Notes:

Benjamin married Amanda Albina HUNTER on 5 Oct 1892 in Ingersoll, Oxford, Ontario. Amanda was born on 14 Apr 1866 in Ingersoll, Oxford, Ontario; died on 14 Dec 1896 in Ontario. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Edith Amanda SWAYZIE was born on 8 Dec 1896 in Toronto, York, Ontario; died on 29 Jun 1986 in Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario; was buried in Hillview Cemetery, Woodstock, Oxford, Ontario.

Benjamin married Mary Elizabeth JORDAN on 28 Sep 1898 in Eastwood, Oxford, Ontario. Mary (daughter of Francis John JORDAN and Elizabeth HEATH) was born on 7 Jul 1872 in East Oxford, Oxford, Ontario; died on 17 Mar 1949 in Oxford County, Ontario; was buried in Hillview Cemetery, Woodstock, Oxford, Ontario. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Francis Coleman SWAYZIE was born on 16 Oct 1902 in Toronto, York, Ontario; died on 13 Jun 1981 in Woodstock, Oxford, Ontario; was buried in Hillview Cemetery, Woodstock, Oxford, Ontario.
2. Elizabeth Dorothy SWAYZIE was born on 31 Aug 1905 in Eastwood, Oxford, Ontario; died on 15 Jul 1984 in Woodstock, Oxford, Ontario; was buried in Hillview Cemetery, Woodstock, Oxford, Ontario.
3. Sara Gwendolyn SWAYZIE was born on 16 Jul 1909 in East Oxford, Oxford, Ontario; died on 8 Nov 2009 in Woodstock, Oxford, Ontario; was buried in Hillview Cemetery, Woodstock, Oxford, Ontario.

Notes:

Heritage On Main: The Former Dominion Hotel (The Blue Note Café) at 218-224 Main Street
Article by Laura McKay, on behalf of Heritage Winnipeg Corp.
Thank you to Greg Agnew, Heritage Winnipeg Board Member, for his assistance with images.

To follow up on this or any other articles on the blog, contact Heritage Winnipeg's Executive Director.

The Dominion Hotel, later known as the Blue Note Café, at 218-224 Main Street was demolished in 2011. The place where it stood remains empty, the silhouette still visible on the adjacent Winnipeg Hotel. Before it was an iconic hangout for Winnipeg musicians, the home of the Blue Note Café was everything from a hotel to a barbershop.

In 1872, the Hudson's Bay Company surrendered all but 450 acres of land to the Dominion of Canada. The remaining land was surveyed and sold off to form the town of "Selkirk" (not to be confused with the current city of Selkirk). Lot 18, where the Dominion Hotel was later built, was purchased in July of 1872 by Charles Garratt, of the Garratt House Hotel for $1250. Lots purchased along Main Street were also required to have a structure built on them worth at least $2000 within 18 months of purchase in the hope of building up the appearance of Main Street.

Garratt resold the land shortly after purchase to Elias Swayze (Swaze), who immediately began the construction of a hotel. The Dominion Hotel opened in 1873, the same year as the Garry House (Winnipeg Hotel) next door. Their locations were considered choice as the federal government had new Customs House and Land Office buildings planned for the York Avenue end of the block. At the end of the 19th century, it was also very common for people to more or less live in hotels, as immigrating populations struggled to find accommodations and traveling salesman made extended visits with their wares.

The newly built Dominion Hotel was a wooden structure with 22 rooms in addition to a large hall where 21 beds were set up. The building featured a 12 x 14ft parlour, an 18 x 20ft billiard room, and an 18 x 20ft bar room in addition to a 12 x 20ft kitchen. In the summer of 1873, Swayze briefly had a partner named Smith, but the relationship was short lived and he continued to run the business on his own.

On May 3, 1877, an arsonist set fire to the Kahler stable behind the hotel. The fire spreads and while the fire brigade does their best, the building is destroyed. Thankfully all of the patrons and their luggage made it out safely but without insurance, Swayze was unable or unwilling to rebuild. He sold the property to Joseph Kahler, owner of the stable that burned. He built a new hotel by the same name in the summer after the fire.

