INTRODUCTION & INDEX FOR PATRIOT WAR ARTICLES
Part of Shirley Farone's Website
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May 10, 2012 - Commemoration of the 175th anniversary of the 1837-38 Upper Canadian Rebellions:
John C. Carter, "North American Political Prisoners in Van Diemen's Land: Working in the Midlands," The York Pioneer (2012), v. 107. If people are interested in obtaining a copy of this journal, they can check the York Pioneer's website at www.yorkpioneers.org.
"I'm giving a presentation to help celebrate the commemoration of the 175th anniversary of the 1837/38 Upper Canadian rebellions at the Onondaga Historical Society Museum in Syracuse on May 10 , starting time is noon. On the following day I'll do a repeat of this slide/talk at the Arthur Child Heritage Centre in Gananoque in conjunction with the Gananoque Historical Society and the Thousand Islands Life Magazine. It begins at 7:30 p.m. and for further details contact curator Linda Maine at (613) 382-2535."
A little known War took place in Canada in the year 1838 -- one involving many men (even one woman) from Northern New York. It has been only recently that I found that my great-grandmother, Minerva Sweet (sometimes seen as Swete) Hasner, had two brothers (Sylvanus and Wm. Dennis) who were involved in this War -- one of them was executed at Kingston, Ontario. Rather than explain the details of how the War was started, etc., I choose to present here: 1)a section on the 1837-38 Patriot War written by Franklin B. Hough, and 2) several articles which appeared in the Watertown Daily Times under various authors' names. Hopefully, I have typed the articles word for word and adequately identified the authors of same. I was honored to have been given permission by the Editor of the Watertown Daily Times, Mr. John B. Johnson, to use this copywrited material on my website. Permission was granted to me via a letter, dated July 3, 2001, from Mr. Johnson, Editor and Co-publisher of the Watertown Daily Times*. Thank you, Mr. Johnson. Challenges arose as to EXCLUSIVITY and those issues remain unresolved.
*NOTE: The coordinators of another site pertinent to the Patriot War are maintaining that Mr. Johnson gave them exclusive permission to use the Fuller articles. If you read the letter sent to me by Mr. Johnson, you will see that the statement of their exclusivity cannot true. (by Shirley, website host).
It is my hope that you will find these articles of great interest. Surely, they will add a new dimension to our understanding of life in Jefferson County (NY) and its neighboring counties in the years not far removed from our own Revolutionary War.
A huge thank you goes to Terry Mandigo and Alice Corbett, Flower Memorial (Watertown) volunteers and researchers, for their help in procuring clear and complete copies of the material. Terry has acquired a very keen interest in this War and without his help, many of the articles would show no dates of publication.
By Shirley Farone
The Fuller Articles were published in the Watertown Daily Times in 1923:
Chapter 2:Progress of the Rebellion in the Canadian Provinces
Chapter 3: Burning of Steamer Caroline Which Stirred North County
Chapter 4: The Hunter's Lodges In Northern New York Town
Chapter 5: Patriots Invade Canadian Territory
Chapter 6: Captain Daniel Heustis Describes Invasion Failure
Chapter 7: British Steamer Is Burned By the Patriots
Chapter 8: Trial of Those Who Burned Sir Robert Peel
Chapter 9: "Bill" Johnson, Admiral Of Eastern Patriot Navy
Chapter 10: Start of the Expedition to Carry War Into Canada
Chapter 11: Patriots Land On Canadian Soil, Excitement At Ogdensburg
Chapter 12: American Blood Shed On Soil of Canada
Chapter 13: Patriots in Hopeless Condition at Windmill
Chapter 14: Attempt To Get Patriots Back To American Shores
Chapter 15: Patriots Surrender To Much Superior Force
Chapter 16: Killed, Wounded, and Captured at Prescott -- LIST OF PARTICIPANTS!!!!
