John Chisholm, the eldest son of George Chisholm Sr. and Barbara Mackenzie, was born on May 24, 1784 in Shelburne, Nova Scotia. In 1791, John’s father moved the family, first to Niagara and then to East Flamborough Township.
In 1801, at age 17, John Chisholm was recorded as operating a tavern, close to the first bridge over the outlet between Burlington Bay and Lake Ontario, which his father was responsible for – certainly the first tavern in the township. Two years later, he married Sarah Davis, the daughter of loyalists from North Carolina, and established a forwarding business at the mouth of Burlington Bay. John’s business shipped imported goods from Montreal and there is evidence that the store he opened came to house the first post office in Nelson Township.
In February 1812, John, his two brothers, William and George Jr. and their father, George Sr., all enlisted and all were assigned to the 2nd York Regiment, 1st Flank Company. When war was declared on June 18, Sir Isaac Brock’s expectations that the flank companies would be immediately ready to fight, proved true. The York and Lincoln Militias marched from Burlington Bay to the Niagara frontier and were stationed at Queenston. In August, Captain John Chisholm joined with Brock and was part of the manoeuvre that captured Fort Detroit on August 16.
In the fall of 1812, the Americans’ long expected attempt to invade Upper Canada at Niagara took place. Again, the 2nd York Regiment, with John now holding the rank of Colonel, saw action at the Battle of Queenston Heights. During the battle, George Chisholm Sr., because of his age, was forced to relinquish command to his son, John.
Although victorious in forcing the Americans back across the border, the death of Isaac Brock proved the victory to be a costly one. With the onset of winter, military operations came to an end and most of the militia returned to their homes, with the Chisholm clan returning to East Flamborough.
Already holding a Crown Grant of land as the son of a loyalist in East Flamborough Township, John purchased land from the Brant family for the expansion of his business in 1816. In 1823, John was named Collector of Customs at the Burlington Bay Canal.
Col. John Chisholm died in East Flamborough Township on March 4,1861, at 76 years of age.
Philip von der Kall, Flamborough Archives Co-op student.
This article was originally published in the Flamborough Review, 21 June 2012.
