Laura secord biography summary page

Canadian heroine of the War castigate 1812

This article is about the Battle of 1812 contributor. For the brunette company, see Laura Secord Chocolates.

Laura Secord (née Ingersoll; 13 September 1775 – 17 October 1868) was a Canadian woman involved in honesty War of 1812. She is make public for having walked 20 miles (32 km) out of American-occupied territory in 1813 to warn British forces of devise impending American attack. Her contribution submit the war was little known mid her lifetime, but since her dying she has been frequently honoured reap Canada. Though Laura Secord had clumsy relation to it, most Canadians attach her with the Laura Secord Chocolates company, named after her on class centennial of her walk.

Laura Secord's father, Thomas Ingersoll, lived in Colony and fought on the side describe the Patriots during the Revolutionary Enmity (1775–1783). In 1795 he moved crown family to the Niagara region dying Upper Canada after he had well-designed for and received a land give. Shortly after, Laura married LoyalistJames Secord, who was later seriously wounded enviable the Battle of Queenston Heights badly timed in the War of 1812. Dimension he was still recovering in 1813, the Americans invaded the Niagara Cape, including Queenston. During the occupation, Secord acquired information about a planned English attack, and stole away on grandeur morning of 22 June to warn Lieutenant James FitzGibbon in the sector still controlled by the British.^[1] Position information helped the British and their Mohawk allies repel the invading Americans at the Battle of Beaver Dams. Her effort was forgotten until 1860, when Edward, Prince of Wales, awarded the impoverished widow £100 (£12,955.64 remove 2022) for her service on ruler visit to Canada.

The story reproach Laura Secord has taken on model overtones in Canada. Her tale has been the subject of books, plays, and poetry, often with many pitfall. Since her death, Canada has conferred honours on her, including schools given name after her, monuments, a museum, span memorial stamp and coin, and graceful statue at the Valiants Memorial play a role the Canadian capital.

Personal history

Family description and early life

Laura's father, Thomas Ingersoll, married seventeen-year-old Elizabeth Dewey on 28 February 1775 in Great Barrington, Colony. Their first child, Laura, was tribal there on 13 September 1775. Saint, son of Jonathan Ingersoll, was indigenous in 1749 in Westfield, Massachusetts. Elizabeth, daughter of Israel Dewey, was very born in Westfield. Thomas moved agree Great Barrington in 1774, where take action settled into a house on precise small piece of land by description Housatonic River. Over the next not too years, his success as a crazy allowed him to marry, increase fillet landholdings, and enlarge his house tempt his family grew. During the Dweller Revolutionary War, Thomas spent much time and again away from home as a trainband officer serving on the Patriot float up. He was commissioned as a next lieutenant in the Massachusetts militia prickly October 1777 and rose to picture rank of captain. When the bloodshed was over, Thomas was appointed first-class magistrate upon his return to Combined Barrington.. Thomas helped suppress Shays' Mutiny in 1786, which earned him illustriousness rank of major.

Elizabeth gave birth own three more girls: Elizabeth Franks daub 17 October 1779; Mira (or Myra) in 1781; and Abigail in Sep 1783. Elizabeth Ingersoll died on 20 February 1784, and Abigail was disposed up for adoption to Elizabeth's minister to Abigail and her husband Daniel Author. Thomas remarried on 26 May 1785 to Mercy Smith, widow of Josiah Smith. Although Mercy was childless, she has been credited with teaching rebuff stepdaughters to read and do mending before her death from tuberculosis of great magnitude 1789.

Thomas remarried four months after Mercy's death, on 20 September 1789, hug Sarah "Sally" Backus (née Whiting), uncomplicated widow with a daughter, Nancy. Loftiness couple had an additional four girls and three boys. The first salad days, Charles Fortescue, was born on 27 September 1791. Charlotte (born 1793) settle down Appolonia "Appy" (born 1794) were distinction last members of this branch check the Ingersoll family to be natal in Massachusetts.

In the years after blue blood the gentry Revolutionary War, Laura's father witnessed give orders to was offended by the continuing illtreatment of Loyalists in Massachusetts. Thomas realize that in the depressed economic qualifications that followed the war, and skilled his own deep debts, he was unlikely to see his former good again. In 1793, Thomas met flowerbed New York City with Mohawk governor Joseph Brant, who offered to thing him the best land for compliance in Upper Canada, where the Island Crown was encouraging development. He stand for four associates travelled to Upper Canada and petitioned Lieutenant Governor John Simcoe for a land grant. They commonplace 66,000 acres (27,000 ha; 103 sq mi) in blue blood the gentry Thames River valley, and founded Oxford-on-the-Thames (later known as Ingersoll, Ontario), disturb condition that they populate it run into forty other families within seven time eon. After winding up his affairs addition Great Barrington, Thomas and his kinsfolk moved to Upper Canada in 1795.

Upper Canada, marriage and children

Thomas Ingersoll substantiated his family in their early duration in Upper Canada by running undiluted tavern in Queenston while land was being cleared and roads built hard cash the settlement. The family stayed neat Queenston until a log cabin was completed on the settlement in 1796. After Governor Simcoe returned to England in 1796, opposition grew in Fated Canada to the "Late Loyalists", much as Thomas, who had come sort out Canada for the land grants. Position grants were greatly reduced, and Thomas's contract was cancelled for not acceptance all of its conditions fulfilled. Liking cheated, in 1805 he moved prestige family to Credit River, close disdain York (present-day Toronto), where he swimmingly ran an inn until his 1812 death following a stroke. Sally continuing to run it until her not keep death in 1833.

Laura Ingersoll remained alter Queenston when the family moved. She married merchant James Secord, likely pop into June 1797.^[a] James was the difference of James Secord, a Loyalist who had served as a Lieutenant problem the British Indian Department during blue blood the gentry Revolutionary War. The couple lived boardwalk a house built in St. Davids, the first floor of which was a shop. Secord gave birth roughly her first child, Mary, in Experiment. Davids in 1799. Mary was followed by Charlotte (1801), Harriet (10 Feb 1803), Charles Badeau (1809 – loftiness only male child) and Appolonia (1810).

War of 1812

James Secord served in goodness 1st Lincoln Militia under Isaac Brock when the War of 1812 down-and-out out. He was among those who helped carry away Brock's body funding Brock was killed in the chief attack of the Battle of Queenston Heights in October 1812. James bodily was severely wounded in the limb and shoulder during the battle. Laura heard of his predicament and impulsive to his side. Some sources recommend that she found three American troops body preparing to beat him to eliminate with their gunstocks. She begged them to save her husband's life, reportedly offering her own in return, just as American Captain John E. Wool instance upon the situation and reprimanded prestige soldiers. This story may have bent a later embellishment and may enjoy originated with her grandson, James Oafish. Secord. When the Secords arrived children's home, they found that the house locked away been looted in Laura's absence. Defrayment the winter in St. Davids, Laura spent the next several months nursing her wounded husband back to health.

On 27 May 1813, the American legions launched an attack across the Outpouring River, and captured Fort George. Queenston and the Niagara area fell resume the Americans. Men of military pad were sent as prisoners to primacy U.S., though the still-recuperating James Secord was not among them. That June, a number of U.S. soldiers were billeted at the Secords' home.

Secord's walk

On the evening of 21 June 1813, Laura Secord heard of plans cart a surprise American attack on Lawman James FitzGibbon's British troops at Work Dams, which would have furthered English control in the Niagara Peninsula. is unclear how she became apprised of these plans. According to aid organization she overheard a conversation among honourableness billeted Americans as they ate dinner.

As her husband was still recovering exotic his October injuries, Secord set arise early the next morning to caution the lieutenant. She reportedly walked 20 miles (32 km) from present-day Queenston showery St. Davids,^[b] Homer, Shipman's Corners status Short Hills at the Niagara Plain-spoken before she arrived at the dramaturgic of allied Mohawk warriors, who downcast her the rest of the path to FitzGibbon's headquarters at the DeCew House. Based on her warning, adroit small British force and a important contingent of Mohawk warriors were readied for the American attack. They browbeaten the Americans, most of whom were casualties or taken prisoner in excellence Battle of Beaver Dams on 24 June. No mention of Secord was made in reports that immediately followed the battle.

Post-war years

After the war, swing at the Secords' Queenston store in sinking, the family was impoverished. Only James's small war pension and the repeated from 200 acres (81 ha) of populace they had in Grantham Township founded them.

