Buckskin Pimpernel

by Mary Beacock Fryer

  13. Ibid. B 54 p. 30. Haldimand to Germain. Oct. 15, 1778.

  14. Joseph Bettys is brought in at this point because he becomes crucial in later events, and needs to be emphasised.

  15. PAC Haldimand Papers. B 214. p. 81. Petition to Haldimand. Nov. 12, 1778.

  16. Ibid. B 54. pp. 267-268. Haldimand to Germain. Nov. 1, 1779.

  Chapter 8: Banished Yankee

  1. Wardner, H.E. The Birthplace of Vermont. A History of Windsor to 1781. New York 1927. p. 489.

  2. The date of these appointments is not documented. By 1780 Sherwood is referred to as the commissioner for both duties, and he carried out his first prisoner exchange in the spring of 1779.

  3. Cruikshank, E.A. John Walden Meyers, Loyalist Pioneer. Ontario Historical Society Papers and Records, vol. 31 (1936). p. 12.

  4. Jane Goddard, a descendant, provided the description of Meyers, based on information handed down through the family.

  5. Mathews. Frontier Spies, p. 78.

  6. Haldimand Papers, British Museum. Add. Mss. 21819. p. 17. Haldimand to Sir John Johnson, May 25, 1779.

  7. Cruikshank. John Walden Meyers, p. 14. Meyers to Mathews, July 1, 1779.

  8. Cruikshank, E.A. Butler's Rangers. Lundy's Lane Historical Society, 1893. pp. 68-75.

  9. Hadden. Journal and Orderly Books, p. 72. footnote.

  10. Cruikshank. King's Royal Regiment, pp. 223-224.

  11. Cruikshank. John Walden Meyers, p. 15.

  12. Leavitt. p. 20. Memoir of Adiel Sherwood. Judge John Deacon of Brockville, a descendant, has an oak chest that Thomas Sherwood brought from Fort Edward.

  13. Mcllwraith. pp. 125-126.

  14. PAC Haldimand Papers. B 175 p. 19. Beverley Robinson to Ethan Allen, March 30, 1780.

  15. Ibid. B 176 p. 131. G. Smyth to Haldimand. June 15, 1781.

  16. Mcllwraith. pp. 125-126.

  17. Pell. p. 192.

  18. Cruikshank. King's Royal Regiment, pp. 239-240.

  19. PAC Haldimand Papers. B 182, quoted in Pell. p. 234.

  20. Sir Henry Clinton Papers. No. 2891. Joseph McCracken to Colonel van Schaik. May 16, 1780, relaying information on prisoners who escaped.

  21. Smith, Paul. Loyalists and Redcoats: A Study of British Revolutionary Policy. Chapel Hill, N.C. 1964. p. 74.

  22. Haldimand papers, British Museum. Add. Mss. 21820, pp. 2-15. Letters of James Rogers and Robert Mathews.

  23. Pell. p. 188, from PAC Military Series ‘Q’

  24. Burleigh, H.C. Samuel Sherwood's Account Book. Kingston, 1975. Preface.

  25. PAC War Office 28, vol. 10, part 3, p. 347. A muster roll dated Feb. 17, 1782, listing Samuel Sherwood as a volunteer in Justus' company.

  26. Vermont State Library, Montpelier, Vt. Manuscripts relating to Ethan Allen. p. 407.

  Chapter 9: With Fife and Drum

  1. PAC Haldimand Papers. B 182 p. 284. Sherwood to Mathews, Aug. 24, 1780.

  2. Ibid. p. 264. Report of Samuel Sherwood. Sept. 23, 1780.

  3. Enys. Journal, p. 35.

  4. Sherwood was fascinated by ships and knew how to sail a boat. He used sailor's terms and was careful to specify what type of craft he was aboard when travelling by water.

  5. PAC Haldimand Papers. B 180 pp. 42-58. Sherwood's complete journal from October 26, 1780 until he reached Quebec City.

