The Militia in Northumberland 1793-1868
Militia Acts of Parliament Militia Act - rst business of the second session of the rst parliament of Upper Canada, all men over the age of 16 and under 50 must serve for three years and provide their own arms and uniforms - 4,213 men are enrolled. 1794 - Parliament amends the Act; all men over the age of 16 and under 60 must serve. 1807 - 4,000 arms are issued to the Militia and the men are told to “Stand Ready” 652 O cers and 7,947 other ranks. 1808 - New Militia Act Upper Canada in 1800 Each District of Upper Canada was to raise its own Regiment and be prepared to defend 1807 - 1st Northumberland the Country. Regiment Formed 1812 - population of Upper Canada is less than 84,000 Col. Chisholm of the Northumberland Militia to L. Governor Gore 1,500 enrolled in Militia To His Excellency Francis Gore Esquire, Lieutenant Governor of the Province of Upper Canada. 1812 - Parliament amends the Act. “Flank Companies” May it please your Excellency, are established - one in each Regiment – to ght alongside the I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Excellency’s orders of the 26th, the 29th. November last, I this day assembled the Militia of Northumberland from which I have Regular British Army. formed the following Detachment, very readily without a Ballot, that is to say, Two Captains, 1812 - The rst year of the War sees two Lieutenants, two ensigns, three Sergeants, and Seventy Five Rank and file: The Officers the rolls expand to over are Captain Elias Jones and John Spencer, Lieutenant Joel Parker, and Zacheus Burnham, Ensigns Roger Woolcut and William H. Walbridge. 13,000, of which, as one Commander observes, “Less than a third are The Militia of Northumberland have never received any Arms from Government, and are destitute quali ed to bear arms.” of any that are worth mentioning, I hope your Excellency will be pleased to give directions where I may obtain the necessary Arms, and Accoutrements for the Detachment who are to remain in readiness at an Hours Notice. I beg leave to make a tender of my own Actual Service when your Excellency may think proper, and my Country requires it. I have the honour to be your Excellency’s most obedient and most humble servant, Alexander Chisholm Of the County of Northumberland Cramahe 5th December 1807. To his Excellency, Francis Gore Esquire, Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada, York
Material prepared by Ben Burd. Design provided by Steve Smiley, RGD, Quench Design & Communications, Port Hope. 1808 - Militia Act Mandated the formation of Militia Regiments 1st Regt. Northumberland Militia. Hope Haldimand Murray Eight Companies were raised - Hamilton Percy Cramahe one from each Sub-District: Alnwick Seymour
Regiment reformed in 1810 List of the o cers of the 1st Regiment of Northumberland Militia, with the dates of their commissions or appointments. John Peters, Lieutenant-Colonel Commanding, Commissioned 20th June 1810 Elias Jones, Major, Commissioned 20th June 1810 Captains What the 1st Regiment Northumberland 1. John Spencer, 20th June 1810 Militia did in the War 2. Timothy Porter, 20th June 1810 Had to be available for thirty day periods to: 3. Richard Hare, 20th June 1810 • Work as labourers: building forti cations, one detail went to Kingston 4. Robert C. Wilkins, 20th June 1810 • Guard installations: Mills and supplies 5. Zacheus Burnham, 23th June 1810 • Transport prisoners: to York and Kingston, sometimes Burlington 6. Thomas Ward, 25th May 1812 Each member of the Militia was called to serve a maximum of six months in any 7. John Vaughn, Not commissioned in Militia year and in periods of thirty days. Once a period was served one did not serve General Order 15th February 1813 again until all members of the Battalion had been called to serve, by lot. 8. Roger Woolcut, Recommended 24th June This Regiment was part of the “Sedentary Militia” 1813, not commissioned or in orders The Sedentary Militia stayed within the District and supplied men for the jobs listed above. The ghting was done by the “Incorporated Militia of Upper Canada”. Some of the 1st Regiment volunteered for the IMUC.
