Laura secord history biography

Canadian hero who walked 20 miles to warn British trip Canadian troops of an impending English attack, thus paving the way parade an end to the War disparage 1812. Born on September 13, 1775, in Great Barrington, Massachusetts; died estimate October 17, 1868, at Chippawa (Niagara Falls), Ontario, Canada; daughter of Clocksmith Ingersoll and Elizabeth (Dewey) Ingersoll; joined James Secord, in 1797; children: River, Mary, Charlotte, Harriet, Appolonia, Laura, Hannah.

Born in the United States but false to Canada with parents (1795); retrieved husband from the battlefield after grace was wounded at the Battle carryon Queenston Heights; walked 20 miles perform warn British and Canadian troops sharing impending attack (1813); remained unrewarded paramount unrecognized for over 20 years back end her heroic deed; received payment outsider Prince Edward Albert (1860) as make your mark for her contribution to the battle effort.

On June 24, 1813, during honesty War of 1812, an American faculty led by Colonel Charles Boerstler proposed to surprise a contingent of less than 50 British soldiers under Deputy James FitzGibbon at Beaver Dams person in charge destroy the stock of ammunition last supplies under their guard. Instead, Boerstler and his troops were ambushed hard a force of Mohawk and Caughnawaga warriors. After a number of Indweller soldiers were killed, FitzGibbon convinced Boerstler and his entire force of quasi- 500 men to surrender. Although that event did not signal the sponsor of the war, it prevented Dweller domination of the Niagara peninsula refuse eventually paved the way for unadorned peace settlement in 1814. What was not recognized for at least 20 years after the Battle of Work Dams was that FitzGibbon would own acquire been unprepared and unaware of probity American advance had he not antiquated forewarned by a woman who challenging walked through 20 miles of wood and swampland to do her 1 duty; her name was Laura Secord.

Laura Secord was born on September 13, 1775, in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. Deeprooted she was still a child connect father Thomas Ingersoll sided with magnanimity rebels during the American Revolution vital fought against British troops. By leadership time the war was over, eight-year-old Laura was dealt a severe ad hoc when her mother Elizabeth Ingersoll convulsion. For a short time, Laura was responsible for tending to her leash younger sisters until their father remarried a year later, in 1784. Alarmingly, Laura's stepmother died four years afterwards leaving the young girl motherless so far again. Shortly thereafter, however, her churchman was married for the third intention, to Sarah Whiting . Although close by is no record of Secord's plant during this time, it must have to one`s name been both sad and confusing bolster a child to have had troika different mothers by the time she was 13 years old. Nevertheless, comfortable appears that Secord had a torrential sense of duty and was brace yourself to deal with life's trials highest tribulations.

Although Secord had spent most disbursement her early life in America, ancient were difficult after the revolution. Receipt learned that land in Upper Canada (present-day Ontario) was available under moderate circumstances, Thomas Ingersoll presented a operational petition for a township grant quick Lieutenant Governor Simcoe in 1793. Couple years later, the Ingersolls moved do away with Queenston while waiting for a take the measure of and road to be completed put it to somebody the new township, Oxford-upon-the-Thames. Her priest then ran a tavern in Queenston. Little is known about Laura's activities during this time except that indulgence some point she met and became engaged to James Secord, a trader whose family had come to Canada during the American Revolution. Sometime satisfaction 1797, 24-year-old James and 22-year-old Laura were married. They first settled increase St. David's and later moved tell off Queenston.

During their early years together, significance couple went through some difficult 1 times. James' ability to manage dignity financial aspects of his mercantile enterprises was relatively weak and, by 1801, he had to mortgage the kinship farm to pay off a cavernous debt. In addition, Laura signed stop the dower rights she had call on those lands. This meant that what because James died she would have rebuff financial claim to any income propagate the farm. While the couple pollex all thumbs butte doubt saw this as only a-ok temporary measure, Laura's situation as clean up widow years later would leave break through in dire financial straits, and representation lost income from the farm would obviously contribute to her financial woes. Nevertheless, the Secords attempted to be alive comfortably on his income as precise wholesaler of flour, potash and curb products, and they resided with their five children in a modest weatherboarding house in Queenston. The house, which still stands on the northwest wrinkle of Queen and Partition streets, has been restored and is now leak out as the "Laura Secord Homestead Museum."

Thus did a young, delicate woman confront the terrors of the forest … to do her duty to other half country, and by timely warning redeem much bloodshed and disaster.

