John Stoneburgh was born c1788 into a family with Loyalist roots in lower New York and Bergen County New Jersey. He was the eldest son of Loyalist Peter Stoneburgh Sr. and Hannah Nix. John was also the grandson of Loyalist Harmanus Nix Sr. who died during the Revolutionary War while serving in the New Jersey Volunteers.
Continue reading John Stoneburgh
1st Regiment Prince Edward Militia
Abraham Chase was born in Oneida NY in 1783, the son of Abraham Chase Sr. and Catherine Rogers. His father and grandfather Phineas had served as Rebels in the 14th Albany County Militia during the Revolutionary War.
Continue reading Abraham Chase
1st Regiment Prince Edward Militia
William Jay was a native of England, born c1777 and served in the well known 41st Regiment of Foot.
The Hon. Robert Charles Wilkins was born in 1782 in New York City during the American Revolution. He was the son of Robert Wilkins Sr. a native of England who had served in the 17th Light Dragoons. Continue reading Robert Charles Wilkins
1st Regiment Northumberland Militia
Sir John Johnson, the only (legitimate) son of Sir William Johnson and Mary de Weissenberg, was born on 4 Nov 1741 at Johnstown, in the Mohawk Valley, Province of New York.
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Six Battalions of
Militia Eastern Townships
Samuel Taylor, Private, 11th Glengarry Light Infantry Fencibles, was born 1791, the eldest son of loyalists Nathaniel Taylor and Anna (Osborn) Taylor. The family settled on a grant of land in Prince Edward County ON.
Continue reading Samuel Taylor
Glengarry Light Infantry Fencibles
A Quaker in the militia? Pacificism is one of the basic tenets of the Quakers. Moreover, during the War of 1812 Quakers, Mennonites and Tunkers could be exempt from the usually compulsory military duty thanks to Sir John Graves Simcoe and the Militia Act of 1808. Yet Ira Bearss, 1789-1874, a Quaker, served with the 3rd Regiment Lincoln Militia during the War of 1812. Ira’s brother Daniel Bearss, 1788-1850, served in the same regiment as did a third brother, Josiah Bearss, 1791-1879. Josiah’s grave in Zion Cemetery, Ridgeway, Ontario, has already been commemorated with a War of 1812 veterans marker.
The Van Every’s were early pioneers in the Mohawk Valley of Upper New York. During the American Revolution, the Van Every’s remained true to the British Crown and fought alongside the British Army. Suffering persecution from their neighbours following the end of the war, they sought land grants in Upper Canada and Andrew Van Every, who was the second eldest son of MacGregory Van Every, was granted 200 acres consisting of Lots 12-13, Concession 1, West Flamboro.
John Ward was born in England in 1771 and joined the British Army. He is mentioned in John Gray’s novel, Soldiers of the King on page 156 as being a Private in the Flank Company 1st Regiment Kent Militia. Ward returned to England after the War of 1812 having left his wife and small child there. Ward applied for a land grant in Canada West and settled in the Burford area. He outlived his wife and son and died at the age of 83 in 1855. He is buried in the Congregational Cemetery in Burford.
Recently the Historical Military Establishment of Upper Canada, home of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment re-enactors, held it’s 25th Anniversary.
The Midland Mirror ran a short article on the gathering that can be read here.
Among the many presentations, Lyn Downer and Seaghan Hancocks prepared this video review of the success of the Graveside Project honouring the War of 1812 veterans.
The music heard throughout is an original composition by Richard Rodwell who has kindly contributed his time and skills in support of this project. It may be downloaded from his website at www.RichardRodwell.com
We hope you enjoy it.
Sincerely, Graveside Project Team.
