Alexander Macdonell-- Part 5: Becomes Catholic Bishop of Upper Canada

A central figure in the religious and political life of the Crown Colony of Canada, Macdonell was appointed vicar general in 1807 and vicar apostolic in 1820 and was  consecrated bishop or Regiopolis in 1826.

During his tenure thousands of Irish immigrants arrived, and by 1840, there were 34 priests and  48 parishes in  Upper Canada (today's province of Ontario) for which Macdonell had secured financial assistance from the local and British governments.

A firm conservative, Macdonell was a legislative counsellor  from 1831, and soon came under fire from the Reform Movement.

He died while in Britain attempting to secure funds for the Regiopolis College and recruiting more Catholic emigrants.  Alexander Macdonell was buried at  St. Margaret's Convent in Edinburgh, Scotland, but his remains were removed to  St. Mary's in Kingston in 1861.

--Brock-Perry

Christopher R. Perry-- Part 3: Becomes a Rich Man and Commands USS General Greene in Quasi War

After the American Revolution, he served on a merchant ship and sailed to Ireland where he was able to bring his beloved Sarah to the United States where they were married in Philadelphia in 1784.  (That must have been an interesting story of his meeting his future wife while a prisoner.

They moved to South Kingston, Rhode Island where his parents had a 200 acre estate.  Their first child, Oliver Hazard Perry was born there in August 1785.)

Christopher Perry then  pursued his career as a merchant ship captain, making voyages all over the world and making a small fortune in the process.  He was able to move his family to the fast-growing Newport, Rhode Island and by 1797, he was rich enough to retire.

On January 7, 1798, he was commissioned as a captain in the U.S. Navy during the Quasi War with France.  Given command of the frigate USS General Greene, he brought along his son, 13-year-old midshipman Oliver Hazard Perry.

You can read the rest of the story about his time on the USS General Greene on my May 4 and May 6 blogs.

--Brock-Perry

Christopher R. Perry-- Part 2: Service in the American Revolution

Born in Newport, Rhode Island.  His mother was a descendant of two of the Mayflower Compact signers.

AMERICAN REVOLUTION

He enlisted in a local militia company at age 14 early in the American  Revolution.  He then served on two privateers, but the second one was captured  and Perry was confines on the infamous prison hulk, the Jersey in New York Harbor for three months before escaping.

In 1779. he joined the Continental Navy as a seaman on the 30-gun frigate USS Trumbull.  He was aboard this ship when it engaged the 32-gun British letter of marque Watt in a hard-fought, but indecisive battle.

  After that, Perry enlisted on another privateer which was captured and Perry was again imprisoned, this time  at Newry Barracks in Ireland where he met his future wife, Sarah Wallace  Alexander. he was able to make another escape, this time by posing as a British seaman.  He arrived back in the U.S.  shortly before the end of the war in 1783.

(In case you're wondering, the Perry in my sign-off below comes from Christopher's son, Oliver Hazard Perry.  The Brock is from British/Canadian War of 1812  hero Isaac Brock.)

--Brock-Perry

Joseph Willcocks-- Part 1: The Benedict Arnold of Upper Canada?

In the last post I mentioned that Joseph Willcocks and Stephen Champlin are buried in Buffalo, New York's Forest Lawn Cemetery with a lot of other notables.

I have also already written about Stephen Champlin and Joseph Willcocks, just click on their name labels below to see what I wrote.  But I haven;'t covered Willcocks as well a Champlin, so here goes.

From Wikipedia.

JOSEPH WILLCOCKS

(1773- September 4, 1814)

Was a publisher, political figure and ultimately, a traitor to Upper Canada.

Born in Palmerstown, Ireland, and came to York, Upper Canada, at age 27.  Once there, he lived with a distant cousin and fell in love with that cousin's half-sister and there was a bit of family problems over that.  Forced to move out, he moved in with Chief Justice Henry Allcock which proved good for his career.

He became sheriff of the Home District and then got into politics.  But some question arose about that and he was removed.  After that he moved to Niagara and began publishing a newspaper and used that to get elected to Upper Canada's Parliament and was later jailed for contempt.

On release, he was later reelected and he and a group resisted the efforts of Isaac Brock, British administrator, to prepare for a possible war with the United States.

And, the war had not even begun yet.

An Interesting Character.  --Brock-Perry

David Poe, Sr.-- Part 2: From Ireland and Service in the American Revolution

From FaceBook, The Macabre Edgar Allan Poe.

David Poe came from Ireland to the American colonies sometime in 1742 or 1743.  He settled in Baltimore where he became an influential and rich citizen making spinning wheels and clock reels.  With the coming of the American Revolution, he was a member of Captain John McClellan's Company of Baltimore troops in 1778 and 1779.

He was commissioned Assistant Deputy Quartermaster General for the City of Baltimore with the rank of major on September 17, 1779.  One of his duties was to transport the French Allies  from Baltimore by sea from Baltimore and across the Susquehanna River.  he did this very successfully.  The people of Baltimore were so impressed with that and other services he did that he received the honorable name of "General."

