Mississauga and the Estate of Grace

First Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Lewiston, New York

The annual Engagement at Bradley 1812 weekend is fast approaching. This year, the event takes place on September 21-22 at the Bradley Museum. Visitors over the weekend will have a chance to see demonstrations, wander through the sutler’s marketplace, engage with living history reenactors in the encampment, enjoy crafts, and witness two battle reenactments each day. Reenactors will highlight the roles of Canadian militia, British regular soldiers, Royal Navy seamen, invading American forces, artillery, and traitors – otherwise known as the Canadian Volunteers. The Canadian Volunteers were a military unit that was comprised entirely of Canadians, raised in Canada, and yet who fought for the United States. For more information on the Canadian Volunteers reenactors, please visit: https://cv1812.panfrie.ca/

Leading up to the Engagement at Bradley weekend, we like to explore local history stories that connect to the War of 1812. With 37 known veterans of the War of 1812 buried in Mississauga today, there are a lot of stories to explore. We have shared other stories leading up to past Engagement events over the years.

Not every local history story around the War of 1812 involved loyal service. There were those who resided in historic Mississauga who, either as a result of sentiment, politics, opportunity, or perceived rewards, followed different paths during the war. William Lewis, Abraham Markle and John Vanzante all served in local militia units during the war, and all deserted to the enemy. William Lewis deserted following the Battle of Queenston Heights in October 1812, joining the New York militia; Abraham Markle deserted in July of 1813, following Joseph Willcocks and joining the Canadian Volunteers; and John Vanzante deserted following the American capture of Fort York. However, no local case of desertion and prosecution of “traitorous” activities was as well documented as was the story of Oliver Grace Jr.

Oliver Grace Jr pension request for service during the War of 1812

Oliver Grace Jr. (1785-1871) was the only son of Oliver Grace Sr., a retired veteran officer in the Royal Navy, who briefly served with the Provincial Marine in the early stages of the War of 1812. For his service with the Royal Navy, Oliver Grace Sr. acquired several parcels of land in Upper Canada, including 200 acres here in historic Mississauga, namely Lot 7, Concession 2, SDS. In modern terms, his property was located on the north side of Lakeshore Road and east of Dixie Road. Modern Haig Boulevard in Lakeview is located on the former Grace property. For more on Oliver Grace Sr., please visit: https://stories.maritimehistoryofthegreatlakes.ca/oliver-grace-and-the-sloop-mary-ann/

Oliver Grace Jr. was born in Ireland in 1785 and joined his father in Canada when he was 16 years old. By 1809 they had established themselves on their 200-acre lot in historic Mississauga. Oliver Sr. died on September 7, 1814. At the time of his death, Oliver Sr. was in New York and seemingly unaware of the path that his son had followed.

On October 1, 1813, shortly after the British withdrawal from the Detroit frontier, Oliver Jr. (following in the footsteps of Joseph Willcocks, Abraham Markle and William Biggar, amongst others), switched allegiances and joined the American side. Labelled a traitor at home, Oliver Jr. was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Canadian Volunteers. In May of 1814 he led a raid by the Canadian Volunteers on Port Dover. He was also present in the campaign that included the battles of Chippewa and Lundy’s Lane. In August 1814, shortly before Joseph Willcocks, the charismatic leader of the Canadian Volunteers, was killed during the siege of Fort Erie, Oliver Grace Jr. resigned his commission.

1865 New York census showing Oliver and Sarah Grace

Oliver Grace Sr. died without a will, and as Oliver Jr. was his only son, the property passed to him. Oliver Jr. was indicted of High Treason in absentia on May 23, 1814:

Writ of Certiorari directed to the Justices of Oyer and General Gaol Delivery in and for the District of Niagara to testify all and singular the writs of capias, issued against the said Defendant, Oliver Grace, and returned before them at their last Session held in and for the said District of Niagara. Allowed On Motion of Mr. Robinson the Acting Atty. found discretion the better part of valour and put themselves beyond the reach of Canadian law.

