Person Page - 4138

Samuel Merrill¹

• Father*: Samuel Merrill¹ b. 23 Feb 1768, d. 7 May 1834
• Mother*: Mary Phillips¹ b. 1771, d. 10 Jul 1803

• Birth*: 1799; Kingston, Frontenac Co., Upper Canada; per family tree of DeborahBlanchet91 on ancestry.ca, Feb 3 2019.¹
• Death*: 1870; per family tree of DeborahBlanchet91 on ancestry.ca, Feb 3 2019.¹

Hannah Merrill¹

• Father*: Samuel Merrill¹ b. 23 Feb 1768, d. 7 May 1834
• Mother*: Mary Phillips¹ b. 1771, d. 10 Jul 1803

• Birth*: 1801; Kingston, Frontenac Co., Upper Canada; per family tree of DeborahBlanchet91 on ancestry.ca, Feb 3 2019.¹
• Death*: 1833; per family tree of DeborahBlanchet91 on ancestry.ca, Feb 3 2019.¹

Ruth Brown¹

• Birth*: circa 1770; Cherry Valley, Otsego Co., New York, U.S.A.; per family tree of DeborahBlanchet91 on ancestry.ca, Feb 3 2019.¹
• Marriage*: 1804; per family tree of DeborahBlanchet91 on ancestry.ca, Feb 3 2019.; Principal=Samuel Merrill¹

• Married Name: 1804; Merrill¹

George Merrill¹

• Father*: Samuel Merrill¹ b. 23 Feb 1768, d. 7 May 1834
• Mother*: Ruth Brown¹ b. c 1770

• Birth*: 29 January 1805; Kingston, Frontenac Co., Upper Canada; per family tree of DeborahBlanchet91 on ancestry.ca, Feb 3 2019.¹
• Death*: 23 February 1805; Kingston, Frontenac Co., Upper Canada; per family tree of DeborahBlanchet91 on ancestry.ca, Feb 3 2019.¹

Nancy Merrill^1,2,3,4

• Father*: Samuel Merrill² b. 23 Feb 1768, d. 7 May 1834
• Mother*: Ruth Brown² b. c 1770

• Birth*: 1806; Kingston, Frontenac Co., Upper Canada; Batptism Record: Name: Nancy Merrill; Date: 1806; Place: Kingstn, Ont; Source: Russ Waller, Anglican Parish Register of Baptisms, Marriages and Funerals for Kingston 1784-1811 by Rev John Stuart, Kingston, 1990 (ancestry.ca) Date 1806 & location Kingston per family tree of DeborahBlanchet91 on ancestry.ca, Feb 3 2019.^2,3
• Marriage*: 18 July 1822; Kingston, Frontenac Co., Upper Canada; "Note re Thomas Paxton; Nancy Merrill was married on Thursday evening the 18th July 1822 by the Rev. Arch. Stuart to Thomas Paxton. Thomas Paxton was born Apr. 15, 1794. Thomas Paxton Merrill was born 25th Oct 1824. Extract from the Journal of Wm. Merrill." Archives of Ontario, MS691, R52.
  "Historic Newspaper Index: Merrill, Nancy; married to Thos. Paxton by the Rev. Arch Deacon Stuart; Appearing in the Kingston Chronicle on June 26 1822 (p. 3, col. 3); No scanned or digitized copies of this newspaper on this date are currently available online" from Digital Kingston, search of Paxton.; Principal=Major Thomas Paxton^3,5,6
• Death*: 20 March 1889; Windsor, Essex Co., Ontario; Death Reg'n.#004719: Name: Nancy Paxton; Date: March 20 - ; Age: 84y; Status: widow of the late Major Paxton; Born: Kingston, Ont.; Cause: nephritis, 2 days; Phys: Dr. Atkinson; Inf.: All Joyce, Windsor; Reg'd.: Mar 21 - ; Rel.: Pres.; Reg'r.: Stephen Lusted (Ontario Death Registration, #004719-1889, ancestry.ca)(Year appears on bottom of the page with Registrar's signature.)
  
  Date 1889 per family tree of DeborahBlanchet91 on ancestry.ca, Feb 3 2019.^2,7

• Married Name: 18 July 1822; Paxton³
• Census*: April 1861; Windsor, Essex Co., Canada West; Age 54 at 1861 Census: Paxton, Nancy, 54, b. UC, W., married (widow) (1861 Census; Windsor, Essex Co., pg. 541 of 644, line 31 - ancestry.ca)
  Note: Nancy appears to be living alone in Windosr, showing widow, however, if this is Nancy Merrll, wife of Thomas Paxton, he is very much alive and living in Amherstburg. Need to pursue this some more.⁸
• Residence*: 1871; Windsor, Essex Co., Ontario; "Paxton, Mrs. Nancy" Canada, City and Area Directories, Windosr, 1871 - pg. 497 of 587 - ancestry.ca)³
• Census: April 1881; Windsor, Essex Co., Ontario; Age ? at 1881 Census: Paxton ... (very faint, can see Paxton but that is all....) Index brings this up for Nancy Paxton, and 1861 Census matches, so this is probably her. Someone with her is another name but not clear.⁹
• Residence: 1888; 51 Pelissier, Windsor, Essex Co., Ontario; "Paxton, N Mrs., h 51 Pelissier" Canada, City and Area Directories, Windows, 1888, pg. 53 - ancestry.ca³

Major Thomas Paxton^1,2

• Father*: Lieut. Thomas Paxton b. 1754, d. 8 Oct 1804
• Mother*: Marie-Genevieve "Jane" Levitre b. 25 Jun 1759, d. 5 Mar 1843

• Birth*: 15 April 1794; Kingston, Frontenac Co., Upper Canada; "Note re Thomas Paxton; Nancy Merrill was married on Thursday evening the 18th July 1822 by the Rev. Arch. Stuart to Thomas Paxton. Thomas Paxton was born Apr. 15, 1794. Thomas Paxton Merrill was born 25th Oct 1824. Extract from the Journal of Wm. Merrill." Archives of Ontario, MS691, R52.
  Date 1794 & location Ont. per 1871 Census. Date 1796 & location UC per 1861 Census. Date 1796 & location Cda. per family tree of June0343 on ancestry.ca, May 18, 2019.^2,3,4,5,6
• Marriage*: 18 July 1822; Kingston, Frontenac Co., Upper Canada; "Note re Thomas Paxton; Nancy Merrill was married on Thursday evening the 18th July 1822 by the Rev. Arch. Stuart to Thomas Paxton. Thomas Paxton was born Apr. 15, 1794. Thomas Paxton Merrill was born 25th Oct 1824. Extract from the Journal of Wm. Merrill." Archives of Ontario, MS691, R52.
  "Historic Newspaper Index: Merrill, Nancy; married to Thos. Paxton by the Rev. Arch Deacon Stuart; Appearing in the Kingston Chronicle on June 26 1822 (p. 3, col. 3); No scanned or digitized copies of this newspaper on this date are currently available online" from Digital Kingston, search of Paxton.; Principal=Nancy Merrill^2,7,6

