Josiah Cass - United Empire Loyalist

     Josiah Cass - United Empire Loyalist 

Josiah Cass, born on 2 February 1738 in Hebron, Tolland, Connecticut, the son of Moses Case and Mary Haskins was one of eight brothers and sisters. Josiah married twice and his first spouse was Mercy Pomeroy, the daughter of Joseph Pomeroy and Thankful Burbank. The wedding took place on 27 November 1760. Mercy Pomeroy was born in Suffield, Connecticut on 24 April 1740 and died 16 May 1781 in Machiche, Quebec. After her death, he then married Anne McIntyre in Machiche, Maskinonge, Quebec on 1 April 1782.

His second wife, Anne, was born on 15 April 1758 and died about 1825. She was a war widow with one son John. Rumours have persisted that she was a sister or niece of Josiah's first wife Mercy but neither has been founded on fact. Her first husband's name is unknown. In the Halidmand Papers listing sustenance given to refugees show her as the "widow McIntyre" coming via Montreal to the refugee camp at Machiche with two sons. Neither the name of the other son nor his date of death is known.

During the Revolutionary War, Josiah joined the Queen's Loyal Rangers commanded by Colonel John Peters. In May 1777, a leading American refugee, John Peters of Vermont, was selected by General John Burgoyne to raise a regiment of rangers to serve with his army in the invasion which was about to start. One month later, Peters was appointed Lieutenant Colonel, and his regiment, officially known as the Queen's Loyal Rangers, was ordered to join the army at St. Johns. In less than one month, over 300 refugees had enlisted, one of whom was Josiah.

Most American loyalists were used in rear areas, but it was a mark of the high regard in which Colonel Peters was held that the rangers were assigned to serve with General Fraser's Advance Corps, together with the British Light Infantry, and Brunswick Jaegers.

The regiment took part in the operations around Ft. Ticonderoga, and at the Battles of Hubbardton and Bennington, always in the thick of the fight. Josiah fought at Bennington and was briefly taken prisioner but managed to escape. Over 600 men served in the regiment from May 1777 through the Battle of Saratoga, after which some 90 survivors made their way to Canada. This ended the regiment's active participation in the revolution.

However, Captain Justus Sherwood and men of his company, continued to serve in the Champlain Valley until the end of the war. Sherwood served as Chief of Intelligence to Governor Haldimand during this period, and his men took part in many raids and intelligence operations in northern New York and Vermont.

As a result of Josiah's involvement in the Revolutionary war on the side of the British, after the convention of Saratoga he became a United Empire Loyalist, forced to escape to Canada. He arrived in the Bay of Chaleur in the Gaspé area aboard the brig "St. Peter" in 1784. Traveling with him were 85 other men, women and children all disembarking with him in Carlisle or Douglastown, Gaspé, Lower Canada. It must be assumed that he was an educated man as the following reference states that he was appointed school teacher to the Loyalists' children while in Machiche, Quebec. His salary was 48 pounds sterling per annum.  He had been employed and paid by the government since 1778 as a school master both for the Loyalists' children in Quebec as well as afterwards, those who settled in the Township of Hawkesbury.

Further clarification of Josiah's life confirms recorded documents. The dates or births and marriages were recorded by Josiah himself in a small bible which may still be in the possession of the Chatham family. Comparing the traditions existing among different branches of the Cass family, it is inferred that some of his youthful years must have been spent at Yale.

Although a family tradition exists that Josiah was present at the siege of Quebec, the legend is most likely improbable. He did seem to live at different times in Connecticut, Vermont and New York. In 1775, he stated that he was living as a farmer in Charlotte County, Province of York, and in 1777 joined the British army under General Burgoyne. He did duty with Colonel Peter's Regiment, The Queens Royal Rangers. In October, 1777, he, with the remnant of Colonel Peter's Corps after the disaster to that regiment, was given permission to try to escape to Canada.

It is uncertain whether they crossed the St. Lawrence River and wintered at one of the posts there or whether they did not leave Charlotte County, New York until the following spring, but, in September, 1778, they, with the other Loyalists, reached Montreal. From there they were conducted by order of the Commander-in-Chief to Machiche, Quebec, a post situated at the mouth of a small stream of that name emptying into the St. Maurice River near the town of Three Rivers. They arrived there on the 14th of September 1778. Josiah arrived there with a friend and kinsman, Jeptha Hawley.

