Captain Daniel Rapalje, 1st Regiment of Middlesex Militia
Born 8 Nov 1774 Long Island City, Queens, NY to George Rapelje and Aletta Lent appears on the 1790 Census for Newtown Twp., Queens, NY , apparently a wealthy landowner.
Married Elizabeth Vandervoort 24 Sep 1795 at Long Island City, Queens, NY. She was born 1776 Queens, NY and died 27 Feb 1865 at St. Thomas, Elgin
By 1799 they had migrated to Erie, NY, moving on to to Woodhouse Twp, Norfolk County, Upper Canada (Long Point Settlement) by 1802.
Rapelje later received 200 acres of land on the south side of the Talbot Road at Kettle Creek.
1810 family had moved to south side of Talbot Road at Kettle Creek in Elgin County, UC
Daniel Rapalje was a miller, establishing a log grist mill, eventually dividing a portion of his land into town lots.
Founder of what is now St. Thomas, Ontario.
Children:
- George James
- Elsie
- Aletta
- Catherine,
- Lambert
- Jeronimus
- Margaret
- John
- Daniel
- Elizabeth
- Hiram
- Henry
- Mary
War 1812-15 Military Service
Joined 1st Regiment, Middlesex Militia becoming a Captain
He is a veteran of Lundy’s Lane and numerous other battles
Ambush at Reservoir Hill, London
On 30 Aug 1814, Captain Rapalje learned of a contingent of 70 mounted American Rangers led by the ‘turncoat’ former Delaware resident Andrew Westbrook, who were returning to Amherstburg with captured militia officers, after a raid on what is now Ingersoll, Ontario.
Capt Rapalje quickly assembled and led a company of 1st Regt Middlesex Militia to the ravine at Hungerford Hill (now known as Reservoir Hill), along the return route of the Americans.
His men set up a barricade across the road in the ravine.
When the surprise ambush was sprung, the US Rangers scattered, leaving many casualties on the field.
All the prisoners escaped except Captain John Carroll of the Oxford Militia who was killed during the ambush.
There is a City of London historic plaque, located at the entrance of Reservoir Park (864 Commissioners Rd W) commemorating Capt Rapalje’s ambush.
Daniel Rapalje was a miller, and in 1814 he establishing a log grist mill, eventually dividing a portion of his land into town lots.
According to Rev’d Canon Nick Wells, Daniel Rapalje donated the land for the Old St. Thomas Church and graveyard.
The settlement that Rapelje established formed the nucleus of the city of St. Thomas.
Founder of what is now St. Thomas, Ontario.
He died 1 Oct 1828.
Citation: Ermatinger, Charles Oakes, The Talbot Regime, or, the First Half Century of the Talbot Settlement, St. Thomas: The Municipal World, 1904.
Supporting documents: (1) Col Thomas Talbot’s Roll of Service of War 1812 1st Regt Middlesex Militia combatants (2) photo of Reservoir Hill Ambush plaque