  6. Ontario Archives. Haldimand Papers. Envelope 7, pp. 157-8. Haldimand to Major Carleton. Nov. 9, 1780.

  7. Enys. Journal, p. 50.

  8. Justus dated his arrival in Quebec City as Nov. 31. England switched from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar in 1752.

  Chapter 10: Justus Smells Success

  1. PAC Haldimand Papers. B 176 p. 27, Sherwood to Mathews, Jan. 6, 1781.

  2. Sir Henry Clinton Papers. Haldimand to Sherwood, Dec. 20, 1780, enclosed with a letter from Haldimand to Clinton, Aug. 2, 1781.

  3. Mcllwraith, p. 223. Describes the social life.

  4. The appointment was verbal. Sherwood's letters subsequent to his visit in Quebec City indicate that he was in command of the scouts.

  5. Ontario Archives, Jessup Papers. Military Order Book. Item for Dec. 5, 1780.

  6. PAC Haldimand Papers B 176 p. 53, Sherwood to Mathews Jan. 18, 1781.

  7. Jackson. Justus Sherwood, p. 18.

  8. Ontario Archives. Jessup Papers. A list of the members of the Board of Officers.

  9. PAC Haldimand Papers. B 180 p. 31, Sherwood to Mathews, Feb. 19, 1781.

  10. Ibid. pp. 4-6. Sherwood to Mathews, Mar. 10, 1781.

  11. Ibid. p. 7. Peters to Sherwood, Mar. 20, 1781.

  12. Fitch, Dr. Asa. Manuscript on Washington County, N.Y. New York Genealogical and Biographical Society, N.Y. vol. 3, p. 137. Account of Abner Squires; p. 88. Account of Belus Hard.

  13. PAC Haldimand papers. B 180 p. 102. Report of Samuel Rose, undated.

  14. Ibid. p. 9. Sherwood to Mathews, Apr. 9, 1781.

  15. Cruikshank. John Walden Meyers, p. 17.

  16. PAC Vermont Papers.

  17. PAC Haldimand Papers. B 83 p. 140. General Order from Headquarters. Sept. 4, 1780.

  18. Stuart, p. 44.

  19. PAC Haldimand Papers. B 83 p. 140. Sept. 4, 1781.

  20. P.R.O. AO 12-53. Claim of Jeremiah French. July 5, 1787. With the claim is a letter from Sherwood.

  21. PAC Haldimand Papers. B 176 p. 91. Sherwood to Mathews. May 8, 1781.

  22. Ibid. B 175 p. 70. Sherwood to Mathews, May 8, 1781.

  23. Ibid B 180 pp. 28-29. Sherwood to Mathews, May 11, 1781.

  24. Ibid. p. 38. Sherwood to Mathews, May 22, 1781.

  25. Ibid. p. 36. Sherwood to Mathews May 18, 1781.

  26. Ibid. B 179 pt. 1. p. 40. Mathews to Sherwood, May 21, 1781.

  27. Ibid. B 180 pp. 107-108. Sherwood to Mathews, June 2, 1781.

  28. Ibid. B 176 p. 123. Sherwood to Mathews, June 2, 1781.

  29. Ibid. B 179 pt. 1. p. 72. Mathews to Sherwood. June 5, 1781.

  30. Ibid. B 178 p. 142. Sherwood to Mathews, July 1, 1781. The agreement reached with Haldimand was verbal. The first reference to it is found in a letter Sherwood wrote on July 1.

  31. Ibid. B 176 p. 131. Smyth to Haldimand, June 15, 1781.

  32. Paltsitz, Victor Hugo ed. Minutes of the Board of Commissioners for Detecting and Defeating Conspiracies. Albany, N.Y. 1901. p. 479 and p. 721, vol. 1.

