Research compiled by the Heritage Arts Legacy of Fort Erie
John Laur, a native of Germany was born in 1761. As a young man he came to America previous to the Revolutionary war and located in the state of Pennsylvania. John Laur married Sarah Zavitz who was born in 1769. They were married in Tannersville, Northampton County, Pennsylvania, U.S.A. In 1784 they came across the Niagara River to Bertie township. (Source: Benjamin Laur)
Mrs. Laur rode horseback as the horse swam across the river and John Laur swam alongside with his hand on the stirrups. They landed on the Canadian side at the end of the old Indian Trail and going back over one mile they found Augustus Anger ploughing with oxen. They bought 50 acres of land from him and built a log house and dug a well. The old house is gone now, but the well is still there beside the old Indian Trail. (Source: Laur family)
John Laur bought Lots 9 and 10, Conc 6 Bertie township from Augustus and Roseanne Anger for £12 and 6 shillings deed May 7, 1806. Their land embracing quite a tract is still owned by the family. (Source: Benjamin Laur)
John and Sarah had a family of nine children; eight boys and one girl.
- Peter b 1790
- George b 1793
- John b 1795
- Jacob b 1797
- Andrew b 1803
- Benjamin b 1805
- Catherine b 1807
- Henry b 1810
- William b 1816
John Laur Sr. as well as his sons Peter, John Jr. and George and possibly Jacob served during the War of 1812. In National Archives of Canada RG9 1B7 Vol. 23, Upper Canada Returns, Nominal Rolls and Paylists, Private John Laur Sr. is listed among those who served in Captain John Hardy’s Company of the 3rd Regiment Lincoln Militia.
After the war many Bertie Township residents filed claims for compensation for property damages caused by the enemy. John Laur’s claim for damages suffered at the hands of the enemy is listed at Archives Ontario, Claim #372, Schedule of Claims, Class 2, Township of Bertie, District Niagara. He claimed 50 bushels of wheat and hay taken by the enemy and valued them at £33, 5 shillings. His claim was cerified by two witnesses. Payment recommended was £25.
His application for having served six months or more during the war is recorded as file #49 on p.p 1319-1320 in An Index of Land Claims Certificates of Upper Canada Militiamen who served in War of 1812-1814 by Wilfred R. Lauber. This proof of his service is attached to this application.
Private John Laur’s military service is documented within the digitized War of 1812 Upper Canada Returns, Nominal Rolls and Paylists RG 91B7 Mikan 183676 on the Collections Canada website. Scans of pages from the Collections Canada website which prove his service have been attached to this application.
John Laur died in 26 Sept 1844 at 83 years of age and his wife Sarah died on 5 April 1859 at 89 years of age. They were both buried near a large pine tree in the field in the south west corner of their farm on Lot 9 Conc 6. Later they were taken up and buried in St. John’s Anglican Cemetery, Ridgemount, Ont. Source: Laur family.