The new building was a 40 x 60ft, 2 1/2 storey wood frame structure with a prominent boom town front and a small porch running along a portion of the north side. A new stable was also added in 1878, presumable replacing the one that had burned the year before.

Kahler operated the hotel until 1884, when it briefly became the "Dominion Club" with the backing of a W. R. Strachan. It then once again became a hotel under J.K. Paisley (of the Paisley House Hotel) in 1886.

Hannah Kahler, Joseph's wife, then took over the hotel's management from 1887-1889. This rapid change both in use and management is likely a sign that the hotel was no longer as attractive to patrons as it once was, as more sophisticated establishments took its clientele. For the next several years, the hotel was either vacant or leased by other proprietors, although it would seem to continue to be owned by Kahler.

By 1893, the hotel had become a boarding house operated by a Joseph Keeler (possibly a misspelling of Kahler). Joseph Kahler likely passed away in 1894 and his widow, Hannah, continued to operate the boarding house until 1901, when the Montgomery brothers from the Winnipeg Hotel next door purchased the Dominion as an annex to the accommodations they provided. The intention was to either demolish the Dominion and built an addition on the property or else to renovate it to meet their purposes.

However, this plan never came to a fruition, likely due to the opening of the Commercial Hotel in 1902 in the Macdonald Block next door, as well as the Montgomery brothers' continued interests in other properties. The Dominion remained an annex to the Winnipeg Hotel until 1908, after which various people operated a rooming house in the upper floors with either a shoemaker and/or barber in the ground floor stores. It was about this name that the name "Dominion Hotel" was moved to another building at 523 Main Street, near where City Hall is now.

By the 1920s, the building was clearly deteriorating in photographs, with structural problems causing the facade to sag badly. A barber and shoe maker continued to run their businesses out of the building, along with a second hand store.

In 1934, a portion of the building was taken over by the Main Spot Café and Crystal Dyers went into the north end of the structure in 1937. Records are unclear, but it is likely that the upper floors were demolished around 1937 as well, with the length of the building also being cut in half around this time. Following the demolition, the remaining portions of the building were renovated to meet the Café and Dyers' need

In 1951, the building once again underwent renovation, this time to the exterior, in the art moderné style. It remained the Main Spot restaurant until it opened as the Blue Note Café, a popular local hangout for musicians, in March of 1983. The Blue Note Café stayed in the building until the mid-1990s when it relocated to another venue before closing down altogether. Below is a short documentary about the Blue Note Café and its contributions to the Winnipeg music scene in its heyday.

The vacant shell of the building was demolished in 2011, 134 years after it was built.
Sources & Links
'Paradise' Lost - Winnipeg Free Press 2013
Winnipeg love-hate: Bluenote Graveyard - Winnipeg Free Press 2011

http://heritagewinnipeg.blogspot.ca/2015/09/heritage-on-main-former-dominion-hotel.html viewed May 31, 2017

Elias married Nancy CAMERON on 20 Aug 1860 in Kintore, Oxford, Ontario. Nancy (daughter of Robert CAMERON and Nancy ROSS) was born on 22 Aug 1836 in East Nissouri, Oxford, Ontario; died on 12 Jan 1905 in Spokane, Spokane, Washington; was buried in Greenwood Memorial Terrace, Spokane, Spokane, Washington. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Canadian Genealogy Index, 1600s-1900s Record
about Benjamin, Sr. Swayze

Name: Benjamin, Sr. Swayze

Event: Living

Year: 1840

Province: Ontario

Place: Brock District

Source: District Marriage Registers of Upper Canada, Brock District 1839-1857, Provincial Archives of Ontario, Toronto.

Note: The province and county are associated with the location of the record source and in some cases may not be the same as the place where the event occured.

from Ancestry.ca

Benjamin married Mary PICKARD in 1806 in Beaverdams, Welland, Ontario. Mary (daughter of Benjamin PICKARD and UNKNOWN) was born on 18 Oct 1784; died on 23 Dec 1871 in Oxford County, Ontario; was buried in Kintore Methodist Cemetery, Kintore, Oxford, Ontario. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Mary Swayzie is listed in the 1861 Census, East Nissouri Township, Oxford County, Ontario age 73 and living with her son Elias Swayze and his wife Nancy. National Archives Microfilm #C-1060.

