William Fitzpatrick– Carleton Place Fenian Soldier — Clippings and Information

Name	William Fitzpatrick
Sex	Male
Age	11 years
Event Date	1851 Census
Event Place	Nepean, Carleton, Ontario, Canada
Event Place (Original)	Nepean, Carleton County, Canada West (Ontario)
Sub-District	Nepean
Sub-District Number	31
District Number	4
Event Type	Census
Birth Date	1840
Birth Year (Estimated)	1840
Birthplace	Carleton Place
Line Number	3
Page Number	87

DetailSource

Name	William Fitzpatrick
Gender	Male
Baptism Age	0
Event Type	Baptism
Birth Date	1840
Baptism Date	8 Nov 1840
Baptism Place	Ontario, Canada
Father	William Fitzpatrick
Mother	Ellen Cernil

The Photographer

George E. Willis studio in Carleton Place. He operated on Bridge Street and was a member of the Willis family whose log home stands today at the western end of Lake Avenue. George was a photographer, musician and bandmaster, who died in Vancouver in 1940 , aged 96 while living with his son Stephen T. Willis of Ottawa business college fame.

“The names of George Willis, Senior and Junior, appear with sixty others on the roll of the Carleton Place Loyal Village Guards which mustered in 1837 and 1838 at the time of the Upper Canada Rebellion and “Patriot War,” and again with that of Catin Willis in the St. James Church monster petition of November 1846 for maintaining tenure of the Church’s clergy reserve land in Ramsay against claims of Hugh Bolton and others”.- Howard Morton Brown–Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum

The Carleton Place Rifle Company numbering more than 50 men were formed in 1862 to protect Canada during the Fenian Raids. They replaced the ill-equipped and untrained Village Guard and were composed entirely of volunteer soldiers. It was officially designated the Carleton Place Volunteer Militia Rifle company and later they went on to Brockville to fight the Fenians. Captain James Poole and Lieutenant Brown commanded.

R. Bell, Carleton Place* S. Roche , J. Rosamond, Almonte* J. McLaughlin, (carpenter) Ed. Morphy, jr., Wellington Co* W. B. Ramsay Thos. Morphy P. Cram, jr. H. Willis J. Bond, Almonte* Wm. Burgess E. Rosamond Jas. Morphy, sr. H. Fitzpatrick , Duncanville* Dun. McKenzie J. Weathers, Andrew Fitzpatrick J. Lake , jr. David Morphy H. Boulton S. Acheson Ewen McEwen Wm. Fitzpatrick Peter Comrie, Lanark Township*

Wm. Dougherty, jr. D. McLean, jr. Alex. McLaren N. Lavallee John Morphy John McEwen L. Schofield Jas. Duncan Nich. O’Neil D. Pattie Jos. Dougherty, Carleton Place* J. Graham Adam Beck Dan Cram, Carleton Place* M. Nolan J. Kerr J. McRostie Allan McDonald Mich. Dunn E. Tweedy D. Stewart Robt. McLaren John Sumner Jas. Bell, Perth*

Colin McLaren Jos. Dougherty, sr. Jas. Coleman, jr. Wm. Coleman Robt. Johnson Geo. Willis, jr. Geo. Willis, sr. John Rorison John McLean Alex. McLean Jacob McFadden Nich. Tomlinson Wm. Henry, Braeside*

My Opinion and only mine 🙂

Through all the back and forth my story is: that William who was born in Carleton Place but grew up in Bells Corners might have been rejected from the Carleton Blazers and went back to his birth place to join the Canadian Rifle Company to help fight the Fenians. His father William Fitzpatrick was from Brocka, Kildellig, Queen’s Co., Ireland and emmigrated to Carleton Place as there was family living in the area. This is not to be confused with another Fitzpatrick who lived in Beckwith and seemed to make a living of housing those who came from Ireland to work on his farm. William and his wife went to live with his son in law and daughter in Belleville for the rest of their lives.

