Thomas Ingersoll
Encyclopedia
Thomas Ingersoll was an early settler in Upper Canada
, later Ontario
. He is best known as the father of Laura Secord
, who warned the British of an impending American attack on Upper Canada during the War of 1812
.
He was born in Westfield, Massachusetts
, later moving to Great Barrington
where, aside from his trade as a hatter, he also served as constable and tax collector. In 1775, he married Elizabeth Dewey. He served as a lieutenant in the American
militia from 1777 to 1781 and continued to serve in the Great Barrington militia after the American Revolution
, reaching the rank of major. After the death of his first wife in 1784, when Laura (his eldest daughter) was eight, he married Mercy Smith, the widow of Josiah Smith. After the death of his second wife, he married Sarah Whiting, the widow of John Backus, in 1789.
Ingersoll immigrated to Upper Canada after hearing about the availability of land there for new settlers. In 1793, he obtained a land grant of 66,000 acres (267 km²) in Oxford County
from Governor John Graves Simcoe
. He named the new settlement Oxford-on-the-Thames. Ingersoll was named a justice of the peace for the county.
By November, 1795, Ingersoll had once again uprooted, moving to Queenston, Upper Canada and operating one of the earliest taverns before putting it up for sale in 1801.
In 1806, he left the settlement at Oxford-on-the-Thames and settled on the Credit River
near Port Credit
, operating "Government House" until his death in 1812.
His son Charles
renamed Oxford-on-the-Thames "Ingersoll
" in his honor.
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...
, later Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
. He is best known as the father of Laura Secord
Laura Secord
Laura Ingersoll Secord was a Canadian heroine of the War of 1812. She is known for warning British forces of an impending American attack that led to the British victory at the Battle of Beaver Dams.-Early life:...
, who warned the British of an impending American attack on Upper Canada 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...
.
He was born in Westfield, Massachusetts
Westfield, Massachusetts
Westfield is a city in Hampden County, in the Pioneer Valley of western Massachusetts, United States. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 41,094 at the 2010 census. The ZIP Code is 01085 for homes and businesses, 01086 for Westfield State...
, later moving to Great Barrington
Great Barrington, Massachusetts
Great Barrington is a town in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States. It is part of the Pittsfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 7,104 at the 2010 census. Both a summer resort and home to Ski Butternut, Great Barrington includes the villages of Van...
where, aside from his trade as a hatter, he also served as constable and tax collector. In 1775, he married Elizabeth Dewey. He served as a lieutenant in the American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
militia from 1777 to 1781 and continued to serve in the Great Barrington militia after the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
, reaching the rank of major. After the death of his first wife in 1784, when Laura (his eldest daughter) was eight, he married Mercy Smith, the widow of Josiah Smith. After the death of his second wife, he married Sarah Whiting, the widow of John Backus, in 1789.
Ingersoll immigrated to Upper Canada after hearing about the availability of land there for new settlers. In 1793, he obtained a land grant of 66,000 acres (267 km²) in Oxford County
Oxford County, Ontario
Oxford County is a regional municipality and census division of the Canadian province of Ontario, located in the Southern portion of the province. The regional seat is in Woodstock...
from Governor John Graves Simcoe
John Graves Simcoe
John Graves Simcoe was a British army officer and the first Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada from 1791–1796. Then frontier, this was modern-day southern Ontario and the watersheds of Georgian Bay and Lake Superior...
. He named the new settlement Oxford-on-the-Thames. Ingersoll was named a justice of the peace for the county.
By November, 1795, Ingersoll had once again uprooted, moving to Queenston, Upper Canada and operating one of the earliest taverns before putting it up for sale in 1801.
In 1806, he left the settlement at Oxford-on-the-Thames and settled on the Credit River
Credit River
The Credit River is a river in southern Ontario which flows from headwaters above the Niagara Escarpment to empty into Lake Ontario at Port Credit, Mississauga. It drains an area of approximately 1,000 km²...
near Port Credit
Port Credit, Ontario
Port Credit is found at the mouth of the Credit River on the north shore of Lake Ontario, within the southcentral area of the city of Mississauga...
, operating "Government House" until his death in 1812.
His son Charles
Charles Ingersoll
Charles Fortescue Ingersoll was a businessman and political figure in Upper Canada.He was born in Great Barrington, Massachusetts in 1791, the son of Thomas Ingersoll and younger brother of Laura Ingersoll . The family moved to Upper Canada in 1795. He began work as a clerk for merchants at...
renamed Oxford-on-the-Thames "Ingersoll
Ingersoll, Ontario
Ingersoll is a town in Oxford County on the Thames River in southwestern Ontario, Canada. The nearest cities are Woodstock to the east and London to the west....
" in his honor.