War of 1812-14 BiCentennial

 

Burlington Streets Whats Behind the Name?

Pathways to Peace

A number of Events and initiatives are occurring in 2012-2014 to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812-14

In anticipation and preparation of the upcoming commemoration of the Bi-Centennial of the War of 1812-14, Burlington Ontario, due to the strategic position she held on Lake Ontario, the events that took place in her jurisdiction and the contributions by the locals who heeded the call of duty, is joining in the commemoration of this 200th anniversary and 200 years of peace.  Discover the past...Explore the past...Learn from the stories of our past.

The stories, the lore, the legends….Burlington’s role in the War of 1812-14.

Beginning in June 2012, through into the end of 2014, residents of Burlington and communities all along the the Great Lakes will kick-off commemorative events, themed festivals and projects to mark the Bicentennial of the War of 1812.  This war played a significant role in the shaping of Canada, the United States of America, and Six Nations, and their peoples.  The end of the war marked the beginning of 200 years of peace between our nations.

There is history to be explored, stories to be told.  Although Burlington and the surrounding area were not sites of many significant battles, the geography and the people were significant.  The Burlington area (although not named this at the time) was, and is still known as a safe place, a place of trade, a cross roads, a landmark, and a resting point  - A destination to for food, shelter, and shared resources.

Heritage sites, academic, cultural, tourism and community groups from across this geographic territory have been working collaboratively to prepare for this event.

How can you and your business, event, or not-for-profit organization get involved??  Link here.

War 1812-14 Western Corridor ToolKit/Handbook to help you get involved:

HAVE YOU STARTED PLANNING YET?  The years 2012-2014 mark the Bicentennial of the War of 1812, a war that played a major role in the establishment of Canada as a nation within the North American continent, and that was partly waged in southwestern Ontario. The legacy of the War of 1812 is recognized at a number of historical sites throughout the region and commemorated through special events.  The Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport identified the Bicentennial Commemoration as a major tourism event for Ontario. Its June 2009 report titled War of 1812 Bicentennial Analysis: Initial Assessment of Marketing Opportunity highlighted the opportunity. Approximately nine-million Americans and two-and-a-half-million Canadians indicated that they would ‘definitely’ or ‘probably’ consider attending Bicentennial events. Another 26 million people said that they ‘may consider attending’. This Bicentennial tourism market is expected to have a significant impact in the western corridor of Ontario.
The Western Corridor 1812-1814 Bicentennial Alliance (WCA) links communities, including the First Nations, from the western tip of Lake Ontario in Burlington running south-west, along the north side of the Lake Erie coastline, ending at Middlesex County. The region is split by the Grand River as it travels south to Lake Erie. There are many stories to tell about the war and how the rural folks helped to defend this land.
This handbook is a tool for our tourism industry to use. It lists practical suggestions for how restaurants, shops, attractions, accommodation providers and others can welcome visitors during the Bicentennial timeframe. The ideas contained in this manual are by no means an exhaustive list, but are intended to spark additional suggestions as well.  It’s not too late! Start now to plan how you can benefit from War of 1812 Bicentennial comemorations.  www.westerncorridor1812.com

What's Happening?

War of 1812 Business Opportunities Workshop & Meeting - Wed. June 13, 2012

Open to all event planners, not-for-profit organizations and businesses who are interested in learning how to leverage this initiative!  Tourism Burlington and Museums of Burlington, in partnership with Hamilton Halton Brant Regional Tourism Association (RTO #3) and War of 1812 Pathways to Peace present War of 1812-14 Business Opportunities Workshop on June 13th, 2012 at Joseph Brant Museum.  Be part of the War of 1812 legacy.  The 200th anniversary of the War of 1812 provides a unique opportunity to promote one of the seminal moments in the history of Ontario and Canada. The War of 1812 touched on regions from London to Burlington and Hamilton, with Brantford, Six Nations and Port Dover areas all seeing action at various times.  With the Three-Year Bicentennial Commemorations beginning in June 2012, interest is consistently growing. This is your opportunity to learn about the upcoming War of 1812 Bicentennial and to identify and maximize potential business, event & not-for-profit organization opportunities.  Learn about marketing initiatives and opportunities, tourism experience development tools. Participants will be provided with a take-away toolkit to maximize participation in the Bicentennial Commemorations.  Please confirm your attendance by contacting Simone at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. / 905-634-5594 x 7240.