On the 5th of April. October 4, 1866, the Civil Service Rifle Company was merged into a new Civil Service Regime. After the first Fenian Raid in 1866, the old 43rd maintained its organization. In 1868, a brass band of 24 pieces was organized. The same year the regiment first went into camp at the rifle ranges, furnishing their own tents and equipments. The regiment was called out for active service May 25, 1870, and did garrison duty at Prescott with the Ottawa Field Battery and the 56th Battalion until relieved in the following July, when the 43rd returned to Ottawa, where the regiment was entertained to a civic dinner, and highly complimented by Sir George E. Cartier, then Minister of Militia, on its very fine appearance. Altogether the Fenian Raids had the effect of greatly stimulating the military spirit in the Ottawa district, and while all the enthusiasm was not very enduring, the impetus given to the volunteer movement during these stirring years has not been altogether without some enduring and satisfactory results.

By militia general order of March 27, the Civil Service Rifles were attached to the Ottawa provisional battalion under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas Wily. The composition of this battalion w as follows: No. 1, Bell’s Corners Cnmpan), No. 2. Argenteull Rangers, lsi Co. No. 3. Ottawa Rifles. 2nd Co, No. 4, Buckingham Infantry Co. No. ft. Ottawa Rlflrs. 1st Co. No. (!, Ottawa Rifles, 3rd Co. No. 7, Civil Service Rifles

Read-Samuel Hawkshaw- Carleton Place–Carleton Blazers of Bells Corners

Name:	William Fitzpatrick
Gender:	Male
Marital status:	Married
Race or Tribe:	Irish
Nationality:	Canadian
Age:	70
Birth Date:	Nov 1840
Birth Place:	Ontario
Census Year:	1911
Relation to Head of House:	Father-in-law
Province:	Ontario
District:	Hastings West
District Number:	80
Sub-District:	28 – Belleville
Sub-District Number:	28
Place of Habitation:	Church St
Religion:	Roman Catholic
Occupation:	none NG
Other Occupation:	NG
Can Read:	Yes
Can Write:	Yes
Language:	E
Family Number:	377
Household Members:	NameAgeRelationshipBernard L Black32HeadMagaret J Black30WifeAlfonzo Black5SonMurray Black10SonMargret Black3DaughterLawrney Black1SonWilliam Fitzpatrick70Father-in-lawMargaret Fitzpatrick70Mother-in-lawFrank Fitzpatrick32Brother-in-law

William Fitzpatrick

BIRTHSep 1840

Belleville, Hastings County, Ontario, CanadaDEATH27 Feb 1922 (aged 81)

Kingston, Frontenac County, Ontario, CanadaBURIAL

Saint James Roman Catholic CemeteryBelleville, Hastings County, Ontario, Canada

The Rare Fenian Medal of Private W. Rorison– Carleton Place Rifle Company

The Loyal Village Guards of Carleton Place

Samuel Hawkshaw- Carleton Place–Carleton Blazers of Bells Corners

Richmond Men of the Carleton Blazers

Fenians OR Ballygiblins? Fighting Irish 101

A Carleton Place Fenian Soldier’s Photo

The Toll Gate at Merivale Road

The Last of the Fenians Sons— Bellamy’s Mills — James Ingram

The Gazette
Montreal, Quebec, Quebec, Canada
24 Dec 1940, Tue  •  Page 6

James Ingram was indeed a son of Bellamy’s Mills. His father Alexander Ingram was born on W. Lot 25 Concession 3 –J

ames Ingram 1851–1940 BIRTH ABT 1851 • Ontario DEATH 23 DEC 1940 • Brockville, Leeds, Ontario, Canada. He said the reason he lived so long was because he was born in Clayton near Almonte, and people tend to live longer and are happy there.

His father Alexander joined him later in in Brockville and died in 1875. He was married to Wife Almira F. Fraelich(1840–1907) 8 Feb 1907 and her sister Elmira Fraelich after the death of Almira • Brockville, Leeds, Ontario, Canada. He had 4 children.

The Regiment was formed on 5 October 1866, as the 42nd Brockville Battalion of Infantry with Companies in Almonte, Brockville, Perth, Fitzroy, Landsdowne and Smiths Falls. In 1871, the Pembroke Infantry Company became the Battalion’s seventh Company
In 1870, the Battalion (with its attached Brockville and Ottawa Battery (Railway) of Garrison Artillery) was called out on active service during the Fenian Raids. In the same year, a small detachment deployed with the Red River Expedition.
The Battalion was reorganized in 1897, as the 42nd Lanark and Renfrew Battalion of Infantry located in the counties of Lanark and Renfrew. The Battalion was renamed the 42nd Lanark and Renfrew Regiment in 1900.

