Richard Titus Willson (1793 - 1878)

Born 5 Apr 1793 in Poughkeepssie, New York, USA

Ancestors

Husband of Eleanor (Emes) Willson — married Aug 1814 in East Gwillimbury, York, Ontario, Canada

Descendants

Richard Willson served in the War of 1812
Service started:
Unit(s): 1st Regiment of York Militia, Canada
Service ended:

Biography

John Hugh Willson, born 10 July 1791, died 29 Dec. 1863. He purchased his farm, “Spruce Dale” on Lot 13 and 14, Conc. 2, in 1815 with money he and his brother Richard made during the War of 1812. It had 15 acres cleared and a small house and barn. He often told the story that during the initial settlement of the village he had been forced to grind his flour by placing it in a hollow stump and pounding it with a stone attached to a sapling. Richard worked the farm alone the first year, as John was hired to help build a schooner for the Hon. Peter Robinson at the mouth of the Nottawasaga River. In 1821 John married Rebecca Burr, daughter of Reuben and Elizabeth Cleaver Burr, born 3 Aug. 1802 in Catawissa, Pa., died 5 March 1874. They were Quakers, and Rebecca was disowned for her marriage to a non-Friend 13 Dec. 1821. Her family had immigrated to Whitchurch twp. in 1805 (Lot 85, conc. 1). After a short stay near Richmond Hill, the Burr family had moved to Lot 17, Conc. 2 of E.G. in 1816. Rebecca’s sister Jane was married to Jeremiah Graham, another member of the Children of Peace. John was a member of the Children of Peace for only a short time; Rebecca never joined. John and Richard worked for two years providing fresh beef for the naval establishment at Penetanguishene, but in 1823 split up the farm they had worked together. Although John had originally settled his farm with his brother Richard’s help, they were on opposite sides in the Rebellion of 1837. Richard wrote “I was then a Lieutenant and my brother John, a captain in East Gwillimbury. When I went to my brother’s ( John), to ask him to turn out he was not at home, but at Sharon. His wife said “He would not and should not go.” I then asked her for his arms, for we were in great want of them. She said “I know nothing about them.” I then went into another room to look for his rifle, which I could not see, but I saw his sword hanging by the head of his bed. Th is I took down and as I did so his wife (who had followed), caught hold of the hilt and jerked it partly out. To save myself from being stabbed I was obliged to pull her close to me and at the same time towards the door. I then wished myself clear of both her and the sword, but I dared not let go of her and seized the hilt of the sword giving her a heavy push, and walked off with it. But instead of following me she ran into the house and called for the rifl e, the children following her. It was ridiculous to see one of her Brittanic Majesty’s offi cers, with a sword in his hand, running from a woman, but run I did, and in a different way to what she had expected. I ran around the house when she looked for me in front, and before she saw me I got some 25 rods away. She, however, levelled the rifle at me, but did not fire. She told me afterwards her reason for not firing was that, as I was some distance away and in motion, and she greatly excited, she might not kill me, etc. She, however, went immediately for her husband who in short time came to my house not well pleased. I then demanded of him, in Her Majesty’s name, to either turn out in defense of the government or lend me his sword. He choose the latter and I still have the sword, as I bought him a new one some time after.” John was elected a Township Commisioner (Councillor) in 1836-38, and again in 1850. John and Rebecca are both buried in the Sharon Burial Ground.

Richard Titus Willson, born 5 April 1793, died 18 April 1878; married Aug. 1814, Eleanor Emes, daughter of Calvin and Martha Drury Emes of Georgina Township. For further details see the notes for his brother John above. Richard served under Captains Selby and Traviss, both of East Gwillimbury, in the War of 1812, for which he was later granted a pension. He became a Mason in 1814, and at the time of his death was said to be the oldest Mason in the Dominion. He served as a magistrate for a number of years and was twice elected reeve of Holland Landing. His lengthy reminiscences were republished by the Newmarket Historical Society as one of their Occasional Papers (No. 1). He was a member of the Children of Peace for only a short time.

During the War of 1812, Richard T. Willson served as a sergeant in the 1st York Militia. There was also a Titus Willson who served as a sergeant in the same regiment. Were they the same man? If not, were they related? There was also a Usual Willson.

From July 26 to Aug. 1, 1813, Titus was doing road work on Dundas Street as a private. ^[1]

From Dec. 28, 1813 to Jan. 9, 1814, Richard T. served in Captain Thomas Selby’s Detachment escorting prisoners of war from York to Hamilton Twp., Northumberland County. ^[2]

From Jan. 25 to Feb. 24, 1814, Titus was employed in public service as a sergeant at York in Capt. Reuben Richardson’s Company. ^[3]

From Mar. 27 to Apr. 16, 1814, Titus served on public service at York as a private in Capt. Jeremiah Travis’ Co. as a substitute for G. Clark. ^[4]

In 1875, he received a pension as a surviving veteran of the War of 1812.

Sources

1. ↑ Collections Canada, War of 1812: Upper Canada Returns, Nominal Rolls and Paylists, Microfilm t-10383, pages 1176-1178
2. ↑ Collections Canada, War of 1812: Upper Canada Returns, Nominal Rolls and Paylists, Microfilm t-10385, pages 212-215
3. ↑ Collections Canada, War of 1812: Upper Canada Returns, Nominal Rolls and Paylists, Microfilm t-10384, pages 1097-1098
4. ↑ Collections Canada, War of 1812: Upper Canada Returns, Nominal Rolls and Paylists, Microfilm t-10384, pages 1055-1056

• http://www.sharontemple.ca/pdf/Genealogy%20%28By%20Family%29/family_willson.pdf
• The War of 1812 Militia Rolls and Payrolls can be accessed online