UNITED EMPIRE LOYALISTS
     Over 45,000 Loyalist families came to Canada, 35,000 to the Maritimes, 10,000 to Quebec (now Ontario and Quebec). Only 4,118 families submitted claims for lands and properties confiscated by the rebels. About 1,000 families came to Canada during the war, but most were with the main migration that started in 1782. There was a "late" migration in 1792 prompted by Gov. Simcoe's offer of 200 acres to each immigrant.

Goheen, Thomas Sr.: Born in 1753, Thomas served in the British Army during the Revolution but remained in Pennsylvania after 1776. He married Rebecca Clark in Bensalem 03 Mar 1786. They had four children: Thomas, Charles, Samuel and Elizabeth before moving to Canada c1793. In 1796 Thomas was granted 200 acres between Telephone and Dale Roads. A fourth son, Jesse, was born here. The first graves in St. Mark's cemetery were Thomas, Rebecca, son Thomas and wife, Levina (Cryderman). Jesse helped to clear the land on which Port Hope stands.
(Information from Doris Goheen.)

Marsh, William Samuel (1738-1816): A colonel with the Green Mountain Boys of the Vermont militia, he served under Generals Burgoyne and Haldimand. He remained loyal to Britain during the American Revolution and led 130 Loyalists to St. Jean, Quebec. He was given rank and pay of equivalent officers in the 84th Regiment. Land grants to his group and his children were spread about Ontario including Port Britain. Elias Smith's report to the Honourable Peter Russell who succeeded Governor Simcoe included Sam Marsh, his wife and two children as residents of Smith's Creek. At Port Britain, Sam operated a distillery from 1806-13,charging 5 shillings per gallon of whiskey that was 50% alcohol. He died 21 Apr 1813 of spotted fever, his sister, Mary, having died of it a week earlier.
Colonel William Marsh. Bruce Stinson; Alliston, Ontario, 1996.

Sexton, Jonathan and Elizabeth Marsh: Daughter of Col. Marsh. Jonathan had served in the Revolutionary Army as adjutant, but came to Hope Township in 1812 when the population of Upper Canada was 100,000. He died of the spotted fever 28 Apr 1813.

Soper, Leonard and Mary Marsh, first settlers in Port Britain (Willow Beach): They emigrated on horseback as their lands were confiscated in Vermont. They were granted 1200 acres and built the only house between Port Hope and Bowmanville, .20x20 feet. Leonard took his grain by canoe to Kingston, later Napanee, until a grist mill was built in Port Hope (Smith's Creek) in 1798. Their daughter, Pamela, was the first white child born in Hope Township (1795).

Smith, Elias and Catherine Miller: Captain. They lost extensive properties in New York, arriving in Smith's Creek from Montreal in 1797 with sons David, Elias and John David, and widowed daughter Catherine Sculthorp. They received 4800 acres in land grants. Elias drowned in Smith's Creek shortly after their arrival.

First Settlers, Port Britain - Smith's Creek:
3 June 1793:
Nathaniel Ashford, James Stevens, Myndert Harris, Lawrence Johnson
Almus Peck, Elias Smith, Jesse Trull, Jonathan Walton
3 July 1793:
26 more, including: William S. Marsh, wife Jane, and son Benjamin (born 1775).

WAR OF 1812
     By 1812 Hope Township had a population of 510 of which 100 were in Smith's Creek. Members of the Militia from outlying areas would congregate here every 04 June, King George's birthday, for annual military training, bringing their own guns and ammunition.
     When the war commenced, the Durham Regiment marched up the barely-passable Danforth Road to York and Chippewa to face the invading troops. Wooden fences along the way were sacrificed to fires for the troops to cook their food and heat their drinks.
     Chris Robins, who teaches at Cobourg West High School, is researching the Northumberland Regiment and the pay lists he has found include names that could be Port Hopers. Click here for his website.
     Names on his pay lists that could belong to citizens of Port Hope include: Captains John Spencer, Thomas Ward, Lieutenant Roger Woolcut (recommended for captain rank), Privates William Bradley, John G. Nichols, John Nix, John and William Smith, Henry Thompson, Isaac Turk, and James White.
     The Northumberland Regiment did not take part in the fighting. Its main wartime responsibility was in escorting prisoners from York to Kingston.

