By Sandra Sales
Lieutenant-Colonel Leslie Patterson
In 1800, three siblings, Leslie Patterson, Mary Storey and
Fanny Patterson moved from County Fermanagh, Ireland, to Harbour Creek,
Pennsylvania, on Lake Erie. While there, Leslie Patterson married Lydia Backus from
Vermont, and his sister Fanny married John Pearce from Rhode Island. The third
sibling, Mary Storey, was a widow who arrived in the United States with four
children, Robert, Walter, Anne and Sarah. Her oldest son, Robert stayed in the
US while the rest of the family came to Upper Canada. About this time, word was
spreading that tracts of land in Upper Canada were opening for settlement. Patterson
and his brother-in-law, John Pearce, scouted out this opportunity in 1808. They
were drawn to a fledgling settlement on the north shore of Lake Erie that was
under the control of Thomas Talbot. Talbot was offering settlers fifty free
acres of good land and the possibility to buy more at $3 per acre. In addition,
Talbot had provided his settlement with a grist mill, sawmill, cooper shop and blacksmith
shop. The Patterson family group were the type of settlers that Thomas Talbot
was looking for. They were industrious, loyal, well-equipped and of Irish
origin, like himself. Lots were chosen and on July 14, 1809, Patterson and
Pearce brought their families and belongings, legend has it, in an open
flat-bottom boat along the shore of Lake Erie, 9 adults and 5 children in all.
A hired hand and cattle travelled by land. A year later they were followed by
Lydia’s brother, Stephen Backus. The Pattersons were flax growers in Ireland
and they arrived with their flax wheels and looms. They settled in a cluster on
lots 10, 11, 12 and 13 in Concession 10 of Dunwich Township. Together they
developed a tight-knit and prosperous family community along the cliffs
overlooking Lake Erie.
In 1810 Leslie Patterson wrote to his father-in-law, Joseph
Backus, back in Pennsylvania, telling of their first year in the Talbot
Settlement.
Our crops all look remarkably well. We had a good crop of flax, between
three and four acres of excellent corn and I expect to have fifteen or twenty
bushels of peas. Our wheat came off lighter this season than it commonly does
in this county on account of drought in the beginning of the season, but it is
very good and we have got it very well saved, besides a large crop of beans and
potatoes and as much as four hundred heads of excellent cabbages.
I have got promising young stock. We have another very good cow and for
the colt I sold when Stephen was with me I got a very likely pair of
two-year-old steers and a pair of year-old bulls. We have got a good stock of
hogs. I expect to be able to fat eight hundredweight of pork this fall and we
have scarce ever been out of venison as good as ever was cut since we have been
here.
But, war was looming. Thomas Talbot was commissioned Colonel
of the 1st Regiment Middlesex Militia in 1812. Leslie Patterson was
commissioned one of the 5 captains for the militia. His two brothers-in-law,
John Pearce and Stephen Backus, and two nephews, Benjamin Willson and Walter
Story, were also in the militia. There are few records available about Captain
Patterson’s role, but it would appear he was often in charge at Port Talbot,
which was Colonel Talbot’s home and centre of control, when Talbot was
elsewhere. By 1814 the British had a very limited presence in the Western
District. They had been forced back from Lake Erie and the Thames River valley.
The local militia units were stretched to the limit defending the area and
caring for their farms. Marauders roamed freely, hoping to capture local
officers to disorganize the resistance of the militia. Colonel Talbot was a
particular target. Consequently, in that year Port Talbot experienced at least
6 attacks: Nov 11, 1813 Captain Westbrook; May 20, 1814 Captain Westbrook; Aug 16
Captain Walker; Sept 8 Captain McCormick; Oct 15 Lieutenant Serviss; and Nov 17
General McArthur. Attacks became more severe as the summer progressed.
Captain Leslie Patterson is mentioned in the following two
incidents:
On May 20 Port Talbot was attacked by thirty
riflemen under the command of Andrew Westbrook. Fortunately, Colonel Talbot was
at Long Point at the time. The settlement got a half hour warning and the
settlers fled for a neighbouring township. Two groups of militia were called
out but before they could be coordinated the enemy had entered the settlement
and taken prisoner those who were left on guard. Patterson was captured at the
blacksmith shop. He was paroled. The use of parole was common, particularly for
militiamen who were captured whereby they would sign a document which pledged
they would not take further part in the war.