Notes:

Death of Robert Cameron, J.P., Esq. It is our painful duty to record the death of Robert Cameron, Esq., at his residence, Glengarry Hill, East Nissouri, on Sunday morning last, 24th inst. at 10 o'clock. He was one of the ablest settlers of this county, to which he came in 1821, and of which he has been an honored and widely respected citizen ever since. He was a man of tender sympathies and kindness of heart, mingled with great firmness and decision of character. The public spirit which he always manifested put him in active sympathy with all the improvements of this section of the country. In his own township he was Councillor and Reeve a great number of years, but owing to his old age he has for some time retired from all public life. He was one of the oldest Magistrates in the county, and always sought to conduct the responsibilities of this office with reference to securing the most lasting peace and kindly feeling amongst neighbors. Seldom did a case come before him without having it settled by bringing the parties together for mutual understanding or by arbitration. He was a Liberal Conservative in his politics, and being the son of a U.E. Loyalist, was earnestly loyal to the Government. Although a mere boy at the time, he served in the War of 1812; and although he was conscious of great wrongs that needed to be rectified, he identified himself with the Government in the Rebellion of '37, and was captain of a company for its suppression, believing that legislation is a better way to secure reforms than a resort to arms. Ever since that time, he has maintained a connection with the standing militia, in which he held the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel at the time of his death. His suffering was severe during his last illness, which continued about three months. It was all borne with the patience and submission of a Christian hope, which he had obtained and confessed during the last year or more of his life. He leaves a widow of seventy-two years, and who has borne him
twelve children, nine of whom are still alive. He was followed to the grave on Wednesday last, when he was buried in the Ingersoll cemetery, by a large number of sympathizing friends. Deceased was 76 years and 7 months old.
-- from Ingersoll Chronicle January 28, 1875

Robert married Nancy ROSS about 1821 in Cornwall, Stormont, Ontario. Nancy (daughter of Donald ROSS) was born on 22 Jul 1803 in Cornwall, Stormont, Ontario; died on 18 Jan 1884 in East Nissouri, Oxford, Ontario; was buried in Ingersoll Rural Cemetery, Ingersoll, Oxford, Ontario. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

It is our painful duty to announce the death of the widow of the late Robert Cameron, J.P., at the old homestead in East Nissouri, at the extreme old age of 80 years and 6 months. Mrs. Cameron was the daughter of Mr. Donald Ross, of Cornwall, who was one of the original members of the Hudson's Bay Company. She spent her early years in the city of Quebec, where she received her education, and shortly after her return to her home, when she was scarcely 18 years old, she was married to her late husband in Cornwall. She lived with him over fifty years and about 12 years ago she celebrated her golden wedding with nearly all her children to rejoice with her. In the autumn of 1821 she came with her husband to the west and settled upon the site of the present homestead where the family has resided ever since. She entered upon the duties and hardships of her early pioneer life with a cheerfulness and courage that is not often seen in these modern days. She was a woman of many personal attractions and of admirable traits of character. She had strong common sense, a keen perception of right and wrong, great moral courage and firm integrity. She was a member of the Presbyterian church and always manifested a deep interest in its service, and a conscientious carefulness in all of her religious duties. About nine years ago her husband died, and since that time she has divided her time between her sons Mr. John Cameron, the governor of our County prison, Mr. George Cameron of Montreal, Rev. R. Cameron of Brantford, and Mr. W.W. Cameron of the old homestead, where she spent the last year of her life until she passed on to her final rest. With her demise, another of the old pioneer settlers of our County has passed from our midst and of all the number there was none of them who was more universally respected than Mrs. Cameron. On Monday last a very large number of sympathizing friends followed her remains to our cemetery and the funeral services were conducted by her pastor, the Rev. Mr. Cameron of Thamesford.