The Ottawa Citizen
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
08 Apr 1939, Sat  •  Page 19

A private effort by veterans of the Queen’s Own Rifles recently restored the nine abandoned gravestones that had nearly vanished in the winds and rains of the last 146 years. Read more here.. CLICK

What do McLean’s Bakery and Morris Green Have in Common?–Archibald McLean was one of the last surviving veterans in the district from the Fenian Raid. McLean’s bake shop was operated in 1862 by Archie McLean and for several years he was the oldest resident of the town who had been born in Almonte. Find out here… click https://lindaseccaspina.wordpress.com/2020/06/10/what-do-mcleans-bakery-and-morris-green-have-in-common/

When the Fenians Came to Visit

The Rare Fenian Medal of Private W. Rorison– Carleton Place Rifle Company
Fenians OR Ballygiblins? Fighting Irish 101

Fenian Raid Sale– Get Yer Boots Before You Have to go Fight Again

Debunking the Stories My Family Told Me

The Rare Fenian Medal of Private W. Rorison– Carleton Place Rifle Company

A Carleton Place Fenian Soldier’s Photo

Ballygiblin Riots in Carleton Place — Were We Bad to the Bone?

The Hidden Hideaway On Glen Isle

Samuel Hawkshaw- Carleton Place–Carleton Blazers of Bells Corners

So About that Ballygiblin Sign…. Fourteen Years Later!

When the Fenians Came to Visit

There were stirring times in the Ottawa district in the year 1866. That was the year that was set for the U.S. Fenians to raid and capture Canada.  All the district south of Ottawa was agog with excitement, because, if the Fenians had been able to cross the St. Lawrence and gain a foothold, the district between the St. Lawrence and Ottawa rivers would have had to bear the brunt of the fighting.

Everywhere in the Ottawa district volunteer companies sprang into existence, and stood ready to leap to the country’s defence. Drill halls were built at Manotick and North Gower and the volunteer corps. In those districts began to drill feverishly. The whole district was on edge. A story of the excitement which prevailed in the country around Manotick, North Gower and Kars was told by Mr. W. J. Scobie, on Gladstone Avenue years ago.

From Amanda Armstrong– I was going through some hints on ancestry and found that my 3x great grandfather, Samuel Hawkshaw (If you’ll recall, he’s the husband of Carleton Place’s eldest lady, Martha Hawkshaw)-read–The Grand Old Ladies of Carleton Place

Samuel served in the Fenian Raids! His record states he was part of the 43rd Battalion, which at that time was known as the Carleton Blazers of Bell’s Corners. He was only there for 16 days, and doesn’t seem to be mentioned in any other Carleton Place records for the raids. But it’s still so cool to know he volunteered to fight!

Mr. Scobie was a very small boy then, but the events which took place were impressed on his mind. The Scobies lived on the River road between Kars and Manotick. Mr. Scobie’s father was the late Samuel Scobie. Mr. W. J. Scobie tells us that as soon as word spread that the Fenians might cross, all the people in North Gower township began to prepare. Old shot guns which had hung on the wall as ornaments were taken down, cleaned and oiled.

To provide against a sudden and unexpected raid every farmhouse at night was turned into a fort.  At night, scythes, pitch forks. crowbars, etc, were carried into the houses and placed where they might best serve as weapons of defence. All doors were locked and barred after dark. Where there were numbers of boys in a family, the boys took their turn night after night doing outlook duty.

One night when the excitement was at its- height the Scobie house received a visit from Mr. John Ferguson, a son-in-law of Samuel Scobie. Mr. Ferguson was an officer in the militia company which had Its headquarters at Manotick. When Mr. Ferguson called it was fairly late, and young W. J. Scobie and his brothers were in bed upstairs. Mr. Ferguson had come to tell Mr. Samuel Scobie that a man who had come from the St. Lawrence had told that things were getting critical there, and that the Fenians might cross at anytime.

While the men were talking there came a loud rap at the door. Instantly Samuel Scobie, Mr. Ferguson and the older boys jumped to their feet and grabbed convenient weapons. Mr. Scobie advanced to the barred door and standing to one side, shouted,

“Who is there?”

A voice replied. “Is John Ferguson here?” “Yes,” Mr. Ferguson replied, “who wants him?” The voice continued, ‘The Queen wants him, The Fenians are coming and he is to report to Manotick at 6 am! The company marches to the front tomorrow at nine o’clock.

