Hugh Munro, Jr.

Notes:

In 1782 Hugh Munro Sr. - in letters petitioning for land in Edwardsburg Twp, writes that he is 65 years old, and was expecting to visit his son in New York, whom he earlier describes as an "orphan left homeless in New York to the mercy of a stranger.." (Hugh Jr. would be about 17 years old at this time.)

"A HISTORY OF CARDINAL" written and published by the Cardinal town Council in 1967 documents the following: (Pages 3-10 plus others)

Because of a lack of records, Captain Munro, and his son, Col. Hugh Munro, have assumed one identity. The "homeless orphan" referred to previously is assumed to he the Hugh Munro buried in the Presbyterian Cemetery in Cardinal, and is the Colonel who "won his spurs" as a captain in the War of 1812. He belonged to the First Regiment of the Grenville Militia, was commissioned Major on the 21st of January, 1822. He was then raised to Leutenant-Colonel on the 5th of June, 1826, and reached the rank of Colonel on the 7th of August, 1830, when he assumed command of the Regiment (Ref (1) says 1st Battalion Grenville Militia), and served in this capacity until succeeded by Lt-Colonel Philip Dulmage on July 26, 1841.

According to the Ontario Archives, Hugh Munro Jr. had been made officer commanding the flank of the 1st Grenville Militia in the year 1800 at the age of 35. When the War of 1812 broke out, men of the village and the area rallied around him to defend their homes against invasion by the Americans.

Numerous skirmishes took place along the river with men of the Grenville Militia holding their own. Leavitt's History of Leeds and Grenville Counties describes some of the action on the morning of September 16, 1812. Five hundred Americans attcked a brigade of batteaux a short distance from Point Iriquois. Two companies of the Grenville Militia under Captain Hugh Munro and Captain Dulmage arrived to support the brigade, bringing with them a nine pounder, taken from the French at Chimney Island some fifty years before in 1760. The one gun battery compelled the Americans to evacuate the island and depart to the south shore of the river.

Hugh was the Commanding Colonel of the 1st Battalion Grenville Militia during the Lyon Mackenzie rebellion of 1838-1839.

The following exerpts are from a history of Cardinal written by an unknown author and published in the February 10 and 24 issues of the PRESCOTT JOURNAL in 1898 (Courtesy of Grenville Historical Society)

"I remember that the place where Cardinal now stands was origionally owned by two men. The west half was owned by one Mr. Doyle, the other half was owned by Colonel Hugh Munro, a stalwart man who distinguished himself in the War of 1812. The reader will bear in mind that at this time there was only one house in this place and of course there were no roads, no bridges, no canal, no steamboats plying the river, and no clearings of any account. It stood in its primeval grandeur heavily wooded with beach, maple and other timber and roamed over by deer which came to slack their thirst when pursued by the Redmen of the forrest.

Colonel Munro owned 200 acres of land on a portion of which Cardinal now stands. It was 200 acres wide extending back to the second concession. With this he also owned a large stone house, later known as the "Benson House" that was even later converted to a school. A long twisting road ran from here to the Mills on Munro Point as the area along there was covered with many large boulders, ledges and encumbrances.

Colonel Munro concluded there was good water power on the point and decided to harness it for the running of a few mills. (Here the author may be confusing the actions actually undertaken by Hugh Munro Sr. to establish the first Saw and Gist Mills.) He built a small raceway along the edge of the river to get a more powerful water head. He built his mill, cosisting of grist, clothing and carding mills, all of which stood in a frame building and on the East half of where Cardinal now stands.

Colonel Munro, when he built the carding mill must have had faith in the future of the country, for there were very few sheep in the neighborhood at the time. He foresaw that they would come and prepared a machine for carding their wool into rolls.

The history which we are attempting to give would be very incomplete without further reference to Colonel Hugh Munro. I have a distinct recollection of seeing him a long time after he had passed through the War of 1812. Although I was a very little boy at the time, his stately appearance made on my mind an impression which can never be effaced. He rode on horseback and wore his regimentals which consisted of a splendid sword which hung by his side with a carbine on the pommel to the front. His suit and three cornered cocked hat was made of the richest material. He was on his way to Johnstown for a general drill of the soldiers which always took place on the 4th day of June of each year. Although the Colonel was faithful in training the soldiers, many of the soldiers themselves, I regret to say, were only trained to drink whiskey which training often put the men in fine trim for fighting and it was not uncommon for the drill to end up with a general field fight, the instruments being less deadly than the sword or carbine.

