Mrs. Adelbert Swick Traces Lineage Back Many Years
Says the Immense Page Estate in Worth About $75,000,000.00
[Welland Telegraph, 12 January 1912]
Mrs. Adelbert Swick of Welland is one of the heirs of the immense Page estate in England, which heirs in Canada and the United States are now making a determined effort to secure. Mrs. Swick claims, however, that there are many Pages after the money who are not direct descendants. To a Telegraph reporter on Thursday morning she outlined the history of the Page family and the vast estate.
Henry Page, a descendant of an English diplomat of the same name, who was knighted by Henry III, was the original owner of the vast estate. When he died the money and land was left to Mrs. Swick’s great grandfather and his brother. Upon their death the estate was given to Mrs. Swick’s grandfather, who was married in Lockport. He died without children, leasing the land and estates for a period of ninety-nine years, so that the other heirs could secure their rights when they came to claim them.
Chas. N. Page of Des Moines, Iowa, has been working on the case for over twelve years and has written 1500 letters in an effort to get trace of all the heirs. The chain is now complete with the exception that the burial place of Mrs. Swick’s grandfather cannot be found.
The estate is the largest in England and many thousands of houses and public buildings have been erected thereon, the title of which has often been questioned. The total value of the land is about $75,000,000 and there are immense sums of money in the bank placed there in trust.
Unless claims are properly established within the time that the lease expires the lands and money will revert to the Government. The land was leased for ninety-nine years and has fourteen years to run out yet.
Many false claimants are putting in application which is causing considerable delay.
[Related TALE: May Soon Be Millionaire]
In the War of 1812
[People’s Press, 13 February 1912]
An interesting paper prepared by Mrs. T. D. Cowper and read at the January meeting of the Daughters of the Empire.
I have been deeply interested in this part of Ontario since it became my home, because of its historic interest and its nearness to many of the striking events of the War of 1812. I have never passed Beaverdams without thinking of the notable struggle which took place in its vicinity, nor without wondering just where the site of the battle was, and whether the spot is marked in any way. I have been fortunate enough to come across most interesting annals compiled by Mr. John H. Thompson of Thorold and by Col. Cruikshank and Miss Fitzgibbon. From these I have extracted a few passages relating to this neighborhood, and have put them together for the benefit of our Issac Brock Chapter of the Daughters of the Empire this afternoon. Every foot of ground between here and Lake Erie seems fraught with historic interest. The names of many of the present settlers are those of the first brave U.E. Loyalists who settled along the Niagara Frontier and who took their share in the stirring events of their time.
Throughout the Revolutionary War when the people of the United States determined to sever the British connection and to stand alone, there were many still loyal to the British crown who, because of persecution, left their homes in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania and fled to the Niagara Frontier, determined rather to become allies than to fight against the British flag. These crossed into British territory and from that time on a constant stream of Loyalists came to make new homes in Canada.
In 1780, a letter from Col Butler to Gen. Haldimand reports five families had already settled in this district, and had built themselves homes. The Misener family records give 1782 as the date of building a log house on the Thorold bank of the Chippawa river. 1785 saw a large number of settlers. Many of these had been offered grants of land by the Americans but they preferred to follow the British flag even into the wilderness of Canada, rather than take up arms against it.
Those who came to Welland county, especially to Thorold township, were mostly of German or Dutch origin and were nearly all adherents of the Lutheran church. These men walked or came on horseback, several together by way of Niagara or Fort Erie. They had portmanteaux of old fashioned carpet bags containing their chief portable articles fastened to their saddles, while those who could, brought a cow or two and some hogs. Often there were not enough horses for the number of travelers, so the women rode and the men walked while little children were carried in panniers balanced on each side of the horse. Quaint pathetic processions these little bands of exiles must have appeared.
The first settlers came along the Indian trails-some of which we still use-as the Canboro Road and the Portage Rd. There are other roads also which were Indian trails. Those who crossed at Detroit used an old Indian trail, part of which is now Talbot St. in London.