  33. Cruikshank. John Walden Meyers, p. 19.

  34. PAC Haldimand Papers. B 167 p. 378, quoted by Stuart.

  35. Ibid. B 176 pp. 142-143. Sherwood to Mathews, July 1, 1781.

  Chapter 11: The Loyal Blockhouse

  1. PAC Haldimand Papers B 176 p. 213. Smyth to Mathews, Aug. 14, 1781.

  2. Ibid. B 180 p. 112. Smyth to Mathews, for Sherwood, July 8, 1781.

  3. Ibid. Smyth to Mathews, July 9, 1781.

  4. PAC War Office 28, vol. 4, p. 286. Muster Roll of the Corps Royalists Commanded by John Peters Esquire, July 14, 1781.

  5. PAC Haldimand Papers. B 176 p. 213. Smyth to Mathews, Aug. 26, 1781.

  6. Ibid. p. 183. Sherwood to Mathews, July 27, 1781.

  7. Ibid. B 176 pp. 189-190 Memorandum by Captain Sherwood, July 30, 1781; B 179 pt. 1. p. 57. Mathews to Sherwood, July 4, 1781; pp. 304-305, undated, but with other letters for July.

  8. Ibid. B 176 p. 251. Sherwood to Mathews, Aug. 26, 1781.

  9. Ibid. p. 205. Sherwood to Mathews, Aug. 9, 1781.

  10. Ibid. p. 247. Smyth to Mathews, Aug. 25, 1781; p. 270. Sept. 4, 1781.

  11. Ibid. p. 284. A list of men, their regiments and ranks, captured with Mathew Howard.

  12. Cruikshank. John Walden Meyers, p. 11; PAC Haldimand Papers B 175 no page number. Haldimand to Schuyler, Nov. 8, 1781.

  13. Ibid. B 176 pp. 359-361. Smyth to Mathews, Nov. 21, 1781.

  14. Ibid. B 180 pp. 120-121. Sherwood to Mathews, Aug. 19, 1781.

  15. Ibid. p. 125. Smyth to Haldimand. Sept 1, 1781.

  16. Ibid. p. 124. Sherwood to Mathews, Sept. 2, 1781.

  17. Ibid. B 176 pp. 289-290.
Smyth to Mathews, Sept. 25, 1781. Mrs. Smyth's given name is not known. She signed her letters R. Smyth.

  18. Jackson, Justus Sherwood, p. 32.

  19. Cruikshank. John Walden Meyers, pp. 29-30.

  20. PAC Haldimand Papers. B 176 pe 293. Smyth to Mathews, Sept. 25, 1781.

  21. Ibid. B 180 p. 136. Sherwood to Mathews, Oct. 27, 1781.

  Chapter 12: The Loyal Rangers

  1. PAC Haldimand Papers B 176 pp. 299-300. Stuart to Smyth Oct. 5, 1781.

  2. Talman, J.J. Loyalist Narratives from Upper Canada. Toronto, 1966. pp. 341-344. Stuart to the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel. Oct. 11; 1781.

  3. PAC Haldimand Papers B 176 pp. 314-315. Sherwood to Mathews. Oct. 18, 1781.

  4. Ibid. p. 258. Smyth to Mathews, August 31, 1781.

  5. Sir Henry Clinton Papers No. 4061. Gen. Heath to Gov. Clinton. Oct. 11, 1781.

  6. PAC Haldimand Papers B 134 p. 171. St. Leger to Headquarters. Nov. 2, 1781.

  7. Ibid. B 176 p. 326. Sherwood to Mathews. Nov. 2, 1781.

  8. Ibid. B 180 p. 123; Pell p. 281.

  9. PAC Haldimand Papers B 176 p. 355. Sherwood to Haldimand. Nov. 2, 1781.

  10. Ibid. B 177 pt. 1. pp. 614-617. Sherwood to Mathews. Oct. 14, 1781.

  11. Ibid. B 179 pt. 1; p. 116. Mathews to Sherwood. July 27, 1781.

  12. Ibid. B 167 p. 398. Return of Officers in the Loyal Rangers.

  13. Ibid. B 54 p. 29. Haldimand to Germain. Oct. 14, 1778.

  14. The coat worn by Jeremiah French, a lieutenant in the second battalion, after serving as a captain in the Queen's Loyal Rangers, is in the Hamilton Military Museum at Dundurn Castle. It is red with blue facings and gold lace.