The “Old Kirk of Scotland”, opened in 1834 but was vacated in the 1860s due to the successful claim by Church of Scotland members. The Old Kirk eventually fell into disrepair and was demolished.
Material prepared by Ben Burd. Design provided by Steve Smiley, RGD, Quench Design & Communications, Port Hope. The Danforth Road 1813 Burlington Bay to Kingston 196 miles, Cobourg to York 70 miles, Kingston to Cobourg 92 miles
An Illustration of the Duties Performed by the Militia
• A receipt for meals for the guard and six prisoners • Two Suppers • Two suppers; Sergeant Matthews • Six Breakfasts; Prisoners • Two Breakfasts; Mr. James, Stotts How Much they were Paid? This is to certify that the above statement of twelve Commander - 17 shillings per day meals victuals is correct and that I have received them Major - 15 shillings and 3 pence per day for myself, comrade and prisoners as aforesaid from Private - 6 pence per day Income tax was debited Mr. James Williams Inn keeper at Hamilton this 22 December 1812. Peter Mattews James Williams
Source: National Archives RG 9C1-B-1 Northumberland 1812
The Rewards for Being In the Militia
In 1815, at the end of the war, all veterans were supposed to receive a reward for enlisting. (Here is a portion of the original grant given to Parker Smith Jr. Provided by his great- grandson, Ron Smith, of Garden Hill.
Material prepared by Ben Burd. Design provided by Steve Smiley, RGD, Quench Design & Communications, Port Hope. Narrative of Henry Ruttan. Source: Loyalist narratives from Upper Canada (Talman), 296–311.
A famous Northumberland Militia Man
Henry Ruttan an Ensign in the 1st Northumberland Militia 1829 - Another Militia Act • Joined the 1st Regt. in 1812 This Act established the Militia as a Force • Transferred to the Incorporated Militia composed of Active and Reserve Forces. in 1812 • Wounded at the Battle of Lundy’s Lane The “Old Kirk of Scotland”, opened in 1834 Each Militia Regiment will consist of two Battalions • Fought till the end of the War but was vacated in the 1860s due to the - one composed of men none older than 40 • Served in many capacities after the War years of agesuccessful and the claim other by Church- a Reserve of Scotland Battalion most notably as the Sheri of the County members. The Old Kirk eventually fell into Portrait painted by Paul Kane composed of older men. of Cobourg of Northumberland The rst battaliondisrepair andwould was havedemolished. eight Companies In 1827 the Rev. Andrew Je rey came to what is now Cobourg of Light Infantry, eachto Companyhelp form the divided local Kirk into of Scotland. The“From rst church the close opened of the war in 1814 until 1837 little was heard of the two wings. in 1834 between William and Ontario Sts.,Militia south ofor Seminaryof its existence, excepting upon " Training Day," (changed to St. (now University Ave.) Until then peopleSt with George’s Church Day of - April 23rd in 1822) which was looked upon by many Scotland a liation met in William Weller’sas carriage a big picnicworkshop more than as a public duty. The military spirit was only at George and Orange Sts. quiescent though, it was not dead.”
Source: History of the Royal Grenadiers
Material prepared by Ben Burd. Design provided by Steve Smiley, RGD, Quench Design & Communications, Port Hope. REBELLION IN UPPER CANADA!
