First
Edition Published August 28, 2015
Second
Edition Published July 20, 2016
Third
Edition Published June 15, 2018
Fourth
Edition Published October 8, 2021
Copyright
by Fred Blair
In this edition, additions and changes are in blue text.
September 1, 1812
At Queenston
Private William McCay was back on duty, “Some of our Company were put on duty for the first time since we returned. Our stated times of Parade are at sunrise, at 9 oclock & at 3. We learn that Major Chambers marched from Detroit to Fort Miami which place he found evacuated. He found between 20 and 80 barrels of pork and the same quantity of flour. He destroyed the place and was going on to Fort Wayne but was recalled and is now returned to camp. We understood Capt. Durand is come to the camp who is to receive our arms & clothing before which we could not be dismissed. I was in evidence today in trial of James Bycraft, who deserted from Pattersons Creek. The Court Martial was held at the camp but they did not finish his sentence.” [1]
Captain James Durand was a commander of one of the 5th Lincoln Militia Flank Companies in which James Bycraft served as a private. In Part 1, I noted that 2 men from the 2nd York had also deserted but that record did not indicate when or where. There was no entry for September 2nd.
Private James Bycraft had served in
Captain Samuel Hatt’s Flank Company of the 5th Lincoln Militia. He served at Queenston until December 16th.[2]
September 3, 1812
A
disgruntled William McCay wrote, “I arose very unwell and the day was very
disagreeable raining most part of the time, and our tents will not keep it out
being covered with boards. We expect
every day to be dismissed, and we wait very impatiently for the time.” [3]
In the
London District
At
the Assizes held at Charlotteville by Justice William Campbell a bill was
issued against Joseph Willcox for sedition.[4]
September 4, 1812
In Queenston
A rested
William McCay wrote, “The rain still continues and as I felt still unwell, I
took up my abode in the Hospital, a more comfortable situation. This evening news came that the Americans
have given the 4 days notice and they are now ready for war again, so that our
hopes of going home are now at an end.” [5]
Private
John Hendershot of the 5th Lincoln Militia was believed to have been
the first Upper Canadian killed during the war.
While on patrol near the lime kiln in Queenston, he was struck by a
musket ball fired from the other side of the river. He had served in Captain Samuel Hatt’s Flank
Company.[6]
Another
report had him shot while on duty at Thompson Point, north of the Whirlpool
where the limestone quarry and kiln were located. This is the present location of the Whirlpool
Restaurant.[7]
John
was born in 1788 in Hunterdon County, New Jersey and was buried in the Mohawk
Road West Cemetery in Ancaster Township.[8]
John died
of his wounds on the 18th.
His wife died earlier the same year and her father, Christian Almas,
became the guardian of their children.
In 1817 he received a militia pension for their care.[9]
Firing
across the river was frowned upon on both sides for a number of reasons. It was almost impossible to hit the intended
target over that distance and shooting was considered a waste of
ammunition. However, in October, when
the Americans gathered across the river from Queenston in preparation for the
invasion, they were firing regularly at people walking along the opposite shore.
September 5, 1812
The Siege of Fort Wayne, Indiana Territory
Potawatomi
and Miami tribes lead by Chief Winamac had begun gathering around Fort Wayne at
the beginning of the month. Chiefs
Winamac and Wannangsea had met with the fort commander, Captain Rhea, on the 4th
of September.
The
following morning, the warriors attacked two soldiers returning from the
outhouse, burned homes in the village, and assaulted the east side of the
fort. Two wooden cannons had been made
to make the American soldiers think that the warriors had artillery with
them. In the evening, after a brief
discussion in the fort with the commander, the warriors attacked again, and
tried to set fire to the fort. The
following afternoon the warriors ceased that attack but remained near the fort.[10]
In
Queenston
William
McCay wrote that, “All is in a bustle again.
