Some More On Joseph Willcocks-- Part 3: What Caused Him to Cross Over to the American Side

Most likely, from what I've read is his adherence to the letter of the law and opposition to any suspension of rights (especially when the military was involved.  And this was just what was going  on in 1813 in Upper Canada.

This source says that during the USS Chesapeake Affair of 1807, Willcocks had written an American correspondent over the British Navy's forced enforcement of capturing runaway seamen:  "The honest part of us say that if the States pocket the indignity they can no longer style themselves a nation."

In 1813, Upper Canadians were, to Willcocks, willing to suffer  the indignity of arbitrary and, what was worse, military rule.  He was definitely not pro-American, and once described Americans as "not an honest people.'    But, even so, the subversion of local legislative supremacy was more than he could stand.

He crossed over the river to the American side and offered his services.

--Brock-Perry