Land, Robert

• DICTIONARY OF CANADIAN BIOGRAPHY ARTICLE: R. Brian Land, “LAND, ROBERT,” in Dictionary of Canadian Biography, vol. 9, University of Toronto/Université Laval, 2003–. https://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/land_robert_9E.html
• DCB profile notes:
  • Pioneer, farmer, militia officer, and public servant; b. 10 April 1772 in Pennsylvania, sixth of the seven children of Robert Land and Phebe Scott; m. Hannah Horning of Barton Township, Upper Canada, and they had nine children; d. 21 Nov. 1867 at Hamilton, Ontario.
  • Robert Land, who is sometimes also designated Jr or II to avoid confusion with his father and second son, fled with his mother, a sister, and a younger brother from what is now Wayne County, Pennsylvania, to New York in May 1779 for protection from rebel harassment after his father, a magistrate under the colonial government of Pennsylvania, joined the British forces as a dispatch carrier. In 1783, while his father was based at Niagara (Niagara-on-the-Lake), Robert and the others embarked with the first fleet of loyalists for the Saint John River (New Brunswick) where his mother was granted 200 acres of land at Parr Town (Saint John). In 1791 they made their way to Upper Canada and joined Robert Land Sr who, in the meantime, had become one of the first settlers at the Head-of-the-Lake (later Hamilton).
  • As “the son of a zealous and active Loyalist,” Robert Jr petitioned for land in 1795 and was granted 200 acres in Middlesex County. Following military service in 1812–14, he received an additional 500 acres in Caledon Township (Peel County). He lived in Barton Township on land originally granted to his father, farming several hundred acres in the area.
  • In 1804 Land had begun a military career that was to span a period of 43 years by joining the West Lincoln militia as lieutenant. When the War of 1812–14 began, he entered the 5th Lincoln militia as lieutenant in Samuel Hatt’s company of flankers and was granted a medal and clasp for action at the surrender of Detroit. On the morning of the battle at Queenston Heights, 13 Oct. 1812, his company was the only force present at Queenston.
• Proven Loyalist listed in Loyalist Directory –https://uelac.ca/loyalist-directory/detail/?wpda_search_column_id=4547
• Find a GRAVE: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/8658270/robert-land