By the summer of 1798, Diana had made Justus a grandfather. She named her son Elijah Bothum Smades, after her favourite uncle, but she promised to name the next boy after Justus and he was well pleased.15 When he had two timber rafts ready, with Levius, the slaves and some hired hands, Justus set off down the St. Lawrence, leaving Samuel to man the law office in Edward Jessup's village. When the rafts were floating past Trois Rivières, tragedy struck.
Before the horrified eyes of Levius and the crews, Justus staggered, tumbled from his raft and disappeared.16 While Levius ordered the clumsy rafts to the shore, watchers set out in small boats to search. In the wake Justus sank. Panic, agony, a struggle to reach the surface, then euphoria and peace overwhelmed him. His time had come and in his dying moments he was aware of voices of others who had gone before him. The thunder ringing in his ears was Ethan, summoning him to a wolf hunt, but his companions were agents the rebels had murdered — Thomas Lovelace, John Parker and Joe Bettys — as he sank to a watery grave.
In a small boat a near hysterical Levius peered into the deep blue waters, but could find no sign of his father. The crews thought Justus had drowned, but Levius was convinced that a sudden heart attack had overtaken him. Justus was far too agile and experienced at riding rafts to fall off unless there was another problem. He had been exerting himself all his life. The back-breaking toil he had performed in the New Hampshire Grants, the years of privation when he served His Majesty's cause, the struggle to re-establish himself and provide for his family in the manner he planned from the day he married Sarah — all had conspired to carry him off at age fifty-one, robbing him of his three score and ten years.
The searchers never did find Justus' body.17 After waiting several days in the hope that someone would locate his father, Levius hired a horse and rode back up the St. Lawrence, to let Samuel know that he was now the head of the family. His thoughts turned to his mother, and to little Sophia, only seven years old. Yet Sarah was a strong-minded woman who would take this loss in her stride. Their father had many noble accomplishments to his credit, but he had died unfulfilled, frustrated in his desire to see his new community thrive, guided by the better traditions of Connecticut. Now the torch passed to younger hands.
Epilogue
For some time after Levius reached home, Sarah sustained a hope that Justus would be found. When he left her during the war years, he had always turned up safe. Surely this was possible once more. Gradually she came to accept that he would not be coming. She mourned him, but she had three girls to raise and the farm to run. Samuel and Levius were capable men and willing to help, but they were fully occupied with the law office and the timber rafts.
One piece of unfinished business was the ‘200 acres’ in Vermont that still belonged to Justus. In 1801, Levius sold Simon Bothum ‘150 acres for 150 dollars’ and he gave his uncle the remaining 50 acres — the farm Simon occupied.1 Simon had been working the land ever since Justus fled to Crown Point in 1776, and since the title to this piece was in Elijah Bothum Sr.'s name, Levius did not want to press a claim to it.
Samuel became the Member of the Legislative Assembly for Grenville County at the election of 1800. The other member for the District of Johnstown was William Buell, representing Leeds County, who declared himself in opposition to the government.2 Buell, rather than Samuel, carried Justus' torch. Samuel had lived most of his life under a military regime, and his knowledge of Connecticut institutions was second-hand. Little is known of Samuel's later life, although he opened a law office in Montreal before the War of 1812. He served as a major in the militia, and in 1818, with Levius assisting him he successfully defended two of the men accused of murdering Governor Semple of the Hudson's Bay Company.3 He was in the Lower Canada Assembly, and indicted for libel in 1816.4
Levius had a distinguished career in the law and politics in Upper Canada. In 1803, he was called to the bar, by which time he was the Registrar of Leeds and Grenville. He opened his law office in Elizabethtown, where a village was growing on William Buell's land. In 1812, when the country was on the verge of war, Levius was elected to the assembly representing Leeds County.5 That year, he was appointed the lieutenant-colonel of the first battalion, Leeds Militia. On February 7, 1813, a force of American riflemen raided Buell's village, then called Brockville after the slain hero of the Battle of Queenston Heights. They carried off fifty-two men, including Levius' second-in-command, Major Bartholomew Carley, and Captain Adiel Sherwood. Levius was away at the time and he reported on the effects of the American incursion when he returned.6
The attack on Brockville affected Levius' political views and his subsequent actions. When party lines were drawn between reformers and conservatives, Levius favoured the latter. Like other thoughtful people, Levius feared that too strident demands for home rule might induce the British government to withdraw the garrisons of regulars, without whose protection the country could not survive.