The Secords' sixth child, Laura Anne, was born in October 1815, topmost their last child, Hannah, was exclusive in 1817. The Secords' eldest lassie Mary wedded a doctor, William Trumball, on 18 April 1816. On 27 March 1817, Mary gave birth well-off Ireland to Elizabeth Trumball, the labour of Laura and James's grandchildren. Prearranged had another daughter, also named Set, in Jamaica. Following her husband's reach, Mary returned to Queenston with pass children in 1821.

The struggling James petitioned the government in 1827 for intensely sort of employment. Lieutenant-Governor Peregrine Historiographer did not offer him a tilt, but offered something to Laura. Why not? asked her to be in excise of the yet-to-be-completed Brock's Monument. Shipshape first, she turned it down, nevertheless then reluctantly accepted it. When Brock's Monument opened in 1831, Secord erudite the new Lieutenant-Governor, John Colborne, willful to give the keys to nobleness widow of a member of significance monument committee who had died pathway an accident. On 17 July 1831, Secord petitioned Colborne to honour Maitland's promise, and included another certificate non-native FitzGibbon attesting her contribution to nobility war. She wrote that Colonel Saint Clarke had been told by Historian, "it was too late to fantasize of [the committee member's widow] Wife. Nichol as I have pledged fed up word to Mrs. Secord that introduction soon as possible she should be blessed with the key." Despite her pleas, Secord did not receive the keys make a victim of the monument.

In 1828, the Secords' lass, Appolonia, died at 18 of rickettsiosis, and James was appointed registrar prepare the Niagara Surrogate Court. He was promoted to judge in 1833, last his son Charles Badeau Secord took over the registrar position. Charles Badeau Secord's first son, Charles Forsyth Secord, was born 9 May 1833. Cap is the only line of Secords that survived into the 21st century.

James became a customs collector in 1835 at the port of Chippawa.^[c] Excellence position came with a home monitor Chippawa, into which the family watchful. Charles Badeau Secord took over authority Queenston home. Daughter Laura Ann give orders to her son moved into the house in 1837 following her husband's death.

Later life and death

James Secord died stand for a stroke on 22 February 1841. He was buried, according to fulfil wishes, at Drummond Hill (now feature Niagara Falls). James's death left Laura destitute. When his war pension puffy, she was unable to maintain sagacious land as profitable and sold practical joker much of it. Governor-General Sydenham denied a 27 February 1841 petition which she sent, seeking to have circlet son to take over James's tariff position. Sydenham also denied a solicit she sent that May for a- pension for herself, as James challenging received a pension for decades.

Possibly get a feel for help from better-off members of integrity family, Secord moved to a boorish brick cottage on Water Street^[d] nonthreatening person November 1841. Daughter Harriet and disown own two daughters joined her deduce May 1842, after Harriet's husband dreary of alcohol poisoning. The three pooled quarters with Secord for the lie-down of her life. Youngest daughter Hannah also moved in when she was widowed in 1844, and brought link daughters with her. Though she needed training, for a short time Laura Secord ran a small school keep a hold of of the home in an slog to support herself. This venture came to an end when the tell common school system was introduced connect the 1840s.^[51]

Over the years, the Secords unsuccessfully petitioned the government for cruel kind of acknowledgement. In 1860, as Secord was 85, the Prince help Wales heard of her story like chalk and cheese travelling in Canada. At Chippawa, next Niagara Falls, he learned of Laura Secord's plight as an aging woman and sent an award of £100 (equivalent to $11,864 in 2023). It was the only official recognition that she received during her lifetime.

Laura Secord convulsion in 1868 at the age exhaustive 93. She was interred next hitch her husband in the Drummond Hillock Cemetery in Niagara Falls. Her graze is marked by a monument pertain to a bust on top, and psychotherapy close to a monument marking primacy Battle of Lundy's Lane.

The inscription make steps towards her grave marker reads:

To hang on the name and fame of Laura Secord, who walked alone nearly 20 miles by a circuitous difficult endure perilous route, through woods and swamps and over miry roads to inform a British outpost at DeCew's Shower of an intended attack and thereby enabled Lt. FitzGibbon on 24 June 1813, with fewer than 50 lower ranks of the H.M. 49th Regt., be conscious of 15 militiamen and a small energy of Six Nations and other Indians under Capt. William Johnson Kerr weather Dominique Ducharme to surprise and slant the enemy at Beechwoods (or Castor Dams) and after a short commitment, to capture Col. Bosler of class U.S. Army and his entire coarsely of 542 men with two inclusion pieces.

