CCHA Report, 7(1939-40), 27-42)
Glengarry's Representatives in the
Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada
PART II-
1812-1841 (1)
BY
W. L. SCOTT, K.C., LL.D.
LIEUTENANT
COLONEL ALEXANDER McMARTIN
Alexander McMartin (1794.1853)
represented the County of Glengarry in four Parliaments - the Sixth to the
Eighth, both inclusive, and the Tenth - covering, with the exception of one
Parliament, a period of thirty-two years, 1812 to 1834. The one term during
which he did not sit was from 1824 to 1828. In the general election of 1824, he
was defeated by Duncan Cameron. On McMartin's petition, Cameron was unseated,
but at a by-election in 1825, McMartin was again defeated. He was, however,
elected in 1828.
McMartin came of good U. E.
Loyalist stock. Among the numerous company who came over in the
"Pearl," in 1773 and settled in the Mohawk Valley, under the aegis of
Sir William Johnson, were two brothers, Malcolm and John McMartin. According to
the evidence submitted at the enquiry into the losses of Loyalists, each of these
men had nine acres cleared. Malsolm had six cows, a heifer, three calves, a
yoke of oxen, four horses, fifteen sheep and six hogs, all of which, besides
household furniture, farm utensils and grain, the Rebels appropriated. John's
loss was equally great. Both men had large families and both eventually settled
in the Township of Charlottenburg, at a place which is still known as
Martintown. Those of the next generation proved equally prolific, so that by
1852, as indicated by the Census of that year, there were no less than
seventy-two McMartins living, of whom sixty-three were in Charlottenburg.
Malcolm McMartin had a son,
also called Malcolm, who served throughout the war as a Lieutenant in the
King's Royal Regiment of New York. He was born in Scotland and must have been a
grown man when he came out, for he held in his own right 100 acres of land,
under Sir William Johnson, at the usual rental of £ 6. per 100 acres. At the
disbanding of the regiment in 1783, he was credited with eight years of service,
and must therefore have enlisted when the corps was originally formed, in June,
1776.
Alexander McMartin, the subject
of the present sketch, was a son of the Lieutenant. This is shown conclusively
by an order-in-council, dated Nov. 20th, 1809, granting to Alexander 200 acres
of land "as a son of Malcolm McMartin, U. E., formerly a Lieutenant in the
1st Battalion, Kings Royal Regiment of New York." In 1822, when the
Glengarry Militia was organized, Alexander McMartin was given the command of
the Third Battalion. In 1818, he was put on the Commission of the Peace for the
Eastern District and it may be of interest to quote the recommendation for this
appointment, preserved in the Dominion Archives:
"His
Excellency Sir Peregrine Maitland K.C.B., Lieutenant Governor of the Province
of Upper Canada, Major General Commanding His Majesty's Forces therein, &c.
&c. &c,
May it
Please your Excellency
We the
under signers do beg leave to recommend Alexander McMartin M.P. for the County
of Glengarry, to your Excellency as a fit and proper person to be put in the
Commission of the Peace for the Eastern District, in addition to the Persons we
have already recommended to your Excellency's pleasure.
John Cameron
John Chrysler
York
Nov. 21st 1818."
In 1828, Alexander McMartin,
while still a member of the Legislature, was appointed Postmaster at
Martintown. The "Independence of Parliament Act" was at that time
still in the womb of the future. In 1838, he was appointed Sheriff of the
Eastern District, a position that he held until his death. He died at
Martintown, on July 15th 1853, in the sixty-second year of his age.
McMartin was always a leading
member of the Presbyterian Church and from a eulogistic obituary in The
Presbyterian (Montreal) for September 1853, we learn that he was President
of the Bible Society and one of the Commissioners of the Clergy Reserve Fund
and that he had been for many years the representative in Synod, as Ruling
Elder, of the Congregation of Martintown.
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL
JOHN MACDONELL (Greenfield)
Lieutenant-Colonel John
Macdonell (1784-1812) was a son of Alexander Macdonell of Greenfield
(1750.1819) who came to Upper Canada, with his family and a number of clansmen,
in 1792.