August
16 – On this date, American militia and natives…arrive at Port Talbot with the
intent of taking Colonel Talbot to Detroit… They also plan to ravage the
settlement. This time Talbot is in residence and narrowly escapes. Talbot
notices a large group of natives approaching and assumes that they are British
supporters. Fortunately he sees that they are accompanied by Americans. Captain
Leslie Patterson…encourages him to escape out the back door. Talbot has a
reputation for dressing like his settlers. Attired in his farm clothes, he…walks
slowly towards the ravine at the side of his house, descending the hill and
crossing the creek. One of the Indians sees him and takes aim. Patterson seizes
the rifle barrel and ingeniously tells him that his target is the Colonel’s old
shepherd and that calling him is futile as he is deaf. The Indian believes him
and Talbot remains a free man.
The
War of 1812 in St. Thomas and Elgin County
Donna Hanson, St. Thomas Public Library
In 1826 the Patterson family replaced their initial log
house with a large frame house “Sunnyside”. The Pattersons were Church of
England adherents and welcomed travelling missionaries. Services as well as baptisms
and the first confirmation in Elgin County were celebrated in this house. Over
the ensuing years Leslie held a number of positions in the community. He was
postmaster, magistrate, commissioner of roads, deputy to the land registrar,
Mahlon Burwell, at times, and chairman of a gathering of landowners in 1817 to
answer an agricultural survey. He was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel of the 1st
Regiment Middlesex Militia in 1837.
Shortly after being commissioned as a magistrate in 1821, Patterson
became embroiled in a court case over statutory labour for road maintenance. A
disgruntled settler, Singleton Gardiner had refused to do his statutory labour
and was refusing to pay the fine incurred. When two magistrates, Patterson
being one, compounded Gardiner’s horse and wagon, Gardiner took them to court
for trespassing. They were acquitted, but the case went on for a number of
years and the community was divided in its loyalties between the “establishment”,
represented here by Patterson, and those who were agitating for reform,
represented by Gardiner.
Patterson also was in a land dispute in Kent County. He was
granted a lot which was discovered to have been settled for some time. When the
original settler couldn’t produce documentation he was ousted from the land and
it was awarded to Patterson. This was perceived by some as an injustice in
favour of a member of the establishment.
Leslie and Lydia Patterson had 9 children. Joseph 1807-1884;
Walter 1808-1890; Mary 1810-1890; Hannah 1813-1913; Catherine Anne 1815-1896;
Olivia 1818-1864; Leslie 1820-1825; Frances 1822-1881; Lydia 1825-1914
Colonel Leslie Patterson died on Apr. 26, 1852 at 78 years
and Lydia (Backus) Patterson died on Aug. 16, 1870 at 86 years. They and many
of the extended family are buried in St. Peter’s Anglican Church on adjoining
land that was set aside for that purpose by Mary Storey, Patterson’s sister.*
Dates of birth and death for the extended Patterson family:
Leslie Patterson d. Apr. 26, 1852 at 78 years
Lydia (Backus) Patterson d. Aug 16, 1870 at 86 years
Fanny (Patterson) Pearce 1774 – Nov. 4, 1850
John Pearce 1777 - July 23, 1850
Mary (Patterson) Storey 1758 - July 22, 1842,
Robert Storey b. 1778
Walter Story/Storey b. 1783
Anne (Storey) Backus b. 1791
Stephen Backus b. Dec 25, 1786, d. Nov 4, 1865
Sarah (Storey) Willson b. 20th Oct 1792
*For information on the building of the church see Veteran
number 372, Walter Storey.
Thank you to Sandra Sales for her research and work in honouring our War of 1812 veterans.
Through the War of 1812 Graveside Project, Captain Leslie Patterson and others will be remembered with a ceremony in St. Peter's Anglican Church Cemetery on Sunday, July 12 at 1pm during Backus-Page House Museum's Living History Weekend July 11-12, 2015
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