Memoirs : 1783-1860.

Call Number:
HIL-MICL FC LFR .C5J6M4
Category:
Family
Creator:
Clark, John, Colonel, 1783-1862 .
Material Description:
1 microfilm textual records 35 mm
Background:

John Clark was born at Cataraqui, later Kingston, in Frontenac County, Ontario. His father was attached to a British regiment, the 8th King's Own Regiment; consequently, the family relocated several times. In 1786, the family moved to Fredericksburg, then to Fort Niagara, and later to Newark where John worked for the firm of George Forsyth and Company, merchants. 

During the War of 1812, he saw active duty with the militia and rose to the rank of Lt.-Adjutant of the 1st and 4th Lincoln Flank Companies. In March 1813 he was made a captain and assistant adjutant general of the militia. He was a member of the Legislature of Upper Canada, 1821-1835, a director of the Welland Canal Company, and a collector of customs and tolls at Port Dalhousie. During the Upper Canada Rebellion, he commanded the first frontier light infantry and was Lt.-Colonel of the 5th Lincoln Militia, as well as in command of the 1st and 2nd Lincoln regiments. Clark lived his remaining years in Port Dalhousie, and in 1862 composed his memoirs.

Contents:

The reel contains a typescript copy of the memoirs of Colonel John Clark of Niagara, covering personal and military affairs, and touching on much of the subject matters pertaining to the area of the Niagara District during its beginnings after the American Revolution through to the mid 18th century.

The Memoir is organised as follows:

Introductory biography

Notes on James and his Two Sons taken from the Memoir published in Ontario Historical Society Papers and Records, VII: 161-7

Errata (updated or corrected information

Memoirs of Colonel John Clark of Port Dalhousie

  • General outline of the state of my country since my birth in 1783, containing many remarkable events of its rise and progress. Also contains personal data and experiences.
  • War of 1812, which includes letter with recollections of James Cummings Esq. of Chippewa (1860); and letter from the grandson of Commodore James Andrews of the Royal Navy concerning the loss of the sloop Ontario in 1780 or 1783.
  • Odd Occurrences that took place in my early day
  • Slavery
  • Sheriff of the Niagara District
  • Six Nations Indians
  • Niagara Assemblies and amusements in the Olden time, includes a list of belles of that day 1783-90
  • Schools
  • George Adams Esq., wife's father
  • Bombastic Proclamations by Generals Hull and Smyth on their futile Invasion of Canada
  • Character of the Militia; includes Nominal List of U.E. Loyalists half pay officers who settled in the Niagara District after the rebellion of the colonies now the United States
  • General Idea of the Early State of the Country soon after settled by disbanded soldiers and U.E. Loyalists
  • Addresses of the Assembly of Upper Canada
  • Major General Brock's Address to the people of Canada. 1812
  • Declaration and Proceedings of the War of 1812
    • American account of proceedings under command of General Scott (then Colonel Scott); includes British forces engaged under command of Major General Sir Roger Hall Sheaff, after the death of General Brock; also table with primary movements of the war, independent of skirmishes
    • Remarks
  • Memoir of Tecumseh the Indian Warrior, 1814
  • Indian Chief, Captain John Brant
  • Battle of Queenston Heights, 1812; includes Additional Reminiscences of Lt. Driscoll of the 100th Regiment during the War of 1812
  • Fort Niagara 100 years ago (1812)
  • War of 1812 (Fri. Nov. 27, 1812); includes subsection - Second Defeat of the American Army
  • Adjutant General's Office; Headquarters, Montreal, Oct 21, General Order
  • Battle of Beechwoods, July 5, 1813
  • Military Heroes of 1812-13: Colonels Bishop and Morrison
  • Reminiscences of 1812
  • Capture of Fort Niagara by one who served in 1814 (1813)
  • Reminiscences of the War of 1812, 1813 - The Close of the War (1814)
    • Battle of Chippewa
    • Battle of Lundy's Lane
    • Siege of Fort Erie, 1814
    • Advance of Colonel Murray
    • How People were Treated by the Invading American Army
  • Rebellion Losses 1849
  • General Brock and McDonnells, re-interment 13 Oct. 1853
  • Chronological Table of the War of 1812
  • Detroit, the American Artillery
  • Toronto 1813
  • Chrysler's Farm near Williamsburg
  • Personal and family reminiscences after the war
  • Welland Canal 1824
  • Ladies Society; Canadian Female Society
  • 1837 Rebellion
  • Loyal Canadian Society 1845
  • Inauguration of General Brock's Monument
  • Vessel built to transport supplies from St. Catharines directly to England, 1860
Originals:

The original records are held by the Library of Parliament, Ottawa. The microfilm copy of the memoirs was made from the transcript version in the Archives of Ontario.

Archival Ref. No.:

OA MS 510.

Notes:

Clark family biographical information can be found at the beginning of the reel. Annotations are included along the margins of text.