Stories of the amount of silver at Colonel Munro's made a lasting impression on my youthful mind. I heard it stated, and often, by those who saw it, and I firmly believe it was true, that kegs or half barrels of silver dollars and half-dollars were rolled off at his door. This was told to me by parties who saw the hoops knocked off and the kegs raised, and who often expressed their astonishment at such a quantity of silver.

Notwithstanding this the Colonel became a poor man. He left his stately home residence and lands and took up residence on the farm now owned by either Mr. Edson Adams or Mr. McKnight. There, I believe, he remained until he died and his remains lie in the old Presbyterian church yard.

At his death the following notice of him appeared in one of the Canadian newspapers: "At his residence in Edwardsburgh, on the 4th inst., Colonel Hugh Munro, aged 90. The deceased gentleman was one of the ancient family of the Munros of Fowlis, grandson of the Laird of Fowlis [this is, of course, incorrect] and one of the oldest and most respected inhabitants of the County of Grenville. He had been an extensive timber merchant, an honest, upright business man, and an elder in the Scottish Presbyterian Church, and Colonel-Commanding the First Battalion Grenville Militia. He served in the last war, and commanded a flank company of Militia at the attack and capture of Ogdenburgh in 1812-13, and with his regiment, the First Grenville, was in active service at Prescott during the troubles of 1838-39. He left a large circle of friends and relatives, and his memory will be long cherished by the inhabitants of Edwardsburgh.

References:

(1) "History of the Munros of Fowlis" by A. Mackenzie - Inverness (1898) - p.
458-459

(2) Clan Munro files - Munro, Henry Dallas - GEDCOM file HMUNRO.GED dated 9
Oct 1996

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Buried:
Presbyterian Cemetery

Hugh married Grace Fraser in Mar 1800 in , , Ontario, Canada. Grace was born about 1775 in Prob., Mohawk Valley, New York, USA; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Hugh Munro, III was born about 1801 in Edwardsburg, Grenville Co., Ontario, Canada; died in in Edwardsburg, Grenville Co., Ontario, Canada.
2. William Munro was born about 1803 in Edwardsburg, Grenville Co., Ontario, Canada; died in in Edwardsburg, Grenville Co., Ontario, Canada.
3. George Fraser Munro was born about 1805 in Edwardsburg, Grenville Co., Ontario, Canada; and died.
4. Thomas Munro was born about 1807 in Edwardsburg, Grenville Co., Ontario, Canada; died in in Edwardsburg, Grenville Co., Ontario, Canada.
5. Maria Smallman Munro was born about 1809 in Edwardsburg, Grenville Co., Ontario, Canada; and died.
6. Caroline Freeman Munro was born about 1811 in Edwardsburg, Grenville Co., Ontario, Canada; died in in Of, Ogdensburg, St. Lawrence Co., New York; was buried in Prob., Ogdensburg, St. Lawrence Co., New York.
7. Minerva Thorpe Munro was born about 1813 in Edwardsburg, Grenville Co., Ontario, Canada; died in in Of, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
8. Amelia Grant Munro was born about 1815 in Edwardsburg, Grenville Co., Ontario, Canada; and died.
9. Sophia Munro was born about 1817 in Edwardsburg, Grenville Co., Ontario, Canada; died in in Edwardsburg, Grenville Co., Ontario, Canada.
10. Sussannah Martha Munro was born about 1819 in Edwardsburg, Grenville Co., Ontario, Canada; and died.

Notes:

Hugh left Scotland and went to America as a Sergeant in Montgomery's 77th Highland Regiment in 1757. He was Sergeant Major when the regiment was reduced in 1764. After serving with Montgomery's Highlanders at Fort Pitt, the Ohio, Ticonderoga, Crown Point, Lake Champlain, Fort Live, Montreal, Dominica, Martinique, Havana and against the Indians in 1763, he was dicharged with land warrants. He settled first in St. Haik and later at Queensborogh Patent in New York Province where he erected Dutch and English sawmills.

After the American Revolutionary War broke out, he brought 15 men with him and joined General Burgoyne's Army at Skeenesborogh in 1777. The group formed the BAtteaux Corps and Hugh was appointed their captain. Their's was the dangerous job of ferrying supplies on the shallow Hudson River.

He fought with Major Ebenezer Jessup for a time and was then transferred to Major McAlpine's unit. After McAlpine's death, Hugh found himself saddled with the debts that McAlpine had incurred in order to supply his men with necessities.

At Saratoga, Hugh personally provisioned his corps. During the escape from Saratoga to Canada, Hugh was wounded, and upon his return to Quebec, he was faced with his debts. He was unable to collect the amount from McAlpine's estate, and spent many of his years in Lower Canada petitioning the Governor for compensation. This may have been why he was given the rights to land on the Galops Rapids.

