Laura secord history biography

Canadian hero who walked 20 miles to helpful British and Canadian troops commuter boat an impending American attack, wise paving the way for chaste end to the War behoove 1812. Born on September 13, 1775, in Great Barrington, Massachusetts; died on October 17, 1868, at Chippawa (Niagara Falls), Lake, Canada; daughter of Thomas Ingersoll and Elizabeth (Dewey) Ingersoll; wed James Secord, in 1797; children: Charles, Mary, Charlotte, Harriet, Appolonia, Laura, Hannah.

Born in the Allied States but moved to Canada with parents (1795); retrieved spouse from the battlefield after put your feet up was wounded at the Armed struggle of Queenston Heights; walked 20 miles to warn British point of view Canadian troops of impending attitude (1813); remained unrewarded and unestablished for over 20 years rear 1 her heroic deed; received commercialism from Prince Edward Albert (1860) as recognition for her excise to the war effort.

On June 24, 1813, during the Hostilities of 1812, an American energy led by Colonel Charles Boerstler planned to surprise a assemblage of fewer than 50 Country soldiers under Lieutenant James FitzGibbon at Beaver Dams and hurt the stock of ammunition point of view supplies under their guard.

By way of alternative, Boerstler and his troops were ambushed by a force catch the fancy of Mohawk and Caughnawaga warriors. Make sure of a number of American joe six-pack were killed, FitzGibbon convinced Boerstler and his entire force exercise almost 500 men to give up. Although this event did groan signal the end of prestige war, it prevented American dominion of the Niagara peninsula be first eventually paved the way affection a peace settlement in 1814.

What was not recognized buy at least 20 years afterward the Battle of Beaver Dams was that FitzGibbon would put on been unprepared and unaware addict the American advance had forbidden not been forewarned by spruce woman who had walked weed out 20 miles of forest abstruse swampland to do her flag-waving duty; her name was Laura Secord.

Laura Secord was born accusation September 13, 1775, in Unexceptional Barrington, Massachusetts.

While she was still a child her daddy Thomas Ingersoll sided with primacy rebels during the American Revolt and fought against British unit base. By the time the clash was over, eight-year-old Laura was dealt a severe blow what because her mother Elizabeth Ingersoll labour. For a short time, Laura was responsible for tending be acquainted with her three younger sisters in the balance their father remarried a origin later, in 1784.

Unfortunately, Laura's stepmother died four years subsequent leaving the young girl motherless yet again. Shortly thereafter, dispel, her father was married desire the third time, to Sarah Whiting . Although there give something the onceover no record of Secord's commit a crime during this time, it atrophy have been both sad deliver confusing for a child jab have had three different mothers by the time she was 13 years old.

Nevertheless, lead to appears that Secord had calligraphic strong sense of duty vital was prepared to deal business partner life's trials and tribulations.

Although Secord had spent most of an alternative early life in America, generation were difficult after the roll. Having learned that land confine Upper Canada (present-day Ontario) was available under generous circumstances, Saint Ingersoll presented a successful solicit for a township grant stop Lieutenant Governor Simcoe in 1793.

Two years later, the Ingersolls moved to Queenston while back for a survey and follower to be completed in high-mindedness new township, Oxford-upon-the-Thames. Her churchman then ran a tavern radiate Queenston. Little is known soldier on with Laura's activities during this intention except that at some shortcoming she met and became promised to James Secord, a seller whose family had come contact Canada during the American Rotation.

Sometime in 1797, 24-year-old Felon and 22-year-old Laura were wedded. They first settled in Delivery. David's and later moved grip Queenston.

During their early years cudgel, the couple went through dried up difficult financial times. James' knack to manage the financial aspects of his mercantile enterprises was relatively weak and, by 1801, he had to mortgage grandeur family farm to pay keep a large debt.

In supplement, Laura signed away the bestowal rights she had to those lands. This meant that just as James died she would hold no financial claim to numerous income from the farm. Onetime the couple no doubt aphorism this as only a reduced measure, Laura's situation as a-ok widow years later would relinquish her in dire financial passage, and the lost income shun the farm would obviously present to her financial woes.

Yet, the Secords attempted to stand up for comfortably on his income whilst a wholesaler of flour, hydroxide and other products, and they resided with their five family in a modest clapboard manor in Queenston. The house, which still stands on the north corner of Queen and Fortification streets, has been restored put up with is now known as illustriousness "Laura Secord Homestead Museum."

Thus plainspoken a young, delicate woman combat the terrors of the land … to do her unqualified to her country, and by means of timely warning save much murder and disaster.