Of Alexander Macdonell of
Greenfield, Mrs. Grant of Laggan wrote as follows :
"A
few lingering instances of the old superior Highland dress continued to be seen
as late as the end of last (i.e. the eighteenth) century, one of its latest
examples being afforded by Macdonell of Greenfield, 'Ceann Tighe' of a cadet
house of the Glengarry family, who in the latter part of the last century was
celebrated for his handsome person, his courtly address, his exploits as a
deer-stalker, and general character as a model of the Highland gentleman living
in his time. He is described by several of the old people, by whom he was
remembered, as dressed invariably in the Highland garb - a short round 'cota
goirid' a bonnet plumed with a tuft of ostrich feathers belted plaid worn over
the trews. The house of Greenfield stood in a beautiful romantic situation,
near the head of Loch Garry, on a green knoll. (2)
Upon coming to Canada,
Greenfield settled in the Township of Charlottenburg, calling his new home
"Greenfield," after the home he had left. In the war of 1812, he
commanded the 2nd Battalion Glengarry Militia. While still in Scotland, before
the migration of 1773, he married Janet, elder of the two daughters of his
namesake Alexander Macdonell of Aberchalder. Lt: Col. John Macdonell, the
subject of this sketch, was, therefore, a nephew of his namesake and
predecessor in the Legislature, Lieutenant-Colonel John Macdonell
(Aberchalder). Among the brothers of Lieutenant Colonel John Macdonell
(Greenfield) were Lieutenant-Colonel Duncan Macdonell and Lieutenant-Colonel
Donald Macdonell, the latter of whom also, as we shall see, represented
Glengarry in the Legislature.
A frequent visitor at the home
of Alexander Macdonell of Greenfield was his wife's first cousin, Alexander
Macdonell of Collachie, and, as a result, the latter became much impressed with
what he conceived to be the exceptional talent and ability of Greenfield's son
John. In consequence, he persuaded the young man to accompany him to York,
where, on April 6th, 1803, he arranged for his protégé's admission as a
student-at-law, his call to the Bar following in Easter term, 1808. John's
career at the Bar, though short, was exceptionally brilliant. He rose rapidly
in his profession and in 1811, when only twenty-seven, was appointed by
Lieutenant-Governor Gore to be Acting Attorney-General of the Province. William
Firth had been Attorney-General, but his accounts for unauthorized court
attendances had been disallowed by the Board of Audit and his application for
leave of absence to go to England, to appeal from this decision, had been
refused. He went, nevertheless, and the Lieutenant-Governor suspended him, and
informed Lord Liverpool, in a letter dated September 30th, 1811, that "too
much care cannot be exercised in choosing a successor to Mr. Firth." On
November 26th Gore appointed Macdonell to perform the duties until the pleasure
of the Minister in England was known. He was not even, at that time, a member
of the Legislature, but this was remedied at the General Election of June 30th,
1812, when he was returned as one of the members for the County of Glengarry,
although he had for almost a decade been a resident of the Town of York. Light
is thrown upon Macdonell's character by the following letter to the suspended
Attorney-General, by Doctor William Warren Baldwin (1775-1844), no friend of
Macdonell's, of whom he was plainly jealous:--
"York, 22nd April 1812.
My
dear Firth :
The justice of your observation is fully evidenced by experience that a change
of Governor can effect but little change on the manner or deportment of the
administration here. General Brock means not, I have no doubt, to follow the
system (if system it may be called) of Mr. Gore, but he has still the same
advisors, indeed he can have no other, and their influence is strengthened by
your absence.
Mr. Macdonell, the Attorney-General - not pro temper, sed in ample - according
to his address to the court and his signature to all public instruments, is
such a paragon of excellence that he leaves no virtue, no commendable
qualification for others to found pretentions on. He is made Colonel of Militia
and Provincial Aid-de-camp to General Brock - the field, the Cabinet, the Forum
are all to be the scenes of his renown. His honours rain not upon him - they
come in tempests.
Lest you should charge me with envy, I do assure you I feel none towards him. I
can with greatest indifference see him erect his crest and spread his spangled
tail in the sunshine, and am only annoyed when I see him in his celestial
adoration, forget those around him and set his foot upon them. Since you left
here, I bore much of his insolence, however, at the last assizes he used
expressions so wanton and ungentlemanly that I appealed to the Ch. J. who
seemed to disapprove of his words. Mr. Macdonell repeated them twice afterwards
in the course of his reply, without notice by the Ch. J. I could bear no more.
Lieutenant Taylor of the 41st was fortunately in Court. He is of Lincoln Inn
(one of the Inns of Court) and has a great desire to be admitted to the bar
here. I communicated to Mr. Taylor my determination of calling on Mr. Macdonall
for an explanation. Taylor would have dissuaded me, but perceiving me to be
resolved, he confessed he thought me right.
Accordingly, in the evening I wrote Mr. Macdonell a letter stating the
offensive words, and requiring an explanation. He seemed astonished, told Mr.
Taylor he did not think he said anything requiring an apology, and said he
would get a friend to call upon Mr. Taylor with his answer. This friend was Mr.
D. Cameron, who expressed himself much concerned that I should in the first
instance have made so peremptory a demand of an explanation as he had no doubt
that the misunderstanding might have been settled to our mutual satisfaction
without going to this extremity, and that Mr. Macdonell could not now think of
making an apology. Mr. Taylor saw that I could not pass it over, that my
resolution was fixed, and that it only remained to fix the time and place, as
Mr. Macdonell declined an explanation and proposed the following morning. Mr.
Cameron assumed that Mr. Macdonell had public duties to perform which he could
not omit and requested that it might be postponed until after the assizes.
