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- NOTE 1:/
Genealogy.com Posting
JACOBSES and ERSKINES of Oxen, Eng
Posted by: James Wesley Johnson Date: November 07, 1998 at 18:50:04
My great-great-grandfather was George Jacobs, born April 28, 1841, died January 1929. I don't have handy where in England he was from, but he was in the 4th Battalion of the Kings Royal Rifles. He was stationed at one time or another in New Brunswick, India, Ireland, etc. He settled in London, Ontario, where he was well known. I have a JPG of a medal he won for a shooting contest. I have copies of his obituary.
What is interesting is his wife: Elizabeth Eleanor Erskine, born March 22, 1848 in Banbury, OXEN, England. The Erskine and Jacobs families stayed in London, Ontario for generations. I have quite a bit of stuff on them from my Greataunt Alice Thompson Jorgenson, who kept family tree data on them. I noticed the "OXEN" in your message, and the Ontario, Canada.
Jim Johnson
Daisy's father was John David Jacobs b. November 21, 1867, London Ontario, d. November 20, 1943 London, Ontario, Woodland P, 344 - NE. Her grandfather George Jacobs b. April 28 1841, Sunbury, ( Hanworth), Middlesex County, England, d. January 09, 1929, Woodland, London (Section P,R) Middlesex London MX-152-6.
NOTE 2:/
by Bob Millie 3-28- 02 in e-mail to cousins
I mention these two fellows, because it seems that George was career military. First with the British 4th Battalion of the Kings Royal Rifles 1858 - 1881. He served in London Ontario during the "US War of Northern Aggression" (Yes, I am Southernized) to protect her Majesty's Canadian interests, then in England and India. When he left the British Army he returned to London Ontario, where George and his 16 year old son John David, enlisted in the Canadian Army's 7th Fusiliers to participate in the Riel Rebellion of Saskatchewan. George was appointed Sergeant, and Jack was directly under his father's command. Well, ole HTB Millie and these two fellows road the Grand Trunk railway out of London headed to the Riel Rebellion and spent the next 4 months with each other. I have no idea how large that contingent was, but at the minimum they saw each other. Low and behold, some time after they returned, HTB was a clerk at the Grand Trunk Railroad in 1913, (info courtesy of David Thompson) , while George was "employed at the Grand Trunk carshops" (London Free Press) Even later HTB reinlisted while George went onto McClary Mfg Co. I do have a feeling however, that HTB's son Harry William Robert, and Georges grandaughter Marguerite "Daisy" Jacobs met due to one or both of these associations of parents/grandfather.
NOTE 3:/
Woodland Cemetery, ROW 3 SECTION P (Charcoal Granite Stone) reads: George Jacobs born Apr 28, 1841- died Jan 11, 1929his wife Elizabeth Eleanor Erskine, born March 22, 1848, died Feb 8, 1932. John David Jacobs died Nov 18, 1943/age 76 years, beloved husband of Arminita Gardiner/1867-1949 f.s. DAD, FATHER & MOTHER. (back of stone) Lily Jacobs born Aug 22, 1878-died Feb 22, 1903. Annie Eleanor Jacobs/ 1869-1943, wife of Alexander C. Thompson/ 1862-1946.
NOTE 4./
The following historical plaque is Located In Victoria Park, bounded by Dufferin Ave., Central, Wellington & Clarence Streets, in London, Ontario, Canada:
THE BRITISH GARRISON IN LONDON
In one of several concentrations of British troops in Upper Canada various infantry and artillery units were stationed on a military reserve here during the mid-19th century. The garrison, which contributed significantly to the economic growth of London, was first established in 1839 to guard against border raids following the Rebellion of 1837. Although its troops were withdrawn in 1853 to serve in the Crimean War, and military duties were assumed by pensioners, it was re-occupied by British regulars in 1862 when the American Civil War posed a threat to the province. To help repulse an expected invasion of Fenians, militant Irish sympathizers, the garrison remained active until 1868. Six years later, this part of the old military reserve was set aside as Victoria Park.