  15. Justus Sherwood's Account Book. Metropolitan Toronto Library. The Baldwin Room.

  16. PAC Haldimand Papers B 176 p. 344. Smyth to Mathews. Nov. 7, 1781.

  17. Mcllwraith. p. 235; Talman, p. 344.

  18. PAC Haldimand Papers B 177 pt. 1. p. 323. Smyth to Mathews. May 25, 1782.

  Chapter 13: In Yorktown's Wake

  1. PAC Haldimand Papers B 179 pt. 1, p. 163. Mathews to Sherwood. Dec. 27, 1781

  2. Ibid. B 177 pt. 1, p. 1. Sherwood to Mathews. Jan. 2, 1782.

  3. Ibid. pp. 12-13. Sherwood to Mathews. Jan. 16, 1782.

  4. Ibid. p. 36. Sherwood to Mathews. Feb. 7, 1782.

  5. Ibid. B 179 pt. 2, p. 181. Mathews to Sherwood. Feb. 14, 1782.

  6. Ibid. p. 185. Sherwood to Smyth. Feb. 14, 1782. Sherwood was aware of the problem before he received Mathews' letter.

  7. Ibid. B 56 p. 454. Muster Roll of Sherwood's Company. Jan. 1, 1783 at Rivière du Chêne.

  8. Sherwood's Account Book. Item for Nov. 12, 1782.

  9. PAC Haldimand Papers B 177 pt. 1, p. 182. Mathews to Sherwood and Smyth. May 14, 1782.

  10. Ibid. B 179 pt. 1, p. 205. Mathews to Sherwood. Feb. 20, 1782.

  11. Ibid. B 177 pt. 1, p. 161. Sherwood to Mathews. Mar. 28, 1782.

  12. Ibid. p. 170. GX to XX. Apr. 3, 1782.

  13. Ibid. B 179 pt. 2, p. 8. Mathews to Sherwood. May 17, 1782.

  14. Stone, William Leete. Life of Joseph Brant. Cooperstown, N.Y. 1854. vol. 2, p. 213. Stone claimed that Bettys was to receive thirty guineas, but Haldimand would never have agreed to so large a sum.

  Chapter 14: Undercover Activities 1782

  1. PAC Haldimand Papers B 177 pt. 1. pp. 25-28. Report of Terence Smyth. Feb. 6, 1782; Ethan Allen to Haldimand. Mar. 4, 1782. p. 264.

  2. PAC War Office 28, vol. 5, p. 168. Undated, the next document is May 5, 1782.

  3. PAC Haldimand Papers B 178 p. 102. Deposition of Mathew Howard. Mar. 1, 1783.

  4. Ibid. B 177 pt. 1, p. 303. Sherwood to Mathews. May 19, 1782; Pell, p. 224. Vermont sources claim that Crowfoot had eighteen recruits, for whom Sherwood handed over twice that number of rebels in a prisoner exchange. Sherwood told Mathews that Crowfoot escaped.

  5. PAC Haldimand papers B 177. pt. 1. p. 27. Plain Truth Merwin to Smyth. May 8, 1782.

  6. Ibid. p. 229. Smyth to Haldimand. Apr. 28, 1782.

  7. Ibid. p. 112. Sherwood to Mathews. Mar. 18, 1782.

  8. Ibid. p. 346. Smyth to Mathews. June 12, 1782; Haldimand Papers. British Museum. Add. Mss. 21820. p. 140. Mathews to James Rogers. June 17, 1782; PAC Haldimand Papers B 63 p. 239. Mathews to Sherwood. Apr. 26, 1784.

