Capt. Hon. John Munro

1728 - 1800  (72 years)

• Name	John Munro  [1, 2]
  Prefix	Capt. Hon.
  Born	1728	Dingwall, , Ross and Cromarty, Scotland   [1]
  Christened	Alness, Highlands, Scotland, United Kingdom
  Gender	Male
  Died	27 Oct 1800	Matilda, Dundas Co., Ontario, Canada   [1]
  	John died at Dickinson's Landind.
  Buried	1968	Riverside Heights, Dundas Co., Ontario, Canada
  	John's original burial site was flooded by the St. Lawrence Seaway Project. In 1968, the marker stones were moved to the Riverside Heights U.E.L. Memorial Cemetery.
  Person ID	I6254	Munro
  Last Modified	17 Feb 2012

  
  

  Father	Hugh Munro,   b. Est 1678, , , Ross and Cromarty, Scotland ,   d. , , , Scotland
  Mother	Christiana Munro,   b. Abt 1706, , , Ross and Cromarty, Scotland ,   d. , , , Scotland
  Married	Abt 1725	, , Ross and Cromarty, Scotland
  Family ID	F2499	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Mary Brower,   b. 9 Oct 1738, Schenectady, Schenectady Co., New York, USA ,   d. 12 Apr 1815, Morrisburg, , Ontario, Canada  (Age 76 years)
  Married	5 Apr 1760	Schenectady, Schenectady Co., New York, USA   [3]
  Children	+ 1. Christiana Munro,   b. 1761, Albany, Albany Co., New York, USA ,   d. 7 Dec 1836, Montreal, , Québec, Canada  (Age 75 years)   2. Cornelia Munro,   b. 1763, Albany, Albany Co., New York, USA ,   d. , , Upper Canada, Canada + 3. Hugh Munro,   b. 15 Oct 1764, Albany, Albany Co., New York, USA ,   d. 22 Sep 1825, St. Esprit, , Quebec, Canada  (Age 60 years) + 4. Cornelius Munro,   b. 16 Oct 1768, Albany, Albany Co., New York, USA ,   d. Abt 1806, Cornwall, Stormont Co., Ontario, Canada  (Age 37 years) + 5. Henry Munro, M.D.,   b. 1770, , Albany Co., New York Colony, American Colonies ,   d. 28 Aug 1854, La Chenaise, , Quebec, Canada  (Age 84 years) + 6. John Munro, Jr.,   b. 1773, , , New York Territory, American Colonies ,   d. Aft 1852, , , Ontario, Upper Canada  (Age 80 years) + 7. Marie Charlotte Munro,   b. 1776, Shaftsbury, Bennington Co., Vermont, USA ,   d. 1833, Vaudreuil, Quebec, , Canada  (Age 57 years) + 8. William Johnson Munro,   b. 10 Dec 1781, Montreal, , Québec, Canada ,   d. 27 May 1820, Bas-Caraquet, Glouchester Co., New Brunswick, Canada  (Age 38 years)
  Last Modified	20 Jan 2009
  Family ID	F2498	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Notes

