Shavers of Ancaster

Guest Blog post by Fred Blair

Jonathan Kelly and Elizabeth Shaver and Their Sons

Jonathan Kelly (1770-1852) married Elizabeth Catherine Shaver, the daughter of John William Shaver. Their sons, John Kelly (c1793-1883) and Peter Bowman Kelly (1795-1876), were probably living with the family in Ancaster Township during the war. All three men served as privates in the 5th Lincoln Militia. If you read the last Blog about William Shaver you will be expect there to have been problems sorting out the records for Jonathan and his son John.

Private Jonathan Kelly (1770-1852) served from September 22 to 24, 1813 in Captain Peter Bowman’s Company with his son John (5L239). From June 19 to 28, 1814, he was employed falling timber in Burlington under Captain Bowman with his son Peter (5L508). From September 6 to 13, 1814, he served in a large detachment under the command Lieutenant Ephraim Land (5L281). I have made the assumption here that all the records for “Jonathan” were for the same man. Note that his longest service period was only ten days.

Private John Kelly (c1793-1883) served in the 1st Flank Company in 1812 (5L237a). John would have been about nineteen years old. His father’s age of about 42 and the fact that he had a number of children at home would probably have prevented him from joining a flank company where he would have been expected to serve for extended periods of time. From September 25 to October 24, 1812, John served in Captain Samuel Hatt’s Flank Company. He had been wounded at the Battle of Queenston Heights on October 13th and was recovering in the hospital at Fort Geoge (5L323). He remained in the hospital until November 24th (5L332).

From November 25 to December 16, 1812, he was back in Captain Hatt’s Company (5L337). This company was at the Battle of Frenchman’s Creek, near Fort Erie, on the 28th but there do not appear to have been any casualties in this company. Major Richard Hatt, Samuel’s brother, with about 300 militia men under his command, captured over thirty American infantry men according to Ernest Alexander Cruikshank’s Documentary History of the Campaign upon the Niagara Frontier, Part 4, Lundy’s Lane Historical Society, printed at the Tribune Office, Welland, 1900, pages 253-257, accessed at http://ourroots.ca/page.aspx?id=767446&&qryID=871b864e-48db-4030-a965-4e.... The online histories of this battle appear to all be based upon Cruikshank’s transcript. Has anyone found a more detailed account of the role of the 5th Lincoln in this battle?

From October 6 to 11, 1813, John served in Captain Bowman’s Company with his father (5L239).

Private Peter Bowman Kelly (1795-1876) served from May 25 to 31, 1813 in Captain Israel Dawdy’s Company (5L174). From August 30 to September 2, 1813, he served in Lieutenant Michael Shower’s Company (5L177). From June 19 to 28, 1814, he was employed felling timber with his father in Captain Bowman’s Company (L508).

The next Blog will be on the Lee in-laws.

Militia Payroll Document Links

39-42 (See Documents 323-324)
http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/microform-digitization/006003-119.01-...

92-95 (See Documents 323-324)
http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/microform-digitization/006003-119.01-...

150-153 (See Documents 323-324)
http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/microform-digitization/006003-119.01-...

174-175 (May 25 to Sept. 31, 1813, Capt. Israel Dawdy’s Detach.)
http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/microform-digitization/006003-119.01-...

220-223 (See Documents 323-324)
http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/microform-digitization/006003-119.01-...

237-242 (1812 Flank Co. Musters Rolls)
http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/microform-digitization/006003-119.01-...

239 (Sept. 22 to Oct. 24, 1813, Capt. Peter Bowman’s Co.)
http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/microform-digitization/006003-119.01-...

281-286 (Aug. 25 to Sept. 24, 1814, Lieut. Ephraim Land’s Detach.)
http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/microform-digitization/006003-119.01-...

289-290 (See Document 337)
http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/microform-digitization/006003-119.01-...

298-301 (See Documents 332-333)
http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/microform-digitization/006003-119.01-...

323-324 (Sept. 25 to Oct. 24, 1812, Capt. Samuel Hatt’s Co.)
http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/microform-digitization/006003-119.01-...

332-333 (Oct. 25 to Nov. 24, 1812, Capt. Samuel Hatt’s Co.)
http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/microform-digitization/006003-119.01-...

335 (See Document 337)
http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/microform-digitization/006003-119.01-...

337 (Nov. 25 to Dec. 16, 1812, Capt. Samuel Hatt’s Co.)
http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/microform-digitization/006003-119.01-...

376-379 (See Documents 332-333)
http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/microform-digitization/006003-119.01-...

504 (See Document 239)
http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/microform-digitization/006003-119.01-...

508 (June 19 to 28, 1814 and July 4 to 24, 1814, Capt. Peter Bowman’s Co.)
http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/microform-digitization/006003-119.01-...

510 (See Document 174)
http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/microform-digitization/006003-119.01-...

512 (See Document 174)
http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/microform-digitization/006003-119.01-...

Fred Blair
fredblairorillia@hotmail.com