In the early ages a savage race of Indians known as the Neutrals, owned the country intersected by these trails. This tribe was entirely destroyed or driven away north by the powerful Iroquois and for long centuries the land remained a solitude. In courses of time the Chippawas took possession of this peninsula. These Chippawa from their close contact with white people learned many of their virtues, and alas their vices also. In loyalty, honor and gratitude the most illustrious examples may be found-examples which utterly shame the weaker products of civilization. But they clung with tenacity to their pagan religion. It is much to be regretted that the early settlers have not left written accounts of the habits and customs of these Indians.
The level character of the ground of this peninsula made it impossible to drain the swamps in those early days, and therefore large tracts remained a harbor for deer, bears, wolves, lynx, and occasionally a panther, while the numerous creeks and rivers were the abode of the beaver and otter. The soil once cleared however, and partly drained, amply repaid the toil of the early settler in the abundant yield of vegetables, grains, and hardy fruits, and and also in abundance of nuts, while the numerous maple trees supplied the sugar and the wild bees honey.
Those settlers who came later used the blazed paths made by those who had first come. Often they had to hide in the day time and travel by night for fear of hostile Indians or United States soldiers. However, they were treated with great kindness by the loyal Indian tribes. When they got to the Niagara River, it was always easy to get canoes to cross, and once on Canadian soil they felt compensated for all their trouble and weariness.
The Indians ceded the township of Thorold to the Crown in 1792. The land was then surveyed and parcelled out. Names well known amongst us are many of those of the first settlers, as Swayze, Ball, Bowman, Overholt, Carl, Vanderburg, Robins, Misener, Burgar, Cohoe, Keefer, Upper, Hoover, DeCew and many many more.
In 1790 George Keefer, a youth of 18 and his brother, Jacob, two years younger, walked all the way from New Jersey, following an Indian trail through the forests. When they reached what is now Buffalo, they found only a few fishermen’s huts. Crossing at Fort Erie, they walked on till they reached the present site of the town of Thorold where they found a lone squatter, who had cut down a few trees and built a log hut. He gladly sold his claim to the young men, who stayed for two years clearing the land and making a home for their mother and family. They then walked back for them. Several families returned with them. The first of the DeCews moved into Canada just after the Revolution. He crossed at Queenston and took up property on Beaverdams creek, including the Falls. He bought one man’s right to a hundred acres for an axe and an Indian blanket. The way of the pioneer is always hard, but the settlers of the Niagara district had more than ordinary hardships to endure. The men were kept busy clearing the forests, sowing grain and building log houses, but they were so far away from all shops, and everything was so very dear. One man had to walk to Rochester for a set of harrow teeth, and then had to carry them home. In 1788 there was a terrible famine. In that year frosts destroyed all the crops-no grain coming to perfection. The poor settlers suffered terribly. Those living near the rivers got fish, but the people inland suffered terrible straits. By the King’s bounty, grain was given out, but the poor starved people could not walk so far as Queenston to procure their rations. This has been particularly called the hungry year. Drawn together by the brotherhood of suffering, the poor helped each other, those who had a cow shared milk and curds. One poor man who felt that at last he must sacrifice his cow, on going to the stable was met by his little girl. Then some Indians who had come to his house to beg, on seeing how much worse off the poor white brother was, shared with the family some bread made of beans, and also told how the government was giving out pork and beans.
That year the leaves of the beech trees were boiled for vegetables, but in the fall there were plenty of nuts. All this suffering and privation had its effect in moulding the character of the people, for those whose lot had included labor, warfare and famines were not easily daunted by any common reverses. From this time until the War of 1812 progress was continuous, the greatest activity being shown in the neighborhood of the Short Hills or St. Johns. About 1800 a number of honest English Quakers came in from the States and settled in Pelham and Thorold townships. Newark, now Niagara, was made the seat of Govt. and there most of the trading was done.