--Brock-Perry

David Poe, Sr.-- Part 1: Grandfather of Edgar Allan Poe

From Waymarking.com.  American Revolutionary War Veteran Graves.

David Poe, Sr. is a Revolutionary War veteran buried at Westminster Burial Grounds in Baltimore, Maryland.

Born in Londonderry, Ireland, in 1743 and came to the American colonies and served in the American Revolution.  In addition to serving as a major in the war, he also served as Assistant Deputy Quartermaster of the City of Baltimore.

A strong supporter of the colonists, he even gave $40,000 of his own money to the cause.

He later took up arms again in the War of 1812 at the Battle of Baltimore at the age of 70.

David Poe, Sr. was the grandfather of Edgar Allan Poe whose original burial site was next to him.

--Brock-Perry

James McHenry-- Part 1: Physician From Ireland

From Wikipedia.

James McHenry (1753-1816)

In the last post, I mentioned that Fort McHenry was named after this man.

Born in Ireland.   American military surgeon and statesman.  Was the third U.S. Secretary of War, serving under George Washington and John Adams.

In 1771, his family sent him to the North American colonies for his health and to see if moving there would be a good idea.  He apprenticed under Benjamin Rush to be a physician.  Practiced medicine and became a surgeon.

During the American Revolution he served as a physician.  On August 10, 1776, he was appointed surgeon of the Fifth Pennsylvania Battalion and stationed at Fort Washington, New York.  He was taken prisoner when the fort was captured by Sir William Howe.

While prisoner, he observed the poor medical conditions the prisoners had, but nothing came of it.

--Brock-Perry

Phineas Riall, Royal Army-- Part 1: Born in Ireland, Rose Through Ranks With Purchased Commissions

From Wikipedia.

Back when I was writing about John B. Campbell, British officer Phineas Riall had condemned him for his destruction to Dover during his occupation of it.  Who was this Phineas Riall?

15 December 1775 to 10 November 1850

British general who succeeded John Vincent as commanding officer of the Niagara Peninsula in Upper Canada during the War of 1812.  In 1816, he was appointed governor of Grenada.

Born in Ireland to a Protestant family.  Entered the British Army as an ensign in 1794 and rose rapidly through the ranks with purchased commissions.  Spent seven years at half pay with no command or staff.

--Brock-Perry

War Hero Rests in Pauper's Grave-- Part 2

From the May 17th Hamilton (Canada) Spectator.

Continued from September 14th.

James Fitzgibbon was an Irish farmer's son and was a special protegee of Sir Isaac Brock until his 1812 death.  He rose through the ranks by merit rather than by buuying commissions as was the common practice.

During the early days of the War of 1812, he ran supplies along the St. Lawrence River from Montreal to Kingston, past American forces. 

His group used guerrilla tactics they learned from their First Nation (Indian) allies and wore gray-green uniforms and earned the name Bloody Boys, the Green 'Uns or the Bully Boys.  There is a story about how they captured two Americans in a tavern with the help of the owner's wife.

Americans at Fort George decided they were going to destroy the Bloody Boys and 600 set off to Queenstown.  Several officers stayed at the home of James and Laura Secord who overheard them boasting about a surprise attack on Fitzgibbons.  James was recovering from wounds, so Laura began her "legendary overnight trek" to warn the British.

The Story of Laura Secord's Night Trek.  --Brock-Perry

War Hero Rests in Pauper's Grave-- Part 1

From the May 17th Hamilton (Can) Spectator by Gail Douglas.

James Fitzgimmon was an Irish-born British soldier who risked his life as a spy to bring essential information that led to the British victory at  the Battle of Stoney Creek, considered a turning point in the defense of Upper Canada.

Today, his body is in a pauper's grave on the grounds of England's Windsor Castle.

In 1813, American forces held Fort George and Queenstown on the Niagara Peninsula.  From there, there were constant raids on Canadian farms and villages. 

Lt. James Fitzgibbon of the British 42nd Regt. asked to pick 50 men to harass the enemy, carry out reconnaisaance missions and chase down raiders

An Irishman...In the British Army?  --Brock-Perry

Navy Playing Football in Dublin, Ireland: A Commemoration

It just ended, but the Naval Academy played Notre Dame in Dublin, Ireland, to kick-off both teams' season.  Sadly, it was a blow-out in favor of the Fighting Irish.  Even though Navy was the home team, guess who was the fans' favorite of those in Dublin?

This is another commemoration of the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812 of sorts.  It was in this war that the U.S. Navy came of age with victories over British ships.  I heard that an American warship visited Dublin as well.

I imagine the Irish were pulling for the Americans during the war.  You know, anything to cause problems for their dear friends in England.

It Was a 50-10 Shellacking.  --Brock-Perry