Tourism Business Development Symposium:  War of 1812 Pathways to Peace presented Tourism Business Development Symposium on April 13, 2012 in Woodstock, ON.  Attendees learned about marketing initatives and opportunities, tourism experience and development tools and packaging for visitors.  With the Three-Year Bicentennial Commemorations beginning in June 2012, interest is consistently growing. This was a great opportunity to learn about the upcoming War of 1812 Bicentennial and to identify and maximize potential business opportunities.

Canadian Art Cards Exhibit: The Western Corridor Alliance is proud to present the Canadian Art Card print exhibition: Pathways to Peace: Art Studies of Upper Canada during the War of 1812.  The Hamilton, Halton, Brant Regional Association is sponsoring the premier exhibition of this collection at the Woodlands Cultural Centre from November 8 to December 30, 2011.  Woodlands is hosting a Reception for this exhibition on November 19.  Link here for more information about the Reception on November 19th and here for Exhibit Hosting information.

Union Burial Ground War 1812-14 Veterans, 2 found: 
Asahel Davis (1774 – 1850);  War record Private 2nd York – 1st Flank Company
Thomas Ghent (17070 – 1824);  War record Private.

Burlington Gravesite Recognition Programme:  Local Burlington Historical Society members are working on a Burlington Gravesite Recognition Programme.  They have so far discovered 71 vetrans of the War of 1812-14.  They aren't all buried here but they all lived in what is now the City of Burlington during this War.

Playwright with five plays set against a backdrop of the war of 1812:  Written over the past few years in anticipating the commemoration of the event, Playright, David Serafino is trying to get his website and plays noticed by theatre companies, high school drama teachers, historical museums and societies etc.  Contact David, if you would like fore information at http://warof1812plays.com or David Serafino [ This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ]'; document.write(''); document.write(addy_text14712); document.write('<\/a>'); //-->\n This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Burlington Historical Society - Speaker Series: 2012 Marks the start of the celebration for the  War of 1812.  The Burlington Historical Society in Burlington Ontario, will commemorate with a 2012 Program starting on January 9, 2012. Zig Misiak will be the first speaker in this series.  Zig will talk on "The War of 1812 and the Six Nations." This presentation will follow the Annual Meeting. Start time is 7pm at the Centennial Room, Burlington Central Library, 2331 New Street, Burlington - all welcome!

Speaker Series Dates:
April 9, 2012: William Halton and Halton County - John McDonald
May 14, 2012: The War of 1812

Call to confirm meeting date, time and location.

Oakville Historical Society - Speaker Series 2012

Wednesday, May 9th, 2012:The War of 1812:  Speaker Mr. Ken Weber
Wednesday, October 17th, 2012: Women and the War of 1812  Speaker Cheryl MacDonald
Wednesday, November 21st, 2012: The Home Children with focus on those who came over from the Dr. Barnardo Institute.   Speaker Elaine Guther
All programs will be held at St. John’s United Church, Randall Street, Oakville, and begin at 7:30pm.  Refreshments are served.
 

Learn the significant role that the area now known as Burlington, and it’s local peoples played by visiting Burlington’s Joseph Brant Museum. Enjoy a guided tour of the Museum, where you can learn about Joseph Brant, father of John Brant (Ahyouwaighs) who distinguished himself in War of 1812-14 by supported the British throughout the War of 1812 by participating in the Battle of Queenston Heights and encouraging other members of the Six Nations from along the Grand River to fight the American invaders.  Located on the Burlington’s waterfront, this museum ‘s location is significant as the site where many nations of peoples gathered and met and it is also recognized as a crossroads of traveled routes, by water and land.

