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'rata o )elure. 1 2 3 32X 1 2 3 4 5 6 T-D A BRIEF BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF The Hon. Mert Charles Wiins. ( V^rittenfor the Hastings Chronicle) 25th March , 1866. A pioneer in the early settlement of the Bay of Ouinte section of the country has passed away. At the Carrying Place, on the 28th of March, the Hon. Robert Charles Wilkins, in the 84th year of his age, from an affliction whicli his years could no long- er support, yielded up the spirit which God had given him. Born in 1782,inthe city of NewYork (?) then yet held by the British forces, who had been employ- ed in the attempt to suppress the American rebellion, the life of the subject of this notice, running parallel as it does with the history of Upper Canada, possesses many points of interest. He was the son of Robert Wilkins, of whose demise we find *;he following no- tice in the Kingston Chronicle ;— "At the Carrying Place, 27th February, 1836, Robert Wilkins Esquire, in the 94th year of his age. He entered the Army at the early age of 17, in the 17th Light Dra- goons, then commanded by the late Colcnel Hale, boon after he joined the Regiment it was ordered to Scotland. There it did not remam long: the ' Whiteboy' conspiracy had been formed in Ireland. From Ireland he sailed with the same distinguished Regiment for the North American Colonies, then raising the standard of revolt,-landed at Boston, and a few days after bore a conspicuous part m the battle ot Bunker's Hill, on which occasion he had two horses shot under him. He was present at most of the engagemeuts iii ihe Nonhern Colonies. TAt the batili^ of White Plains he was one of the forlorn hope, where he received a severe contueion on the breast, and losr the humb of his rigt'tt hand. AfVci recovering from his wounds he retired from the Army, and entered into mercantile purpuHs in the city of New York. There he earned on a prosperous business until peace was concluded ; but when that city was evacuated by the British troops (in IISS.) he was loo strongly attached to his King to remain behind. He accomparued them to Shelburue. Nova f^cotia. In the improvements of that luckless ?lace he expended a large sum of money, but finding that the place would not suc- ceed, he left it, and in 1189 retnnied to his native country, from which, three years after, he was induced to follow Governor Simcoe to this Colony, just after it liad received it» Constitution, and became a distinct Government. From that time he remained in Upper Canada and most of the time at this place. Of christian doctrine and christian duty he had a much deeper sense than was obvious to occasion- al visitors. While he kept house, his hosr=«ality was pro- verbial, and never under bia Foof was •> poor refused food or shelter. His remuins were followed taihe chareh, and thence to the bouse appointed for all hvinff by not less than 300 of his friends and neighlmrs,— a proof of the esti- mation in which he was held by those to whom be was best known. " The characteristics of the invber were in a remark- able degree transmitted to the eon. Pobsessicg en- ergy, intelligence, and hospitality, he early com- menced the practice of those virtoes which were so natural to him, and which distingoished him throagh- ont life. The succeediog incidents are extracted from a paper placed in the hands of the writer of this no- tice, and were delivered to an intimate friend of the deoeaaed: — "Tie following statement of fects regaiding my life, I leave to gratify the of^ expiesse^ wishes of # 3 my family tmd friends, and not from any vain-glon- ouB feeling on my own part. With me ail such vani. tie» luive long since fmssed away. My father waa an Englishman by birth and feeling, and a freeman of ihe borough of Leicester. I accompanied my fa- ther, Captain Robert Wilkius, from England to this country, about 1792. I was then nine years of age. * * * My father readily obtained a grant of land on Lis arrival in this colony, for himself and his chil- dren ; for himself as Captain he drew 3,000 acres of valuable lands, and for each of his children who were of age, 600 acres. I was ten years old when my la- ther arrived at Kingston, and from tJ)at time to the present my home has been upon the margin of the Bay of Quinte. For the principal part of my educa- tion 1 am indebted to the venerable Arclideacon Stua art, who was then a young man preparing for orders. For this good and amiable man I have always enter- tained a sincere regard ; there ever after existed be- tween us a warm triendship. Early in lite I entered in business at the head of the Bay of Quinte on the Carrying Place, where I have resided ever since. In 1804 I united fortunes to that of Mary Smith, fourth daughter of the late Charles Smith, of Port Hoae, with whom I spent many happy years. She was removed A^rom me on 17th April. 