John Cawthra (1789 - 1851)

Born 2 Jan 1789 in Yeadon, Yorkshire, England

Descendants

Died 23 Jun 1851 at age 62 in Newmarket, Whitchurch, York, Canada West

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Biography

John Cawthra is Notable.

John Cawthra is/was a significant Ontarian .

John Cawthra served in the War of 1812
Service started:
Unit(s): 3rd Regiment of York Militia, Canada
Service ended:

On Jan. 2, 1789, he was born in Yeadon, England. He was the son of Joseph Cawthra. At Detroit, John had worked all night helping to get Brock’s cannons across the Detroit River in scows. John helped Brock capture American supplies near Detroit and was also at Queenston Heights. After Brock’s death, John warned Col. McDonell that the Americans were picking off officers. He rushed forward with MacLean to rescue McDonell but MacLean was shot in the thigh and John helped recover him. John was sent to Niagara for reinforcements before Sheaffe’s attack. On Jan. 14, 1821, he married Ann Wilson (1799-1831). From 1828-1830, he was the first legislative assembly representative of Simcoe County. On June 23, 1851, he died in Newmarket and was buried in St. James’ Cemetery, Toronto. ^[1]

During the War of 1812, John Cawthra served with the 3rd Regiment, York Militia, Captain Duncan Cameron's Company (1st Flank Company).^[2] He was with General Brock at the capture of Detroit, and at Queenston, and participated in the battle of Queenston Heights. He settled in Newmarket as one of its pioneer merchants, was active in public affairs, and represented County Simcoe in the Parliament of Upper Canada.

In 1812, two men named “John” and “Jonathan” Cawthra served in Captain Duncan Cameron’s 1st Flank Company of the 3rd York Militia. ^[3]

The flank companies only served in 1812 and were generally composed of young able men who could serve for extended periods of time. From other documents, privates were from 16 to about 40 years old, with an average age of 25.

A John Cawthra received the General Service Medal for Fort Detroit.

On April 1, 1813, at York, Joseph Cawthrae was a jury member in the case of the King versus Rowland Heathcott, Briant Finin, and Patrick Walsh charged with riot and assault. The three men were found guilty and were to be held until they paid the specific fines imposed. ^[4]

On April 1, 1814, at York, Joseph Cawthrae appeared as a witness for the prosecution in the case of the King versus Amelia Hart who was charged with felony. She was found guilty and ordered to leave the province within eight days and be banished for seven years. ^[5]

On October 10, 1815, Joseph Cawthra, a merchant of York, made a war loss claim. The claim was made on his behalf by “John Cawthra”, without any indication of his family relationship to Joseph. In November, 1814, a brigade of the Canadian Fencible Regiment commanded by Captain Peach and a detachment of men from the 82nd Regiment under Captain Stuart at Barber’s Creek stole a barrel containing just under forty gallons of Joseph’s Jamaica spirits. “Jonathan Cawthra”, Joseph’s son, certified that he was at the creek with his father and that a boat transporting his father’s goods was stove in and forced to land. The cargo was put ashore where a barrel disappeared. Jonathan had heard a man named Greer confess to Captain Peach that the spirits were taken by the captain’s men and shared among the troops. Reuben J. Kennedy also certified that he had arrived at the creek with Joseph and had heard the same confession. A note on the claim indicated that it was “inadmissible”. ^[6]

On March 7, 1823, a John Cawthra received a militia land grant, as a resident of York Twp. and a former private in Capt. Cameron’s Flank Co., of 100 acres on the east half of Lot 16, Con. 7, Albion Twp., Peel County. ^[7]

John married Ann Willson in 1821,^[8] and they had four children:

• Joseph Cawthra
• Mary Cawthra
• John Cawthra
• Henry Cawthra

John was the older brother of William Cawthra (1801-1880)

Sources

1. ↑ Anne Maude Brock & A.H. Young, Past and Present: Notes by Henry Cawthra and Others, 1924, https://archive.org/details/pastpresentnotes00broc/page/12, pages 12-14 & 35-36
2. ↑ Library and Archives Canada, War of 1812 Medal Registers Collection, Reference:MG24 G8, Item Number:7240, Mikan Number:99720
3. ↑ Collections Canada, War of 1812: Upper Canada Returns, Nominal Rolls and Paylists, Microfilm t-10379, pages 100-104
4. ↑ Linda Corupe, U.E., Upper Canada Justice, Early Assize Court Records of Ontario, Vol. 2, 1810-1818, transcribed and indexed 2008, pages 75-76
5. ↑ Linda Corupe, U.E., Upper Canada Justice, Early Assize Court Records of Ontario, Vol. 2, 1810-1818, transcribed and indexed 2008, pages 105-106
6. ↑ Collections Canada, The War of 1812: Board of Claims for Losses, 1813-1848, Microfilm t-1135, pages 873-878
7. ↑ Ontario Archives, Militia Land Grants Register, Microfilm MS693, Reel 140, Volume 132, Grant #2271
8. ↑ Library and Archives Canada, Marriage Bonds, Upper and Lower Canada

• Commemorative Biographical Record of the County of York, J. H. Beers & Co., Toronto, 1907
• Wikipedia contributors, "John Cawthra," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=John_Cawthra&oldid=729069074 (accessed August 15, 2017)