Joseph Brant Museum will be honouring John Brant on Monday August 6, 2012, at the annual Joseph Brant Day Festival an annual event held each Labour day Monday at LaSalle Park,Burlington.  John Brant Day, at the annual Joseph Brant Day Festival.

John Brant, Ahyonwaeghs 1794-1832

During the War of 1812, John took part and fought at Queenston, Beaver Dams, Chippewa, Lundy's Lane and Fort Erie, alongside the Grand River members of the First Nations.  In October 1812 in Queenston Heights, John fought beside John Norton and helped stop an American attack.  In the years following the war, John Brant worked hard to better the lives of the First Nations, following his father's foot steps in 1821 and travelling to England to petition the Crown for control over native land.  Despite losing the petition, he was successful in ensuring schools were built for his people.  In 1828, John became the resident Superintendent for the Six Nations of the Grand River, and in 1830, he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada.  His election was appealed in 1831 and his appointment removed; he was the first member of the First Nations, however, to be elected to parliament as a lawmaker. In 1830, he was named Chief of the Six Nations by Catherine Brant.  John Brant died at the age of 38 during the Cholera epidemic in 1832.

This year John Brant will meet up with Sir Issac Brock at the John Brant Festival in a "Blast from the Past Encounter!"  Both John and Brock will continue from LaSalle park on August 6th through August 12th as part of the Western Corridor Bi-Centennial Alliance Event: BROCK"S WALK.

Royal Botanical Gardens - Explore Canada’s largest botanical garden, featuring over 1,100 hectares (2,700 acres) of breathtaking gardens and spectacular nature sanctuaries. Royal Botanical Gardens is a ‘living museum’ that acquires, collects, researches, exhibits, conserves and interprets a living horticultural collection.  Royal Botanical Gardens is a must stop, on your War of 1812-14 Bicentennial Commemoration exploration in 2012!  Watch for themed gardens, horticultural and education events.

Plant your Red Geraniums to commemorate War of 1812.  article- Niagara This Week.

Burlington Ghost Walks - Take a Walking Tour of Burlington and hear the stories of Joseph Brant and Burlington Bay, then known as Lake Mecassa, meaning "shimmering waters".  Tour and Ghost walk information will be posted for the 2012 summer and fall.  See the website for more information and contact information.

Heritage Park Project: Historic St. John's Nelson Anglican Church: St.John's Wood.

Rural Raids and Divided Loyalties - Southwestern Ontario and the War of 1812- Burlington's Part in the War Multi-Media Project. This multi-media project commemorating the Bicentennial of the War of 1812 will highlight the importance of Burlington and our neighbouring regions. The project's television documentary series, web site, driving tours and mobile application will help to showcase our region's 1812-related tourism assets for years to come, and we are excited to work with our regional tourism partners to link all of Southwestern Ontario's 1812-related museums and historic sites into a multimedia driving tour.

Brock's Walk Trail Project - A joint project with neighbouring communities. A commemoration of Isaac Brock's overland journey from Burlington to Long Point in August 1812, as he both gauged the loyalty of, and rallied the support of Native Peoples and settlers on his way to the eventural capture of Detroit.  When he reached lake Erie, Brock embarked on vessels with his troops for the remainder of their journey to Amherstburg.  It is generally agreed that Brock's journey could be commemorated with a series of projects and events in and around the communities through which he passed.

Heritage Mississauga hosts a War of 1812 Exhibit: In partnership with the Region of Peel Heritage Complex, Heritage Mississauga is delighted to host the War of 1812 travelling exhibit from the Archives of Ontario from January 10th until February 24th, 2012. This free exhibit will open on Tuesday, January 10th, from 6:30 to 8:30pm.  The Archives of Ontario’s War of 1812 travelling exhibit sheds light on formative events in the history of Ontario. The War of 1812 had long-term effects on the economic, social and political life of the province. This exhibit is a history resource that showcases some of the personalities and locations that played a role in the war, and explores the events of that conflict using the correspondence and diaries of those who lived it. Their words are illustrated with artwork, maps and photographs from the holdings of the Archives, many being made widely available for the first time. We invite you to explore this exhibit and learn about the War of 1812 in Upper Canada.  For more information, Contact: Matthew Wilkinson, Historian at Heritage Mississauga.