• Note: 8 October 1804; Lake Ontario, Newcastle, Northumberland Co., Upper Canada; Captain Thomas Paxton was lost when HMS Speedy sailed into a nor'easter off Presqu'ile Point on the night of October 8, 1804.
• Note: between 1812 and 1814; Amherstburg, Essex Co., Upper Canada; "That your petitioner, during the late war with the United States of America, faithfully and honorably served his late Majesty in the Militia of the Province - who so gallantly seconded His Majestys troops in repelling the enemy." from Speedy Justice, page 138, Appendix; this is from Thomas Paxton Jr.'s petition for permission to purchase Fighting Island.⁸
• Note: 12 November 1827; Amherstburg, Essex Co., Upper Canada; "The Petition of Thomas Paxton Jr, 1827; To the Kings Most Excellent Majesty; The Humble petition of Thomas Paxton, one of your majesty's most dutiful and loyal Subjects, of your Majesty's Province of Upper Canada in North America - second eldest son of Captain Thomas Paxton, who was most unfortunately drowned by the loss of His late Majesty's Schooner, the Speedy, on Lake Ontario in the Said Province
  - Sheweth - That your petitioner's father, faithfully and honorably served your Majesty's late father, of glorious memory, for a period of thirty five years in various parts of the world - That for a few years prior to his unfortunate death, he had served in the Command of His late Majesty's Schooner, the Speedy, belonging to what was then termed the Provincial Navy on Lake Ontario - and at that time under the control of the Lieutenant Governor of the Province- That in the fall of the year 1804, your petitioner's father was directed by the then Governor of this Province, Lieut. General Hunter, to embark the judges and officers of the Court going on the circuit to open the assizes in the District of Newcastle, against which he remonstrated alledging the utter unworthiness of the vessel to go to sea: That being peremptorily ordered by General Hunter to proceed he embarked the Court and proceeded on his voyage as directed: but from the time of his leaving the port of York no tidings were ever heard of the vessel, or her passengers and crew who must all undoubtedly have perished with the vessel, which is supposed to have foundered. That by the unfortunate death of your petitioner's father, his mother and seven helpless children, were left unprovided for, there being no fund out of which she was of right entitled to receive any assistance - but some years afterwards His Late Majesty was most graciously pleased to bestow on her a pension of twenty five pounds currency of the Province (about twenty three pounds sterling) on which she has since existed, and brought up her family the best way she could. That your petitioner, during the late war with the United States of America, faithfully and honorably served his late Majesty in the Militia of the Province - who so gallantly seconded His Majesty's troops in repelling the enemy.
  That your petitioner, not having received any lands in this Province either for his service - or as the son of a person employed under Government, which was usual at the time of his father's death - has lately obtained from His Excellency Sir Peregrine Maitland, Lieutenant Governor of the Province, a license to occupy an Island lying in the River Detroit which separates a part of Upper Canada from the United States of America, called 'Grosse or Fighting Island', His Excellency being restrained from granting or selling the same without your Majesty's permission or authority. That the said Island, which on the recent survey by the Commissioners under the treaty of Ghent falls within your Majesty's Dominions, contains about 1200 acres of low flat marshy land, wholly unfit for cultivation or fortifications, but which could, if possessed by your petitioner be of great value for various purposes. That inasmuch as the said Island can be of no kind of service to your Majesty's Government - your petitioner humbly and earnestly solicits your Majesty for a grant of the same - or that he may be allowed to purchase and receive a grant for a fair consideration - and that your Majesty will be pleased to signify your Royal will and pleasure thereon thro' His Excellency the Lieut. Gov of the Province. And your Majesty's dutiful and loyal Subject - as in duty bound will ever pray &c; York Upper Canada 12 Nov 1827 -
  Thomas Paxton" from Speedy Justice, page 137 & 138, Appednix, original AO, RGI, C-I-1, MS 691, Reel 52.⁸
• Note: 19 December 1834; Lot 21, Chatham Twp., Kent Co., Upper Canada; "Location Ticket (Not Transferable); Pursuant to a General Order in Council, of the 19th January, 1820, respecting Militia Grants, and under the Certificate No. 3388 of the Adjutant General of Militia, in favor of Thomas Paxton of the town of Kingston in the County of Frontenac in the Midland District, yeoman, as a Serjant in a Flank Company of the ?1st Regt. of Frontenac Militia, I do hereby assign to the said Thomas Paxton the lot number twenty one in the seventh concession by the Western boundary in the Township of Chatham in the Count of Kent in the Western District, containing two hundred acres, but no Patent shall be permitted to issue till it shall be ascertained by the Surveyor General or by the Commissioner of Crown Lands, that a resident Settler has been established on some part of the Grant, who shall ?? improve the location within six months from the date hereby. Given at the Surveyor-General's Office, at York, U.C. this 19th day of December, 1834 No. of Certificate S.G.O. - 3465 ?Mil? J. P. Hardy ?" Archives of Ontario, MS691, Reel 52, docs start page 1229 but are not numbered after that. (Transcribed by Dan Buchanan, Aug 14 2019)⁶
• Note*: 5 March 1843; Windsor, Essex Co., Canada West; His mother, Jane, died Mar 5 1843 and was buried in Windsor."The seventh of March one thousand eight hundred forty three" ....is a very clear reference to the date. I'm unable to accurately vouch for all of the words that follow, although they do seem to suggest that, on that date "by (???) the undersigned priest (handled) the interment in the cemetery of this parish the body of Jane, widow of the late Thomas Paxton, deceased yesterday, aged 89 years, in the presence of Pierre (the
  names that follow are unclear)." per email from Tom Groot who Catherine Stutt asked to translate the French in the interment record from the Catholic church where Jane Paxton was buried in Windsor. She was the widow of Lieut. Thomas Paxton who had been lost in 1804 along with the Speedy. Thank Tom and Catherine!²
• Residence*: April 1861; Conc 1 Lot 9, Anderdon Twp., Essex Co., Canada West; Residence per 1861 Census: Name: Thomas Paxton; Land: Conc 1, Lot 9, 35 acres, 24 acres under cult. (1861 Census, ancestry.ca))³
• Census*: April 1861; Anderdon Twp., Essex Co., Canada West; Age 65 at 1861 Census: Paxton, Thomas, 65, b. UC, CE, Gentleman, married; Ethelbert B. (m), 29, b. UC, CE, gentleman, single (only 2 in household) (1861 Census: Anderson Twp., Essex Co., pg. 97 of 644, line 1 - ancestry.ca)³
• Census: April 1871; Amherstburg, Essex Co., Ontario; Age 77 at 1871 Census: Paxton, Thomas, 77, b. Ont., Eng., CE., Fisherman, married; Spears, Virginia, 35, b. US, African, Bapt., servant, widow (1871 Census: Amherstburg, Essex Co., dist. 1, sub-dist. B., pg 67, line 14 - ancestry.ca)⁴