It is reported that all the Militia are sent for. I continue in the Hospital, but do not get
hearty, having but indifferent attendants.” [11]
At York
Regimental
orders were issued by Lieutenant Colonel William Chewett of the 3rd
York Militia. The regiment’s two flank
companies in the garrison at York under the command of Major William Allan were
ordered by General Sheaffe to proceed to Fort George “with all possible
speed.” Captains John Denison, Samuel
Ridout, and Thomas Hamilton were to take their companies to Fort York and do
garrison duty there.[12]
Two
entries from the York Garrison were found in Captain Samuel Ridout’s Regimental
Orderly Book.
Lieutenant
A.B. reported that, “After Guard Mounting, I visited the different Barrack
Rooms at 9 o’clock, found the Dinners put down and the Rooms in good order, at
one o’clock I saw the Mens Dinners dished up in good order – at taps too. I again visited the different Rooms, found
the Men all present & sober. I
visited my sentries frequently during the day and night, found them steady,
sober, and alert and gave them their necessary Instructions. I declare that all Orders respecting the Duty
in which I have been employed has been strictly complied with.”
Captain
C.D. reported that, “Yesterday between the hours of one and two o’clock P.M. I
visited the different Guards found them all properly posted, sober and
alert. I went the Guard rounds last
night between the Hours of Eleven and Two and found the Guards sober, steady
and alert.”[13]
September 6, 1812
At Fort
Wayne, Indiana Territory
An
American scouting party arrived during the afternoon lull in the fighting and
raced into the fort to report that Major General William Henry Harrison was on
his way with a militia force of 2200 men.
The scouting party then rode out of the fort to apprise Harrison. Harrison also received reports that Tecumseth
was on his way to the fort with 400 warriors and 140 British regulars.
In
the evening, Chief Winamac’s warriors attacked Fort Wayne again.[14]
At
Queenston
All
the men in the Queenston hospital were to be sent to the Town of Niagara for
further care. William McCay heard that
Brock was in the town and the that the British had captured a vessel loaded
with fifteen hundred barrels of salt.[15]
September 7, 1812
The
Americans across from Queenston were seen striking their tents. The inhabitants in the town were moving their
property from the town as fast as possible.
Several men in the hospital there were released to the camp.[16]
September 8, 1812
William
McCay reported that there had been considerable rain during the night and that
he was unwell in the morning. The
armistice with the Americans was to end that day. The 49th Regiment was marching up
the road toward Fort Erie in small parties.[17]
There
is a transcriber’s note in Williams’ diary that this was the last entry. William later fought at the Battle of
Queenston Heights on October 13th and at the Battle of Lundy’s Lane
on July 25, 1814. After the war, he
continued farming in Nelson Township and eventually rose to the rank of
Lieutenant Colonel in the local militia.
On the
Niagara Frontier
Captain
John Norton had command of over 500 Indigenous warriors that included the
Moravian Delawares, Munsees, and Chippewas.[18]
In
Michigan
Major
General Harrison reached the village of Simon Girty on the St. Mary’s River,
where he was joined by 800 militia men from Ohio.[19]
September 9, 1812
At York
The orderly officer of each company
would ensure that the barracks rooms had been swept out each day before the
morning parade, that the was bedding well folded, that the arms and
accoutrements were in the arm racks, and report the morning state to the
adjutant. The folded bedding was to be
placed in front of each barrack room twice a week.
Captains and officers were to “pay
particular attention to the cleanliness of the men.”
Detachments of the Scarborough,
Pickering, and Whitby Companies that were without officers were to be attached
to other companies on duty. Captains
Thomas Hamilton, Samuel Ridout, and John Denison commanded these companies. The few remaining men in the garrison who
belonged to the flank companies sent to Fort George were to be attached to
Captain Ridout’s Company.[20]
Sergeant John Lamoreaux served in Captain Ridout’s
Scarborough Company at that time. He had
been medically exempted from militia duty as the result of an accident but
decided to that he was able enough to hunt and arrest deserters in the
township. Several men were arrested,
taken to the York Garrison, and tried and punished. Some had violently resisted arrest. In one encounter, he had been thrown into the
fire while holding a loaded pistol and with a half-pound of gun powder in this
pocket. He had made enemies of some of
his neighbours who objected to the arrests.[21]
September 10, 1812
At
Sandwich
A Court of Assize, Nisi Prius,
Oyer and Terminer and General Gaol Delivery was held at Sandwich in the Western
District by Justice William Campbell.