Chapter 17: Jefferson County Men Are Hanged At Kingston
Chapter 18: Men Treated Like Mere Animals By Brutal Keepers
Chapter 19: Watertown Woman Remembers Battle of the Windmill -
Chapter 20: Nelson Truax, The Last Survivor of Windmill Battle
Chapter 21: Story of George T. Brown, Who Was Banished For Life
Chapter 22: Story of George H. Kimball Taken Prisoner At Prescott
Chapter 23: Took Place Of Younger Brother in Patriot Army
Chapter 24: The Aftermath Of The Rebellion In Canada
Chapter 25: Letters Concerning The Patriot War Series
The following articles concerning the Patriot War of 1838 also appeared in the Watertown Daily Times:
Life on the Border - Patriot War Casts Deep Shadows Over North Countryside -- (Special Article by Bedford)
From the Scrapbooks of Harold B. Johnson and from "The History of St. Lawrence County"
Times' Reader likes Fuller's "History of the Patriot War" series
Elizabeth Barnett, The Heroine of Gananoque -- (Special Article
by John Northman)
Historical Society Now Has Document of the Patriot War (concerns Riley Whitney) - April 11, 1929
The following articles from the Watertown Daily Times were published in April and May of 1930 and were written by Ernest G. Cook. These articles concern the Sweet brothers, who were the older brothers of my great-grandmother, Minerva Sweet Hasner. There may have been a third brother involved, one Alvin Burroughs Sweet. I am still working on the identity of this possible brother who was sent to Van Dieman's Land. Research done in Summer of 2006 by several people from Minnesota has led to a strong belief that Alvin Burroughs Sweet died in Faribault Co., MN. He was the son of Leland Sweet of Winfield, Herkimer County, N. Y. It appears he was not a brother of my g-gr. - rather consideration should be given that he was perhaps a cousin. (by siteowner)
"Old Papers Recall Theresa Man's Part in Patriot War""Theresa Men Take Part in Battle of the Wind Mill"
"Sweet Pardoned For Part in Revolt But Brother Is Hung"
"Old Letters Describe Life In Army During Civil War"
A FINDING REGARDING THE DAYS & HOURS BEFORE THE EXECUTION OF SYLVANUS SWEET -
From a book entitled "The Life and Times of the Rev. Anson Green, D.D. - Part 4 - p. 224
HOW THE LOCAL HISTORIES RECORDED THE EPISODE
"German Immigrant Ancestors in Syracuse & Onondaga Co., N. Y."
Michelle Stone's website
provides her translation of the portion of this history (pub. by Syracuse Union in 1897) which describes the immigrants' "take" on the Patriot War of 1838. Be sure to visit Michelle's unique website about the German communities in the Syracuse area. Thank you, Michelle, for adding yet another dimension from recorded history for my readers.
The "Events of 1837-40" (Chapter XIV) by Franklin B. Hough in his "A History of Jefferson County in the State of New York"
Webhost Note: As I was surfing the Internet, I found on the St. Lawrence County Rootsweb Message Boards this List of Patriot's War Battle of Windmill Prisoners. The list was submitted by Martin Hall who typed it from "Everts History of St. Lawrence County, N. Y." (pub. 1878). Click here. Thank you, Marty, for typing all this and allowing me to use it here.
Newspaper Accounts from the 1840's
Northern Journal, Lowville, N. Y. - October 17, 1839 A List of the Wind-Mill Prisoners
Northern Journal - July 14, 1842 An account of two years in Van Dieman's Land by James Gemmell.
Utica Daily Gazette - August 4, 1842 An account of two years in Van Dieman's Land by James Gemmell.
Lowville Newspaper - February 29, 1844
National Anti-Slavery Standard - October 9, 1845 - Item courtesy of Dr. J. C. Carter
Albany, N. Y. Evening Journal - May 23, 1844 "Our Banished Countrymen"
Albany, N. Y. Evening Journal - May 23, 1844 An article from The Madisonian regarding pardoned prisoners.
Utica N. Y. Daily Gazette - May 24, 1844
Lowville Newspaper (Northern Journal) - February 5, 1846
WATERTOWN HERALD ARTICLES ABOUT THE PATRIOTS WAR
Nineteenth Century
Watertown Herald: Patriots War Article 50 Years Later -- July 29, 1893
Watertown Herald: Patriots War Article 50 Years Later -- August 5, 1893
From the memory of Hon. George A. Bagley - August 19, 1893
Watertown Herald - August 29, 1896: An Obit for Patriot "David House."