William Lyon Mackenzie accused Levius of being in the Family Compact.7 He was married into it, for his wife, Charlotte, was Ephriam Jones' daughter. Loyalists from New York, the Joneses were accustomed to a landed gentry and determined to be the backbone of the Upper Canadian aristocracy, but in Levius' case Mackenzie's charge was misplaced. Prior to the union of Upper and Lower Canada in 1841, the governor of the day, Lord Sydenham, had gone to great lengths to break the power of the Family Compact. Yet Sydenham appointed Levius his Speaker of the Legislative Council, which he would not have done had Justus' second son represented the interests of a discredited ruling clique.
Levius was a moderate man, diplomatic and with a talent for keeping out of trouble which his father lacked. This younger son displayed his tolerance in his choice of a wife, for Charlotte Jones' mother was a French-speaking Canadian who raised her daughters in her own faith.8 Levius agreed that he and Charlotte would follow this example. His four sons (Henry, George, Samuel and Edward) were Anglicans, his three daughters (Charlotte, Helen and Amelia) were Roman Catholics.
Levius Peters Sherwood, 1777-1850. Courtesy: Judge Livius Sherwood
Of Justus' daughters, Diana lived in Augusta after she and Samuel had pioneered on the Rideau River. Sarah married Andrew McCollom, also of Augusta, while Harriet married Dr. Benjamin Trask of Montreal. Sophia's life was tragically short. She married Jonathan Jones at age nineteen, died three years later, and was buried in the cemetery on the town plot in Augusta, where in 1809, the settlers erected a church. After Sophia's passing, Justus' widow Sarah moved to Montreal, where she died in 1818 at age sixty-four.9
The kinsman who most closely emulated Justus was his cousin Reuben. The surveyor of the next generation, Reuben laid out many townships and lots in eastern Upper Canada. When the War of 1812 broke out, Reuben was a Captain of Guides from Côteau du Lac to Kingston, and he did some spying on the side, keeping up that family tradition. In the summer of 1813, he was near Cape Vincent, New York, a village opposite Kingston, travelling in a canoe with his lieutenant and nine men. Landing the men on an island, and taking his lieutenant, Reuben paddled to the American shore, and found some militiamen building a blockhouse. Boldly he told them that an invasion had begun and asked to be taken to their commanding officer.
They led Reuben and his lieutenant to Major John B. Esselstyn and his deputy, a captain whose name has been lost. Reuben told the privates they could go home on parole, but the officers were prisoners of war. When the enlisted men took to their heels, Reuben marched his captives back to the canoe and escorted them across the St. Lawrence. Later the major was exchanged for Major Carley, the captain for Adiel Sherwood. Reuben was decorated after the Battle of Crysler's Farm, and in 1814, he piloted gunboats down the St. Lawrence. He also recaptured some supply bateaux that had been taken by the Americans.10
Justus' dream of a New England town in Augusta was doomed to disappointment, and the only public building to stand on his town plot was the Blue Church. Yet the Johnstown District would not lack a central place. In 1808, the government ruled that
the village of Johnstown, hitherto the administrative centre, was too far to the east, and a new district seat would be chosen in Elizabethtown. William Buell hired Reuben Sherwood to lay out a townsite on his property, and it had a square. Named Brockville in 1812, it grew into what one traveller called ‘the prettiest town I saw in Upper Canada’.11 Through the foresight of another Connecticut Yankee, Justus' community had the kind of focus he cherished.
Tantalizing glimpses of later Sherwoods flit through source materials, and most pertain to Levius' descendants. His eldest son Henry — dark and handsome, more Jones than Sherwood — helped smash Mackenzie's printing press, and chased the rebels up Yonge Street at the head of his militia company. Despite three Roman Catholic sisters, Henry was the darling of the Orangemen, and mayor of Toronto. For ten months, in 1848, conservative Henry was the Premier of the Province of Canada.