Burns, John (1776-09 Feb 1837): Captain on Smith Creek's 1812 Militia roll call (Flank Company). Later promoted to Major. Married Betsy Soper. Surveyor, Secretary School Board..

Marsh, Samuel: On 1812 Militia rolls. Died 21 Apr 1813 of cholera.

Sexton, Zephenia: Married Nancy Soper, daughter of Leonard and Mary Soper (Marsh).

Sexton. Jonathan (1755-28 Apr 1813): On 1812 Militia rolls. Died suddenly of cholera.

Sculthorpe, James (25 Apr 1792-07 Jun 1872): Son of Catherine and James. Volunteered for Militia 1812. Stationed in Kingston for 6 months. Returned to Smith's Creek as a sergeant. Pressed in farmers with their sleds to convey men and munitions to York. Married Hannah Thompson. 2 children. She died in 1828. In 1830 he married Susannah Marsh (1806-1885 Port Britain). 5 children.

REBELLION OF 1837-1838
     The Port Hope Rifles served in Drummondville and Chippewa.

Warner, Erastus (1817-1840): Son of Pember Warner and Permelia Soper. Fought with the rebels. Captured and imprisoned at Fort George and Fort Henry. Pardoned and released 1839, but died of wounds. Buried in Soper Cemetery, Port Britain.

FENIAN RAIDS (1866-1871)
     About 10,000 Irish veterans of the U.S. Civil War thought they could support uprisings (that never occurred) in Ireland against British rule by invading Canada. Raids were made into New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, and Manitoba, but served only to unite Canadians and promote Confederation. The United States has never compensated Canada for allowing these raids to be launched from the U.S.

Hagerman, Christopher Augustus: Sergeant in the Durham Cavalry in 1866.

Williams, Arthur: Lt-Col. In 1865 he led the Durham Regiment to Windsor. In 1885 he commanded the Midland Battalion.

RIEL REBELLION
     In March 1885 Colonel Arthur Williams, whose statue is mounted in front of the Port Hope City Hall, was recruiting a company in Port Hope to take west to combat the Riel Rebellion in Saskatchewan. With other companies recruited in Millbrook, Bowmanville, Peterborough, Lindsay, Belleville and Kingston, they assembled in Kingston where eight companies were formed into the Midland Battalion. With victory won Colonel Williams took ill and died 04 July. The battalion was ordered home via Port Hope in order to take part in his funeral 21 July from St. John's Church. The battalion camped in the large park on Ward Street at the eastern end of town. There were over twenty campfires throughout the park. After the funeral and a parade through town, the individual companies left by train for their respective hometowns. On 22 July the Midland Regiment and Battalion were disbanded after a four-month life span.
     In his diary, Sergeant Walter Stewart mentions many people but does not indicate which were from Port Hope. He dwells on the eagerness of the troops, hardships of travel, the skirmishes and the Battle of Batoche. He tells of large welcoming crowds in Winnipeg, Owen Sound and Port Hope, but records no misbehaviour on behalf of the Midlands. Regrettably, in the overall picture, the Ontario Militia achieved no glory. Whereas the 400 British troops were well behaved, 800 Ontario militiamen went on a rampage against the Metis who were trying to defend their lands while remaining loyal British subjects.

Adams, ?: Colonel

Brown, Ted: Captain. Cousin of Walter Stewart's. He was killed 12 May by a sniper while leading his men in the attack on Batoche.