Lieut. Thomas Paxton

• Birth*: 1754; Newcastle-on-Tyne, England; Date 1754 & location Newcastle-on-Tyne, England per Speedy Justice, pg. 73. Note: Newcastle upon Tyne is a university city on the River Tyne in northeast England. With its twin city, Gateshead, it was a major shipbuilding and manufacturing hub during the Industrial Revolution and is now a centre of business, arts and sciences. Spanning the Tyne, modern Gateshead Millennium Bridge, noted for its unique tilting aperture, is a symbol of the 2 cities. Wikipedia.
  "My family tree is titled Casey Family Tree .... and it is on Ancestry .. my maternal grandmother was Charlotte Paxton, her Father was John W Paxton, his father Thomas Jefferson Paxton, his father John Baptist Paxton, his father John Paxton and
  his father Captain Thomas Paxton." per email from Michael Casey, Nov 24 2020.^1,2,3
• Marriage*: circa 1785; Quebec, Quebec; Birth of daughter in Quebec.; Principal=Marie-Genevieve "Jane" Levitre
• Death*: 8 October 1804; Lake Ontario, Newcastle, Northumberland Co., Upper Canada; "She was seen off the Harbour of Presque Isle on Monday the 8th Oct, in the Evening, & has not since been heard of. A very violent Storm prevailed on that Night & the following day, & there can be no doubt but that she foundered in it. Some small portionLieut. Thomas Paxton of the Wreck have been found on the South shore of this Lake, but nothing much of Consequence, nor any of the Dead Bodies." Speedy Justice, pg. 107 & 108¹

• Note*: 1772; England; " … enlisted in the Royal Navy at the age of eighteen and served in various parts of the world … " Speedy Justice, pg 73¹
• Note: 9 June 1785; Quebec, Quebec; "1785 ... 9 Juin Bail a Loyer par Frs. Roy a Thomas Paxton" Quebec Notarial Records, Notary Alexandre Dumas, ancestry.ca
  Note: I am guessing that this means Thomas Paxton paid bail for Frs. Roy.⁴
• Residence*: 1787; Province of Quebec; " … before joining the Lake Ontario naval force in 1787." per Speedy Justice, pg 73 (It was still the Province of Quebec. Upper and Lower Canada were created in 1791.)¹
• Note: 24 December 1787; Kingston, Midland Dist., Province of Quebec; "Thomas Paxton pay as Mate of His Majesty's Provincial Armed Schoonr Mercury, between the 25th September and 24th December, 1787, inclusinve. 16 pounds, 0 11 Curency" (Library and Archives Canada, RG 8, Vol. 1069, 1465, pg. 0008 of 1362, right side)⁵
• Note: 1790; Province of Quebec; "His commission three years later as second lieutenant in the Provincial Marine - or, as it was then known, 'His Majesty's Naval Armament' … " per Speedy Justice, pg 73¹
• Note: 1792; Kingston, Frontenac Co., Upper Canada; In 1792 the Province of Quebec was divided into Lower Canada (later Quebec) and Upper Canada (later Ontario) and John Graves Simcoe was appointed the first Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada. Before this development the whole area was called the Province of Quebec. (Dan Buchanan)⁶
• Note: 1796; Windham Twp., Norfolk Co., Upper Canada; Genealogy Index: Name: Lt. Thomas Paxton; Event: Living; Place: Windham, Ontario; Source: William R. Yeager, Early Norfolk County Land Patents 1795-1883, Norfolk Historical Society, Simcoe, 1981 - ancestry.ca.
  Note: This may not be our Lieut. Thomas Paxton, but it could be. Maybe this is a land grant he got and sold - did not live there. Need to see the details.⁴
• Note: 1797; Upper Canada; "A second commission, issued in 1797 by Governor Robert Prescott, promoted Paxton to the rank of full lieutenant .. " per Speedy Justice, pg. 73¹
• Note: 6 September 1798; Kingston, Upper Canada; "The gun boat Speedy is launched and equipped and sailed for Fort George under the command of Lieut. Thomas Paxton, .. " letter from Major Hazelton Spencer to James Green, Military Secretary, York, first mention of Speedy sailing¹
• Note: October 1798; York, York Co., Upper Canada; "Peter Russell wanted Thomas Paxton, then the captain of the sloop Caldwell, to be released by the military to command the Toronto, but his request to this effect had gone unanswered." per Speedy Justice page 78¹
• Note: 12 October 1798; York, Upper Canada; Letter from Peter Russell, Administrator of Upper Canada to Governor Robert Prescott in Quebec. "The Duke of Portland having in a letter to me (of which the inclosed is an Extract) gives me leave to build a small armed Vessel for the Service of the Civil Government of this Province, I had contracted with a Ship Wright in this place to build one, and I had promised Lieut. Paxton of the Lake Marine to give him the Command of her, if he could obtain your Excellency's Permission to take it without injuring the Progress of his Rank in the line in which he is now serving, the Vessel now being in some forwardness and consequently requiring the daily inspection of her Commander, and not having heard from Mr. Paxton, that he has obtained the requisite permission, I am induced to request to know from your Excellency whether you have objections to Mr. Paxton's Acceptance of this Command and retaining his right of Promotion in the Navy of the Lakes, because if this change of Service should not meet your Excellency's Pleasure, it is my Intention to appoint Mr. Baker to it, & I shall immediately want the attendance of either the one or the other to Superintend the building of the vessel.- " per Russell Papers, Vol. II, pg. 279⁷
• Note: 8 November 1798; York, Upper Canada; Letter from Governor Robert Prescott to Administrator of Upper Canada, Peter Russell. "Lieutenant Paxton being employed on Lake Ontario in one of the King's Schooners, renders his acceptance of the Command of the Armed Vessel now building at York for the service of the Civil Government of Upper Canada impossible. I must here request that in fixing and regulating the Establishment of the Officers and Seamen for this Vessel, care may be had that their Pay and Emoluments may not exceed, what the other officers and Seamen employed in the King's Service on the Lakes receive, for reasons that must be sufficiently obvious." per Russel Papers, Vol II, pg. 309
  Note: This meant that Paxton was not going to get a better ship and more pay, which he desperately needed and wanted. He was stuck on a Provincial Marine gunboat. Prescott knew they could not do without an experience man like Paxton, even if he was a bit ornery at times.⁷
• Note: 24 July 1800; York, York Co., Upper Canada; "York, July 24th, 1800 .... and at this moment of confusion, Capt. Paxton and Wm. Jarvis gave their votes for Mr. Alcock. The poll had been, at the beginning of these appearances, adjourned to the ensuing day. Mr. Weeks, seeing that Mr. Alcock had at this juncture a majority, insisted that the poll should be closed, in which he was joined by Mr. Alcock and the returning officer, seemingly intimidated and bewildered, complied, after having but a moment before adjourned it. The other candidates, except Mr. Heron, were struck silent with this inconsistency, he made a verbal protest against it as being illegal" ..." page 164 of The Town of York 1793-1815, "F7 An Impartial Bystander's Account of the Election (Niagara, Niagara Herald, March 14, 1801.⁸
• Note: 25 June 1802; Kingston, Frontenac Co., Upper Canada; "Kingston, June 25, 1802; Sir, I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letters of the 15th and 18th instant. Lieut. Earl has this day taken on board what Indian stores remained at this port for Fr. George. The Speedy has just arrived & Lt. Paxton has reported to me that part of the Indian stores he had on board got damaged but he has not said in what manner or that his vessel was leaky. I shall immediately order her to be examined as his reported conduct on this trip have appeared both to Major Campbell & myself to have been very particular owing I imagine to his being ordered to sail when the wind was not quite fair by which he carried away his main top? Which could not be owing to any other cause but that if intention or … " #168 … not in archive collection - from Ed….⁹
• Note: 26 June 1802; Kingston, Frontenac Co., Upper Canada; "I am sorry to be under the necessity of acquainting you that two of Paxton's crew deserted last night, viz. Tomas Dobs & William Young. I am also sorry to be obliged to say that I think Paxton's conduct this last trip and previous to his sailing and since his return to be very blameable particularly in disobeying orders given him to sleep on board his vessel." Archives of Canada, Series C Vol 725 Pg 173 (From Major Campbell, at Kingston. Assuming this means his family was in Kingston so he wanted to spend the night there and not on board ship. Paxton was not a happy guy.
  ¹⁰
• Note: 11 November 1803; Kingston, Frontenac Co., Upper Canada; "Point Frederick, Kingston, 11th Nov. 1803: Sir.: Lieut. Paxton eldest son wishing to be a ship carpenter and live as an apprentice under W. Dennis the Master Builder who is inclined to take him promised that His Excellency General Hunter will ?grant? his some thrifty pay. Lieut. Paxton prays the Generals consideration therein, on the principle of his ?Paxton? being an old servant with a numerous family of children. I have the Honor to be Sir, Your Very Obedient Humble Servant, J. W. Steel; Major Green. Military Secretary" (Letter from J. W. Steel, Commander at Kingston, to Lieut. Gov. Peter Hunter, asking if Captain Paxton's son might be considered for an apprenticeship with William Dennis, the premier ship builder at York, copied from the British Military Records, Library and Archives of Canada, Series C, Vol. 726, pg. 102.)¹⁰
• Note: April 1804; Lake Scugog, Ball Point, Newcastle Dist., Upper Canada; John Sharp was killed at the Farewell bothers trading post on Ball Point, at the north east side of Lake Scugog. This would set in motion the events that took Thomas Paxton and the Speedy to their deaths near Newcastle, Presqu'ile Point in October 8, 1804.
• Note: 20 September 1804; York, York Co., Upper Canada; "Twenty-three years after the sinking of the ship and the drowning of his father, Thomas Paxton Jr made a startling disclosure. In an 1827 petition to the government for a tract of land, known as Fighting Island, in the Detroit River, young Paxton stated that in the fall of 1804 his father was 'directed' by Lieutenant-Governor Hunter to 'embark the judges and officers of the Court going on the circuit to open the assizes in the District of Newcastle, against which he remonstrated alleging the utter unworthiness of the vessel to go to sea ... being peremptorily ordered by Governor Hunter to proceed he embarked the Court and proceeded on his voyage as directed ...'52 (See Appendix.) Paxton Jr does not give the date of the confrontation between his father and Hunter, but it likely happened a short time before the ship sailed on Sunday, 7 October." Speedy Justice, pg. 94 & 95¹
• Note: 7 October 1804; York, York Co., Upper Canada; "The Speedy, Capt. Paxton, left this port on Sunday evening the 7th. October last, with a moderate breeze from the N.W. for Presque Isle, and was descried off that island on the Monday following before dark." Originally from Upper Canada Gazette, quoted by Speedy Justice, pg. 4.¹

