Oakville and the War of 1812 A Review of Historical Links and Opportunities for Commemoration (Battle of Lundy s Lane, C. W. Jefferys, Ontario Archive) Prepared for Michael Seaman July 2010 Prepared by James Neilson
War of 1812 2 Introduction This report is a compilation of people and events related to Oakville and the War of 1812. It has been compiled at the request of the Oakville Tourism Partnership through Economic Development to determine how Oakville might be able to commemorate the bicentennial of the War of 1812. Due to the lack of information from this time period and as new information about Oakville s history is always being uncovered, this list should not be viewed as exhaustive though it contains as much information as could be found. As much of Oakville s earliest history began during the same period as the War, there are few substantial linkages to the War. Oakville s strongest links stem from United Empire Loyalists who fought in the War and then settled in Trafalgar Township, particularly along Highway 5. Their stories are included in this report. In terms of physical remnants from the War of 1812, Highway 5, as the only thoroughfare by land between Toronto and Dundas during the War is Oakville s strongest physical link. While traveling on Lake Ontario would have been the quickest route for transporting goods and people, Highway 5 would have played some role as well. However, the exact nature of how this route was used, and whether soldiers used the route within Oakville for anything significant is unknown. There are two other stories that have been uncovered that provide some relation between Oakville and the War of 1812. The first involves a naval battle fought in September 1813, which resulted in the British fleet taking a successful defensive stand near Bronte Harbour. The second involves a bit of local folklore about a buried treasure planted by British soldiers during the War of 1812 in Morrison Creek (then called Coates Creek), which was of great interest to youth in Oakville during the 1860s. War of 1812 The War of 1812 was a war fought between Great Britain (with significant contributions from the Native population) and the United States of America between 1812 and 1815. The war took place on land and water on the border between British North America and the United States and along America s Eastern seaboard. Many significant battles took place in Southern Ontario including battles at Queenston Heights, Lundy s Lane, Stoney Creek and Beaver Dams. A combined 3,860 British and American soldiers died during fighting with an estimated 20,000 soldiers dying from disease. Throughout the war, neither side was able to make significant advances into enemy territory. This resulted in a stalemate and all minimal gains were reversed with the restoration of the borders to their pre-war state during the negotiations of the Treaty of Ghent. Ultimately, the result of the war was the preservation of British territory in North America, which resulted in the creation of Canada fifty years later. War of 1812 Bicentennial Commemorations Communities across Southern Ontario are planning events to commemorate their community s role in the War of 1812. Both the provincial and federal governments have contributed funds to various projects. The Federal Government has primarily targeted National Historic Sites that stem from the War, though the 2010 Budget made reference to a $2 million Community War Memorial Program that communities can use to
War of 1812 3 commemorate those who fought for Canada. There was no indication in the Budget if this includes War of 1812 Memorials. At the provincial level, there is currently no specific funding program in place for communities to access, and other municipalities have received funds on a case-by-case basis through the Ministry of Tourism and Culture and its Cultural Strategic Investment Fund. Municipalities have also been provided funding through Canadian Heritage and the Ontario Trillium Foundation. Much of the planning, funding and resources are being targeted at the Niagara Region where most of the significant battles were held. People with links to the War of 1812 William Albertson William Albertson was born in 1793 in New Jersey and came to Trafalgar Township with his family in 1811, settling