Hezekie Simons was discharged from prison and was given one hour to
leave the province. George Augustus Reignoel
Porter was also discharged to leave the province.[22]
At Ogdensburg, New York
Having
learned that a British fleet of bateaux were to travel up the St. Lawrence
River from Kingston, the Americans sent out 2 boats and a large number of men
to ambush the fleet at Toussaint’s Island.
In preparation, the Americans took the family living on the island
prisoner, but one of them escaped and warned the British.
The
British formed a detachment to engage the Americans when the bateaux reached
the island. This force included
detachments from the 1st Dundas and 1st Grenville
Militias and Royal Newfoundland Fencible Regiment and the 10th Royal
Veteran Battalion.
It
was estimated that there were three to four hundred Americans on the
island. The British landed and engaged
this force. They were in turn fired upon
by the American schooner with a six-pounder.
An American Durham boat filled with men attempted to land on Presque’ile
but were prevented by a party of 30 British militia and regulars. The Americans were driven away and the Durham
boat was captured. The American schooner
withdrew to the American side of Toussaint’s Island and with the assistance of
a number of boats transported the Americans back to the south bank of the
river. The British bateaux proceeded up
river under ineffective fire from the American shore. A British gunboat arrived about the same time
and the American schooner was forced to flee.
One British regular was killed by a cannon shot and two or three other
members were slightly wounded.[23]
September 11, 1812
A Burglary
on the St. Lawrence River
Samuel
and John Weatherhead’s store in Augusta Township, across the St. Lawrence River
from Ogdensburg, was robbed during the night of 542 pounds sterling worth of
goods and cash. After the war a member
of the gang who had burgled the store “turned evidence” and recalled how the
event took place.
Seven
armed men with a dark lantern crossed the river to the British side by
boat. One of the men broke open a store
window, entered, and passed out goods to the men waiting outside. While the goods were carried back to the
boat, two of the men stood sentinel outside the doors of the Weatherhead house
with orders to shoot anyone who attempted to oppose the theft.
After
the war, Samuel did not make a war loss claim because he thought the commission
would not accept a burglary as a war loss.
In 1824, John made a claim but a note on the claim documents indicated
that it was inadmissible.[24]
In Indiana
Territory
Chief Winamac began his final attack on Fort
Wayne. That attack ended the following
day and the warriors crossed the Maumee River and retreated into the Ohio and
Michigan Territories. Two days later
Harrison’s force was at Fort Wayne and a number of American attacks on
indigenous villages began in retaliation for the attacks on the fort.[25]
September 12, 1812
At Burford
Harmonius
Dingman’s wagon was impressed by the Commissariat Department to transport
stores from Burford to Amherstburg, but was never returned. It was believed that it had been captured by
the Americans at the River Thames.[26]
At York
Garrison
Orders at Fort York reported that Captain Samuel Ridout of the 3rd
York Militia was to act as president at a Regimental Court Martial the
following morning. He was to be assisted
by Lieutenants Eli Playter and Hazon K. Ross.[27]
A
number of court martial trials were held during the month including men that
Brock ordered arrested on August 8th.
September
13, 1812
“A
Regimental Court Martial” was “to assemble tomorrow morning at 10 o’clock for
the Trial of such Prisoners as may be brought before it.” Captain Samuel Ridout would act as president
and Lieutenants Playter and Ross would serve as members.
