A Call to the Colours. Kenneth Cox
will provide you with information about the British Regiments in Canada.
Ancestry.com has posted U.K. military campaign medals and awards roll, 1793–1949, on their website. Check the right-hand side to browse the collection at search.ancestry.co.uk/search/category.aspx?cat=131.
Books
Loyalists
Cook, S.H. and G.R. Hodges. The Black Loyalists Directory: African Americans in Exile After the American Revolution. New York and London: Garland Publishing, 1996.
Cruikshank, E. The King’s Royal Regiment of New York. With index, appendices, and a master muster roll provided by Gavin Watt. Toronto: Ontario Historical Society, 1931, reprinted 1984.
Dubeau, S. New Brunswick Loyalists, A Bicentennial Tribute. Agincourt, ON: Generation Press, 1983.
Fryer, Mary Beacock. Rolls of the Provincial (Loyalist) Corps, Canadian Command, American Revolution Period. Toronto: Dundurn Press, 1981.
Gregory, M. Compendium of Canadian Regiments. Ottawa: Lomor Printers Ltd., 2005.
Hughes, G.W. A Marchpast of the Corps and Regiments of the Canadian Army Past and Present (three Volumes). Calgary: [s.n.], 1993.
Katcher, P. Armies of the American Wars 1753–1815. New York: Hastings House, 1975.
Raymond, W. O. Loyalist Arms, 1775–1783: A Short History of the British American Regiments with the Rolls of Officers. Milton: Global Heritage Press, 2001.
Rees, R. Land of the Loyalists, Their Struggle to Shape the Maritimes. Halifax, NS: Nimbus Publications Ltd., 2000.
Wilson, Barbara. Military General Service Medal, 1793–1814, Egypt Medal, 1882–1889, North West Canada Medal, 1885 (Canadian Recipients). London, U.K.: Spink & Son Ltd., 1975.
War of 1812
Cruikshank, E.A. Record of the Services of Canadian Regiments in the War of 1812: The Militiamen of the Eastern District: Glengarry, Stormont and Dundas. Canadian Military Institute, 1915, reprinted Toronto: Canadiana, 196?.
Gray, W.M. Soldiers of the King: The Upper Canada Militia, 1812–1815: A Reference Guide. Erin, ON: Boston Mills Press, 1995.
Lauber, W.R. An Index of the Land Claim Certificates of Upper Canada Militiamen Who Served in the War of 1812. Toronto: Ontario Genealogical Society, 1995.
MacLean & Rogers. Militiamen of 1812–1815: Showing the Names, Ages and Residence of Militiamen of 1812–15 Who had Applied for the Government Gratuity of 1875. Ottawa: Department of Militia and Defence, 1872.
Merriman, Brenda Dougall. United Empire Loyalists: A Guide to Tracing Loyalist Ancestors in Upper Canada. Milton, ON: Global Heritage Press, 2009.
Books Containing Lists of Names of Medal Recipients or Information About Military Service Medals
Berton, P. Flames Across the Border, 1813–1814. Toronto: Anchor Canada, 2001.
___. The Invasion of Canada, 1812–1813. Toronto: Anchor Canada, 2001.
Blatherwick, Francis, J. Canadian Orders, Decoration & Medals, 4th Ed. Toronto: Unitrade Press, 1994.
Duckers, P. British Campaign Medals, 1815–1914. Botley, Oxford: Shire Books, 2000.
Irving, L.A. Officers of the British Forces in Canada during the War of 1812–1815. Welland, ON: Welland Tribune Press, 1908, reprinted 1992.
Mullen, A.L.T. The Military General Service Medal Roll, 1793–1812. London: London Stamp Exchange, 1990.
N.A. The Waterloo Medal Roll: Compiled from the Muster Rolls. Dallington, East Sussex: Naval and Military Press, 1992.
Vigors, D., and MacFarlane, A.M. The Three Great Retrospective Medals, 1793–1840 Awarded to Artillerymen. Salisbury, U.K.: Vigors & MacFarland, 1986.