Things remained thus for two days. The assizes ended on Thursday and Mr.
Cameron called my friend to say that Mr. M. would wait on the Island at six
o'clock on the following morning.
That evening I employed myself in writing to a few friends and to you amongst
them and also my will. I went to bed earlier than usual that I might be early
awake. I slept but little, as you may suppose; however I arose at break of day
and Taylor was with me. I was fortunate to escape all observation of my own
family.
We passed Mr. Cameron's house before we set off. We walked; they passed us
across the ice in a sleigh. I stopped at the block house to execute the will in
presence of the necessary number of witnesses, and then proceeded to the
Island.
Mr. Cameron and Taylor made their arrangements and then we were placed back to
back. I was desired upon the first word to face about; upon the second to fire.
Upon the word I faced about. The word "fire" followed, but I observed
Macdonell in his place with his arm down. I did not fire but held my hand
pointed towards him, when Cameron called why I did not fire. Macdonell's pistol
still down. Mr. Cameron repeated, "He wants you to fire." I then
fired aside. Upon that Mr. Taylor and Mr. Cameron proposed shaking hands and
Mr. Cameron came to me with much concern and feeling and said that he lamented
that I had brought things to that extremity so suddenly that Mr. Macdonell came
to the ground with the determination to receive my fire only. I took this as an
acknowledgement of his error. We joined hands and thus the affair ended. He has
been sufficiently decorous since then.
I stayed at home the remainder of the day, but the following, induced by the
reconciliation such as it was, I thought my duty to leave no seed of animosity
behind and called at Mr. Cameron's for the purpose of seeing him, and that our
intercourse on business might not be embarrassed by shyness that might follow a
meeting of that nature. Neither have returned my visit which was certainly
their duty, but I hope I have done mine an inward satisfaction to myself not to
be disturbed by an omission of others. Mr. Taylor, my friend, a man of
excellent character, understanding and manner, seems not dissatisfied with the
cause he espoused.
I am sorry to have to inform you that your contingent account is still
unadjusted. That with the new audit of all the former suspensions and
disallowances made on your account, have been before the board for several
days...
You have no idea of the difficulty of obtaining money here. Our unprincipled
and infatuated neighbors seem determined on war. We are at present but ill
provided for our defence but all anxiously looking out for the protection of
our great and generous parent, whose high disregard of the brawling,
Jacobinical and damnable disposition of the American Government ought, and I
trust does, strengthen our attachment to her. And let the miseries of war be
what they may to us, I do not hear one amongst us say that Great Britain should
recind her orders. For my part I hope I shall not see that day. A more
unprovoked, immoral, impious and drunken war was never engaged in than this
that the Americans are threatening us with.
W.
W. Baldwin (3)
Dr. Baldwin was a highly educated
man, who was for many years prominent in the affairs of the Province. He was a
graduate in medicine of the University of Edinburgh and was also a member of
the Bar of Upper Canada. There cannot, however, be two opinions as to who cut
the better figure in the matter of the above duel. Macdonell, as a Catholic,
was evidently determined that he would not be guilty of the shedding of blood
in a private quarrel.
He was soon, however, to rally
to his Country's call and to shed his own blood in the defence of the Province.
Early in August, 1812, upon the breaking out of hostilities, Macdonell joined
General Brock and left for the front. The first achievement of the British and
Canadian forces was the taking of Detroit, on August 15th, and on the following
day General
Brock issued the following
order:
The Major-General feels himself under much
obligation and he requests Lieutenant-Colonel Macdonell, Majors Glegg and
Givens will be well assured that their zealous exertions have made too deep an
impression on his mind ever to be forgotten. (4)
On August 30th the General
wrote the following letter to Lord Liverpool, the British Prime Minister:--
"York, Upper Canada,
30th August 1812.
My
Lord
The very important services which I have derived from John Macdonell, Esq.,
both in his civil and military capacity, since my assuming the administration
of the Government of this Province, induces me earnestly to entreat your
Lordship to move His Right Royal Highness, the Prince Regent, to be graciously
pleased to confirm his appointment to the office of His Majesty's
Attorney-General, in which Lieutenant Governor Gore, upon his departure,
nominated him to act.
Mr. Macdonell stands high in the opinion of those better able to judge of his
professional abilities than I am; but his conduct since the commencement of the
war, particularly at a time when the invasion of the Province by the enemy,
seemed to have intimidated a large portion of the population, was beyond all
praise.
Mr. Macdonell accompanied me to Detroit as my Provincial Aid-de-Camp, in which
situation he has afforded me the most important assistance. Indeed I feel so
much obliged to him, and considering him in every way worthy of the protection
of Your Lordship, that I shall be highly gratified in the success of the
present application.
I have the honour to be
My Lord (etc.)