Marie-Genevieve "Jane" Levitre^1,2

• Father*: Michel Levitre b. 29 Sep 1723, d. 6 Apr 1803
• Mother*: Charlotte Lamarre b. 1723

• Birth*: 25 June 1759; Pte.aux-Trembles, Quebec, Quebec; Date 1754 per Interment Record, showing age 89 at death March 5 1843 in Windsor. "Mrs. Paxton was the daughter of Michael Lavetré, "an old Servant of the King," who served His Majesty faithfully "In quality of Master Carpenter on Lake Ontario"." from the Parish Register of the Anglican Church of Kingston, a note under the birth record for her son James Paxton.
  "1754, (26 Nov.) Quebec.; III. - Levitre, Michel, b. 1723. [Jean-Bte. II]; Lamare (1), Charlotte, b. 1732.[Henry II]; Catherine, b. 30 Sep et s. 16 Oct 1755, a Charlesbourg.; Charlotte, b. 26 Sept 1756; m 14 Juillet 1777, a Joseph-Gabriel Migneron.; Michel, b. 16 Sept 1757.; Marie-Genevieve, b. 25 Juin et s 20 Nov. 1759, a la Pte-aux-Trembles, Q.; Marie-Louise, b. 20 dec 1760, a St. Thomas; Genvieveb, b.... m. a Thomas Paxton." Genealogica lRecords Families of Quebec, (Tanguay Collection) ancestry.ca, page 103 of 306.²
• Marriage*: circa 1785; Quebec, Quebec; Birth of daughter in Quebec.; Principal=Lieut. Thomas Paxton
• Death*: 5 March 1843; Windsor, Essex Co., Canada West; Date Mar 5 1843 per interment record.
• Burial*: 7 March 1843; Our Lady of the Assumption Cemetery, Windsor, Essex Co., Canada West; "The seventh of March one thousand eight hundred forty three" ....is a very clear reference to the date. I'm unable to accurately vouch for all of the words that follow, although they do seem to suggest that, on that date "by (???) the undersigned priest (handled) the interment in the cemetery of this parish the body of Jane, widow of the late Thomas Paxton, deceased yesterday, aged 89 years, in the presence of Pierre (the names that follow are unclear)." per email from Tom Groot who Catherine Stutt asked to translate the French in the interment record from the Catholic church where Jane Paxton was buried in Windsor. She was the widow of Lieut. Thomas Paxton who had been lost in 1804 along with the Speedy. Thank Tom and Catherine!

