Monday, November 5, 2007

William Hutchi(n)son (1745-1826) Family History - Post 2

William Hutchi(n)son (born ca 1745 NJ, died 1826 Ontario) has been one of my stoutest brick wall ancestors for many years. I found several references to him in the various books about Loyalists who settled in New Brunswick and Ontario, but had not found real "human interest" stories for the family history book.

My first post about my 5th great-grandfather William Hutchi(n)son is here.

Thanks to Bev Franks in her WorldConnect database, there are quite a few stories for me to pass on to the family. Here is one of the stories from: E.A. Owen, "Pioneer Sketches of Long Point Settlement," published by Briggs, Coates and Huestis. Wesley Buildings. Toronto, 1898. This is a series of historical sketches, genealogies and essays which tell the story of pioneer life in the early days of Long Point Settlement, and depict the character and life work of the first cabin-builders. Pages 207-210:

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"A Jolly Pioneer":

"CAPTAIN WILLIAM HUTCHINSON was one of Walsingham's jolliest old U. E. Loyalist pioneers. At repartee he had no equal among them. If he was not an Irishman, he was certainly equal to one in the large vocabulary of witticisms which he was able to command at all times and on all occasions. He was a tobacco chewer, and on one occasion Squire Backhouse lectured him in court for it. The Squire was very much opposed to the habit, and he told Mr. Hutchinson that tobacco chewing was a nasty, dirty, filthy habit, and that he ought to be ashamed of himself for indulging in it. "Yes," rejoined Hutchinson, "it is a n-a-s-t-y, d-i-r-t-y, f-i-l-t-h-y habit, and I am ashamed of it, but, your honor, it is the only one of which you are not guilty."

"Captain Hutchinson's home was in New Jersey, that little state whence came so many of our old pioneers. When the war of the Revolution broke out he remained loyal, and allied himself with the British army and did some good work as a scout. His military services were varied; and many stories are told of thrilling adventures and narrow escapes experienced by him during the war. On one occasion a scouting party to which he was attached was pressed into close quarters by a strong detachment of the rebel forces. Under the spur of the moment they secreted themselves in a clump of bushes, and the enemy passed so close to them that they could actually look into their faces and hear every word they uttered while passing.

"William Hutchinson was a widower at the close of the war, and in common with all the U. E. Loyalists, he found it necessary either to leave the country or swear allegiance to the new Republic. The latter he could never do, and so he fled to St. John, New Brunswick, where he married his second wife. In 1798, he came to Long Point with his family, and settled in Walsingham, near the Hazen settlement. His family consisted of five sons--Alexander, James, David, Joseph and George; and three daughters--Mary Jane, Elizabeth and Catherine.

"William Hutchinson was sworn in as a Justice of the Peace, and sat on the Bench as Associate Justice in the early years of the old Quarter Sessions at Turkey Point. He sat as Judge, or Chairman, pro tem, at a session during the June term, 1804; and in March, 1809, he was elected Chairman of the Court, succeeding Thomas Walsh, Esq. In 1804, he was made Associate Justice for the
Court of Request for Walsingham, and was reappointed for the same position in the following year."

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This book covers his RevWar exploits less than Part 1, but has more background on William's life in Walsingham in Norfolk County, Ontario. The article includes a description of the children of William and Catherine (Lewis) Hutchinson. I posted what it said about Mary Jane Hutchinson, one of my 4th great grandmothers, here.

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