  John was born near Foulis Castle, on an adjacent Munro estate in Ross-shire, Scotland, and spent his childhood there. His birth date is accepted as 1728, although sources have stated 1731. When war broke out between the French and British in the American Colonies in 1755, a call was put out for soldiers to expand the 48th foot, and John joined this regiment where Munro's had served before with distinction. Some sources have stated that he was a "Subaltern", but in documentation by his own hand, he states he was a Sergeant in the 48th. Some references list him as a Major in the 48th, but this is an error which probably originated from the fact that he later was a Captain in the King's Royal Regiment of New York during the American Revolution. He was posted with the 48th to the American Colonies in 1756 for the French-Indian wars, and arrived in America on 8 Jun 1756. He was stationed at the fort in Albany. John was well educated and had moved in the upper levels of the social circles in Scotland. He was soon well acquainted and became a confederate and military companion of Sir William Johnson, kin of the DeLancey family, and became a member of the aristocratic level of the English and Dutch social community. On 12 Apr 1758, he may have married Jane Caldwell, of the socially prominent Caldwell and Van Courtlandt families. Although no marriage record has been found, there exists a marriage bond for a couple with these names bearing a signature comparable to the same John Munro. However, on his subsequent marriage to Mary Brouwer in 1760, John is not listed as a widower, so it is doubtful that the marriage actually took place. John was active throughout the French-Indian campaigns and served with Sir William Johnson in some campaigns. He was present with his Regiment at the capitulation of Quebec. He obtained an early discharge from the Army in 1760, and settled on Crown land grants on the Hudson River in New York Province. His grants and purchases totaled almost 15,000 acres. On 5 Apr 1760, he married Mary (or Maria) Brower (also called Maritje Talbot Gilbert Bruere). She was the daughter of Cornelius and Cornelia (Barlieyt) Brower (or Brouwer) of Schenectady, New York. At this time, John was engaged in the mercantile business in Schenectady and became rather affluent. Before the American Revolutionary War, he moved to Albany and went into business there. While he lived in Albany, he was an elder and trustee in the Scottish Presbyterian Church. In 1767, he built a home on the east side of the Hudson River in Shaftsbury and named his estate Fowlis. His business continued to expand until it included grain and lumber mills, a nail factory and other enterprises. He was active in political and social circles and was appointed Magistrate and Justice of the Peace of the New Hampshire holdings, a controversial area claimed by both New York and New Hampshire. Intolerant of raids conducted by The Green Mountain Boys, John became embroiled in a protracted struggle with Ethan Allen and his New Hampshire supporters for ownership of the same land. Tensions grew as the American Revolutionary War drew closer, and John, who was known for his unswerving loyalty to the crown, was soon marked by the local Patriots. When the New Hampshire contingent seized the opportunity to discredit him, he went to New York to meet with General McLean, his old military commander, who enrolled him as a Captain in the new Royal Highland Emigrants 84th Regiment, which was being raised from Loyalists in New York, many of them previous British troops. Later McLean cited him as being the first to report for duty. McLean commissioned him to return to Vermont and raise a company of Loyalist recruits and to provide intelligence and information on rebel troops, supplies, provisions, arms etc. He used his own money to finance his operations, depleting his farm stores to equip and support the troops he raised. He had several adventures while delivering dispatches and escorting British dignitaries through the rebel lines between New York and the British forts around Quebec and Montreal. Eventually John was seized and imprisoned for 18 months for his Loyalist acts. He was offered freedom if he would accept a commission as Lieutenant Colonel in the American Army, but he refused. He was one of the first Loyalists imprisoned at the Fleet Prison at Esopus. Eventually he was rescued from captivity by his compatriots. Once free, he resumed his Loyalist activities meeting with General Tryon on board the British warship Dutchess of Gordon, where he received 100 pounds with which to pay his recruits and a dispatch to take to the Bishop of Quebec. On his return from Canada, he was recaptured. This time he was sentenced to be hung and narrowly escaped that fate by rescue and flight to the British lines. John joined General Burgoyne in the New York campaign, but realizing that he is about to be defeated, Burgoyne sent John and other well known Loyalists to Canada to avert their being captured by the Americans. Reporting to the British Army at Quebec, he found that the Royal Highland Emigrant commissions were all filled. Instead, he received a commission as Captain in Sir John Johnson's new King's Royal Regiment of New York. Now wearing his red British Uniform as a captain of the first battalion, he officially joined the American Revolutionary War. Eventually he enlisted his oldest son, Hugh, and an Ensign, then Lieutenant in his battalion, and his three other sons as privates. During John's imprisonment and flight Mary remained at the Bennington estate and she and her children became prisoners or hostages of the Patriot Cause. They were allowed to stay in the house and keep two milk cows to provide for the children, but they soon found themselves in dire straights as the Munro estate was picked clean by vindictive neighbors. In desperation, Mary wrote the following letter to John in Montreal: Mr dear John I hope when you receive