Watertown Herald - January 30, 1915: An Obit for Patriot "Nelson Truax."
LOWVILLE'S JOURNAL AND REPUBLICAN 20TH CENTURY ARTICLES
Watertown Herald - December 23, 1908: An Obit for Patriot "George M. Kimball."
AUBURN CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE
Northern Christian Advocate - October, 1845: Release of American Prisoners On Van Dieman’s Land
BOOKS, ARTICLES & WEBSITES
A MUST READ:
"To The Outskirts of Habitable Creation," Subtitled: “American and Canadians Transported to Tasmania in the 1840’s.". Author: Stuart D. Scott with illustrations by Seth Colby - see Mr. Scott's website for more information. For those of you who have followed certain individuals who were involved in the Patriot War of 1838, this is your opportunity for learning even more about them. You will be fascinated by the Notes in the back of the book and the lengthy list of resources Mr. Scott used in writing this book.
Recently brought to my attention by Shew Descendant, Pete Shew of Ohio, is the following website. The title of this magazine-type website is: "American Patriots, Political Prisoners in Van Diemen's Land."
Jill Dopke sent me the following website address which concerns 1058 Persons Incarcerated during The 1837 Rebellion in Lower Canada. Those on the list appear to have been French Canadian. Please be aware that the site is occasionally unaccessible.
The December, 1992, issue, Volume 4, Issue 4, pp., 118-127, of the "Genealogical Journal of Jefferson County, New York" contains in-depth information regarding the Patriot War of 1837-38. That is one of the many publications by Pat James. The Journals are available at the Flower Memorial Library in Watertown.
(Oct. 28, 2011): Shaun McLaughlin wrote me sharing information about his website, Raiders and Rebels. It's in a blog format where Shaun discusses the complete scope of the Patriot War. He has another website, the topic of which is Pirate Bill Johnston. Shaun McLaughlin, a writer and blogger, is also under contract with the History Press and expects to usher in his new book on the Patriot War next spring. It will focus on the topic of the Patriot War and the
events which took place in New York State in regard to the War.
IMAGES
Battle of Windmill Point - Image of Painting done by Ellis (sent to me by Paul Sharon)
Patriot Hunters' Flag (sent to me by Paul Sharon whose ancestor was Joel Peeler)
Postcard Depicting Windmill Point (sent to me by Suzi Howard)
CORRESPONDENCE FROM DESCENDANTS
Listed by Patriot
Solomon Foster
Garret Hicks
Justus Merriam
James Pearce
Henry Shew
Elizur Stevens
Alvin Burroughs Sweet
Nathan Whiting
Edward A. Wilson
Von Schultz
Hiram Sharp (Australian descendants indicate spelling as "Sharpe")
ONONDAGA COUNTY PARTICIPANTS IN THE PATRIOT WAR OF 1838
Read about several gentlemen from the Liverpool, N. Y. area who had a part in the Patriot's War. These items were sent to me on 1-25-2003 by Gary Heinmiller who transcribed them from the "Recollections" section of the Liverpool Telegraph, printed in 1894.
"The Syracuse Journal," Monday, March 20, 1939, included the "Patriot War" in a special Section (E) with an article, entitled, "Salinians Aided Canadian ‘Revolt’.
The following is research further discussing the Patriots from the Syracuse area - it is found on the Internet at: (https://lists.rootsweb.com/hyperkitty/th/read/PATRIOTS-WAR/2002-01/1011047183)..." While researching my Timmons ancestors at the Liverpool, Onondaga County, New York, public library, I found a book "The Liverpool Legend", by Thetis (Mrs. Edward F). Group, the Village Historian at the time of publication in 1962. One chapter contained information about the Patriot's War. It stated from recollections of the late A. H. Crawford "During the Patriot War of 1838-1839 Liverpool contributed both men and means in aid of the Patriot cause." They belonged to an organization called The Hunters, named for the famous Canadian rebel who had conceived the idea for the liberation of Canada from the British. A Hunters Lodge was organized and was turning out bullets for arming the force to cross the St Lawrence River.
