Secord , James

  • From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: See full biography at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Secord_(merchant)
  • Wiki Biography:
    • James Secord (July 7, 1773 – February 22, 1841) was a merchant, soldier, and civil servant in Upper Canada. He served in the militia during the War of 1812, but was severely wounded at the Battle of Queenston Heights. James married Laura Ingersoll, who is considered a Canadian heroine after she warned the British of a planned American attack in 1813.
    • James Secord was born on July 7, 1773, in Westchester County, Province of New York. He was the youngest child of James Secord (1732–1784) and Madelaine Badeau. James was a descendant of Ambroise Sicard, a Hugenout who had come to British America in 1688 to escape religious persecution in France.
    • While James was still an infant, his family moved west and settled on the Susquehanna River in an area that was claimed by both Connecticut and Pennsylvania. In 1777, during the American Revolutionary War, his father and three older brothers travelled to Fort Niagara and joined the British Indian Department leaving Madelaine and the younger children behind. His brothers transferred to Butler’s Rangers upon its formation while his father continued serving in the Indian Department as a Lieutenant.
    • The following year, Madelaine abandoned their home on the Susquehanna and brought James and his three sisters to Fort Niagara.
    • When the United States declared war against Britain in June 1812, James joined the militia as a sergeant in the 1st Lincoln Regiment but was later attached to Isaac Swayze’s troop of Provincial Royal Artillery Drivers, also known as the “Car Brigade.” This unit was responsible for moving field guns and supplying ammunition during military engagements. James had previously been a captain in the 1st Lincoln Regiment but had resigned his commission before 1812.[3]
    • On October 13, 1812, the Americans crossed the Niagara River and landed near Queenston. Laura and her five children took shelter in a farmhouse about a mile inland, while James mustered with the militia. During the ensuing Battle of Queenston Heights, James was shot twice, once in the shoulder and once in the knee. When the guns fell silent, Laura cautiously returned to the village to discover that American soldiers had ransacked her house. She received word that James had been wounded and headed for the battlefield. With the help of a “gentleman” Laura brought James to their home and treated his injuries. 
    • James and Laura struggled financially for many years after the war. His wounds were disabling and he never fully recovered. He needed a walking stick to move about and was no longer able to engage in physical labour.
  • Son of United Empire Loyalist listed in Loyalist Directory: https://uelac.ca/loyalist-directory/detail/?wpda_search_column_id=7402
  • Find A Grave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/41672459/james-badeau-secord