Some More on John B. Montgomery, USN

From Cyclopedia of New Jersey.

**  In conjunction with seven other officers and 100 enlisted men, Montgomery volunteered for duty on Lake Erie with Perry.

**  In August 1814, he  was at the destruction of a British blockhouse and  gun brig on the British side of Lake Huron.

**  During the last siege of Fort Erie the Niagara was employed in protecting communication between the fort and the U.S. hospitals at Buffalo.  Also, transportation for troops between the two shores of the lake during the months of September and October.

It would have been interesting had he been at the Battle of Lake Champlain and in command of the USS Montgomery (which was named after American Revolution General Richard Montgomery).  Then we would have had Montgomery in command of the Montgomery.

To find out about John Montgomery's entire naval career, go to my Running the Blockade: Civil War Navy blog from February 9-16 of this year.

--Brock-Perry

Some More on Betsy Doyle-- Part 1

FromWCNY Org. Fort Niagara.

By Cathy Emmerson.

Betsy Doyle was a woman of the Army, one of a small number of military wives who were permitted to accompany their husbands to perform menial tasks like nursing and laundry.  Prior to the War of 1812, she had married  Andrew Doyle, a private in the 1st U.S. Artillery Regiment.

He was stationed at  Fort Niagara, an antiquated outpost on the Canadian/U.S. border, about 30 miles north of Buffalo, New York.

When U.S. forces invaded Upper Canada, just seven miles south  of the fort, on October 13, 1812, Private Doyle was among the forces crossing the Niagara River.  The subsequent Battle of Queenston Heights was a disaster for the Americans and Doyle became a prisoner of war.

When he was recognized as a  native of Upper Canada, he was sent to England to be tried for treason.  There he remained for the balance of the war, an inmate at the infamous Dartmoor Prison.

Andrew's capture left Betsy Doyle and her four children  alone at Fort Niagara.

--Brock-Perry

Capt. Abraham Fuller Hull-- Part 3

In 1910, the remains of nine more American dead were found and placed in a similar grave nearby with quiet ceremonies  in which historical societies from both countries took part.  The monument that marks these graves is the gift of the Niagara Frontier Landmarks Society of Buffalo.

The name "Bridgewater" that appears in the inscription was given by American officers and historians to this battle  because of the long-vanished hamlet of that name, near Burning Spring, was  the last place the Army passed through before it became engaged, and near where they had their base hospital and supplies during the fight.

How many American dead are buried in this field will never be known.  Many who fell in the action were removed and a number of them were burned.  But certainly, many were interred in unmarked trenches.

Adjutant Thomas  Poe, of the Pennsylvania Volunteers was killed here, but he was buried  at Fort Niagara, New York.

--Brock-Perry

Haunted Buffalo-- Part 2: Burned in the War of 1812

Even though the attempt was made to surrender the village of Buffalo, the British soldiers were to have their revenge for the Newark and York burnings.  They set the town ablaze and the flames made quick work of nearly all the 150 structures that made up Buffalo back then.

They also burned the neighboring community of Black Rock.

The British returned to Canada with 130 prisoners  They lost 31 men and the Americans  50 in the Battle of Buffalo.

When the fires ceased, all  that remained was the "stone jail, Reese's blacksmith shop and the house of Margaret St. John.  Within a week of the attack, the residents of Buffalo began to rebuild.

--Brock-Perry

Just in Time for Halloween, Haunted Buffalo-- Part 1: Old County Hall's Dismembered Apparitions

From the October 28, 2020, Buffalo (NY) Rising "Haunted History: Old County Hall is at the center of Buffalo's most dramatic moments" by Daniel Lendzian.

THE WAR OF 1812

The Old County Hall is the site where Colonel Cyrenius Chapin surrendered  the village of Buffalo to the British on December 10, 1813, to British Lieutenant General  Gordon Drummond after American Brigadier General George McClure abandoned the village saying, "They may all be destroyed, and I don't care how soon."  (Nice guy.)

Drummond rejected Chapin's authority to surrender and proceeded to burn the village in retaliation for the American burning  of the British settlement Newark (Niagara-On-the-Lake) and previously having burned the Canadian provincial capital of York (now Toronto).

