Margaret Wright Gives the Alarm

From the Archives – Mary Anne Ducharme  (August 2010)

In the Archives are copies of regimental pay lists of Hemmingford men who served in the loyalist militia under Lieutenant Colonel John Scriver, and it includes most of the male population of the time. More details of this history will be featured at an upcoming event September 25 and 26 at the stone house built by John Scriver at 456 Frontiere. The event, sponsored by the Hemmingford Historical Archives, will focus on the year 1838 and the social and military life of that era.

The late Edna Laurie, in her recollections, tells a story of the Rebellion from the point of view of her great-aunt Margaret Wright who was then a child of ten. “Margaret’s father was a captain of the local militia in Georgetown. A party of rebels was known to be gathering. Captain Wright and his men manned the blockhouse ready for the expected attack. That night the rebels came, but instead of the blockhouse, they took the Captain’s residence. Great-grandmother was alone with her four children and maids. All the men were away when the raiders arrived. The rebels were tired and hungry from their long march and fell on the provisions they found. The mistress asked permission to put the children to bed. Margaret escaped out of a window. She slipped along to the stable and saddled her horse. Dodging the raiders, she rode off to the blockhouse and gave the alarm to her father and the other men. They immediately returned to find most of the rebels asleep, having filled up with meat and drink. They disarmed and took them prisoner. They did not want to hurt the prisoners (some of them being neighbouring farmers). The prisoners were put in charge of an elderly aunt. She felt sorry for them and let them all escape.”
Contact: Mary Anne Ducharme, 450-247-3193