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.
Tag Archives: Lundy’s Lane
John Langstaff
James Marsh
1st Regiment York Militia
James Marsh was born Mar 11, 1796, one of four children and the only son of Robert Marsh and Sarah Bridgeford, née Smith being the widow of Robert Bridgeford and mother of David Bridgeford, James’ half-brother.
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.
George Shore
104th Regiment of Foot
This application is sponsored by the City of Fredericton, New Brunswick.
George Shore was born in England in 1787. He was commissioned as an Ensign in His Majesty’s New Brunswick Regiment of Fencible Infantry on 9 July 1803. His promotion to Lieutenant was effective 25 March 1804 and he was made Captain on 23 August 1810. With the retirement of Captain Duguald Campbell that year, he took command of the Light Company which he retained until the regiment was disbanded in 1817. In 1810, his regiment was elevated to the line as the 104th (New Brunswick) Regiment of Foot.
William Phair
104th Regiment of Foot
This application is sponsored by the City of Fredericton, New Brunswick.
William Barry Phair was born on 17 March 1783 on Staten Island, Colony of New York. His father, Lieutenant Andrew Phair, was an officer in Major General Benedict Arnold’s Loyal American Legion. After the end of the Amercian Revolution, the family came to Fredericton, New Brunswick as Loyalists. Andrew Phair held government appointments such as Deputy Barrack Master and Postmaster, both at Fredericton.
Roderick Matheson
Glengarry Light Infantry
He served in the War of 1812, having been gazetted senior Ensign of the Glengarry Light Infantry on the 6 Feb 1812. In 1813 the young Matheson’s services were so highly appreciated by the military authorities that he was appointed Lieutenant and Pay Master.
John Arnold
1st Regiment York Militia
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.
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.”