On Sunday, November 2, the Trent Port Historical Society will hold a special ceremony to honour Private John Johnson, a veteran of the War of 1812. A commemorative marker will be laid on his gravesite in Stockdale Cemetery on Will Johnson Road in Stockdale, Ontario, about 20 kilometres north of Trenton. Before the 2:00 p.m. ceremeony, the society will hold a light reception at the Trenton Town Hall as a collection point to proceed to the cemetery.
Private Johnson was born in 1791 in Upper Canada, possibly near Adolphustown, the son of Loyalists James and Margaret Johnson who left New Jersey in 1791, following the American Revolution. In 1800, the family moved to Ameliasburgh in Prince Edward County where he joined the Prince Edward County Militia to protect Canada from invading American forces during the War of 1812.
Private John Johnson, 1791-1865, Stockdale Cemetery, Trenton, Ontario. Photo credit: Peter Johnson.
Following the war, Johnson lived in Port Hope and later in Murray Township, where he died in 1865.
Private Johnson’s great-great-great-grandson, Peter Johnson, has extensively researched veterans of the War of 1812 in cooperation with the Government of Canada and the War of 1812 Graveside Project. More details on this project can be found at War of 1812 Graveside Project.
The War of 1812 Graveside Project is a non-profit group created to “ensure that the War of 1812 veterans get the recognition that they deserve, not only in the defense of Canada, but also for their dedication in building the foundation of the Canada that we live in today.”
The purpose of the graveside recognition program is to honour the graves of veterans of the War of 1812 and to raise awareness of this time in Canada’s history. This project will provide a future database of biographical information on thousands of veterans of the War of 1812.
Among the list of registered gravesites (and biographies) that have been approved for commemorative markers, only two are in the province of Quebec in St. Matthew’s Cemetery on rue Saint-Jean in Quebec City. War of 1812 veterans George Fowler and Christopher Myers are buried there.
Consider adding St. Matthew’s Cemetery to your list of places to visit in Quebec City and take a self-guided app tour in French or English. (To think I walked by this cemetery dozens of times while I was a student there and never visited it.)
Glad to see this event publicized, but I do have a couple of comments. “Will Johnstown Rd” is actually “Will Johnson Rd.” named after a descendant of 1812 Vet John Johnson. The road and cemetery are at Stockdale, several miles north of Trenton.
As for James Johnson and Margaret Redner, they didn’t actually “flee” after the American Revolution. They remained in NJ for several years and didn’t come to Canada until 1791 as part of a mini-migration of NJ Loyalists. Thanks.