• Married Name: circa 1785; Paxton
• Note: 1796; Kingston, Frontenac Co., Upper Canada; "Mrs. Paxton was the daughter of Michael Lavetré, "an old Servant of the King," who served His Majesty faithfully "In quality of Master Carpenter on Lake Ontario". For that reason she was, on October 3, 1796, ordered 200 acres, with other 200 to enable her to educate her four children (Q 285, P 255)." from he Parish Register for the Anglican Church of Kingston, notes under the birth record for her son, James Paxton in 1798.
• Note: 8 October 1804; Lake Ontario, Newcastle, Newcastle Dist., Upper Canada; Captain Thomas Paxton was lost when HMS Speedy sailed into a nor'easter off Presqu'ile Point on the night of October 8, 1804.
• Note: 25 November 1817; Kingston, Frontenac Co., Upper Canada; "All those having demands against the Estate of the late Capt. Thomas Paxton, of this place, will please to render their accounts, properly authenticated, on or before the 1st of May next, to the subsriber, who is authorised to liquidate them; and all those who are indebted to the Estate, are requested to call and settle the same.; Jane Paxton; Kingston, Nov. 25, 1817." from the Kingston Gazette, Dec. 2, 1817, page 3, col. 4, found in Digital Kingston, searching for Paxton. (This add ran from Dec 2 1817 to Jan 13 1818)³
• Note*: 31 May 1818; Paxton House & Lot, Kingston, Frontenac Co., Upper Canada; "For Sale by the Subscriber, The House (and Lot on which it stands) at present occupied by her; in front of No. 1 Blockhouse, and immediately adjoining the Parsonage. The situation is surpassed by very few in the town. Those who may be inclined to purchase will do well to avail themselves of this opportunity. Particulars may be had of the Subscrber. JANE PAXTON. Kingston, 30th March, 1818. 44tf" from the Kingston Gazette (Kingston, Ontario), March 30, 1818 p.3, col.4" an image of this item was sent to me via email on May 17 2020 by Aileen Blomgren. She also said: The reason everyone couldn't find it is because it was not MAY 31, 1818 - It was actually MARCH 31, 1818. Plus, the column number is wrong. I should be column 4, not 5. She sent this URL (http://vitacollections.ca/digital-kingston/97018/page/3)
  "Historic Newspapers Index: Parsonage; Jane Paxton makes notice of her house and lot for sale. Located in front of No. 1 Blockhouse and adjoining the parsonage.; Appearing in the Kingston Gazette on May 30, 1818 (pg. 3, col. 4); Note: No digital copies of this newspaper on this date are available online at this time - from Digital Kingston, search for Paxton.)^3,4
• Note: 7 September 1830; Paxton Lot, Kingston, Frontenac Co., Upper Canada; "To be sold. - A town lot in Kingston, commonly called the Paxton Lot immediately adjoining Archdeacon Stuart's and within a few minutes walk of Missesaugua Point. It has the advantage of fronting two Streets, and two or more additional dwelling houses could be erected on the same, without inconvenience to the present dwelling which is large and roomy. Terms known on application. Thomas O'Farrell; Kingston, 7th Sept. 1830." scanned image of this newspaper page found on Digital Kingston, Kingston Chronicle, Sep 11, 1830, page 3, col. 3)³

Margaret Paxton

• Father*: Lieut. Thomas Paxton b. 1754, d. 8 Oct 1804
• Mother*: Marie-Genevieve "Jane" Levitre b. 25 Jun 1759, d. 5 Mar 1843

• Birth*: 1797; Kingston, Frontenac Co., Upper Canada; "Name: Thomas Paxton; Event: Living; Year: 1797; Place: Kingston region; Province: Ontario; Source: Russ Waller, Anglican Parish Register of Baptisms, Marriages and Funerals for Kingston 1784-1811 by Rev John Stuart, Kingston, 1990.
  Volume/Page: 9; Note: The province and county are associated with the location of the record source and in some cases may not be the same as the place where the event occurred." from ancestry.ca, searching for Thomas Paxton, these items represent Baptisms of his children.
• Marriage*: May 1821; Kingston, Frontenac Co., Upper Canada; "Historic Newspaper Index: Little, Wm. H.; Appearing in the Kingston Chronicle on June 1, 1821 (p.3, col. 5); No scanned or digitized copies of this newspaper on this date are currently availble online." from the Kingston Chronicle, Jun 1 1821, found in Digital Kingston, search for Paxton.; Principal=William H. Little¹

• Note*: 8 October 1804; Lake Ontario, Newcastle, Northumberland Co., Upper Canada; Captain Thomas Paxton was lost when HMS Speedy sailed into a nor'easter off Presqu'ile Point on the night of October 8, 1804.
• Married Name: May 1821; Little¹

William H. Little¹

• Birth*: circa 1795¹
• Marriage*: May 1821; Kingston, Frontenac Co., Upper Canada; "Historic Newspaper Index: Little, Wm. H.; Appearing in the Kingston Chronicle on June 1, 1821 (p.3, col. 5); No scanned or digitized copies of this newspaper on this date are currently availble online." from the Kingston Chronicle, Jun 1 1821, found in Digital Kingston, search for Paxton.; Principal=Margaret Paxton¹

James Paxton

• Father*: Lieut. Thomas Paxton b. 1754, d. 8 Oct 1804
• Mother*: Marie-Genevieve "Jane" Levitre b. 25 Jun 1759, d. 5 Mar 1843

• Birth*: 21 January 1798; Kingston, Frontenac Co., Upper Canada; "1798 ... Paxton, James-S. of Thomas* & Jane Paxton; Sp.-Hugh Earl,** Jno. Frederick Dame; Angelike Fortier; 21st [Jany.]." per Parish Register for Anglican Church of Kingston.¹

• Note*: 8 October 1804; Lake Ontario, Newcastle, Northumberland Co., Upper Canada; Captain Thomas Paxton was lost when HMS Speedy sailed into a nor'easter off Presqu'ile Point on the night of October 8, 1804.