  9. Jackson. Justus Sherwood, p. 39.

  10. PAC Haldimand Papers B 177 pt. 1. pp. 289-291. Sherwood to Mathews. May 15, 1782; p. 282. Weekly State of the Loyal Blockhouse. May 12, 1782.

  11. Ibid. p. 274. Sherwood to Mathews. May 9, 1782.

  12. Ibid. B 177 pt. 2. p. 371. Smyth to Mathews. June 22, 1782.

  13. Ibid. B 179 pt. 1. pp. 129-130. Mathews to Sherwood and Smyth. June 24, 1782. Reprimand re Dunning.

  14. Ibid. B 177 pt. 1. p. 443. Report of John Lindsay. Aug. 17, 1782.

  15. Ibid. B 179. pt. 2. p. 50. Report to Headquarters. Undated.

  16. Ibid. B 125. pp. 41-42. Haldimand to Ross. July 7, 1782. Re cessation of hostilities.

  17. Ibid. B 179. pt. 2. no page number. Mathews to Sherwood. Aug. 22, 1782.

  18. Jackson. Justus Sherwood, p. 47.

  19. Justus Sherwood's Account Book.

  20. PAC War Office 28 vol. 4. pp. 458-459. Muster roll of Meyers' company. Jan. 1, 1783 at Riviere du Chêne.

  21. Cruikshank. John Walden Meyers, p. 36.

  22. Pemberton. p. 248.

  23. PAC Haldimand Papers. B 177 pt. 1. p. 601. Sherwood to Mathews. Nov. 16, 1782.

  24. Haldimand Papers. British Museum. Add. Mss. 21821. p. 421. Findings of the Court Martial held at the Loyal Blockhouse. Deem 7, 1782.

  25. Ibid. p. 339. Return of Gentlemen who wish to recruit men for His Majesty's Service…Verchères, 27 January, 1782.

  26. PAC Haldimand Papers. B 175. pp. 185-186. Cossitt and Sumner to Haldimand. Dec. 30, 1782.

  27. Ibid. B 161. p. 474. Sherwood to Nairne. Dec. 31, 1782.

  28. The bark of willow trees contains acetysalicylic acid, a fact known at the time.

  29. PAC Haldimand Papers, B 178 p. 135. Cossitt to Sherwood. Mar. 31, 1783.

  Chapter 15: ‘Behind the Cloud Topped Hill’