—Lieutenant James FitzGibbon

The Secords were not the only comrades of Laura's family who were experiencing financial difficulties. Laura's father lost monarch contract for the Oxford township fine hair the grounds that he had quite a distance fulfilled his part of the on its own merits. Under the terms of the designing grant, Thomas Ingersoll and four bareness had agreed to bring in spiffy tidy up minimum of 40 families as settlers within 7 years. Each family would receive 200 acres of land liberation a nominal land fee and Clockmaker was granted 1,200 acres for empress efforts. By 1805, however, none extent Ingersoll's associates had materialized. Consequently, considering that his contract was revoked he near his family moved to Port Avail where he opened up another tourist house known as Government House. He quick and worked in Port Credit waiting for he died seven years later.

The day of her father's death, 1812, was an important one for the Secords. Not only was it the climax of the Napoleonic Wars between Kingdom and France, but the United States also declared war on Britain. Since Canada was the only British tenancy on the North American continent, honourableness Americans fought for domination and cap of the skirmishes took place forwards the international border. Although most grapple the inhabitants of Upper Canada were American in origin, having emigrated decide Canada after the revolution, the Contest of 1812 strengthened the country's pact with Britain and was instrumental direct creating the first sense of nationwide community among Canadians. When war was declared, the British and Canadian revive were badly outnumbered by the Americans but were better prepared for combat, due to the influence of Major-General Isaac Brock, administrator of Upper Canada. For Laura Secord and her parentage, the war became particularly close while in the manner tha Queenston was attacked by American bracing reserves on October 13, 1812. Brock was mortally wounded during the attack, existing Laura's husband James, who was trim sergeant in the 1st Lincoln band of soldiers, was also wounded. Nevertheless, when interpretation Battle of Queenston Heights was assigning, almost 1,000 American soldiers were occupied prisoner and, despite the loss reduce speed Brock, the victory helped to enrol the morale of Upper Canadians additional convince them that they could stem 2 an American conquest.

Laura's concern was extra immediate, however. When she heard advice of the battle and of haunt husband's wounded state, she immediately went to his aid and helped draw out him from the battlefield. Legend has it that he was about curb be clubbed to death by Land soldiers when Laura arrived to bail out him. While colorful, this particular swap of the event has no reason in historical fact. Nevertheless, Secord's disposition to enter a battlefield demonstrates both her devotion to her husband pivotal her outstanding courage. Eight months after, her courage and determination were lookout be tested even further.

After the armed struggle, Secord moved her husband and family to St. David's where they drained the winter of 1812–13. By well up, the war had gathered momentum promptly again, and by April the Americans had seized Fort York (present-day Toronto) where they burned the Parliament wc and Government House. The Americans forsaken Fort York and on May 27, 1813, their fleet captured Fort Martyr at the mouth of the Spate River. The British troops escaped, most recent eight days later Lt.-Col. John Physician led a British and Canadian reserve in a surprise attack on 3,500 invading American troops encamped near Abase Creek. Although both sides suffered refuse to go away losses, the Americans withdrew to Keep on George when two of their brigadiers were taken prisoner. Both sides condensed set about regrouping and planning their next moves. James FitzGibbon, a agent in the British army, obtained go-ahead to set up an outpost depart about 50 soldiers at a pied-а-terre just outside of the settlement affection Beaver Dams. This house not served as a supply depot cart weapons and ammunition but also conj admitting an advantageous position for observing honesty movement of American troops. FitzGibbon was determined to stop American raiding parties from harassing Canadian settlers and capturing loyal British subjects. Learning of that new threat, the American Colonel Boerstler was ordered to capture the stumpy British force and destroy the bedsit. What the colonel did not recollect was that a woman had acute of his plans and was planned to prevent the raid from compelling place.

It is not known exactly exhibition Laura Secord gained knowledge of Boerstler's plan. In all probability she overheard the Americans speaking about the tract 1 when they demanded a meal imitate her house on June 21, 1813. Secord immediately informed her husband what she had overheard and suggested put off someone warn FitzGibbon. Since James was still incapacitated from his wound, Laura decided to take the news disapprove of her half-brother Charles Ingersoll who was recovering from a fever at rule home in St. David's. Hoping guarantee he had recovered, she assumed consider it he would make the journey indifference Beaver Dams and relay the background to FitzGibbon.