Isaac Brock
M.G. and Presid't" (5)
But Lieutenant-Colonel
Macdonell did not live to see the recommendation carried out. On October 13th
he fell, with his leader General Brock, charging up the hill at Queenston
Heights, and the bodies of both repose in the same tomb.
JOHN CAMERON
John Cameron of Fairfield
(1778-1829), who represented the County in the Seventh Parliament, from 1816 to
1820, was of U. E. Loyalist stock.
The U.E. Loyalist List includes
no less than twenty-five Camerons, of whom eleven had served in the Royal
Yorkers, two in the 85th, one in Jessup's Corps and one with General Burgoyne;
and, of the remaining ten, five were sons of men who had served with the Royal
Yorkers. The evidence in support of claims by Loyalist refugees for losses due
to the Revolutionary War, affect nine claims by persons named Cameron and of
these at least four had come over from Scotland with the party in the
"Pearl." By 1852, as shown by the census of that year, there were in
Glengarry 401 men of the name of Cameron, distributed as follows:--
Charlottenburg 95, Kenyon 228, Lochiel 43, and Lancaster 35.
However, there is no doubt
whatever that the man who represented the County from 1816 to 1820 was John
Cameron of Fairfield, in the Township of Charlottenburg. Fairfield, his home,
covered portions of Lots 14 and 15 in Concessions 1 and 2 in the Township of
Charlottenburg and included 310 acres; but he disposed, by his will, of over
3.800 acres, some of it scattered all over the Province.
John Cameron was the son of an
older John Cameron (1730-1803). The older man is said to have been known as
"the wise" and the younger, the member of the Legislature, as
"the rich." John Cameron "the wise" was born at Rannoch,
Perthshire, Scotland, and came with his family to the Colony of New York, in
1773, in the "Pearl," settling, as did most of the others of the
party, as a tenant of Sir William Johnson. He was one of the party, led by Sir
John Johnson, that left Johnstown hurriedly in June, 1776, to escape Colonel
Dayton, arriving in Montreal, after nineteen days of inconceivable hardship,
just after that city had been evacuated by the Americans. Cameron enlisted as a
private in the King's Royal Regiment of New York and served for seven years in
that capacity. When he drew his land and established a new home, he called it
"Fairfield," said to have been the name of the place in Scotland from
which he had come. He was twice married, first to Catharine Seaton, who died in
Scotland, and secondly to Elizabeth Ferguson (1745-1827), who was the mother of
(among other children) John Cameron "the rich," the subject of this
sketch.
John Cameron "the
wise" was an innkeeper in Charlottenburg, at least from 1801 until his death,
on September 10th, 1803, and after his death the business was carried on by his
widow. The records for the issuing of tavern licenses begin only in 1801 and
licenses were issued in his name, in 1801, 1802, 1803 and 1804 and in the name
of his widow, Elizabeth Cameron, in 1805 and 1806. Subsequent records have not
been searched. The land records show that he acquired, by purchase, a
considerable amount of land originally granted to other parties. Some of this,
including the site of "Fairfield," was devised by his will to his son
John. There is a petition, dated January 24th, 1817, signed by John Cameron and
Alexander Cameron, "heirs of the late Deceased John Cameron, Innkeeper, of
the said township of Charlottenburg" asking for the cancellation of a patent
of the west half of lot number 15 in the second concession of Charlottenburg,
one of the lots devised by the will of the M.L.A. It appears that this lot was
drawn by one John McIntyre and acquired from him by John Cameron, the
innkeeper, but that a patent had, by inadvertence, issued to McIntyre, some
years after the latter's death and was therefore a nullity and that, by a
"land report," dated September 15th, 1806, the land had been
"allowed to the heirs of the said John Cameron or agreeable to his will."
Similarly, in a report of the Heir and Devisee Commission 3.17 July, 1820, John
and Alexander were allowed the west half of lot fifteen in the 2nd concession
of Charlottenburg (one of the properties included in Fairfield) "on terms
of the will of their father, dated 24th February 1801."
John Cameron, the future
M.L.A., was born in the Mohawk Country, in 1778. The first mention that we have
of him in Canadian records, is a petition, dated May 15th, 1801, asking for a
grant of land, he being "the son of John Cameron of Lot Number 17 first
Concession of Charlottenburg, a U. E. Loyalist." When the Regiment of
Glengarry Militia was organized in 1803, with Lieutenant Colonel John Macdonell
(Aberchalder) as Colonel and his brother Hugh, as Lieutenant Colonel, John
Cameron (then twentyfive) and his brother-in-law, Jacob Summers, of about the
same age, were commissioned as Ensigns. Cameron was, however, later, promoted
to a lieutenancy, and served as a Lieutenant in the First Glengarry Flank
Company, throughout the War of 1812-15. He married Elizabeth Summers
(1775-1821) who predeceased him. She was a daughter of Jacob Summers and his
wife, Elizabeth Von Mather. The Summers were German Loyalists, who settled in
the Township of Charlottenburg, and gave their name to what is still known as
Summerstown. A daughter of John Cameron, the M. L. A., and his wife, Elizabeth
Summers, married a son of Alexander McMartin, who was for so long himself a
member for Glengarry. Cameron's will is dated December 20th, 1826, and probate
of it was granted to two of his sons, John and Andrew, and to his son-in-law,
Malcolm McMartin. Cameron and his wife lie buried in Salem Cemetery,
beautifully situated on the banks of the St. Lawrence, about nine miles east of
Cornwall. The inscription on the tombstone reads as follows:
"Sacred
to the Memory of Elisabeth Summers, wife of John Cameron Esq. Of Fairfield, who
died June 12th 1821 aged 46 years. Much and sincerely lamented by
her family and numerous friends.