George represented Brockville in the assembly for twenty years, and was Commissioner of Crown Lands and Minister of Public Works in the Macdonald-Cartier Ministry prior to Confederation. Samuel was the Registrar of the City of Toronto. Edward, the youngest, was expelled from Upper Canada College for striking the mathematics master, a man famous for harshness.12 This abrupt halt to his education did not interfere with his later life, for Edward was the Registrar of the City of Ottawa. Levius and Henry were occasional visitors at Dundurn Castle, near Hamilton. Lady MacNab's mother, Sophia Jones Stuart, was Levius' sister-in-law, and her daughters called him Uncle Sherwood.
In Bishop Strachan's letter book is a note to Miss Christina Sherwood, Samuel's daughter, complimenting her on her verses. The cleric was being kind to a delicate child who only lived fourteen years. Her brother, Captain L.P. Sherwood, rode at the head of a company of Queen's Own Rifles to chase away the Fenians in 1866. Edward's son, Percy, was the Commissioner of the Dominion Police, and he was knighted.
A modern echo of Justus himself is his great great great grandson, Livius Sherwood, who was Director of Sailing at the 1976 Olympic yachting events in Kingston. Sailors from all over the world were protected by a high mesh wire enclosure. Patroling offshore was a Canadian destroyer, while overhead whirred watchful helicopters. The setting, amidst tight security, was reminiscent of the Loyal Blockhouse, separated from the rest of North Hero Island by pickets, the Royal George patroling offshore.
Certainly, Justus Sherwood qualifies as a hero and not just because he died young and not in his own bed. If at times Justus Sherwood seemed a trifle too land hungry and sharp in his business practices, he was a man of his own time. This steady, energetic man lived according to the example he found around him. A dedicated fighter for a cause, he was quick to forgive his enemies, whether loyalist or rebel. Despite personal suffering, the American Revolution did not leave him an embittered man. He was a colourful character, a pimpernel figure in his blockhouse, the loyalists' rescuer, and a hard driving pioneer in what became the Province of Ontario.
Appendix A
Memorial of Justus Sherwood to the Commissioners appointed by Act of Parliament for enquiring into the Losses and Services of the American Loyalists. June, 1787
The Memorial of Justus Sherwood formerly Resident in the New Hampshire Grants in the Province of New York and County of Charlotte late Captain in His Majesty's Provl Regiment called Loyal Rangers—
Shewith.
That your Memorialist at the Commencement of the late unhappy Rebellion manifested his Attachment to His Majesty and the British Governt by Exerting his Influence to prevent the people in his Vicinity from taking Arms agt His Majesty for which your Memorialist was in Augt 1776 taken by order of the Committee by an armed Compy of Men from his House and Farm in New Haven who wantonly destroyed and took away the Household Furniture Wearing Appl and provisions &c belonging to your Memt breaking open his Chests taking tearing and trampling under foot all his papers and writings which they could get hold of, your Memorialist procured Bail at that time and permission to go to his Family and Continue under certain restrictions untill further Orders from the Committee, But the same night on which your Memorialist came to his Family he was taken out of his Bed by an Armed Force, who kept him under a Guard of Insulters for some time obliging him to bear his own and their Expences your Memorialist was then ordered to prison by a Committee for the Crime as they alledged of being Enimical to the Country Refusing to take the Oaths required by the Committee and sending Intelligce to Genl Carleton in Canada. After about a Months Imprisonment your Memorialist was brought before the Grand Committee (as they called it) and by that Committee Condemned to be shut up in Simsbury Mines during Life But before they could Execute this shocking Sentence (worse than Death) Your Memorialt had the good fortune to break away from his Keepers, and fly to the Mountains where, in a few days abt 40 of the Loyal Inhabits (distressed) for their Loyalty joined him, whom your Memorialist piloted abt 200 Miles thro the Wilderness and joined Genl Carleton at Crown Point in the Month of Octr 1776 the first body of Loyalists in America that Joined His Majestys Army — in March following your Memorialt went with five Men by Order of Genl Carleton in a private Scout as far as Shaftsbury opposite Albany for Intelligence and returned in the beginning of May to Genl Philips at Montreal with an Account of the Rebell Troops from Albany Northward and a Sketch of the Fortification at Ticonderoga and Mount Independent, their Number