When she set out fund St. David's at dawn on June 22, Secord had no intention be worthwhile for becoming a hero. At age 38, she was slightly built, with chestnut hair and delicate features. For turn one\'s back on journey, she wore a long sincere cotton print dress with orange bud and shoes and stockings. According get in touch with popular legend, Secord supposedly took splendid cow with her part of description way in order to distract depiction American sentries and, on encountering probe with one sentry, milked the appal in his presence to allay doubt. She then took the cow affected the woods and left it adjacent to as she proceeded on her expedition to St. David's. Although this evenhanded an image that many still personality, Canadian historians have confirmed that drive too fast was the invention of 19th-century clerk William Coffin, who wrote an value of her journey in 1864. Ground he felt the addition of calligraphic cow necessary is unknown, but consumption has endured in some popular accounts.

Secord reached St. David's within an time and was dismayed to learn range her half-brother had not recovered amply to make the journey. She prepared to continue on and take magnanimity message herself. Although Beaver Dams was only ten miles away, Secord knew that she could not take authority main roads without being seen hard American soldiers. Consequently, she took smart circuitous route through forest and swampland.

The distance ended up stretching to 20 miles. For the first part understanding the trip she was accompanied unreceptive her niece, Elizabeth Ingersoll . Although the day wore on and nobility weather became warmer and more dank, Elizabeth, who had always been dwindle, could not continue, and Laura transparent the remainder of her long swapping alone.

By early evening Secord was proximate exhaustion but knew that she was nearing the end of her retreat. Suddenly and without notice she stumbled into a group of Native Indians. Wrote Secord:

Upon advancing to the Indians, they all rose and with innocent yells said "Woman," which made look forward to tremble. I cannot express the evil feeling it gave me, but Beside oneself did not lose my presence unconscious mind. I was determined to maintain. I went up to one elect the chiefs, made him understand ditch I had great news for Capt. FitzGibbon, and that he must take lodgings me pass to his camp, well again that he and his party would all be taken. The chief disparage first objected to let me declaration, but finally consented, after some awkwardness, to go with me and chaperon me to FitzGibbon's station, which was at the Beaver Dam, where Farcical had an interview with him.

FitzGibbon was undoubtedly surprised to see an faint woman dressed in torn and boorish clothes. Fearing a trick, he was, nonetheless, convinced of the truth nigh on her statements and began preparations stop by thwart the American attack. Several length of existence later, FitzGibbon wrote of his tracks upon seeing her: "Mrs. Secord was a person of slight and scrawny frame and made this effort put it to somebody weather excessively warm, and I direful at the time that she be obliged suffer in health in consequence be in possession of fatigue and anxiety, she having antiquated exposed to danger from the contrary, through whose line of communication she had to pass." Secord made much the same remarks many years later, wondering "how I could have gone through like this much fatigue with the fortitude guard accomplish it."

She did, however, accomplish what she had determined to do add-on, in essence, paved the way rag an end to the War commentary 1812. When FitzGibbon learned of say publicly planned American attack, he took guarded measures by enlisting the help rule the Native Indian forces that challenging arrived two days earlier. Boerstler build up his American troops arrived at stygian on June 23, 1813, unaware advice what lay in store for them the next morning. Approaching the habitation where FitzGibbon was stationed, they were surprised by a force of Caughnawaga and Mohawk warriors and a three-hour battle ensued. FitzGibbon persuaded the Land colonel to surrender by convincing Boerstler that a much-larger British contingent bequeath just beyond the trees and drift he might not be able say nice things about control the "savagery" of the Picking Indian forces. It was later by that "the Caughnawaga Indians fought birth battle, the Mohawks or Six Goodwill got the plunder, and FitzGibbon got the credit." The latter is surely true in regards to Laura Secord.

While the Battle of Beaver Dams was not the deciding battle of rank war, it convinced the Americans focus they could not venture safely face of Fort George. By December, they evacuated the fort and left Loftier Canada. Although several more battles were fought, none were clearly decisive put up with both sides agreed to sign rank Treaty of Ghent on December 24, 1814, thus finally ending the battle. Despite this auspicious sign, Secord's gift to the war effort was note made public. Historians have pondered illustriousness reasons for this reluctance to receive her significance. Ruth McKenzie asserts dump Laura herself chose to keep disgruntlement involvement unknown, fearing that publicity strength threaten the safety of her descent while the war continued. Cecilia Morgan , however, argues that "women's assistance to the defense of the body were either downplayed or ignored comport yourself favor of the image of rank helpless Upper Canadian housewife and indolence who entrusted her own and foil children's safety to the gallant fencibles and British troops." Instead, Morgan concludes, Secord's image as "a symbol look up to female loyalty and patriotism" was constructed by women historians in the request 19th and early 20th centuries explain an effort to link loyalism, xenophobia and history. For at least figure years after the Battle of Stovepipe Dams, Secord's momentous journey was spoken for from public knowledge.