at what became Snider s Corners prior to 1823. He fought against the Americans in the War of 1812. At the battle of Queenston Heights, William sustained a head injury and was a few feet away from General Sir Isaac Brock when the famous leader was wounded. Some even say that he helped to carry the injured General from the battlefield. The Albertsons were a prominent family at Snider s Corners. Amos Biggar Amos Biggar, whose family was United Empire Loyalists served in the war of 1812 with the West Lincoln Regiments alongside his father and brothers. Amos is listed on the roll of the 5th Lincoln Militia when it was first established in April 1816. In 1815, Amos purchased Lot 20, 1 st Concession on the south side of Dundas St. It is believed that he built Amos Biggar's House the central portion of the house at 502 Dundas St. West. Amos brothers Charles and James also owned nearby lots in the Township. In the 1817 statistical survey by Robert Gourlay, the three brothers were among landowners who responded to the survey. James Brock Brock St. is named after James Brock who owned the land upon which it runs. Brock was a relative of General Sir Isaac Brock and a paymaster of the 49 th Regiment. He became Brock s private secretary when the war started and was given the land as pay for his service. He was granted 1200 acres west of the Missisauga Reserve part of which was located in Trafalgar Township. When General Brock was killed, James Brock took control of all of the General s possessions and boarded the schooner Elizabeth at York for Kingston. The vessel was captured by the Americans and all on board were brought
War of 1812 4 before Commodore Chauncey, U.S.N. Upon learning his identity and his mission, Chauncey granted Brock parole. It was later discovered that there were two James Brocks, one of which was the General s brother and the other a near relative. It is not clear which James Brock owned the land in Oakville. William Chisholm 67 year old George Chisholm, who settled on Burlington bay, served in the War of 1812 with his three sons. One of his sons, William Chisholm, fought in the War of 1812 as a flanker. Many settlers in Trafalgar Township fought in the War as flankers of the York Militia. These flankers were volunteers who were asked to drill six days per month without pay and fund their uniforms and muskets. William Chisholm was one of the first men to enter the Fort at Detroit upon the American s surrender to the British. William Chisholm fought at the Battle of Queenston Heights and his gallantry drew special mention in the dispatches of General Sheaffe. Two months later he was promoted to Lieutenant. In the summer of 1814, William Chisholm fought in his final battle at the Battle of Lundy s Lane. In 1816 he moved to a farm on Dundas St. in Trafalgar Township. William was granted this land east of Allan St. between the lake and the Lakeshore Road for his services in the War of 1812. Isaac Freeman Freeman Crescent is named after Isaac Freeman who fought in the War of 1812 and moved to Oakville in 1817 on Dundas St. John Peter Inglehart John Peter Inglehart, whose parents were Loyalists, served as a Private in the War of 1812, but missed the Battle of Queenston Heights due to being home on furlough. Afterwards, he married Elizabeth Fisher in 1818 and they settled and lived on what was known as the New Purchase, later called Trafalgar Township, south of Palermo. Elizabeth s father gave her forty acres as a wedding dowry, on the North half-lot 32, 1st concession in Trafalgar Township. John drew the south half of the same lot and did settling duties. In 1875, John received a one-time pension sum of $20 for his services in the war of 1812. George King King St. commemorates the name of Lieutenant George King who was a volunteer in the 1 st Flank Company of the 2 nd Regiment of York Militia. He died during the War of 1812 due to illness. He married George Chisholm s daughter (William s sister). After her death, the King s two sons became wards of William Chisholm. One of these children, William McKenzie King came to Oakville to build a house on the 6 th Line called King s Castle. John Beverley Robinson Robinson St. is named after Chief Justice John Beverley Robinson whom Chisholm was in contact with during the war of 1812.