  1. PAC Haldimand Papers B 178 p. 22. Knowlton to Haldimand. Jan. 10, 1783.

  2. Ibid. pp. 15-16. Thomas Smyth to Mathews. Jan. 9, 1783.

  3. Jackson. Justus Sherwood, p.50.

  4. PAC Haldimand papers. B 178 p. 112. Sherwood to Mathews. Mar. 10, 1783.

  5. Ibid. p. 120. Sherwood to Mathews. Mar. 10, 1783.

  6. Mcllwraith. p. 183.

  7. PAC Haldimand Papers. B 178 p. 133. Sherwood to Mathews. Mar. 14, 1783.

  8. Jackson. Justus Sherwood, pp. 52-53.

  9. PAC Haldimamd Papers. B 178 p. 173. Ethan Allen to Sherwood. Apr. 18, 1783.

  10. P.R.O. AO 13-22. pp. 360-361. Memorial of Thomas Sherwood.

  11. Jackson. Justus Sherwood, p. 55.

  12. Mcllwraith. p. 301-302.

  13. Ibid. p. 244.

  14. PAC Haldimand Papers. B 169 pp. 6-14. Sherwood's journal.

  15. Mcllwraith. p. 259.

  Chapter 16: The Happiest People in America

  1. PAC Haldimand Papers. B 175 p. 211. Washington to Haldimand. July 12, 1783.

  2. Ibid. p. 219. Haldimand to von Steuben. Aug. 6, 1783. Written before Haldimand left for Sorel.

  3. Van Steen. M. Governor Simcoe and His Lady. Toronto, 1968. p. 24.

  4. PAC Haldimand Papers. B 169 pp. 15-30. Sherwood's journal from Montreal to Lake Ontario.

  5. Ibid. B 126 pp. 43-44. Haldimand to Collins. Sept. 11, 1783.

  6. Ibid. p. 90. Haldimand to Ross. Sept. 7, 1783.

  7. P.R.O. AO 13-22. p. 361. Memorial of Thomas Sherwood.

  8. Haldimand Papers British Museum. Add. Mss. 21820. James Rogers to Mathews. Jan. 7, 1783.

  9. PAC Haldimand Papers. B 169 pp. 15-25. Sherwood's journal.

  10. Ibid. B 124 p. 44. Ross to Mathews. Oct. 2, 1783.

  11. From Sherwood's description this was Millhaven C
reek.

  12. PAC National Map Collection. F/412 – 1783.

  13. Haldimand Papers. British Museum. Add. Mss. 21822. p. 131. Petition of Ebenezer Allen, filed with correspondence for December, 1783; p. 132. Ebenezer Allen to Haldimand. Aug. 31, 1784, from Cataraqui, asking for a trial or release.

  14. PAC Haldimand Papers. B 128 p. 125. Mathews to Harris. Nov. 2, 1783.

  15. Ibid. B 178 p. 316. Sherwood to Mathews. Nov. 23, 1783.

  16. Ibid. p. 321. Smyth to Mathews. Dec. 9, 1783.

  Chapter 17: Personal Crises

  1. PAC Haldimand Papers. B 178 p. 321. Smyth to Mathews. Dec. 19, 1783.

  2. In the Sherwood household all these measures were taken, for no one else contracted the disease before the incubation period — seven to sixteen days — had ended.

  3. PAC Land Petitions. R.G. 1 L 3, S Bundle, vol. 469, p. 92. Petition of Samuel Sherwood. 1790.

  4. PAC Haldimand Papers. B 65 p. 1. Mathews to Sherwood. Jan. 22, 1784.

  5. Ibid. B 162 p. 171. Jessup to Mathews. Jan. 29, 1784.

  6. Cruikshank, E.A. The Settlement of the United Empire Loyalists on the Upper St. Lawrence and Bay of Quinte in 1784. Toronto. 1934. p. 35.

  7. Stuart, p. 5.

  8. PAC Haldimand Papers B 169 pp. 121-122. General Order from Headquarters.

  9. The first township, Lancaster, was surveyed later for Roman Catholic settlers, and was not one of the original eight.

  10. PAC Haldimand Papers B 162 p. 190. Sherwood to Mathews. Mar. 1, 1784.

  11. Ibid. B 115 pp. 223-224. Johnson to Mathews. Feb. 2, 1784.

  12. Ibid. B 162 p. 190. Sherwood to Mathews. Mar. 1, 1784.

  13. Ibid. B 178 pp. 293-294. Sherwood to Mathews. May 13, 1784.

  14. Ibid. pp. 324-325. Smyth to Mathews. May 20, 1784.

  15. Ibid. B 162 p. 220. Sherwood to Mathews. Mar. 26, 1784.

  16. Ibid. B 63 p. 119. Mathews to Sherwood. Mar. 8, 1784.

  17. Ibid. B 178 p. 285. Sherwood to Mathews. Apr. 15, 1784.

  18. Ibid. B 65 p. 30. Mathews to Sir John Johnson. May 20, 1784.

  19. Ibid. B 63 p. 254; B 162 p. 295.

  20. Cruikshank. John Walden Meyers, pp. 42-43.

  21. PAC Haldimand Papers. B 64 p. 30. Sherwood to Mathews. May 20, 1784.

  22. Ibid. B 178 p. 309. Sherwood to Mathews. May 20, 1784.

  23. P.R.O. AO 13-22. p. 361. Memorial of Thomas Sherwood.

  24. Leavitt. p. 18. Memoir of Adiel Sherwood.

  Chapter 18: Scapegoats to the Wilderness