Janes, TF: Captain

Sanders, EH: Captain

Stewart, Walter F.: Staff Sergeant. Maintained a daily diary 01 Apr-31 Jul 1885 which indicates his family lived in Toronto, Port Hope, Peterborough and Winnipeg. He was in Toronto when he heard of Col. Williams forming a company in Port Hope so he wired his application which was accepted. He refers to Alf and Fred Budge as two of his old Port Hope schoolmates and from whom he bought a civilian suit on being discharged. He tells of the cold journey by train, box car and flat cars with three gaps in the rail line of 45, 22 and 29 miles which meant travel by sled and foot. On good tracks the train reached speeds of 40 mph. On the South Saskatchewan their boat, the Northcote, made 12 miles the first day, 23 Apr, and 8 the second, running aground frequently on sandbars. This was repeated daily until reaching Saskatoon on 04 May. He tells of various skirmishes and the Battle of Batoche. He mentions Captains French, Barton, Christie, Laidlaw and Wrighton, all Midlands, being killed in Batoche but does not indicate if any were Port Hopers.

Williams, Arthur TH: Col. In 1885 he commanded the Midland Battalion in the defeat of Riel at Batoche, Manitoba. He died of fever, 4 Jul 1885, during his return.

BOXER REBELLION, CHINA (1900-1901)

Burton, Francis D'Aguilar: Born in Port Hope 26 Mar 1870. He was a merchant in China when caught up in the Boxer Rebellion. He joined the Shanghai Volunteer Forces for 5 years then spent 17 months with the Fusiliers. In WWI, he was a lieutenant.

BOER WAR (11 Oct 1899-31 May 1902)
     The original 1,000 recruits (2nd Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment under command of LCol William D. Otter) sailed from Quebec 30 Oct 1899. The second contingent of 6,000 volunteers included 3 artillery batteries. The 3rd contingent, Strathcona's Horse, was funded by Lord Strathcona (Donald Smith) the Canadian High Commissioner to the UK. The South African Constabulary, the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th Regiments of the Canadian Mounted Rifles were recruited and paid for by Britain. The Canadian government contribution was $2,830,965. Canada's population was 5,500,000.
     Canadians won 4 Victoria Crosses, 19 Distinguished Service Orders, 17 Distinguished Conduct Medals, 117 Mentioned-in-Dispatches, and nursing sister, Georgina Pope, received the Royal Red Cross. 7,369 Canadians enlisted, 244 were killed, half by disease, mainly enteric fever.

Ashman, John Charles: Before emigrating to Port Hope, John served in the British Army in South Africa 1899-1902. He was killed at Vimy Ridge.

Atwell, Charles Robert, 142527: CFA - CEF. Also saw service in India, 1889->96. South Africa 1898-1902 and WWI. Married Mary Ann Daniel, 1878-1957.

Boyle, R.A

Bull, Edward: Sergeant. Married Gertrude Bolster, sister to Norman Strong's mother. Post war he worked in Regina as superintendent of Power, Lights, and Streets.

Burnham, H.

Charles, Allan: Dorset Street East. He was a major with the Northwest Mounted Police, then served in the Boer War and WWI. Alter the war he took a job in Montreal, returning to Port Hope to turn his borne into an inn with a miniature golf course. He was literary, had a good sense of humour, and was good with children.

Davy, F.

Evans, Charles Napier: Walton Street, one door west of Ross Funeral Home. His brother served in WWI. Charles was with the 2nd contingent Canadian Mounted Rifles. On 31 March 1902, Charles, with 6 companions, was defending an outpost at Hart's River, Transvaal, during a Boer attack. Running low on ammunition, all six of his friends were killed. He had an opportunity to surrender but chose to fight on and was himself killed. Buried in Ottosdal Garden of Remembrance.

Evatt, Ernest: Ernest was a sergeant with "D" Battery, Royal Canadian Artillery. He was killed at Waterval 18 November 1900. Buried in Wayside Inn, Waterval Inder.

