William Macomb (merchant)
Encyclopedia
William Macomb was a merchant and political figure of Upper Canada
.
He was born in northern Ireland
around 1751 and came to North America
with his family in 1755. With his brother, Alexander, he became a major landowner and merchant in New York
and Michigan
; the brothers were the first owners of Grosse Ile
, Michigan when it was deeded on July 6, 1776 from the Potawatomi
Indians. William married Sarah Dring; she survived him, as did several children, including John W., Anne, Catherine, William, Sarah, Jane, David B., and Eliza. All of these children except John W. Macomb were minors at the time of the fire which destroyed Detroit in June 1805, according to land board records.
, representing Kent
with François Baby
. He also served as a judge of the Court of Common Pleas for the District of Hesse
; the district covered not only present-day Western Ontario, but extended to the settlements at Detroit and Michilimackinac
, which were under British control at the time.
William Macomb's loyalties do not appear to have been tested, as he died at Detroit two months before the British evacuation in July 1796. Although it is impossible to say for certain what his ultimate stance might have been, his connections ran at the highest levels of both Canada and the fledgling United States
. His brother Alexander had moved to New York City
after the Revolution, where he quickly became a prominent land speculator. Alexander's house in New York briefly served as the second Executive Mansion for George Washington
, before the Federal government moved to Philadelphia in 1790. Alexander's son and namesake would enter the United States Army
upon the recommendation of no less than Alexander Hamilton
and later fight in the War of 1812
; he would be decorated for his command of American troops at the Battle of Plattsburgh
in 1814, and in later years would be appointed Commanding General of the U.S. Army. The younger Alexander would marry his cousin Catherine in 1803; their descendants would serve the United States in both military and naval roles.
Although William Macomb is said to have relayed military intelligence to Colonel
John Butler
, a leader of Loyalist
rangers and Canadian militia, John Graves Simcoe
, the Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada between 1791 and 1796, apparently distrusted Macomb's motives. Nevertheless, no demonstrable proof has been found to show that William was anything but a loyal servant of the Crown.
With 26 slaves at the time of his death, Macomb was apparently the foremost slaveholder in what is now known as Michigan. He also traded with natives, supplying them with liquor, which was frowned upon by both Simcoe and the local religious authorities
.
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...
.
He was born in northern Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
around 1751 and came to North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
with his family in 1755. With his brother, Alexander, he became a major landowner and merchant in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
; the brothers were the first owners of Grosse Ile
Grosse Ile Township, Michigan
Grosse Ile Township is a general law township of Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The township is situated on several islands in the Detroit River, but the largest island is also referred to as simply Grosse Ile. The name comes from French Grosse Île, meaning "Big Island"...
, Michigan when it was deeded on July 6, 1776 from the Potawatomi
Potawatomi
The Potawatomi are a Native American people of the upper Mississippi River region. They traditionally speak the Potawatomi language, a member of the Algonquian family. In the Potawatomi language, they generally call themselves Bodéwadmi, a name that means "keepers of the fire" and that was applied...
Indians. William married Sarah Dring; she survived him, as did several children, including John W., Anne, Catherine, William, Sarah, Jane, David B., and Eliza. All of these children except John W. Macomb were minors at the time of the fire which destroyed Detroit in June 1805, according to land board records.
Political activities
In 1792, Macomb was elected to the 1st Parliament of Upper Canada1st Parliament of Upper Canada
The 1st Parliament of Upper Canada was opened 17 September 1792. Elections in Upper Canada had been held in August 1792. All sessions were held at Navy Hall in Newark, later Niagara-on-the-Lake...
, representing Kent
Kent County, Ontario
Kent County, area 2,458 sq km is a historic county in the Canadian province of Ontario. Population in 2006 was 108,589.The county was created in 1792 and named by John Graves Simcoe in honour of the English County. The county is in an alluvial plain between Lake St...
with François Baby
François Baby (politician)
François Baby was a soldier, political figure and businessman in Upper Canada.He was born in Detroit in 1768, the son of Jacques Baby and nephew of François Baby. Although Roman Catholic and French Canadian, he belonged to one of the richest and most powerful families in the Western District of...
. He also served as a judge of the Court of Common Pleas for the District of Hesse
Western District, Upper Canada
Western District was one of four districts of the Province of Quebec created in 1788 in the western reaches of the Montreal District and partitioned in 1791 to create the new colony of Upper Canada. Known as Hesse District until 1792, it was abolished in 1849...
; the district covered not only present-day Western Ontario, but extended to the settlements at Detroit and Michilimackinac
Michilimackinac
Michilimackinac is a name for the region around the Straits of Mackinac between Lake Huron and Lake Michigan. Early settlers of North America applied the term to the entire region along Lakes Huron, Michigan, and Superior. Today it is mostly within the boundaries of Michigan, in the United States...
, which were under British control at the time.
William Macomb's loyalties do not appear to have been tested, as he died at Detroit two months before the British evacuation in July 1796. Although it is impossible to say for certain what his ultimate stance might have been, his connections ran at the highest levels of both Canada and the fledgling United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. His brother Alexander had moved to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
after the Revolution, where he quickly became a prominent land speculator. Alexander's house in New York briefly served as the second Executive Mansion for George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
, before the Federal government moved to Philadelphia in 1790. Alexander's son and namesake would enter the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
upon the recommendation of no less than Alexander Hamilton
Alexander Hamilton
Alexander Hamilton was a Founding Father, soldier, economist, political philosopher, one of America's first constitutional lawyers and the first United States Secretary of the Treasury...
and later fight in 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 would be decorated for his command of American troops at the Battle of Plattsburgh
Battle of Plattsburgh
The Battle of Plattsburgh, also known as the Battle of Lake Champlain, ended the final invasion of the northern states during the War of 1812...
in 1814, and in later years would be appointed Commanding General of the U.S. Army. The younger Alexander would marry his cousin Catherine in 1803; their descendants would serve the United States in both military and naval roles.
Although William Macomb is said to have relayed military intelligence to Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
John Butler
John Butler (pioneer)
John Butler was a Loyalist who led an irregular militia unit known as Butler's Rangers on the northern frontier in the American Revolutionary War. He led Seneca and Cayuga forces in the Saratoga campaign. He later raised and commanded a regiment of rangers.-Background:John was born to Walter...
, a leader of Loyalist
Loyalist
In general, a loyalist is someone who maintains loyalty to an established government, political party, or sovereign, especially during war or revolutionary change. In modern English usage, the most common application is to loyalty to the British Crown....
rangers and Canadian militia, 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...
, the Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada between 1791 and 1796, apparently distrusted Macomb's motives. Nevertheless, no demonstrable proof has been found to show that William was anything but a loyal servant of the Crown.
With 26 slaves at the time of his death, Macomb was apparently the foremost slaveholder in what is now known as Michigan. He also traded with natives, supplying them with liquor, which was frowned upon by both Simcoe and the local religious authorities
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
.