"As
a small token of filial affection this stone was erected by their sons, John
Andrew and James. He was a Magistrate and a member of the Provincial
Parliament. He was beloved and respected and had justly attained the name of an
honest and upright man."
It is said by his descendants
that "Esq.," appearing on the tombstone, was no idle compliment, but
that it was "given him by the throne." Assuming the tradition to be
founded on fact, it may perhaps be explained upon the further assumption that,
in some commission or other document addressed to him and signed by the King
(or the Prince Regent) he was referred to as "John Cameron Esquire."
Such documents were considered to be a Royal grant of the title Esquire, as
well as of whatever the main purport of the document may have been. In a report
of the Heir and Devisee Commission dated in 1810, he is designated
"Yeoman" and in the report of the same body dated in 1820, already
referred to, he is designated "Esquire." He had been elected a Member
of the Legislature in 1816, and it was the regular usage to accord
"Esquire" to all Members who had not any higher title, so this may be
the true explanation of the title. Be this as it may, he was in later life,
always known as "Squire Cameron," as was his eldest son after him.
John A. Cameron, popularly
known as "Cariboo Cameron," one of the earliest and most widely known
miners of British Columbia, who in a year and a half (1862-1863) realized
$150.000. and then withdrew from the Province to enjoy his fortune, was a great
grandson of John Cameron "the wise" and consequently a grandnephew of
John Cameron, the member, and, in 1863, he purchased Fairfield from its then
owner and retired there. It was, however, a case of "easy come easy
go" for, ten years later, he returned to British Columbia, his money all
spent, and died there, in 1888, penniless. (6)
DUNCAN CAMERON
Duncan Cameron (1764?-1848) who
represented the County from 1824 to 1828, was the son of Alexander Cameron, one
of the Camerons of Glen Nevis, and his wife Margaret Macdonell. Duncan was born
at Glenmoriston, Invernesshire, Scotland, and came out to New York with his
parents in 1773, with the party in the "Pearl." His father took up
100 acres of land under Sir William Johnson, of which twenty acres was cleared
and upon which, at the outbreak of hostilities, he had built a house and barn.
He had also acquired a horse, 11 hogs, 1 sheep, &c. All of this he
abandoned, enlisting as a private in the Royal Yorkers and serving in that
corps until the end of the war. (7)
In 1784, at the age of twenty,
Duncan entered the service of the North West Company and was for many years
employed in the Nipigon Department. (8) About
1800 he was elected a partner of the Company and was, until 1807, Proprietor in
Charge, at Nipigon. From 1807 to 1811 he was stationed at Lake Winnipeg; and
from 1811 to 1814, at Rainy Lake. In the latter year, he was placed in charge
of the Red River Department, and it consequently fell to his lot to deal with
the situation created by the establishment of the Selkirk colony, in charge of
Miles Macdonell (Scotus). In April, 1816, in the attack on Fort Gibraltar by
the Hudson's Bay Company, he was taken prisoner and sent for trial to England,
via Hudson Bay. Having been subsequently released, he recovered damages from
the Hudson's Bay Company, for false imprisonment. He returned to Canada about
1820, settled down at Williamstown, and was elected as one of the members for
Glengarry, in the General Elections of 1824. He was unseated, at the suit of
Alexander McMartin, the defeated candidate, but at a by-election, in 1825, he
was again elected, serving until the end of the Parliament, in 1828. Whether or
not he stood for re-election does not appear, but if so, he was defeated by his
former opponent, who, with Col. Alexander Fraser, represented the County in the
Tenth and Eleventh Parliaments.
In 1820, upon his return from
England, he married Margaret, daughter of Captain McLeod of Hamer, and had by
her several children. One of his sons, later, became Sir Roderick W. Cameron,
who established a shipping line between New York and Australia.
(9) Duncan Cameron died at Williamstown, on May 15th, 1848. His Nipigon
Journal and Sketch of the customs of the natives of
the Nipigon country have been printed in L. R. Masson, Les
bourgeois de la Cie du Nord-Ouest (2nd Series, Quebec, 1890).