Much business is still done at the building today, especially in the basement.  Accordingly, every so many years there will be many people down there waiting for appointments and they will all come running up the stairs saying they had seen something that scared them.

They described apparitions as human bodies missing limbs.  Was the County Hall a burying ground?

Like Boo!!  --Brock-Perry

The Patriot War of 1838-- Part 2: The "Hunter's Lodge" Gets Organized

Participants in the war were  a secret organization known as the "Hunter's Lodge" formed in the United States in sympathy to the 1837 rebellions in Upper and Lower Canada.It arose in Vermont among Lower Canada refugees and spread westward under the direction of of Dr. Charles Duncombe, William  Lyon Mackenzie and Donald McLeod.

They formed the Republic of Canada and headquartered at Navy Island, but were bombarded by the British and retreated to Buffalo, New York, where they were seized by U.S. forces and sentenced to 18 months for violating the neutrality between Britain and the U.S..

On December 7, 1837, the initial rebellion in Upper Canada ended at the Battle of Montgomery's Tavern at which time many of the rebels fled to the U.S..  Two days before the battle, a group of 13 had organized in Buffalo to support the rebels.

Rensselaer van Rensselaer, a West Point graduate and who had fought alongside Bolivar in South America, became the head of the Patriot military forces.  (I am not sure this is a correct name.)  They occupied Navy Island, in Canadian waters.  During the month of December much work was done getting supporters and soon they had 500 men.

--Brock-Perry

Steamer Robert Fulton-- Part 4

From Meandering  Michigan History site.

As the situation worsened along Lake Erie and the Detroit area in the Patriot War of 1838, the U.S. government got involved lest these activities would anger Britain and set up a clash between the countries.

The government sent the steamer Robert Fulton from Buffalo to Detroit with three companies of U.S. regulars commanded by Colonel Worth.  The government frequently sent troops to patrol both up and down the Detroit River to stem the Patriot Movement, but the Patriots survived.

*********************

There was another steamship named the Robert Fulton that was launched in 1821 and is regarded as the first steam powered ship to make the trip from New York City to New Orleans.  However, this was not the one that Champlin had with him.

--Brock-Perry

Steamer Robert Fulton-- Part 4: History

1844--  Owned by Forsyth, Clark & Atwood to run to Toledo, Maumee City and Monroe.

1844, October 23.  Stranded at Sturgeon Point, Lake Erie.

1858--   November 25.  Loading at Rochester, New York for Buffalo.

1858--  November 28  Arrived back at Rochester with with 5,300 bushels of wheat.

--Brock-Perry

Steamer Robert Fulton-- Part 3: History of the Ship

HISTORY

1836--  Ran the Erie Canal

1838--  In the Patriot War, chartered by U.S. government with the steamer New England to carry troops from Buffalo to Detroit.  This was when Stephen Champlin was involved.  And, again, this is not the U.S. warship USS Fulton.

1838--  First enrollment  Cleveland, Griffith, Standart & Co.

1838--  April 25--  Owned by  Giddings & Co. Cleveland

1838--  October 6  Owned by John Pease & Co., Buffalo, NY.

1842--  Running the Monroe to Buffalo route.

--Brock-Perry

Stephen Champlin's Post War Service-- Part 5: Quite Famous

In 1843, the USS Michigan, which was the first ironclad warship to sail on the Great Lakes, was launched at Erie, Pennsylvania.  She was 168 feet in length with a beam width of 69 feet, a ten foot draft and 600 ton displacement.  Her first commander was William Inman.

On November 4, 1845, Stephen Champlin succeeded him as commander and served in that capacity until until March 31, 1848, when he was replaced by James M. McIntosh (I could not find mention of him).

After retiring from the Navy, he resided in Buffalo, New York.  In 1842 he was spoken of as a possible candidate for the office of Buffalo mayor but declined the nomination.  At the time of his death, he was the last surviving officer of the Battle of Lake Erie.  His funeral eulogy was delivered by New York Governor Clinton.

Then a few months after his death, Gov. Clinton delivered a rather lengthy address to the Buffalo Historical Society on the life and career of Stephen Champlin.

