Laura Secord, the Heroine of 1812 | Page 3

notable one. Family documents exist which show that in the
reign of Louis the Tenth of France a certain Marquis D'Secor was a
Marshal of His Majesty's Household. A son of this Marquis embraced
the Protestant religion, as did younger branches of the family. During
the persecution of the Huguenots many of them suffered at the stake,
and the family estates, situated at La Rochelle, were confiscated. The
survivors escaped the massacre of St. Bartholomew by flight to
England along with many other noble families, among whom were the
Comte de Puys, the Baudeaux, and a Holland family, the Van
Cortlandts.
Eventually five brothers emigrated to America where they settled in
New Jersey, purchasing large tracts of land, founding New Rochelle
and engaging in lumbering. On the breaking out of the Revolutionary
War the family divided, the Loyalists changing their patronym to
Secord by placing the prefix "d" at the end of their name. These
brothers after, as King's men, losing, in common with all the Loyalists,
their property and estates, emigrated to New Brunswick, again
engaging in lumbering and milling operations, and; there certain of
their descendants are to be found today. Some of these, and their sons,
again removed to Canada West, where one of them, commonly called
"Deaf John Secord," who married Miss Wartman, of Kingston, was
known all along the coast from St. John to Quebec for his hospitalities.
Among those who settled in the Niagara district were Stephen Secord,
the miller of St. David's, Major David Secord, after whom the village
was named, and James Secord, the husband of the heroine of 1812.
Stephen Secord died before the War of 1812, leaving a widow and a
family of seven sons. Of Major David Secord, the only record I have
been able to procure is to be found in _A History of the Late War
between Great Britain and the United States of America, by David
Thompson, late of the Royal Scots_, as quoted for me by the kind
courtesy of Miss Louisa Murray, of Stamford. It is as follows: "The
Second Lincoln Militia, under Major David Secord, distinguished

themselves in this action [the Battle of Chippewa] by feats of genuine
bravery and heroism, stimulated by the example of their gallant leader,
which are seldom surpassed even by the most experienced veterans.
Their loss was proportionate with that of the regular army."
At the outbreak of the War of 1812, Mr. James Secord was living at
Queenston, where he had a lumber mill and stores. He held the rank of
Captain in the Lincoln Militia until close on the American invasion, but
resigned in dudgeon at some action of his superior officer, and thus it is
that in the relation of Mrs. Secord's heroic deed he is not designated by
any rank. At the first call to arms, however, Mr. Secord at once offered
his services, which were gladly accepted, and he was present at the
Battle of Queenston Heights. Here he was severely wounded in the leg
and shoulder, and lay on the field as one dead, until rescued by his
brave wife. He never fully recovered from his wounds, and received an
acknowledgment of his voluntary services to the Government in the
appointment to the post of Collector of Customs at the Port of
Chippewa, which he held until his death in 1841.
The married life of Mr. and Mrs. Secord was a most happy one. Their
third daughter, Mrs. Harriet Smith, who still survives, a cheerful and
vivacious lady of eighty-six, says that her father and mother were most
devoted to each other, and lived in the closest mutual affection.
At the date of the Battle of Queenston Heights, the family consisted of
four daughters and one son: Mary--with whom the great Tecumseh is
said to have been in love--who was married to Dr. Trumbull,
Staff-surgeon to the 37th Regiment, and died in Jamaica; Charlotte,
"the belle of Canada," who, died during a visit to Ireland; Harriet--Mrs.
Smith--who still survives and lives in great retirement with her eldest
daughter at Guelph; and Appolonia, who died at the early age of
eighteen. Charles, the only son, lived at Newark, and his surviving
children are Mr. James B. Secord, of Niagara, and Alicia, Mrs. Isaac
Cockburn, of Gravenhurst.
Two daughters were born to Mr. and Mrs. Secord subsequent to the war.
Hannah, who was married to Mr. Carthew, of Guelph. and died in 1884,
leaving several sons, and Laura, who was married to Dr. Clarke, of

Palmerston, and died young, leaving one daughter, Laura.
Mrs. Smith relates that she very well remembers her mother setting off
for St. David's, ostensibly to see her brother Charles, who lay sick at
the mill, and her father's ill-concealed agitation during that trying day.
What must the night have been to