COLONEL THE
HONOURABLE ALEXANDER FRASER
Alexander Fraser (1786.1853),
who represented Glengarry in the Tenth and Eleventh Parliaments, from 1828 to
1834, was born at Glendomore, near Fort Augustus, Scotland, on January 18th,
1786, his family being from Stratherrick. He came to Canada, with his parents
and brothers and sisters, in the early years of the nineteenth century, the
family settling in the Township of Charlottenburg.
Alexander and his brother Paul
fought as officers in the Canadian Fencible Regiment, in the war of 1812-1815,
Alexander being quartermaster of the regiment; and he remained connected with
that corps, until its disbanding in 1816. In 1822, he was placed in command of
the 1st (Charlottenburg) Regiment, Glengarry Militia, retaining the command
until his death, thirty years later. It is stated in a pamphlet entitled, Early
history of the Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders, by
Major General Sir A. C. Macdonell, printed at Kingston in 1922, that on January
15th, 1838, Sir John Colbourne wrote to Cols. D. G. Macdonell and A. Fraser,
asking each to organize a battalion for five or eight months general service
and that Col. Fraser's Battalion was stationed at St. Philippe, in the County
of Laprairie. The pamphlet continues:
"At
the inspection of the Charlottenburg Regiment by Sir John Colbourne and his
staff, one of the men, Lewis Grant, who stood 6 feet 7 inches, carried a brass
three pound field piece on his shoulder when this Regiment marched past"
and another account adds that Grant saluted with
the piece, when passing the saluting point.
The following letters, relating to this period,
may be of interest:--
FROM COLONEL ALEXANDER FRASER TO THE ADJUTANT
GENERAL OF MILITIA.
Fraser Field
Glengarry, 7th July, 1838.
Sir,
I have to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the 2nd inst., and
in reply beg to state that the 1st Regt., Glengarry Militia can be depended
upon and ready on the shortest notice to proceed to any part of the Province
wherever their services may be deemed necessary by Her Majesty's Government;
the return of the arms and accoutrements in the possession of the Battn shall
be transmitted to you in a few days.
I have the honour to be &c.
Alexander Fraser, Col.
Comdg 1st Regt. G. M. (10)
FROM COLONEL C. R. TURNER TO COLONEL
ALEXANDER FRASER
Cornwall, 29th October, 1838.
My
dear Colonel,
You will immediately call out 600 men of your battalion detaching two
companies of 100 each to Lancaster, two to Coteau au Lac, and two in reserve at
Williamstown, you had better take your field Piece to Lancaster and in case of
any alarm or landing you will fire three rounds as a signal for all to
turn out. I have directed rations to be provided for you by tomorrow - serve
out all the ammunition you have, and detain all suspicious persons who may land
and let me see you as soon as possible.
Yours very truly
C.
B. Turner
Col. Comdg E. D. (11)
EXTRACT FROM GENERAL ORDER, TORONTO,
19th Novr., 1838.
"His
Excellency the Lieutenant Governor likewise has much pleasure in congratulating
Colonel Carmichael, particular service, and the local and gallant Glengarry
Militia regiments, under Colonels McDonell, Fraser, Chisholm, and McDonell,
whose ready aid in moving into the Lower Province mainly contributed to the
recapture of the Henry Brougham, and has earned for them the
approbation of the Commander of the forces." (12)
CORNWALL, 20 minutes to 10 A.M.,
22nd November, 1838.
My
dear Colonel,
I wish to see you in here as soon as possible. I fancy some very important
information has come to light regarding the American Government. Two regiments
of Glengarrys are immediately to be stationed in this town. In haste
Yours very faithfully,
C. B. Turner
Colonel Com'g.
To
Colonel Fraser, 1st Glengarry Militia. (13)
Colonel Carmichael, who had
seen so much of the Charlottenburg Regiment during its several periods of
service, was presented with an address by its officers on his removal to
Prescott. His reply was as follows:
PRESCOTT, May 24, 1839.
Gentlemen,
I beg you will accept my very best thanks for the address you were pleased to
present to me at Lancaster on my way to this District.
During the time I have been employed amongst you your zeal and good conduct
could not have been surpassed, and there cannot be a stronger proof of your
attention to your duty than my not having had a single complaint from any of
the men who served in the Fifth Provisional Battalion last winter.
That you may long enjoy the confidence and support of your loyal and brave
countrymen to uphold the reputation of Glengarry is my sincere wish. Agus
creidiruh gu brath, gu mi ur caraid dileas.
