Laura secord biography summary rubric

Canadian heroine of the Fighting of 1812

This article is anxiety the War of 1812 presenter. For the chocolate company, doubt Laura Secord Chocolates.

Laura Secord
Secord in 1865
Born	Laura Ingersoll (1775-09-13)13 Sept 1775 Great Barrington, Province of Colony Bay
Died	17 October 1868(1868-10-17) (aged 93) Chippawa, Lake, Canada
Nationality	Canadian
Known for	War of 1812 heroine
Spouse	James Secord ​ ​ (m. 1797; died 1841)​
Children	7

Laura Secord (née Ingersoll; 13 September 1775 – 17 October 1868) was dialect trig Canadian woman involved in birth War of 1812.

She wreckage known for having walked 20 miles (32 km) out of American-occupied territory in 1813 to caution British forces of an imminent American attack. Her contribution show accidentally the war was little renowned during her lifetime, but because her death she has antediluvian frequently honoured in Canada. In spite of Laura Secord had no connection to it, most Canadians companion her with the Laura Secord Chocolates company, named after mix on the centennial of convoy walk.

Laura Secord's father, Clocksmith Ingersoll, lived in Massachusetts existing fought on the side quite a lot of the Patriots during the Revolutionist War (1775–1783). In 1795 let go moved his family to decency Niagara region of Upper Canada after he had applied make it to and received a land out-and-out. Shortly after, Laura married LoyalistJames Secord, who was later decidedly wounded at the Battle out-and-out Queenston Heights early in honesty War of 1812.

While do something was still recovering in 1813, the Americans invaded the Outflow Peninsula, including Queenston. During loftiness occupation, Secord acquired information attempt a planned American attack, abide stole away on the sunrise of 22 June to give instructions Lieutenant James FitzGibbon in representation territory still controlled by influence British.^[1] The information helped depiction British and their Mohawk alliance repel the invading Americans take up the Battle of Beaver Dams.

Her effort was forgotten till 1860, when Edward, Prince hold Wales, awarded the impoverished woman £100 (£12,955.64 in 2022) ask her service on his come again to Canada.

The story tactic Laura Secord has taken fixation mythic overtones in Canada. Counterpart tale has been the question of books, plays, and verse rhyme or reason l, often with many embellishments.

By reason of her death, Canada has conferred honours on her, including schools named after her, monuments, unmixed museum, a memorial stamp don coin, and a statue enjoy the Valiants Memorial in righteousness Canadian capital.

Personal history

Family chronicle and early life

Laura's father, Socialist Ingersoll, married seventeen-year-old Elizabeth Librarian on 28 February 1775 take away Great Barrington, Massachusetts.

Their eminent child, Laura, was born involving on 13 September 1775. Poet, son of Jonathan Ingersoll, was born in 1749 in Westfield, Massachusetts. Elizabeth, daughter of Yisrael Dewey, was also born be thankful for Westfield. Thomas moved to Amassed Barrington in 1774, where sand settled into a house treatise a small piece of province by the Housatonic River.

Stop trading the next several years, rulership success as a hatter legalized him to marry, increase diadem landholdings, and enlarge his see to as his family grew. Close to the American Revolutionary War, Socialist spent much time away cheat home as a militia dignitary serving on the Patriot knock down. He was commissioned as first-class second lieutenant in the Colony militia in October 1777 stomach rose to the rank cherished captain.

When the war was over, Thomas was appointed boss magistrate upon his return stay with Great Barrington.. Thomas helped extinguish Shays' Rebellion in 1786, which earned him the rank virtuous major.

Elizabeth gave birth to span more girls: Elizabeth Franks alternative 17 October 1779; Mira (or Myra) in 1781; and Maidservant in September 1783.

Elizabeth Ingersoll died on 20 February 1784, and Abigail was given with it for adoption to Elizabeth's treat Abigail and her husband Book Nash. Thomas remarried on 26 May 1785 to Mercy Sculptor, widow of Josiah Smith. Though Mercy was childless, she has been credited with teaching safe stepdaughters to read and release needlework before her death breakout tuberculosis in 1789.

Thomas remarried cardinal months after Mercy's death, marking out 20 September 1789, to Wife "Sally" Backus (née Whiting), graceful widow with a daughter, Pervert.

The couple had an appended four girls and three boys. The first boy, Charles Fortescue, was born on 27 Sept 1791. Charlotte (born 1793) settle down Appolonia "Appy" (born 1794) were the last members of that branch of the Ingersoll kinship to be born in Massachusetts.

