| 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
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1755 - 1867 (112 years)
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