.[47]
During the
month, a notice was published listing dates that eligible veterans of specific
regiments could apply for their land grants.
Land surveys for the granted lands placed the province deeper in debt.[48]
March 3, 1820
From the
first pages of the Militia Land Grant Register at the Ontario Archives this
appeared to be the earliest date that land grants were issued. The March grants were in Brock Township, York
County, Innisfil and Tecumseth Townships, Simcoe County, and Nissouri Township,
Oxford County.
Privates
received 100 acres, sergeants, 200, and officers incrementally more based upon
their rank. A captain received 500 acres
and a major, 1000.[49]
April, 1821
Men
receiving war pensions were to be examined by medical inspectors to prove that
they were incapable of earning a living.
The government hoped to reduce the number of men eligible for pensions.
The
payment of war loss claims and half-pay for militia officers were also
discussed. Only claims for services
provided to the British and for property taken by the British were to be paid
at this time. These claims were valued
at over 9 000 pounds.
These and
other war related expenses eventually drove the province to bankruptcy.[50]
July, 1821
Representatives
of the war loss claimants had hired a British lobbyist to promote their
cause. Discussions began this month that
led to an agreement. The British and
Upper Canadian governments would raise 200 000 pounds with which to pay the
claimants. They would each pay half of
the five per cent interest and half of the principal after twenty years.
Opponents
to the agreement in Upper Canada declared that some of the claims were
fraudulent and that all of the claims should be re-examined. In November, 1822, John Beverley Robinson
privately expressed his opinion that some of the claims were exaggerated.[51]
January, 1822
The war
medals passed into the possession of William Warren Baldwin and were moved to a
vault in the Bank of Upper Canada, where they remained until 1840.[52]
January 15, 1823
It was
announced that one-quarter of the value of each war loss claim would be paid. On February 15th, this was amended
by the requirement that all claimants re-submit their claims to a new
commission. On March 12th,
the Assembly agreed to pay the interest on a 100 000-pound loan.[53]
December 23, 1824
The re-examination
of 1874 war loss claims was completed but their preliminary report was not
issued until January 6, 1825. Four
classes of claims had been rejected. They
were losses for property and vessels in transit, losses outside the provincial
boundaries, losses resulting from burglary, and the loss of army bills or other
forms of currency. The reasons for
rejection were that the first class had assumed the risk of shipping in war
time, the second did not fall within the realm of the commission, the third
because those acts were not necessarily a result of the war, and the fourth
were impossible to verify.
Horses and
oxen lost in service and teamster work were not eligible as it was the owner’s
responsibility to take care of his animals and to have presented those claims
directly to the officers who had ordered the work. Crops lost because the owner was unable to
harvest them while on militia duty were not eligible.
The
committee believed that less than half of the value of the accepted claims
should be paid, a total of about 194 000 pounds.
The
committee had not yet examined 90 claims that had not been submitted in 1815
and 1816 and over 500 claims that had not yet been re-submitted.[54]
January, 1825
William
Lyon Mackenzie criticized the rejection of some types of claims. His Colonial Advocate newspaper was begun in
1824.[55]
March 15, 1826
At this
time the war loss committee had approved 1819 claims and awarded an amount of
just over 182 000 pounds. It would take
the province several years to resolve where the money to pay back the loan
would come from.
A scheme
to tax Lower Canada was rejected. A plan
to sell off about two million acres of crown and clergy reserves in the
province, but the British government redirected that income to pay other
expenses. The clergy reserves were later
withdrawn from this plan and were replaced with newly acquired Native lands.
Half-pay
for Incorporated Militia officers had also been re-examined.
The loan
payment issue was finally resolved in 1837.[56]
1828
The debate
on how to pay the war loss claims continued.
John Beverley Robinson, who was in charge of an investigative committee
concluded that the remainder of the outstanding claims should be paid as soon
as possible to relieve the suffering of the claimants.[57]
1829
William
Lyon Mackenzie opposed payment of the war loss claims. In 1830, he suggested that the British, not
the province, should pay the claims.[58]
October 1, 1831
In
Scarborough Township
John Lamoreaux made an Upper Canada Land Petition in
which he reported that he had a medical exemption from an accident that
prevented him from most militia service.
Being the son of a Loyalist, he wanted to contribute to the defence of
the province and volunteered in the 3rd York Militia to hunt and
apprehend local militia deserters who were then tried and punished at the York
Garrison. Some had violently resisted
arrest. John was once thrown in a fire
while holding a loaded pistol and having a half-pound of powder in his
pocket. He reported that he had made
enemies of some of his neighbours. Most
veterans wrote in their petitions that they had helped defend the province but
Samuel wanted the commissioners to know how well he had done that and what it
had cost him locally.[59]
1833
In the
Home District
Warrants of Distress were issued for 62 Quakers who had
refused to serve in the local militias in 1812.
Each man was to pay a 20 dollar fine.
July 21, 1840
In
York
A blacksmith
shop was set up in the back yard of Alexander Wood’s home where the war medals
kept in storage since 1822 were smashed.
The metal was sold to watchmakers and the proceeds were given to the
Toronto General Hospital.
This
occurred despite the resolution earlier in the year by the Assembly that the
medals be distributed as was originally planned. Directors of the society that had possession
of the medals considered the issue a private matter not within the provinces
control.
Veterans
had been deprived of their medals and pensions, while only a select number of
veterans received militia land grants.[60]
1860
In
Upper Canada
In 1860
the Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII, visited Upper Canada. One of his duties was to lay the cornerstone
for Brock’s Monument in Queenston on September 18th. The Globe and Mail published a number of
reports about the visit and the preparations for it. On June 29th, there was a report
of a meeting of survivors of the war in the town hall in St. Catharines. They decided that veterans of each county
were to send representatives to a meeting in Toronto on July 7th. The July 9th Globe reported that a
committee had been chosen to prepare an address to the Prince. The address was to be circulated throughout
the counties for veterans to sign before September 18th. The September 19th Globe reported
that a number of veterans had been present and listed the names of 29 men who
were known to have been there. The event
was somewhat disorganized. The Globe
also contained a copy of the address and the Princes reply. The September 20th Globe lamented
that the veterans had marched up the hill and back down again after the address
but had had no reception with the Prince.
On September 26th, there was a report that 1193 veterans had
signed the address. The average age of
the men was 70 with some as old as 95.
The number of men per county was also listed. A later report declared that 40 veterans had
been present at the address.
Has a copy
of this address with the veteran’s names survived?
1875
On the
sixtieth anniversary of the end of the war, surviving militia veterans were
allowed to apply for a government pension.
Applicants had to appear before commissions and give an oral
presentation on their militia service and present any relevant surviving
documents.
An amount was budgeted for the
grant but the number of applications exceeded expectations and only the
earliest applicants received the pension.
The grant generated a lot of reports about particular veterans in local
newspapers. Unsurprisingly, a number of
elderly gentlemen confessed that they could not remember particular details
about the war and confused the names and ranks of officers that they had served
under.
Veteran lists from government
sessions were later published in Canadian Veterans of the War of 1812, by Eric
Jonasson, Wheatfield Press, Winnipeg, 1981, 70 pages.
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End
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