Michel Levitre^1,2

• Birth*: 29 September 1723; Quebec, Quebec; "1754, (26 Nov.) Quebec.; III. - Levitre, Michel, b. 1723. [Jean-Bte. II]; Lamare (1), Charlotte, b. 1732.[Henry II]; Catherine, b. 30 Sep et s. 16 Oct 1755, a Charlesbourg.; Charlotte, b. 26 Sept 1756; m 14 Juillet 1777, a Joseph-Gabriel Migneron.; Michel, b. 16 Sept 1757.; Marie-Genevieve, b. 25 Juin et s 20 Nov. 1759, a la Pte-aux-Trembles, Q.; Marie-Louise, b. 20 dec 1760, a St. Thomas; Genvieveb, b.... m. a Thomas Paxton." Genealogica lRecords Families of Quebec, (Tanguay Collection) ancestry.ca, page 103 of 306.
  Date Sep 29 1723 & location Quebec per family tree of Michael Casey on ancestry.ca, May 16 2019.^2,3
• Marriage*: 1754; Quebec, Quebec; "Mrs. Paxton was the daughter of Michael Lavetré, "an old Servant of the King," who served His Majesty faithfully "In quality of Master Carpenter on Lake Ontario"." Jane Paxton, wife of Lieut. Thomas Paxton, was the daughter of Michael Lavertre, per this note in the Parish Register for the Anglican Church of Kingston.
  "1754, (26 Nov.) Quebec.; III. - Levitre, Michel, b. 1723. [Jean-Bte. II]; Lamare (1), Charlotte, b. 1732.[Henry II]; Catherine, b. 30 Sep et s. 16 Oct 1755, a Charlesbourg.; Charlotte, b. 26 Sept 1756; m 14 Juillet 1777, a Joseph-Gabriel Migneron.; Michel, b. 16 Sept 1757.; Marie-Genevieve, b. 25 Juin et s 20 Nov. 1759, a la Pte-aux-Trembles, Q.; Marie-Louise, b. 20 dec 1760, a St. Thomas; Genvieveb, b.... m. a Thomas Paxton." Genealogica lRecords Families of Quebec, (Tanguay Collection) ancestry.ca, page 103 of 306.; Principal=Charlotte Lamarre²
• Death*: 6 April 1803; Quebec, Quebec; per family tree of Michael Casey on ancestry.ca, May 16 2019.³

Charlotte Lamarre^1,2

• Birth*: 1723; "1754, (26 Nov.) Quebec.; III. - Levitre, Michel, b. 1723. [Jean-Bte. II]; Lamare (1), Charlotte, b. 1732.[Henry II]; Catherine, b. 30 Sep et s. 16 Oct 1755, a Charlesbourg.; Charlotte, b. 26 Sept 1756; m 14 Juillet 1777, a Joseph-Gabriel Migneron.; Michel, b. 16 Sept 1757.; Marie-Genevieve, b. 25 Juin et s 20 Nov. 1759, a la Pte-aux-Trembles, Q.; Marie-Louise, b. 20 dec 1760, a St. Thomas; Genvieveb, b.... m. a Thomas Paxton." Genealogica lRecords Families of Quebec, (Tanguay Collection) ancestry.ca, page 103 of 306.²
• Marriage*: 1754; Quebec, Quebec; "Mrs. Paxton was the daughter of Michael Lavetré, "an old Servant of the King," who served His Majesty faithfully "In quality of Master Carpenter on Lake Ontario"." Jane Paxton, wife of Lieut. Thomas Paxton, was the daughter of Michael Lavertre, per this note in the Parish Register for the Anglican Church of Kingston.
  "1754, (26 Nov.) Quebec.; III. - Levitre, Michel, b. 1723. [Jean-Bte. II]; Lamare (1), Charlotte, b. 1732.[Henry II]; Catherine, b. 30 Sep et s. 16 Oct 1755, a Charlesbourg.; Charlotte, b. 26 Sept 1756; m 14 Juillet 1777, a Joseph-Gabriel Migneron.; Michel, b. 16 Sept 1757.; Marie-Genevieve, b. 25 Juin et s 20 Nov. 1759, a la Pte-aux-Trembles, Q.; Marie-Louise, b. 20 dec 1760, a St. Thomas; Genvieveb, b.... m. a Thomas Paxton." Genealogica lRecords Families of Quebec, (Tanguay Collection) ancestry.ca, page 103 of 306.; Principal=Michel Levitre²

• Married Name: 1754; Levitre²

Henry L. Paxton^1,2

• Father*: Lieut. Thomas Paxton b. 1754, d. 8 Oct 1804
• Mother*: Marie-Genevieve "Jane" Levitre b. 25 Jun 1759, d. 5 Mar 1843

• Birth*: 18 December 1803; Kingston, Frontenac Co., Upper Canada; "1803 ... Paxton, Henry S. of Thos. Paxton, Jane Paxton; Sp. Thos. Sparham, Catharine Grass; do 18." from Parish Register of Anglican Church of Kingston.
• Death*: before 1843; Sandwich, Essex Co., Canada West; "The Parish Register for St. George's Anglican Church in Kingston mentions "She died at Sandwich while residing with her son Henry, who is since deceased."37 Jane Paxton died in Windsor, March 5th, 1843 and was buried in Our Lady of the Assumption Cemetery, Windsor.38" this is from Dan Buchanan's book about the Speedy, in development,Sep 2 2019.

• Note: 8 October 1804; Lake Ontario, Newcastle, Northumberland Co., Upper Canada; Captain Thomas Paxton was lost when HMS Speedy sailed into a nor'easter off Presqu'ile Point on the night of October 8, 1804.
  Note: Henry was exactly 9 months and 20 days old when his father died.
• Note: 31 December 1837; Sandwich, Essex Co., Upper Canada; "Received from William Anderton? E? Actg Comm't, Sandwich, the above sum of twentynine pounds sixteen shillings and three pense .. 7 ? .. being the the? amount of pay due my Company up to the 31st day of December 1837. Christopher ?Pajot? ... (in the list above is ) "Henry Paxton..... " ancestry.ca²
• Note: 9 January 1839; Amherstburg, Essex Co., Upper Canada; "2nd Lieut. L. H. Paxton, From: Dec 1 to Jan 7 ... Military Allowances ... 9th January 1839 .. " ancestry.ca²
• Note*: 6 December 1839; Amherstburg, Essex Co., Upper Canada; "1 2nd Lieut. Henry L.(S.?) Paxton; .... (details for Dec 1839) .. " 2nd Reg. Essex Co. Militia, Amherstburg, 6th Dec 1839, Pay List of A Chewett's Company of Provincial Artillery for the month of Deccember 1838 ... " ancestry.ca. - W.O. 13/3678?.²

Ethelbert Brown Paxton^1,2,3,4

• Father*: Major Thomas Paxton² b. 15 Apr 1794
• Mother*: Nancy Merrill² b. 1806, d. 20 Mar 1889