--from Ingersoll Chronicle Thurs 24 January 1884

Notes:

Isreal was a Loyalist and, after the Revolutionary War, he and his wife and

young family were compelled to find a new home. They travelled to Canada

with other Loyalists. Isreal was granted 550 acres at Beaverdams, Ontario,

where he was the chief founder of the settlement at Beaverdams.

Swayze, Israel

On 10 Aug 1801 The Crown granted a patent to Israel Swayze for all 300 acres in Lots 75, 76 and 77 Thorold Twp.

On 17 May 1802 The Crown granted a patent to Israel Swayze for all 200 acres in Lots 54 and 55 Thorold Twp.

On 19 Sep 1808 (Reg 21 Sep 1808) Israel Swayze et ux sold to Frederick Glass 100 acres in Lots 75 and 76 Thorold Twp. (A46 #1473)

On 9 Mar 1811 (Reg 9 Mar 1811) Israel Swayze sold to Hiram Swayze 100 acres in Lot 35 Thorold Twp. (A53 #1930)

On 9 Mar 1811 (Reg 9 Mar 1811) Israel Swayze sold to Hiram Swayze the northwest quarter of Lot 53 Thorold Twp. (A53 #1930)

On 9 Mar 1811 (Reg 9 Mar 1811) Hiram Swayze sold to Israel Swayze 25 acres in the southeast quarter of Lot 53 Thorold Twp. for £50 (A55 #1932)

On 29 Apr 1819 (Reg 28 Apr 1829) Israel Swayze sold to Samuel Hopkins 123 acres in the south part of Lots 76 and 77 Thorold Twp. for £300 (A255 #7598)

On 27 May 1825 (Reg 27 Jun 1826) Israel Swayze sold to Hiram Swayze 143 acres in Lots 53, 54, 55 and 75 Thorold Twp. for £400 (A201 #6848)

On 18 Feb 1830 (Reg 5 May 1830) Israel Swayze sold to Samuel Hopkins 150 acres 2 roods 35 perches in Lots 53, 54, 55, 76 and 77 for £500 (A286 #7927)

https://sites.google.com/site/niagarasettlers2/thorold-3 viewed July 7, 2015

Sweezy, Israel

On 9 Feb 1791 the Land Board read the petition of Israel Sweezy for a grant of two hundred acres of land in Township No. 9 (Thorold) and found him qualified to receive two hundred acres of land. The order was referred to Acting Surveyor General Augustus Jones who assigned to him two hundred acres in Lots 11 and 12 Concession 4 in the Township of No. 9. Marginal note of D. W. Smith: By Major Holland`s plan these Lots are No. 54 and half 53. Further note No. 11 to be divided with John Willson. (Thorold Township Papers 0159)

On 9 Feb 1791 the Land Board read the petition of Israel Sweezy for a grant of two hundred acres of land in Township No. 9 (Thorold) and found he has received two hundred acres of land in Township No. 9 as a Loyalist and he has settled on and improved the same and that he is entitled to a further assignment of four hundred acres for his wife and seven children. The order was referred to Acting Surveyor General Augustus Jones who assigned to him four hundred acres in Lots 13 Concession 4 and Lots 10, 11 and 12 Concession 5 in the Township of No. 9. Marginal note of D. W. Smith: These are lots No. 68 and 45. D. W. Smith added a note: My Major Hollands Plan these lots are No. 55, 75, 76, 77 (Thorold Township Papers 0168)

On 21 Oct 1796 Acting Surveyor General D. W. Smith prepared a surveyor’s assignment for Israel Sweezy for 550 acres of land in the west half of Lot 53 and the Lots 54, 55, 75, 76 and 77 Thorold Twp. Added note: with 2 Ld. Bd. Certificates-one of which it is observed that No. 11.4th Conc. that is No. 53, is to be divided with John Wilson. (Thorold Township Papers 0157)

https://sites.google.com/site/townshippapers/thorold-settlers-1 viewed August 9, 2015