Oliver Jr., who at the time that the proceedings against him were initiated, had fled Upper Canada and resided in Lewiston, New York. He was accused of:

… traitorously adherent to aiding and comforting the aforesaid enemies of us … adhering to the aforesaid enemies of us armed and arrayed in a hostile manner to wit with guns swords and pistols and divers other weapons as well offensive as defensive did assemble and join themselves with the aforesaid enemies of us and then and there armed and arrayed as aforesaid falsely wickedly and traitorously did ride and march with the aforesaid enemies of us and in the service of them the aforesaid enemies of us then marching and going to attack Burlington a garrison belonging to us and then defended by the troops of us in the District of Niagara aforesaid falsely wickedly and traitorously intending to aid and assist and thereby aiding and assisting the aforesaid enemies of us in their attempt to conquer and subdue our Province of Upper Canada contrary to the duty and allegiance of them …

As a result, the magistrate declared:

… the lands of such persons forfeited, and authorized the Governor to appoint Commissioners to enquire by "the oath of twelve good and lawful men" of the District, as to the persons so absconding and the lands they had on July 1st, 1812 … as only son and Heir-at-Law of Oliver Grace the elder (deceased) in the Commission aforesaid, named, on the day of committing the High Treason, in the same Commission specified: to wit, the Twenty fifth day of November in the Fifty fourth year of the Reign of the said Lord the King, and also on the day of the Outlawry of the said Oliver Grace the younger in the same Commission mentioned was seized (as heir at Law to Oliver Grace Senior deceased) in his demesne as of fee of and in the parcels or tracts of land …

Niagara Sentinel newspaper, Sept 26, 1824, published by Oliver Grace

Maria Grace, Oliver Grace Sr.’s only other child and the younger sibling of Oliver Jr., made a series of efforts to get back control of her father’s Upper Canadian assets. In 1819 a petition was presented to the Upper Canadian legislature asking that her father’s property be restored to her. The legislature refused to consider the petition. In 1821 Maria petitioned claiming that even her mother’s dowry was being withheld, leaving her “in the greatest poverty and distress” and begging that the case be considered “the case of the un-provided and unprotected widow and orphan of an officer who served your Majesty, in every quarter of the Glove, with courage, zeal and fidelity….” Maria, together with her husband Richard Evans, eventually received a 100-acre lot in Lobo Township, Middlesex County (near London, Ontario) in 1842 as compensation.

As for Oliver Grace Jr., it was mentioned that he was educated, a man of some means and influence, and was a gifted orator. In the Canadian government’s eyes, as a result of his traitorous activities with the Canadian Volunteers, he forfeited any claim to his father’s assets. In 1817 Oliver Jr. married Sarah Rees Lee, the daughter of Robert Lee, collector of customs for the Niagara region. In 1818 Oliver was elected town clerk in Lewsiton, New York. Three years later, when Niagara and Erie counties were separated, Oliver was appointed the first clerk of Niagara. In 1823 he bought out the Lewiston Sentinel newspaper, moving it shortly afterwards to Lockport, New York, and renaming it the Niagara Sentinel. Most of Oliver Jr.’s subsequent life was spent in the customs service.

In 1839, in the wake of the Upper Canada rebellions, Oliver Jr. petitioned the Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada, Sir George Arthur, for permission to return “to arrange some business for his sister.” Permission was refused. After the death of his wife, Sarah, in 1866, the childless Oliver Jr. retired to Rochester, where he died in 1874, reportedly the last living of the “traitors” of the Canadian Volunteers who were charged in absentia.

Oliver Jr.’s wife Sarah passed away in 1866, and Oliver Jr. died in 1871. They are buried in the First Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Lewiston, New York.

So, if you come and see a battle reenactment at the Bradley Museum on September 21-22, please save a jeer (or cheer, perhaps), for the Canadian traitors wearing grey coats and a green band on their black hats. While we cannot know their individual motivations for switching allegiances during the war, we do know that they were not welcome to return home once peace was declared. Oliver Grace Jr., who had land in what is today Mississauga, was one of them.

For more information on the Engagement at Bradley 1812 weekend, please visit: https://www.2ndyork.com/bradley-2024