When the War of 1812 broke out, several companies of volunteers were formed and a great many men of Thorold township served in the Lincoln militia. The residents on the Frontier were continually in danger and for nearly a month from May 27 to June 24, 1813, the Americans were in actual possession of this peninsula. On the former date, the fleet reached Fort George (Niagara-on-the-Lake) after a successful attack on York (Toronto). Here close to our shores they were three times repulsed by Gen. Vincent, who unfortunately had neither men nor ammunition enough and was obliged to leave the fort to the enemy after spiking the guns and blowing up the magazine. Retreating to Queenston, he sent orders to the garrison at Fort Erie and Chippawa to join him at Beaverdams. The next day he retreated to Burlington Heights, thus leaving the enemy in possession of the Niagara Frontier. The Americans made most of their tenure. Officers were sent to every house to exact a parole from all the male occupants. Those who resisted were threatened with exile or imprisonment. Gen. Vincent was completely shut off from help, with York and Niagara, both in the hands of the enemy. However, his men, only 2000 strong, were eager for the fray.
On the 6th of June a detachment of the U.S.A encamped at Stoney Creek. Information was brought to the British and scouts were sent out, who, dressed in civilian’s clothes, passed through the enemy’s lines selling butter and eggs. It was ascertained that the enemy, numbering about 3750 men, were badly placed, and might be unable to resist a spirited attack. About 700 men were chosen and put under the command of Col. Harvey who led them out at night to surprise the the sleeping enemy. The attack was a complete success. A hundred prisoners were taken, among them Generals Winder and Chandler and two field guns were captured. The bewildered foe, leaving their dead on the field fled to Fort George, their flight being considerably precipitated by sundry attacks from Major Evans’ company of infantry, and all the farmers in the neighborhood. Gen. Dearborn, discouraged by this failure, withdrew his garrison from all the outposts and entrenched his men about 6000 strong, at Fort George.
Gen. Vincent now established his headquarters at Grimsby. In many cases the Canadian militia was disbanded and sent home, but with the caution that if they ever heard guns they were to rush to the help of the British. They were warned also to hide their arms, as the Americans would certainly take them from them. The enemy roamed about the country and made raids upon all the farm houses. Many Americans of the lower class came over and secured all the plunder possible. Most of the inhabitants had hidden their valuables and plate. No place was really safe, but one housewife hid her silver teapot in the mud by the stream of water, and then tramped the mud all about the place. The Henselers had $50,000 in specie in the house, which they hid in a barrel, and then buried it dragging a big cider press over the place. Not withstanding all these precautions, considerable booty was secured by the Americans, who showed a special affection for English watches. They had to make the most of every minute for they found their movements often restricted by bands of British scouts, while Col. Clarke with his company of Lincoln militia and Captain Merritt with his troop of provisional dragoons caused considerable discomfort to the enemy. Lieut. Fitzgibbon of the 49th Brock’s old regiment gained permission to lead a band of 50 scouts. Many volunteered to accompany the band but he took just 48 of his regulars and three Canadians-Thompson, Winder and Jarvis (afterwards Judge Jarvis of Brockville). They divided into three parties and communicated with each other by means of cow bells and other signals. Because of green facings on their uniforms, they were called the “Green Tigers.” They did much damage to the Americans-destroyed the bridge over the Chippawa (Welland) river, interrupted communications between Fort Erie and Fort George, and in every way harassed them. One Canadian, Capt. DeCew, who was taken prisoner has left a very interesting account of his imprisonment. During his absence part of his house had been turned into a soldiers’ barracks and it was from this house that Col. Fitzgibbon’s men made their daring expeditions. In the same way Dettrick’s barn near St. Catharines was the headquarters for Merritt’s men. On June 24th 1813, an effective check was put upon the enemy’s progress by the affair at Beaverdams. Lieut. Fitzgibbon and his band of scouts had taken up headquarters at DeCew’s stone house, which still stands about three miles west of Thorold. From this position he guarded the way to Burlington Heights, and the enemy, finding their progress greatly impeded, determined to dislodge these troublesome “Green Tigers.” Major Chopin, always boastful, urged the attack saying he was familiar with the country even farther inland than Beaverdams. Although it was true he had gone on his raids as far as Fonthill, yet he afterwards proved himself unable to guide the Americans. Through the unguarded language of himself and his followers, the enemy’s plans became known to Fitzgibbon even before the orders were signed at Fort George.
