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- AN OLD WAR STORY
There is "An Old War Story" long past the time for telling. During the War of 1812 and at a time when the Americans occupied the Niagara and Sandwich areas, then temporarily gained control of Lake Erie, a group of residents of the Long Point Settlement, London District, aided the Americans. This was more than likely due to dissatisfaction with the Government which was in place at the time, judging by some events documented by the Courts of the Quarter Sessions in the early 1800s. At one time General de Rottenburg had ordered the Militia disbanded west of Kingston.
Lieut. Col. Henry Bostwick learned of activities of this band of marauders and took it upon himself to march with a group of the Norfolk Militia volunteers, forty five in all, from Dover to the mouth of the Nanticoke Creek and confront the bandits at the home of one John Dunham. On the morning of November 13th, 1813, they surprised the group, killing some and taking others prisoner, with one of the Militia, Benjamin Chandler, also losing his life. Thus took place "THE BATTLE OF NANTICOKE".
On December 15th, 1813, Lieut. Henry Medcalf with nine Norfolk Militia and seven Provincial Dragoons marched from Dover west to Port Talbot where they were joined by nine Middlesex Militia, then they marched on to the Thames where they were again joined by eight members of the Kent Militia. They surprised the Americans at McCrae's farm near Chatham, defeating them and taking prisoners, though all the prisoners taken there were Americans and as such were eventually paroled.
The Nanticoke prisoners were taken to York Gaol, then the following spring taken to Ancaster, where their trials for High Treason continued from May 23rd, 1814 till June 21st, 1814 and were known as "THE BLOODY ASSIZES OF ANCASTER". Fifteen men were convicted, ten of which were from the London District. Eight of these convicts, six from the London District - John Dunham, Isaiah Brink, Adam Chrysler, Daton Lindsay, Benjamin Simmonds and George Peacock the Younger, along with Noah Payne Hopkins of Queenston and Aaron Stevens of Niagara Township were hanged on a common gallows at Burlington Heights on July 20th, 1814. Three more - Jacob Overholser of Niagara and Isaac Pettit and GARRETT NULL of the London District - died the following spring in prison, of the ague or jail fever. Cornelius Howey of the Burford Gore probably died of wounds received at Nanticoke, after pleading guilty.
These men left young families to be cared for and raised by others, and had their property confiscated and sold by the Government. Isaac Pettit was a brother in law of John Dickson, who on or about the 28th day of October, 1814, was to commit "THE MURDER OF CAPTAIN FRANCIS" at the mouth of the Sandusk Creek.. Both Pettit and Dickson were sons in law of Reuben Green of Townsend who was killed in a skirmish at Sugar Loaf the night of Captain Francis' murder. A deposition was taken of Elizabeth (Green) Dickson when she returned from Buffalo, after her husband was shot during the skirmish at Sugar Loaf, made it to Buffalo where he died and was buried before she returned to Upper Canada. According to her their intent was to kill William Francis, Thomas Francis, William Drake and Colonel Thomas Talbot. At the Assizes William Francis had testified against Isaiah Brink, Adam Chrysler and Isaac Pettit and his son Thomas Francis testified against GARRETT NULL, John Johnson, Adam Chrysler, Isaac Pettit and John Dunham, so the motive for the murder was most likely revenge.....
Researched by:
Barbara Roadhouse - roadhouse@bell.net
Helen Bingleman - bingleman@sympatico.ca
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Rainham Builders
Abt 1780 - 1815 (~ 35 years)