George Jacobs was a member of the aformentioned British Army regiment, posted in London Ontario, because of tension resulting from the US Civil War. He also participated in the only battle between the United States and Canada, aka, The Fenian Raids, which resulted in the defeat of the Irish Americans coming out of Vermont, and a victory for Canada.
NOTE 5./ 1841 Hanworth Middlesex England census,
Name Estimated Birth Year Birthplace Civil Parish County/Island
John Jacobs abt 1801 Middlesex, England Hanworth Middlesex
Mary Jacobs abt 1803 Hanworth Middlesex
Katherine Jacobs abt 1837 Middlesex, England Hanworth Middlesex
Phoebe Jacobs abt 1839 Middlesex, England Hanworth Middlesex
George Jacobs abt 1841 Middlesex, England Hanworth Middlesex.
1841 Census Hanworth in Pantile Row (LDS film HO/107/718)
John Jacobs aged 40 Born In County
Mary Jacobs aged 38
Katherine Jacobs aged 4
Phoebe Jacobs aged 2
George Jacobs aged 6 weeks
NOTE 6./
1851 Census Hanworth (LDS film HO/107/1696) Folio 164
John Jacobs Head m aged 51 Ag Lab born Hanworth
Mary Jacobs Wife m aged 47 born Hants Old Basing
George Jacobs son aged 9 born Hanworth
Henry Jacobs son aged 6 born Hanworth
Edward Jacobs son aged 3 born Hanworth
Elizabeth Craft stepdau aged 24 born Hampton
Joseph Craft Stepson aged 19 Ag Lab born Hanworth
Mary Foster Stepdau aged 27 born Hampton
William Foster Step grandson aged 6 weeks born Hounslow
NOTE 7./
1871 St Botolph Essex, England census
Name Age in 1871 Birthplace Relationship Civil Parish County
George Jacobs 29 Hanworth, Middlesex, England Head St Botolph Essex
Elizabeth Jacobs 23 Banbury, Oxfordshire, England Wife St Botolph Essex
John H Jacobs 3 Canada Son St Botolph Essex
Annie E Jacobs 2 St John, New Brunswick Dau St Botolph Essex
Mary L Jacobs <6 Mo Colchester, Essex, England Dau St Botolph Essex
NOTE 8./
London City, Ontario Census, 1901
Name: George Jacobs
Place: London City
Film: T-6480
Ward: 4
Div: 1
Page: 3
Entry: 5
Family: 23
Rel to Head: Head
Birthdate: Apr 28, 1841
Birthplace: England
Immigration: 1861
Family Name Sex Colour Relationship Single/married, DOB Age at last birthday
23 Jacobs George M Head M Apr 28 1841 59
23 Jacobs Elizabeth E F Wife M Mar 22 1848 53
23 Jacobs Mary L F Daughter S Oct 20 1870 30
23 Jacobs Jane E F Daughter S Aug 11 1872 28
23 Erskine Jane F Sister S Feb 4 1859 43
NOTE 9./
Fenian Raid (1866): Fenians is the name of the old Irish National Militia. After the Civil War in the USA, the American Fenians were bolstered by Civil War mercenaries. In need of something to occupy this large force, John O'Neil crossed the Niagara River, captured Fort Erie, and made his headquarters at Limeridge. The Fenians defeated a unit of the Canadian Militia at Ridgeway, but withdrew to the USA when a stronger force was sent to the area. President Johnson had many of the Fenians arrested.
Fenian Raid (1870): On 26 May 1870, O'Neil again crossed the border near Franklin, Vermont, but was forced back quickly and again arrested.
