Ancaster Bloody Assize 1814: A Series of Trials for High Treason

From the Canadian Encyclopedia by James A. Marsh.

The Bloody Assize were a series of trials conducted in 1814.  Nineteen Canadian men were accused of High Treason for supporting the Americans in the War of 1812.Most of the citizens of Upper Canada either fought in the defense of their colony or remained neutral, but there were men all over the province who sympathized with the Americans.

Some openly joined American invading forces, others crossed into the United States.

In November and December of 1813, Canadian militia captured a group of marauders  near Chatham, Ontario.  Among them were fifteen  residents of the province.  All of them were sent to York to be tried in the court (assize is a historical term applied to courts that periodically  administered civil and criminal law).

Canadians Not Happy With What They Considered Treason.  --Brock-Perry