L. Carmichael, Col. P.S.
Col.
the Hon'ble Alexander Fraser and officers of the 1st Regiment of Glengarry
Militia. (14)
On the return of Colonels
Turner and Carmichael to England, they wrote to Colonel Fraser as follows:
CORNWALL, 12th April 1843
My
Dear Colonel Fraser,
I cannot quit the command of this loyal District, which I have had the honour
to hold for upwards of five years, without expressing to you how much I have
valued your useful services to your Queen and country and to myself for your
advice and information in time of great excitement in the country, and when I
was an entire stranger in the District, and which advice and information I
always found correct and for the benefit of Her Majesty's service and the good
of the District and of the brave militia which I had the good fortune to
command during the disturbances in this country - and for which I now tender
you my sincere thanks. And I beg in the name of Mrs. Turner and myself to
acknowledge our obligations to you and Mrs. Fraser for the kindness and
hospitality so often shown to us and our family, and sincerely do we hope that
by the blessing of God yourself and family may continue to prosper and be happy
to the end of your days, which we pray may be long and past in peace and tranquility.
God bless you all, and believe me, my dear Colonel,
Your very sincere
friend,
C. B. Turner,
Colonel Particular Service. (15)
Colonel Carmichael wrote as
follows:
WILLIAMSTOWN, 21st May, 1843.
My
dear Colonel Fraser,
Previous to my departure from this country, I beg you to accept my warmest
acknowledgements for the able assistance you have given me in the performance
of my duty during the last five years, which from your well-earned influence
among your countrymen, was on every occasion most valuable, and cannot in the
future fail to be of the utmost service to Government.
The soldier-like manner in which you have conducted the First Glengarry
Regiment was most creditable, and no country can boast of a better corps, in
appearance, good feeling and loyalty.
That you may long retain your high position among such true men is my sincere
wish. Always believe me, yours very sincerely,
L. Carmichael, Lt: Col. P.S.
Colonel
the Honourable Alexander Fraser, Glengarry. (16)
In 1839 Colonel Fraser was
called to the Legislative Council and remained a member of that body and of its
successor, the Legislative Council of Canada, until his death. In 1842, he was
elected the first Warden of the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and
Glengarry, a position that he continued to hold until 1850. In the previous
decade be had been one of the Commissioners in the Township of Charlottenburg
who conducted the Court of Requests, the local court which was the precursor of
the division court. From 1841 until his death, in 1853, he was Registrar of
Deeds of the County of Glengarry.
Soon after the close of the war
of 1812.15 Fraser settled on an estate of sixteen hundred acres, in the
Township of Charlottenburg, calling the place "Fraserfield," and
erecting a house, which was said to have been at the time, one of the most
pretentious in Upper Canada. It was situated about three miles from Williamstown
and an equal distance from St. Raphaels, where the family attended church. The
house, a two and a half story building, 50',..., with wings at the sides, each
231 square, contained twenty-three rooms and a cupola capable of seating
fifteen people. The house was situated a mile from the travelled road, the land
sloping gently down to the Rivière aux Raisins, half a mile away. Avenues,
lined with trees, led to the travelled road and to the River. The house still
stands, as it did then, but by an inexplicable act of vandalism on the part of
a subsequent owner, the trees on the avenues were long since cut down. The
following sketch of a visit to Fraserfield, in 1838, is condensed from an
account by a nephew of the Colonel's:
"We
had often heard that Fraserfield was one of the finest country residences in
Upper Canada, but, really, we had no idea that so grand a building was to be
found in the wilds of Glengarry as the one before which we drew up. It was...
on our arrival all ablaze, lighted up from 'top to bottom'; evidently a gay
party was there assembled. We feared we might be looked upon as unwelcome
guests, as we had not announced our intended visit. A large party had just
seated themselves to dinner. We felt taken aback and wished our visit had been
delayed a day later. A true Highland welcome greeted us, which soon made us
feel at home. Let us try to picture and re-people that old dining hall at
Fraserfield, as we entered and took our seats among and noted the distinguished
assemblage. There was the old Colonel himself at the head of the table, doing
the honours as he well knew how. He was known far and wide in Canada, from
Sarnia to Gaspé... (17)
In 1818 Fraser married Ann
(1797.1861), fourth daughter of Archibald Macdonell (Leek), and had by her two
sons and four daughters. The eldest son, Archibald, who inherited Fraserfield,
married his second cousin, Mary Scott, and has numerous descendants. At his
death, in 1874, the property was sold. Of the four daughters of Col. Fraser,
Anne married Dr. Daniel Eugene McIntyre, Sheriff of the United Counties;
Catherine married Hon. D. A. Macdonald, a member of the Mackenzie Cabinet and
some time Lieutenant Governor of Ontario; Isabella married His Honour Judge
Pringle; and Mary married James Dunbar Pringle. There are numerous descendants
of these ladies.
LIEUTENANT
COLONEL DONALD MACDONELL (Greenfield)
Donald Macdonell (1788-1861),
who represented the County in the Twelfth and Thirteenth Parliaments, from 1834
to 1841, was the youngest son of Alexander Macdonell of Greenfield and of his
wife, Janet Macdonell (Aberchalder). He was, therefore, a younger brother of
Lieutenant-Colonel John Macdonell, who was elected to represent the County in
June, 1812, but was killed at Queenston Heights in the following October.