Late in November 1837 rebellion broke Just a few days after the Cobourg out in Lower Canada. Ri es were formed… All the regular soldier in Upper Canada were sent to help, leaving Rebellion in Upper Canada! Upper Canada with only the Militia. December 4, 1837: William Lyon-MacKenzie begins his On November 29 the following notice appeared in the Cobourg Star: march down Yonge St. from Newmarket towards Toronto. December 5: Lieutenant Governor Bond Head calls out To the Young Men of Cobourg, the militia It is proposed, with the permission of the executive, to form a Volunteer December 7: The Militia assembles and begins the Ri e Company, to be attached to the First Regiment of Northumber- di cult march to Toronto, led by the Cobourg Ri es land Militia, with the usual privileges and conditions. All persons in the (2,000 men from Newcastle District in all) town and neighbourhood, whose loyalty at the present moment of December 10: Toronto is nally reached, but the rebels threatened revolution in the sister province, may prompt them to join have already ed to Niagara. Some of the Militia, includ- such company, with a desire for immediate active service, can please ing some of the Cobourg Ri es, follow to Chippawa leave their names at this o ce. December 13: Mackenzie declares Navy Island to be The Republic of Canada. American sympathizers supply The Cobourg Rifles – 1837 him with money, provisions and arms, using the steamboat SS Caroline. Captain: Edward Warren December 29: a party of militia crosses the International Lieutenants: Chatterton, McDonald, H. Covert Boundary, seizes the Caroline, tows her into the current, Qr. Master Ser’gt: H. E. Nichols sets her a re, and cast her adrift over Niagara Falls. Sergents: G. M. Goodeve, H.H. Meredith The Caroline Incident reverberated for many years and Corporals: Saunders, R. Armour was sited as the reason for a number of incidents in Privates: Charles Perry J. McGarvey H.W. Jones which American individuals made attacks on Canadian persons and property. C.G. Buller R.H. Throop Charles Butler The Cobourg Conspiracy C.S. Finlayson R.D. Rogers John Laurie may have been one Rowe Buck F.H. Burton W.F. Harper such incident. Wm. Gravely Wm. Butler Wm. Boswell W.W. Hammond C.J. Owston Henry Blackstone The Carolina Incident. Painting by Wm. Bancks James Mewburn Jr. Angus Crawford George Tattersall
Material prepared by Ben Burd. Design provided by Steve Smiley, RGD, Quench Design & Communications, Port Hope. In 1837 the Northumberland Militia mustered over 2,000 men to defend the Nation
1855 - Act Establishes Distinct Units (Artillery, Infantry, Marines and Cavalry) Not Just One Militia.
Cobourg establishes an Artillery Battery in 1866. In mid-19th century Victorian Upper Canada, the Militia enjoyed a popularity and status within |society that a modern observer will nd surprising. Cobourg, with a population of just 6,000 was able to eld and support an extremely impressive military establishment. From 1866 this establishment boasted: • an infantry battalion - the 40th Northumberland Battalion of Infantry The “Old Kirk of Scotland”, opened in 1834 • a cavalry troop - 3rd Provisional Regiment of Cavalry but was vacated in the 1860s due to the 1839 - Another Militia Act • a heavy artillery battery - Cobourg Battery, Garrison Artillery. successful claim by Church of Scotland members. The Old Kirk eventually fell into Reunion of Cobourg 2nd Heavy disrepair and was demolished. Battery Outside the Armouries In 1827 the Rev. Andrew Je rey came to what is now Cobourg Undated photograph - Cobourg Library to help form the local Kirk of Scotland. The rst church opened in 1834 between William and Ontario Sts., south of Seminary St. (now University Ave.) Until then people with Church of Scotland a liation met in William Weller’s carriageA Last workshop Word at George and Orange Sts. The Army Reserve (or Militia) has become a valued contributor to the Regular Force. Today Reservists are standing shoulder to shoulder with their Regular Force Peers, ghting the War on Terror. Farley Mowat captured it the best when he wrote, “ … yet there was A Local Call for the Revamp one hidden weapon; one ignored by most of those who calculated of the Militia military strength, ignored by the government itself – and yet a An Editorial in the Cobourg Star 1848 weapon in nitely more powerful, and ready than any in the o cial armoury. It was called the Militia.” No words have been spoken that are more true today. The Army Reserve is made up of citizen soldiers who train part-time at local armouries throughout the year and full-time (as their civilian employment permits) at military bases across Canada during the summer. Reserves also contribute to NATO deployments, and UN missions. http://www.theregiment.ca/hastypee.html Source Climo, “Cobourg Militia” extracts from the Cobourg World/Star.
Material prepared by Ben Burd. Design provided by Steve Smiley, RGD, Quench Design & Communications, Port Hope.