The War of 1812-14 and the Rebellion of 1837 from “The Story of Sharon”
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First Meeting House of the Children of Peace, built adjacent to the Friends Meeting House in Hope (now Sharon) Photo: Sharon Temple Museum Archives. The War of 1812-14 and the Rebellion of 1837 from “The Story of Sharon” by Ethel Willson Trewhella Transcribed and edited by Sandra McCann Fuller The Story of Sharon was published in forty-two passed to that of the 19th century. In 1792, installments from 14 June 1951 to 27 March John Graves Simcoe, the first governor of 1952 in the Newmarket Era & Express Upper Canada had arrived at Kingston. newspaper, Newmarket, Ontario. In 2012-14, Here had come a man possessed of the Ontario is noting the 200th anniversary of the War abilities necessary to a period when a nation of 1812-14, and the 175th anniversary of the was in formative transition – he was Rebellion of 1837. Three installments pertaining determined, clear-sighted, and far-seeing, to these events from the Story of Sharon are and intensely loyal. In the American War for presented here. Independence from Britain, he had fought in command of the Queen’s Rangers of The continuity of the 18th century Virginia, and he fully anticipated further The Story of Sharon war. In fact, knowing at first hand heavily on neutral nations. This was conditions and aspirations to the south, he particularly true of the United States which had warned the Home Authorities that already had almost monopolized the another war was inevitable before the carrying trade of the world. colony could feel established. When he found that the western forts, Niagara and Meanwhile, around Sharon, memories Detroit, were to be given up to the United of the American Revolution were receding. States, he decided that “the chief town of a These law-abiding, peaceful, and loyal Province must not be placed under the guns settlers were intent on a main purpose – to of an enemy’s fort” at Niagara. establish their homes for the future. Oxen- On the north shore of Lake Ontario drawn wagons filled with settlers’ effects had once stood an old French Fort, were still arriving, and heads of families and Toronto, which also had the advantage of a sons with their families enlarged the good harbour. In every way, this seemed an population. excellent situation; so, here in the woods But down at the front, along the St Governor Simcoe established the capitol of Lawrence River, and Lakes Ontario and Upper Canada and changed its name to Erie, rising from the very roots of the York. In strategic ways, he prepared as best trouble which had caused these people to he could for the contingency of war. As a migrate to Canada, the war clouds soldier, he realized that roads were of first deepened. That inflation which sprang from necessity for transportation of troops. With the ideas of a certain element still this purpose in mind, he had Yonge Street intoxicated with the lust of war and surveyed and opened in 1794. Its military coupled with the ‘lingering and longing value was doubly important in that it desire to round off the country by the opened a direct route to the northern acquisition of British territory’ were the real waters of Georgian Bay. The anchor at causes of the trouble. It had constituted an Holland Landing is a souvenir of the War election pledge by American President of 1812. The hauling of that huge mass of Madison to declare war against Great metal – in measurement its arms extended Britain, and so sure of themselves were 10 feet from tip to tip – would constitute a they that Jefferson described it to be a bit of skillful manoeuvring at any time. At ‘mere matter of marching’, while Eustis, the that time in the history of Yonge Street, it US Secretary of War, declared, “We can required both engineering and brawn. The take the Canadas without soldiers!” anchor was fastened to what was called a catapult which was used as a stone boat and In 1812, when the Legislative Assembly drawn up through the underbrush by 12 at York was aware that the war situation had yoke of oxen. The trip from York required become alarming, they passed the Militia four days. Bill which authorized the Government “to In the case of many historic struggles, embody 2,000 bachelors between the ages the nominal causes were not the real causes. of 18 and 23 years for three months in the For a number of years, England had been years, and in case of invasion of imminent in a death grapple with Napoleon danger thereof, to retain them for one Bonaparte, and the retaliatory measures of year”. Before this was organized or the men the respective contestants, the Berlin equipped, war was declared. Decrees, and the Orders-in-Council, bore The time of every threatened crisis has Canadian Quaker History Journal 77 (2012) 58 The Story of Sharon brought forth a strong leader. In this case, it laying the foundation for a permanent was the heroic Major-General Sir Isaac Federal Union. Brock, Commander of the Forces. Just as Governor Simcoe before him had A manuscript left by the late Titus anticipated this trouble, Brock, too, had Willson describes conditions in Sharon. He warned the Home Authorities in England stated that the war between England and and had done what he could, with the United States in 1812 was a great hampered means, to prepare to meet it. On drawback to Canada from which it did not his part, Brock well knew he could depend recover for several years. We were often upon the loyalty of the mass of the people, called out to do garrison duty for a month a loyalty which transcended two centuries to or two, and by the time we had got fairly the Old Land. In an address to the home we would perhaps be called out again. Legislature, he reminded them “that the By such continued interruptions, there was free spirit of a free people will never die!”. not enough raised upon farms to supply the Impeded by the vacillation of the people and the troops, but large quantities powers at Quebec, Brock turned to his of provisions were brought into the volunteers. While any attempt at evasion country from Europe. was punished by stern measures, at the As soon as peace was made, the British same time, he considered their difficulties government stopped sending over supplies. and endeavoured to give them opportunity He remembered that very many of them to harvest the crops, and in this they were joined together to send a man from aided and strengthened by the devoted Newmarket to Genesee River for a efforts of the women. Speaking in 1840, in schooner-load of flour. They got two vivid remembrance of this leader, Chief barrels which cost them when laid down at Justice Robinson said, “It would have Sharon $13.50 per barrel. However, this did required more courage to refuse General not last until the next harvest. They were, Brock than to go with him wherever he therefore, under the necessity of cutting would lead!”. Historians, writing of the War their wheat before it was fully ripe. They of 1812, have reiterated that “almost the pounded it as best they could, cleaned and entire population was drawn into the boiled it, and ate it with sugar and milk vortex” – farmers, mechanics, and when they had these. They had but one cow gentlemen. Out of this widely-scattered at that time, but they had a good deal of settlement of 500,000 persons against an sugar. Pork was quite out of the question. organized republic of 8,000,000, the The troops had eaten their hogs; so, they community of Sharon gallantly did its part. had to wait until others grew. He knew pork In the early phase of this unsuccessful to bring $50. per barrel. A great depression attempt to conquer Canada, the life of this followed the War. Prices had been courageous leader, Isaac Brock, was fabulously high during hostilities and when terminated by a bullet in the chest. His last peace was declared, they fell to lowest level. command: “Push on the York Volunteers!” A Sharon name prominent in the War has become immortal. The results of this of 1812 was that of Col. Thomas Selby war have been clearly portrayed on the who fought with Gen. Brock during the pages of history as the consolidation of War, but was home at the time of the Battle British sentiment and the bringing closer of Queenston Heights because his wife was the two inhabiting races, and unconsciously very ill. He saw service for three years and Canadian Quaker History Journal 77 (2012) 59 The Story of Sharon received as reward 1,200 acres of land. Col. population was heathen. Thomas Selby and his wife had a family of In 1791, 2,500,000 acres of land were 12 children and each was given 100 acres of set aside to support a Protestant Clergy land at coming of age or at marriage. In which meant the Church of England. This time, all the sons of Col. Selby became enormous reservation was known as the officers in the Canadian Army, and the Clergy Reserves. In addition, persons military tradition was carried on during responsible for bringing in settlers, and World Wars I and II. Another Sharon name disbanded soldiers, had been given tracts of connected with the War of 1812 was that of land, each comprising thousands of acres. Captain Traviss. The British Government had the sincere At the close of the War of 1812, for interests of the colony at heart.