Characters of the War of 1812

by Judi McWilliams

ELIZABETH SIMCOE - DIARIST

She was the wife of John Graves Simcoe, the first Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada. It is said that Elizabeth was an accomplished artist and, between 1791 and 1796, as she travelled throughout Upper and Lower Canada, produced a large number of sketches and Watercolour depicting Canadian scenes. She was also an avid diarist and wrote about many of her experiences. They say the diaries and paintings combine to create a vivid portrait of both the raw beauty of the untamed landscape and the day-to-day life of a gentlewoman in pioneer times. I recently looked at several of her paintings from sites via the internet. I began wondering how she obtained the paper and paints to accomplish these delicate items. And, I am wondering now, how it is that they have been preserved all these years! Just who was Elizabeth Simcoe?
Elizabeth Simcoe left a diary that provides a valuable impression of life in colonial Ontario. First published in 1934, there was a subsequent transcription published in 1965 and a paperback version issued at the turn of the 21st century, more than 200 years after she wrote it. Lady Elizabeth Simcoe's legacy also includes a series of 595 water-colour paintings that depict the town of York. She was responsible for the naming of Scarborough, an eastern Toronto district, after Scarborough, England. The townships of North, East and West Gwillimbury, just south of Lake Simcoe in central Ontario, are also named for the family. In December 2007, a statue of Elizabeth Simcoe Gwillim was erected in the town of Bradford West Gwillimbury, while commemorating the 150th anniversary of the town's incorporation. The statue is located in parquet in front of the Bradford post office at the corner of John Street West and Barrie Street.
(To Be Continued)

Characters of the War of 1812

by Judi McWilliams

ELIZABETH SIMCOE – WATERCOLOUR ARTIST!

Over the past, I have written about the War of 1812 from the barracks, rations, clothing to weapons. Today I would like to write about one of my passions, and that of a famous watercolour artist Elizabeth Simcoe. As a professional Watercolour artist, for about 25 years, I was very interested to read about Elizabeth Simcoe. For those of you who don’t know what Watercolour is... simply, Wikipedia describes it as follows ... “The term watercolor refers to paints that use water soluble, complex carbohydrates as a binder. Originally (16th to 18th centuries) watercolor binders were sugars and/or hide glues, but since the 19th century the preferred binder is natural gum Arabic, with glycerin and/or honey as additives to improve plasticity and dissolvability of the binder, and with other chemicals added to improve product shelf life Bodycolor is a watercolor made as opaque as possible by a heavy pigment concentration, and gouache is a watercolor made opaque by the addition of a colorless opacifier (such as chalk or zinc oxide). Modern acrylic paints are based on a completely different chemistry that uses water soluble acrylic resin as a binder." There are many techniques used and many different qualities of paints. This leads to my original question about preservation of Elizabeth’s works. Even back in the early centuries, the paper had compounds to preserve the works of art. This is an entire other subject matter. What interests me currently, is the War of 1812 and the people who lived during these times. Elizabeth Simcoe was just such a woman.
(To Be Continued)

Keeping It FUN!