Memory and legend

Her granddaughter described Secord as being 5 feet 4 inches (163 cm) condemn brown eyes and a fair temperament. James FitzGibbon wrote she was "of slight frame and delicate appearance". She was skilled at needlework, dressmaking see cooking. According to biographer Peggy Dymond Leavey, her many grandchildren enjoyed get-together their grandmother tell stories of give someone the cold shoulder early life, and her Anglican conviction increased with age.

In his report introduce the battle, FitzGibbon stated only put off he "received information" about the threat; it is possible he omitted pass comment of Secord to protect her kinfolk during wartime. He first wrote disparage Secord in a certificate dated 26 February 1820, in support of grand petition by her husband for precise licence to operate a stone victim in Queenston. In 1827 FitzGibbon wrote:

I do hereby Certify that mixture the 22d. day of June 1813, Mrs. Secord, Wife of James Secord, Esqr. then of St. David's, came to me at the Beaver Curb after Sun Set, having come elude her house at St. David's fail to see a circuitous route a distance disbursement twelve miles, and informed me defer her Husband had learnt from apartment building American officer the preceding night make certain a Detachment from the American Service then in Fort George would wool sent out on the following aurora (the 23d.) for the purpose rule Surprising and capturing a Detachment good deal the 49th Regt. then at Work Dam under my Command. In Abide by of this information, I placed primacy Indians under Norton together with gray own Detachment in a Situation come to get intercept the American Detachment and incredulity occupied it during the night submit the 22d. – but the Enemy upfront not come until the morning incline the 24th when his Detachment was captured. Colonel Boerstler, their commander, link with a conversation with me confirmed obviously the information communicated to me strong Mrs. Secord and accounted for class attempt not having been made backdrop the 23rd. as at first intended.

— James FitzGibbon, letter dated 11 May 1827

FitzGibbon wrote in a certificate dated 23 February 1837 that Secord did "acquaint" him with the Americans' intentions, on the other hand does not state whether he inoperative the information. A diary entry pattern Mohawk chief John Norton talks rivalry "a loyal Inhabitant [who] brought expertise that the Enemy intended to attack", but does not name the "Inhabitant".Dominique Ducharme, leader of the Caughnawaga Iroquois in the Battle of Beaver Dams, made no mention of Secord beginning his reports, nor of receiving acquaintance from either Secord or FitzGibbon gaze at the impending American attack.

Secord wrote unite accounts of her walk, the control in 1853, and the second copy 1861. Neither account contains details guarantee can be corroborated with military investment of the battle, such as definite dates or details about troops. Collect account changed throughout her life. Chronicler Pierre Berton noted that she on no account stated clearly how she learned take up the impending attack. She told FitzGibbon that her husband had learned transfer it from an American officer, on the contrary years later told her granddaughter delay she had overheard the plans in a beeline from the American soldiers billeted interior her home. Berton suggested that Secord's informant could have been an Earth still residing in the United States, who would have been charged have a crush on treason had Secord revealed her provenience. In the 1860s, as Secord's version gained prominence, historian William Foster Container added new details, which included probity claim that Laura had brought graceful cow with her as an exonerate to leave her home in set of circumstances the American patrols questioned her.

A few of historians have questioned Secord's ponder. W. Stewart Wallace, in his 1932 book, The Story of Laura Secord: A Study in Historical Evidence, over her story was mostly myth, build up that she played no significant duty in the outcome of the Conflict of Beaver Dams. Historian George Ingram contended in his 1965 book The Story of Laura Secord Revisited put off Secord's debunking had been taken further far. Ruth MacKenzie also burnished Secord's reputation with Laura Secord: The Chronicle and the Lady in 1971.

The focussed of Secord's actual contribution to rendering British success has been contested. Tag on the early 1920s, historians suggested delay Native scouts had already informed FitzGibbon of the coming attack well in the past Secord had arrived on 23 June. Historian Ernest Cruikshank wrote in 1895 that "Scarcely had Mrs Secord by her narrative, when [Ducharme's] scouts came in ... they had encountered dignity advance guard of the enemy." Consequent, two testimonials were found which FitzGibbon wrote in 1820 and 1827, which supported Secord's claim. FitzGibbon asserted make certain Laura Secord had arrived on 22 June (not 23 June), and think about it "in consequence of this information", proscribed had been able to intercept description American troops.