1847. In ILS08 Mr. Wilkina entered into a large Lumber business, vrhi'sh be prosecuted Buccessfully till 1816* -when be formed a partnership with the late Joseph Shuter, as general Importers at the city of Montreal. They did an extensive and prosperous business. The memorandum con' limes: — "On the breaking out of the war of 181!2. 1 was appointed Captain of a flank Company, .and in that year ^as on di\ty with my company in King8U)n until I was appointed a Corn- company J^ , . pit^ce. ThiBappomt- miBsary agent at the L>arrying x ment, and its location bere, were m conBe^"--;o the United States having obtained contro of Lake Onlario The object of this office was to obUnu .up- ^^Z the army' and to seen, safe ^^^^f^ troops and stores from the head ot the Bay of Quinte. rrnable me to carry these objects to a sncc.B^^ iBBue it was ordered by General Drnmmond that all M^suJe. and Colonels of Militia were to obey nvy ordfrs and carry out r.y ^e^"-^^-°« ^'^" ^^"j for the public service. In that position I continued t the end ot the war, assisted by a most efficient of- ficer, John McCuaig, of thelCommissary department. , *^ ' 7 * * * An idea of the services re- auired of him at this period may be lormed, when it. rknown that at times he was called upon to serve cut 6000 rations per day, and to provide tmnsport tor large nunibeis of prisoners and troops gomg m <>Pl> - site directions. The requisitions were made upon bim with only a few hour^' notice, and under the most urgent circumstances. On many occasion, he rbled'through local knowledge and influenc^ t ,e provisions and means of conveyance, declared b> tie Commissariat bb unattainable ; thus contiibutmg in an impcvtantdegreetothesucceesof thevaiiousenter- ;dsrofthateventfulperiod.TheBritishtroopswere either hastening to the Western frontier, by forced ' marches, or prisoners of war were being conveyed to Quebecfov safe keeping. Gen. Hull's army capt-ed at the surrender of Detroit, it is said passed over the Carrying Place on its way U> the transport ships and hulks, then used as prisons, in Quebec harbor. At the close of the.war Mr. Wilkins received from the head of the Commissary department the nioRt sat- / / ' I •..factory approval of the umun.r In wlach the aeconut« had been kept, and f..r ihe taithfnl di.eharge of bt. nianv important dnties. Another inBtance of the vano.is f^ervice he was called npon to render, was in pvovidinK tor the con- vevauce in batteanx do u the 13av of Q.nnte,of the prisoners taken at Qneeu.ton Ueightn. On Urn occa- Hion a r^rsou Nvho ha. since becon.e cm.Hpicaons from the exalted ponilioun he has lately occnpied, .vas for several dav8 Mr. Wilkin.' gnest Gen"! Scot , Com mander-in-chief of the U. S. army, then a Colonel m the American service, was amon^ the pnsonerB taken at the battle of Qneensfon Heights. In «ub«equen years, when tbe .t.bject was mentioned to General *Scott, he made many kind enquiries respecting his host on that occasion, Again, in mi, at the breaking out of the rebellion. Mr Wilkins was called upon by the Government of thatday. As Colonelof the 2d Prince Edwaid Kegt.ot Militiaf he was appointed by Su- F. B. Head to com- mand the whole Militia of that District, and ni b« capacity called ont, as they were required, volunteer companieeforactiveservice, Of these volunteer com- panies there were either 5 or 6. Mr. Wilkins, m re^ Lring to this duty says, " the dilllculty we had was uot to obtain men, but to deal with the "««^bers who offered their services, and whom we were obliged U. refuse. The appearance and conduct of these men .veie such as to elicit from the Colonel m command (Mr. Wilkins' superior officer) " the strongest exprea sions of approval in both respects," In the rebellion of 1837, as in the war of 1812 not the least arduous and responsible of Mr. Wilkms many duties, were the magisterial duties he wa- frequently called upon to discharge. Ai the close of the Kebelliou, Mr. Wilkine wuk Iu- vited to a public dinner by the officers of the three Militia rej^imente under hie command, and many were tlie expressions of confidence and readiness to serve under him again, should the timeu cull them forth. The interval of peace from 1812 to 18.'ir had not aba- ted his capacity, or his v^illingnesrt to discharge his duty. With most of the old settlers of the Province, eepeciaJiy the survivoi-H of the war of 1812, the pait they took in the defence of the conntry is now