GLAMORGAN SPRING BAY HISTORICAL SOCIETY INC. issue 14 march 2020 22 Franklin Street open 10am - 4pm tuesdays & fridays Swansea TAS 7190 ☞ 6256 5077 ☞ 6257 9011 From our Secretary t has been some time since our last issue, time has just Our next General Meeting is not scheduled until flown by, and we do apologise for our laxity. We hope 8th May, whether this goes ahead or not will depend on you enjoy this issue of Former Times. the situation and advice we receive closer to the date. IWe are pleased to include an article by our North American Please every one, respect the situation and stay safe. correspondent Dr John Carter on a political prisoner John Berry and his connection to Van Diemen’s Land. Society Membership Membership of the Glamorgan Spring Bay Historical We also mark the recent passing of Life member Grace Society stands at 94 financial and Life members. Freeman, with a tribute from Judie Hastie. And, notice from Amos Family Bi Centenary Committee on the Recent new members include Josephine Fenn-Smith, marking of he arrival of Meredith & Amos families in Michael Meredith, Christine Woods, Vicki Hill, Margaret March 1821. Evers, Julie Hawkins, Rae Campbell, Lyn Hatton, Jennifer Agius, Francine Targett and Hilary Burden. We welcome Remember this newsletter is for all, and articles are you all to the Society. welcome and gladly accepted. If you do have something of an historical nature, especially to do with our area, the Late last year the Society recognised the work of former Society is happy to include it in future issues. members Craig and Jennifer Johnston, with a morning tea and a Certificate of Appreciation presented to them. We have communicated to Members, as a result of the As well as being a past President of the Society, Craig was State & Federal Governments’ proclamations about a Glamorgan Spring Bay Councillor for many years and COVID-19, your Committee has taken the decision represented the Society on Council. to close the Society Rooms for the time being. We will monitor the situation and hopefully get back to normal Peter Huttemeier as soon as possible. Certificate of Appreciationto Craig Johnson The Society thanks you for your service. For the many years supporting us, for your time on committees, for the many years you represented the Society as President. We appreciate all you have done. ThankThank you Craig. you october 2019 Diane Bricknell President PAGE 1 THE GLAMORGAN SPRING BAY HISTORICAL SOCIETY INC. The Trials and Tribulations of a “Patriot” Political Prisoner By: John C. Carter Introduction: it is unclear when and why he moved permanently to Upper Canada. He purchased his land in 1836, and by 1837, he was etween December, 1837 and December, 1838, there listed as a farmer owning 200 acres on the 6th Concession of were at least 14 recorded armed and violent incursions Elizabethtown, Upper Canada. He was also engaged in the from United States into Upper Canada. These lumbering business there. While in Upper Canada, he lived unsanctioned attacks constituted what is referred to as the B and worked on his own, while his family remained in Rutland, Patriot War, or the 1838 Upper Canadian Rebellion. For their Vermont. It is probable that John Berry moved back and forth involvement, a total of more than 1,000 men were arrested between Upper Canada and Vermont, as in May of 1836, his for treason and piratical invasion. One of those captured near youngest son Luther was born in Rutland, Vermont. Prescott at the Battle of the Windmill in November of 1838, was a man named John Berry. Berry’s Rebel Involvement: November 2019,* marked the 181st anniversary of the Battle Locally, John Berry was regarded as an “ardent Patriot,” and of the Windmill. It was the second last incursion of the he was known to be a strong supporter of Republican Patriot War, and it proved to be the largest military causes. Because of his political stance, Berry engagement evidenced during the 1838 Upper was incarcerated in the Brockville Gaol at Canadian Rebellion. Much has been written the outbreak of the 1837 Upper Canadian about events associated with this episode, rebellion. On his release in December of but very little has been penned about 1837, he fled from Upper Canada, and individuals involved in this skirmish. became a refugee in Columbia County, This article will focus on one of these New York. There he fully connected men, namely, John Berry. himself with other disaffected Canadian exiles and their American Background: sympathizers. He also joined John Berry was born on October the local the Hunter’s Lodge, a 8, 1798 in Chatham Centre, secret society which supported Columbia County, New York. the principle aim of helping to Around 1822, he married Rachel overthrow what was perceived in Whissel [Whistle, Weisel].