Mr. Scobie withdrew the bars, opened the door and invited the Queen’s messenger in. Mr. Ferguson put on his hat and left for his home. The next morning the village of Manotick responded to the bugle call, and the brave men of the Manotick corps set off on their 45 mile march to the front.

Clipped from

1. White Cloud Kansas Chief,
2. 07 Jun 1866, Thu,
3. Page 2

Fenians OR Ballygiblins? Fighting Irish 101

Fenian Raid Sale– Get Yer Boots Before You Have to go Fight Again

Debunking the Stories My Family Told Me

The Rare Fenian Medal of Private W. Rorison– Carleton Place Rifle Company

A Carleton Place Fenian Soldier’s Photo

The Hidden Hideaway On Glen Isle

Samuel Hawkshaw- Carleton Place–Carleton Blazers of Bells Corners

So About that Ballygiblin Sign…. Fourteen Years Later!

The Rare Fenian Medal of Private W. Rorison– Carleton Place Rifle Company

 

 

I  don’t sell on EBay but I scour it for historical items that should be saved and brought back to Lanark County. Yesterday I found this Fenian Medal that was originally given to “Private Ronison” in Carleton Place. I could not find him anywhere.

 

Fifty years before Canadian volunteer soldiers began to leave their home towns in 1914 for overseas service, men equally prepared to risk their lives for Canada were forming the first active service military units of many Canadian towns. Their fortunately brief defence service was in the years of the Fenian Raids of the 1860’s, when the last armed invasions of Canada came to challenge our national Confederation.

Among these defenders were more than fifty men of the Carleton Place Rifle Company. The Carleton Place Rifle Company was formed at the start of the first expansion of a trained and permanent volunteer militia of the old Province of Canada, made to meet the risk of possible war between the United States and Great Britain at the outset of the American Civil War. Like those of neighbouring localities and others throughout the province, it replaced a venerable succession of local but normally untrained and unarmed companies of the original sedentary militia. A view of the participation of this community, then an unincorporated village, in Canada’s first major development of its own military forces is given in the pages of the locally published weekly newspapers of that day.

 

When war threats and consequent militia expansion came in 1862, local demand led to the formation of the first trained and equipped militia company to be based at Carleton Place. In January of that year, in the words of the local Herald editor:

“At a meeting of some of the inhabitants of Carleton Place and vicinity, held at Lavallee’s Hotel on Saturday evening last, it was unanimously resolved that: – ‘In view of the unsettled state of affairs between the British and American governments and the possibility of war, it is expedient that a rifle company should be formed in this village and neighbourhood, to aid in the defence of their country.’

A muster roll was then opened and signed by those present at the meeting. Several others have since added their names, making in all upwards of sixty.”

So what about Private Ronison?

Robin Hudson said on The Tales of Carleton Place– “As of 1871 William Ronison was working in Carleton Place as a carpenter with four employees”.

Jennifer Fenwick Irwin from the Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum said: “Scroll down to see a list of all the CP men who fought in the Fenian

Raids”.  

Canada General Service Medals
awarded To Lanark county Soldiers
1866 – 1870

 

Note: this article appears courtesy The Lanark County Genealogical Society

Click here.

Jim Amy Kirkpatrick There were Rorison’s in CP. could that be the name?

and yes Amy Kirkpatrick was right.. He was a Private Rorison- his full name was William Rorison.

Happily Carleton Place has acquired this medal..

Carleton Place acquires Fenian raid medal belonging to former resident click here.

 

 

Clipped from

1. The Ottawa Journal,
2. 18 Jun 1906, Mon,
3. Page 2

 

 

 

Clipped from

1. Quad-City Times,
2. 11 Feb 1932, Thu,
3. Page 9

Clipped from

1. The Ottawa Journal,
2. 26 Dec 1933, Tue,
3. Page 5

 

Update

Carleton Place acquires Fenian raid medal belonging to former resident — click here

1. Come and visit the Lanark County Genealogical Society Facebook page– what’s there? Cool old photos–and lots of things interesting to read. Also check out The Tales of Carleton Place.Information where you can buy all Linda Seccaspina’s books-You can also read Linda in The Townships Sun andScreamin’ Mamas (USA)
   

   

    

   Fenian Raid Sale– Get Yer Boots Before You Have to go Fight Again

2. A Carleton Place Fenian Soldier’s Photo

3. Fenians OR Ballygiblins? Fighting Irish 101

   Samuel Hawkshaw- Carleton Place–Carleton Blazers of Bells Corners

   Ballygiblin Riots in Carleton Place — Were We Bad to the Bone?

