Monday, January 28, 2013

We ( http://www.forthaldimand.com/ ) are looking for any information or records on people that may have been buried at the site of Fort Haldimand. The fort was located on Carleton Island in the town of Cape Vincent, NY. The island is across the St. Lawrence River from Kingston Ontario.

During the Revolutionary War, there may have been upwards of 1,000 people on the island consisting of British and Hessian soldiers, Indians, loyalist regiments and civilian women and children. Some records indicate both slaves and freed slaves and American prisoners of war were also on the island. Fort Haldimand was under British control from 1778 to 1812, after that time period and into the 1830's, the island supported an active logging and rafting trade of upwards of 200 families.

Historical records identify three different burial grounds. A military or post burial ground with at least 25 soldiers, an Indian burial ground and loyalist/settler burial ground of unknown size. There is no official recorded record of who is buried in these locations and even the exact locations have been lost over the years.

Any one with information about people that may be buried on Carleton can email info@forthaldimand.com or post on the facebook at FORT HALDIMAND

The following are people that are listed in the historical records as dying on Carleton Island. If anyone has any information on these people, please let us know.
 
  • Chief Hawksbill, Mohawk Indian?, died 1778-1783, Carleton Island
  • George Barnhard, Royal Artillery died 1789, Carleton Island
  • Capt. George McDougall, 84th. Regiment, died April 8, 1780, April 8, 1780
  • Lt. Kenneth Mackenzie, King’s Royal Regiment of N.Y., died 1780, Carleton Island
  • Jacob Best, Soldier King’s Royal Regiment of N.Y., died 1783, Carleton Island
  • Henry Fyker, King’s Royal Regiment of New York, died 1780, Carleton Island
  • J. Farrar died 1792, buried on Carleton Island.
  • Lieutenant Flyn, Royal Artillery, died November 8, 178?, Carleton Island
  • Several infants of Loyalists that died during relocation to Canada 1770s - 1780s

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Iron Gun recovered in 1973 from the St. Lawrence River


Information provided to Dennis McCarthy, St. Lawrence River Historical Society on April 16, 2008 from Charles Trollope, Noted Independent Ordnance Expert,

Ref: Iron Gun recovered in 1973 from the St. Lawrence River off Fort Haldimand, Carlton Island, Cape Vincent, NY

The gun is a 9Pdr of 9 Ft 6 Ins (guns are recorded to their nearest 6 Ins). It was cast between 1731 and 1748. Probably in the period 1731 - 1734. 9pdrs for garrison service (usually long guns) were sent out to New England, including Boston, in 1754. On 19th May 1757 Govenor Shirley took some guns, including 2 X 9drs, out of Boston for service at Oswago and Crown Point. None of these guns were returned. More guns were taken later by Abercromby but these would seem to have been the 18Pdrs of which two burst in the defense of Fort William Henry.