--Brock-PerryChamplin

Stephen Champlin's Post War Service-- Part 4: Recruiting and Private Life

John Lisle, whose blog I am taking this information could easily write a book about Stephen Champlin.

In the winter of 1842, Commander Stephen Champlin was placed in charge of the recently established Navy recruiting center at Buffalo.  In the short span less than  four months he had signed up 400 apprentices, seamen and ordinary seamen for service.

Captain and Mrs. Champlin resided on Seneca Street in Buffalo for many years as did many of the city's noted persons during those years.  Their house was well-known for suppers and card parties.

--Brock-Perry

Stephen Champlin's Post War Service-- Part 2: Five Operations for His Wound

His wife, Minerva Lydia Pomeroy was born June 28, 1798 and died June 8, 1859.  They had eight children.  Of interest, the first one born in 1818 was named Oliver Hazard Perry Champlin.  I have found nothing about him following his father's footsteps into the U.S. Navy.

In the spring of 1818, Stephen Chaplin was compelled to undergo further surgery on his leg to remove bone fragments.  He was then detached from the naval station at Erie and allowed because of his health to return to Connecticut. until November 1828.

In November 1828 he was put briefly in command of the steamer USS Fulton at New York, and served as her captain until December 30th at which time  it was decided that his leg made him unfit for such duties (as he had undergone  three more operations).  He returned to Connecticut, remaining there until  1834 when he returned to  Buffalo.

Considering where surgery stood in this period of time, he was risking his life each time and in great pain.

--Brock-Perry

Stephen Champlin's Postwar Career-- Part 1

After his capture, the British paroled him figuring that his wounds would be mortal.  He went back home to Connecticut where he recovered from the wounds.  On March 28, 1815, he was ordered to join Perry's fleet which was heading to the Mediterranean to battle the Barbary Pirates off the coast of Algeria and Tunisia.

In the fall of 1815, in consideration of his wounds, he was ordered to  to return to Erie in the spring of 1816. There he underwent a difficult operation to remove the many splinters of shattered bone that remained in his leg.

From 1816-1818, he commanded the USS  Porcupine surveying the Canadian-American border along the upper Great Lakes.  Upon his return to Erie, he was beached in a strong gale at Buffalo.  During his enforced stay in Buffalo, he met and courted Minerva  Lydia Pomeroy whom he married there  on January 9, 1817.

She was a Buffalo socialite of the city. She and Stephen had eight children.

--Brock-Perry

Stephen Champlin-- Part 7: Fired First and Last Shots at Battle of Lake Erie

Champlin's force marched from Sackets Harbor  that evening.  At Schlosser, he chartered a two masted boat and  went up the river by rowing with barge poles to Buffalo.  There the group took on arms before continuing on to Oliver Hazard Perry at Erie, Pennsylvania, arriving there on July 24, 1813.  This was a full ten days earlier than another group which had left Sackets Harbor two hours before Champlin.

On July 25, he was ordered to fit out and take command of the USS Scorpion.

As second in command to Perry at Erie, Champlin participated in expeditions against Fort George and Fort York (Toronto) aboard the USS Asp.  Later in command of the two gun schooner USS Scorpion, Champlin led the attack on the British fleet at the Battle of Lake Erie on September 13, 1813.

He is credited with firing the first shot of the battle which effectively ended British control of the Great Lakes.  And, in capturing the HMS Little Belt he also fired the last shots.

--Brock-Perry

Stephen Champlin-- Part 2: The Champlin Family Burial Plot

Both President Millard Fillmore and the commodore's individual  headstones are small and simple -- each bearing nothing more than their initials.

The centerpiece of the Champlin plot is a large monument bearing detailed descriptions on all four sides.  The front of the monument is adorned with a sculpture of a ship's cannon and ball, and anchor and various  pennants.  The left and right side inscriptions detail the names and date of birth and death of the commodore's son (Oliver Hazard Perry Champlin and wife), and the commodore's grandson (Oliver Hazard Perry Champlin and wife) -- each of whom are buried elsewhere on the plot.

I was unable to find out if the son and grandson followed into U.S.N. service.

