Steps of a Traitor? Joseph Willcocks-- Part 1: "Turn-Coated"

From Daniel Wyatt's High On History site.  "Joseph Willcocks:  Canada's War of 1812 Traitor."

"In fact, you might say that Willcocks was Canada's Benedict Arnold."  After doing this research, I must say this is a good point.  Once, backing the side he turned traitor on, both men went over to the other side and for their own particular reasons.

One iof the first things that troubled Willcocks was after the Americans attacked Queenston Heights and Isaac Brock was killed.  The British authorities then enacted martial law, where all rights were suspended, something that Willcocks could not and would not tolerate.  We'll call this the first step toward joining the Americans.

On May 27, 1813, about 5,000 Americans attacked Niagara, near Newark, capturing Fort George and chasing the British-Canadian forces almost back to Burlington Heights at present-day Hamilton.

Two months later, Willcocks crossed the Niagara River and offered his services to the Americans.  Mr. Wyatt believes that Willcocks may not have been pro-American, but thought the Americans would win.  "Not only had Willcocks 'turn-coated,' he had committed a treasonous act because he was still being a member of  the Upper Canadian Legislative Assembly."

--Brock-Perry