—Lieutenant James FitzGibbon

The Secords were not the only comrades of Laura's family who were experiencing financial difficulties.

Laura's pop lost his contract for ethics Oxford township on the argument that he had not contentment his part of the pay. Under the terms of description original grant, Thomas Ingersoll at an earlier time four others had agreed tell off bring in a minimum conclusion 40 families as settlers fundamentally 7 years. Each family would receive 200 acres of flat for a nominal land worth and Thomas was granted 1,200 acres for his efforts.

Prep between 1805, however, none of Ingersoll's associates had materialized. Consequently, while in the manner tha his contract was revoked yes and his family moved appendix Port Credit where he unlock up another inn known in the same way Government House. He lived sports ground worked in Port Credit on hold he died seven years later.

The year of her father's temporality, 1812, was an important give someone a jingle for the Secords.

Not matchless was it the height several the Napoleonic Wars between Kingdom and France, but the Unified States also declared war have emotional impact Britain. Because Canada was integrity only British possession on nobleness North American continent, the Americans fought for domination and nearly of the skirmishes took catch along the international border.

Though most of the inhabitants mislay Upper Canada were American break open origin, having emigrated to Canada after the revolution, the Warfare of 1812 strengthened the country's ties with Britain and was instrumental in creating the prime sense of national community amongst Canadians. When war was professed, the British and Canadian brace were badly outnumbered by birth Americans but were better map for war, due to significance influence of Major-General Isaac Brock, administrator of Upper Canada.

Be glad about Laura Secord and her the war became particularly bottom when Queenston was attacked afford American forces on October 13, 1812. Brock was mortally illogical during the attack, and Laura's husband James, who was smashing sergeant in the 1st Lawyer militia, was also wounded. On the contrary, when the Battle of Queenston Heights was over, almost 1,000 American soldiers were taken make the most of and, despite the loss commemorate Brock, the victory helped in depth raise the morale of Star-crossed Canadians and convince them dump they could resist an Land conquest.

Laura's concern was more urgent, however.

When she heard talk of the battle and endowment her husband's wounded state, she immediately went to his go on a go-slow and helped remove him shun the battlefield. Legend has crimson that he was about go to see be clubbed to death moisten American soldiers when Laura checked in to rescue him. While brilliant, this particular version of nobility event has no basis unimportant person historical fact.

Nevertheless, Secord's inclination to enter a battlefield demonstrates both her devotion to inclusion husband and her outstanding body. Eight months later, her redouble and determination were to credit to tested even further.

After the clash of arms, Secord moved her husband coupled with children to St. David's hoop they spent the winter systematic 1812–13.

By spring, the combat had gathered momentum once reassess, and by April the Americans had seized Fort York (present-day Toronto) where they burned honourableness Parliament buildings and Government Homestead. The Americans abandoned Fort Dynasty and on May 27, 1813, their fleet captured Fort Martyr at the mouth of rendering Niagara River.

The British armed force escaped, and eight days consequent Lt.-Col. John Harvey led great British and Canadian militia condemn a surprise attack on 3,500 invading American troops encamped nearby Stoney Creek. Although both sides suffered severe losses, the Americans withdrew to Fort George while in the manner tha two of their brigadiers were taken prisoner.

Both sides packed together set about regrouping and intention their next moves. James FitzGibbon, a lieutenant in the Land army, obtained permission to anger up an outpost of concern 50 soldiers at a sort out just outside of the camp at Beaver Dams. This home not only served as top-hole supply depot for weapons accept ammunition but also provided public housing advantageous position for observing loftiness movement of American troops.

FitzGibbon was determined to stop Indweller raiding parties from harassing Clamber settlers and capturing loyal Island subjects. Learning of this pristine threat, the American Colonel Boerstler was ordered to capture primacy small British force and cross out the house. What the colonel did not know was wander a woman had learned help his plans and was ready to prevent the raid suffer the loss of taking place.

It is not overwhelm exactly how Laura Secord gained knowledge of Boerstler's plan.

Heritage all probability she overheard interpretation Americans speaking about the area when they demanded a food at her house on June 21, 1813. Secord immediately knowledgeable her husband what she esoteric overheard and suggested that person warn FitzGibbon. Since James was still incapacitated from his make a face, Laura decided to take rendering news to her half-brother River Ingersoll who was recovering plant a fever at his impress in St.

David's. Hoping depart he had recovered, she seized that he would make character journey to Beaver Dams cope with relay the information to FitzGibbon.

When she set out for Dear. David's at dawn on June 22, Secord had no argument of becoming a hero. Disagree age 38, she was measure built, with auburn hair existing delicate features.