The rear of the monument is the following inscription:

Commodore STEPHEN CHAMPLIN
BORN
Nov. 17, 1789
DIED
Feb. 20, 1870

MINERVA L.
WIFE OF
STEPHEN CHAMPLIN
BORN JUNE 28, 1798
DIED
JUNE 8, 1859

--Brock-Perry

Stephen Champlin-- Part 1: Buried Next to Millard Fillmore, 13th President

From the Stedman  Families Research Center, John Lisle.

Commodore

Born 17 November 1789   South Kingstown, Washington County, Rhode Island

Death  20 February 1870   Buffalo, Erie County, New York

Buried  Forest Lawn Cemetery, Buffalo, NY

Biography of Stephen Champlin   by Robert Champlin

Stephen Champlin, son of Stephen Champlin and Elizabeth Raymond Perry, was  born in South Kingston, Rhode Island, on November 17, 1789, and died at Buffalo (Erie County) New York on February 20 1870.  he was buried in the Forest Lawn Cemetery there.

The Champlin family plot (which contained two dozen stones when I visited in August 1994) is located right next to the Fillmore family plot in which Millard Fillmore, the 13th President of the United States is buried.

--Brock-Perry

Stephen Champlin, USN-- Part 3: Long Service In U.S. Navy

In 1816, as commander of the USS Porcupine, he participated in the mapping of the United States-Canadian boundary under  the Treaty of Ghent.

He continued to serve in the U.S. Navy until 1855, when he retired to its reserves.  In 1862, he was promoted to the rank of commodore.

Throughout the rest of his life he suffered greatly from his 1814 wound.  He married and fathered six children in Buffalo, New York,  where he died 20 February 1870 and was buried at Forest Lawn Cemetery in that city.

--Brock-Perry

They Were There At Omaha Beach-- Part 1

From the June 6, 2019, Chicago Tribune  "A Day Like No Other" by Ron Grossman.

Veteran Richard Rung, 94, spoke at the Pritzker Military Museum & Library on Wednesday.  Rung participated in the D-Day landing at Omaha Beach with the U.S. Navy and helped send ammunition supplies to the troops.

He spent two months in Europe and then served in the Pacific theater.  Rung grew up in Buffalo, N.Y., and now lives in Carol Stream.  "I am not only in history, but history is in me," he said.  "Omaha is not 75 years ago for me.  Periodically, it can be yesterday."

They Were There.

Steps of a Traitor, Joseph Willcocks-- Part 5: Ancaster Bloody Assize Trials and Aftermath

The story doesn't end here.  In 1814, nineteen Willcocks supporters and pro-Americans in custody were charged with high treason to Upper Canada.  Others were likewise charged in absentia.  This became the Ancaster Bloody Assize Trials of 1814, held in Ancaster, Upper Canada.

As a result, eight of Willcocks' followers were hanged and seven others banished.

Joseph Willcocks himself survived only briefly, receiving a mortal wound at the Siege of Fort Erie that September.  His body was brought back to the United States.This was the last fight of the war between British and American forces on the Niagara Frontier.

Due to potential retaliation or even death after the Treaty of Ghent the surviving members of the Company of Canadian Volunteers settled in the United States.  Two of them were Benejah Mallory and , who took over command of the Canadian Volunteers after Willcocks' death, and Abraham Markle.

Daniel Wyatt concluded saying that Joseph Willcocks is buried today in  an unmarked grave in Buffalo "with neither side considering honoring the notorious rebel of questionable loyalties."

Evidently Not A Fan of Willcocks.  --Brock-Perry

Steps of a Traitor-- Part 4: Retaliation

When the British forces arrived on the scene of the smoking Newark,. they were enraged.  They took on the Canadian volunteers, killing two and capturing several.  Willcocks and the others got away.

In retaliation, Gordon Drummond crossed the Niagara River a few days later, captured Fort Niagara in a surprise attack and in the next few weeks, likewise torched several towns and villages, including Lewiston, Black Rock and Buffalo on the American side which they occupied until the war's end.

How many of Newark's civilians died in 1813 is not known, but undoubtedly many froze to death.

Shortly after his order to burn Newark, American General George McClure was relieved of his command and dismissed from the army.  Joseph Willcocks now had a price on his head.

A Traitor to Canada.  --Brock-Perry