A
General Order was also recorded in Samuel’s Order Book. “By letter received from Lieut. Co. Chewett
from Colonel McDonnell Provincial Aid de Camp, dated Fort George, It would
appear that an order had been, or was intended to have been sent to Major
Allan, to dismiss such part of the 1st & 3rd
Regiments of York Militia as have been lately brought into the Garrison, which
could be dispensed with, but no order having yet been received by letter, he is
at a loss to know whether it was the Generals intention that the whole,
excepting those belonging to the Flank Companies should be allowed to return to
their homes. Well knowing however the
necessity there is that people from the country should be a their homes at this
season of the year, Major Allan orders that for the present Captain Willson’s
Company & Captain Denison’s Company together with the Detachments of the
Country Companies, now attached to the different Companies in the Garrison
shall be permitted to return to their respective homes unit further orders but
to hold themselves in readiness to return at the shortest notice if required
and the officers belonging to these Companies will take the necessary steps for
collecting the men if it is found necessary to recall them. The remaining two Companies of the 3rd
York, Captain Ridout’s and Captain Hamilton’s, will continue to do duty in the
Garrison for the present, such men as belong to the Flank Companies & are
now attached to Captain Ridout’s Company, are to remain as also the Darlington
Flank Company. Provisions for two days
will be delivered to each man to carry him home.”
“Lt.
Col. Short having arrived will assume the Command of the Garrison &
Dependencies. Report will be made to him
accordingly.”[28]
September 15, 1812
Unknown
Location
Private
A. William C…an of the Addington Dragoons had an accident and received a
pension after the war for the resulting disability.[29]
Who
was he? Where was he serving?
September
16, 1812
At Fort
Harrison
Two
engagements occurred at Fort Harrison and on the Wabash River.
Chief
Mokomanish (Little Knife) 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.[30]
September
17, 1812
At Fort
York
“A
Regimental Court Martial to Assemble this day at 10 o’clock for the trial of
such Prisoners as may be brought before it.”
Captain Hamilton would act as President and
Lieutenants Kendrick and Playter would serve as Members.[31]
September 18, 1812
On the
Niagara Frontier
Brock
reported that although they had been in a state of warfare for 2 months on the
Niagara Frontier, not a single death had occurred there.[32]
However,
John Hendershot was reported to have been shot on September 4th.
September 19, 1812
At
Amhersturg
The
British commandant at Amherstburg, Colonel George, ordered that all impressed
horses in the area be discharged to their owners.[33]
At Fort
York
“A Court
Martial will assemble immediately after the Parade this morning for the Trial
of a Prisoner belonging to the Rifle Company.”
Captain Hamilton would act as President and Lieutenants Kendrick and
Playter would serve as Members.[34]
This
would have been Captain Peter Robinson’s Rifle Company of the 1st
York Militia.
September 21, 1812
The American Raid at Gananoque
Captain Benjamin
Forsyth and about 200 American regulars and militia raided Gananoque, as the
village was important to the British transportation of supplies up and down the
St. Lawrence River. The village was
garrisoned by the 2nd Leeds Militia under the command of Lieutenant
Colonel Joel Stone. Having only just
over 40 men to defend the village, he was forced to retreat before superior
forces. The guards at the government
storehouse were forced to give up that building. The Americans seized all the supplies that
they could carry and burned the rest.[35]
Private
Archelans Farnham of the 2nd Leeds Militia was wounded and received
a pension after the war for the resulting disability.[36]
As
the Americans first landed in the village, Lieutenant John McNeil was ordered
to carry the news to Kingston. His wife,
Eurany, reported that he carried out the journey with such zeal that he ruined
his horse. The horse died 5 weeks
later. John was killed by a horse kick
the following year.[37]
Sometime
prior to his death, John built a new barn on his property that year on Lot 11,
Concession 2, Lansdowne Township. Family
history recorded that soldiers travelling through the area helped with the
construction. When it was torn down in the
1980’s it was purported to have been the oldest surviving barn in the province.