Gamble, R., Hall, V.A.

Hall, V.A

Holden, John: Before emigrating to Canada, John served in the British Forces in South Africa, winning the St. John's Ambulance Bronze Medal and the Queen Victoria Silver Medal. He was killed in WWI while serving with the 21st Battalion, CEF.

Irish, W.

Jenkins, George Alexander: Born in Toronto 23 Mar 1885. 9th Western Light Horse. Killed in WWI.

Keeler, Harry G.: Sherbourne Street. Worked at the Sanitary which was originally known as Standard Ideal, then Port Hope Sanitary, both Canadian-owned until taken over by Crane.

Kerr, T., Leach, W.

Newton, Tony: Served in the 2nd Middlesex Yeomanry. He became a mining engineer in Bobcaygeon but lost his job in the Depression. In 1938 the family moved to Canton to live in a cottage offered by Carlo Currelly. In 1940 Tony found work at Matthews Conveyors that lasted until 1945. Later lived at 66 Dorset Street East. Father of David, Ralph and Ken.

Ough, Charles Richard, 83145: Born in Dale, Ontario. He was a sergeant in the 342nd Battery, Royal Canadian Artillery, and had two horses shot out from under him while bringing guns up to Crocodile Creek. In WWI he was also a sergeant in the 342~ Battery and saw action at the Somme River, France, and at Ypres and Passchendaele in Belgium. He married Lucy Boyle and had 4 children: Ethel, Dorothy, Fred and Ron. Post-war he was a foreman for the government on the Port Hope Harbour Works. As a volunteer fireman, he got a sliver fighting a fire (1926 or 1927) at the Canning Factory on Cavan Street. It became infected and he lost his left arm.

Outram, Fred: Owned the Globe File which was bought out by Nicholson Pile. His son, Alfred, owned the hardware store on Walton Street (Coleman and Philp building).

Potts, William Henry: Born 1883. Was a bugler in the British forces at age 14. He served in the Boer War. WWI, and WWII when he was with the Veterans' Guard. He held the rank of sergeant. On Remembrance Day parades he would always wear his feathered South African hat. He married Nellie McAvoy. His daughter, Louise, married Bill Phillips.

Reid, Howard: After the war he was in the ice business.

Robertson, "Cap": Captain. Lived on John Street in the building subsequently owned by Joice-Sweanor then Canadian Tire. Became an insurance agent after the war.

Sandercock, Thomas: Ross Street.

Scollie, F.

Taylor, T.

Welch, W.

Young, Charles: After the war was in the shoe repair business on John Street.

ROYAL FLYING CORPS, WWI
     1,200 were killed of the 18,000 Canadians who enlisted in the RFC. Average life expectancy for pilots at the front was 3 weeks. Of the world's top 44 air aces, 8 were Canadians: Bishop (72 victories), Collishaw (62), MacLaren (54), Barker (52), McCall (37), Claxton (36), Fall (36) and Atkey (35).

Gilpin-Brown, Robert: Lived on Sullivan Street. Flew Sopwith Camels with 46 RFC Squadron led by Don MacLaren, Canada's third-ranking ace with 54 victories. Bob was tall and slim and looked the picture of health in 1980. His wife, Athol, had heart problems, yet Bob was the first to die.

Ketchum, Philip: Headmaster at Trinity College School for over 25 years.

Smith, Jack: Corner of John and Park Streets. Flight Lieutenant. Post-war was a Coca Cola executive.

Walker, Howard ("Huck"): Was overseas with the artillery but transferred to the RFC, so was sent home to train at the Deseronto Mohawk air base. Flew on the Western Front 1918. Post-war was an agent for Manufacturers' Life Insurance Company. He could often be found near Doney and Goody's Men's Wear or Watson's Drug Store seeking opportunities to sell insurance. In WWI he was adjutant at RCAF, Topcliffe, Yorkshire. Died about 1990.