of Artillery &c your Memorialist was 41 days on this Scout and lost two of his party taken prisoners by a Rebel Scout on the Coast of Lake Champlain and your Memorialt escaped with the rest of his party by seizing the Rebel Boats which lay on the Shore and pushing into the Lake — Your Memorialist commanded the Loyalists after Col Festers Death in the Battle of Bennington and was employed in various Scouts and services under Genl Burgoyne and was in every Action a [nd] Skirmish thro' that Campaign at the unfortunate conclusion of which your Memorialist became a prisoner at the Saratoga Convention and suffered many Insults and abuses by the Rebels who happened to know him — In 1778 your Memorialist was again employed by order of Genl Carleton to procure Intelligence &c and Continued in that and various other services by order of Genl Haldimand untill the Conclusion of the War during which time your Memorialt had the Honour to serve under the Command of a number of Experienced and brave Officers in various Expeditions and Actions Viz — Major Genl Powell — Brigr Genl St Leger, Col. Carleton, Major Carleton, Major Jessup, Major Rogers and many others — In Consequence of the above recited Attachment and active Services for His Majestys Govt your Memorialist was attainted and outlawed by the Rebels and of course his little property which he had accumulated by honest Industry was forfeited and sold or otherways taken for the use of the Rebels.
Your Memorialist therefore prays &c &c Justus Sherwood
The source of the above is the Public Record Office, London, from the Audit Office Records AO 13-22 pp. 351-360, and is published with the permission of the Controller of H.M. Stationery Office, London, U.K.
Appendix B
A Report by Mary I. Duncan, Handwriting Analyst
Justus Sherwood's letters, written with a quill pen, form the basis of this Graphoanalysis report. His rather flourished writing style was typical of the penmanship of his era, but within that style there was a simplicity and lack of ostentation which showed an unpretentious person and one not given to ‘putting on airs’.
He was methodical in his thinking and when he had a problem to solve he did it in logical steps, one at a time. He was a fluid thinker and his thoughts flowed smoothly and easily from one subject to another, and as he was creative, he utilized his past experience by blending it with new ideas and brought a fresh approach to the solution of a problem.
He had excellent organizational ability and his manner of planning what he had to do helped him keep a very ordered life. Yet at the same time, he was flexible and would have been able to adapt and adjust to new or unexpected changes in plans.
In temperament he was a friendly, outgoing person and was quick to respond to others and their interests, but he constantly guarded against being
overly expressive of his feelings. He was rather shy and would not have been one to draw undue attention to himself. He often felt insecure, and perhaps even inadequate, but he hid any such feelings behind a mask of calm self-assurance.
He was energetic and seemed to possess a good mental attitude and the strength to do a good day's work. He was decisive, and as his goals and his identity were clear to him there was strength in his decisions and he could be firm without being offensive. He had strong determination and carried through on things despite ordinary obstacles and problems; he was resolute and had learned that a job must be done regardless of his feelings.
His highly legible writing indicates a frank, open person, one who not only had a desire to be understood but one who was able to communicate his ideas to others clearly. At the same time, he was somewhat on the defensive and wary of being taken advantage of in any way. He was not one to take people at face value but instead waited until he was sure that they could be trusted.
He was selective and most at ease in the company of a few special friends and on the occasions he chose. He had diplomacy and while it was not a strong trait, the indications are that he was able to get along in harmony with others, and his generous, co-operative spirit made him a good worker and a fine friend.
Intelligence and strength of character gave him a maturity that made for effective leadership. He was tolerant and able to defend his ideas without completely ignoring different viewpoints. At the same time, he had very definite opinions about things, and on some points he could not be swayed.
He had a quick temper but had so much control that it would have taken a lot of provocation for him to ‘lose his cool’. He disliked restrictions upon his freedom of action and did his best work when he was on his own, so it seems likely that he was happiest when in complete charge of a situation.
Buckskin Pimpernel Page 26