Israel married Abigail COLEMAN on 4 Feb 1776 in Hope, Warren, New Jersey. Abigail (daughter of Samuel COLEMAN and Abigail CLARK) was born on 5 Aug 1757 in New Jersey; died on 11 Jun 1843 in Beaverdams, Welland, Ontario; was buried in Lundy's Lane Cemetery, Niagara Falls, Welland, Ontario. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

DIED

In Canning, near Paris, on Mayday, the 27th inst., after a protracted illness, which he bore with Christian fortitude, Mr. Benjamin Pickard, aged 101 years. The deceased was one of the veterans who saved the British Government in the American revolution; he resided may years in the Township of Niagara, in the Niagara District, and has been a worthy member of the Wesleyan Methodist body during the past 60 years.

Brantford Semi-Weekly Expositor, July 31, 1857, page 3

Niagara Historical Society & Museum

Preserving Niagara's Past

Established in 1895

History of the old white Grist Mill

on the Four Mile Creek on lot 193

Township of Niagara by Alexander Servos

Niagara Historical Society 1914

In the year 1800, Benjamin Pickard of the Township of Niagara, in the County of Lincoln, built a grist mill on lot 193 on the Four Mile Creek, military reserve of the Township of Niagara, said mill contained one run of stone, which was brought from Eusopas in the State of New York.

The machinery was all made of wood-the wheels and shafting: There was not' an iron wheel in the old mill. The mill is built of very heavy timber. All of the posts and beams are fourteen inches square, as well as the sills. The girths, studding and braces are all hewn out. Not one piece of timber in the frame is sawn. The sills and posts are of white oak and all the other timber is white wood.

During the war of 1812-14, when the Americans had possession of Fort George and Niagara, there were several skirmishes in or near, the town, out at the Ball farm and the cross-roads (now Virgil), the wounded all being taken to the mill, which was used for a hospital for some length of time.

At this time the Americans went out from Fort George and were met by the militia, who lying in wait for them but were too few in number to hold their own and had to retreat farther into the country, and in order to do so quietly they threw over one hundred American muskets and bayonets which they had captured, into the mill pond, to prevent them from again falling into the hands of the Americans.. The arms all sank into the millpond and remain there until the present day.

In 1810 the mill became the property of Abraham Secord, and, in 1815 the late Samuel Street became owner, who in 1818 sold it to the late Wm. S. Servos, and in 1859 it became the property of Alexander Servos, the writer of this short sketch. In 1893 he sold the property to W m. Chaplin. The original owner, Benjamin Pickard, was buried in the graveyard on the farm where there were a great many, of the first.settlers buried. After it became the property of Mr. Chaplin, he caused all the old tombstones to be removed and ploughed the graveyard, levelling down the, graves and cultivating it as the other land. Many of the bodies had, however, previously been removed to St. Catharines cemetery. The mill still remains standing and is in a good state of repair.
http://www.niagara.com/~nhs/pickard.html

Pickard, Benjamin

On 9 May 1810 Acting Surveyors General Chewett and Ridout prepared an undated surveyor’s assignment for Benjamin Pickard of the Township of Niagara for 99 acres of land in the northern third part of Lot 193 Newark (Niagara) Twp. as per the order of the late Surveyor General dated 13 Dec 1794. Assignment William, James and Benjamin Pickard. (Niagara Township Papers 0742)

On 9 May 1810 Acting Surveyors General Chewett and Ridout prepared an undated surveyor’s assignment for Benjamin Pickard of the Township of Niagara, devisee of the will of the late William Pickard for 50 acres of land in the north half of the center third part of Lot 193 Newark (Niagara) Twp. surveyed by Mr. Law, located to the late Mr. William Pickard as per the order of the 9th Claim of the Commissioners Report in Jun 1809. (Niagara Township Papers 0743)

above from https://sites.google.com/site/townshippapers/niagara-township-papers/niagara-township-p-q viewed April 12/19

Benjamin married UNKNOWN. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Source: Margaret Cameron: Alexander Cameron, son of John Cameron(1725-1824)and Mary Cameron(1739-1830), Lot 6, Conc. 4, Township of Cornwall, Stormont County, Ontario, was about twenty years of age at the time of the American Revolution. Alexander Cameron also fought for the British side during he revolution. Alexander Cameron(according to my file) served in the 1st Battalion KRRNY - Major Gray's Company. 19th of June 1776--enlisted Watts Company. He became a prisoner of the rebels c 1779.