Photo of John McNeil’s
barn courtesy of Alan Lindsay
John
and Erany’s son, John Jr., later married Abigail Kyes who was about 11 years
old in 1813. She reported that her
brothers and herself spent whole days in the grain fields in the summer driving
off blackbirds and pigeons that wanted to eat the crops. When they needed grain ground, her father
would put her on the back of the horse with a bag of grain in front of her and
she would ride eight miles to the mill at Escott to have it ground. Six miles of the journey were through the
woods. They lacked many store-bought
goods like carpets, curtains, stoves, dishware, and some cutlery. They had to rely on maple sugar for a
sweetener. Wolves were troublesome as
they killed calves and sheep. Soldiers
travelling on the roads during the war would stay where ever they could find
billets and often took all the provisions they could find.
On the Gananoque River
Joel
Stone received a Loyalist land grant of 700 acres on the west side of the
Gananoque River near two waterfalls.
This location allowed him to build a sawmill and gristmill and to
establish a ferry across the river.
Joel’s enterprises helped develop the community of Gananoque.[38]
Joel
wrote that in 1812, he was surrounded by “seditious neighbours” and that he had
been marked out by them and the Americans with “singular malice.” He also noted that his regiment encountered
difficulties because they lacked a commissariat and barracks. At the time of the American attack, two of
the 2nd Leed’s detachments had been sent away, leaving him with two
subalterns and not more than 40 men.
After they were forced to retreat, he reported that the Americans had
committed acts of “cruelty and pillage.”
They fired musket volleys at his house, wounded his wife, broke open
several trunks and carried away the contents, burnt his new storehouse which
had been built to hold the King’s Provisions, and destroyed other property.[39]
Other
sources had Joel escorting a convoy to Kingston during the attack, possibly
with the two detachments that had been “sent away.” They also reported that Joel’s wife had been accidentally
shot in the hip while hiding valuables in her home.[40]
Lieutenant
Andrew Bradish was one of the militia defenders who had fled and had lost all
of his baggage. Colonel Stone certified
his war loss claim in 1816.[41]
Captain Ira Schofield
of the 2nd Leeds Militia had a boat and rigging taken by the
American’s at Gananoque. The boat had
been in use by the British. From his
quarters there, the Americans took his clothing and bedding as well. After the raid he took part in the pursuit of
the Americans.[42]
A Declaration
Brock
declared that he would not prosecute militia deserters who returned to duty.[43]
September 22, 1812
At Fort
York
“In
consequence of an Order received from Colonel McDonell Provincial Aid de Camp
dated at Fort George 19th Inst.
Major Allan is directed to dismiss for the present, the whole of the
Militia of the Battalion Companies, which was the Generals intention should
have been done some days ago, on receipt of the letter sent by Lt. Col.
McDonell to Col. Chewett dated 10th Sept.
“It
is therefore ordered that such men as compose the Flank Companies only shall
take the Guard and other duties of the Garrison until further orders.”[44]
At Fort
Wayne, Indiana Territory
General
James Winchester had joined Harrison at Fort Wayne. While Harrison destroyed indigenous villages,
Winchester departed with a force to take back Fort Detroit. On the way to Detroit, received reports that
the British were approaching Fort Wayne.
Harrison also received the news and rushed to join Winchester so they
could combine their two armies. Harrison
did not reach Winchester until October 2nd. While the two armies were in the field, Fort
Wayne was again threatened by indigenous warriors but additional American
forces arrived to defend it.[45]
September 24,
1812
On the
Niagara River
An
unknown person had crossed over the Niagara River above the falls at Grand
Island to the British side of the river and had reported that they had seen
gathered on the creek on the American side.
After dark, Captain John Norton and another warrior had crossed over in
a canoe to investigate. The canoe was
concealed on the shore and the two men walked inland past some houses and on to
the creek where they found no boats present.