NOTE 10./ The Fenian Raid(s) of Upper and Lower Canada <<http://www.doyle.com.au/fenian_raids.htm>>
Fenianism was the name given to the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB). It is the English version of the Gaelic 'Na Fianna', a term which refers to the ancient protectors of the Ard Ri (High King). The IRB was formed in 1858 in Ireland, with a mandate to create a free and independent Ireland. In North America the IRB was led by John O'Mahony, a veteran of the 1848 Irish insurrection. Membership in the USA included thousands of Irish Brigade, Union and Confederate army veterans.
In October of 1865 at a convention in Philadelphia, USA, John O'Mahony lost his dictatorship over the IRB. William Randall Roberts of New York (born in Cork) was elected Chief Executive of the Senate. Cork born Major-General 'Fighting Tom' Sweeny of the Mexican War and American Civil War fame was appointed Secretary of War. Attending the convention, and claiming to represent 125,000 British North American members, was Michael Murphy of Toronto. The seed was planted at this meeting to strike Great Britain's Achilles' heel. Sweeny was charged with developing a plan to secure an independent territory for Ireland where an ‘Irish Republic in exile’ would be established and used as a bargaining chip to free Ireland, similar to what was done in Texas by the USA.
Sweeny devised a plan which involved three striking forces. One was to be led by Brigadier Charles Tevis whose 3,000 men would assemble in Chicago and advance to Stratford (between Detroit/Windsor and Toronto). Another 5,000 men would be led by Brigadier William F. Lynch and would cross in two groups. One from Cleveland to Port Stanley joining the first at London (Upper Canada - Ontario). The other, crossing at Buffalo to secure Hamilton. These two forces would create a threat to Toronto, the capital of British North America, causing the British to send all their forces to the area in defense. Information gathered by the IRB suggested there were 8,000 regular and 20,000 militia men in Upper and Lower Canada (Ontario and Quebec).
While this distraction was underway the Irish and French of Montreal would destroy the railway at St. Ann's Bridge thus eliminating the return of troops. The real threat would be led by Brigadier Samuel P. Spear. His 16,800 men would attack Lower Canada. Brigadier Michael C. Murphy would lead his cavalry to take Cornwall and Prescott then move east to threaten Montreal. The Montreal Irish would rise to support them and French radicals would supply fresh horses which were in shortage since the American Civil War. They would then seize Pointe Levis opposite Quebec City. Fenian warships would then sail in to seal the St. Lawrence River. If Montreal and Quebec could not be taken Spear was to secure the area between the Richelieu and St. Francis Rivers. Sherbrooke would be established as their capital.
While plans were in final stages, Roberts (Chief Executive of the IRB) had a meeting with US President Andrew Johnson. It is said that the president agreed to "recognize the accomplished facts". The President ordered the release of prisoner John Mitchel, who had connections with the French Republic government and whom the IRB could make use of to raise money in France. Mitchel departed in November as the IRB's Ambassador to France.
Sweeny's plans were approved by the IRB senate on February 19th, 1866 in Pittsburgh. Following this event, a bitter O'Mahony made and carried out his own plan of attack in an attempt to regain his lost control of the IRB. A force of 1,000 Fenians led by Bernard Doran Killian entered New Brunswick from Calais and Eastport, Maine, to seize the island of Campobello. Informers had tipped the British off weeks before and they were ready. The battle was short and the Fenians utterly defeated. The British thought this was the main "raid" that was being hinted of by others and believed the threat was over. This was the 19th of April 1866.
The real event was scheduled for Thursday, 31 May 1866 and new problems arose. On the scheduled day, only 1,000 to 5,000 men could be assembled at Buffalo. Their leader Brigadier Lynch was afflicted with a fever and could not partake. Sweeny telegraphed an order for Lynch's adjutant, Colonel Sherwin to go to Buffalo and take command, but he could not arrive until late in the day of June 1st. Sweeny then ordered Hynes to appoint the senior officer as acting Brigadier and commence the attack. Colonel's John Hoy of the 7th Reg't of Buffalo, Owen Starr of the 17th Reg't of Louisville, John Grace of the 18th Reg't of Cleveland and John O'Neill of the 13th Reg't of Nashville were present. Co. Monaghan born John O'Neill was the senior officer and took command.