Two soldiers asking for food at James Secord’s house at Queenston, openly spoke of their intentions. James Secord had been wounded at Queenston Heights and was at home on parole, too crippled for active service, but it was decided that Fitzgibbon must be warned, and after some consultation it was arranged that his wife should make the attempt. Early next morning under pretense of milking a refractory cow; which however, by means of judicious prodding, she managed to drive past the enemy’s picket, Laura Secord began her long and perilous journey. When at a safe distance from the sentries, she hid her milking stool and let her cow wander at will. The day became exceeding hot and near St. David’s she stopped to rest at the house of a friend, who tired to dissuade her from continuing her journey. However, she was not to be dissuaded, and soon set out again on her loyal errand. Now began the most dismal part of the walk. To avoid wild cats, rattlesnakes and Indians, to circumvent the enemy’s picket, and to find a path through the black swamp, was enough to tax every energy. With all these dangers before her, it was impossible to take the direct route to DeCews. In her wanderings, she crossed the Twelve Mile Creek at St. Catharines, and then finding she had gone too far, she recrossed it by a fallen tree at a point near Turney’s farm, where the creek is still bridged in a somewhat primitive manner. Turning dizzy in the middle of the creek, she got down on her hands and knees, and crawled along the log to the other bank. At this moment the moon shot out and she lifted up her hands in thanksgiving for its friendly beams. According to Mrs. Secord’s own estimate, she had already walked nineteen miles although the direct route is only twelve miles.
While walking along a more frequented road, she heard the sound of a horse’s hoofs, and immediately hid in the bushes, but she saw the rider was a preacher who had often held services at Queenston, so she told him her errand and begged that he would hurry on and warn Fitzgibbon. He did this and in due time came back and mounted her upon his horse. She was received right loyally by Lieut. Fitzgibbon and his men, who presented arms when she rode up. Mrs. DeCew urged her to stay till morning, but she begged to be taken back to her friends the Turneys. Two Indians carried her thither in a hammock made from an Indian blanket, while a soldier walked on each side for a guard. In this way she was safely borne over the stream which she had crossed in such dread a short time before.
Fitzgibbon at once sank such stores as he had in a pond behind the DeCew house, so that in case of defeat, they should not fall into the hands of the enemy.
The Americans were now making preparations for the attack. The expedition was entrusted to Col. Boerstler of the 14th Maryland Regiment U.S. Infantry, a gallant officer and eager for active service. The force under him consisted of about 600 men with two fold pieces. On the evening of the 23rd of June 1913, this detachment began the march from Fort George to Queenston, reaching the heights about midnight as the roads were in a wretched state owing to recent heavy rains. Early next morning they continued their way taking the mountain road. At the Bowman farm they encountered a band of Indians about 250, chiefly Mohawks from Grand River under the command of young Brant, son of the old chief, Joseph Brant. The Indians opened fire upon Boerstler and fought in their own fashion, concealing themselves and opening fire on the flanks and rear. The sound of firing roused the whole neigborhood, and all the farmers possessing arms rushed to the scene of combat. Two farmers named Kelley, working in the fields, rushed to get their muskets from their hiding place and running found the two American field-pieces mired in Shriner’s Creek.
The contest lasted for two hours, and the Indians having adroitly surrounded the enemy Boerstler concluded that he had met a foe of far superior numbers, and when Lieut. Fitzgibbon came up with his men, Col. Boerstler thinking large reinforcements had come to the British, felt sure of defeat. Fitzgibbon had already sent a despatch to Major De Haren at St. Catharines and knowing that he dared not expose his small numbers he resorted to stratagem. Tying a white handkerchief to his sword, he advanced and found Col. Boerstler ready for a parley. He stated his rank, said he had a detachment of British soldiers, but that his commanding officer De Haren was near by with several companies and that he would have great difficulty in restraining the ferocity of the Indians, and magnifying his numbers, called on the Americans to surrender. This Col. Boerstler refused to do, having seen the British force. Fitzgibbon replied that he would request his superior officers to inspect the British force. Just then, Capt. Hall came up with about twenty dragoons, having ridden over from Chippawa, attracted by the sound of the guns. Fitzgibbon persuaded him to act as his superior officer and to refuse the request. When Boerstler heard the refusal, he asked time to consider, but Fitzgibbon would only allow five minutes, and the result was that the Americans surrendered.
It was an embarrassing moment for the British who had not men enough to take charge of the prisoners. Just then De Haren rode up, and soon all the militia were on the scene.
