you think one of your ancestors might have played a leadership role in the rebellions, spend a few minutes researching some of these following key players. In Upper Canada: Robert Baldwin, John Beverley Robinson, Sir Francis Bond Head, Dr. Charles Duncombe, James FitzGibbon, Robert Gourley, Samuel Lount, Peter Matthews, Alan McNabb, Dr. Wolfred Nelson, Dr. Edmund Bailey O’Callaghan, John Rolf, Egerton Ryerson, Thomas Storrow Brown, Reverend John Strachan, and Anthony Van Egmond. In Lower Canada: Jean-Olivier Chénier, Lord Colborne, Dr. Cyrille Côté, Amury Girod, Louis LaFontaine, Robert Nelson, André Ouimet.
The one grievance common to Upper and Lower Canada was the colonial government. Each colony had a lieutenant governor who was appointed in England. The Houses of Assembly in each of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Lower, and Upper Canada had two levels: the Legislative Council, appointed for life, and the Legislative Assembly, which was elected by the colonists. The governor also had the right to appoint an executive council as his advisors. The crux of the problem was the issue of elected-versus-appointed representatives.
In addition, the people holding power in the colonies had a fear of American Republicanism. Remember that a large segment of the population in Upper Canada originally came from the United States in search of free land. Many brought their “republican” beliefs with them. Included in this mix were new immigrants from the British Isles who expected the same political freedoms they had enjoyed back in England.
Often, when the new governor arrived from England he selected individuals for his executive council whom he saw as the leading educated and loyal members of the colonial society he was going to govern. Soon these select few not only had direct access to the governor but also could recommend political appointments for individuals they saw as worthy, especially to the appointed legislative council. In Upper Canada this group became referred to in the local newspapers as the Family Compact and in Lower Canada, the Château Clique. Those terms were used because the more radical newspapers often made headlines by pointing out the family connections among government appointees. The lower house, or legislative assembly, was elected by the voters of the colony and, therefore, seemed more democratic.
It’s not difficult for anyone to see that this system had built-in flaws that would ultimately lead to conflict. The extract from Susanna Moodie’s book does an excellent job outlining the resulting frustration. The elected assembly saw many of the laws it wished to enact disallowed by the legislative council and governor. In turn the assembly refused to vote the monies the governor needed for his own initiatives. William Lyon Mackenzie in Upper Canada, Joseph Howe in Nova Scotia, and Louis-Joseph Papineau in Lower Canada presented lists of grievances directly to the Home Office in England with no satisfaction. The stage was set.
When you construct your family narrative, include some of the following key events from the Rebellions:
In Upper Canada:
• Mackenzie is defeated in the election of 1836, mostly because of the direct interference of Governor Bond Head during the campaigning.
• Vigilance Committees are formed following Mackenzie’s call for armed resistance.
• The Committees start to collect fire arms and to drill.
• October 1837, Mackenzie receives word from Lower Canada that the Patriotes are ready to strike a blow for liberty.
• Date is set for rebellion, 7 December 1837, plan calls for 5,000 men to assemble at Montgomery’s Tavern just north of Toronto.
• In November word is received that rebellion has broken out in Lower Canada.
• In spite of advice from James FitzGibbon, Governor Bond Head sends all available troops to Lower Canada.
• 4 December 1837 rebels start to assemble at Montgomery’s Tavern.
• 5 December 1837 they begin to march on Toronto.
• About 300 men, loyal to the Family Compact, assemble in Toronto.
• Thirty government supporters, under the command of Sheriff Jarvis, stand guard at a barricade just north of the city.
• A brief skirmish results and the rebels retreat back to the tavern.
• The government forces, under the direction of James FitzGibbon, march north on Yonge street and defeat the rebels.
• Montgomery’s Tavern is burned along with other buildings associated with known reformers.
• Mackenzie escapes to the United States, establishes a provisional government on Navy Island in the Niagara River from which he initiates raids on Upper Canada.
• The American steamer Caroline, used to supply the group, is burned by government supporters.
• 14 April 1838, prisoners from Dr. Duncombe’s Rising, near Brantford, and the Short Hills engagement are sentenced to death.
• Several men, including Samuel Lount and Peter Matthews, are hanged for treason and almost one hundred are sent into exile.
• Mackenzie is finally arrested by U.S. authorities, spends a year in jail, eventually settles in New York City, and returns to Upper Canada in 1849 when a general amnesty is declared.
In Lower Canada:
• By 1837 there is deadlock in government — the assembly refuses to grant money to pay the salaries of the governor and councillors.
• The Ten Resolutions are passed by the British Parliament allowing the governor to pay out funds without the consent of the assembly.
• Patriotes (supporters of Papineau) start to collect arms and secretly drill.
• The rebels start to refer to themselves as the “Fils de la liberté” hold rallies and use slogans like “La nation Canadienne” and “Papineau et l’independence.”
• November 1837, the rebellion begins with a clash between the Doric Club, which supports the government, and the Patriotes who support reform.
• Papineau leaves Montreal, Patriotes start to assemble in the Richelieu Valley region, and the government decides to send troops to take prisoners and disperse any armed Patriote groups.
• 22 November 1837, a force of British Troops march toward the village of Saint- Denis, a five-hour battle is fought with a large body of Patriotes who put up such a strong resistance that the troops retreat.
• 24 November 1837, a second clash occurs at the village of Saint-Charles, Papineau flees to the U.S., and the rebels are defeated.
• December 1837, the battle at Saint–Eustache, just north and west of Montreal, results in 120 Patriotes being taken prisoner and many more killed and wounded.
• Trials begin and eventually over one thousand prisoners are tried for treason.
• Papineau eventually leaves the United States, lives in France, and returns to Canada in 1845.
The rebellions in Upper and Lower Canada did not end with the defeat of the rebels. For the following few years Hunters’ Lodges, mostly situated in the U.S., organized and planned raids on Upper Canada. The lodges seemed to be mostly located in New York State and indeed a meeting did occur in Lockport, New York, in March 1838 attended by William Lyon Mackenzie. These lodges were responsible for the burning of the steamer Sir Robert Peel and various raids
