James Mustard (bef. 1768 - 1858)

Born before 3 Jun 1768 in Cromarty, Ross and Cromarty, Scotland

Ancestors

Husband of Elizabeth (Gordon) Mustard — married before 1804 in Ontario, Canada

Descendants

Died 11 Sep 1858 after age 90 in Markham, Ontario, Canada

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

Biography

James Mustard was christened in 1768. He was the second eldest of 11 children born to Alexander Mustard and Ann Munro, farmers in Cromarty parish on the Black Isle. ^[1] James Mustard probably lived in Farness as a child as his father was living in Tans, Farness in 1795.

James left Edinburgh, Scotland in 1795 with his employer John Rose, a writer (lawyer) from Rosemarkie, then in Edinburgh,^[2]and went to Lysock, Lycoming Co., Pensylvania where he farmed, likely as a manager for his employer. ^[3] He applied for a grant of land in Upper Canada in 1801 and was granted Con. 6, Lot 29 in Markham township, York County. ^[4] He married Elizabeth Gordon, the daughter of Peter Gordon an American who became a United Empire Loyalist and settled in Ancaster County, Upper Canada. ^[5] James and Elizabeth had five children between 1805 and 1813 who survived into adulthood in Markham. Elizabeth Mustard died in 1828. ^[6]

James was the first of three brothers who arrived in Canada from Scotland. He seems to have applied for a land grant for his brother George in 1802 for Con. 5, Lot 29 in Markham township, York County, anticipating his arrival, but George didn’t get ownership of his land until much later than his brother, partly because he was waylaid on his trip over in 1800 and forced to work for the Royal Navy. ^[7] See George Mustard profile for the story. Another brother Hugh arrived in Canada in the early 1830s and settled in Scott township of York County. Confirmation of this assertion of three brothers, not four, arriving in Canada can be seen in the historical documents referenced in highlighted footnotes 4 & 5 below under source 6..

Both George and James served with the York Militia and were on active duty during the War of 1812. They were at the bombardment of the Western Battery in Fort York and were taken prisoner by the American forces after signing the capitulation document in April 1813. ^[8] Lieutenant George and Captain James Mustard were marched to Pittsfield, Massachusetts and imprisoned for two years. They were marched back to their home base in the spring of 1815.^[9]

During the War of 1812, James Mustard served as a captain in the 1st York Militia.

From Nov. 10 to 17, 1812, he commanded a detachment looking for deserters in the woods. ^[10]

From Sept. 25 to Oct. 3, 1813, he was on command to Yonge Street. ^[11]

From Oct. 25 to Nov. 24, 1813, he commanded his company at York. ^[12]

From Mar. 7 to 9, 1814, he was taking resource returns. ^[13]

From Sept. 1 to 3, 1814, he was taking lists of “Menonists” and Tunkers. ^[14]

From Sept. 28 to Oct. 24, 1814, he commanded a mixed detachment. ^[15]

From Nov. 14 to 19, 1814, he was superintending road work on Yonge Street. ^[16]

On Apr. 24, 1815, James Mustard, a gentleman of Markham Twp., made a land petition to lease Lot 28, Con. 5, adjoining his land (Lot 29, Con. 6). He was born in Scotland, was 45 years old, and had lived in UC for 15 years. George Mustard, a yeoman of Markham Twp., would provide surety. On May 27, 1817, residents certified that James had lived in Markham Twp. for 15 years and that he had served as a captain in the 1st York Militia. ^[17]

James was a staunch Presbyterian and attended the nearby St. Helen’s Church at what was known as Crosby’s Corner. James died Sep. 11, 1858, aged 90, and was buried at Cashel Cemetery on the former site of St. Helen’s Church, alongside his brother George. ^[18] There are other relatives buried here.

