Global Heritage Press

SOFTCOVER EDITION

Taken and Destroyed: The War of 1812 Losses Claims, London and Western Districts Upper Canada
By Glenn Stott and Carol Hall

Taken and Destroyed is a key resource to help researchers identify which individuals made claims for losses due to actions during the War of 1812, where they resided, what items and property those claims were for, if the claim was denied or approved, and for how much currency. This book provides key information about each claim, and guides readers to the exact microfilm which contains the complete details and images of documents for each claim. Accessing the referenced microfilms will provide researchers with related images of any formal letters, diagrams, maps, notes and vouchers that appear on those microfilms.

The microfilms of the proceedings and documents of the War of 1812 Losses Claims provide an excellent source of primary information about the settlers living in Upper Canada. With their statements, supporting affidavits and other information we gain a rare glimpse of life in the colony during the War of 1812. We can learn about the products of the farms, shops, mills and stores. The losses recorded often represent countless hours of labour, effort and resources; therefore, we sense the frustration and anger that a farmer must have endured as he watched all his fencing going up in flames.

The cost of the War Losses Claims led to the selling of Crown Land Reserves in Upper Canada and to the formation of the Canada Company in order to raise the funds necessary to compensate the claimants.

Information that is included in the list of claims for losses

• Claim/Microfilm Number
• Claimant: Full name/s
• Location: town or Concession number and Lot number
• Description of Claim: List of items taken or destroyed. Also notes if claim was rejected and why.
• Amount of Claim:
  
  

Where were London and Western Districts?

Upper Canada (present-day southern Ontario) was originally organized and administered in Districts rather than in Counties. County boundaries began to appear on maps long before counties had any administrative purpose. Beginning in 1849, the county system replaced Districts, establishing land registry offices, courts, jails and assuming other local administrative responsibilities. During the War of 1812, and for some time after, the District system remained in place -- therefore the claims for losses due to actions in the War of 1812 were organized by District. The boundaries, names and number of districts evolved throughout the District period. The following provides a list of townships in each district at the time that the claims were processed.London District

included:
The townships of Adelaide, Aldborough, Bayham, Carrodoc, Delaware, Dorchester North, Dorchester South, Dunwich, Ekfrid, Lobo, London, Malahide, Metcalfe, Mosa, Nissouri West, Southwold, Westminster, Williams (although included as part of the Huron District after 1841) and Yarmouth as well as those townships that became part of the Talbot District after 1837 (Charlotteville, Houghton, Middleton, Rainham, Townsend, Walpole, Walsingham, Windham and Woodhouse); and townships that became part of the Brock District after 1839 (Blandford, Blenheim, Burford, Dereham, Nissouri East, Norwich South, Norwich North, Oakland, Oxford East, Oxford North, Oxford West, Zorra East and Zorra West); and those townships which became part of the Huron District in 1841 (Ashfield, Biddulph, Colborne, Goderich, Hay, Hullet, McGillivrary, McKillop, Stanley, Stephen, Tuckersmith, Usborne, and Wawanosh (all part of Huron County), Blanshard, Downie, Easthope North, Easthope South, Ellice, Fullerton, Gore of Downie, Hibbert and Logan (all part of Perth County).

Western District

included:
In October of 1792 the old District of Hesse (1788-1792) was renamed the Western District and included the present-day counties of Essex, Kent and Lambton which include the townships of Bosanquet, Brooke, Dawn, Enniskillen, Euphemia, Moore, Plympton, Sarnia, Sombra, Warwick, Anderson, Colchester North & South, Gosfield North & South, Maidstone, Malden, Mersea, Pelee, Rochester, Sandwich East, South & West, Tilbury North & West, Camden, Chatham, Dover, Harwich, Howard, Orford, Raleigh, Romney, Tilbury East, Zone.

Taken and Destroyed is an essential work for everyone interested in the war of 1812.