From a bridge, they walked on the Niagara Road back towards the
river. At Field’s Tavern, an American
sentry stepped out from behind a tree and ordered them to show their pass. John told the sentry that he could not read
the pass in the dark and as drew close to the sentry, he shot him. The other guards in the tavern rushed out to
discover what was happening. They
quickly assessed the situation and ran back inside to get their fire arms. They exited and fired several shots at the
warriors. John and his partner then ran
back to their canoe and push off into the river. When the guards reached the shore, they could
hear the two men paddling but could not see them in the dark. The American newspapers later reported on
this encounter.[46]
September 26, 1812
At Fort
Wayne, Indiana Territory
Earlier,
the British Brevet Major Muir had departed for Fort Wayne in boats loaded with
a small detachment, a howitzer, and two field guns. About 15 miles up the Miami River, they were
joined by a party of warriors and proceeded in land. John Richardson was with the detachment.
On
this date, the British were quite near the fort. At about nine o’clock in the evening, the
cries of returning indigenous scouts were heard in the forest and several
warriors arrived in camp bearing American scalps.
They
had discovered five American scouts cooking around a camp fire in a glen near
the roadway. The warriors approached
peacefully and emptied handed and were permitted to join the Americans at the
fire. They learned that about 2500
Americans were encamped a few miles away.
Realizing that the British had to know how close the Americans were, the
warriors took up their arms and told the Americans to surrender. The Americans refused to give up their arms
but agreed to be taken back to the British as prisoners. As evening approached the warriors all
dropped to the back of the line of prisoners and fired upon them. The shots were heard in the British camp and
about thirty minutes later the warriors arrived and delivered their scouting
report.
About
to be confronted by superior numbers, Major Muir ordered the boats be prepared
for departure.[47]
At
Gananoque
Elias
Teed, of Gananoque on the north shore of the St. Lawrence River, had a mare
mistakenly shot by a sentry serving with the 2nd Leeds Militia
during an alarm in the night. Thomas F.
Howland and Neil McMullan examined the horse and discovered that it had been
killed by a musket ball that entered its body near its head. Elias had served with the British during the
American Revolution.[48]
September 27, 1812
At Fort
Wayne, Indiana Territory
In
the morning, Major Muir positioned his men on the heights above a ford where
they expected the Americans to attempt to cross. Late in the day, no Americans had appeared
and there was concern that they may have taken another route and might outflank
the British retreat. The order was given
to fall back to near Fort Defiance.[49]
Major
Muir later wrote that he had sent out a scouting party commanded by Captain
Caldwell and Lieutenant Askin of the militia and with about 60 warriors. The scouting party found the Americans and shots
were exchanged. One warrior was
killed. The scouts retreated back to the
British force and reported that the Americans were approaching. The major was dependent upon the indigenous
warriors as they outnumbered his small detachment but they were not preparing
to attack the Americans. He sent Colonel
Elliott to talk with Chief Round Head.
He reported back that the warriors would flank the guns on the plain
wherever the major decided to deploy them.
However, the warriors did not join the British at the roadway and
Colonel Elliott was sent back to enquire why.
He returned again to report that the warriors would comply if he fell
back through the woods to a good position on the other side. Four miles in the rear, they arrived at a
clearing, but it was not a suitable position for the guns.
Transporting
the guns through the woods was an encumbrance for the detachment and the major
ordered them and their stores sent back to Amherstburg in some of the boats.
The
warriors agreed to confront the Americans the following morning.[50]
On the
Niagara Frontier
In
the Niagara District, Brock commanded his militia officers to remind their men
not to waste ammunition.[51]
September 28, 1812
At Fort
Wayne, Indiana Territory
About
an hour before dawn, Colonel Elliott informed Major Muir that the Mackinac and
Sagina warriors were leaving.
Preparations were begun to prepare the cattle and baggage for a
retreat. Colonel Elliott returned in a
matter of minutes to report that the remaining warriors intended to engage the
Americans. The detachment was marched to
the indigenous encampment. The major was
then told that the warriors needed a bit more time to conceal their baggage but
the chief of the Mackinacs came forward and declared that the warriors were
divided on what to do and that many were leaving.