On the 1st of June, at 3:15 in the morning, Owen Starr (a cavalry officer) led his men across the river and proceeded to Fort Erie to capture the railroad depot. Their advance was detected and nine cars were steamed away by four engines prior to their arrival. They did take Fort Erie which was manned by only six members of the Royal Canadian Rifles. Starr raised the tricolour, the present day flag of the Irish Republic, at Fort Erie.
O'Neill's force was across by dawn and busily setting up an HQ at Frenchman's Creek. He took the day to rest his men, thus losing the element of surprise. By 5:00 in the afternoon Hoy's men were detected by military scouts near Chippewa.
Within a few hours the British had 400 regular troops, 6 field guns and 1,115 militia men dispatched. On the following day, June 2nd, they were joined by 1,000 men from Port Colborne in Stevensville. Another 100 men from the Welland Canal Field Battery and the Dunnville Naval Brigade took a tug around Fort Erie to cut off any possiblility of a Fenian retreat across the Niagara River.
At 3:00 in the morning of June 3rd, O'Neill's troops were on the move towards Port Colborne. A battle ensued a few miles north of Ridgeway. O'Neill prepared an ambush. Starr's men were to begin the conflict and retreat, drawing the British into the trap. The firing began at 8:00 AM with 10 companies of the Queen's Own Rifles. They saw the scouts, heard a bugle call and expected cavalry, so they formed squares. O'Neill had his men fix bayonets and screaming "Fág an Bealach!" ("Clear the way!"), they charged on foot. The British retreated all they way to Port Colborne chased partway by Starr.
O'Neill once again rested while the British forces at Stevensville rose to 101 officers and 1,841 men. At the same time Lt.Gen. U.S.Grant was in Buffalo closing the border preventing Sherwin's 4,000 Fenian troops from crossing and supporting O'Neill. The Welland Field Battery and Dunnville Naval Brigade took Fort Erie back. They were then confronted by Hoy's men, retreating to Fort Erie and the Fort change hands once again after the IRA Lt. Col Michael Bailey had been shot under a white flag of truce! Lt .Col. Stoughton Dennis who was in Command of the British forces had later faced a court martial for cowardice and desertion but was exonerated.
By the evening of June 2nd, O'Neill was surrounded by approximately 5,000 British troops. This was when O'Neill discovered that he was the only mobile force, no other Fenian forces had entered Upper Canada! Tevis hadn't even attempted, making excuses for delaying, until it was too late. Sherwin had been stopped by Grant on the US side. O'Neill began his retreat by barge across the Niagara River at 2:00 on the morning of June 3rd 1866. He was intercepted and arrested by the Captain of the American warship USS Harrison.
Many prisoners were tried in Toronto, 22 were sentenced to death. John O'Neill and his officers faced charges of violations of the neutrality laws at the Erie County Courthouse in NY. They were found guilty and sentenced. Subsequently when the "smoke cleared" they were released.
On the 6th of June, General Spear took advantage of the disorder in Upper Canada and gave the order for his men to cross into Lower Canada. Brigadier Michael C. Murphy advanced 15 miles into Lower Canada before being driven back. Spear led his 2,000 men from St. Albans to Frelighsburgh, St. Armand, Slab City and East Stanbridge. On Friday the 8th of June Col. Michael Scalan's regiment defeated the British forces at Pigeon Hill.
The promised rising of the Irish in Montreal did not happen due to the strength of the regular British forces present who were joined by 10,000 militia men and 3 warships in the harbour with their guns aimed at the Fenians. On June 9th, 1866, Spear retreated. Lt. Col. Livingston of the US 3rd Artillery Reg't gave the British permission to cross the border to capture the retreating Fenians. Some were run through with swords while he looked on. Mrs. Eccles of Vermont was accidentally shot and killed by a British soldier while she was standing on her doorstep. US citizens were outraged and Livingston was subsequently reprimanded for allowing a violation of US sovereignty.