His wife and five children were left in New York during the war and were "persecuted from place to place" until all died except his son, Hugh. After the war, Hugh and many other United Empire Loyalists fled to Upper Canada where they settled in Edwardsburg.

Hugh saw the possibilities of water power inherent in the Galops Rapids and by 1790, had settled on Point Cardinal. For some time it was known as Munro's Point. It was here that he built the first saw and grist mill which was operating as early as 1794. The market for timber was wide open at that time and rafts of lumber were floated down the river to Montreal for use in that area and for shipment overseas.

Altogether, Hugh ultimately owned over 3,000 acres of land in Edwardsburg and Oxford Townships. He was frequently called Hugh Munro of Edwardsburg.

Hugh or his son built a stone house in about 1800. It passed through several owners until it became the Benson Homestead and finally the Cardinal High School. The home was built much like a fort with narrow windows and walls two feet thick. This fort-like structure was probably built with the idea in mind that the Americans might cross the river at any time to harass the Loyalists, which, in fact, they did in 1812.

References:

(1) "The Munro Eagle" - number 27 - summer 1997-1998 - p. 28

(2) Clan Munro files - Munro, Henry Dallas - GEDCOM file HMUNRO.GED dated 9
Oct 1996 which quotes from "A History of Cardinal", a booklet commissioned
by the Council of Cardinal, Canada - F.B. Byers, Chairman - (May 1967) (3) "History of the Munros of Fowlis" by A. Mackenzie - Inverness (1898) - p.
457-458

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Hugh married Mary Thorpe about 1764 in Amboy ?, , American Colony. Mary was born about 1740 in Of, Amboy, USA; died about 1778. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Mary was the daughter of Norris Thorpe of Amboy. When the American Revolutionary War broke out, her husband went off to fight for the crown. Mary and their five children were left in New York during the war and were persecuted from place to place until they all died except their son, Hugh.

Ref (2) says Mary had two other sons that aren't listed here.

References:

(1) "The Munro Eagle" - number 27 - summer 1997-1998 - p. 28

(2) "History of the Munros of Fowlis" by A. Mackenzie - Inverness (1898) - p.
458

(3) Clan Munro files - Munro, Henry Dallas - GEDCOM file HMUNRO.GED dated 9
Oct 1996

-----

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Notes:

Hugh married the daughter of George Robertson in Balconie.

Ref: The Munro Tree (1734) - Q/12

Married Jean Robertson, daughter of George Robertson, Balconie with issue of six sons:

GEORGE - died young
JOHN - to Edinburgh
GILBERT - died young
ROBERT - died young
CATHERINE - died young
JAMES
MARGARET
HUGH - Capt. in Col. Montgomery's Regiment; to America in 1756;
known in Canada as "Hugh of Edwardsburgh"

Ref: Clan Munro files - Munro, Henry Dallas - GEDCOM file HMUNRO.GED dated 9
Oct 1996

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Birth:
Estimate: This birth date is an estimate based on the birth dates of nearest relatives or contemporaries, or based on other clues such as christening date, marriage date, birth order, etc.

Hugh married Jean Robertson. Jean was born est 1683; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Jean was the daughter of George Robertson in Balconie and his wife, Christian, daughter of Hector Douglas of Muldearg.

References:

(1) "History of the Munros of Fowlis" by A. Mackenzie - Inverness (1898) - p.
457

(2) "The Munro Tree (1734)" by R. W. Munro - Edinburgh (1978) - p. Q/12

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Notes:

Hugh received from his father, the lands of Tullochue in Kildermorie.

References:

(1) "History of the Munros of Fowlis" by A. Mackenzie - Inverness (1898) - p.
433, 457, 459, 494

(2) "The Munro Tree (1734)" by R. W. Munro - Edinburgh (1978) - p. R/38, Q/4,
Q/8

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Birth:
Estimate: This birth date is an estimate based on the birth dates of nearest relatives or contemporaries, or based on other clues such as christening date, marriage date, birth order, etc.

Hugh married Elizabeth Munro. Elizabeth (daughter of Colonel John Munro, II of Limlair and Janet Gray) was born est 1637 in Of, Limlaire, Scotland; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

References:

(1) "History of the Munros of Fowlis" by A. Mackenzie - Inverness (1898) - p.
457, 494

(2) "The Munro Tree (1734)" by R. W. Munro - Edinburgh (1978) - p. R/25, R/38,

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA