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Those too large to be entirely included in one exposure are filmed beginning in the upper 'eft hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, as mi:ny frames as required. The following diagrams illustrate the method: Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent dtre filmds d des taux de reduction diffdrents. Lorsque le document est vrop grand pour dtre reproduit en un seul cliche, il est fiim6 d partir de Tangle supdrieur gauche, de gauche d droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images ndcessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mdthode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 ^» THE THOROLD ARMS II f " II JUBILEE HISTORY or<^ THOROLD TOWNSHIP AND TOWN FROM THK Time OF THE RED MAN TO THE PRESENT -J^^^-vSX- PUBLISHEI) BY JOHN H. THOMPSON I'OR THE THOROLD AND HEAVER DAMS HISTORICAL SOCIETY IHOROLD THK THOROI.n J'OST PRINTINtl AND PUnLISHINd COMl'ANV 1897-8 F5H91' T75 167584 ., Kntc...! ac.-..nlinj; ,., Act of, he I-a,lianu-n. of Cannula, in ,1,. v.ar .SyS, by (oh„ H. Ihomps.iiK at the I )e|)ailiiu-nl of Airriciilturc » Preface It was ,l,e su,,„es,i„„ „f ,,,0 IVovinnal Historical Association rcK.ard,„g ,hc compiling of local histories tha. caused „,e T 3d d Keavcrdan. Historical Soeierv to p., f„r,„ ,his „.„,k, „ ^^ e n,e„, ,ers „ad long Telt that the Township possessed a histor ^ Its owi. well worih recording, ' Considerable space has been devoted to the Town of Thorold •ind to the Villages of Araohurgh, Port Kohinson and S h " Vest, winch he wholl, within the Township; while briefer ii boen nrade of Konthill, which lies partly with,,, ,.e,l,a,n. A o, , , s,„a portton of ^^•el,and is on the so„,h side of theChippawa Creek and s.nce the town is considered as separate fro,, the l»wnsh,p for all ,n„„ieipa, p^poses, its history has not b n.c ,rde„ ,„ ,his work. „ is hoped, however, 'that both tt paev,ll receive due attention when the Townships of Crowlan. and Pelham record their annals. '•ro»,a,iu The inl„r,„ation has Ix^en gathered ehicHy fro.n the descendants "f...'- early settlers, although, wherever po.,sible, docum n "^ ev, ence has also been obtained to verify any state™ nts nrade Tn s.ch a work ,1 ,s i,np„ssib,e to prevent errors fr„„, creeping n,' f, ." he abse,,ce of written records on n,a„v p„i,„s, even t '1,',; authorities differ greatly. ^ k.ndly urn,shed ass,s,a„cc in pro,.„ri„g i„f„r„,a,i„n. It would be ""Posstble to .nention the na„,es of all thos,. within the tZ 1,^ who have a,cM the work in this wav, but special thanks are o High school, who has written th'e':';.;: t '^, l^ h,s,or) of the (ire contpany. Through the ki„,h,ess of ,„any persons living outside the Township, accurate information has been obtauied on many important points: Miss M. A. Kit/Ciii^bon of Toronto, author of "A Veteran of .8,2"; Sir fohn Thorold, Hart., Syston Park, (irantham, I.incohishire ; Col. (). T. Denison' Toronto ; Stephen Heatty, Es,]., St. Catharines, who has furnished most of the information regarding the Fenian Raids ; and Capi. Cruikshank of I'ort r:rie, from whose inonograpli entitled "A Century of Municipal History in Wdland County" the chapter on municipnl government in this i)(,.,k has been .-ompiled. ■'I Publisher's Preface ■ ■" " ■ -' -> I.™.. —I ,;™,i„., ,C ,~- V. lue and „l too vast importance ,„„ to be encouraged to the verv nlniost by every patriotic citizen. >^ -Ihe publisher of tlie History of Thorold, for himself and for ,h. cc,ety which he represents, has to acknowledge a warn ,1 .' : op:::' ar: Of ::,i""' - '"""" -' "-""-""• '■™" --^ w^os; l-'om a purely business point of view, the enterprise must be lowed to he a bold one. To publish such a book at sue ,apri cl,,e deu^nd for which tnust necessarily coure fron, a sing, Z! M..P, and „,ake „ a financial as well as a literary and artistic succes^ .-quires no s,„all degree of conf,dence, not to speak of t as u „S .l.a. c venture will be fully appreciated u, that small con tit ncy he ,lustrat,ve features also call for mention. Most of th'^ Photograps, excepting, „f course, the portraits and a few 1 ..cures fron, which the engravings were made were taken y ' Lorold amateurs, and the quality of the engravmgs as th appe '" the book speak.s well for the skill n..H . ^ ^^ onViml. 'M M "^ '^^''"■'-' '^'-''^towed upon the n^ al.s. Ihose ,llu.st.atu,ns which, are fron, photographs by professionals are so marked. ^ CONTENTS ToPo,nlklnre. An In.lian Imrial. Indian rdics ill„sl rale-. /'";•'■ / rHAI'TKR II Sl'TTLEMKNl ■■'niled Kmpire Loyalists. Kirsi conu-rs \i i r •i-lH- n«n,i„« ,'„- T , ;, ; *-""™"".;i.- ." .r„„,,s. "■•"'"■« «»%-« » i,; ,„. : ,7"^. TT '•" "' sctlii-rs. '^^nsni|). .\,„es aix-iit mo (]rs, /'■ .. "im ciimnais. .TWajnns Ph.. "f ii lluiiifrv \ oar of i-rXV \fi-. "'"I's. i iio told, --- »- " -. .wl- :,:7u,„j:;;.r";7"™v'?''- «' »■ <■'" » 1.1 ». ,j:::Iz"'""- 'r"" f-HAPTKR IV AmKK.CAN ()ccr.ATK.N OK ,„k ToUNs„n> Outbreak ot war in iSn \.„ ■ -' - "; .^r;:;:: ; :::,:'•' ^j- '- --»"« - George. American rai.k cu . , \ "^'^- An.encans retreat t., Fort Cl'S la. ■s. of St < nAI'TKR \ Thk Skirmish at Hkavkki.a.ms A.nc.nn.„s resolve ,o .lisl...]^, Fi,.(;iN,.„., ,„,., ^. ,^ ^, ^ ^ •Mohawk Indians Fi,,,;,, • " •^'"^■'■'^■'*" '''■"'acha.en. ,„,l the 'Ik- «V, , I , Z"T', -l>i".l»....... M„„u„,e„, ,„, ^■^•^ *^ i.".^;..::,:::^;:^:;^''•'''; :■'*■" "■^■''- "■ •■ prt-sented i,, her l,v ( •„) I,,/, 11 I ru ' he c:ertihcate memory. ' '"'"'''''""• 1 he propose.! ...onunu-nt to her <:HAi'rit:R \'i Kko.M 1S15 I,, ,S^Jy ''fleets (if ii,.. ..,,,. ,. , . ri.c. w. , ,„„ '";"",; *!•■"'■- . , '■-■" '-v.„,. ,,„„„„. . , ' ' ^'^t'k'riiie .Maitland. Minister.; <■ 1 Aca.le,„y and Tpp,, Canada College The .• ^ "' "'"""-' =^'"-s. Mackenzie on Navy nLi t n' ''*""'^"' =^"'' a' -St. lohits. Act of Union T ^^'^''^''^- '^""'^'^ "l"'" the Lancers - .he notninion T .'p inehiT I' """''^^ '^'^ ''^'^- ''■^■'-'" -" -iephone. N'isit of e P^:* of W ■""";■ " • '^"^'^^" "^'^^^^'"^ -" l-rtant Thorol.1 n,en Hi , " . H T '''"''''' '^"'^- ^^ ->'• In- ".sto,j „f Heaverdanis an,l .St. Johns West. Z^, ,-, Can.m. Towns Thorold. Its situation. Its founders r)l 1 ^^'ecinVlitjhtsan.l acetylene Lns vt , ^ectnc railway. Ties pas, and present "CnP , ""*^"' '''''■ '^"""^ --'- '-lus- '^'•--.•^. -;uiarsit:r/::;rL,rr^v ^^^t-""^"^-- -'-.'•ies. Applications n.rincorporarmT '^'^7 ^'f "^^- ^^'-"- Allanln.r,h. Hkuk l,..rse Tavern T,, 7^"' 1 ^ ^" '^'«''-^-"- ''-.'Cut. Kirs. u,i,.. l-resen. cuht!!: """^"" ^"^'"- ^'^^^ "" "^'^ f'H.XPIRR \'in I'KNIAN RaII>.S I'art playe,l l.y the Welland Canal Kiel,] Iiatler^• uid N' J six weeks. V'enians cross the Niagara Kiver. l''ifl(l Hultcry again called out. Batlly eegricul- tural Society formed. .Silver medid awarded lo 'Ir- model farm. (battle show at Heavcrdams in 1S48. I'ri/e list. /''A'<' 100 CHAI'TKK X Tuii W'ki.i.ami Canals Their importance. Tlic I Inn. Wm. Hamilton Merrill. Canal Company formed. First sod turned. .Mr. Merrill's s|)eech. Attempt to liuild an underground canal. l-'ailure of the scheme. Plan to feed the canal from the Chippawa Creek. Impossihility owing to (piicksands. Third plan successful. Canal led from the (irand River. Navigation opened in 1829. Widening of the wooden locks, tiovernment Iniys the .stock. Secontl enlargement of the old canal. Stone locks huilt. The new canal begun in 1870. Dimensions. Completion. Cost. Canal lolls. Important vessels. Navigation season. Sabbath observance. Tolls and freight in 1895. Cataract Power Canal begun in 1897. Piiiir /oj; CHAP'I ER XI Municipal History Parish and town officers. Lieutenants of counties. Township ,\ct of 1835. Office of Town Warden restored in 1838. The first entry in Thorold Township book. Return of roads laid out in 1796. Later roads in the Townshij). Municipal Act of 1841. Thorokl mend)ers of the old Niagara District Council. List of Wardens of Wellaiul County chosen from Thorold Township. Im]iortant by-law affecting the Township. By-laws passed by the Thorold Town and N'illa're Councils. /'a'.r riS t CHAPTER %:il ('hukchks Presbyterian church at Port Robinson. Methodist churches al Beaverdams, Hit, eld k'ht ers ers ///•■ )ld SO . » 'I'liiin.l.l, Alhinl)ur,.|, ami |',„, i. \- -H '-n :; ; ,:;:;:;:;;;:;:^:;-t::^T ,"''"^ "' ' CHAi'TKR xirr Schools n„vc.,„„r Si„,„,,'» ofr„r„ i„ ,h. ,:.,„s. ,.f „l„c«,i„„. ri,.. K„„, „„n, „f =„ .. . •■'•n, ,799). Canal Statistics. Agricultuial Prize List, 1897. Old .Military Documents. The House of Thorold. BiograjAical Notes. Methodist Ministers, Revised List. \- • ){ Index of Illustrations The Thorokl Anns Her Majesty Queen \'ici,-ria . l'"iont street, T old Face of Clift" . '■ ^'ievv from Top of cii/T Indian Relics Old Residents tieor^e Keefer . ' " ' ' Children of George K. fe; and Catherine' Lampn,an " Cclren of Ceorge Keefer and Jane MeBriCe l• H. Croml.ie ; L. McMann ■Mayors of Thorold Page Front Title 'rontispiece 2 4 5-6 1617 32-33 4S-49 64.65 80.81 96-97 Tln)rol(l Town Council, 1897 ..... Thorokl Town Council, 1898 ..... Four Generations (Hoover); Thorold Town Hail; "The Locusts" (residence of the late Peter Hoover) ; McKsnzie Monument ; Front street, Allanhurgh ..... 112-113 Five Thorokl Churches— St. John's, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Methotlist and Baptist ..... Six Township Churches— Old White M. F. at St. Johns; Port kohin- son Methodist and Presbyterian ; Beaverdams Methodist (old) ; Allanburj^h Methodist and .St. John's Methodist (new) R. C. Presbytery ; Separate School ; R. C. Church, Port Robinson : Township Hall ...... Harvest Home Festival at St. Peter's, 1865 .... Council of the Board of Trade ..... Residence of VVni. McCleaij, M. P. .... . 128-129 R. C. Priests; Thor()ld and Beaverdams Historical .Society Rectors of St. John's Church ; (Quebec Bank ; Bishop P'uller ; St. Paul's Church, Port Robinson ..... Directors and Officers of the Thorold Agiicultural .Society, 1897 James Battle, ex-Reeve of Thorold: Residence ol Walter Upiier Dr. L. I.oran Palmer; W'm. McClure, M. 1). Baruch Tucker sr.; Baruch Tucker jr. Methodist Ministers Presbyterian Ministers ; Baptist Ministers The 1866 Veterans of No. 2 Company remaining in 1892 High .School, Thorold ; First School-house at St. Johns, school of internu'diate perod, and new (union) school ; the old School-house at Port Ri>l)inson ..... Beaverdams, Fonthill, Plank Road, DeCeu Falls and Bouck School- houses ...... West and l-'.ast Side Schools, Thorold ; .St. John's Rectory ; .Stone House built by Col. DeCeu .... Village of St. Johns; Holy Trinity Church, Fonthill ; Two \'iews of Port Robinson . ... .\n old Settler on theCanl)oro' Road ; Old Wagon ; Only Occu|)ied Log Honse ; l''irst I.og House in the Township (east of Port Robinson) The Heaverdani .Meai » . w i ^w ^V" — ' ^-^ '' T ' ! ' " "' I l ■'■!" 'J ' ' " ' "M y n V t ( I WTi ' f ^. ' J. Chapter I W [-1-1 O or: o w _1 li ►-!■-. at c/:) 'A a - a Q o ►-1 2 O S ^ a W ^; o PC 4 TOPOORAPIIY, (lEOI.OGY AND ARCHv new \Vell\;".(l canal. in the chase. These implements do not differ materially from those used by primeval man in other parts of the world. In outward appearance they resemble closely the representatives of the two well-known classes — palaeolithic (old stone) age, and neolithic (recent stone) age. The first, besides instruments of doubtful use, includes rudely formed arrow tips, spear heads and knives, along with rough or unpolished stone axes and hammers. The second is choacterized by well formed arrow and spear heaJs of flint, by polished stone axes, gouges, etc., and by unglazed lOPOCiRAF'HY, <;K0I,0GY AND ARCH/KOLOOY 5 pottery. Tilt' (liffcrtticc helween the two classes is fairly represented by the groips shown in Plates I and II. Whether ;he race which used the rough stone implements was identical with that which used the more skilfully made weapons cannot now he determined from the evidence at our disposal. It is, however, affirmed that only one rare occupied the Niagara district prior to the coming of the Jesuit missionary, La Roche Daillon, in 1626. If this improbable contention be correct, then the no, )m In of nd of Ind trs. led a. S|u'cinicn found on Muisiner fiirni, nciir Cliipj'awa river. /' and c. l-'ound near town of Tliorold. . Axes used by Neutrals. c, c, c, (•. Arrow-heads. 40 their forty villages eontaint d a population of 1 2,000 souls, distributed ovei the area already defined. They were possessed of a splendid physique, and in this respect they were superior to the Hurons and Iroquois. We must call them ingenious mechanics if we consider together their workmanship and their tools. Their flints are among the best specimens made by savage man. Stone implements hard enough to cut glass have been found, worn into symmetrical shape, which must have cost incredible perseverance. Their constructive power made them good surgeons. Though hunting and fisliing gave tiiem an abundant supply of animal food, they had clearings in which they grew mai/e, pumpkins and beans. In many of their customs they resemble their kinsmen the Hurons. In summer the men wore no clothing, but tattooed their bodies ; while the women went but scantily attired. IJut in winter both sexes were comfortably dressed in furs and skins. But however rude their customs were, they possessed two which are not thought to be unworthy of the dignity of modern society. Their fondness for gambling and their love of smoking are the practices referred to. In the Niagara district the Neutrals had numerous small villages and two large ones, viz.: at Point Abino and Niagara. The last name is but a changed form of the Indian appellation " Onghiara," which was once used to designate the Neutral village which stood on the site of the present historic town. The land adjacent to the village was well cultivated in the growth of maize and tobacco. The traditional treeless districts of Stamford township may have been similarly used. In Thorold, as in other parts of tne province, there were temporary villages, used only during the hunting .season. Along the Welland river, every bank e.xanvned gives proof of occupation, by the abundance of (lakes of flint, fragments of arrow heads and other broken implements. On the Muisiner farm, already mentioned (Plate I), all the indications of former habitation are met with, while on the opposite side of the river, in Crowiand township, a burial Y 8 HISTORY OF THOROI-D i^^f I ■ place is known to exist. The suitableness of the banks of the Chijjpawa (Welland) river for temporary residences is obvious : t\,2 stream is the Largest intersecting the Niagara peninsuLi, and is navigable with canoes fully twenty-five miles from i'^s mouth, and had the impoitant advantage of leading to a section abounding in game. The Neutrals usually lived in bark wigwams ; but, like the Hurons, they had " long houses," from forty to two hundred and forty feet in length, and thirty feet in width and height. To build a hovse of this kind, they planted two rows of saplings the required distance apart, to form the sides. These poles were then bent together at the top and tied to form the ridge. Other poles were tied horizontally, to give firmness to the structure. The sides and roof were formed from pieces of bark .securely fastened. An opening a foot wide was left the entire length of the roof for the escape of smoke. B^'ths were built a few feet from the ground along both sides of the house, and here, on mats and skins, reposed the inmates of the house. In winter a row of fires was built in the centre of the house, fiom one end to the other. In many parts of the province the position of these houses can still be traced, as at Point Abino, by rows of ash heaps, which in some cases reach a depth of two feet. The ash heaps are flanked by accumulations of camp refuse of equal depth, containing fragments of pottery, pipes, bone needles and other implements casually dropped.* Character of Neutrals. The cruel, warlike character of the Neutrals is brought out in their war with the Mascoutins or Nation of Fire, a numerous people who inhabited the south shore of I^ke Michigan. The Neutrals, two thousand strong, besieged their eneni)' for ten days. Then taking the town by storm, they made an indiscriminate slaughter of men, women and children. Eight hundred prisoners were captured and brought back to the Neutral country, t * The best examples which it has been the good fortune of the writer to examine are found on the fiirm of the late Cornelius Burwell, Elgin County, near Eden, ' )nt. t Relations dcs I.' urons, 1644. if the ation Lake their le an '.ight butral Kter to |, near TOPOGRAPHY, GEOLOGY AND ARCH/EOLOGY 9 These events took place in December, 1643. The victorious Neutrals, on reaching their own country, portioned out the prisoners among their cantons, und put them to death by prolonged torture, the details of which seem too shocking to relate. But the day of vengeance was at hand. The Iroquois found a pretext for attacking the Neutrals in 1645-1650. The Mohawks and Senecas took two frontier towns belonging to tHe Neutrals, one of which contained 1600 men. They slaughtered the old people an 1 children, who were too weak to stand the journey to the country of the Iroquois, but took with them a large number of j^risoners, chiefly young women. The remainder of the Neutrals were so terrifieo by the fate of the captured towns that they fled from their villages, and, abandoning their territory, sought safety in the remote wilds of the forests. Thus separated, the fugitives soon either succumbed to starvation, or were absorbed into other tribes, and the Neutral nation became extinct forever. But we still find traces of the vanished race in our plowed fields, in our gardens, and even in our streets — traces which excite our curiosity, and deepen the mystery of human life and progress. For an unknown period the country of the Neutrals remained a solitude which was avoided by superstitious Indians ; but it was finally occupied by the Chippawas, or Ojibways, as the word was sometimes used. The colonization of the English and French on the Atlantic coasts doubtless did much to attract the western tribes eastward for the purpose of barter, to which the superior implements of the Europeans- gave an irresistible impulse. Stone axes, flint knives and bone needles yielded at once to steel ones, for which there was a keen demand. This seems to be the most plausible explanation of the re- settlement of the Neutral country by the Chippawas, and also of the trans-continental trails connecting the east with the great west. A part of these trails afterwards proved of great service to the U. E. Loyalists, who wished to make their way to the Niagara frontier in order to escape the persecution of an intolerant, victorious democracy. 10 HISTORY OF THOROLD One of these routes passed from Detroit through Canada by what is now called Talbot street and the Canboro road to the Niagara river. Two branches of the trail cross Thorold township. Conunencin)^ at Fonthill, tho Canboro road passes through Al'anburgh to Lundy's Lane, where it intersects the "Portage Road," which ran from (,)uecnsion to a point on the Niagara liver above the l^alls. The other branch deviated to the northward, following a part of the Beaverdains and St. Davids roads to Queenston. Another trail connected Lundy's Lane with Burlington, thus crossing the Queenston trail not far to the south of the town of Thorold, and is still in use as a travelled road. The branch of the Chippawas which took possession of the Neutral country are known as Mis?issaugas, who continued to occupy the country till their title to the land was extinguished through purchase by the British (iovernment. Owing to their commerce with the whites, their habits were very different from those of the Neutrals. They copied many of the virtues of their " white brothers," and, sad to say, many of their vices also. In loj-alty, honor and gratitude, the most illustrious examples may be found— examples which utterly shame the weaker product of civilization. Stil) they clung with tenacity to their pagan religion. It is much to be regretted that the early settlers of this district have not left us written accounts of the customs of the Indians with whom they came in contact : such information would be of the highest value to-day. Most of the traditional lore is so corrupted as to be almost worthless. The following brief sketch of the burial of a pagan Indian chief may be relied on as correct : A flotilla of fifty or more canoes brought the funeral party to a spot on the bank of the Welland river, in the township of Crowland, on the farm now owned by Jabez Clarkson. The body was dressed in the official co!:tume of a chief of that tribe. It consisted of moccasins, leggings and coat made of buckskin, with profuse ornamentation of beads, feathers and porcupine quills. In the grave beside the body were placed a bow, some arrows and a tomahawk. TOPOGRAPHV. GEOLO,;V AND ARCH^.OLOGV Then the assembly formed in a circle abonr tU. officiating chief bei.anh.cK "^ grave, and the e v-mer oegan his harangue. He r'arpH tKo ^„ .. u . ,- tomahawk in the ri^hf h. ^ 7 ^'''^' ^""'^'"g his me right hand, and commenrpH f^ i '■n.e» swinging the eomahawk over l,i, herd Zt' ■* ' "' deceased, now toward, th, ^ ' P°"'""8 n™ « the •ho south and tie r: and":::''' '' !''-' '"'-"' '° .i^e heavens, a„iving at the "u^^ ^Ttt!:' f""':' H.s.o.or.hetnherenr;a,ed"t et;,o;::\r:h:vr '^^ 'his world, or whe.her it c.pa.ia.edTn ^ "e T' '" hunt,ng ground -beyond, the spectators cou d ot .el'""' thoughtful onlooker believed he ,,w , T ' "' ""' the sun """ """"«>l«:able. reverence for instead of the con'tin ous e. w^thL 7""' l' '''"'''■ Attiwandaron, with his mute d " '" *""<"« ""= Instead of the intricate trail o, the savage 1 rTd L, '™""- us vistas of orchard, farm and dwellin! I'h ! ™''' °'^" '" place to the whistle of the l„ warwhoop has given -'-^'eating of *;l:^:,i— :; - '^;h- ojthe wolf to hasdispcMedfore. rfh. H I "^ ^' ^'^"'e. A sunshine of peace and theUtn,,: r :r :: r'^,:,,:: . " -^ -"'■- - Chapter II Settlement United Empire Loyalists. First comers. Mode of travelling. Indian treaties. The naming of Thorold Township. List of original i)atentees. List of Butler's Rangers who settled in the Townshiji. Notes about the first .settlers. Our debt to former generations is often all too easily forgotten ; but we, who are now enjoying the goodly heritage of this most favored land, may do well to consider the struggles and privations of those who first tilled its soil. Distinctively a U. E. Loyalist settlement, Thorold township could not have been more fortunate in the character and ability of its founders. Having already made one home in the wilds of America, no one knew better than they how to cope with the difficulties that everywhere beset them. Cle;.r of brain and strong of body, men who feared God a. id honored the King, they drained the swamps, cleared the woodlands, lived honest, industrious lives, and left behind them families well fitted to carry on the work so nobly begun. Throughout the Revolutionary War many persecuted loyalists from New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania fled for refuge to the Niagara frontier. F"ort Niagara sheltered several thousand Tories until after the independence of the United States was declared, as before the boundaries of the new Republic v.^.c clearly defined that spot still lay within the British jurisdiction. Then they crossed over into the British colony, and from that time until the end of the century a constant stream of U. E. Loyalists came to make new homes in Upper Canada and New Brunswick. A letter from Col. Butler to Cen. Hald'mand, dated the 17th of December, 1780, reports that four or five families had already settled in this district, SETTLEMENT 13 ps, ift ries as tiat sed tlie lew :oi. 80, ii-t, and had built themselves houses. Probab'y there were also others, unknown to him, who had settled as "squatters" in the woods. The Misener family records give 1782 for the date of the building of a log house by Leonard Misener on I>ot 180, on the Thorold bank of the Chippawa river. The year 1783 brought a large number of settlers. About this time John Brown took up land at the Gore, and Abraham Overholt settled near the Pelham boundary, while John Kelly came from New Jersey to make his home near the present town of Thorold. The first white child born in the township was Kelly's son Isaac, who lived from 1787 to 1874. Neither necessity nor hope ' '■eward was the chief cause of these immigrations. In some cases the Americans had offered tracts of land to the loyalists if they would promise allegiance to the new government. Such an offer was made to the younger Jacob Ball's father-in-law. Captain Clement, known as Ranger John, who had led a regiment of Indian warriors on the King's side all through the war. " No," hotly replied the sturdy old fighter ; " I'll follow the British flag into the wilderness of Canada, to live under it there, and if need be to die for it, but never to fight against it." Other and more worldly-wise subjects of King George found it wiser for their families' sake to accept the bribe and promise to preserve a neutral attitude, while at the same time they gave vent to their loyalty by covertly assisting His Majesty's supporters in crossing to Canada. Then, nearer the close of the century, they were better able to join their friends and take advantage of the grants given to the U. E. Loyalists. The early settlers of Thorold were chiefly of Dutch or Ge»-man descent, and nearly all were adherents of the Lutheran Church. These men had come on horseback b>- way of Niagara or Fort Erie from their old homes, several families travelling together. Port- manteaus fastened to their saddles contained their chief portable possessions, while those who could brought also a cow or two, and some hogs. Often there were not enough horses for the number of travellers, so, in order that the women might ride, the men had to walk most of the way, while little children were balanced on each side of a saddle in inijirovised panniers. Quaint, pathetic proces- 14 HISTORY OF THOROM) i[ I i sions these little bands of exiles must have appeared, not, perhaps, without a touch of the comic to unsympathizing spectators. In several cases the men had come first, and those who had been too openly faithful to the King were afraid to go back for their families, so sometimes this duty would be entrusted to a friend who had been less zealously loyal. One of the Swayzes, who had evidently underestimated his service to the Crown, volunteered to convey the wives and children of some neighbors from New Jersey to Niagara; but the new Republic had remembered him as a warm Tory, and some soldiers were sent down to capture him at his old home. After feeling a bayonet thrust through his sleeve and un{)leasantly near his arm while hiding beneath the floor of a log cabin, he decided upon an artifice by which his pursuers were sent off in the wrong direction : taking the heels off his boots and fasten- ing them to the toes, he left misleading tracks in the mud, and was able to carry off his charges in safety. The first settlers came by the Indian trails, while the later ones followed the "blazed" j)aths. Often they were obliged to hide in the daytime, and do all their travelling by night, for fear of meeting with hostile Indians or United States soldiers. However, they were treated with great kindness by the loyal Indian tribes. When they reached the Niagara river, it was always easy to get canoes to cross in, and once on Brii'^h soil they felt compensated for all the dangers of travel. The Indians may be said to have ceded the township to the Crown in wiii on May 22nd, 1784, and in deed on December 7th, 1792. The treaty of the earlier date gave up most of the district lying between J^akes Erie and Ontario, but a careless description of the western tjoundary made it impossible upon actual survey to decide upon that limit of the land. So, in 1792, a new treaty was signed, definitely including the site of Thorold in the lands thus surrendered. The following is the full text of the treaty : /. Graves Simwe. 7TH Ufxtimber, 1792. This Indenture, made at Navy Hall in the County of Lincoln, in the Province of Upper Canada, on the seventh day of Decemb^T in i 1.1 SETTLEMENT ts lin the year of Our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety-two, between Wabakanyne, Wabanip, Kantabys, Wabaninship and Nattoton on the one part, and our Sovereign Lord George the Third, by grace of God of Great Britain, France and Ireland, King, Defender of the Iviilh, iV'c, (!v'c., on the other ;/art. Whereas, by a certain indenture bearing date the twenty-second day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-four, and made between Wabakanyne, Nannibosure, Pokquawr, Nanaughkawestrawr, Feapamaw, Taljendau, Sawainchik, Peasanish, Wapamanischigun, Wapeanojhqua, Sachems and War Chiefs and Principal Women of the Messissague Indian Nation, on the one part, and Our said Sovereign Lord George the Third, King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, &c., &c., on the other part, It was witnessed that the said Wabakanyne and the said Principal Chiefs and Women above named, for and in consideration of the sum of eleven hundred and eighty pounds, seven shillings and fourpence of lawful money of (ireat Britain, to them the said Wabakanyne, Sachems, War Chiefs and Principal Women in hand, well and truly did grant, bargain, sell, alien, release and confirm unto His said Majesty, His Heirs and Successors, all that tract or parcel of land lying and being between the Lakes Ontario and Erie, beginning at I.ake Ontario four miles westerly from the point opposite to Niagara Fort, known by the name of Messissague Point, and running from thence along the said lake to the creek that flows from a small lake into the said Lake Ontario, known by the name of Washquarter ; from thence a northwesterly course until it strikes the river La Tranche or New River ; thence down the stream of the said river to the part or place where a due south course will lead to the mouth of Cat Fish Creek emptying into Lake Erie, and from the above mentioned part or place of the aforesaid River La Tranche, following the south course to the mouth of the said Cat Fish Creek ; thence down Lake Erie to the lands heretofore purchased from the nation of Messissague Indians ; and from thence along (he said purchase to Lake Ontario at the place of beginning as above mentioned, together with the woods, ways, paths, waters, watercourses and appurtenances to the said tract or parcel of land belonging. To have and to hold unto Our said Sovereign Lord the King, His Heirs and Successors for ever, as in and by the said Indenture will more fully and at large appear. And whereas at the time of executing the said Indenture the boundaries of the said parcel of land were on one side described by an imaginary line running from the small Lake Washquarter in a north-west course until it strikes the river, but from an actual survey it has l)een discovered that a line from the said Lake Washquarter carried on in a northwesterly direction will not strike the said River La Tranche. And whereas it is necessary and expedient that the boundary j6 HISTORY OF THOKOLD vild be more accurately laid down I' the said Wahakanyne, Mattotow do hereby lines of the said parcel of land sb and described. Now this Indenture witnesseth, and Wabanip, Kantabus, A\'abanishii) and acknowledge and declare that the true and real description of the said tract or iiarccl of land so bargained, sold, aliened and transferred by and to the parties aforesaid is all that tract or parcel of land lying and being between the Lake Ontario and Erie beginning at Lake Ontario four miles south-westerly from the point opi)Osite to Niagara Fort known by the name of Messissague Point, and running from thence along the said lake to the creek that falls from a small lake known by the name of Washcjuarler into said Lake Ontario, and from thence north forty-five degrees, west fifty miles ; thence south forty-five degrees, west twenty miles ; and thence south until it strikes the River La Tranche ; then down the stream of the said river to that part or place where a due south course will lead to the mouth of Catfish Creek emptying into Lake Erie, and from the abo\ ; mentioned part or place of the aforesaid River La Tranche, following the south course to the mouth of the said Catfish Creek ; thence down the Lake to the lands heretofore purchased from the said nation of Messissague Indians ; and from thence along the said purchase to Lake Ontario at the place of beginning as above mentioned, together with all the woods, ways, paths, waters, water- courses and a[)purtenances thereunto iKlonging. And therefore the said Wabakanyne, Walianip, Kantabus, Wabaniship and Mattotow, for and in consideration of the said sum so advanced as aforesaid, and for the further consideration of five shillings of lawful money of Great Britain to them, the said Wabakanyne, Wabanip, Kantabus, Wabanishij) and Mattotow in hand duly [)aid at and before the seal- ing and delivering of these presents, and for the better ratifying and confirming of the heretofore recited Indenture, have granted, bargained, sold anvl confirmed, and by these presents do grant, bargain, sell and confirm to His JJrittannick Majesty, His Heirs and Successors, all that tract or parcel of land lying and being between the Lakes Ontario and Erie, beginning at Lake Ontario four miles south-westerly from the i)oint op|)osite to Niagara Fort known by the name Messissague i'oint, and running from thence along the said lake to the creek that falls from a small lake known by the name of Washquarter into the said Lake Ontario; and from thence north forty-five degrees, west fifty miles ; thence south forty-five degrees, west twenty miles ; and thence south until it strikes the River La 'I'ranche ; and then down the stream of the said river to that part or jjlace where a due south course will lead to the mouth of the Catfish Creek emptying into Lake Erie, and from the above mentioned part or place of the aforesaid La Tranche, following the south course to the mouth of the said Catfish Creek ; thence down Lake Erie to the lands heretofore purchased from the aid down )akanyne, hereby •n of the ncd and or parcel and Erie the point fue I'oint, : that falls said Lake ifty miles ; ?nce south am of the nil lead to J from the I Tranche, sh Creek ; from the ig the said as above ters, water- refore the Mattotow, aforesaid, money of Kan tabus, e the seal- li tying and granted, do grant. His Heirs iiul being e Ontario ) Niagara iing from hi a small Ontario ; IS ; thence l)Uth unlil Im of the (ill lead to land from Tranche, Ish ("reek ; from the '4 George McArtliui James Stewart Hiram 1'. Swayze t SKTTLKMKNT 17 nation of Messissague Indians : and from thence along the said purchase of Lake Ontario at the place beginning as above mentioned, togetiicr with all the woods, ways, paths, wiuers, water courses and api)urtenances thereunto belonging. To have and to hold all and singular the said tract or parrel of land, with its a|>purtcnan< es, unto liis 15ritanni( k Majesty, His heirs and successors forever. And whereas at a conference held by [ohn Collins and William R. Crawtbrd, ICscjrs., with the principal Chiefs of the Messissague Nation, Mr. John Russeau, inter|)reter, it was unanimously agreed that the King should have a right to make roads through the .Messissague country, that the navigation of the said rivers and lakes should be open and free for His vessels and those of His subjects, that the King's subjects should carry on a free trade, unmolested, in and through the country : Now this Indenture doth hereby ratify and confirm the said conference and agreement so had between the parties aforesaid, giving and granting to His said .Majesty a power and right to make roads through the said Messissague country, together with the navigation of the said rivers and lakes for His vessels and those of His subjects trading thereon free and unmolested. In Witness Whereof the ('hiefs, on the part of the Messissague Nation, and His lv\cellency John Craves Simcoe, Esqr., Lieutenant- (lovernor of the said Province, iVc, iVc, i\:c., on the part of His Hritamiick Ma jest), have hereunto set their hands and seals the day and vear first above written in the presence of John Hutikk R. H.AMIl.TON Roi'.T. Kkkr I'tlKR RlSSKI.I, John Mcdii.i. I).\\ II) Wii.i.i.vM Smith L. S. I.. .S. L. S. I.. S. I.. S. L. S. \\'.\I!AKANVNK W'AliANIl' KaN'I AlUJ.S WAIlANINSHir Ma TIC) TOW J. CiKAVKS SiMCOK ij s.l s. s. .s. s. s." (totem) (totem) (totem) (totem) (totem) It was fully four years after the signing of this treaty when the first patents of land were given. By that time the Niagara district had been thoroughly surveyed, and the whole peninsula had been named Lincoln county. i'he townships were known at first by number, Thorold being the ninth. Even as late at 1798 it appears without a name on a map of the organized part of Upper Canada made by I). W. Snu'th, the number in this case being 95. The townships were nearly all called after the subdivisions of old Lincolnshire, the chief exceptions being Niagara, which has thus perpetuated the name of the old Indian village, Onghiara, and Thorold, which was called after Sir John Thorold, at that time and r ^ I i 1 I I i8 HISTORY OK THOROIJ* for several years previous Member for Lincolnshire. The Thorolds are an ancient Lincohishire family of Saxon origin, whose seat is Syston Park in (Irantham The Sir John Thorokl who was head of the house in 1775 was greatly interested in colonial <|uestions, and voted against the war with America, and it is fitting that his name should he perpetuated in a colonial township. The Chip|)awa Creek, which forms the southern boundary of Thorold, was at this time re named the Wclland, and to-day it is indifferently called by both names. '{"he grants of land and the names of the ])atentecs for i7«>6 are : NAME OF P.\TRNTEK ACRKS NO. OK LOT Hon. Robert Hamilton 2000 225-228, 231-237, 240, 242-246, 253-254, 258. Jacob Ball 100 3 Jacob Hall, jr. 200 6,7 Andrew Heron 400 20, 33 James Jones 200 34, 35 William Dickson 250 40, 41, 42 Israel Swayze 550 53, 54, 55, 75, 76, 77 Edmund Fro:;t 300 5^'. 57, 79 Andrew Whitsell 300 59, 60, 61 Abraham Overholt 400 '56, '57, 161, 162 Captain Thomas Welsh 600 241, 247, 248, 249, 252, 256 Those who received grants in the following year (i 797) were : Andrew Jones 200 21, 22 Esea Waterhouse 280 23, 24, 36, part of 37 Isaac Swayze 220 Part of 37, 38 John Brown 300 64, 65, The (Jore John Vanderberg y.c 118, 119, 141, 142, 143, 144, 145 Harmon Vanderba.:' .; \V' Part 135, 178 John Lutes .■•■:.>0 155. '63 Blackly Robins 200 194, 158 Peter Misener 256 179, 195 James Berger (full amount not given) Part 259, 257 Agnes Brown I ^'5 Part 259, 260 The allotments for i 798 were particularly large, being : George Keefer 600 9, 10, II, 18, 103, 104 George Miller 150 27, Part 28 Jacob Upper 200 44, 67 George Couke 400 45, 68, 91, 114 I SF.TTI.KMKNT «9 Robert Wilkinson John Kelly Ezckiel Younglove John Stoflle f'hristian Ninger William Vant'vt'ry Isaac Hancy Ohadiah Hopkins Kphraini Hopkins Christian IJoiick Joshua Robins 'J'honias Haraglian (Jeorge Hartscll Leonard Miscncr James I 'ark Samuel Street Jolin (Jarl luiianuel Stinehuff James Crawford Andrew Heron John Camp 300 200 750 100 200 300 300 200 200 200 200 100 400 300 200 400 440 200 50 250 250 46, 47, 69 4«, 49 7'^. 136. '37. '3«. 139. 140 He «f), 87 9^». 97. 120 '30, 146, '47 107 I4«, 149 '5°. '5' '59. '^>o 168 144, 145. '46, 147 j8g, 196, 197 183. i«4 i«5. '87, 188, 189 186, 203, 204, 213 214. part 215 I^^rt 215 222, 223 250. 251 In 1799 only two patents were issued, namely Ceorge IJowman Leonard Misener 400 29,30,31,32 230 198, 210 '80. was the next date of issue, whe.i these grants were made: 12, 66 Abraham Larraway Ceorge Upper John Decue Anthony Upper Adam Dennis Benajah Williams Eleanor Ostrander Isaac Ostrander Cieorge Lutes George Hoover John Dennis Frederick Buck John Castleman 200 400 200 100 400 100 100 100 100 200 100 200 100 106. 