Tag Archives: Fort Niagara

Alexander Clark
Caldwell’s Rangers

Alexander Clark(e), was born in Brownstown, Michigan, on 10 May 1800.  Alexander’s father was Thomas Alexander Clark(e) who died c 1840 and his mother was Catherine Brown who died c 1802.

After Catherine’s death, Thomas married Catherine’s sister, Mary Brown (d 1863). Alexander’s family remained in Brownstown until he was four years old, when the Huron Indian chiefs in council granted his father a tract of land on the Canadian side, now known as the Clarke Grant and he and his parents moved there in 1804.

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James Haney
2nd Regiment Lincoln Militia

James Haney was born to Isaac and Mary Haney in Thorold in 1792. His father had been a chain bearer during the August Jones survey in 1788 of Township #9, Nassau largely populated by Butler’s Rangers and those associated with them. This area later became Thorold and his parents were awarded crown patents on lots in Thorold where they had a mill. From 1798 to 1803, the family was frequently in York, and settled in lot 11 concesson 5 & 6 in Pelham sometime after 1803, while maintaining their milling interests in Thorold.

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Mathew Haney
2nd Regiment Lincoln Artillery

Matthew Haney was born to Isaac and Mary Haney in Township #9 Nassau, the area that later became known as Thorold, Ontario.  His father had been a chain bearer during the August Jones survey in 1788 of Township #9, Nassau which was largely populated by Butler’s Rangers and those associated with them. Matthew’s parents were awarded crown patents on lots in Thorold where they had a mill. From 1798 to 1803, the family was frequently in York, and eventually settled on Lot 11 Concs 5 & 6 in Pelham sometime after 1803, while maintaining their milling interests in Thorold.

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2nd Regiment Lincoln Artillery

Andrew Miller3rd Regiment Lincoln Militia

Research compiled by the Heritage Arts Legacy of Fort Erie

The early life of young Andrew Miller, who was born in October 1766, is a mystery.  One family tree states that Andrew was born in Ulster Township,Pennsylvania, another tree suggests that Andrew was born in Ulster County, New York. However, the Miller family has come to the conclusion that Andrew was born in the Colony of Pennsylvania based on the theory that is mentioned later in this biography.

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William Buck
3rd Regiment Lincoln Militia

William Buck, son of Philip Buck and Anna Marguerite Saultman, was born in 1788 in Bertie township, Lincoln County, Niagara.

His father Philip who was a native of Germany had been brought to America as an infant by his parents.  Philip Buck had settled on the Susquehanna River in Pennsylvania where had purchased land, had cleared 15 acres, had built a house, a barn and a barrack.

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3rd Regiment Lincoln Militia

Michael Harris
100th
(HRH The Prince Regent’s,
County of Dublin)
Regiment of Foot

Michael Harris was born into a distinguished family in Dublin, Ireland in 1795.  Little is currently known of his younger years there.

Michael enlisted with the 100th (H.R.H. Prince Regent’s, County of Dublin) Regiment of Foot (later renumbered as the 99th).  Michael was only ten years old when the regiment sailed from Ireland to British North America for garrison duty in the colonies. It is unclear at this time if Michael actually sailed with the regiment in 1805 because of his young age but it was not uncommon for young boys to enlist. (and an actual date of enlistment has not been found)

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100th
(HRH The Prince Regent’s,
County of Dublin)
Regiment of Foot

John Langstaff
1st Regiment York Militia

John Langstaff, one of 8 siblings, was born 1774 in Piscataway in the British New Jersey colony that would later become part of the United States.  He came to this area in 1808. He married Lucy, daughter of Abner Miles of Miles Hill later to become Richmond Hill.  Langstaff took over his father-in-law’s land at the site of toll gate number 3 on the Yonge Street Highway, two side roads south of Richmond Hill.  The land was located on the northeast corner of the intersection later to become Yonge Street and Langstaff Road.

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1st Regiment York Militia

James Miles
1st Regiment York Militia

October 6th 1776, James spelled M-I-G-H-E-L-L-S but pronounced “Miles” was born in Brimfield Massachusetts, to Abner Miles and Mercy Hayes who had married January 4th, 1776.  James was named after his Uncle.  James moved with his mother, father and at least two sisters of his five sisters to Genesee, New York.  James being 14 at this time would have assisted his father in their combined general store, inn, and cobbling business that served the first wave of settlers in that region.

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1st Regiment York Militia