Here Josiah acted as a school master for a time, and is reported to have helped in the laying out of the town of Three Rivers. There, his wife Mercy Pomeroy died in 1781. On 1st of April, 1782, he married Ann McIntyre. A record of the marriage can be found in the Church records in Three Rivers. According to a statement of Josiah, Anne was the widow of a soldier with one son, John McIntyre. Although unconfirmed, this statement is probably true, otherwise she would hardly have been with this party of Loyalists. On May 1, 1783, a little daughter named Mary was born to the couple and her birth was recorded in the records of the Church at Three Rivers. The Rector of Three Rivers, being a French gentleman and apparently not very familiar with English, often spelled his words phonetically. In this case, the name was written as "Marie". This daughter afterwards became the wife of Jacob Marston.

In 1783, Captain Sherwood, having been dispatched to the Bay of Chaleur to explore the country around the Bay and report as to the suitability for farming and forming settlements, on his return gave such a favourable report that many of the Loyalists decided to go there. Among them was Josiah Cass. They arrived at the Bay of Chaleur on 14 August 1784, landing at Paspébiac. A town site was laid out and called New Carlisle (now Paspébiac) and here Josiah Cass and his family lived. He appears to have helped in surveying the townships around as his name appears in the Government returns for this work. A grant of 750 acres was made to him and 100 acres to each of his three sons, Josiah, Joseph Pomeroy, and Elihu, who had enlisted in Sir John Johnston's Royal Regiment after coming to Canada and served until the Regiment was disbanded at the end of the war.

However, it appears they became dissatisfied with the part of the country and resolved to seek a new home. In 1788, the surveys on the north shore of the Ottawa River and the Township of Hawkesbury on the south shore were completed. Josiah Cass obtained from John Collins, Deputy Surveyor General, certificates of location in the first and second Concessions of Hawkesbury for 400 acres. Early in 1790, Josiah and his family, with the exception of the eldest son, Josiah Jr., who had married and whose wife did not wish to leave her family, set out on their journey to their new home.

It is uncertain how the family traveled from the Bay of Chaleur, but presume they must have gone by sea to Quebec or some other port on the St. Lawrence River and on the western end of their route they employed "habitants" and their teams to bring them and their effects to their destination. On nearing their future homestead, they purchased some cattle, which they drove before them.

Upon arriving in March 1790, they found the snow very deep, and digging a hole they placed their potatoes in it, covering them with the grain and other things to prevent freezing. They then proceeded to construct a small temporary dwelling for themselves as well as one for their cattle. These cattle were fed on the brush from trees and they, from the wilderness.

Success was now assured and progress was rapid. In 1791, another son was added to the family and named Moses. Later two little twin daughters arrived, Elizabeth and Janet. Here Josiah Cass passed the remainder of his earthly career, and his official capacity for several years as Justice of the Peace dispensed Justice to the community. In the absence of clergymen, he performed marriage ceremonies and assisted at funerals. Returning from one of his long trips, weary and exhausted from slight exposure to the elements, he contracted an illness from which he finally succumbed. Here, in 1804 or 1805, he passed from an earthly home of competence and comfort to his final rest. The exact date is unclear, however, his Will was drawn on 16th of August 1804 and probated on the 12th day of February 1805, therefore, his death must have occurred between these two dates.

Several written references have been located for Josiah. The firstreads as follows:

CASS, JOSIAH of Vermont. A native of Connecticut, in 1775 Cass was a farmer in Charlotte County. He had 340 acres (40 improved) at Reupert, along with farming rights to some other land. In total,  he owned 2000 acres between Reuport, Bridport and Shorham.  He joined the British Army under Burgoyne at Castleton in July 1777 and west to Canada following the convention of Saratoga. Cass was appointed school teacher to the Loyalist settlers in Machiche by General Haldimand, and lived there for 5 years. He settled afterwards at New Carlisle, Chaleur Bay. His three sons all served in Sir John Johnson's Corps throughout the war. Cass claimed 454 pounds sterling and received 108 pounds sterling.

The second reference provides additional information:

CASS, JOSIAH, Reuport, Charlotte County, New York was driven from there and joined Burgoyne's Army at Castleton July 1777; retired to Canada with Lt. Col. Peter's Company consisting of old men and gentlemen. Because of sickness, unable to submit claim previously. Memorial 11 March 1786, Gaspe District. Claim: 340 acres in Reuport, 1360 acres on an near Lake Champlain. Evidences: Note that claimant is unable to obtain affidavits from father-in-law, Joseph Pomeroy or Suffield, Connecticut, or from Daniel Smith and Amos Curtis of Reuport. Disposition of John McAtkin, settle at New Carlisle, Bay of Chaleur, that he lived at Reuport before war and has often heard claimant's name mentioned as a surveyor in good circumstances, but is not personally acquainted with him.

Mr. Cass was also not a man to be pushed around. When problems arose, he knew exactly what to do and who to contact. The following letter, in Josiah's own words, was written from Machiche, Quebec on 23 February 1784 to Captain Justus Sherwood:

"Sir,

Agreeable to your Instruction I have communicated to the People of Machiche your Proposals for settling No. 2 & 3 at Cadaroque & find as yet but about 12 or 15 Families that seem any ways inclin'd that Way & those who are, think the Proposals unequal to the design - In the first their Provisions such a Distance, that it will consume the most convenient Season for Labour on their Plantations & consequently greatly retard their Progress in procuring an independent support for their Families, that One Years Provisions delivered at Cadaraque will be almost as good as two at Montreal & the People are generally unacquainted with conducting Boats through the bad Passes - The People seem willing to take up one Load of Provisions but think it not possible to take a Load with their Families to hold out to them any Incouragement but Lands and Provision to a People who have lost their all destitute of Cattle, of Farming Tools, or Money to purchase them, which Consideration causes them almost daily to take Lands on Seignories, Farms on shares for particular Farms or to the more disagreeable Method of seeking to the Colonies & try to gather some Fragments of their former Estates - If People had any Recompense for their real Losses by the War they would be able to form a remote settlement immediately but that is yet doubtful - People seem very anxious for settling & I am very confident that a considerable Number of good People here would agree to go to Cadaroque if there was Incouragement held out to them equal to the Undertaking, but if not they seem universally to decline going there.

Sir if you think proper the people would wish to have the Substance of this Letter communicated to His Excellency & His Advice accordingly transmitted to us as soon as may be conveniently.

The Upper Canada Land Books confirm that Josiah was living in the Longueuil/Hawkesbury/Caledonia Springs area between 1797 and 1800 moving from the Bay of Chaleur and the Gaspé area.

Josiah made a will in Hawkesbury, Prescott Township, Upper Canada on 16 August 1804 as follows:

"In the name of God, Amen." I, Josiah Cass of the township of Hawkesbury in the County of Prescott Eastern district of the Province of Upper Canada Esquire being in body but of sound disposing mind and memory Do make and order this to be my last Will and Testament in manner following, To Wit

First. I bequeath my soul to God who gave it.

Secondly. I Give and bequeath to my Son Joseph the sum of two shillings Halifax Currency in right of primogeniture.

Thirdly. I Give and bequeath to my Son Joseph P., Elihu and Daniel and to my Daughters Mercy and Amanda all the Children of my first wife the sum of five shillings each, having already provided for them.

Fourthly. All the rest residue and remainder of my Estate real and personal I give devise and bequeath to my loving wife Anna for and during her natural life to use and order as she thinks best.

Fifthly. After the death of my beloved Wife Anna Give devise and bequeath to my Son Moses [their heirs and assigns forever] and to my Step Son John McIntyre the lot of land No. b in Hawkesbury which I now possess To Wit the northernmost with stock and moveables to John McIntyre subject to these conditions that the said John do and shall provide suitable support and maintenance for his brother Moses and Sisters Margaret, Anna, Elizabeth and Jenny during the time of their minority, and unsettled joined with their Industry Also pay to Moses as specified in the next Article, And to the other members of the Family One half of the Legacies directed above.

Sixthly. I Give and bequeath to my youngest Son Moses the Southernmost half of Wheat grown in Lot No. b in Hawkesbury After his Mothers decease and in consideration of the front half containing the improvements and movables. John may and shall give Moses a Years provisions: Yoke of Oxen, a Cow, a set of Harrow teeth, Cow Irons, Ax and hoe over and above what is contained in the Fifth Article And Moses to pay One half the Legacies directed to my first Wife's children Also half that hereunder directed to his own sisters.

Seventhly. I Give and bequeath to Mercy, Margaret, Anna, Elizabeth and Jenny Eight dollars apiece after their Mother's decease if not paid before, to be paid by John And Moses.

Lastly. I nominate Appoint and constitute my beloved Wife Anna and her Son John McIntyre executors to this My last Will and Testament. Witness, Whereof I have herein set my hand and seal the Sixteenth day of August in the year of Our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and four And in the forty fourth year of His Majesty's Reign.

Signed

Josiah Cass

Signed Sealed published & declared .... Josiah Cass Esq the Testator to be his last Will and presence of us who.... subscribed our names in the presence of the Testator & each other.

Peter McArthur, Phebe McArthur, Henry Rowley

The foregoing is a true Copy of the last Will and Testament of Josiah Cass late of Hawkesbury in said District Esquire deceased proved Peter McArthur one of the subscribing Witnesses to the last Will and testament In Testimony whereof I have --Seal of said Surrogate Court to be hereunto affixed at ??? District this 12th day of February 1805.

Signed

S. Anderson

He bequeathed the bulk of his property to the children of his second marriage which caused a dispute with the children of his first marriage. They all left home.