14, 102 43. 89, 58,8. 95 '05 "3 "5 116 117 126, 127 128 219, 221 129 220 'I'he following patents bear date 1S02 : Ceorge Miller John Wilson John Brown Benjamin Canby 200 350 100 400 25. 26 50. 51. 52, part S3 108 T09, 1 10 . "I. 134 "i, '■I- r I ao John McAIwain Hon. Robert Hamilton James Gregor John VV'iUiams Jonathan Silverthom George Turney Jonathan Hagar Isaac Ostrander Pete Ostrander Benajah Williams John Brown I'eter Staght l)elx)rah 'I'o[)ham John, Andrew, W'm. and Nathan Cohoe Christina Ostrander Amy K(x.'vers et al Edward Topham Hon. Robert Hamilton Job Robins HISTORY OK THOROI.D I GO 200 164 181, 182 222 199. 2 CO 220 20I, 202 2IO 229, 230 ig grants were made : '44 300 200 100 100 '- 4 62, 63, 64, 85 70. 93 94 90 100 200 •3i 170 ■ 3^ 1 66, 167, 168, 100 100 100 »73 190 191 100 200 200 The later grants were given in the following years : (Andrew Hansalear 200 12, 13 Peter Ostrander '""^"jjoh.i Wilson yohn Lutz •^ [John H»ll o ^/ Peter Boughener \Sarah Robins 1807 Andrew Whit.sell 124 200 100 200 200 71 73, 74 155, 163 2, 5 15, 16 152 192, 193 1808 i3o9 'hos and John Wilson and [annin r Henry Damewood I Thos and I Wilson " \ John Hai jjohn Hill - (ieorge Keefer [Eleanor Ostrander J, TMathias Crysler ^^'°\ Andrew Whitsell 82, 83 200 153, 154 800 905 906, 907, 90S, 909, 2 1 6, 217, 218 32 Part 8 32 Part 8 100 169 200 238, 239 100 54 SETTLEMENT 21 J- !i6, 217, 150 Part 28, 19 400 98, 99, 100, 121 30 Part 215 100 2^4 George Bowman jgjj First Rectory in Thorold William Halton ,8 /I.t. Col Colley | ^i Lyons L. Hoster/ (John Darling 100 153 i8r7 Stephen Sebiirn 300 123, 124, 125 1825 Joseph Augustus Wilford 84 225 1829 John Cbrk 200 211,212 Many of those names have a special interest because of historic association. The following men had served in the Revolutionary war in Col. Butler's famous company of Rangers : Jacob Ball William Vanevery Abniham Overholt Christian Bouck Anorew Jones Thomas Haragan John Brown j^^^gs Park John Lutes . George Bowman George Lutes Abrahan; Larrawav Peter M.sener John DeCou Leonard M.sener . : Frederick Buck . George Miller joh„ (^^stleman L2ekie \ ounglove (Jeorge Turney John Stoffle Math.as Crysier ■ In rhe Canadian Archives, Haldimand collection, we fmd this account of Capt. Jacob Ball : " First Lieutenant Tacob Ball. Plac> of nativity, Schohary in ye County of Albany, P N Yk Length of service— 6 years. ' ., -i-^. kk. A Farmer, Captain of Militia, left his estate and family in 1778 Ra' ge""' "' '"^^ "' '^ "'"'""^ ''' "^^" --' J"'-'d the' corps'of As the Balls had Whig relatives, and were connected by marriage w.th the Van Rensselaers of Revolutionary fame, the Tory members of the family nad to pay dearly fc^r their loyalty. 'I'he Turneys were an Irish flimily, as is shown by the following extract from the Archives concerning one of the Rangers : I' .11, '11: f ■I' I 22 HISTORY OF THOROLD " First Lieutenant John Turney. Place of Nativity — Strangford, County Down, Ireland. Length of service, 25 years, r8 years on' the King's (or 8tli) Regiment, 17 of which a non-commissioned otificer.'V Many of the Thorold patentees were not residents of the town- ship. The Hon. Robert Hamilton lived at Queenston, and took an active part in the early politics of the country. Isaac 'Swayze, who made his home at Niagara, was a member of the first Parliament of Upi^er Canada. Samuel Street's name was associated with Niagara Falls ; he was known as the wealthiest man in Canada, and was a sort of banking institution for ail the settlers in the district. Among the actual residents of the township, the Miseners were among tl;e first comers. They were of Dutch extraction, the original spLUing of the name being Miznardt, afterwards corrupted to Muisener. The brothers, Leonard and Peter, came from Pennsyl- vania near the Virginia border ; they brought their goods and chattels in a wagon that had carried supplies for the King's party in 1776 ; a hub of this wagon is still in the possession of one of their descendants. Leonard Misener first took up 500 acres of land near Drummondville, but as he could raise only buckwheat there, he exchanged for land in Thor jld near the present village of Port Robinson. The DeCous wore another family whose name appeals in various forms ; we find it in documents as DeCue, DeCau and DeCow, while the present spelling is DeCew. The family had originally fled from France as Huguenots ; and after several generations had lived in England some of the name emigrated to Vi^rmont, where Capt. John DeCou was born in 1766. .At the clo.se of the American revolution his lather's family removed to Upper Canada, crossing the river at Queenston. Capt. DeCou selected a property to iiis liking in the townships of 'I'liorold and (Irantham, including what is now DeCew Falls on the Beaverdam Oeek. He purchased one man's right to a hundred acres for an axe and an Indian blanket, and another hundred acres for a gold doubloon. George Bowman, or Roman, was a Dutch Loyalist, who cante with his son in 1783 from the Schuylkill mountains near tiie i I SETTLEMENT 23 Hudson. They travelled on foot for about five hundred miles through an almost unbroken wilderness. After securing a title to a large block of land in Thorold, they returned to their old home, where Bowman settled his affairs ; and then, with his wife and five children, he started on the long journey to the scene of his future labors. The Swayzes (or Sweezys' were of Welsh descent, and ranie to Canada from New Jersey. Israel Swayze was the chief founder of the old settlement at the Beaverdams. In 1790 (ieorge Keefer, a youth of eighteen, and his brother Jacob, two years younger, left the United States to seek a home under British rule. Their father had come from the vicinity of Stras- bourg, and settled in New Jersey, but the Republican government had confiscated all his iiroperty. The brothers walked all the way from New Jersey to Canada, following an Indian trail through a dense forest. When they reached the site of Buffalo, they found only a few fishing huts. Crossing the Niagara River at Fort Erie, they continued their way until on the site of the town of Thorold they found a lone s(juatter who had cut down a few trees and built a log hut. He gladly sold his claim to the young men, who stayed for two years clearing the land and making a home for their mother and family. In 1792 the brothers walked back for them, and several other families returned with them to Canada. John Brown came from Schohary in Albany County, New York State. He was a (Icrman by birth and a Lutheran by religion, although in the matter of war his views were decidedly Quakerish. le first made his home at Niagara, where his son was born in 1784, bat before Thorold was surveyed he took up land in the township, wherr he lived until his death in 1804. The Cohoes had originally emigrated from the north of Ireland to New Jersey, and from the latter [)lace they came to Canada in 1787. The children received grant.« of land in Thorold, in acknowledgment of a petition sent by them to the governor in 1789, stating that their father had been the only Tory member of a large family, and that his politics had lirought him to this province, and that after suffering many privations because of his loyalty he had died in th(> "starving year." 24 HISTORY OF THOROI.n The Hartzel Road from Merritton to St. Catharines has been called after a Thorold settler — (ieorge Hartsell (or Hartzel) as the name is now spelt.) John Carl's grant included the present village of Port Robinson. The oldest house still standing in the village is that originally built by him. Although since bricked in, it still bears traces of the old Dutch architecture. The Uppers came from New Jersey, crossing the Niagara river at Fort Erie. They brought a small herd of cattle with them, and stopped at a spring just north of Allanburgh. Here they decided to make their home, and the first log building was very near the site of the present large stone house owned by one of their descendants. The Hoovers came to this country from Morris county. New Jersey, travelling on foot most of the way, and crossing the Niagara river at Queenston. They brought only a cow and a horse with them, and therefore they were particularly carefub- to spare the poor animals as much as possible on the long journey from New Jersey. John Vanderburgh (or \^an der Berg, as the name appears in old papers) camt from the Mohawk valley in New York state in 1784, accompanied by his wife and three children, Jacob, Elizabeth and Harmonius. His grant from the crown included the site of the present village of Allanburgh, where many of his de.scendants still live. The Wilkersons were English Loyalists who proved their allegiance to the King again in 1812. Their crown grant of land lying between Thorold and Allanburgh is still in the possession of the VVilkerson family. Chapter III Early Strucuw.ks and Successes I,oR houses. Ingenious contrivances. Fruits, game anil fish. Woollen clothing. Itinerant tailors and shoemakers. Wild animals. Swamps. The "Cold, Hungry \ear" of 1788. Military stores. The Great Hurricane of 1792. Constitutional Act. Kirst Parliament of Up|3er Canada. The old Lutheran Church. Rev. Robert Addison. Extracts from his register. Old burying grounds, I'irst mills and shojis. Rumors of war. The way of the pioneer is ahvays hard, hut the settlers of the Niagara district had more than ordinary hardships to endure. However, during the first four years after the Revolutionary war, their troubles were chiefly those incident to a wilderness life. P'ortunately, the governtiient grant included tools and seed for every Loyalist, and thuo some slight compensation was made for the possessions left in their old homes. The men were kept busy clearing the woods, sowing the grain and building log huts. Rude structures these first houses were, but by no means uncomfortable. The earth was dug