by Judi McWilliams

Fort Mackinac and Nancy Island

Mr. David Brunelle, currently the Project Director of the Southern Georgian Bay War of 1812 Bicentennial Committee, invited us to visit this year’s Wasaga under Siege in July, 2011. It was an exciting re-enactment of a portion of the Relief of Fort Mackinac, portraying events that occurred February to April 1814. The Upper Nottawasaga River is basically the same way it looked like in 1814 and was/is a great opportunity for those hearty re-enactors to experience the environment and hardships soldiers and sailors experienced firsthand on this historical journey. This river excursion was not a leisurely float down the river, as all participants were expected to pull their weight on an oar, potentially cut paths through fallen trees and log jams and get their feet wet, as low fast running water may dictate the guiding the boat by hand and feet. Naval groups got to experience some real first hand river negotiating experience! In 1814, from February to April, the Relief of Fort Mackinac took six officers, 130 men of the RNR (virtually all who remained fit for service), 11 artillerymen, and a naval party of 21. They marched overland, with supplies, during the winter from Kingston to the Nottawasaga River. Moving to re-supply the starving garrison at Fort Mackinac, in a remarkable operation, that demonstrated their capability and determination both ashore, and on the water. They felled trees to build 29 bateaux, and then rowed from the Nottawasaga River across Lake Huron to the fort at Michilimackinac (some 360 miles). They lost only one boat that was crushed in the ice choked waters. What is exciting for us today is, that we can visit Nancy Island, located within Wasaga Beach Provincial Park on the Nottawasaga River. The river flows into Georgian Bay, which, of course is part of Lake Huron. The Island is the resting place for the British Schooner HMS Nancy. Wasaga Beach was the scene of a dramatic battle during the War of 1812. Nancy Island is a great place to enjoy history - the War of 1812, Naval Nostalgia, beautiful landscape, water and pak excitement!

War of 1812 - Interview Series

by Judi McWilliams

Anne Brooks - Part Eight (Continued)

The 1812 Grand Tactical...

The following is a continuation of last week's article...
Here is an excerpt from their website … “The 1812 Royal Scots Grenadiers are a recreated re-enactment unit of the War of 1812 created by the Upper Canada Military Re-enactment Society. The Royal Scots are the oldest, and therefore most senior, infantry regiment of the line in the British Army, having been raised in 1633 during the reign of Charles I of England. During service in France in the 1630s the Royal Scots earned the nickname “Pontius Pilate’s Bodyguards.” The French Regiment of Picardy asserted that their regiment was the older regiment, having been on guard at the Crucifixion. The Royal Scots claimed they were there too, as bodyguards to the governor! The First Battalion of the Royal Scots sailed from the West Indies to Canada in the summer of 1812 and landed at Quebec City. Because of the years spent in service in the Islands nearly everyone was suffering from one sort of sickness or malady to the extent that the Regiment was unfit for duty until the following January. The Royal Scots 1st Battalion was very active in Upper Canada in the War of 1812, being present in eight major engagements and many minor skirmishes against the forces of the United States. These included Sackett’s Harbour, the capture of Fort Niagara and the burning of Buffalo in 1813, and the Battles of Longwoods, Chippewa, Lundy’s Lane, and Fort Erie in 1814. The campaign in Upper Canada earned the battle honour “Niagara” which is displayed on the Regiments colours”.

War of 1812 - Interview Series

by Judi McWilliams

Anne Brooks - Part Eight

The 1812 Grand Tactical...

Although Anne is not a member of any re-enactment group, she has worked with the Upper Canada Military Re-enactment Society (UCMRS) since 2008 at Fanshawe Pioneer Village. She has also kept busy with the Upper Thames Military Re-enactment Society (UTMRS) since 2009, on a volunteer basis. She has helped plan such as a living history conference and the Bicentennial activities for 2012- 2014. In conjunction with the Upper Thames River Conservations Area, these groups will be gathering on the weekend of October 1st & 2nd, 2011 at Fanshawe Pioneer Village for the Fanshawe 1812 Grand Tactical: The Invasion of Upper Canada. Here they invite you to experience the life and battles of a soldier during the war of 1812. There will be artillery explosions and Napoleonic demonstrations of warfare as hundreds of British and militia troops line up shoulder to shoulder to defend their country. My favorite will be touring the military encampments, where they offer 1812 shops, entertainment and great conversations with the re-enactors. On the October 1st - 2nd weekend the Royal Scots Grenadiers will be taking part. I thought it would be of interest to tell you a little about these folks. I found, my research most interesting and informative. I also found, with a little insight, that I will have a greater understanding, while visiting on the weekend at Fanshawe Pioneer Village, for their 1812 Grand Tactical!
(To Be Continued)