|
vary well.
The people there simpathised with the rebels in Canada and got up a secret society for the purpose of raising an army to come over and help the rebels in uper Canada and they organized a bankand sold stock to the amount of 7 or 8 million dollars and that furnished money for the Rogues to cary on their scheme and they held secret meting all over the states along the frontier and there was great excitment there was plenty of men with the use of this bank money to pay expenses cald themselves Patriots and went everywhere to keep up the excitement and they suced wel, there was thousands of people like myself unwise and caried away with the idea of establishing a goood government in Canada and making it a free and prosperous Country there ware about 20 thousand enroll for the invaion in the later part of October there ware 2 devisions of the suposed army I was in the Eastern devision and we ware warned to rendesvous at different points to be ready to embark and the company I was in went to Sockets Harbours and after steaying there abot a week we went to Milery bay and the next night the Steam Boat United States with s schooners in toe and we went on board there was about 1800 on bord and went down the River to Wind Mill Point just below Prescut just opsite Ogsdenburg we got on a bar stuck for awile and then the steambot got off and 1 schooner and the other one on the bar and we got to the landing and abot 300 got off the boat went back to get the schooner that was still on the bar and whil she was trying to get off there was a small armed steamboat came out from Prescot and commence fireing on her and she ran into Ogdensburg and about that time the United States Marshall with an armed steamboat came along and seized the steambot and schooner and army and a good many men and took them to Ogdenburg and we ware left on Wind Mill point without any means of getting away. we had 2 small canon and plenty small arms. and we made ourselves as comfortable as we could expecting they would come and take us away but they did not doe it.
the next morning being Nov 15th 1838. there ware 2 armed steam botes down from Kingston with a company of soldiers and they stacked us and serrended us and whin I saw that and saw the Boats on the river and all escape cut of I thew down my arms gave myself up and was teaken to the fort at Prescut.
there was over twenty taken that day and we ware put on a boat that night and taken to fort Henry at Kingston. the rest held out for 2 day longer and then they surrendered and war brought to the same fort at Kingstone and tried for treson and all found guilty but 2 and thar war 7 hanged and the rest ware kept in prison until the next April and then those twenty eight Repreived and sent to Sackets Harbour and I was with the 28 and I enjoyed my liberty and the rest of the prisonors ware banished to Vandimands lands a penal Colony belonging to England.
and I worked at od jobs around about that Part of the states until the year 1840 and then I came back to Canada and found the times greatly improved and I worked around Haldimand for 2 years and then got maried and about six years after I moved too Newcastle in the townsiip of Clark and worked for Hart a Massey in the foundry and lost my health and the doctor advised me to leave the hip and work out in the open air so I came to Owen Sound country in the year 1855 and I worked in the town of Owen Sound that fal and winter in the spring I moved to the township of Holland and seteld on a bush farm went to wood choping and clearing away the bush and got better health and the help of an excelent good wife and the blessing of God we sucseded in making a living and raising our large famely and about 10 years ago when the Children had all left home and got married we sold the farm and bought property in the village of Chatsworth whare we are now living. we have a good house and a little means to bye the nesarys of life and we are vary comfortable. 2 of our children are living near us and we hav Kind friends and neighbourins and we belong to the Methodist Church and attend its metings and enjoy them and feel thankful to Almity God for his blessing all along the pathway of life.
We enjoy vary good health for our age I was 80 last August and Mrs Merriam was 74 last November.
before closing this sketch I want to say a few words in praise of my noble wife in the 56 years we
have lived together she has been a true help mate she has helped in procureing the nesasary of life and comforted me in trouble cherd me when cast down and helper me when tempted and tryed, wated on me in health and nursed me in sickness and she was hopeful which was than medison and she is stil chearful and we are than medison and he is stil chearful and we are hapy and I bes God for having given me such a noble Companion.
Signed Justus Merriam
|
|