"On Sunday, November 10, the steamer United States set out from Oswego with a large number of men, and then stopped at Sackets Harbor where more men, many of them from Watertown boarded. General J. Ward Birge of Cazenovia (in Madison Co.) met them at Ogdensburg, promising 20-40,000 American recruits; however, less than 200 were landed near Prescott. General Birge promised to return to Ogdensburg and bring back thousands more volunteers but did not return. In the fight that followed the Canadian militia fought against them--not a single Canadian joined the Americans. "The American saviors of Canada had found Canada unwilling to be saved." The small band of Americans was captured at confined at Fort Henry near Kingston.
The book states that the following men from Liverpool were killed: William McKellop, James Pease, James Miller, Leman Leach and Nathan Coffin. Banished to Tasmania were Nathan Whiting, David Allen and "High" Loop.
INTERNET ARTICLES - LINKS
(not those whose descendants have written me)
Read about: Jacob Beemer or Beamer, Samuel Chandler, James Gammell or Gemmell, Linus Wilson Miller, Michael Morin, John Burwell Tyrell, and Elijah Croker Woodman, Benjamin Wait . In "American Patriots, Political Prisoners In Van Diemen's Land"
Read about: Charles Crossmon On Nan Dixon's Local History Network article about the Crossmon House at Alexandria Bay, N. Y.
Read an electronic journal called Thousand Islands Life . This is one more extremely interesting Patriot War site - very well done. It should be a destination for anyone who has an interest in the Patriot War. Be sure to have a lot of time available. I would also suggest that you look in every nook and cranny - because if you don't you'll miss something. Susan Smith's article in the November 2009 edition is a gem. And don't you dare leave without checking out the comment box - you'll be amazed at the volume of interest in the Patriot War. This comment box becomes a research tool in itself. One last suggestion - don't pass up the History Index which lists the related articles from previous issues. You'll be back to read more.
RESEARCH TRIPS & UPCOMING PUBLICATIONS
Chris Raible of Creemore, Ontario, whose interest specifically has been William Lyon Mackenzie, is compiling a bibliography of published materials relating to the Upper Canada Rebellion. This extremely extensive bibliography (I had a sneak previedw) is scheduled to be published in Ontario History later this year (2009). It has over 500 entries so far - arranged by subject, one section covers border incidents (including, of course, the Battle of the Windmill) and other prisoners. Please be assured that Chris's list is remarkable and a must for those researching this Rebellion.
Chris has sent me a very abbreviated copy of the bibliography, along with his permission for me to use his name, address, e-mail address and phone number, should you desire to contact him:
Chris Raible
Send Chris
mail: [email protected]
6923 Side Road 12-13, R. R. 2
Creemore, ON L0M 1G0
705-466-2261
You may see the bibliography by clicking here.
Mr. Raible indicated that the Rebellion bibliography will be presented in two parts: one that covers "Border Incidents and the Patriot Hunters" that is, the period of 1838-39 after the first rebellion was put down; and one on "Trials and Transportation" that is all those captured or arrested for taking part in the war. He stated the lists are of some length - yet they are limited to published works that he has (with the help of many others) thus far thus discovered.
Chris also reiterated information on the following publication:
Pybus, Cassandra and Hamish Maxwell-Stewart, American Citizens, British Slaves: Yankee Political Prisoners in an Australian Penal Colony 1839-1850 (East Lansing: Michigan State University Press 2002).
(Oct. 28, 2011): Shaun McLaughlin wrote me sharing information about his website, Raiders and Rebels. It's in a blog format where Shaun discusses the complete scope of the Patriot War. He has another website, the topic of which is Pirate Bill Johnston. Shaun McLaughlin, a writer and blogger, is also under contract with the History Press and expects to usher in his new book on the Patriot War next spring. It will focus on the topic of the Patriot War and the events which took place in New York State in regard to the War.
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Bon Voyage to Dr. John C. Carter, who leaves this month (February 2009) for another fellowship in Australia. Dr. Carter is Museum & Heritage Advisor for the Canadian Ministry of Culture, and guest editor of "Ontario History." Dr. Carter advised us of his article published in the Australian Canadian Studies Journal. This article deals primarily with events in the Western District of U.C. prior to the transportation of North American political prisoners to VDL. Dr. Carter suggested we check out this rebellion themed issue of the journal. It features articles by Chris Raible, Tom Gunn, John Thompson, Stuart Scott and himself, along with 5 book reviews of recent rebellion related publications. It was issued as (2007), v. 25, # 2. Contact editor Dr. Sonia Mycak at [email protected] for details about how to obtain copies.