All battles ceased and 5,166 Fenian troops were paroled in Buffalo by the 15th of June 1866.
O'Neill, the hero of the Battle of Ridgeway, was later elected President of the Senate of the IRB and attempted yet another crossing at Prescott in 1870 but failed. Yet again he made an offer to Louis Riel (fighter for the rights of the Metis in Manitoba and descendant of an Irishman (O')Rielly) at Red River and this failed also. O'Neill retired to a town on Elkhorn River which was named after him: O'Neill, Nebraska.
Some little known facts:
1. Not all the men that comprised the Fenian IRA were Irish. Records show that they were accompanied by 500 Mohawk Indians from the Cattaraugus Reservation in New York and one company of 100 African American veteran soldiers of the Union Army.
2. On the 6th of June, US President Johnson made a deal with the British, having received $15,000,000 reparation payment for losses incurred during the American Civil War as a result of the British partiality to the South. In return the US passed neutrality laws and would enforce them on the Fenians. He had successfully used the Fenians as a political bargaining tool.
The Fenians had been used as a pawn by the American government and had terribly underestimated the strength of the British (Canadian) forces. Present history refers to the attempt as "foolish" and to their leader, O'Neill, as "a fool".
NOTE 11./ Historical Perspective: The Year Was 1885
The year was 1885 and the flow of settlers to western Canada increased greatly with the completion of the Canadian Pacific Railway.
And in Canada's North-West Territories there were rumblings of a rebellion. In what is now Saskatchewan and Alberta, three groups had grievances with the Canadian government in Ottawa. The Metis, descendants of fur traders and indigenous peoples, were concerned about legal claim to their land; white settlers were waiting for official property titles necessary to secure loans and felt their interests weren't represented; and the starving First Nations peoples who had been promised farming equipment and aid were angry that treaties weren't being observed.
The rebellion, which would only last for two months, was led by Louis Riel, a Metis who had fought for the rights of Manitoba residents during the Red River uprising in 1869-70. He formed a provisional government and armed forces. These forces clashed with government troops at Duck Lake and although the Metis claimed this first victory, the rebellion was subdued by the end of May, and Louis Riel was arrested and hung for treason.
In the United States, anti-Chinese sentiment was on the rise following the California gold rush, which had brought more than 100,000 Chinese to American shores. In September of 1885, violence erupted. In a Union Pacific Coal Mine in Rock Springs, Wyoming, there was a dispute over who had the right to work in a particularly rich area of the mine. Paid by the ton, white workers rioted, burning the Chinese quarter of town, and killing twenty-eight Chinese miners. The perpetrators were never prosecuted and Army troops had to be called in to protect those Chinese who wished to return to their homes.
In Chicago, Sarah E. Goode, a former slave, became the first African American woman to be awarded a patent from the U.S. government for her design of a “cabinet bed.” Her invention could be used as a cabinet by day, but opened into a bed for sleeping.
In June of 1885 the U.S. received a package--actually two hundred and fourteen packages. In them was the Statue of Liberty, waiting to be assembled on Bedloe’s Island. The statue would be unveiled in late October of 1886.
Great strides were made in the field of medicine in 1885, when Louis Pasteur successfully treated Joseph Meister for rabies with his new vaccine.
NOTE 12./ 1911 London City, Ontario census
Name: George Jacobs
Gender: Male
Marital Status: Married
Age: 70
Birth Date: Apr 1841
Birthplace: England
Family Number: 66
Relation to Head of House: Head
Spouse's Name: Elizabeth E
Immigration Year: 1861
Tribal: English
Province: Ontario
District: London City
District Number: 94
Sub-District Number: 42
Place of Habitation: 312 Grosvenor
Census Year: 1911
Page: 6
Household Members: Name Age
George Jacobs 70
Elizabeth E Jacobs 63
Jane W Erskine 52
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1841 - 1929 (87 years)
