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ANSWERING THE THREAT OF WAR - 1826

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In preparation for any military confrontations, General Militia Orders were handed down setting up battalions of local men throughout Upper Canada. In Marmora, in 1826, the manager of the Iron Works, Major Anthony Manahan, was in command of the 2nd Regiment of Hastings County.

From the library and archives of canada  Maj. A Manahan -Recommendations, 2nd Hastings  RG 9 MG R- SERIES/SERI E I-B-1 ACCESSION VOL 13 PAGE(S) 3 FILE / 1826 HAStings

In a lucky find in the Library and Archives of Canada, we came across the attached letter from Major Manahan, making recommendations for commissioned officers, many of whom have descendants in Marmora today!

“Marmora Iron Works, U.C. 1st December, 1826 To Col. Coffen

Sir, In obedience of the General Militia Order dated the 20th October last, with an Extract from which I have been favoured, I have the honour to submit the following list of names of Gentlemen, who, in my opinion, are best deserving of Commissions in the Second Battalion of Hastings Militia, under my command.

Of these Gentlemen some are non resident within the Townships from which the Battalion is formed, yet, I respectfully submit them for your recommendation under precedent to His Excellency’s consideration, as persons who doubtless will be found to attend as strictly to discipline and duty as if they were of the Township.

When the appointments shall have taken place, little delay shall occur before reporting to you the formation and strength of the Battalion. I have the Honour to be, Sir, Your Obedient Servant, A. Manahan, Major Commanding, 2nd Regiment Hastings Militia “

To be Captains:

  1. James Hunter Samson (Click here for more)

  2. Charles Willard

  3. Thomas Parker

  4. William Driscoll (possibly the great grandfather of Marg Shannon)

  5. Joseph Hagerman

To be Lieutenants

  1. Robert Parker (his father was an iron master in Scotland. He married Eliz Huffman and Marjorie Fidlar, and was grandfather of Judge Parker of Crowe Lake)

  2. William Robertson

  3. Thomas Fleming

  4. Daniel Johns (possibly uncle of Sarah Johns who married George Bleecker)

  5. Edward Fidler (Fidlar) (connected to Inksters and Parkers

To be Ensigns

  1. Solomon Johns (Possibly uncle of Sarah Johns who married George Bleecker)

  2. John Keaty

  3. James Crawford (Possible uncle of Margaret Crawford who married Daniel Shannon)

  4. William Campion (Possibly married Mary Potts, father-in-law of Thomas Pearce)

  5. Robert Moscrif

To be Adjutant - Michael Moran To be Surgeon - John Morin

BUT IT WASN’T ALL WORK AND NO PLAY!

The tendency by the military to drink away their fears was quite naturally a major impediment to their success. In Upper Canada, eligible men were required to train for the militia which could be called up for service in emergencies. The men would gather half-heartedly once or twice a year under local supervision. In February 1838, a Captain Matthews had begun to wonder what the point was. He addressed the House of Assembly describing a typical training session;

“…the people assembled from various parts of the country, and on reaching the ground, a spectator would find kegs of beer and whiskey kegs, and people drinking and stimulating themselves with ardent spirits; the officers and men often made fools of themselves going through a few manoeuvres they know very little about. Then comes the whiskey again. The officers go off to some tavern and fall to drinking, and the men profit by their example.…. again, these officers have such odd ways; one of them put a gun under (my) horse’s legs at a training, and fired it off, at the risk of breaking (my) neck. It was customary to fire off a gun near a person’s ear to see if he would start.”

The assembled legislators are reported to have chuckled knowingly.