Kingston records (regionally related)

Pages That Mention Lake Erie

Ballingall Diary - Fifteen Months on Lake Ontario Upper Canada in the years 1841 & 1842

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They state that the lands on its border and banks are good. Altho this Lake lies between the Lat of 45 and 47 it freezes over in the winter so as to afford a passage on the ice for three months in the year. It is united to Lake Erie by a cove.

Lake Champlain.

This Lake was the theatre of important operations during the last war with the United States. In 1814 a strong reinforcement arrived from one Army of the Peninsula from the South of France, which enabled Sir George Provost to place himself at the head of 11,000 men with whom he undertook to carry the war into the enemys country, he proceeded to the attack of Plattsburg on the Western borders of the Lake and which was defeuded by 2,000 Americans, Malcolm the American General on being pressed by a superior force fell back on this town which was his main position and which he had strongly fortified - Sir George on the 11th September arrived in front of it, but the naval forces under Captain Donnie destined to co'operate with them was attacked defeated and captured under the eye of the General and the whole British Army. Provost sounded the retreat, conceiving after this disaster that any success in storming the Enemys Position would be fruitless as to utter objects and a useless sacrifice of men. He immediately withdrew his Army. This course was highly disapproved of by all, and most justly so. The American Army was not more

Last edit about 1 year ago by Queen's University Archives
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that I have invariably found that retired Officers from the navy but more especially those from the Army make the worse settlers, and are considered to be less calculated for emigration than any other class that come to this country. These gentlemen enter upon a new mode of life so totally different to what they have ever been accustomed to, that by far the greater part too frequently sink under the privations, sickness and difficulties to which the new settler is continually disposed. The shores of Lake Erie are likewise much occupied with this class of emigration, unable to bear up against the toil and embarassment of a forest life ultimately abandon their farm in disgust, which they either sell or let, and with their families become residents in some of the towns situated on the shore of Lake Ontario and the banks of the St. Lawrence where they become what the Americans call loafers that is to live a life of idleness without any occupation beyond fishing and shooting. Those of this class who do not succeed had much better have remained and starved in the old country for which they sigh and ever repent the day of their departure.

Last edit about 4 years ago by catslover
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round his fields found four men lying asleep in a shanty, and a boat hauled up on the beach close by; the men were armed and one of them he knew to be from Buffalo and an accomplice of the notorious Lett, who has since openly expressed his regret at the failure of the attempt — The barrel bore the mark of a brewery in Buffalo and contained upwards of 100 lbs of powder.

Some days prior to this he attempted to destroy Lock No. 37. on the Welland canal which connect the navigation of Lake Ontario with that of Lake Erie.

The attempt was also made by means of gun powder On the explosion taking place, it was found that the head gate of the upper Lock at Allanburgh was completely destroyed. Fortunately a guard lock had been constructed at this important point at a short space above the injured Lock the gates of which closed immediately from the force of water rushing into the Lock below, and thus preventing the whole body of water above, from descending into the canal and the surrounding country and causing ruinous and extensive damage to both.

It is by such means that a continued system of terror excitement and agitation has been kept up on the whole frontier since the first outbreak in the upper part of the Province particularly along the Lakes the great rivers, and large villages situated upon the Canals which has within the space of a few years become the rendezvous of a mass of human beings of every colour and country — the crews

Last edit about 4 years ago by catslover
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Voyage up Lake Ontario in 1841.

On the 18th of June I left Kingston in the war Steamer Traveller at 12 o clock for Port Dalhousie with a detachment of Royal Marines to relieve those stationed on board the Steamers stationed on the Upper Lake A fog hung over the Ontario so that we could not see a quarter of a mile from the vessel, which I am informed is very frequently the case during the summer season, and continued so during the whole day and night But the rising sun next morning dispersed the fog and we reached port Dalhousie situated near the head of the Lake, at which point the Welland canal enters and conveys vessels to Lake Erie a distance of forty one miles

This canal is not of sufficient dimensions to answer the great and growing commercial communication so absolutely required between these two great Lakes, the Locks being only twenty two feet in width and one hundred in length, the water at the greatest eight feet and a half deep

Population and enterprize between Upper and lower Canada may be judged of from the rapid growth of Prescot a port on the St. Lawrence in the route from Montreal to Kingston and distant 127 miles and from the latter 62 miles In 1815 the largest vessel employed for the transit of merchanize between Kingston

Last edit about 4 years ago by catslover
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Goat Island which separates the stream of the Niagara into the two channels which precipitate the waters of Lake Erie into Lake Ontario is one of the most beautiful and fantastic scenes in the vicinity of the great Falls It is approached from the American shore by means of slender wooden bridges thrown across from rock to rock There is an amazing rush of water between these islets the force and sublimity of which may be conceived but cannot be described. The island itself is most beautifully romantic affording a delightful shade under its tall and magnificent trees as the traveller indulged in meditation amid the noise of the thundering waters.

A number of human skeletons have have been dug up on this Island within these few years, the remains of Indians buried in a former age, many more no doubt are still resting in undisturbed respose There may they rest 'till the Great Spirit calls them hence There are many other beautiful Islands situated among the rapids which might be connected with Goat Island by bridges which would render the present walks still more romantic.

After spending the whole of Sunday in again viewing the Falls from every possible point and station both above and below, we returned to Stamford at seven o'clock the hour our kind hostess had named for dinner we found an invitation from the Officers of

Last edit about 4 years ago by Jannyp
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