Donald Macdonell was born at Greenfield, Scotland, on January 17th, 1788, and
came to this country with his parents, in 1792. During the war of 1812-1815, he
served as a Captain in the Second Regiment of Glengarry Militia and was present
at the capture of Ogdensburgh, in February, 1813. He was, later, appointed
Assistant Quartermaster General of Militia for the Midland District. In
acknowledgement of his services in that capacity, he was, in April, 1814,
appointed to the Command of his Regiment. During the Rebellion of 1837, Colonel
Macdonell was on active service, and in 1846 he was appointed Assistant (later
called Deputy) Adjutant General for Canada West. His application for the
position was accompanied by a recommendation signed by fifty-seven members of
the Legislative Assembly. The full number of members was 84, but there were at
the time several vacancies. Both documents are preserved in the Dominion
Archives. He continued to occupy this position until his death.
Colonel Macdonell married
Elizabeth, daughter of Ranald Macdonell (Leek) and his wife, Margery Robertson.
Ranald was one of the younger sons of John Macdonell of Leek, the eldest of the
three brothers who, in 1773, organized the party that came out from Scotland in
the "Pearl." Prior to his appointment as Deputy Adjutant General,
Colonel Macdonell resided with his family at Williamsburgh in the County of
Dundas, but he was afterwards obliged to follow the peregrinations of the
Canadian Capital.
In 1853, Colonel Macdonell had
the honour of being invited to lay the corner stone of the Brock Memorial, at
Queenston Heights, erected over the remains of Sir Isaac Brock and of Lt. Col.
John Macdonell, Lt. Col. Donald Macdonell's elder brother. The trowel, presented
to him on that occasion, is in the possession of one of his numerous
descendants. The inscription on it reads as follows :
Presented to
Lieut. Colonel Donald Macdonell
Deputy Adjutant General of Militia
for Canada West
By the Building Committee
on the Ceremony of
Laying the Foundation Stone
of
The Brock Monument
on Queenston Heights
Oct. 13, 1853.
Lt. Col. Donald Macdonell died,
at Quebec, on June 13th 1861, and was buried in the Catholic Cemetery at St.
Raphaels, in the County of Glengarry, where so many of his forebears and
collateral relations also lie buried.
COLONEL
ALEXANDER CHISHOLM
Alexander Chisholm
(1803?-1854), who represented the County in the Twelfth and Thirteenth
Parliaments (1834-1841) was born in Scotland. His father was Duncan Chisholm
(Kerrow) and his mother Janet Chisholm, daughter of Theodore Chisholm (Comar).
Alexander became a Captain in the Royal African Corps, but, in 1817, he
resigned his commission, emigrated to Canada and settled in the County of
Glengarry. In 1825 he was appointed Colonel commanding the Third Glengarry
Militia, a position which he still held in 1838. In 1823 he married Janet
Macdonell, daughter of Alexander, the youngest son of John Macdonell of Leek.
He left a numerous family, among them Rev. James J. Chisholm, a Catholic
priest, who took his doctorate in Rome and was for many years well known in
Upper Canada. He died at Perth, in 1878. Col. Alexander Chisholm was a near
relative of the Chieftain and was an important witness in establishing the right
of James Sutherland Chisholm, of Montreal, to succeed to the title and estates.
Col. Chisholm died at Alexandria on October 19th, 1854.
1. See [CCHA] Report 1938-1939, p. 19.
2. Quoted in Mackenzie's History
of the Macdonalds and Lords of the Isles, p. 529.
3. Quoted in a manuscript life of
Lt. Col. John Macdonell by the late A. McLean Macdonell, K. C.
4. Quoted Ibid.
5. Quoted Ibid.
6. H. S. HAWLEY British Columbia, the Making
of a Province.
7. Evidence in U. E. Loyalist Losses (Ontario Archives Report 1904), p. 1093.
8. Documents Relating to the North-West Company (Toronto: The Champlain Society, 1934) pp. 429-430, from
which much of this account is taken.
9. See the biographical sketch of Sir Roderick William Cameron
in Canadian Men and Women of the Time by H. J. Morgan (1898), pp.
144-145.
10. Public Archives of Canada, Militia Papers, U. C., Portfolio
55.
11. Militia Papers, U. C., Portfolio 60.
12. Text supplied by the late General Cruikshank.
13. J. A. MACDONELL, Sketches illustrating the Early
Settlement and History of Glengarry in Canada (Montreal: 1893).
14. J. A. MACDONELL, op. cit. p. 314.
15. J. A. MACDONELL, op. cit. p. 316.
16. J. A. MACDONELL, op. cit. p. 316.
17. John FRASER, Canadian Pen and Ink Sketches, (Montreal:
Gazette Printing Co., 1890), condensed.