John C Garden joined the 5th Company Royal Newfoundland Regiment commanded by Captain John T. Whelan, 16 Dec 1807,  his brother James joined the next day both as Junior Officers. Their father was William Henry Garden (1749-1812) UEL.

John was promoted to Lieutenant 4 Oct 1810, James was promoted to Lieutenant 21 Feb 1811.  A senior officer described both as being “Very promising young officers of the corp.”

By the time the United States declared war most of the Regiment was deployed in defensive positions from Ogdensburg to Amherstburg. John C Garden was present at Detroit and Frenchtown, while James was at Fort George.

By the spring of 1813 the brothers were reunited at Amherstburg. They were both present at Siege of Fort Meigs on the Miami river, and the only two Officers of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment present at the Battle of Lake Erie.

James was killed, John C. Garden wounded and was taken POW and sent to Frankfort Kentucky. He was released in June 1814. After the war he returned to New Brunswick then later settled in the Niagara area and married Mary Thompson 16 May 1820 at St. Marks Church,  Niagara-on-the-lake.

About 1846 he resettled on the Berengaria farm on Beaverdams Rd. and is believed to have had six or more children.

He died 15 Sept 1860 at 77 years old.

Marked on his head stone “Lieutenant Royal Newfoundland Fencible Regt.”