Alexander Cameron UE (abt. 1755 - abt. 1837)

Born about 1755 in Lochaber, Scotland

Ancestors

Husband of Sarah (Parks) Cameron — married 12 Feb 1786 in Saint Andrew's Presbyterian, Williamstown, Glengarry, Ontario

Descendants

Died about 8 Jun 1837 at about age 82 in Cornwall Township, Upper Canada

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Alexander Cameron was a United Empire Loyalist.
UEL Status:Proven
Date: Undated

Biography

In May 1777 Alexander Cameron and his father left the family in the Mohawk Valley to enlist in the King’s Royal Regiment of New York (likely near Fort St. John), but because of their ages, one too old, the other too young, they were discharged in July to rejoin the family and to serve as operatives in a British spy network until hostilities ceased.

Margaret Cameron: "Alexander Cameron, son of John Cameron (1725-1824) and Mary Cameron (1739-1830), Lot 6, Conc. 4, Township of Cornwall, Stormont County, Ontario, was about twenty years of age at the time of the American Revolution. Alexander Cameron (according to my file) served in the 1st Battalion KRRNY, Major Gray's Company. 19th of June 1776 he enlisted with Watts Company. He became a prisoner of the rebels c 1779."

During the Revolutionary War he was with the K. R. R. N. Y.- King's Royal Regiment of New York (Sir John Johnson's Corps.) Also known as Johnson's Greens. (1st Battalion - Watt's Company of Johnson's Greens)

The Proceedings of Loyalist Commissioners, Montreal, 1788: "A good man. 1050. Claim of Alexander Cameron, From Invermorrison late of Kingsborough Patent, Tryon Co. Claimant says: He gave his claim to the adjutant in the Fall '83. Is a native of Scotland. He came to America in '73. Settled in Johnson's Bush. Joined the Brit. at first; served all the war. Produces his Discharge. Lives at New Johnstown. Had 100 acres Tenant Land. Had cleared 10 acres, built house, Barn & stables. Had 4 cows, 1 calf, 1 ox, 2 Heifers, utensils, furniture. Left all behind. His wife disposed of nothing. Alexander Grant, is witness: Knew claimant. He came from Scotland in '73. Had 10 acres clear. He left it very early. He had pretty good stock."^[1]

From Donald Chisholm: "I have just located amongst my papers a copy of a notice dated Nov. 1785 co-addressed to Alex Cameron and John Cameron. The notice states that they are entitled to two hundred acres and they have drawn Lot 6 in the 4th concession and if they settle and improve the land they will receive a Deed of Concession at the expiration of twelve months."

From a copy of the notice for land for Lot 6-4 Cornwall: "Province of Quebec Nov. 21 1785: The bearer hereof Alex Cameron & John Cameron Loyalists being entitled to Two hundred acres of land by his Majesty's Instructions to the Governor of this Province, has drawn a Lot (No. 6) consisting of Two hundred Acres in the 4th Concession in part of the said Proportion, in the Seigneurie of No. 21 and having taken the oaths, and made and signed the Declaration required by the Instructions, he is hereby authorised to settle and improve the said Lot, without delay; and being settled thereon, he shall receive a Deed of Concession at the expiration of Twelve Months from the Date hereof."

From Margaret Cameron: "Alexander was named after his grandfather Sir Alexander Cameron, the Cameron chieftain of Glennevis who was imprisoned in Edinburgh castle for almost a year."

It is possible that he settled in as a farmer in Bathurst township, which also encompasses the town of Perth. 1781 ---Major's Company. He was a Light infantryman 1782-3. It is possible that in 1812 he was commissioned as Leut. in 1st Reg. of Prescott Militia ( Feb. 27, 1812 )

Moved to western Ontario c 1820. Alexander settled on Lot 3, Concession 13, Oxford County (Nissouri Township).

From a letter written by Robert Cameron II to his cousin Jane (Withers) Douglas:

"Our grandfather Alex Cameron fought against the revolutionist under Sir William Johnson and was captured three times and condemned to be shot as a spy. The last time his life was saved by his mother (Mary of Glen Nevis) going all the way from Albany, New York on horseback to Valley Forge and on her knees pleading for her boy. As my mother (Nancy Ross) says she was the handsomest woman she ever saw. General Washington was easily persuaded to grant a pardon but on the condition that she take the whole family at once to Canada. And this she did, going by steam all the way from Johnstown New York to the Niagra (?) [sic] This they crossed to St. Catherine's and thence by sail down to Cornwall Ontario. There they build a house on the Quarries (?) abiye about three miles out of Cornwall, where your mother was born. The house stands there still. I was there many years ago when your mother's uncle, Mary of Glen Nevis' son (Lieutenant Colonel John Cameron) lived on it. His Grandchildren are still in Cornwall. Now my father and all the family came West about 1820 because each one of these got 200 acres of land from the government because grandfather (Alex) was a United Empire Loyalist."

"The Alex Cameron mentioned above [*] who fought for King George during the revolution was 1st captured by the Yankees and held in a farm house as a spy. He exchanged clothes with a girl on the farm, took a milk bucket and walked out to milk the cows, passing by some 20 men watching over him. So he escaped. Have no knowledge of the 2nd escape but the 3rd time was at Valley Forge and, as above, Geo. Washington pardoned him and the family left the States." :written on the end of this letter by Charles H. Withers Jr. who was then Sr.; written on 12/8/1958 in pen and ink.

Birth:

Date: 1755

Place: Lochaber, Scotland ^[2]

Emigration:

Date: 1773

Place: From Fort William To America On The Pearl ^[3]

Death

Death:

Date: 1867 ^[4] *** Something needs checking about age at death of 112 ***

Marriages

Husband: John (Of Clunes) Cameron

Wife: Mary (Of Glen Nevis) Cameron

Marriage: Date: 1754 ^[5]

Husband: Alexander Cameron

Wife: Sarah Parks

Marriage:

Date: 12 Feb 1786

Place: Saint Andrew's Presbyterian, Williamstown, Glengarry, Ontario ^[6]

Sources

1. ↑ Proceedings of Loyalist Commissioners, Montreal, 1788, Vol. 23
2. ↑ Source: #S18
3. ↑ Source: #S146
4. ↑ Source: #S18
5. ↑ Source: #S22
6. ↑ Source: #S19

• http://www.uelac.org/PDF/Alexander-Cameron-by-Catherine-Whiteley.pdf
• Source: S146 Abbreviation: Duncan Fraser papers in the Montgomery Co., New York Archives Title: Duncan Fraser papers in the Montgomery Co., NY Archives
• Source: S18 Abbreviation: Camerons of Cornwall Township, by Duncan MacDonald Title: Camerons of Cornwall Township, by Duncan MacDonald
• Source: S19 Abbreviation: LDS Batch No.: M584091 Dates: 1779 - 1817 Source Call No.: 0928968 Type: Film Title: LDS Batch No.: M584091 Dates: 1779 - 1817 Source Call No.: 0928968 Type: Film
• Source: S22 Abbreviation: Margaret Cameron Title: Margaret Cameron
• WikiTree profile Cameron-646 created through the import of RamageRice102011.ged on Oct 12, 2011 by Molly Rice. See the Changes page for the details of edits by Molly and others.
• http://uelac.org/PDF/Alexander-Cameron-by-Catherine-Whiteley.pdf