• Birth*: 24 September 1829; Amerherstburg, Essex Co., Upper Canada; Date Sep 24 1829 & location Cda. per Death Cert. Date 1832 & location UC per 1861 Census. Date Oct 1832 & location Ont. per family tree of June0343 on ancestry.ca, May 18, 2019.^2,3,4
• Marriage*: circa 1864; Date 1866 per Death Cert. of Ethelbert B. Paxton - 35 years since 1st marr. (not likely, first child in 1865?? per family tree of June0343 on ancestry.ca, May 18, 2019.; Principal=Felice M. Chapoton^3,4
• Death*: 3 March 1901; Detroit, Wayne Co., Michigan, U.S.A.; Death Cert.: Date of Death: March 3 1901; Name: Ethelbert Brown Paxton; Age: 71y 5m 7d; Res.: 533 Cass Ave., Detroit, 40 years; Age at 1st marr.: 35; Born: Cda., Sep 2?, 1829; Parents of: 2, all living; Parents: Major Thomas Paxton, b. Ont., & ? Merril, b. Ont.; Burial: Mar 5 1901, Mt. Elliott; Und.: P. Blake & Sons, 15 Abbott; Inf.: H. J. Paxton, Detroit; Cause: chronic Brights disease; Cert.: Mar 5 1901; Reg'r.: John lee, 372 Woodward Ave. (Michigan Department of Stats, Lansing, Vital Statistics Division, "Transcript of Certificate of Death, #906, ancestry.ca) per family tree of June0343 on ancestry.ca, May 18, 2019.^3,4
• Burial*: 5 March 1901; Mount Elliott Cemetery, Detroit, Wayne Co., Michigan, U.S.A.; Findagrave: Name: Ethelbert Brown Paxton; Birth: 22 Sep 1829 , Canada; Death: 3 Mar 1901 (aged 71), Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan, USA; Burial: Mount Elliott Cemetery, Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan, USA; Plot: Block 60, Lot 1026, Grave 2; Memorial ID: 138355948 (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/138355948) per Death Cert.^4,5

• Census*: April 1861; Anderson Twp., Essex Co., Canada West; Age 29 at 1861 Census: see Thomas Paxton²
• Census: 8 June 1900; Cass Ave, Detroit, Wayne Co., Michigan, U.S.A.; Age 70 at 1900 Fed Census: see Benjmain Berry (son-in-law)⁶

John Beasley¹

• Birth*: 1681; New Amsterdam, King's Co., New YHork, U.S.A.; per family tree of Nelson Denton on ancestry.ca, Feb 8 2019.¹
• Marriage*: 1 November 1723; Albany, Albany Co., New York, U.S.A.; per family tree of Nelson Denton on ancestry.ca, Feb 8 2019.; Principal=Lydia Dally¹
• Death*: 15 August 1768; New Amsterdam, Kings Co., New YUork, U.S.A.; per family tree of Nelson Denton on ancestry.ca, Feb 8 2019.¹

Lydia Dally¹

• Birth*: 8 March 1683; Albany, Albany Co., New York, U.S.A.; per family tree of Nelson Denton on ancestry.ca, Feb 8 2019.¹
• Marriage*: 1 November 1723; Albany, Albany Co., New York, U.S.A.; per family tree of Nelson Denton on ancestry.ca, Feb 8 2019.; Principal=John Beasley¹
• Death*: 28 February 1753; Albany, Albany Co., New York, U.S.A.; per family tree of Nelson Denton on ancestry.ca, Feb 8 2019.¹

• Married Name: 1 November 1723; Beasley¹

John "Henry" Thomas Beasley¹

• Father*: John Beasley¹ b. 1681, d. 15 Aug 1768
• Mother*: Lydia Dally¹ b. 8 Mar 1683, d. 28 Feb 1753

• Birth*: 7 June 1724; Wake Co., North Carolina, U.S.A.; per family tree of Nelson Denton on ancestry.ca, Feb 8 2019.¹
• Marriage*: 1744; Wake Co., North Carolina, U.S.A.; per family tree of Nelson Denton on ancestry.ca, Feb 8 2019.; Principal=Maria Noble¹
• Death*: 19 January 1795; Sullivans Bend, Smith Co., Tennessee, U.S.A.; per family tree of Nelson Denton on ancestry.ca, Feb 8 2019.¹

Maria Noble¹

• Birth*: 1730; Wake, North Carolina, U.S.A.; per family tree of Nelson Denton on ancestry.ca, Feb 8 2019.¹
• Marriage*: 1744; Wake Co., North Carolina, U.S.A.; per family tree of Nelson Denton on ancestry.ca, Feb 8 2019.; Principal=John "Henry" Thomas Beasley¹
• Death*: 1790; Chatham, North Carolina, U.S.A.; per family tree of Nelson Denton on ancestry.ca, Feb 8 2019.¹

• Married Name: 1744; Beasley¹

Richard Beasley¹

• Father*: John "Henry" Thomas Beasley¹ b. 7 Jun 1724, d. 19 Jan 1795
• Mother*: Maria Noble¹ b. 1730, d. 1790

• Birth*: 21 July 1761; Albany, Albany Co., New York, U.S.A.; per family tree of Nelson Denton on ancestry.ca, Feb 8 2019.¹
• Marriage*: 1792; Head-of-the-Lake, Hamilton, Wentworth Co., Upper Canada; "BEASLEY, RICHARD, office holder, fur trader, businessman, JP, politician, militia officer, and farmer; b. 21 July 1761 in the colony of New York, son of Henry Beasley and Maria Noble; m. 1791 Henrietta Springer, and they had three sons and five daughters; d. 16 Feb. 1842 in Hamilton, Upper Canada." Robert L. Fraser, “BEASLEY, RICHARD,” in Dictionary of Canadian Biography, vol. 7, University of Toronto/Université Laval, 2003–, accessed February 7, 2019, http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/beasley_richard_7E.html
  Date 1792 & location Head-of-the-Lake per family tree of Nelson Denton on ancestry.ca, Feb 8 2019.; Principal=Henrietta Springer^1,2
• Death*: 16 February 1842; Dundurn Castle, Hamilton, Wentworth Co., Upper Canada; "Unable to pay off the mortgage or maintain the interest payments, he sold his Burlington Heights property in 1832 to Allan Napier MacNab*. Two years later, when MacNab began building Dundurn, Beasley was still scrambling to pay his remaining debt to Blackwood. In 1842 he owned one house and two lots in Hamilton, and acted as the local agent for several firms." Robert L. Fraser, "BEASLEY, RICHARD," in Dictionary of Canadian Biography, vol. 7, University of Toronto/Université Laval, 2003-, accessed February 7, 2019, http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/beasley_richard_7E.html
  Date Feb 16 1842 & location Hamilton per family tree of Nelson Denton on ancestry.ca, Feb 8 2019.¹