refer- red to with commendable pride. From those who have since conferred dignity and lustre upon the adminis- f^tion cf justice in this Province, as well as to many who have arrived at less coiwpicnous positions in other callings, the stirring events of 1812 and the subsequent years of the war, are subjects of congratulation ; and well it may be, for it is mainly owing to their patriot- ism that to-day we enjoy British institutions. It may be stated as a matter of curiosity, that Mr* Wilkins' Militia commission dates from 1795 ; he was •then an Ensign. This is said to be the oldest com- n the Gov^srament and the military authorities of the day, but as the importance of the work from a commercial point of view did not apparently wairant the Goveninient in applying the appix)priKtion held in trnst for that parpoBe, and aa the long continued peace did not force it upon the military authorities in Engfcind, it was never undertaken. The following extract ft-om the Report of the Trade and Commerce of Montreal for 1865, is an evidence of Mr. Wilkiua' advanced views on this subject : - Whf u it U remembered that the stretch between Prejsqne Iple Harbor and King9ton is the most hazardous on IjBke Ontario, the advanlages lo l)e derived from puch a cm-off will be evident, especially In the Fall, when (ilormy weather is most prevalent. Had that little canal existed lai»t y^ar, a number of marine di.^asters might have been avo ded. Any one who cxannineB the man may see at once how important the Bay of Quinte would thus be. t'ome in the event of hostilities on the Lake " At the Union of the Provinces, of which he waa an opponent, in common with most of the Conserv*' five party of that day, he declined to accept a seat in the united Legislative Council, though invited to do so by Sir Charles Bagot, who addressed him the follow- ing letter upon the subject : — "Quebec. July 18th. 1842. '^ Sir.— As the. time is now approaching' at which the Provincial Parliament will meet tor the despatch of busi- ness, and as previous to tneir meeting it will be necessary that an addition should be made to the Legislative Co''',n«' cil. 1 take this opportunity of informing you that I shalF have much pleasure in submitting your name to Her Ma- jesty for an appomtment to that Body, ahottlcl you be wil- ling to accept It. In making this offer, however, I am bound to stipulate that if, as I hope, you accept it, you will give a regular attendance to the duties which the appointment will entail upon you. and will not allow it to lapie into a mere honor* ary distmction. 1 have great pleasure in this occasion of teatt^inf my sense of your character and standing in this Preumee. Your obedient and ftiithful servant, Cbajuus* Ba«ot* The Hon'ble R. C. Wnkin8.»»^ It is nnderatood that the reason assigned by Mr. Wilkins for declining this offer was, that his private business required bis atfce&tiOD ; Imt friends who know him intimately Ktate that l.i^ «• iukhI Hvone from other inoliveH. Having opponed the Union, lie did not care to accept an appointment muler it.— The jMmition of a Legislative Councillor was no! a po«ition which Mr. Wilkine nought for advance ment. It would add neither diunity to his nobition iu the Province, or honor to his well eBtuhlisLed rep- atal ion He was wealthy ar. 'uid a recognized po- aition, and nature had made him a gentleman. 1 hat a man of Mr, Wilkins" characteritttica should have been popular is no wouder to those who knew him ; but that he retained the esteem of the lirst men ot .he Province to his latest days, and for years after he had ceased to take an active part in public aliairs, is per- haps attributable to the sterling qualities of his cha- racter, which were remembered by all who had ever known him. His remains were followed to the gmve by a large concourse of friends, many of whom had travelled long distances to pay the last tribute of re- spect to one who during life they had regaided as one of nature's nobility. With his former friends and as- Bociates in life, they laid his remains in their midst, m the old grave yard at the Carrying Place. On a subsequent occasion an interesting and afTect- int? funeral sermon was preached by the Rev. John Grier, in memory of the deceased, at hia usual place of worship at tne Carrying Place. The Kev. gentle^, man, who so appropriately performed this last act o christian duty and friendship for the deceased, testified to his many christian virtues, and estimable qualities as a member of society, as vreU as to the principal in- cidents of his life as above narrated, through an inti- mate friendship extending over 44 yeais. Printed at the Chronicle Office.