During the Revolutionary War he was with the K. R. R. N. Y.- King's Royal Regiment of New York (Sir John Johnson's Corps.) Also known as Johnson's Greens. (1st Battalion - Watt's Company of Johnson's Greens)

Source: Proceedings of Loyalist Commissioners Montreal 1788 Vol.23
N. C. January 26 A good man. 1050. Claim of Alexander Cameron, From Invermorrison late of Kingsborough Patent, Tryon Co. Claimt says: He gave his claim to the adjutant in the Fall '83. Is a native of Scotland. He came to America in '73. Settled in Johnson's Bush. Joined the Brit. at first; served all the war. Produces his Discharge. Lives at New Johnstown. Had 100 acres Tenant Land. Had cleared 10 acres, built house, Barn & stables. Had 4 cows, 1 calf, 1 ox, 2 Heifers, utensils, furniture. Left all behind. His wife disposed of nothing. Alexander Grant, is witness: Knew claimt. He came from Scotland in '73. Had 10 acres clear. He left it very early. He had pretty good stock.

From Donald Chisholm: I have just located amongst my papers a copy of a notice dated Nov. 1785 co-addressed to Alex Cameron and John Cameron. The notice states that they are entitled to two hundred acres and they have drawn Lot 6 in the 4th concession and if they settle and improve the land they will receive a Deed of Concession at the expiration of twelve months.

From a copy of the notice for land for Lot 6-4 Cornwall: "Province of Quebec Nov. 21 1785
The bearer hereof Alex Cameron & John Cameron Loyalists being entitled to Two hundred acres of land by his Majesty's Instructions to the Governor of this Province, has drawn a Lot (No. 6) consisting of Two hundred Acres in the 4th Concession in part of the said Proportion, in the Seigneurie of No. 21 andhaving taken the oaths, and made and signed the Declaration required by the Instructions, he is hereby authorised to settle and improve the said Lot, without delay; and being settled thereon, he shall receive a Deed of Concession at the expiration of Twelve Months from the Date hereof."

From Margaret Cameron: Alexander was named after his grandfather Sir Alexander Cameron the Cameron chieftain of Glennevis who was imprisoned in Edinburgh castle for almost a year.

It is possible that he settled in as farmers in Bathurst township which also encompasses the town of Perth. It is possible that he was a prisoner with the rebels in 1779. 1781 ---Major's Company. He was a Light infantryman 1782-3. It is possible that in 1812 he was commissioned as Leut. in 1st Reg. of Prescott Militia ( Feb. 27, 1812 )

Moved to western Ontario c 1820. Alexander settled on Lot 3, Concession 13, Oxford County (Nissouri Township).

From a letter written by Robert Cameron II to his cousin Jane (Withers) Douglas:
"Our grandfather Alex Cameron fought against the revolutionist under Sir William Johnson and was captured three times and condemned to be shot as a spy. The last time his life was saved by his mother (Mary of Glen Nevis) going all the way from Albany New York on horseback to Valley Forge and on her knees pleading for her boy. As my mother (Nancy Ross) says she was the handsomest women she ever saw. General Washington was easily persuaded to grant a pardon but on the condition that she take the whole family at once to Canada. And this she did going by steam all the way from Johnstown New York to the Niagra (?) [sic] This they crossed to St. Catherine's and thence by sail down to Cornwall Ontario. There they build a house on the Quarries (?) abiye about three miles out of Cornwall, where your mother was born. The house stands there still. I was there many years ago when your mother's uncle, Mary of Glen Nevis' son (Lieutenant Colonel John Cameron) lived on it. His Grandchildren are still in Cornwall. Now my father and all the family came West about 1820 because each one of these got 200 acres of land from the government because grandfather (Alex) was a United Empire Loyalist."