away from the floor, and a well-mixed clay stamped in its place ; huge fire-places were built, in which the largest stumps could be burnt ; sometimes the house was built around the stumps left from felled trees, and these did duty as seats. Glass was unobtainable, and several substitutes were used for windows, a common one being oiled paper stretched over apertures in the wall. The nearest shops were at Niagara-on-the-Lake, and naturally all imported articles were extremely dear. Nails cost a shilling a pound, so they were very little used, wooden pegs being driven in to fasten boards together. One settler had to walk to Rochester, New York, for a set of harrow teeth, and then had to carry them home on his back. The foiest itself provided the settlers with food ; even in the early days fruit was abundant in this district, and plums, strawberries, rasj)l)erries, blackberries, grapes, huckleberries, cranberries, and crab 2 6 HISTORY OF THOROl.l) %[ |; t I ^i; apples all grew wild. Walnuts, butternuts, chestnuts, hickoryruts and beechnuts were gathered for the larder, while the sweets were aiso to be procured for very little trouble ; the maple provided syrup and sugar, while honey was obtained from the hives of wild bees, (iame was plentiful, and each farmer had his troughfuls of venison and squirrel salted for the winter. These troughs were merely logs hollowed out to serve as substitutes for barrels. Rabbits, pigeons, quail, |)l()ver and fish were common articles of food. Grain being scarce at first, acorns and the common nuts were gathered for the hogs. 'I'he fire-light was strong enough to read by, but few of the settlers possessed many books other than a German or En|.',iish Bible. Grease was Inirnt for lights, and afterwards candles were made from beeswax. All the clothes worn were woollen ; nearly every family possessed a spinning wiieel, while one loom served for several. The walnut and butternut husks and the sumach furnished natural dyes. Boots were a great luxury, and it was only when itinerant cobblers began to visit the district that even the women possessed any footgear. Then a hide would be tanned, and the shoemaker would find plenty of employment. In the same way, the tailors of those days used to travel from house to house. In various ways inventive brains and capable hands contrived many little substitutes for the comforts to which the settlers had once been accustomed, and gradually the Loyalists acquired the little possessions that commonly belong to civilized life. Still, the forest held its terrors as well as its stores. The settlers were constantly in danger from the wild animals that were roaming about, and the horses and cattle had to be sheltered from them every night. Wolves were continually prowling around and attack- ing the cows. No uncommon story is that of the farmer's daughter who in searching one night for the cattle that had strayed farther than usual was overtaken by darkne.ss in the bush ; and, knowing it impossible to get the animals through the wood at that hour, climbed a tree to be safe from the wolves until morning, when fewer dangers would beset the way. In the records of the council of the united KARI.\ STRUOOI.KS AND SUCCKSSKS a? countiv.'S of I-incoln and Welland are the following items, showing how these animals w-re got rid of: " 1850, bounty paid for seven wolf scalps," and " 1854, bounty paid for seventeen wolf scalps." Foxes, too, made their usual raids upon the farms, and even within the last decade these sly prowlers have occasionally been found in Thorold township, when they have furnished sport for a few hunts- men and their hounds, lilack bears were common ; and panthers were also occasionally seen, the last one having been killed about sixty-eight years ago ; uttering hideous yells, it passed with almo.st lightning speed through the township, and . > killed at Pelham, where all the farmers turned out to attack it with pitchforks. Eagles were plentiful in the early days, and were the terror of the settlers' flocks. 'I'he royal bird is not yet (}uite extinct in this district, for within the last three years some of the species have been shot near Shriner's pond. At that time the low lying lands at the north-east of the township were mere swamps — the source of disease and the home of the rattlesnake. During the war of 181 2 both the British and the United States soldiers stationed in this district suffered greatly from malaria, and Lieut. FitzGibbon said that he was glad to get his men away from such a sink of disease. Later on agriculture ai'd the constructing of the canals drained these morasses, but as late as the middle of this century the climate was still miasmatic. However, in spite of these dangers and troubles, a great deal of progress had been made, (lood results were showing from the four years of patient work, and the hopeful pioneers were just becoming encouraged by the bouptiful harvests, when, m 1788, a famine fell upon the land. During the spring and summer of that year, several successive frosts destroyed the crops. No grain was brought to maturity, and the poor settlers suffered terribly, for the} had not yet been able to provide for such a contingency. Tho.se living near the lake or river were able to procure fish, but those on inland farms had very few resources. By the King's bounty, as it was called, provision was again made for serving grain and food from the (lovernment stores to those in need, but ill-fed men and women could not walk any great distance to nrocure these rations. Of 38 HISTORY OF THOROI.D course, there wf re as yet very few horses or oxen in the township. Niagara and Queenston were the nearest store-houses, the supplies at the latter place being given out by the Secords. Very pathetically this was named the " Hungry year," and as such it has since been known. Drawn nearer together by the brotherhood of suffering, the poor settlers helped one another aS' much as possible. 'I'hose who had cows kept their poorer neighbors supplied with milk and curds. One farmer, who felt that his cow must be sacrificed rather than his family, went out to kill the animal, but found himself too tender- hearted to act as his own butcher ; however, just as he returned to his cabin, his children discovered and pryed out some grains of maize that had got between the cracks of the loft. These, bruised and boiled, helped to ward off starvation for a short time. Then some Indians came to beg ; but when they saw the state of want to which the poor white colonists were reduced, they gave food — bread, made from bean flour — instead of taking it. Also, they told the poor settlers of the pork and beans that were being given out from the military stores. The wheat, which had to be cut while still unripe, was dried in the sun, and when shelled between stones was used for food ; mixed with water, or with milk when the latter was procurable, the grain made palatable and nourishing dish. The leaves of the beech tree when cooked took the place of vegetables for that summer, and in the faW the nuts were eagerly welcomed. In the winter the .settlers fared less badly, for they could then shoot game ; but in the spring of 1789 the suffering was very great. There is very little to be found in official documents relatir.j to the " Hungry year." The first notice of the scarcity of provisions to be found in state papers is in a report sent on the 14th of February, 1789, by Lord Dorchester to Lord Sydney, stating that on account of want of food he had allowed the free importation of provisions. On the 14th of March Lord Dorchester reported that in addition to opening trade by Lake , Champlain for importing provisions, applications had been made for permission to import by sea. On the 25th of January, 1789, Bishop Hubert sent a circular to the clergy of the province of Quebec, saying : " The scarcity (disette) of this year having multiplied the poor in a great number J -»'l ^A EARLY STRUGCLKS AND SUCCKSSES 29 township, supplies ithetically ince been uring, the hose who id curds, than his 10 tender- urned to grains of ?, l)ruised ?. Then " want to e food — they told ;iven out ^•hile still ones was itter was The ^etables corned. in shoot -■■?■ itir.^' to ■I sions to .'hruary, m account m visions. fl ition to 1 visions, 1 Hilar to 1 scarcity 3 lumber ■Mm of the parishes, we must endeavor to multiply resources in their favor and to show more than ever sentiments of compassion for so many of the unfortunate." The IJishop also urged them to obtain grain for the spring sowing.* One month later the Hishop wrote that the efforts at relief were insufficient, and that in spite of every measure " misery is felt more keenly than ever in a great number of parishes." He desired the priests to enquire as to the best methods of relieving the distress.! With the help from the King's store.s, the spring was tided over, and altogether only a very few lives were lost. The summers immediately following yielded splendid harvests, and there was great cause for the heartfelt rejoicing so generally shown. However, the "Hungry year" was not without its effect upon the founders of Upper Canada, for a people whose lot had included rude labor, warfare and famine were not the men to shrink from smaller dangers or to be daunted by any common reverses. The year 1 792 was marked by another calamity, which, however, proved to be a blessing in the end. A violent harricane passed over the southwestern portion of the township, levelling all the houses in its path, but at the same time uprooting the trees, thus effectually clearing the woods. A road was afterwards built through this storm- swept region from Fonthill to Port Robinson, and was appropriately named the " Hurrica;,e Road." From this time until the outbreak of the war progress was continuous, the greatest activity being shown in the neighborhood of the Short Hills, or St. Johns. New and better houses were built as more of the Loyalists came over. About the close of the century some English Quakers, who had waited to test the new Government of the United States, settled near the Pelham side of the township. In 1 79 1 the Constitutional Act had given the people greater security in the tenure of their land, and in 1792, when Newark (Niagara) was made the .seat of (Government for Upper Canada, the meeting of Parliament brought new interests into the lives of the Thorold settlers. All their trading was done at Newark, and all their first * " Mandenients des Evequs de Quebec." \'ol. II, p. 360. t U\vm. J). 