John Arnold was born in 1769 in Perth Amboy of the New Jersey colony that was later to become part of the United States. John Arnold Senior fought on the side of the British in the New Jersey forces during the American Revolution. When their land was confiscated in New Jersey in 1784, John Senior, with his wife and ten children, was granted 1000 acres in Nova Scotia. However, by 1797 the Arnold family, attracted by the land offers of John Graves Simcoe had settled in the York area.
Tag Archives: Fort Niagara
John Arnold
David Bridgford
3rd Regiment York Militia
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.
James Kerby, 2nd Regiment Lincoln Artillery
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.
Continue reading James Kerby, 2nd Regiment Lincoln Artillery
Titus Simons
2nd Regiment York Militia
Community Life
- 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.”