"The Alex Cameron mentioned above [*] who fought for King George during the revolution was 1st captured by the Yankees and held in a farm house as a spy. He exchanged clothes with a girl on the farm, took a milk bucked ant walked out to milk the cows, passing by some 20 men watching over him. So he escaped. Have no knowledge of the 2nd escape but the 3rd time was at Valley Forge and as above Geo. Washington pardoned him and the family left the states." :written on the end of this letter by Charles H. Withers Jr. who was then Sr. wrote on 12/8/1958 in pen and ink.

Above information from Molly Ramage ([email protected])

Below from Loyalist Trails email published February 10, 2013:

Loyalists and War of 1812: Alexander Cameron
Alexander Cameron was born in Glen Nevis in the Highlands of Scotland around 1754. In 1773 his family, together with about 400 other Highlanders, left Scotland for New York, having gained a grant of lands in Albany. They took up land in the Mohawk Valley. The Camerons had scarcely had enough time to build a rough home and clear a few acres of land when the American Revolution broke out in 1776. Alexander and his father immediately joined their landlord's regiment, the King's Royal Regiment of New York. According to Cruikshank's "King's Royal Regiment of New York", Alexander was in Watt's Company 1776-77, in Major's Company 1778 -1781, and a Light Infantryman 1782-83. He was a prisoner with the rebels in 1779 while with Major's Company.
According to family stories told by his grandson years later, Alexander was able to free himself the first time he was captured by donning the clothes of a milkmaid and walking demurely through the group of twenty soldiers set to guard the prisoners. His last capture was more critical -- he was to be shot for espionage. Apparently his mother, on hearing the news, personally rode by horseback to Washington's camp to beg for her son's life. A very beautiful woman, she apparently succeeded in gaining General Washington's consent to release him on condition that the family leave the country immediately and forever.
When peace finally ensued, the Camerons found themselves in Canada in what was known as the Eastern District. On 21 Nov 1785 Alexander and his father drew lots and were awarded with Lot 6 of Concession 4, Cornwall Township in recognition of their loyalty to the Crown . Two months later, Alexander married Sarah Parks, the daughter of another UEL from Connecticut. Alexander and Sarah made their home and raised their eight children on Lot 6 Concession 4 of Cornwall Township.
Alexander would have been a member of the Sedentary Militia during this time. In 1812 when the alarm bells of war were once again rung, Alexander was appointed Ensign in the 1st Stormont Regiment and served throughout the War.
By 1812 Alexander's two oldest sons were also of an age to join in defense of their new home. Alexander jr. served as a private in Captain Philip Empey's Company in the 1st Regiment Stormont Militia for six months and in Captain John McDonell's Company for six months. These companies were commanded by the Hon. Neil McLean. In 1835 Alexander Jr. was granted the Prince Regent's bounty for 200 acres in Nissouri Township, Oxford County.
Alexander's second son, John, served as a lieutenant in Captain Campbell's Flank Co, 1st Regiment Glengarry Militia from 22 July 1812 to the 25th March 1813. In 1822 he was granted the Prince Regent's bounty of 500 acres in Nissouri Township, Ontario.
Even Alexander's third son, Robert, just 14 years old when the conflict broke out, was cited within his SUE petition for land in 1819, as having done "his duty in defence of the Province during the late war."
Click here for an expanded biography, with children listed, in PDF format.
Catherine Whiteley

