Shavers of Ancaster

Guest post by Fred Blair

Private John Shaver (1769-1852)

John Shaver served in the 2nd York Militia which also recruited from Ancaster Township. John’s name appeared in a Return (muster roll) of Captain William Applegarth’s Flank Company from June to December, 1812 (2Y270). His name was omitted from a second, possibly earlier, copy (2Y95).

Aware of the prospect of an imminent war with the United States, Major General Isaac Brock had to prepare his militia regiments for battle. Many of the in inhabitants on the Niagara Frontier were from Loyalist families or were immigrants from Britain. However Brock was also aware that about sixty percent of the population was composed of recent American immigrants who had arrived between 1804 and 1812 when free land was offered to entice them to Upper Canada. Where did their loyalties lie? Brock decided to not test their loyalty on the battlefield. He ordered each militia regiment to form two companies of young men of proven loyalty who would be able to serve for extended periods of time and who would receive additional military training. On June 4, 1812, about one hundred and twenty 2nd York Militia men volunteered for service in the two flank companies but only about eighty were selected at that time (2Y113).

John Shaver was not one of these volunteers but as his name was on the muster roll at the end of the year he must have joined Captain Applegarth’s Company sometime after June 4th. Private Isaac Shaver of Beverly Township served in the same company but no family connection has been found between him and John.

From September 28 to October 24, 1812, John was recorded as a deserter from Captain Applegarth’s Company (2Y274). On this payroll, John Cope was killed on October 13th, two men were wounded, and six men were recorded as having deserted. This company of men took part in the Battle of Queenston Heights. Desertion was the equivalent of Absent Without Leave and does not imply that a man deserted to the enemy or necessarily deserted during a battle. John Shaver had not reported for duty on September 28th. Desertion was common in 1812 as many men were reluctant to leave their farms or sources of income for extended periods of time. A privates pay was a half shilling per day, while a labourer could earn five to ten shillings per day. John was also in his forties and possibly too old for service in a flank company where the average age was about twenty-five. John could have been brought to trial for desertion if he did not have a reasonable excuse for his absence. If convicted he would have had to pay a fine.

I wrote earlier that the surviving militia documents are known to be incomplete. In 1820, John applied for and received a Militia Land Grant as a former member of a flank company. This implied that he had served some time in Captain Applegarth’s Company but this payroll has not been found. I will write more about the Militia Land Grants and John’s grant in a later Blog.

Early in 1813, Major General Sheaffe disbanded the flank companies as he deemed them to be poorly trained and unreliable. The volunteers were encouraged to join the Upper Canadian Incorporated Militia which would be trained as a regular British regiment. John and many of the 2nd York men did not volunteer for this unit.

From September 17 to October 24, 1813, John was reported as absent from Captain William Bate’s Company (2Y271). Private Isaac Shaver was also absent but a Private William Shaver served for three days.

Each company usually had a convenient mustering point. This suggested that the men were all living nearby and would have known each other. Was there a family connection between the three Shaver men? The next Blog will be about resolving the problem of the service records for the two William Shavers.

2nd York Document Links

95-99 (Capt. Wm. Applegarth’s Flank Co. Muster Roll)

113-115 (June 4, 1812, Volunteers selected for flank companies)

123-124 (See Documents 271-272)

198-201 (See Documents 95-99)

270-271 (Capt. Wm. Applegarth’s Flank Co. Muster Roll)

271-272 (Sept. 17 to Oct. 24, 1813, Capt. Wm. Bates’ Co.)

274-276 (July 25 to Oct. 24, 1812, Capt. Wm. Applegarth’s Co.)

278-279 (See Documents 274-276)

Fred Blair
fredblairorillia@hotmail.com