The Americans stacked their guns in what is now the orchard of Shriner’s farm. Articles of capitulation were drawn up.
Thus there passed into the hands of the British besides the prisoners of war, two field pieces, two ammunition cars, and the colors of the 14th U.S.A. Corps. Several of the Americans had been killed in the skirmish, and many were wounded, amongst them Col. Boerstler himself. The British had not lost a single man, and not a shot had been fired by a regular soldier. Captain Norton, an Indian officer thus puts it: “The Mohawks did the fighting, Fitzgibbon got the glory, and the Caughnawagas secured the plunder.”
The skirmish is important , not only because of the superior numbers of the enemy, but because of its effect upon the subsequent events of the war.
When the Welland canal was in course of construction the workmen came upon 16 bodies of Americans who had fallen at the Battle of Beaverdams. Buttons of the U.S. A. were found with the men, proving without a doubt who they were. The remains were reinterred near the last bank of the canal just south of the N.C. R. bridge. Through the efforts of the late Judge Baxter of Thorold, Mr. J.P. Merritt of St. Catharines, Mr. Jno. Brown and others, a modest monument is erected on the spot bearing the inscription-”Beaverdams, June 24th, 1813.”
At the time of the skirmish, the town of Thorold was not in existence. Beaverdams, two miles southwest was the only place near enough bearing a name by which the skirmish could be called.
It is perhaps well for us who live in times of such peace and plenty and happiness to pause awhile and look back at the strenuous lives of those early settlers, who, by their loyalty and bravery and strength of character laid the foundation of this peace and plenty which is ours today.
Prepared for Sir Issac Brock Chapter, Daughters of the Empire. January 26th, 1912.
( From the Realty Review)
[People’s Press, 17 December 1912]
With an unshakable belief in the potential future of Welland; sustained by years of experience in community development, C.J. Laughlin, Jr., president of the Laughlin Realty Co., has played an all-important part in the wonderful growth of the “Canal City” as an industrial and residential centre.
It is an inspiration to any man to study Mr. Laughlin at close range. His physical bigness, his keen power of perception, his genial disposition, and other sterling qualities clearly indicate that he is the right man in the right place.
Like all big men, Mr. Laughlin is modestly personified, when it comes to talking about himself, and it was only by intimating that a recital of his early experiences in the realty field might benefit others, that he was induced to describe how, as a railway clerk in a small Ohio town, he had sold his one cherished possession, a horse and buggy, in order to purchase fifty feet of land, and had then borrowed enough money to erect two small houses on his property, from the sale of which he had realized a substantial profit, substantial enough as he expressed it, to equal an entire year’s salary.
The success of Mr. Laughlin’s first venture aroused his progressive spirit and, resigning his position as railway clerk, he determined to devote his energies to realty development. How well he carried out his resolution is attested to by his activities in Florida, Ohio, Connecticut, Washington, California, and other American States, which had earned for him his reputation as a “Town Builder” before he came to Canada.
It means something to any community to have attracted a type of man such as this reality expert, whose one dominating policy is to make money for his clients through the development and selling of high-class subdivisions only; a feature which is very much in evidence in Welland, as was observed by the writer, and it is of more than passing interest to note the absence of brass band methods in connection with the unprecedented growth which has marked the development of Welland, a growth by the way, which Mr. Laughlin himself thinks remarkable, as he states that never in his experience can he recall an instance when industrial and general community development has been so pronounced as in Welland.
As a producer of results, C.J. Laughlin Jr., has proven an invaluable asset to Welland. The Metal Chemicals Co., one of Welland’s largest industries, located there through his efforts, and he has been instrumental in bringing other large plants to town.
The local trolley service stands as a monument to his activities. He has stimulated interest in civic pride and has, brought to the city a goodly percentage of its population. His associates in the Laughlin Realty Company of which he is president, are among the largest manufacturers of Canada.
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Nearly everyone knows him. Few figures are more familiar on the streets of Welland than his-familiar because to see him is to remember him. This is only one of James R. Willson’s claims to a newspaper writeup. He has many more, as the reader will agree at the conclusion of his story. His photo, which appears above, will be immediately recognized.