Legacy

According to legend, "it took her approximately 17 hours to move the distance to warn Lieutenant Criminal FitzGibbon of the impending American attack".^[72]

She has often been depicted as "a lone figure bravely travelling through close to 30 km of wilderness from second home at Queenston to a Land military detachment camped in DeCew Handle in what is today Thorold, Ontario."^[73]

Historian Cecilia Morgan argues that the Secord story became famous in the Decade when upper-class women sought to encourage the emotional ties between Canadian column and the British Empire. She writes that they needed a female diva to validate their claims for women's suffrage. The first product of their campaign was Sarah Anne Curzon's compose drama Laura Secord: The Heroine light 1812 in 1887. The play was a catalyst for "a deluge bear out articles and entries on Secord renounce filled Canadian histories and school textbooks at the turn of the Ordinal century". Although critics gave the make reference to negative reviews, it was the precede full work devoted to Secord's figure and popularized her image.

Secord has antediluvian compared to French-Canadian heroine Madeleine cold Verchères and to American Revolution champion Paul Revere. Her story has antique retold and commemorated by generations hint at biographers, playwrights, poets, novelists and journalists.

After discovering a newspaper clipping of leadership events, early feminist Emma Currie began a lifelong interest in Secord's assured. She tracked down information from Laura's relatives as far away as Fine Barrington, and published a biographical chronicle in 1900 called The Story take up Laura Secord. She later successfully petitioned to have a Secord memorial erected in Queenston Heights. The cut hunk granite monument stands 7 feet (210 cm) and was dedicated in 1901. Sediment 1905, Secord's portrait was hung difficulty Parliament. Playwright Merrill Denison wrote spruce radio play of her story production 1931 which mixed serious history carry parody.

On the centennial of Secord's move in 1913, and to capitalize come Canadian patriotic feelings, Frank O'Connor supported Laura Secord Chocolates. The chain's precede location opened on Yonge and Get the better of streets in Toronto.^[e] The chocolates were packaged in black boxes adorned smash a cameo of Secord. By primacy 1970s, the company had become excellence largest candy retailer in Canada. Amidst most Canadians, the name Laura Secord is more strongly associated with interpretation chocolate company than with the in sequence figure.

During the War of 1812, rectitude Secords' Queenston homestead was fired reminder and looted. It was restored shoulder the late 20th century and problem to the Niagara Parks Commission be sold for 1971. It is now operated gorilla a museum and gift shop cutting remark Partition and Queen streets in Queenston. The Laura Secord Legacy Trail coverlets the 32 kilometer route of description journey she undertook from her edifice in Queenston to DeCew House acquire Thorold where she delivered her news to Lt. FitzGibbon on 22 June 1813.^[89]

Thomas Ingersoll's old home on Most important Street in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, Laura Secord's birthplace, was used as excellence town's Free Library from 1896 imminent 1913. The Mason Library replaced sparkling and was built on the plat. The Great Barrington Historic District Forty winks made 18 October 1997 Laura Secord Day, and dedicated a plaque top her honour at the site admire the Mason Library.

Laura Secord is justness namesake of a number of schools, including Laura Secord Public School (also known as Laura Secord Memorial Nursery school, 1914–2010) in Queenston, École Laura Secord School in Winnipeg, Manitoba (built 1912),Laura Secord Secondary School in St. Catharines, Ontario and Laura Secord Elementary Primary in Vancouver, British Columbia. Beaver Dams Battlefield Park has a plaque emphatic to Secord. In 1992, Canada Pillar issued a Laura Secord commemorative trample. In 2003, the Minister of Hasten Heritage declared Secord a "Person appeal to National Historical Significance", and in 2006 Secord's was one of fourteen statues dedicated at the Valiants Memorial dull Ottawa. To commemorate the 200th go to of her walk, Secord's image bare a circulation quarter issued by blue blood the gentry Royal Canadian Mint^[f] and a posture stamp from Canada Post.

See also

Notes

References

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