Several past Heritage Papers have documented incidents and the involvement of Flamborough residents in the Rebellion of 1837. During the summer, while researching material for the latest Society booklet, information was found detailing names of East and West Flamborough inhabitants who enlisted and served in the Militia to defend the area during the War of 1812.
Defending this area of Upper Canada from future attacks had been of paramount importance to the government from the very inception of the province. The first law after the establishment of Upper Canada, was passed in 1793, and by it every male between sixteen and fifty was considered a militiaman. It was required that companies should be established and be inspected at least twice annually, and while no pay was provided, there was a fine of $8.00 imposed on officers and $2.00 on men failing to attend. In 1794 the age limit was extended to sixty, and a distribution of arms was made. In 1798 a militia company was raised at York, but there was an organized force before that date in Lincoln, this being evident from an Order in Council describing Captain George Chisholm of East Flamborough and others of the Lincoln Militia. A list of officers of the Second York Regiment, dated 1804, includes several Flamborough residents:
Captains, George Chisholm and John Green; Lieutenant Titus G. Simons; Ensigns, David VanEvery, Samuel Ryckman, James Morden, and William Applegarth and Adjutant, Daniel Morden.
By 1805, four thousand stands of arms were distributed and the force consisted of 652 officers and 7,947 men. The Act of 1808 set June 4th as the day for annual training, and each man was required to provide himself with “a sufficient musket, fusil, rifle or gun, and at least six rounds of powder and ball”.
In 1811, with an outbreak of war imminent, Samuel Hatt was given command of a detachment that became known as Captain Hatt’s Company of Volunteers, a part of the 5th Lincoln and 2nd York Militia. These men were recruited from the townships of Barton, Ancaster, Saltfleet and Flamborough. The original Muster Roll of Captain Hatt’s Company of Volunteers is held by the Hamilton Public Library and lists the following:
All names spelt as they appear on original document.
These men, consisting of three officers and 59 rank and file accompanied Sir Isaac Brock to the Detroit frontier at the outbreak of hostilities in August. They returned to the area and were stationed at Niagara, marching from there to Queenston with detachments of other Lincoln militia under Captains James Crooks and William Applegarth to see action at the Battle of Queenston Heights on 13 October. No record of casualties has been located, although, John Hendershot, a private, not listed on the original Muster Roll was killed while on duty as a sentry on 4th September.
Among those from Flamborough who say action during the War of 1812, and were not part of Hatt’s Volunteers, mention must be made of Captain George Chisholm, who aged 60 years, gave outstanding service. At the battle of Queenston Heights, he served with Captain William Applegarth, both officers being mentioned in dispatches. At this same battle, Captain Chisholm’s son, George, a young man of 20, was a Sergeant in James Durand’s Company.
In April 1813, a week after York had been taken by the Americans, two schooners were detached from the American fleet cruising off Niagara. They were dispatched to the Head of the Lake for the purpose of destroying the King’s Head Inn situated on the Beach Strip. This small post was garrisoned by only 50 men of the Second York and Fifth Lincoln under Major Samuel Hatt, and without any artillery. The garrison was forced to retire as they came under a bombardment of hot shot, but reinforcements came from Burlington Heights, and the enemy retreated to their schooners.
The Company again saw service in July 1814, at Lundy’s Lane, where they were commanded by Titus Geer Simons, He was severely wounded during the action together with three of his men.
In 1875, the Canadian Parliament voted to distribute the sum of $50,000 in $20.00 increments to all Canadian militia veterans of the War of 1812 who were still alive and residing in Canada. Surviving veterans were invited to contact the Department of Militia and Defence, providing details of their service for verification of their eligibility to participate in the gratuity. Amazingly several members of Samuel Hatt’s Volunteers applied, amonf them, Charles Armstrong, aged 87 years, and Daniel McAfee aged 84 years.
© The Waterdown-East Flamborough Heritage Society 1990, 2022.
