From Loyalist to Rebel

180 years ago Upper Canada was in turmoil. Years of control by the Family Compact had left reform minded citizens frustrated and angry. Average working men were inspired by William Lyon Mackenzie and became rebels. The Upper Canada Rebellion culminated with the battle at Montgomery's Tavern on December 7th 1837. One of my spouse's ancestors was involved in the battle and this is his story.

Ludwig Widmen was born in Northampton Pennsylvania on September 21st 1781. He was the third of twelve children born to Philip Wideman and Sarah Ann Long. Ludwig's grandparents had emigrated from Baden-Wuertemberg in Germany and the family had strong German ties. He was baptized in Christ Lutheran Church:

Historical Society of Pennsylvania, ancestry.ca

The family joined William Berczy's German Company settlement in Markham. No doubt they had heard of the availability of land in Upper Canada from other German families who had made the trek from Pennsylvania to Canada. This census shows the family settled in 1801 at lot 35, 8th Concession Markham. Philip received 200 acres to settle.

Library & Archives Canada MG 23 H II 6

Ludwig was only 20 when the family moved to Canada but he soon turned his mind to acquiring his own land. In 1806 he petitioned for 200 acres of land, advising that he had sworn the oath to the Crown. The majority of settlers in Upper Canada at this time were born in the United States and it was important to affirm their loyalty to Great Britain.

Library & Archives Canada, Upper Canada Land Petitions

Not long after the War of 1812 began. Ludwig showed his loyalty to Great Britain once again by serving under Peter Robinson in the Rifle Company of the First York Militia, first as a Sergeant, then as an Ensign. As a reward for his service he was granted land in 1821. It was thrilling to be able to review Ludwig's military file in Ottawa this summer (though not sure why the signature was torn off his certificate!).

Library & Archives Canada, Land Claim Certificates of Upper Canada Militiamen

The completion of Ludwig's War of 1812 service coincided with the birth of his first daughter Christiana and the unfortunate subsequent death of her mother, Ludwig's first wife Christiana Kribs. Ludwig subsequently remarried in 1817 - he and his second wife Elizabeth Macklem had seven children together.

The Widemans were fine upstanding citizens. They continued to farm their land in Markham. In 1818 Ludwig was appointed Lieutenant in the 1st Regiment of York Militia.

Library & Archives Canada, Wideman family collection

He and his brother Philip appeared on militia lists through the 1820s. But then things changed. The election of 1836 was hotly contested.

Toronto Public Library, election broadsheets

  

According to The Story of the Upper Canada Rebellion by John Charles Dent (published in 1885) "During that election he rode to Newmarket to exercise his franchise but as he was know to be a Reformer the strongest attempts were made to prevent him from voting. Notwithstanding that he was known to have resided on his farm for more than 30 years, and that he had spent two years fighting for his country at the time of her utmost need, a demand was made that he should take the oath of allegiance. He felt all the  just indignation which such treatment might be expected to arouse, and from that time forward was prepared to adopt any and every means to destroy the domination of the Compact..." (Volume 2, page 137)

Library & Archives Canada, voters driven from the polling station

Mackenzie was a popular figure in the Markham/Whitchurch area and apparently announced his rebellion plan in Stouffville on December 2nd 1837. Ludwig was said to have hosted the meeting.

 On December 7th 1837 the Militia marched up Yonge Street towards Montgomery's Tavern. A battle ensued, and when it was over Ludwig lay dead. He was the only rebel casualty.

Toronto Public Library collection

Apparently there was some dispute over whether Ludwig had been killed during the battle. John Charles Dent wrote how Mackenzie wrote in 1847 "that 'a ball struck my worthy friend Capt. Wideman, in the head, killing him on the spot"... There are three persons in Toronto at this moment who saw him fall. He was struck by a bullet which passed through the centre of his forehead and came out at the occiput... the body was conveyed to Whitchurch by a cousin of the deceased, and was there interred by his relatives..." (Volume 2, page 136).

Here is Ludwig's grave - he is buried in Dickson Hill Cemetery. 

From the writer's collection

The rebels were defeated. Many, including Mackenzie, fled to the US. Many others, including Ludwig's brother Philip were captured and imprisoned. Philip was imprisoned from December 12th 1837 until May 10th 1838 when he was pardoned and released. If Ludwig had lived perhaps he would have shared his brother's fate.

Ludwig wrote his Last Will and Testament on the 27th day of May 1837. Perhaps he had a premonition that he would die that year. His property was left to his wife and children. His eldest daughter was left £75, a substantial amount for the time. By the time of her father's death Christiana was married with three children, living in Bruce County. I wonder how long it took for the news of her father's death to reach her and what she thought of it all. Christiana was my spouse's great-great-great-grandmother.