More information about James' family may be found in the James Mustard file at Archives of Ontario or in his estate file there, dated 1858. James Mustard appears in an 1837 Directory of Home County in Markham and an 1850 Directory of York County in Markham, both accessible online ^[19]. He also appears in the 1851 Census of Canada West^[20]

Sources

1. ↑ "Scotland Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950," database, FamilySearch [1] : accessed 14 December 2015), Jas. Mustard, 08 Jun 1768; citing CROMARTY,ROSS AND CROMARTY,SCOTLAND, reference ; FHL microfilm 990,579.
2. ↑ Photocopy of original 1795 letter by Alexander Mustard of Tans, Farness to his son James in Edinburgh in Scottish Genealogical Society's Alexander Mustard of Farness file
3. ↑ The names of farmers James Mustard, John Rose and Andrew Tulloh, Rose's partner, all appear in an 1800 Census list in the online History of Lycoming County,1892 [www.usgennet.org/usa/pa/county/lycoming/history/Chapter-15.html] and further reference to John Rose appears in Chapter 17 under The Bench and the Bar.
4. ↑ Collections Canada, Upper Canada Land Petitions (1763-1865), at http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/microform-digitization/006003-110.02-e.php?&q2=29&interval=50&sk=0&&PHPSESSID=npfo6qij0n1rpue06msk2mqnj1, Microfilm c-2194, pages 399-401
5. ↑ Doris Bourie, Notes on Markham Pioneers and their Loyalist connections. Elizabeth Gordon and James Mustard. [2]
6. ↑ Markham Historical Society, Markham 1793-1900,1979 pp. 76- 77 online at [3] is one credible source about James' family and another source researched by historians is Case Study of a Historical site in the Rouge River Historical Watershed, Chapter 11, Appendix A pp. 28-33 of Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, Rouge River State of the Watershed Report, 2007 online at [4]
7. ↑ Upper Canada Land Petitions at Library and Archives Canada, check Mustard on the index and then press Land Records to connect to digitized microform[5]
8. ↑ A full contemporary account of the incident plus references to their surrender [6] is online at Bulletins of the Campaign 1813 as compiled by the London Gazette, pp.445-450
9. ↑ War of 1812 Prisoner of War M list, p. 24 of 59 page pdf document [7] This original index is from UK National Archives
10. ↑ Collections Canada, War of 1812: Upper Canada Returns, Nominal Rolls and Paylists, Microfilm t-10383, pages 1161-1164
11. ↑ Collections Canada, War of 1812: Upper Canada Returns, Nominal Rolls and Paylists, Microfilm t-10384, page 687
12. ↑ Collections Canada, War of 1812: Upper Canada Returns, Nominal Rolls and Paylists, Microfilm t-10385, pages 87-88
13. ↑ Collections Canada, War of 1812: Upper Canada Returns, Nominal Rolls and Paylists, Microfilm t-10383, pages 1158-1160
14. ↑ Collections Canada, War of 1812: Upper Canada Returns, Nominal Rolls and Paylists, Microfilm t-10383, pages 1158-1160
15. ↑ Collections Canada, War of 1812: Upper Canada Returns, Nominal Rolls and Paylists, Microfilm t-10384, pages 330-336
16. ↑ Collections Canada, War of 1812: Upper Canada Returns, Nominal Rolls and Paylists, Microfilm t-10383, pages 1158-1160
17. ↑ Collections Canada, Upper Canada Land Petitions (1763-1865), at http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/microform-digitization/006003-110.02-e.php?&q2=29&interval=50&sk=0&&PHPSESSID=npfo6qij0n1rpue06msk2mqnj1, Microfilm c-2234, pages 1090-1094
18. ↑ Photo of the gravestone Find A Grave: Memorial #89313994
19. ↑ [8]
20. ↑ [9] Click on the split view to see the image at Library and Archives Canada. The W in his name refers to Widower and is not an initial

• The War of 1812 Militia Rolls and Payrolls can be accessed online at

http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/microform-digitization/006003-110.02-e.php?&q2=35&interval=50&sk=0&&PHPSESSID=t35e5elcve2av2ck6m2heds0s7crf37s6jcgkd25j0hraombkt30