361. 30 HISTORV OK THOROI.n grain was ground there, so there was constant intercourse l)ctween the old lake town and the inland districts. (Iradually, as the farmers had more time left after their agricultural labors, they began to turn their other talents to ac(;ount, and various articles were manufac- tured that proved to be more marketable commodities than farm produce, and these were taken to Niagara and exchanged for groceries. Still, every member of the settlement worked hard ; even the women helped in the fields and in th" bush, and in one case the girls of the family dug the well. From the very first the Lutheran settlers worshipped together every Sunday in the different houses. They had all brought their German service books with them, and by means of public prayer and praise they man- j aged to keep together little congregations here and there throughout the peninsula. At a very early date a log church was built for the use of the Lutherans from Thorold, Ni- agara and Stamford townships, the Hutts, Balls, Reefers and Lampmans being those chieHy interested in its erection. Until late in the sixties it stood in a corner of the old graveyard at the east of the present town of Thorold. It seems to have been known by mnny names, for we find it spoken of as the German, the Lutheran, and sometimes the Presl)yterian church. Sunday was strictly observed among the old pioneers; even whistling on that day was considered extremely sinful. Vet the church services were also looKed forward to as social gatherings, for long before the minister made his appearance the people would meet at the old spring which is still to be seen just outside the graveyard. At the same time there was built near the church a comfortable log house, which was intended tor a manse. However, as no The Old Lutheran Church EAKI.V STRUGOLKS AND SUCCESSES 3' minister came, it was rented to Dr. IVendergast, who came here from Mayville, New York. When war was declared in 1812, he, with other aliens, was obliged to leave the country, but his daughter afterwards returned to Canada as the wife of the Hon. William Hamilton Merritt jf St. Catharines. The Lutherans had brought no pastor with them from the Mohawk valley, but the Church of England services being so like their own, they gratefully accepted the ministrations of the Rev. Robert Addison, who had been sent in 1792 by the Society for the Propagation of the (;ospel in Foreign Parts. Dr. Addison was the first Rector of old St. Mark's at Niagara, but the parish of which he voluntarily assumed charge really extended throughout this district and as far as York (Toronto) ; and the careful entries in his register show how faithfully he administered the Church's rites for thirty- seven years. We find him preaching in private houses in ThorolJ township and baptizing at the Twelve Mile Creek, as St. Catharines was then called ; but the more important services were usually held at Niagara, a church having been built there in 1804. The old register of St. Mark's contains several items referring to Thorold, among others the following entries : Wcddmgs, Niagara, 1809, May 4. Jacob H. Ball, Bachelor, and Catherine Clemenf, Spinster. Burials, Niagara, 18 10. Old Anna Meisner. Baptisms at Twelve Mile Creek, 18 15, May 14. Mary Ann Larraway of Jonas and Mary. Caroline Bowman of Adam and Hannah. Jane Jemima Larraway of Harmonene and Phoebe Agnes, j Nancy, -Bowman of Adam and Hannah. (Jeorge Adam | Weddings, Niagara, 18 15, June 8. (ieorge Keefer, Widower, and Jane Emory, Widow. Weddings, Niagara, 18 16, Novr. 7. Jacob A Ball, Bachelor, and Elizabeth Hostetter, Spinster (of Grantham). '^ Baptisms, 181 7, Jan'y 21. Emily Browne of riper years. John Browne of Richard and Emily. 32 HISTORY OK THOROI.r) 1 I: Haptisms, 1818, May 27. Amelia Kcefcr of (Icorge Kccfcr I^s(|, and Jane. Weddings, Niagara, 1823, Decemher 25. Thomas Creen, Bachelor, and Anna I). Hall (Thoroid), Spinster. Mr. Creen afterwards succeeded Mr. Addison as Rcrtc- of St. Mark's. Before any churches were huilt the hurying-grounds were on the settlers' farms. " Clod's .Acre" the Germans reverently called these plots set apart for the dead. Most of the older tombstones have either been destroyed or the inscriptions have been so rudely cut that it is impossible now to decipher them. One of the oldest inscriptions in the Brown graveyard at the (lore reads : Magdalene Brown. .A p. 1 8th, 1804. Aged 54. , Bor:i I 750. In the Misener, Carl and liall burying ground, neai "ort Robinsoi,. some of the earliest settlers are buried; but th st stones have been .stolen. That erected to the memory oi Leonard Misener and his wife bears this in.scription : Leonard Misener Died Sept. 3, 1 806. 62 years. Barbara Misener, Widow of Leonard Misener, Dieil 23rd Ap!., 1821. Then follows a (juaint verse of the old time elegiac order. In the graveyard at Beaverdams, one of the oldest in the township, the earliest date that is at all decipherable is 1801. The.se are the oldest inscriptions : Here lieth the Body of I'eter Weaver Who departed this life, the 7tli day of .March, in the year of Our Lord, 1801. He was aged 52 years, 7 months and 10 days. Here lies the Body of Shaver Who departed this life Sept. 5th in the year of Our Lord, 1805. (Thorold), 'Cto- of St. k'crc on the ailed these tones liave I rudely nit the oldest neai "orl th. ^st f Le(jnard jr. 'it in the I. These ■t rniiW. II ^S^|I|t||^ ^^###* GEOHGE KEEFER, Sr. Boni ill Siihscx CMiiiiiy, ( o.oiiy of Niw J( rsrv N„v. H, i>7, Died a 1 li,,i(.lil, Jiiiu' 25, 1H58 aged 84 yiais, 7 nioiitlis ami 17 days. m .-'it: June 25, 1858 agetl 84 I t ^i (»! f.; m ELIZABETH II A MOT ^ ^ OEOP.OB 9ori,r„|, 2i. 17B0. DW N„v. ig. uss ,*«*"••*««« JACOB Bwill Nn». s. IglM. Dlrd 1„ ,,. |(7j PBTKR Horn lar. in, IBOS. DM Jan. !S, IMS ■ ;'' (lATHERINE [,AMPMAN\ Born 1778, Dl«l laiU * O HER DAUOHTEK C Born laos 'J Dioil 1804 J' '. No Portraits of These (;'' ■a aro uxtant ^O ^ *^ ANNA KKLHO B»r-ll.l.„. I. ,,„•; lll.d H„j .11. I,, -.«»<», A' OATHRRINK HASTMAN L JOHN Hum Irin. II. ii|i:i, n,„| ^,., ,, |,„ NAMDBL, •>••'" J'^-'-. I«ll. III...I Inn. 7. I«.|( Children of George Keefer and Catherine Lampman who died m 1814 lied Ju .«, i»;a IJLHO Mny .11. lalll m AI.I3XANDBR Bom Nov, to. r82,'. Oi.d MAy 25. IRBa. npman, Ghildreri of George Keel'er and Jane Mc Bride. who died in 1833 •1 RARI.V STRUOOLKS AN1> SUCCESSES 33 In tlie old cemetery at Allanhurgh, where so many of the pioneers are buried, there are no dates of interments to be found made there before the war. The earhest mscriptions that can now 1)6 read appear thus : In Memory of Noah Davis Son of Wright Davis, who departed this life December 29th, 1813, Aged 21 years anil 2 months. In Memory of Mary Oysler, Who de|)arled this life on the 14th Dec, 1815, in tlie 52nd year of her age. Even in the very early days of the settlement time was taken to instruct the young. The older boys and girls, who worked in the fields all day, spent the evening in study. Those who lived near enough used to attend a night-school conducted by Dr. Prendergast at his house, and here many of the youths gained a solid foundation in the more necessary !)ranches of learning. At first the nearest mills were at Niagara and Queenston ; but as early as 1801 we find in tlie municipal records of Thorold township mention of DeCou's grist-mill, while John Darling's mill is spoken of as being in existence in 1803. Some lime before the war of 1812 Jacob Ball had a saw-mill on a little stream running through what is now called Wilson's bush, east of the town of Thorold. The foundation is still to l)e seen a little east of the culvert under the W'^Uand division of the (irand Trunk Railway At a very early date John DcC'ou built an oil-mill, there being none at that time between the two lakes. He was aided in his enterprise by Colonel Hamilton of Queenston, who imj)orted the necessary ironwork from Scotland. » One of the first shops in the townsl ip was kept by an old man named l.ard. It was situated just within the 'I'horold boundary, opposite the (leorge Hoover [)lace. Here the farmers could trade their butter and eggs for other groceries, while Lard sold this farm produce at Niagara. .\t the smaller shops everything was paid fi)r Il li t 34 HISTORY Of THOROI.n in kind, but as the goods were brought from Montreal the necessaries and many of the luxuries were procurable in this way. There are still in the possession of the Hoover family a side saddle and a china dinner service for which ijutter wns traded at Niagara in 1812. At Kort C>eorge the commissary paid at the rate of twenty-five cents a pound for butter, and twenty-five cents a dozen for eggs; and many a housewife managed to accumulate considerable silver by selling her share of the farm produce at the barracks. Before the close of the war, (jcorge Keefor opened a shop directly in front of Maplehurst, on what is now St. David's street, in Thorold. At Niagara, the people learned all the news of the day, and not a little interest was taken in the great war then going on in Europe. Gradually there began to reach them rumors of an approaching contest between England and the United States, and of the intention of the new republic to attack Canada. Needless to say, the men, and even the women, who had left the older American colonies because of their loyalty, were willing now to risk everything rather than to give up their new homes under the British flag. h' ■^l- treal the ; in this ily a side traded at t the rate ts a dozen nsideral)le :ks. J a shop s street, in y, and not in Europe, pproaching e intention , the men, n colonies ling rather Chapter IV American Occ urAxioN ok the Township Outbreak of war in i8i2. Aiiierirans take \'()rk and Niajjara. The Peninsula in their hands. The liattle of Stoney Creek. Americans retreat to Fort (leorj^e. American raids. Chapin's band. Hiding of valuables. Capt. Merrill's dragoons and KitzClibbon's scouts. Ca[)t. DeCou's account of his ex])eriences as a prisoner of war. Military supplies stored in DeCou's house. Wlien the war of 1812 broke out several companies of volunteers were formed, and a great many Thorold men served in the Lincoln militia. The residents on the frontier were constantly in danger, and for nearly a month — from May 27th, to June 24th, 181 3 — the Americans had actual possession of the Niagara peninsula. On the former dale their fleet reached Fort (ieorge (Niagara) after a successful attack on York. Here, close to their own shores, they were three times repulsed when they attempted to land : hut (len. Vincent, who had not enough men nor sufficient ammunition to sustain so unequal a conflict, was ohli"«.tl lo leave the fort to the enemy, after spiking the guns ami . 