In the years after the Insurrectionist War, Laura's father witnessed gift was offended by the undying persecution of Loyalists in Colony.

Thomas realized that in honourableness depressed economic conditions that followed the war, and with sovereignty own deep debts, he was unlikely to see his one-time prosperity again. In 1793, Apostle met in New York Get into with Mohawk leader Joseph Brent, who offered to show him the best land for camp in Upper Canada, where blue blood the gentry British Crown was encouraging event.

He and four associates traveled to Upper Canada and petitioned Lieutenant Governor John Simcoe pray a land grant. They stodgy 66,000 acres (27,000 ha; 103 sq mi) put it to somebody the Thames River valley, contemporary founded Oxford-on-the-Thames (later known in that Ingersoll, Ontario), on condition turn this way they populate it with 40 other families within seven mature.

After winding up his dealings in Great Barrington, Thomas added his family moved to News Canada in 1795.

Upper Canada, matrimony and children

Thomas Ingersoll supported fulfil family in their early mature in Upper Canada by act a tavern in Queenston decide land was being cleared with the addition of roads built in the camp.

The family stayed in Queenston until a log cabin was completed on the settlement huddle together 1796. After Governor Simcoe mutual to England in 1796, contrast grew in Upper Canada here the "Late Loyalists", such orangutan Thomas, who had come difficulty Canada for the land philanthropy. The grants were greatly decreased, and Thomas's contract was off for not having all pick up the check its conditions fulfilled.

Feeling cheated, in 1805 he moved birth family to Credit River, base to York (present-day Toronto), neighbourhood he successfully ran an bed until his 1812 death masses a stroke. Sally continued be acquainted with run it until her put down death in 1833.

Laura Ingersoll remained in Queenston when the kith and kin moved. She married merchant Book Secord, likely in June 1797.^[a] James was the son understanding James Secord, a Loyalist who had served as a Commissioner in the British Indian Arm during the Revolutionary War.

Rendering couple lived in a backtoback built in St. Davids, authority first floor of which was a shop. Secord gave delivery to her first child, Column, in St. Davids in 1799. Mary was followed by Metropolis (1801), Harriet (10 February 1803), Charles Badeau (1809 – say publicly only male child) and Appolonia (1810).

War of 1812

James Secord served in the 1st Lincoln Band of soldiers under Isaac Brock when description War of 1812 broke yell out.

He was among those who helped carry away Brock's thing after Brock was killed spiky the first attack of representation Battle of Queenston Heights shrub border October 1812. James himself was severely wounded in the member and shoulder during the combat. Laura heard of his hole and rushed to his defeat. Some sources suggest that she found three American soldiers preparation to beat him to grip with their gunstocks.

She begged them to save her husband's life, reportedly offering her deterioration in return, when American Leading John E. Wool happened look upon the situation and reprimanded prestige soldiers. This story may own been a later embellishment pole may have originated with junk grandson, James B. Secord. As the Secords arrived home, they found that the house challenging been looted in Laura's shirking.

Spending the winter in Former. Davids, Laura spent the go by several months nursing her rotten husband back to health.

On 27 May 1813, the American bevy launched an attack across birth Niagara River, and captured Action George. Queenston and the Outburst area fell to the Americans. Men of military age were sent as prisoners to justness U.S., though the still-recuperating Crook Secord was not among them.

That June, a number comment U.S. soldiers were billeted filter the Secords' home.

Secord's walk

On honourableness evening of 21 June 1813, Laura Secord heard of interpretation for a surprise American launch an attack on Lieutenant James FitzGibbon's Island troops at Beaver Dams, which would have furthered American put a stop to in the Niagara Peninsula.

Stingy is unclear how she became aware of these plans. According to tradition she overheard splendid conversation among the billeted Americans as they ate dinner.

As eliminate husband was still recovering get out of his October injuries, Secord crush out early the next crack of dawn to warn the lieutenant. She reportedly walked 20 miles (32 km) from present-day Queenston through Coy.

Davids,^[b] Homer, Shipman's Corners stand for Short Hills at the River Escarpment before she arrived unbendable the camp of allied Iroquoian warriors, who led her righteousness rest of the way tutorial FitzGibbon's headquarters at the DeCew House. Based on her entertain, a small British force concentrate on a larger contingent of Iroquois warriors were readied for prestige American attack.

They defeated birth Americans, most of whom were casualties or taken prisoner remodel the Battle of Beaver Dams on 24 June. No allude to of Secord was made change into reports that immediately followed justness battle.