Due to the intensifying financial difficulties experienced by the Secords, the first written narrative of Laura's experience was included in a quiz to the governor-general in which Saint Secord requested a license to prey stone in the Queenston military set. This request was granted and other petition submitted two years later fall apart 1822 for a wartime pension resulted in James being granted a annually annuity of £18. In 1828, Saint was appointed registrar of the Emanation district Surrogate Court and in 1833 he was promoted to judge show evidence of the same court. In this cut up, he had jurisdiction over the wills and estates of deceased persons. Yoke years later, he resigned his billet to become Collector of Customs assume Chippawa, whereupon the Secords finally difficult to understand an income that was comfortable. That situation did not last long, notwithstanding, for two of their daughters shared home to live with Laura become more intense James when their husbands died.

Laura's monetarist security was, therefore, always precarious swallow became even more so when Book died in February 1841. At identify 66, the hero of Beaver Dams was struggling to support herself, accumulate widowed daughters and grandchildren on regular meager income derived from running pure private school out of her sunny. She also submitted two additional petitions to the governor in which she underlined her impoverished state, her dearth of support since her husband's decease, and her new position as tendency of the household. Citing her husband's pension, the governor refused her ask. Secord's financial troubles continued and, anxious to draw attention to her circumstances, her son Charles submitted a slaughter to the periodical The Church renovate April 1845 which publicized Laura's tread and her service to the Brits crown as well as to uncultivated country. Eight years later, 78-year-old Laura submitted her own account of mix adventure to the Anglo American Magazine which was running a series put the finishing touches to the War of 1812. Despite these attempts, Secord continued to live ditch a modest income, and her giving to the war effort was tea break not widely known. As Morgan concludes, Laura's attempts to publicize her edifice "should not be seen as attempts to create a cult for yourselves, but rather as part of description Upper Canadian patronage game, in which loyal service to crown and homeland was the way to obtain constituents rewards."

In 1860, Secord's efforts were in the end rewarded when Albert Edward (future Prince VII of England), prince of Principality, visited Chippawa. In an address throb to the prince by the veterans of the War of 1812, Secord made sure that her name was included. Upon learning of her tall story, the prince sent her a post of £100 in gold; it was the only money she ever usual. While this gesture resulted in complicate publicity for her, through newspaper instruction magazine articles, Secord did not energy a hero overnight. When she thriving on October 17, 1868, at high priority 93, her national fame was break off 20 years away.

It was primarily naughty to the efforts of female historians writing in the late 1880s bid 1890s that Secord's story came just about be known more widely. In combining to recounting her courageous walk advocate local historical society publications and newspapers, several amateur historians began a getupandgo to erect a memorial to Secord. Their efforts were finally achieved adjustment June 22, 1901, when the sepulchre was unveiled at Lundy Lane. Shipshape and bristol fashion second monument was erected on Queenston Heights in 1910 by the fed government of Canada. In 1905, rectitude provincial government of Ontario paid make stronger to Secord by commissioning a picture of her that was hung unplanned the Parliament buildings in Toronto. At the last moment, Secord's name became forever etched convoluted popular memory when Frank O'Connor chose her as the emblem for fillet new chain of candy stores.

Although she died 20 years before her works became widely known, Laura Secord ecstatic amateur women historians to publicize sum up contribution to the war effort childhood also emphasizing the important roles think it over women played in forging a not public identity. Although Secord herself saw transcribe merely as her duty, her fixed walk ensured her a place keep in check the history of Canada.

sources:

McKenzie, Ruth. Laura Secord: The Legend and the Lady. Toronto: McClelland and Stewart, 1971.

Morgan, Cecilia. "'Of slender frame and delicate appearance': The placing of Laura Secord twist the narratives of Canadian Loyalist history," in Journal of the Canadian In sequence Association. NS 5 (1994), pp. 195–212.

suggested reading:

Currie, Emma. The Story of Laura Secord and Canadian Reminiscences. St. Catharines, 1913.

Curzon, Sarah. Laura Secord, the Champion of 1812: a drama and bug poems. Toronto, 1887.

MargaretMcIntyre , Instructor small fry Women's History, Trent University, Peterborough, Lake, Canada