Patriots List
While indexing scrap books at the Orleans Archive Thursday, I found a
newspaper clipping on Wm Mackenzie.
No date so I have no idea when the article was written, or what paper it was
in...
Bonnie Shafer Town of Orleans Historian...
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Henderson- An untold story of William Lyon Mackenzie's flight from Canada
when victory crowned the king's forces in the Patriot War, handed down among
descendents of John W Little, Hunter Lodge secretary and underground railway
depot mater of Cape Vincent. This is a transcript of the incident as related
by a participant, Elizabeth Dickey Little, wife of lodge secretary. The
transcript in the possession of Mrs. Harriet T Montague, her
great-granddaughter.
Mackenzie entered Canadian political strife as editor of the Colonial
Advocate at York (Toronto) in the 1820s, bitterly attacking the dominance of
United Empire Loyalists. Elected to the legislature five times, once by
every vote of his district but one vote. He was each time expelled until
seated by the how government. He became the first mayor of Toronto in 1834,
and three years later engaged in the revolutionary preparations leading to
armed encounter between the patriots and militia December 5 1837.
The story of Mackenzie's flight after the battle at windmill as told by
Elizabeth Dickey Little on her golden wedding anniversary, records an
important incident in his stormy life not contained in most account on
Mackenzie. It begins a grand daughter Miss Nettie Terry who passed her later
years in Henry Keep home at Watertown set down the story as her grandmother
told it.
John w Little the great grand father, a resident of cape Vincent was a
member of the group of American who furnished arms and ammunition to the
Canadian patriots and subsequently aided slaves to Canada. He was secretary
of the hunter lodge and as such kept up correspondences with General Niles
Szoltereky von Schultz a polish military officer who commanded the patriots
invaders at the windmill flight and Mackenzie. Mrs. Little told her children
that von Schultz writing was like a "copper plate engraving."
Of these writers she said " One who escaped from Canada came to the little
home and was hidden in the partition with officers came." Von Schultz was
condemned and hanged in the ditch of the moat at Fort Henry, Kingston, a
fact that determines the fugitive as Mackenzie. Carpenters were putting up a
closet when the search was made, their presence aiding in concealing the
liberator Mackenzie.
Next day Mackenzie donned the dress of Molly Brown dickey Little, who was
visiting at cape Vincent and accompanied by Elizabeth Little and her
thirteen month old baby, Mackenzie thus disguised, set out in a two seated
carriage ostensibly for Henderson Harbor, former home of Molly Little. "
Mackenzie left on way," Mrs. Little told her children without revealing the
details of his leave taking.
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