James Palmer (1797 - 1876)

Born 1797 in tone Mills, Bay of Quinte, Prince Edward County, Upper Canada, Canada

Ancestors

Died 1876 at about age 79 in Toronto, York, Ontario, Canada

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

Biography

James Palmer, lot 31, concession B, is the son of James and Sarah Palmer who came from the State of New York in 1797, and settled first at Kingston, from which place they went to Cobourg, subsequently coming to York and settling in the Township of Scarboro', on lot 22, concession D, where the father remained until his death in 1836. James, our subject, was born at Stone Mills, Bay of Quinte, Prince Edward County in 1797, and remained with his parents until he was twenty-five years of age, when he purchased the lot on which he now lives. He has been through life a very industrious man, and has also been successful, the neatness of his farm and substantial erections thereon bearing ample testimony. He served in the War of 1812, for which he drew a pention. He has been a member of the Municipal Council for some years. In politics he is a Reformer, and in religion a Methodist; a consistent Christian, he has earned the respect of all who know him. Mr. Palmer married Mary Anne, daughter of Nathaniel Hastings, of Toronto, who died in 1876. (vol. II, p. 274)

During the War of 1812, James Palmer served as a private in the 3rd York Militia with his brothers, John, Seneca, and Sherwood. He turned 16 about 1813 and this made him eligible for militia service.

From Nov. 23 to 24, 1813, he was employed repairing roads between the Town of York and the Township of Darlington under the command of Lieut. Col. Baldwin of the 1st Durham Militia. The Durham and 1st and 3rd York Militias were regularly stationed together at the York Garrison. This gave the officers the opportunity to form mixed detachments and James found himself serving under a Durham Militia officer. ^[1]

From Dec. 25, 1813 to Jan. 24, 1814, he served in a detachment at York with Ensign Edward William Thomson as a substitute for his brother Seneca Palmer. ^[2]

After April 27, 1814, he surrendered to the Americans in order to obtain a parole. He had not been at the Capture of York on the 27th and was not taken prisoner by the Americans with those veterans. Also, as the town had surrendered on the 27th, any paroles after that date were invalid. James was to be punished with an extra three-months militia duty. ^[3]

As James and his father shared the same surname, one or more of the above service records may have been for his father.

In 1875, James and other surviving veterans received a pension. The veterans had to appear before a committee and offer proof of their war service. A number of veteran reports were published in local newspapers and some revealed interesting details about the veteran's service.

Sources

1. ↑ Collections Canada, War of 1812: Upper Canada Returns, Nominal Rolls and Paylists, Microfilm t-10384, pages 360-364
2. ↑ Collections Canada, War of 1812: Upper Canada Returns, Nominal Rolls and Paylists, Microfilm t-10384, pages 1090-1091
3. ↑ Collections Canada, War of 1812: Upper Canada Returns, Nominal Rolls and Paylists, Microfilm t-10383, pages 1134-1137

• History of Toronto and county of York, Ontario, containing an outline of the history of the Dominion of Canada, a history of the city of Toronto and the county of York, with the townships, towns, villages, churches, schools, general and local statistics, biographical sketches, etc., etc.

C. Blackett Robinson, 1885. Subjects: York (Ont. : County) -- History. Canada -- History. Toronto (Ont.) -- History. Description: 2 v. ill. Notes: A brief history of Canada and the Canadian people by C.P. Mulvany, v.1, pt. 1. Additional Authors: Mulvany, Charles Pelham, 1835-1885. Location: Toronto Public Library Call Number: 971.354 H39

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