James Pickard was born in Niagara Twp., Lincoln County in 1796, the son of UE Loyalist Private James Pickard, UE and his wife Hannah.

When the call came for men to volunteer to form Flank units during the War of 1812 to 14, James responded, becoming a Private in the 4th Regiment Lincoln Militia, first under Captain Abram Nelles, then under Captain Henry  Nelles.  His service is well-documented in the 1812 Upper Canada Returns, Nominal Rolls and Paylists, RG 9 1B7. In 1820 he received a certificate under Captain Henry Nelles’ signature which entitled him to a grant of land for his service.

He married a lady named Phoebe and they had at least one child:

• Walter, b1831, d1895 Yarmouth Twp., Elgin County, m Eliza Melvina Adams

There is not a lot of information readily available on James Pickard, beyond his obituary.   It tells us he apprenticed for five years in Niagara at a tail ring business, making the military a specialty.  He lived in Beamsville, then three miles west of St. Catharines before moving to South Dumfries (Paris, ON), where he was farming in 1851 and 1861.  He moved further west to Aldborough Twp., Elgin County where his wife died.  He and his son then moved to Sparta, settling along the shoreline.

James was a member of the Sparta Baptist Church.  His funeral service was held there after his death on 20 Feb 1886, at the age of 90.  His obituary states he was buried in the Sparta Cemetery, however the cemetery records do not reveal his resting place, nor is there a marker to be found.

Graveside Team Note — Location of grave not accurate.