Thursday, March 31, 2016

Surgeon To The 2nd Regiment Riflemen



Source

In the war of 1812, which was partly at our door, a few of the local physicians were engaged. Most prominently was Dr. Piatt Williams, a graduate of Williams College, and prepared by a long course of professional study. The war broke out soon after he began to practice, and he immediately received from Gov. Tompkins the appointment of surgeon to the Second Regiment of Riflemen. He served through the war on the Niagara frontiers. Two years later, having returned to Albany, he was appointed post surgeon of the cantonment at Greenbush, and retained the position till its abandonment in 1822. [Source]



Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Mounted A Cannon On The Roof


From Mrs. John Graves Simcoe's Diary:

Mon. 29th Rode before breakfast. At Navy Hall, the " Onondaga " arrived from Kingston in 22 hours. There is a large stone house, built by the French, in the Fort at Niagara...." .


Source - Navy Hall, Niagara


"NOTE. This house is a large stone building which stands within the precincts of the American Fort, and was built by the French prior to 1750...[with] a timbered roof. During the War of 1812 the Americans are said to have torn it off, made a flat roof, with stone walls projecting a foot or so above it, and to have mounted a cannon on the roof."


Saturday, March 26, 2016

Kosciuszko Armstrong Defends His Father


Some background on the controversy regarding John Armstrong found here.


"...[Armstrong's] attention has lately been called to a work published by Thomas L. McKenney...contains dove-tailed among its chapters one of political reminiscence evidently intended as an attack on the late General Armstrong." 




"He [Colonel McKenney] was the leading member of the famous, or infamous, Georgetown mob Committee who waited on the President in 1814 to demand General Armstrong's removal from office."

Map Of Georgetown (Library Of Congress)


"He stands therefore before the public in a doubtful position denying the existence of a plot of which he was himself one of the most active and unscrupulous agents... ."

From Review of T. L. McKenney's narrative of the causes which, in 1814, led to General Armstrong's resignation of the war office  By Kosciuszko Armstrong [son of General Armstrong].



Sunday, March 20, 2016

Monday, March 14, 2016

Typhus At Province Barracks


Province Barracks was mentioned in a letter held by the NARA in Letters Received by the Adjutant General, 1805-1821 (excerpt below):


Source - Fold3

The writer had typhus fever in the Fall or Winter of 1813 and was treated by Dr. Shumate.  [Note:  My ancestor, William Hinds, was at Province Barracks in the Fall of 1812 and died in June of 1813.]



Monday, March 7, 2016

Canadian Spies



The history of the county of Huntingdon [Quebec] and of the seigniories of Chateaugay and Beauharnois from their settlement to the year 1838 (Published 1888):


The vigilant watch that had been maintained along the frontier was redoubled, and, in addition to the Indian guard, a body of spies was formed from among the settlers in Hemingford and Hinchinbrook, who, from their situation and the intimate relations they kept up with the neighboring settlers on the south side of the line, had great facilities in finding out what was going on in the camp at Chateaugay, N. Y., and without exciting the slightest suspicion on the part of the enemy. Among the most active of these secret-service agents was David Manning, and from the few of his reports still preserved it can be seen that he was a man of education and great shrewdness. Another of the agents, Morris Simpson, from Lacolle, was detected by the enemy, who made arrangements to capture him. Receiving word from a spy that he was staying at Gentle's in Franklin, a detachment was sent from Smith's, and surrounding the house at night found him asleep in bed and took him prisoner without resistance.

Friday, March 4, 2016

Carried Despatches Between Niagara And Detroit



Source

From Déliberations Et Mémoires de la Société Royale Du Canada:


His [Benjamin Pawling's] oldest son Henry was a Captain of  [the Canadian] Militia during the war of 1812-14 and was a trusted carrier of despatches between Niagara and Detroit. He was present at the battles of Stoney Creek and Lundy's Lane.




Tuesday, March 1, 2016

Field's Estate



The War of 1812 at Library and Archives of Canada included the War of 1812: Board of Claims for Losses, 1813-1848...:


Source [Image 953]


Claims by Gilbert Field's Estate and Rosanna Field. Gilbert was an ancestor of the actress Sally Field.

"...claimant's farm directly on the road between Queenstown and Fort George...".