War of 1812 5 The Mississaugas The Mississauagas were the original inhabitants of Oakville and fought alongside British soldiers during the War. Phillip Sovereign Phillip Sovereign served in the War of 1812 as a Dispatch Messenger. He purchased land from the Honourable William Allen in 1814 to the south of Dundas St. Young Family Loyalists, Jacob Young and his son William fought in the battles of Queenston Heights, Lundy s Lane and Stoney Creek. When the War of 1812 came to an end, Jacob traded a team of horses and a wagon for a farm west of the Twelve Mile Creek and William married Elizabeth, daughter of the owner of the sawmill on the creek, Joseph Hixon. Around 1825, William Young leased the Dundas St. tavern of Millicent Munn, who was the widow of Daniel Munn. Situated at the south-east corner of the 6 th Line, known as Munn s Corners, this tavern and stage-house was the first in Trafalgar Township. Important places in Oakville during the War of 1812 Dundas St Dundas St. (also known as the Governor s Road or Highway 5) was commissioned by John Graves Simcoe as a strategic land route between Dundas and Toronto. Trafalgar Township, Palermo and Munn s Corner were based on Dundas St. Many veterans of the War of 1812 settled on land along Dundas St. Using Dundas St. as a baseline, the land was divided into concessions 1 1/5 miles apart and into 200 acre lots and with a regulation sixty-six foot wide roadway. Settlers were obliged to clear five acres, fence in their lots, and build a house usually a log cabin made of the trees that were cut down. If the lot bordered the road, trees would have to be cleared within one hundred feet of the road, and landowners were responsible for making improvements to the road. Events in Oakville from the War of 1812 The Burlington Races (See Addendum) The Burlington Races was a naval battle which occurred on the afternoon of September 28, 1813. The event occurred two weeks after the Americans took control of Lake Erie. An American victory on Lake Ontario would have essentially been the coup de grace and would have provided the Americans with full access to the St Lawrence River and little resistance for a war-ending attack on Montreal. The American fleet had the advantage in numbers (ten vessels to six), firepower (a broadside weight-of-metal ratio of three to two) and long-range cannons (three to one). However, the American squadron consisted of converted merchant schooners which were
War of 1812 6 more conducive to bombardments rather than nimble naval battles. Their inability to maneuver forced the Americans to tie the boats into a formation, causing a decrease in speed and mobility for the entire squadron. On the other hand, the British ships were faster, held their formation well and could better concentrate their efforts. The British stayed close to the shoreline, which protected their backs from attack and made for difficult conditions for the Americans. During the battle, the American s flagship USS Pike become dangerously holed below the water line and had serious damage to its forward gun deck when one of its onboard cannons exploded killing and wounding a large number of its crew. For the British, their flagship HMS Wolfe saw considerable damage to its sails, meaning a critical loss of maneuverability. The British were able to maintain formation Plaque Commemorating Burlington Races in Hamilton and led by the HMS Royal George were able to extricate the HMS Wolfe from close action. At this point, with the British flagship in peril, the only option was to head for shore and fight from an anchored position. The American s Commodore Chauncey determined that it would be too dangerous to fight so close to British soil, as he expected the British to have additional help waiting on land. Chauncey would turn away and head back to Fort Niagara. While the event is called the Burlington Race, recent research has demonstrated that the location that the British would anchor in defense was actually off the coast of Bronte Harbour. Legend of Coates Creek Treasure According to a legend passed by word of mouth, a group of boys and girls in the 1860s engaged in a hunt for a buried treasure buried at Coates Creek (Morrison Creek, today) during the War of 1812. The treasure was buried with the wages of the British Soldiery who supposedly buried it out of fear that their boat that was on route to Burlington Bay was spied by an American Gunboat. Fearful that the Americans would get their wages, they turned into the creek and buried a chest of silver and gold under a tree. Boys and girls would go nightly to the site and dig for the treasure but were unsuccessful. Conclusion Compared to other municipalities (particularly those in the Niagara Region), there is not a considerable relationship between Oakville and the War of 1812. However, the people and events listed in this report have played a role in Oakville s history. In terms of commemoration, there seem to be four opportunities present. 1. Celebration of the history of Dundas St. This might not be a War of 1812 commemoration, though it can reflect upon the settlers who settled in the area and their way of life at the time.
War of 1812 7 2. Re-enactment of the Burlington Races While a complete re-enactment is probably not feasible, the opportunity to have a boat come to Bronte Harbour to commemorate the event should be considered. Instead of a re-enactment on the Lake, a re-enactment on land could take place in the form of theatre or art. 3. Legend of Coates Creek Treasure While no treasure was ever found, this might be an opportunity to hold an event geared towards children to educate them about the War of 1812. 4. Commemoration of Oakville settlers and the Mississaugas who fought in the War of 1812 Depending on resources and the information available (if any further information, photographs, etc. beyond what is found in this report can be found), the Oakville Museum can produce an exhibit commemorating Oakville s settlers who fought in the War.
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