The
British marched to a position on the east bank of the north branch of the Miami
River about three miles above Fort Defiance.
Here indigenous scouts brought in an American prisoner who informed them
that it was General Winchester commanding the approaching army with about 3000
men and that they were expected to join another army at Fort Defiance and march
to Fort Detroit. At this time the major
was only accompanied by a little over three hundred warriors and was concerned
that the second approaching army might block his path of retreat. The decision was made to destroy some of
their supplies and begin a retreat.[52]
The
Americans had never directly engaged the British detachment and in later
reports exaggerated its size as two to three thousand. John Richardson, who was there, estimated the
British force at about 150 regulars, the same number of militia, and less than 500
warriors. They only occupied Fort
Defiance for one day.[53]
September 30, 1812
An
Encounter in Amherstburg
A
few days before arriving at Amherstburg, John Richardson chanced upon the
American prisoner and found him with his head shaved and covered by a
handkerchief, his face painted several colours, and freely eating at the
campfire with his Indigenous captors.
They would later meet again after the American had been adopted into the
tribe.[54]
Colonel
Elliott sent out scouting parties to keep track of the American armies headed
for Fort Detroit.[55]
Robert Dickson arrived at Amherstburg with a number of canoes full of Indigenous
warriors. Among them were the “Sawkies”
from the Sac River in Missouri. At this
time John Richardson estimated the British forces at Amherstburg and Detroit at
about three hundred of the 41st Regiment defending the two forts, 3000
warriors, and a company of Newfoundland Fencibles employed as marines upon the
war vessels.[56]
On the
Mississippi River
In
August, Robert Dickson had been fur-trapping on the Mississippi River when he
received word from Major General Brock to enlist help among the western
indigenous tribes. Robert had returned
and had led warriors at Mackinac Island and the Capture of Fort Detroit.[57]
On the
Niagara River
During
the month, the British began building a battery just north of Queenston in
Solomon Vrooman’s orchard. It became
known as Vrooman’s Battery and guards were stationed there and in his house
throughout the war.[58]
In York
Captain
Samuel Ridout of the 3rd York Militia reported that he had 19 men
under arms, seven “going on guard”, six coming off guard, two on command, one
on leave, two on fatigue, one in the hospital, two sick in the barrack’s, three
on the King’s works, two as cooks, and one as a servant. He had 44 men serving in his company that month.[59]
In
September, Ely Playter of York Township threshed his wheat and had it ground, cut
peas in his field and buckwheat in his orchard, bought two gallons of whiskey,
and found his lost ox.
He had also
made a butt for his sword, took the oath with the 3rd York Militia,
attended garrison duty, paraded, and did guard duty with his company.[60]
In Ancaster Township
Benjamin Smith, with the help of his sons plowed and
harried his fields, cleaned wheat, sowed 22 bushels of wheat, cleaned the barn
floor while it rained, and cut logs.
He read his Book on Sundays, had a Sunday visit from
John Vandecar, and attended a Sunday meeting.
He trained with the militia twice in Dundas while his
sons worked his fields.[61]
Upper
Canadian Service Deaths
Ensign Thomas Girty, 1st Essex, disease,
September 18, 1812,
Widow Monica Girty
Orphaned children to Monica (Girty) Tucker
Seaman Joseph Porrier, Provincial
Marine, disease, September, 1812,
Orphaned child to Francis Roy Sr. [62] [63]
Sources:
[1] Lieut. Col. William
McCay’s Journal 1812-1814, Quick March to Glory, transcript from Chatham-Kent
Museum.
[2] Collections Canada, War of 1812: Upper Canada Returns, Nominal Rolls and
Paylists, Microfilm t-10386, pages 936-940
and t-10387, pages 503-504.
[3] Lieut. Col. William
McCay’s Journal 1812-1814, Quick March to Glory, transcript from Chatham-Kent
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