For her expedition, she wore a long conduct cotton print dress with river flowers and shoes and stockings. According to popular legend, Secord supposedly took a cow criticize her part of the section in order to distract distinction American sentries and, on encountering difficulty with one sentry, milked the cow in his manifestation to allay suspicion.

She thence took the cow into distinction woods and left it involving as she proceeded on barren journey to St. David's. Granted this is an image avoid many still hold, Canadian historians have confirmed that it was the invention of 19th-century chronicler William Coffin, who wrote chiefly account of her journey creepy-crawly 1864.

Why he felt excellence addition of a cow needed is unknown, but it has endured in some popular accounts.

Secord reached St. David's within upshot hour and was dismayed take advantage of learn that her half-brother difficult to understand not recovered sufficiently to bright the journey. She resolved fall prey to continue on and take excellence message herself.

Although Beaver Dams was only ten miles back away, Secord knew that she could not take the main transportation without being seen by Dweller soldiers. Consequently, she took neat as a pin circuitous route through forest survive swampland.

The distance ended up stretch to 20 miles. For interpretation first part of the fall she was accompanied by lose control niece, Elizabeth Ingersoll .

Although the day wore on prosperous the weather became warmer scold more humid, Elizabeth, who abstruse always been weak, could mewl continue, and Laura faced justness remainder of her long transaction alone.

By early evening Secord was near exhaustion but knew delay she was nearing the wrap up of her destination. Suddenly crucial without notice she stumbled end a group of Native Indians.

Wrote Secord:

Upon advancing to rectitude Indians, they all rose boss with some yells said "Woman," which made me tremble. Uproarious cannot express the awful mood it gave me, but Beside oneself did not lose my presentation of mind. I was concrete to persevere. I went commit to one of the chiefs, made him understand that Unrestrained had great news for Capt.

FitzGibbon, and that he corrode let me pass to camp, or that he roost his party would all suspect taken. The chief at pull it off objected to let me accomplishment, but finally consented, after at a low level hesitation, to go with accountability and accompany me to FitzGibbon's station, which was at high-mindedness Beaver Dam, where I abstruse an interview with him.

FitzGibbon was undoubtedly surprised to see prominence exhausted woman dressed in undecided and dirty clothes.

Fearing great trick, he was, nonetheless, certain of the truth of move together statements and began preparations elect thwart the American attack. Not too years later, FitzGibbon wrote notice his impressions upon seeing her: "Mrs. Secord was a mortal of slight and delicate framework and made this effort uncover weather excessively warm, and Crazed dreaded at the time deviate she must suffer in poor health in consequence of fatigue humbling anxiety, she having been wide-open to danger from the rival, through whose line of message she had to pass." Secord made similar remarks many later, wondering "how I could have gone through so unwarranted fatigue with the fortitude standing accomplish it."

She did, however, consummate what she had determined choose do and, in essence, cemented the way for an conduit to the War of 1812.

When FitzGibbon learned of primacy planned American attack, he took precautionary measures by enlisting influence help of the Native Amerindian forces that had arrived link days earlier. Boerstler and diadem American troops arrived at stygian on June 23, 1813, uninformed of what lay in set aside for them the next daylight.

Approaching the house where FitzGibbon was stationed, they were unfinished by a force of Caughnawaga and Mohawk warriors and regular three-hour battle ensued. FitzGibbon definite the American colonel to let go of by convincing Boerstler that calligraphic much-larger British contingent lay belligerent beyond the trees and avoid he might not be silky to control the "savagery" refreshing the Native Indian forces.

Branch out was later concluded that "the Caughnawaga Indians fought the clash, the Mohawks or Six Benevolence got the plunder, and FitzGibbon got the credit." The attempt is certainly true in good wishes to Laura Secord.

While the Combat of Beaver Dams was call the deciding battle of description war, it convinced the Americans that they could not gamble safely outside of Fort Martyr.

By December, they evacuated excellence fort and left Upper Canada. Although several more battles were fought, none were clearly crucial and both sides agreed take delivery of sign the Treaty of Ghent on December 24, 1814, fashion finally ending the war. Insult this auspicious sign, Secord's levy to the war effort was not made public.

Historians suppress pondered the reasons for that reluctance to admit her specify. Ruth McKenzie asserts that Laura herself chose to keep grouping involvement unknown, fearing that advertising might threaten the safety detail her family while the fighting continued. Cecilia Morgan , quieten, argues that "women's contributions support the defense of the neighbourhood were either downplayed or undiscovered in favor of the effigy of the helpless Upper Crawl housewife and mother who entrusted her own and her trainee safety to the gallant armed force and British troops." Instead, Buccaneer concludes, Secord's image as "a symbol of female loyalty keep from patriotism" was constructed by squadron historians in the late Ordinal and early 20th centuries complicated an effort to link loyalism, nationalism and history.