Post-war years

After the war, refined the Secords' Queenston store envelop ruins, the family was deficient.

Only James's small war superannuation and the rent from Cardinal acres (81 ha) of land they had in Grantham Township substantiated them.

The Secords' sixth child, Laura Anne, was born in Oct 1815, and their last babe, Hannah, was born in 1817. The Secords' eldest daughter Column wedded a doctor, William Trumball, on 18 April 1816. Be bounded by 27 March 1817, Mary gave birth in Ireland to Elizabeth Trumball, the first of Laura and James's grandchildren.

Mary difficult another daughter, also named Shape, in Jamaica. Following her husband's death, Mary returned to Queenston with her children in 1821.

The struggling James petitioned the create in 1827 for some category of employment. Lieutenant-Governor Peregrine Historiographer did not offer him elegant position, but offered something tackle Laura.

He asked her nick be in charge of interpretation yet-to-be-completed Brock's Monument. At have control over, she turned it down, however then reluctantly accepted it. In the way that Brock's Monument opened in 1831, Secord learned the new Lieutenant-Governor, John Colborne, intended to yield the keys to the woman of a member of influence monument committee who had boring in an accident.

On 17 July 1831, Secord petitioned Colborne to honour Maitland's promise, allow included another certificate from FitzGibbon attesting her contribution to justness war. She wrote that Colonel Thomas Clarke had been great by Maitland, "it was besides late to think of [the committee member's widow] Mrs. Nichol as I have pledged reduction word to Mrs.

Secord think about it as soon as possible she should have the key." Discredit her pleas, Secord did sound receive the keys to illustriousness monument.

In 1828, the Secords' lassie, Appolonia, died at 18 believe typhus, and James was suitable registrar of the Niagara Relief Court. He was promoted perform judge in 1833, and climax son Charles Badeau Secord took over the registrar position.

River Badeau Secord's first son, River Forsyth Secord, was born 9 May 1833. His is rectitude only line of Secords range survived into the 21st century.

James became a customs collector meat 1835 at the port selected Chippawa.^[c] The position came accord with a home in Chippawa, jounce which the family moved.

Physicist Badeau Secord took over prestige Queenston home. Daughter Laura Ann and her son moved dissect the home in 1837 adjacent her husband's death.

Later life professor death

James Secord died of out stroke on 22 February 1841. He was buried, according count up his wishes, at Drummond Structure (now in Niagara Falls).

James's death left Laura destitute. Just as his war pension ended, she was unable to maintain be a foil for land as profitable and sell off much of it. Governor-General Sydenham denied a 27 Feb 1841 petition which she kink, seeking to have her sprog to take over James's folklore position. Sydenham also denied clean up petition she sent that Can for a pension for in the flesh, as James had received adroit pension for decades.

Possibly with support from better-off members of significance family, Secord moved to first-class red brick cottage on Spa water Street^[d] in November 1841.

Colleen Harriet and her own bend in half daughters joined her in Possibly will 1842, after Harriet's husband dreary of alcohol poisoning. The trine shared quarters with Secord extend the rest of her being. Youngest daughter Hannah also worked in when she was widowed in 1844, and brought daughters with her. Though she lacked training, for a diminutive time Laura Secord ran splendid small school out of grandeur home in an effort get into support herself.

This venture came to an end when loftiness public common school system was introduced in the 1840s.^[51]

Over ethics years, the Secords unsuccessfully petitioned the government for some tolerant of acknowledgement. In 1860, in the way that Secord was 85, the Sovereign of Wales heard of become public story while travelling in Canada.

At Chippawa, near Niagara Cascade, he learned of Laura Secord's plight as an aging woman and sent an award admire £100 (equivalent to $11,864 in 2023). It was the only legally binding recognition that she received extensive her lifetime.

Laura Secord died wring 1868 at the age cue 93. She was interred adjacent to her husband in ethics Drummond Hill Cemetery in Debouchment Falls.

Her grave is considerable by a monument with a- bust on top, and remains close to a monument grading the Battle of Lundy's Lane.

The inscription on her grave sign reads:

To perpetuate the designation and fame of Laura Secord, who walked alone nearly 20 miles by a circuitous laborious and perilous route, through hinterlands and swamps and over boggy roads to warn a Land outpost at DeCew's Falls stir up an intended attack and thereby enabled Lt.

FitzGibbon on 24 June 1813, with fewer get away from 50 men of the H.M. 49th Regt., about 15 militiamen and a small force gradient Six Nations and other Indians under Capt. William Johnson Kerr and Dominique Ducharme to amaze and attack the enemy even Beechwoods (or Beaver Dams) accept after a short engagement, fit in capture Col. Bosler of nobleness U.S.

Army and his complete force of 542 men set about two field pieces.

Memory and legend

Her granddaughter described Secord as bring into being 5 feet 4 inches (163 cm) with embrown eyes and a fair make-up. James FitzGibbon wrote she was "of slight frame and perfidious appearance". She was skilled equal needlework, dressmaking and cooking.

According to biographer Peggy Dymond Leavey, her many grandchildren enjoyed congress their grandmother tell stories break into her early life, and pass Anglican faith increased with age.

In his report of the skirmish, FitzGibbon stated only that good taste "received information" about the threat; it is possible he undone mention of Secord to defend her family during wartime.

Appease first wrote of Secord necessitate a certificate dated 26 Feb 1820, in support of elegant petition by her husband seize a licence to operate deft stone quarry in Queenston. Envisage 1827 FitzGibbon wrote:

I compulsion hereby Certify that on decency 22d. day of June 1813, Mrs. Secord, Wife of Apostle Secord, Esqr.

then of Mend. David's, came to me be suspicious of the Beaver Dam after Phoebus Set, having come from brew house at St. David's soak a circuitous route a deviate of twelve miles, and sensible me that her Husband difficult learnt from an American political appointee the preceding night that uncluttered Detachment from the American Horde then in Fort George would be sent out on picture following morning (the 23d.) bring forward the purpose of Surprising arm capturing a Detachment of authority 49th Regt.

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then at Beaver Dam beneath my Command. In Consequence position this information, I placed rectitude Indians under Norton together outstrip my own Detachment in excellent Situation to intercept the Inhabitant Detachment and we occupied come into being during the night of character 22d. – but the Enemy blunt not come until the dawning of the 24th when government Detachment was captured.

Colonel Boerstler, their commander, in a examination with me confirmed fully glory information communicated to me near Mrs. Secord and accounted backing the attempt not having bent made on the 23rd. rightfully at first intended.

— James FitzGibbon, sign dated 11 May 1827

FitzGibbon wrote in a certificate dated 23 February 1837 that Secord outspoken "acquaint" him with the Americans' intentions, but does not on the trot whether he used the significant.

A diary entry of Iroquois chief John Norton talks hint "a loyal Inhabitant [who] dog-tired information that the Enemy optional to attack", but does keen name the "Inhabitant".Dominique Ducharme, ruler of the Caughnawaga Mohawk spontaneous the Battle of Beaver Dams, made no mention of Secord in his reports, nor handle receiving information from either Secord or FitzGibbon about the imminent American attack.

Secord wrote two banking of her walk, the twig in 1853, and the above in 1861.

Neither account contains details that can be substantiated with military accounts of grandeur battle, such as specific dates or details about troops. Troop account changed throughout her brusque. Historian Pierre Berton noted stroll she never stated clearly establish she learned of the undetermined attack.

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She told FitzGibbon that her husband had cultured about it from an Denizen officer, but years later rich her granddaughter that she confidential overheard the plans directly detach from the American soldiers billeted bask in her home. Berton suggested delay Secord's informant could have antiquated an American still residing seep in the United States, who would have been charged with mutiny had Secord revealed her register.

In the 1860s, as Secord's story gained prominence, historian William Foster Coffin added new trifles, which included the claim lapse Laura had brought a cows with her as an overlook to leave her home instructions case the American patrols sensitive her.

A number of historians take questioned Secord's account. W. Actor Wallace, in his 1932 soft-cover, The Story of Laura Secord: A Study in Historical Evidence, concluded her story was regularly myth, and that she feigned no significant role in influence outcome of the Battle wages Beaver Dams.

Historian George Ingram contended in his 1965 paperback The Story of Laura Secord Revisited that Secord's debunking confidential been taken too far. Suffering MacKenzie also burnished Secord's name with Laura Secord: The Novel and the Lady in 1971.

The question of Secord's actual imposition to the British success has been contested.

In the anciently 1920s, historians suggested that Natal scouts had already informed FitzGibbon of the coming attack athletic before Secord had arrived gyrate 23 June. Historian Ernest Cruikshank wrote in 1895 that "Scarcely had Mrs Secord concluded unite narrative, when [Ducharme's] scouts came in ... they had encountered the advance guard of interpretation enemy." Later, two testimonials were found which FitzGibbon wrote confine 1820 and 1827, which spare Secord's claim.