Fighting for the Frontier: Remembering the War of 1812 and Historic Mississauga Research Project: Heritage Mississauga, in partnership with the University of Toronto Mississauga Historical Studies Department is undertaking a research project aimed at documenting the residents of Toronto Township (historic Mississauga) who served during the War of 1812. This research project in ongoing. Thank you to UTM students Milan Gocmanac and Suzanna Elmazi.  For more information, Contact: Matthew Wilkinson, Historian at Heritage Mississauga.

Historic Merchant's Market - Visit the Twelfth Annual, Historic Merchants’ Christmas Gathering - An Old-Fashioned Christmas Gift Market.  Discover a Christmas Market right out of the pages of Jane Austen and Charles Dickens!  Held concurrently with Doorways to the Holidays at RBG.

Add to the Event list - You can add your event to this growing list by letting us know about your plans.

Links for Researching Family Connections:

Street Name Connections in Burlington:

  • Ontario Street – “one of the oldest streets in Burlington, dating back to when the community was known as Wellington Square” (Memories of Burlington, Evans, Gary, pg. 20)
  •  Brant Street, John Street – Named after War of 1812 Chief John Brant (and his father Joseph Brant)
  • James, Martha, Maria Streets – Possibly named after members of the Gage family who bought land at Rambo Creek and Brant Street in “Brant’s Block”, which became the first settlement in Wellington Square in the early 1800s (From Pathway to Skyway Revisited, Machan, Claire Emery, pg. 298)
  • Ghent Street – Located near the original Ghent homestead (Maple Avenue & Ontario Street) – Thomas Ghent was a United Empire Loyalist who emigrated to Burlington in 1805 and started one of the first apple orchards in this area (From Pathway to Skyway Revisited, Machan, Claire Emery, pg. 298-299)

Notable Streets/Areas:

Notable Burlington Residents:

  • John Brant – Joseph Brant’s son, returned to live in Burlington in 1819 – led the Six Nations warriors in battle in Queenston, Beaver Dams, Chippewa, Lundy’s Lane, and Fort Erie (From Pathway to Skyway Revisited, Machan, Claire Emery, pg. 30-31)
  • William Johnson Kerr – Husband of Brant’s daughter, Elizabeth, commander at Queenston and Beaver Dams – buried at St. Luke’s Anglican Church (From Pathway to Skyway Revisited, Machan, Claire Emery, pg. 31-32)
  • Richard Beasley, Jean Baptiste Rousseau, Cpt. George Chisholm, Richard Cockerell, William Bates – Men from Burlington area who fought with General Brock (From Pathway to Skyway Revisited, Machan, Claire Emery, pg. 87)
  • Captain John Ireland – Came to Canada with the British army, Quartermaster in charge of the supply line across Dundas Street, the 1st Halton Rifles drilled in a field owned by the Irelands, was later given land in Burlington after the war (From Pathway to Skyway Revisited, Machan, Claire Emery, pg. 90), older brother of Joseph Ireland who bought and developed the land now known as Ireland House, beginning in 1819 (From Pathway to Skyway Revisited, Machan, Claire Emery, pg. 120)
  • Captain Joseph Birney – Settled in Burlington as a result of being given land for his efforts in the war (From Pathway to Skyway Revisited, Machan, Claire Emery, pg. 90)
  • The Chisholm Family
    • John Chisholm – Enlisted in 1811, selected as captain in 1812 and commanded the flank company ordered to Queenston – fought in Battle of Queenston Heights on Oct. 13th, 1812 with brothers George and William (see below) (from Ancestry.com thread - http://boards.ancestry.com/localities.northam.canada.ontario.halton/981.3.1/mb.ashx)
    • Colonel William Chisholm – Settled on a Nelson Township/Village (Guelph Line & Dundas Street) in 1816, became first postmaster of Nelson in 1835 (From Pathway to Skyway Revisited, Machan, Claire Emery, pg. 120)
  • Miss Stringer, Isaac Van Norman – arrived in “Appleby” (hamlet at Appleby Line & QEW) in 1809 and 1810 (From Pathway to Skyway Revisited, Machan, Claire Emery, pg. 129)
    • Van Norman Family – Isaac’s daughter, Jane, married Aaron D. Emory, lived in Aldershot and helped to found the East Plains United Church & Cemetery – Emory descendants still reside in Burlington, Isaac built a small church opposite the Mount Vernon Cemetery  (From Pathway to Skyway Revisited, Machan, Claire Emery, pg. 131)
    • Land sales from 1803-1817 to: Nicholas Kerns, Robert Wilson, Augustus Bates, James Gage, Mather Elliot, John Davis, Ralph Morden, Michael Groat, John Dawson, Peter Desjardins, George Chisholm, Thomas Ghent, Asahel Davis