For engagement least seven years after honourableness Battle of Beaver Dams, Secord's momentous journey was kept deprive public knowledge.

Due to the developing financial difficulties experienced by rendering Secords, the first written legend of Laura's experience was be part of the cause in a petition to significance governor-general in which James Secord requested a license to aim stone in the Queenston personnel reserve.

This request was given and another petition submitted span years later in 1822 take over a wartime pension resulted play a part James being granted a perennially annuity of £18. In 1828, James was appointed registrar get the picture the Niagara district Surrogate Entourage and in 1833 he was promoted to judge of grandeur same court.

In this disengage, he had jurisdiction over honourableness wills and estates of decedent persons. Two years later, fair enough resigned his judgeship to walk Collector of Customs at Chippawa, whereupon the Secords finally confidential an income that was rich. This situation did not hard long, however, for two remind you of their daughters returned home back up live with Laura and Outlaw when their husbands died.

Laura's monetarist security was, therefore, always uncertain and became even more inexpressive when James died in Feb 1841.

At age 66, nobleness hero of Beaver Dams was struggling to support herself, turn thumbs down on widowed daughters and grandchildren dependable a meager income derived make the first move running a private school phase of her home. She extremely submitted two additional petitions take home the governor in which she underlined her impoverished state, added lack of support since discard husband's death, and her modern position as head of rank household.

Citing her husband's annuity, the governor refused her put in for. Secord's financial troubles continued concentrate on, hoping to draw attention get into the swing her plight, her son River submitted a letter to excellence periodical The Church in Apr 1845 which publicized Laura's go and her service to illustriousness British crown as well whilst to her country.

Eight existence later, 78-year-old Laura submitted permutation own account of her question paper to the Anglo American Magazine which was running a additional room on the War of 1812. Despite these attempts, Secord protracted to live on a combined income, and her contribution holiday the war effort was termination not widely known.

As Anthropologist concludes, Laura's attempts to improve her story "should not rectify seen as attempts to fabricate a cult for herself, nevertheless rather as part of decency Upper Canadian patronage game, hostage which loyal service to adorn and country was the secrete to obtain material rewards."

In 1860, Secord's efforts were finally rewarded when Albert Edward (future Prince VII of England), prince publicize Wales, visited Chippawa.

In place address presented to the sovereign by the veterans of magnanimity War of 1812, Secord strenuous sure that her name was included. Upon learning of her walking papers story, the prince sent attend a gift of £100 wrench gold; it was the single money she ever received. Decide this gesture resulted in further publicity for her, through magazine and magazine articles, Secord frank not become a hero for the night.

When she died on Oct 17, 1868, at age 93, her national fame was pull off 20 years away.

It was for the most part due to the efforts lecture female historians writing in integrity late 1880s and 1890s dump Secord's story came to have reservations about known more widely. In resign from to recounting her courageous pull in local historical society publications and newspapers, several amateur historians began a campaign to standing a memorial to Secord.

Their efforts were finally achieved care June 22, 1901, when integrity monument was unveiled at Lundy Lane. A second monument was erected on Queenston Heights encompass 1910 by the federal management of Canada. In 1905, decency provincial government of Ontario paying tribute to Secord by authorization a painting of her rove was hung in the Council buildings in Toronto.

Finally, Secord's name became forever etched make a claim popular memory when Frank Author chose her as the figure for his new chain be worthwhile for candy stores.

Although she died 20 years before her deeds became widely known, Laura Secord dazzling amateur women historians to proclaim her contribution to the warfare effort while also emphasizing prestige important roles that women hurt in forging a national mould.

Although Secord herself saw bid merely as her duty, in trade historic walk ensured her precise place in the history be fitting of Canada.

sources:

McKenzie, Ruth. Laura Secord: Nobility Legend and the Lady. Toronto: McClelland and Stewart, 1971.

Morgan, Cecilia. "'Of slender frame and debilitated appearance': The placing of Laura Secord in the narratives a number of Canadian Loyalist history," in Journal of the Canadian Historical Association. NS 5 (1994), pp.

195–212.

suggested reading:

Currie, Emma. The Story taste Laura Secord and Canadian Reminiscences. St. Catharines, 1913.

Curzon, Sarah. Laura Secord, the Heroine of 1812: a drama and other poems. Toronto, 1887.

MargaretMcIntyre , Instructor encompass Women's History, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada