Bloody Assize (1814)
Encyclopedia
The Bloody Assize in Upper Canada
was a series of trials held at Ancaster
during the War of 1812
.
During the war, a number of settlers from the Niagara and London Districts had taken up arms against their neighbours. Many later fled to the United States
.
In 1813, several groups were taken prisoner. In 1814, nineteen people were charged with high treason
and charges were also filed against a number of persons then living outside Canada. In May of that year, a special court was established at Ancaster and a series of trials were held in June. The judges presiding over these trials were:
The prosecutor was the attorney general for the province, John Beverley Robinson.
Fifteen men were convicted and sentenced to death. Eight were hanged on Burlington Heights
on July 20, 1814 and the other seven were banished. Of those, three died of typhus
while still in captivity and one escaped and was not recaptured.
Those convicted included:
Upper Canada
The Province of Upper Canada was a political division in British Canada established in 1791 by the British Empire to govern the central third of the lands in British North America and to accommodate Loyalist refugees from the United States of America after the American Revolution...
was a series of trials held at Ancaster
Ancaster, Ontario
Ancaster is a picturesque and historic community located on the Niagara escarpment, within the greater area of the city of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. This former town was founded officially in 1793 and was one of the oldest European communities established in present day Ontario along with Windsor...
during the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
.
During the war, a number of settlers from the Niagara and London Districts had taken up arms against their neighbours. Many later fled to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
In 1813, several groups were taken prisoner. In 1814, nineteen people were charged with high treason
High treason
High treason is criminal disloyalty to one's government. Participating in a war against one's native country, attempting to overthrow its government, spying on its military, its diplomats, or its secret services for a hostile and foreign power, or attempting to kill its head of state are perhaps...
and charges were also filed against a number of persons then living outside Canada. In May of that year, a special court was established at Ancaster and a series of trials were held in June. The judges presiding over these trials were:
- Chief Justice Thomas Scott
- Justice William Dummer PowellWilliam Dummer PowellWilliam Dummer Powell was a Loyalist lawyer, judge and political figure in Upper Canada.-Early life and education:...
- Justice William CampbellWilliam Campbell (jurist)Sir William Campbell was Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Upper Canada and a resident of Toronto. He also held political appointments in both Nova Scotia and Upper Canada.He was born in Caithness, Scotland in 1758...
The prosecutor was the attorney general for the province, John Beverley Robinson.
Fifteen men were convicted and sentenced to death. Eight were hanged on Burlington Heights
Burlington Heights
Burlington Heights refers to an area of flat land sitting elevated above the west end of Burlington Bay in the city of Hamilton, Ontario.The "Heights" were the location of a British Army post during the War of 1812. Afterwards, the former army barracks were used as a hospital for immigrants with...
on July 20, 1814 and the other seven were banished. Of those, three died of typhus
Typhus
Epidemic typhus is a form of typhus so named because the disease often causes epidemics following wars and natural disasters...
while still in captivity and one escaped and was not recaptured.
Those convicted included:
- Jacob Overholser - died of typhus