   The Hidden Hideaway On Glen Isle

    

   So About that Ballygiblin Sign…. Fourteen Years Later!

Samuel Hawkshaw- Carleton Place–Carleton Blazers of Bells Corners

Photo-Amanda Armstrong

From Amanda Armstrong– I was going through some hints on ancestry and found that my 3x great grandfather, Samuel Hawkshaw (If you’ll recall, he’s the husband of Carleton Place’s eldest lady, Martha Hawkshaw)-read–The Grand Old Ladies of Carleton Place

Samuel served in the Fenian Raids! His record states he was part of the 43rd Battalion, which at that time was known as the Carleton Blazers of Bell’s Corners. He was only there for 16 days, and doesn’t seem to be mentioned in any other Carleton Place records for the raids. But it’s still so cool to know he volunteered to fight!

The Carleton Blazers: 1866 to 1875 ( The Carleton Highlanders)

As a regiment, The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa (Duke of Edinburgh’s Own) traces its history back to the formation of the 43rd Battalion of Infantry in October 1866. This battalion, known locally as the Carleton Blazers, initially had its headquarters in Bell ‘s Corners in Carleton County and incorporated infantry companies located south and west of the City of Ottawa in Bell’s Corners, Goulburn, Huntley, Metcalfe, North Gower, Richmond and, later, others in Manotick and Vernon.

The very first time the 43rd gathered together as a battalion was on July 1, 1867, during the celebrations surrounding the founding of the dominion of Canada. Officers and men from all seven companies (325 personnel in total) travelled to Ottawa for the ceremonies on Parliament Hill. Volunteer militia units and cadet corps were assembled on the hill, performed a feu de joie, marched past the Governor General, and gave three cheers for the new nation.

Three years later, in May 1870, the battalion’s first active service resulted from fears of a Fenian invasion out of the United States. The perceived threat of these Irish-Americans against Canadian territory led to the mobilization of numerous militia units at locations in Ontario, Quebec, and the Maritimes. By May 29 the 43rd Battalion’s headquarters and all nine infantry companies (approximately 400 officers and men) had been transported to Prescott, Ontario, across the river from Ogdensburg, New York. While in garrison the battalion provided sentries, carried out patrols, and stood guard duty at the local drill shed, the artillery stables, the local bank, the town’s wharf, at Fort Wellington, and at Windmill Point. The entire battalion returned to Ottawa on June 4 after the threat had passed without incident.

Unfortunately, the Carleton Blazers were unable to keep up their strength and, on December 3, 1875, the 43rd Battalion was disbanded. This was not an uncommon occurrence, as perhaps as many as two dozen other volunteer militia battalions – most of them based in rural areas – were disbanded between the 1860s and 1890s, victims of the difficulty in maintaining unit cohesion while spread out geographically in rural communities.

 

Richmond Men of the Carleton Blazers

Clipped from The Ottawa Journal,  05 Jun 1937, Sat,  Page 7

Clipped from The Ottawa Journal,  15 Oct 1959, Thu,  Page 39

Clipped from The Ottawa Journal,  03 Nov 1950, Fri,  Page 32

Clipped from The Ottawa Journal,  08 Jan 1938, Sat,  Page 29

Surnames for Search Engine: Hugh Falls, Adam Abbott, John Nesbitt, James Corbett, Harry Harmer, John Sparks, Francis Clemow,
Alexander Mowat, Ambrose Bishop, William F. Powell, William Corbett.

Come and visit the Lanark County Genealogical Society Facebook page– what’s there? Cool old photos–and lots of things interesting to read. Also check out The Tales of Carleton Place.

Information where you can buy all Linda Seccaspina’s books-You can also read Linda in The Townships Sun andScreamin’ Mamas (USA)

The Grand Old Ladies of Carleton Place

 

Fenians OR Ballygiblins? Fighting Irish 101

 

A Carleton Place Fenian Soldier’s Photo