'owing up the magazine. Retreating to Quecnston, he sent ohIltn to the garrisons at Fort Erie and ('hippawa to join him at Heaverdams. The next day he continued his retreat to Burlington Heights, tiius leaving the enemy in possession of the Niagara frontier. The Americans made the most of their brief tenure ; officers were sent to every house in the neighborhood to exact a parole from all the male inhabitants, and those who resisted were threatened with exile and imi)rison- ment.* (Icneral Vincent was now completely cut off from help. With York and Niagara both in the hands of the enemy, and his own troops * .'Kuchinleck's " Ilistorv of the War of 1812." ^ « i I I lis CI,. li .T^' rnsTORN or Tnoie a detachment of the United States army encamped for tlie night at Stoney Creek. Information was brought to the British, and scouts were at once sent out by Clen. Vincent. To obtain a iK'tter krtowledge of the American camp, several of the militiamen, dressed in civilians' clothes, passed through the enemy's lines selling butter and other supplies.* It was ascertained that the American forces, though numbering about 3,750 men, were badly disposed, and might be unable to resist a spirited attack. About seven hundred men were chosen from the 8th and 49th regiments, and were put under the command of Col. John Harvc)'. who led them out at night to surprise the sleeping enemy. The attack was completely successful ; nearly a hundred prisoners were taken, including the two Araerifcan generals, Winder and Chandler ; and two field-guns were captured. The bewildered foe, leaving their dead on the leld, retreated to Fort Ceorge, their flight being considerably precii)itated by sundry attacks from Major Evans' companies of infantry, aided by all the farmers in the neighborhood. General Dearborn, discouraged by the result of this expedition, at once withdrew the garrisons from the outposts, and entrenched his troops, in all about six thousand men, within P'ort (leorge.t General Vincent now estabi'shed his headquarters at Forty Mile Creek, or Grimsby, and many detachments were sent throughout the country, although the British were not strong enough to make an attack uiK>n Fort George (at Niagara). In many cases the Canadian militia were disbanded, but were ordered to go at once to the assistance of the British if ever they heard the sound of guns. 'J'hey were also warned not to keep their arms in the houses, for the Americans would certainly take them from them. The enemy now roamed about the country, a company of New- York volunteers under Major Cyrenius Chapin of Hufflxlo making * Cruikshank— Miss iMtzCiibhnn. t Cruiksliiuik. AMKRICAN OCCUPATION OK 1 HF, TOWNSHIP 37 in fleet 3wever, battle. ^ army brought Vincent. of the enemy's that the •c badly Al)()iit giments, who led tack was e taken, ler ; and ing their lit being r Evans' borhood. dition, at ched hh orty Mile lout the make an Canadian to the ■>s. 'I'hey for the of New o making raids uiK)n the farmhouses all over the peninsula. Chapin's men were really only a hand of marauders, whose doings were not always countenanced at headtjuarters. Many Americans of the lower classes also came over in swarms to secure all the plunder possible ; they landed at Queenston, where they were met by a renegade Canadian named .Scheldenburg, who directed them to the wealthier houses. Most of the inhabitants had hidden their valuables, any plate that they possessed being safely buried. No place was really secure, but one of the best depositories was that chosen by a careful housewife, who buried her silver teapot beside a spring of water, where the mud could be well stamped down over it and show no suspicious traces. The Hanselers had $20,000 in specie, which they hid in a barrel and buried, and made doubly secure by placing a heavy cider-press over the spot. Notwithstanding all these precautions, considerable booty was secured by the Americans, who showed a marked predilection for all the English watches that they could lay their hands on. They had to make the most of every opportunity, for they sometimes found their movements restricted by a few bands of British scouts. Col. ('larke with his company. No. 2 Lincoln militia, and Capt. Merriit with a troop of I'rovincial dragoons* afforded some protc tion to the inhabitants, an J caused consideral)le discomfort to the enemy. I.ieut. FitzCiibbon of the 4yth, Brock's old regiment, gained permission to lead a band of fifty men as scouts into the peninsula. Many volunteered to accompany him, but he took only forty-six men of the 49th and three Canadian militiamen — Thompson, Ensign Winder and Jarvis, afterwards Judge Jarvis of Brockville. From the green facing on the tunics of the 49th, these men came to be called " FitzCibbon's (Jreen'uns" and the " Cireen Tigers." 'j'his little company used to break up into three divisions, and thus cover more ground, while they communicated with one another by means of cowbells and a code of signals that they had arranged. They interrupted communication between Fort Erie and I'ort (leorge ; and, destroying the bridge over the ('hippawa river, they had Chapin *Mcrritt's Journal. f i 38 IIISTOKV OF TIIOKOI.I) shut up in a corner, until 150 infantry from Fort Erie canie to his assistance.! Among the Canadians who were taken, prisoners was John DeCou, who has left us this interesting account of his experiences : I was appointed captain of a company of mihtia, and being thoroughly liritish I turned out with my men, altliough conscious that we had to fight against great odds, yet determined to make u{» hy courage what we lacked in numbers. After engaging in several skirmishes, I was among the few that were made prisoners at the taking of Niagara. We were at once hurried across the river to Hatavia, where we were joined by some of our regulars. We now numbered in all about fifty prisoners, but only a s'.iall guard was placed over us. We discovered in the place an arsenal containing arms and ammunition, and resolved to capture it, and thus arm ourselves and make our way home. We laid our plans carefully, and appointed the time to put them into execution. Our movements were to be made at niglit, when we should have least to fear from the inhabitants ; but just . efore the hour arrived one of our regulars divulged our wild scheme to the enemy. Our indignation against the traitor was so great that our guard had to rescue him ; but his red coat could not be found, and enciuiry after it elicited the remark from one of his old comrades that " He deserted his colors and his coat deserted him." An o[)portunity was shortly afterwards presented, when said coat was placed on a post and whipped to shreds. .Shortly after this we were moved about from place to place, and we proved to be great objects of curiosity, one old lady expressing disappointment at finding that we were "just like ouri'olks." At length we arrived at Fittsfield, and twelve otificers, myself among the number, were selected as ho.stages to be sent to Washington and executed, in retaliation for the supposed execution of some Americans ; these men, however, proved to be deserters of our army, who were captured when found bearing arms against us. After travelling night and day towards Washington, we received notice that the orders for our execution had been countermanded. The rea.son for this was Sir (ieorge Frevost's action in placing twenty-four Americans in close confinement, and threatening to put to death two of the enemy for every one of our men that the Americans executed. While the matter was being arranged we were ordered to be kept at Philadelphia, and were placed in what was called the Invincible Prison, a large three-storied building, the third flat of which contained a spacious hall to which we all had access during the day. We were humanely treated, and for a time had liberty to t Miss Fitzdihlion's " A Veteran of 1812." ".'4' A>rFRirAN OfTITATrON OV THF TOWNSirrP 39 He traverse a jKirtion of the city on parole. During our parole we were freciuently invited to the tallies of the wealthier inhabitants ; and naturally, thi- chief topics of conversation on these occasions were the war and its injustice. On returning to our restricted positions our longing for home, coupled with uncertainty as to our ultinuite positi(jn, caused us again to plan our es( ape. .At the end of the hall nearest the street there vas a fire-place, the chimney of which was sufficiently large to adni't of our escape through it. It was grated with iron bars, and at least two of these would have to be removed for our egress. We knew the hours when we were usually left alone, so we commenced operations on the grates witli little saws made from the mainsprings of our wat< lies, which we had placed in frames for that purpose ; but the work was not completed before our tools w