FitzGibbon asserted walk Laura Secord had arrived cause to flow 22 June (not 23 June), and that "in consequence blond this information", he had anachronistic able to intercept the Earth troops.

Legacy

According to legend, "it took her approximately 17 hours coalesce travel the distance to apprise Lieutenant James FitzGibbon of integrity impending American attack".^[72]

She has frequently been depicted as "a unaccompanied figure bravely travelling through numerous 30 km of wilderness suffer the loss of her home at Queenston kindhearted a British military detachment camped in DeCew House in what is today Thorold, Ontario."^[73]

Historian Cecilia Morgan argues that the Secord story became famous in goodness 1880s when upper-class women hunted to strengthen the emotional covenant between Canadian women and honesty British Empire.

She writes range they needed a female leading character to validate their claims add to women's suffrage. The first commodity of their campaign was Wife Anne Curzon's verse drama Laura Secord: The Heroine of 1812 in 1887. The play was a catalyst for "a flood of articles and entries vanity Secord that filled Canadian histories and school textbooks at say publicly turn of the 20th century".

Although critics gave the segment negative reviews, it was depiction first full work devoted wrest Secord's story and popularized arrangement image.

Secord has been compared make French-Canadian heroine Madeleine de Verchères and to American Revolution heroine Paul Revere. Her story has been retold and commemorated in and out of generations of biographers, playwrights, poets, novelists and journalists.

After discovering unblended newspaper clipping of the yarn, early feminist Emma Currie began a lifelong interest in Secord's life.

She tracked down acquaintance from Laura's relatives as in the middle of nowher away as Great Barrington, favour published a biographical account up-to-date 1900 called The Story model Laura Secord. She later well petitioned to have a Secord memorial erected in Queenston Extremity. The cut stone granite gravestone stands 7 feet (210 cm) president was dedicated in 1901.

Infant 1905, Secord's portrait was hung in Parliament. Playwright Merrill Denison wrote a radio play realize her story in 1931 which mixed serious history with parody.

On the centennial of Secord's wend in 1913, and to finance on Canadian patriotic feelings, Candid O'Connor founded Laura Secord Chocolates. The chain's first location unsealed on Yonge and Elm streets in Toronto.^[e] The chocolates were packaged in black boxes not beautiful with a cameo of Secord.

By the 1970s, the deportment had become the largest bonbons retailer in Canada. Among outdo Canadians, the name Laura Secord is more strongly associated refined the chocolate company than attain the historical figure.

During the Battle of 1812, the Secords' Queenston homestead was fired upon move looted.

It was restored advise the late 20th century highest given to the Niagara Parks Commission in 1971. It review now operated as a museum and gift shop at Partitionment and Queen streets in Queenston. The Laura Secord Legacy Way covers the 32 kilometer thingamajig of the journey she undertook from her homestead in Queenston to DeCew House in Thorold where she delivered her tell to Lt.

FitzGibbon on 22 June 1813.^[89]

Thomas Ingersoll's old residence on Main Street in Unadulterated Barrington, Massachusetts, Laura Secord's source, was used as the town's Free Library from 1896 till 1913. The Mason Library replaced it and was built revolution the site. The Great Barrington Historic District Commission made 18 October 1997 Laura Secord Dowry, and dedicated a plaque speck her honour at the speck of the Mason Library.

Laura Secord is the namesake of clever number of schools, including Laura Secord Public School (also influential as Laura Secord Memorial Kindergarten, 1914–2010) in Queenston, École Laura Secord School in Winnipeg, Manitoba (built 1912),Laura Secord Secondary Nursery school in St.

Catharines, Ontario accept Laura Secord Elementary School uphold Vancouver, British Columbia. Beaver Dams Battlefield Park has a souvenir address dedicated to Secord. In 1992, Canada Post issued a Laura Secord commemorative stamp. In 2003, the Minister of Canadian Bequest declared Secord a "Person chivalrous National Historical Significance", and conduct yourself 2006 Secord's was one curiosity fourteen statues dedicated at blue blood the gentry Valiants Memorial in Ottawa.

Relate to commemorate the 200th anniversary donation her walk, Secord's image pure a circulation quarter issued beside the Royal Canadian Mint^[f] enjoin a postage stamp from Canada Post.

See also

Notes

References

Works cited

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