Dr. Carter has a Visiting Fellowship at the School of History & Classics, University of Tasmania. This is his second visit to UTAS. During his stay in Hobart, he will be continuing with his research on the North American political prisoners who were transported to Van Diemen's Land in 1839/40. He stated that he will also be involved with slide/talks and heritage roundtables in communities that had probation stations where those prisoners worked. These presentations will be in Hobart, Kempton, Oatlands, Ross, Campbell Town and Swansea. It is Dr. Carter's intent to share with these communities research that he has done over the years and also to have local residents bring forward any relevant material that they have uncovered. Copies of John Thompson's new book, "Probation in Paradise," will be available for purchase. While in the Tasmania midlands he will be visiting some of the estates that the Patriots worked on during their tickets of leave. He looks forward to a very productive time in Tassie.
Please see the Bibliography prepared by Dr. Carter which he will use as handouts for his sessions in Tasmania. Those of you doing research on your ancestors who participated in this Rebellion will find this bibliography very helpful.
UPDATE ON DR. CARTER'S VISIT TO TASMANIA - May 25, 2009: Dr. Carter wrote letting us know that he'd returned from another successful Tassie trip. He attached a copy of his article that was recently published in the York Pioneer*, an article which he hoped would be of interest. He also shared a promotional flyer on the prisoners' boxes publication. This is a new booklet sure to be of interest to our readers. *However, your sitehost hasn't yet figured out how to link these items (pdf's Adobe) to this website. I strongly suggest that you obtain a copy of York Pioneer - 2009 and look for Dr. Carter's article and the promotional flyer.
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UPDATE from Dr. Carter - 2009.11.06: ...."Please find attached* a copy of my most recent article. It is a component of a special rebellion themed issue of Ontario History that I guest edited. Other authors include Dr. Tom Dunning, Bob Garcia, Dennis Carter-Edwards and Chris Raible. The Ontario Historical Society has produced a larger print run of this volume. For information on how to purchase this publication, please contact Andrea Izzo at [email protected].
June 20, 2011 - An update e-mail address for Dr. John C. Carter:
Research Associate at the School of History and Classics
University of Tasmania.
[email protected]
January 5, 2010 - Dr. Carter has been busy - he got a lead from the Thousand Islands Life people about an article originally published in the National Anti-Slavery Standard on October 9, 1845. He consulted the eminent Stuart Scott who found the item at the University of Arizona Library. An electronic reproduction found its way to this siteowner today. You may see that artile by clicking here.
June 20, 2011 - News from Dr. Carter - John wrote that he has been appointed as a Research Associate at the School of History and Classics, University of Tasmania. He plans to be in Tasmania next February and March (2012) where he will continue conducting research about the Patriots. Dr. Carter is looking forward to hearing from relatives of those involved in the Patriot Wars and who were transported to Van Dieman's Land.
Send him mail: [email protected]
With the co-sponsorship of Thousand Islands Life , Dr. Carter expects to be giving several illustrated slide talks in Gananoque and across the river in New York State in October. When known, John will send us the details.
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May 10, 2012 - Commemoration of the 175th anniversary of the 1837-38 Upper Canadian Rebellions:
John C. Carter, "North American Political Prisoners in Van Diemen's Land: Working in the Midlands," The York Pioneer (2012), v. 107. If people are interested in obtaining a copy of this journal, they can check the York Pioneer's website at www.yorkpioneers.org.
"I'm giving a presentation to help celebrate the commemoration of the 175th anniversary of the 1837/38 Upper Canadian rebellions at the Onondaga Historical Society Museum in Syracuse on May 10 , starting time is noon. On the following day I'll do a repeat of this slide/talk at the Arthur Child Heritage Centre in Gananoque in conjunction with the Gananoque Historical Society and the Thousand Islands Life Magazine. It begins at 7:30 p.m. and for further details contact curator Linda Maine at (613) 382-2535."
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Shirley Farone
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