• Note*: 1777; Fort Niagara, New York; "Richard Beasley may have been captured by rebels on
  14 Sept. 1777 during the American revolution. According
  to a 1795 petition, he arrived in the province of Quebec in
  1777 and served two years as “Acting Commissary,”presumably at Fort Niagara (near Youngstown, N.Y.)." Robert L. Fraser, "BEASLEY, RICHARD," in Dictionary of Canadian Biography, vol. 7, University of Toronto/Université Laval, 2003-, accessed February 7, 2019, http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/beasley_richard_7E.html²
• Note: 1781; Fort Niagara, New York; "There in 1781 he witnessed a co-partnership between John Askin* and the firm of Robert Hamilton* and Richard Cartwright*, Beasley’s cousin." Robert L. Fraser, "BEASLEY, RICHARD," in Dictionary of Canadian Biography, vol. 7, University of Toronto/Université Laval, 2003-, accessed February 7, 2019, http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/beasley_richard_7E.html
  Note: Richard Beasley's father, Henry, had a sister named Joanne who married Richard Cartwright, the father of the Richard Cartwright who became the wealthy and powerful merchant of Kingston.²
• Note: 1783; Toronto, Quebec; "In 1783 he formed a partnership with Peter Smith* in the Indian trade and they built trading houses at Toronto and Pemitescutiang (Port Hope)." Robert L. Fraser, "BEASLEY, RICHARD," in Dictionary of Canadian Biography, vol. 7, University of Toronto/Université Laval, 2003-, accessed February 7, 2019, http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/beasley_richard_7E.html²
• Residence*: 1788; Barton Twp., Head-of-the-Lake, Wentworth Co., Quebec; 'Five years later they petitioned for land at both places, but the government preferred other sites. Beasley subsequently took up land in Barton Township at the head of Lake Ontario." Robert L. Fraser, "BEASLEY, RICHARD," in Dictionary of Canadian Biography, vol. 7, University of Toronto/Université Laval, 2003-, accessed February 7, 2019, http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/beasley_richard_7E.html²
• Residence: 1792; Barton Twp., Burlington Heights, Wentworth Co., Upper Canada; "Patrick Campbell* visited him there in 1792 and recorded that he “keeps a shop . . . and trades much with the Indians in peltry.” That same year the deputy surveyor general of the
  new province of Upper Canada, David William Smith, noted that Beasley and James Wilson had a sawmill and grist-mill in Ancaster Township on a creek emptying into Burlington Bay (Hamilton Harbour)." .... and ..... 'In the early 1790s Beasley settled on the southeast end of Burlington Heights (then in Barton Township but now in Hamilton), where he built a house, stable, and barn. In spite of his improvements, the ownership of the land was disputed by another local family, the Lottridges. Situated between Burlington Bay and the marsh to the west,
  Coote’s Paradise, the property gave its occupant control of trans-shipping there." Robert L. Fraser, "BEASLEY, RICHARD," in Dictionary of Canadian Biography, vol. 7, University of Toronto/Université Laval, 2003-, accessed February 7, 2019, http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/beasley_richard_7E.html²
• Residence: 11 June 1796; Barton Twp., Hamilton, Wentworth Co., Upper Canada; "When on 11 June 1796 Lieutenant Governor John Graves Simcoe* and his wife were in the vicinity, they set out in a boat for Beasley’s. A commanding location with a beautiful view, the site was described by Elizabeth Posthuma Simcoe [Gwillim] as “more fitt for the reception of Inhabitants than any part of the Province I have seen.” Beasley used the opportunity of the visit to press his claim to the land upon the lieutenant governor,
  who was willing to support it if Beasley built a wharf and a storehouse." Robert L. Fraser, "BEASLEY, RICHARD," in Dictionary of Canadian Biography, vol. 7, University of Toronto/Université Laval, 2003-, accessed February 7, 2019, http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/beasley_richard_7E.html²
• Residence: 1798; Barton Twp., Hamilton, Wentworth Co., Upper Canada; "Probably more than anyone then resident at the Head of the Lake, Beasley was in a position to reap the advantages of its growth. Aside from his enterprises, he had been appointed a magistrate in 1796, the same year he was elected to the House of Assembly for Durham, York, and 1st Lincoln. An officer of the Lincoln militia, in 1798 he was given command of the Company of the Burlington Circle in the York militia. His early political career was ordinary: in 1798 he voted for Christopher Robinson*’s bill allowing immigrants to bring slaves into the province and the following year he sided with the majority in defeating a bill allowing Methodist ministers to perform marriages." Robert L. Fraser, "BEASLEY, RICHARD," in Dictionary of Canadian Biography, vol. 7, University of Toronto/Université Laval, 2003-, accessed February 7, 2019, http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/beasley_richard_7E.html²
• Note: 1800; Hamilton, Wentworth Co., Upper Canada; "In 1800 Robert Hamilton won a judgement against him for debt. To meet various obligations, he put up for sale his “valuable and pleasant property” in Barton, which included 976 acres (150 cultivated), his house, stables, a wharf, a storehouse, and
  timber. He managed, however, to hold on to this property and sold land in block 2 to Pennsylvania Mennonites [see Samuel D. Betzner*] without apprising them of the mortgage. It was several years before the tangled business was settled." Robert L. Fraser, "BEASLEY, RICHARD," in Dictionary of Canadian Biography, vol. 7, University of Toronto/Université Laval, 2003-, accessed February 7, 2019, http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/beasley_richard_7E.html²
• Note: 26 May 1802; Hamilton, Wentworth Co., Upper Canada; "Beasley’s world was collapsing on all fronts. He had recklessly abandoned milling for land speculation, only to flounder in the mire of block 2. Commercial leadership at the Head of the Lake passed to Richard Hatt* while political dominance was assumed by Willson. Beasley’s life, however, was far from hard. Although he now “depended on the product” of his farm to support his family and servants, his estate included an attractive brick neoclassical style cottage, built before the War of 1812 and described in 1833 as “very roomy, being 50´ x 40´, with two wings 20´ square, and a frame kitchen 18´ x 30 ´ .” The farm had an orchard of some 200 apple trees, “a number of Choice fruit trees and a nursery of Young Apple trees,” and, by the 1830s, it also included an extensive peach orchard, “said to be the best in the province.” It was a suitable estate for the
  lieutenant-colonel of the West Riding Militia of York (commissioned on 26 May 1802)." Robert L. Fraser, "BEASLEY, RICHARD," in Dictionary of Canadian Biography, vol. 7, University of Toronto/Université Laval, 2003-, accessed February 7, 2019, http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/beasley_richard_7E.html²
• Note: September 1815; Hamilton, Wentworth Co., Upper Canada; "The war and its aftermath further undercut Beasley’s prestige. In the wake of the Americans’ offensive along the Niagara peninsula in the spring of 1813 and the defeat that fall of Major-General Henry Procter* in the west of the province, retreating British forces and their Indian allies congregated at the depot on Burlington Heights near Beasley’s farm. From June 1813 until September 1815 his home and buildings were occupied by troops, his farm encumbered with batteries and trenches, his orchards and fields rendered “useless,” his garden destroyed, his fences burnt, his timber cut, his grain confiscated, and several of his buildings ruined. Damages exceeded £3,000;
  commissioners later awarded him over £1,300." Robert L. Fraser, "BEASLEY, RICHARD," in Dictionary of Canadian Biography, vol. 7, University of Toronto/Université Laval, 2003-, accessed February 7, 2019, http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/beasley_richard_7E.html²