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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1986-07-23, Page 62Page 16 Less than 15 abled bodied men to protect the area... By Floyd McAsh, Ivan McClymont and Robert P. Reid Rebellion of 1837 About the time that the first settlers were arriving in Stanley Township,. William Lyon MacKenzie was causing controversy in the government of Upper Canada at York (now Toronto). He and many of his followers were angry with the Family Compact (as the government was called) because it favored the wealthy and the people around York. He was a journalist and printed the Colonial Ad- vocate. His forceful manner and excellent writing ability earned him a seat in the parliament. 'However, his denunciation of the government brought about a series of at- tacks against him. A series of libel suits and even lin attack on his printing office, which resulted in his press being wrecked and his type strewn into the lake, was the last straw. When Lieutenant Governor Head loaned the troops to Lower Canada , because Joseph Papineau was leading a rebellion against the government there, MacKenzie took ad- vantage and under command of Colonel Van Egmond gathered a group of about 800 men armed with muskets, staves and pitchforks and marched down Yonge Street. However, the local militia and volunteers soon dispersed the radicals. Beldon's Atlas states that in Stanley Township there were less than 15 able- bodied men that could be found to protect the area from the insurgents. They were: W.W. Connor, John Morgan, John Boulton, George Mathieson, Robert 1 j ssell, D.H. Ritchie, George Morris, . William Boulton, John Carruthers, Christopher Johnston, Henry Hacke, Thomas Wells and John McNaughton. These men were placed in a company under Captain Lisgars and Lieutenant Biscoby of Goderich with Dr. Dunlop as col- onel. The men were stationed at the corners where Clinton now stands for the winter of 1837 -1838. As a result of the collapse of the Rebellion of 1837, Van Egmond and a number of others were thrown into prison where Van Egmond died of pneumonia. Several were executed for treason. The majority, including MacKenzie, fled to the United States. There they convinced several thousand Americans to join Hunters' Lodges, dedicated to freeing Upper and Lower Canada from British rule. Their repeatedattacks on various border places, i.e. the Battle of the Windmill at Prescott, the turning of the steamship Sir Robert Peel in the Thousand Islands, kept the country in a state of turmoil. Finally, in 1841, U.S. President Tyler warned them to disband and the problem was solved. Although Colonel Dunlop had taken a regi- ment to the Sarnia area in 1837 to help pro- tect the area from the Lodges, it is not known if any from Stanley accompanied him. Fenian Raids During the 1860s, a new problem ap- peared. The Fenian Brotherhood had developed in the United States with the in- tent of helping secure Irish independence from Britain. One of their goals was to in- vade Canada, and thus divert Britain from the Irishene. Several thousand American Civil War -veterans were organized. When the revolt in Ireland collapsed, plans were Turn to page 17 • Township was named after honorable ,figure... • from page 15A elected to Parliament as a Whig, In 1827 he became Secretary of State for the colonies under the short lived govern- ment of George Canning. He continued in this position under the government of Lord Goderich. He next served in Earl Grey's cabinet as Chief Secretary to Ireland from 1830 to 1833. While in the cabinet, he helped support and carry through the Reform Bill of 1832. From 1833 to 1834 he acted as Colonial Secretary under Earl Grey. Finding himself at odds over the Irish Policy with many of his colleagues, Mr. Stanley resigned from cabinet in 1834, and gradually drifted towards the Tory party. Beginning in 1841 he again served as Col - CONGRATULATIONS TO STANLEY TOWNSHIP FROM THE `POWERCLEAN PEOPLE' NEW MODELS 1000-2100 PSI. HOT, COLD, STEAM Manufacturers and distributors of high performance cold and hot water pressure cleaners When you need to "PUT THE PRESSURE ON" - - - Call us! • epp,s CLINTON, ONTARIO NOM 1L0 (519) 482-3418 HIGHWAY 8 EAST OPEN. 8-5 MONDAY TO FRIDAY onial Secretary, this time in Sir Robert Peel's government. He resigned from Peel's cabinet in 1845 in opposition to Peel's sup- port of repealing the corn laws. In 1844, prior to his resignation, he was summoned to the House of Lords as Baron Stanley of Pickerstaffe. After leaving Peel's government, Mr. Stanley became the leader of the protec- tionist rump of. the Tory party. He gained this position more or less through default, as most of- the other eminent Tories had been converted with Peel to free trade. He succeeded to his father's titles and estates in 1851. Mr. Stanley had a heavy burden to carry as leader of the Anti-Peelite Conservatives, and as prime minister in two brief minority governments in 1852 and 1858. With the ex- ception of Benjamin Disraeli, who later emerged as party leader in the House of Commons, he did not have any very talented followers. His third try at running a government was the most successful. This government, which ran from 1866 to 1868, passed the Reform Act of 1867 which greatly widened the franchise, especially in the urban constituencies. The reform intended to gain credit for the conservatives for a reform that was felt to be inevitable. It was also an attempt to widen the party's support structure so that it might escape from its long standing minority position as defender of agricultural and landed interests, Mr. Stanley resigned as Prime Minister in 1868 due to failing health, and died in Knowsley on October 23, 1869. Bridge extends 206 feet... • from page 7 Therefore, when the Rowntree's moved in, they had to have the power connected, dig a well and have . plumbing installed throughout the house. Community Enjoyment For many years the beautiful surroundings of the Rowntree farm has given enjoyment to the local residents. They would venture to the property for a stroll or picnic. "The local people would come to walk over the bridge and the children would swim in the river...our own children swam there too," explained Mr. Rowntree. Several preserved articles from the farm have also been donated to the Huron County Pioneer Museum in Goderich. These items include early fanning tools and relics. Throughout the years, the swinging bridge, the picturesque setting and the friendliness of those residing at the farm, have formed lasting memories for tnany Stanley Township residents'.