Agriculture:

  • Apples – The Ghent and Davis families brought young apple trees with them from North Carolina when they settled in 1805, O.T. Springer owned orchards where Brant Plaza is now  (From Pathway to Skyway Revisited, Machan, Claire Emery, pg. 170)
  • Vegetables – Maple Avenue land became useful for growing a variety of different vegetables in the mid-late 1800s (From Pathway to Skyway Revisited, Machan, Claire Emery, pg. 171 – lettuce and onions are pictured)

History, Stories, Myths and Legends:

Ireland House, Museums of Burlington  at 2168 Guelph Line, Built in 1836 for Joseph Ireland, Joseph Ireland didn't arrive in Canada until 1819. His brother John preceded him to Canada and was involved in the War of 1812, but there is very little information on him.  He came to Canada at age 19 as a regimental officer with the British Army during the War of 1812. In 1836 Joseph Ireland was Overseer of Highways. He purchased this land from Daniel O'Reilly and farmed it successfully until his death in 1869. His son John (born 1839), grandson George, and great-granddaughter Marie Ireland Bush were all born in the house. It was bought in 1987 by the City of Burlington and in May 1991 was officially opened as an historic house museum.

Nathaniel Bell (1790 - 1852) is believed to have been the first licensed medical doctor in Halton County. He was a son of Benjamin Bell and Elizabeth Pettit, who left Roxbury, New Jersey, with their family, to come to Grimsby in 1791. His sister Mary (b. 1784) married Dr Cyrus Sumner in 1803. Nathaniel studied under Dr Summer at Beamsville. In 1812 he was assistant surgeon with Dr Kerr; was captured by the US forces, escaped, was recaptured and shot in the leg.
Nathaniel received his 2nd licence from the Upper Canada medical board after April 1819. Practised from Hamilton to Guelph: bold, determined and careful operating surgeon, good at amputations.

David Fonger - In 1804 John Fonger Sr. settled in East Flamboro at 192 Plains Road East, with his wife, 5 sons, and 5 daughters. In the 1840s the Fonger farmland was acquired by David Fonger, who had immigrated in 1804 at the age of 22. He fought in the War of 1812, and in 1875, at the age of 93, he was one of 42 veterans of that war to be received in Hamilton City Council Chambers, and to be awarded a certificate and a belated pension in recognition of his military service.

Plan of John Chisholm and John Brant properties on the old channel and outlet- Drawn from a copy made after a plan owned by Mr F. Macklen, which he received from Mr [John] Chisholm in 1794. The original map, attributed to S. H. Ghent, is in the McMaster University Library Special Collections. Copies are held in the Map Room of the Geography Department, McMaster University.

A Great Read:

Regional Commemoration Efforts:

For More information about the Bi-Centennial Commemoration of the War of 1812-14.  Please refer to Western Corridor Bi-Centennial Alliance website.

Media Release - Announcment of Western Corridor Bi-Centennial Alliance Logo launch - May 2011

Media Release -Announcement of Western Corridor Bi-Centennial Alliance Website launch - Aug. 2011.

Western Corridor Bi-Centennial Alliance Summer 2011 Newsletter.

Related Links:

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