RCMI Library
Arkwith, W.N. List of Officers of the Royal Regiment of Artillery, 1716–1899, 4th Edition. London, U.K.: William Clowes & Sons, 1900.
Government of Canada. Statement the Names, Age and Residence of Militiamen of 1812–15, Who Have Applied to Participate in the Gratuity Voted by Parliament in 1875, With the Name of the Corps or Division and Rank in Which They Served. Ottawa: Maclean, Rogers & Co., 1876.
Laws, M.E.S. Battery Records of the Royal Artillery, 1776–1859, Woolwich, U.K.: Royal Artillery Publication, 1952. In this book I discovered which batteries of artillery were in action at the battle of New Orleans.
Sutherland, S. His Majesty’s Gentlemen: A Directory of Regular British Army Officers of the War of 1812. Toronto: Iser Publications, 2000.
NOTES
1. Thomas Jefferson to William Duane, 1812.08.04, found in C. Benn, Historic Fort York, 1793–1993 (Toronto: Natural Heritage Press, 1993), 45.
2. LAC, RG 8, series I, finding aid 1800.
3. J.M. Hitsman, The Incredible War of 1812 (Toronto: University of Toronto Press, Toronto, 1965), 22.
4. W.D. Raymond, Loyalists in Arms, 1775–1783: A Short History of the British American Regiments with Roll of Officers (Milton: Global Heritage Press, 2001), 26.
5. W.R. Lauber, Index of Essex and Kent Militia Records 1812–1815 (Chatham, ON: Kent Branch, OGS, 1995), intro.
6. Angela Files and Tess M. Rowe, comp., Register of Persons Connected with High Treason, War of 1812–14 (Brantford, ON: Brant County Branch OGS, 1985).
7. Canadian Recipients of the Military General Service, Egypt Medal and North West Canada (London: Spink and Son Ltd., 1975), 1–3.
8. LAC, RG 8-1, vol. 1061 B, pg. 39, microfilm C-3369.
9. LAC, RG 1 L 3L, vol. 40, pages 20030–20037, reel C-2508.
CHAPTER TWO
The Rebellions of 1837–38: I Think My Ancestors Were Rebels!
Land grant application submitted on behalf of Jean Baptiste Turcott. LAC 20030, also available in list 4, Que. Gazette, 21-1-1841.
Many historians will tell you that American history is one of revolution while Canada’s is one of evolution. In many cases this is true, but not in 1837. If you ask Canadians about this period in our history most will shrug and give you a blank look. This shouldn’t be the case! From the end of the War of 1812, in 1814, to the creation of the Union Government in 1841, this country was in social upheaval. Indeed, the system of government we have today, created 1 July 1867 and referred to as Confederation, is a direct result of this period of rebellion.
Jean Baptiste Turcott applied for a land grant twice. His 1838 application was made to John George Lambton, Earl of Durham (Lord Durham), governor general of Canada, and was discovered at LAC. The finding aid stated, “Turcott, Jean Bte — St. Marie, Beauce, corpl. 4th Btn. Que. 21/1/41 script for 100 acres of land, list 4, Que. Gazette, 21-1-1841.” I assumed the entry was for service during the War of 1812 but was intrigued by the application to Lord Durham.
John George Lambton was appointed governor of Canada following the rebellions that had broken out in Upper and Lower Canada in 1837. In England he had been referred to as “Radical Jack” because of his liberal views on social reform. He was sent to the colonies in 1838 to report on the reasons for rebellion. His Report on the Affairs in British North America, commonly called The Durham Report, changed the face of government in Canada, eventually led to the establishment of Bytown (Ottawa) as the capital of a united colony, and ultimately the Confederation of the colonies with the British North America Act in 1867.
There was a chance that my wife’s ancestor, Jean Baptiste Turcott might have served in one of the loyal militia units that had fought the rebels in Lower Canada. After all, his 1838 application stated that he had served as a corporal with the 4th Battalion and lived in Ste.-Marie, Beauce,