Jacob Rawn was born 17 Aug 1767 to Johan Rheinuh and Maria Elisabeth(?) His god parents were Jacob Dinges and Michel Seitzer. Jacobs’ family were refugees who had fled the war ravaged lands of the Palatine in 1709. At that time, Queen Anne of Britain offered them refuge in England where thousands of Palatines camped in tents around the walls of London.
A North American Indian leader who was brought to London from the New World viewed these destitute people and offered them some of his hunting grounds to settle on. Ten ships sailed to the province of New York. Many died on the way, but the survivors were hardy folk and successfully pioneered what is now upper New York state. It was not easy as they endured and fought alongside the British in the French & Indian Wars and later for the American side in the American Revolutionary War in 1776.
The Colonel was a prominent and colourful figure in the history of Richmond Hill. Numerous references to him and his contributions to early society in Upper Canada have been found, particularly in the book, Early Days in Richmond Hill: A History of the Community to 1930 by Robert M. Stamp.
John McDonald was living we believe in Westmeath township before 1830.
John was to have been a brother to Walter and William he lived on Conc 1, Lot 24 which was in the vicinity of Little Mud Lake, an area which was between the Muskrat River and Hwy 17.
William McDonald was Born circa 15 April 1798 in Glengarry Ontario. He was to have been the age of only 14 years old when he was to have hauled ammunition horses and sleigh between Montreal and Kingston.
Major Burritt was born in Arlington, Vermont on 13 October 1775. He was one of 12 children, and the youngest son, of Daniel Burritt, Sr. (1735-1827) and Sarah Collins (1733-1815) of Connecticut, later Vermont, and finally Augusta Township, Grenville County, Ontario. Daniel Burritt Sr., a confirmed United Empire Loyalist, fought at the Battle of Saratoga when Major was just under two years of age.
Kerby was a militia officer, businessman, Justice of the Peace, office holder, and politician; b 1785 at Park Farm near Sandwich (Windsor, Ont.), son of John Kerby and Alison Donaldson; m 1811 Jane Lambert, and they had three children; d 20 June 1854 at Fort Erie, Upper Canada.
A son of Peter Fraser Sr. b 1789 in Fort Augustus, Invernesshire, Scotland. At age 18, he is a drummer in the 10th Royal Veteran Battalion, arriving in Quebec in 1807. Transferred to 49th Regiment of Foot in 1810 as Private. By 1813, he is a Sergeant, serving in the 49th Regiment of Foot, under General Vincent in the Niagara Frontier.
editor & publisher of Canada’s first newspaper, The Upper Canada Gazette
built an industrial empire on the 2nd Conc consisting of a grist mill, a saw mill, ashery, cooperage, stables, hog pens, and 13 dwellings for his employees
helped found the Burlington Board of Agriculture
member of Masonic Lodge (Union Lodge #24)
laid the cornerstone of the Ancaster Free Church
was appointed the first Sheriff of the Gore District (Hamilton and its vicinity)
Military Life
was commissioned as Adjutant in the 1st Regiment Lincoln Militia
held the rank of Lieutenant in the 2nd Regiment Lincoln Militia
when war was declared in 1812 he was Captain in the 2nd Regiment York Regiment
aided in the capture of the American Fort Niagara
commanded the volunteers and militia at Black Rock and Buffalo
appointed Major and was in command at Lundy’s Lane until wounded
Sir Peregrin Maitland wrote of Titus Geer Simon that he,
“served with active zeal and intelligence from the commencement of the war with the United States, his general character and conduct in the command of a Regiment of Militia highly respectable, and his loyalty and attachment to His Majesty’s Government undoubted.”
George Nichols, born in Newport, Rhode Island, January 12 , 1776, was the son of widow Ruth Nichols. His father George, a sergeant with the British forces, had been killed in action at the battle of Bunker Hill, Boston, Mass. in June of 1775.
