Rebellion of 1837

 

(As published in The History of Wellington County. Authored by Jean F. Hutchinson . p.41-42.)

The history of Eramosa would be incomplete without some account of the despotic treatment given to the unoffending inhabitants of Eramosa during the 1837 Rebellions. Wm. Lyon Mackenzie had unlawfully taken up arms against the despotic "Family Compact" who ruled the Lieutenant-Governor, and through him, the people. The Family Compact wanted Canada to be like England. England had a state church. In Canada provision had been made for state support of the "Protestant Clergy". This, to the Family Compact, meant and must always mean, the Clergy of the Church of England. There were many other grievances, but it is believed that Lieut. Governor John Colborne, brought it all to a climax when he saddled the Province of Upper Canada with fifty-three Rectories.

This act caused the uprising on Yonge Street in Toronto, and as a result the mails were stopped. There was no Post Office in Eramosa, and they had to depend on Guelph, but there was no mail coming through. For this reason, a few of the settlers held a public meeting at Central School House, with a view to learning what the state of the country was. All was open and above aboard, but they were branded as incorrigible Reformers.

Being Township Clerk at the time, James Peters was chosen as secretary for the meeting, and as such, was chosen to draw up a resolution, expressive of the meeting, which was that they would return home, and mind their own business. Since the government had not called the Eramosa people to assist in putting down the uprising, some of the Guelph dignitaries construed this resolution as something close to treason.

A story was started, dubbing the clerk as "Captain Peters" with fifty men under his command who were planning to burn Guelph some night. As a result Guelph set up a military gruard at all approaches to the town. The same story was reported to the Fergus people. and they turned out to guard their only bridge.

Accordingly 32 men, either volunteers or pressed into service, were sent to break up the rebel "nest" in Eramosa. These soldiers were headed by John Inglis, and being armed with muskets and fixed bayonets, had quite a military appearance. Sixteen of them entered the home of James Peters without knocking, and appeared at his bedside before daylight on the morning of December 13th, 1837, scarcely allowing him time to dress. Two sleighs were waiting at the door to convey the party to Guelph.

When opposite Joseph Parkinson's farm, some decided they would be none the worse of some breakfast, so turned in there, and ordered breakfast for all hands, and feed for their teams. By way of repaying him for the kindness, they arrested his son, James Parkinson, who was taken to Guelph with the sleigh-load of men. Until that time Mr. Parkinson lad leaned toward the party in power, but henceforth he was a staunch Reformer.

At Guelph, William Armstrong, Hiram Dowling, Calvin Lyman, and James Parkinson were examined, and after giving bonds for their appearnace when called, they were permitted to return hom, after paying a fine. In the afternoon the team of Mr. Allan of the Guelph Mills, was pressed into service to take James Benham, John Butchart, and James Peters to jail at Hamilton, without trial. Robert Wharton was the driver. They were accompanied by Mr. Grange who later became Sheriff of Wellington County, and Colonel Saunders, Clerk of the Peace. At Tommy Kellys Inn, supper was ordered and the prisoners were allowed to sit at the same table, and partake of the same burnt goose--burnt on the ouside, raw on the inside.

They arrived in Hamilton about ten o'clock, and were taken to a place called headquarters. Geoffery Lynch of Guelph seemed to be master of ceremonies that night, and a jolly set of fellows were under his command. The prisoners were provided iwth cells at the Court House for the night. They lay on the floor without covers. It was one of the coldest nights that December, and no heat was provided. Next morning the jailor and turnkey brought the three prisoners three loaves of bread and a bucket of water, with liberty to eat it all at once or make two or three meals out of it, since there would be no more until the next morning.

During the afternoon, Mr. Grange took them to the debtor's room, a warmer location. Soon the jail was becoming over-crowded with other prisoners: farmers, township clerks, doctors, lawyers, members of Provincial Parliament. After five or six weeks of imprisonment, the 3 from Eramosa were let out on bail. In Februrary Grand Jury found true bills against severn men from Eramosa and all were imprisoned again in Hamilton, until Court opened in March. The severn were John Butchard, James Peters, Calvin Lyman, William Armstrong, Jas. Parkinson, Hiram Dowlan and James Benham.

In the meantime the government had stored 50 kegs of gunpowder in the cells, and by way of precaution had made a ring of sand outside. That night fire was set under the cell door. Before morning the whole bhilding was filled iwth smoke. James Benham was the first man to waken, and the commotion that followed brought the jailor and turnkey who used axes to chop off the boards before the fire would reach the gunpowder. William Kennedy, later of Guelph, was the only guard that did anything to help extinguish the fire. Yet no effort was made at any time to discover the villains who tried to take the lives of the prisoners.

Grand Jury met on March 8th, and following the trial the jury took eight minutes to bring back a verdict of not guilty.

The inhabitants of Eramosa did not enjoy peace while the seven men were in jail. Guerilla parties from headquarters in Guelph scoured the township in the night, searching the houses for firearms, taking with them, any they found. They arrested a great number of heads of families, taking them to Guelph, and compelling them to give bonds to appear when called. There was always a fine depending on what the man could pay, anything from $4.00 down to 50 cents.

It is said that no less than 14 sleighs came into Guelph in one day, and the parties gave themselves up. The patience of the people had became exhausted, and it was a wonder that some of the night marauders did not lose their lives. Had they made one more raid into Eramosa, it could have become too hot for them.