Lewiston (NY) Remembers War of 1812, Tuscarora Support

From the Dec. 21, 2019, Niagara Frontier Publications.

It was quite cold, but that didn't cancel Lewiston's annual War of 1812 remembrance ceremony held on Thursday, Dec. 19 at the Tuscarora Heroes Monument at the corner of Center Street and Portage Road.

It was emceed by the village historian Lee Simonson who told the story of Reuben Lewis "Lewiston's First Martyr"  who sent his wife and children to safety, but stayed behind to fight the attacking British who attacked and burned the village.

Tuscarora Nation elder and council member Neil Patterson Sr. offered his thoughts on the event.    They had been monitoring the British and tried to warn of the impending attack.  Though they were ignored, they stayed to defend the whites of the village.

--Brock-Perry