Below from Catherine Whitely Feb. 10/13

ALEXANDER CAMERON
Veteran of the War of Independence and the War of 1812
Alexander Cameron was born in Glen Nevis in the Highlands of Scotland around 1754. In 1773
his family, together with about 400 other Highlanders, left Scotland for New York, having
gained a grant of lands in Albany. They took up land in the Mohawk Valley. The Camerons had
scarcely had enough time to build a rough home and clear a few acres of land when the
American Revolution broke out in 1776. Alexander and his father immediately joined their
landlord's regiment, the King's Royal Regiment of New York. According to Cruikshank's "King's
Royal Regiment of New York", Alexander was in Watt's Company 1776-77, in Major's Company
1778 -1781, and a Light Infantryman 1782-83. He was a prisoner with the rebels in 1779 while
with Major's Company.
According to family stories told by his grandson years later, Alexander was able to free himself
the first time he was captured by donning the clothes of a milkmaid and walking demurely
through the group of twenty soldiers set to guard the prisoners. His last capture was more
critical -- he was to be shot for espionage. Apparently his mother, on hearing the news,
personally rode by horseback to Washington's camp to beg for her son's life. A very beautiful
woman, she apparently succeeded in gaining General Washington's consent to release him on
condition that the family leave the country immediately and forever.
When peace finally ensued, the Camerons found themselves in Canada in what was known as
the Eastern District. On 21 Nov 1785 Alexander and his father drew lots and were awarded with
Lot 6 of Concession 4, Cornwall Township in recognition of their loyalty to the Crown . Two
months later, Alexander married Sarah Parks, the daughter of another UEL from Connecticut.
Alexander and Sarah made their home and raised their eight children on Lot 6 Concession 4 of
Cornwall Township.
Alexander would have been a member of the Sedentary Militia during this time. In 1812 when
the alarm bells of war were once again rung, Alexander was appointed Ensign in the 1st
Stormont Regiment and served throughout the War.
By 1812 Alexander's two oldest sons were also of an age to join in defense of their new home.
Alexander jr. served as a private in Captain Philip Empey's Company in the 1st Regiment
Stormont Militia for six months and in Captain John McDonell's Company for six months. These
companies were commanded by the Hon. Neil McLean. In 1835 Alexander Jr. was granted the
Prince Regent's bounty for 200 acres in Nissouri Township, Oxford County.
Alexander's second son, John, served as a lieutenant in Captain Campbell's Flank Co, 1st
Regiment Glengarry Militia from 22 July 1812 to the 25th March 1813. In 1822 he was granted
the Prince Regent's bounty of 500 acres in Nissouri Township, Ontario.Catherine Whiteley [email protected] 26 Feb 2011
Even Alexander's third son, Robert, just 14 years old when the conflict broke out, was cited
within his SUE petition for land in 1819, as having done "his duty in defence of the Province
during the late war."
As their children began to reach maturity, Alexander and Sarah realized that there was little
opportunity for them in the old townships, which were now heavily settled. In 1821, armed
with Orders in Council for free land grants for the five children who had reached 21 years of
age, they left their home of more than thirty years for Nissouri Township. Alexander and Sarah
took up Lot 14 in the 13th Concession. Three of their children were already married when they
arrived and immediately took up their own farms. The others soon followed suit.
In 1829 Alexander's two youngest sons, Robert and Allen, and three of his sons-in-law were
serving in Captain John Stephens Company of the 1st Regiment Oxford Militia.
Alexander and Sarah died in E. Nissouri, buried in now long forgotten graves. Their oldest four
children farmed and raised their families in E. Nissouri and finished their own lives there too.
The three youngest pulled up their roots once again in the late 1840's and headed for new
territory in Kincardine, Bruce County, Ontario.
Children of Alexander Cameron and Sarah Parks:
Alexander jr (b. 1790 Cornwall, ON; d. ???)
Mary (b. 1792 Cornwall, ON; d.1870 E. Nissouri) married William Shaw; 8 children
John (b.1794 Cornwall, ON; d.1887 E. Nissouri) married Marion Patterson; 3 children
Sarah (b. 1796 Cornwall, ON; d. bef 1871 E. Nissouri) married Donald McDonell; 5 children
Robert (b. 1798 Cornwall, ON; d. 1875 E. Nissouri) married Nancy Ross; 10 children
Janet (b.1803 Cornwall, ON; d.1855 Kincardine, ON) married David Ramage; 6 children
Allan (b. 1805 Cornwall, ON; d. ???) married Paulina Yeigh; 3 children
Sophia (b. 1808 Cornwall, ON; d. 1870 Kincardine, ON) married William Withers; 9 children

Alexander married Sarah PARKS on 12 Feb 1786 in Williamstown, Glengarry, Ontario. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]