John Diamond UE (1759 - 1845)

Born 1759 in Dutchess County, New York

Ancestors

Husband of Christiana (Loyst) Diamond — married 1783 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Descendants

Died 12 May 1845 at about age 86 in South Fredericksburgh, Ontario

Problems/Questions Profile managers: James Bertling [send private message] and Randy Seaver [send private message]

Biography

Death date on his tombstone is May 1848 at the age of 86. This makes his birth year 1759.

John was another of the early U.E.L. pioneers of Fredericksburgh, whose descendants are numerous and respected in this and the adjoining counties. He was a native of New York State, near Albany, where he and several of his brothers were born and reared. They were loyalists to the British cause, but one of the older brothers was drafted into the American ranks. Such a service was so repugnant to his feelings that he soon made his escape, but fell very sick and was kept concealed for a time. The visits of a doctor, who was watched, led to his discovery. His father was at once required to give a bond of $1200 that the son should not be removed while sick. He got well and again attempted to escape a service that was repugnant to his feeling. He was caught, made prisoner and handcuffed to another prisoner. While being thus removed from one place to another, the two prisoners managed to knock their guard on the head and ran for life, thus bound together. At night they managed to rub their handcuffs off, and finally escaped to Canada. Another of the brothers was similarly drafted, carried off, and was never afterwards heard of.

John was also drafted and taken to the rebel army when he became old enough for service, but he also managed to make his escape to Canada. He then enlisted in the Rogers Royal Battalion and was honorably discharged at the end of the war and later on, became one of the first company of settlers in Third Town, or Fredericksburgh. He married a Miss Loyst, also a member of one of the early U.E.L. families, we believe, who appears to have been possessed of the same patriotic and heroic spirit. In Upper Canada they spent their first summer in clearing a little spot of land, where in the fall they got a little grain in the ground. For weeks during that summer they slept under the shelter of a tree, but managed to erect for themselves a snug log hut before winter set in. Nearly all their neighbors had a similar experience, but many of them lived to see their farms cleared, under cultivation, with comfortable dwellings and their families well to do and educated.

The Diamonds have been ever since among the well known families of the township. They have also been prominently identified with the Methodists from the beginning.

Haldiman Papers, Shewman family; Land Board Records call Christina, daughter of William Shewman. "Canniff's Settlement up Canada", had this: "John Diamond was born in Albany. He married Miss Loyst a native of Philadelphia, whose ancestors were German."

Baptism of Children

Children of John and Christiana Diamond:

• John Diamond, Fredericksburgh, bap Jan 9, 1792
• Margarita Diamond, Fredericksburgh, bap June 11, 1793
• Abraham, son of John and Christina Diamond, Fredericksburgh, bap Jan 25, 1796
• William Frederick Diamond, Fredericksburgh, bap Feb 20, 1797
• Baltus Diamond, son of Fredericksburgh, bap July 24, 1798
• Andrew Diamond, Fredericksburgh, bap May 26, 1801

.....

Sources

Canada, Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current Name John Diamond Gender M (Male) Birth Date 1759 Birth Place Fishkill, Dutchess County, New York, United States of America Death Date 12 May 1845 Death Place South Fredericksburgh, Lennox and Addington County, Ontario, Canada Cemetery Diamond Family Burial Ground Burial or Cremation Place The Pines, Lennox and Addington County, Ontario, Canada Has Bio? Y Spouse Christiana Diamond Children William Frederick Diamond; Baltus Diamond; Andrew Diamond; John Diamond; Abraham Diamond

• UEL Certificate Application - 2014 - see page 6

• see The Conundrum of John and John Diamond here is the other John Diamond

• http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=vanalstine&id=I17558