** Her some quarters in United States, as parents were Georg Wissel and being “tyranny” in Upper Canada. Anna Sophia Vreeland. They were Later he participated in the involved in the timber cutting unsuccessful Patriot Army attack business, which necessitated the on Prescott, and was captured at family to move frequently back the Battle of the Windmill. In his and forth from New York State deposition taken upon capture, Berry and Upper Canada. Family records said that he had been “...engaged by indicate that between 1823 and 1836, Captain Benedick at 16 dollars a month John and Rachel had six children. to assist in fortifying an island between There were three boys (Harvey, Asa and Ogdensburg and Morristown as winter Luther), and three were girls (Martha, Lucy quarters for the Patriots preparatory to and Mary). They were raised in Rutland, their attacking Canada.” Berry claimed that Vermont. At some juncture in the 1820s, he had boarded a steamboat [the United States] John Berry sailed with Gideon King on Lake at Oswego, New York, wanting to land at Sackett’s Champlain. In the January 2, 1861 issue of the Ovid Harbor, and then found out that an immediate armed attack [N.Y.] Bee, comments in an interview by a man claiming to was going to be made into Canada. Following his capture, be John Berry provided further information about his earlier he was incarcerated at Fort Henry. Subsequently a trial/court life. Berry claimed that he had fought in the War of 1812 at martial in Kingston was held. There John Berry was charged the Battle of Lundy’s Lane. Later he became a resident of with “piratical invasion,” and convicted of “high treason and Salina, New York, and had run a boat called the Potter on the feloniously invading the Province of Upper Canada.” Erie Canal. He continued in the boating business until 1838. Not much more is known about John Berry’s early life, and H.M.S. Buffalo (above) PAGE 2 THE GLAMORGAN SPRING BAY HISTORICAL SOCIETY INC. His fate was sealed when Sir John Colborne sent a despatch TheHobart Town Advertiser of February 21 was not to the Marquis of Normanby, the then British Home complimentary. It said; “These men are a body of Americans Secretary, on September 27, 1839. Writing from Montreal, of the lowest order, many of whom have been convicted of Colborne noted that; “The convicts from Kingston, in offences against the laws of their own country, and are now Upper Canada, arrived early this morning, and have been under conviction, not merely of a political offence, but also of forwarded to Quebec to be embarked on board the Buffalo.” the most atrocious acts of wanton robbery, arson and murder.” TheQuebec Transcript & General Advertiser of September The February 21 [Hobart Town] True Colonist concurred, 30, confirmed the prisoners’ movements to Quebec, and saying that; “They are not true patriots fighting for their reflected upon their demeanour; “The arrival and departure of liberty, nor are they even Canadians. They are Borderers from the convicts, occasioned but little sensation. They in general, the States-Bushmen like our sawyers, splitters and fencers- we understand, kept up their spirits until they were actually who being attracted by the troubles in Canada, took arms on board the Buffalo, when, on seeing the preparations for not to support the cause of liberty, but to gratify their love for their security and on the convict dresses being put on them rapine and plunder.” and their hair cut off, they became alive to the degraded state in which they had reduced themselves.” The newspaper The exiles were portrayed in a February 20th editorial concluded that these men “...are now on their way to Van published in the Launceston Advertiser, in a more positive Diemen’s Land, the Buffalo having sailed this morning.” At age manner. The editor wrote that; “It will be an exceedingly hard 40, Berry would be one of the oldest men to suffer this fate, as case if the Canadian prisoners, who have recently arrived in a consequence directly related to his active participation and Hobart Town by the Buffalo, are treated like common felons... direct involvement in the Battle of the Windmill. We look upon them as mere prisoners of war, and have a right to be free from all restraint which is not absolutely necessary To Van Diemen’s Land: to prevent their escape.” Berry and his comrades were sent to the British penal colony of Van Diemen’s Land. He and a total of 91 other English Life in a Prison Colony: speaking colleagues, were transported there as political These prisoners were collectively employed at building roads prisoners, aboard H.M.S. Buffalo. The journey took 137 days, and working on other government sponsored projects.