these few lines they may find you in good health. Your Dear Children are all well, as for myself I am in a poor state of health and very much distresst. I must leave my house in a very short time, and God knows where I shall get a place to put my head on, for my own relations are my greatest enemys, the mills they have had a long time in their possession -- likewaise all your tenants houses and lands -- They have distressed me beyond expression. I have scarcly a mouthful of bread for myself or Childer for heavens sake my dear Mr. Munro send me some relief by the first safe hand. Is there no possibility of your sending for us, if their is no method fallen upon we shall perish, for you can have no idea of our sufferings here, let me once more entreat you to try every method to save your family - my heart is so full it is ready to break -- Adew my Dearest John May God Almighty bless and preserve and protect you, that we may live to see each other is the constant prayers of Your affectionate tho afflicted wife Mary Munro P.S. The Childer send their love to you [Public Archives of Canada MG 21, Vol B214, Pg 35] In 1778, after receiving this letter, Captain Munro wrote to British authorities and Governor Clinton pleading with them to intervene with the American Generals to allow his wife and children to move to Canada as she and their seven children hadn't enough to eat. His plea was successful and Mary left Shaftsbury using money she got from selling some silver plate that she had hidden from her persecutes. She went first to Schenectady but relatives there refused to shelter or help her. She was finally aided by a friend or relative and made her way to Lake Champlain over the roads and Indian trails. There she was provided transportation by boat to Crown point and Fort St. John. John met her there and took her to Montreal where he obtained quarters for the family. In 1784, at the close of hostilities, she was established at L'Assumption. Although the seven children seemed to survive this adventure with little effect, Mary became very ill. She eventually recovered, but she suffered from the debilitating effects of these years for the remainder of her life. Mary was widowed in 1800 and died in Upper Canada, at another manor house and estate called Fowlis, on 12 Apr 1815, aged 76 years, 6 months and 3 days. John was mustered out of the military at half pay in 1781, but John Johnson requested that he help with Land Claims for displaced Loyalists, and he spent three years in England lobbying for settlements for these claimants as well as for himself before returning to Ontario with no success and virtually penniless. In 1784 he accepted Land Grants in the Lunenburg, Upper Canada area, settled by his compatriots from the First Battalion, and was instrumental in settling the Matilda township (later Dundas County). He built a home and established mills and other enterprises. LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF THE HONORABLE JOHN MUNRO, ESQUIRE Filed 16 Dec 1800 (Surrogate Court Records of Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry, Wills 1800-1821, Microfilm Reel 862340, Ontario Archives) "I give and bequeath to my loving wife MARY MUNRO during her natural life my dwelling house with so much of the furniture as will be necessary for her comfort and support, together with so much of the live cattle as she might have question for, that in any case any of my sons should marry, and that she might wish to remove that then and in that case the other house on the farm shall be repaired and made comfortable and warm, that she shall be supported from the income of the property under the direction of the Executors as shall be hereafter named in this my will, that in case it should so happen that either of my sons or daughters should leave her under this protection, she is to have the same allowance from the estate as if she were living by herself, in order to compensate them for their support, I further will, that twelve hundred acres that I have located in her own name shall be within her own right to will to whom she pleases at her death. It is also my will that each of my children shall enjoy twelve hundred acres to each, that is to say, to HARRY 1200 acres, to JOHN 1200 acres, to WILLIAM 1200 acres, to CHRISTINA 1200 acres, to CHARLOTTE 1200 acres, to CORNELIA 1200 acres, which I have located for them, and shall do my duty to have the same granted in their own names, with respect to my Military Lands. It is my will that no part should be disposed of, unless necessity requires it to pay my debts, until such time as land will become of full value. To my three grandchildren I give and bequeath the twelve hundred acres granted to me by the Government for giving up my claim to the township, that is to say, to Hugh's SON four hundred acres, to JOHN MOUNT four hundred acres, and to Cornelius' Son JOHN four hundred acres, to be equally divided between them. The remaining rest of my property to be divided between my three sons HENRY,WILLIAM and JOHN, reserving to my son HENRY the money he has advanced for the payment of land purchased from his brother HUGH. That in case I shall not be able to obtain some lands for my son Hugh's children, HENRY, JOHN and WILLIAM will give a fourth part of the undivided remains to his children, when the property is divided, but in case I shall be able to get lands for himself or his children and in that case the remainder of any property is vested in Henry, John and William and to their heirs and assigns forever. I beg and pray that my children shall agree amongst themselves and it is my will in case of any dispute in settling among themselves it shall be finally settled by my Executors and not be any mean go to court and that the settlement made by the Executors shall be binding and finally settled. I further will and authorize my Executors to make sale and dispose of so much of my property as will be necessary to pay my debts which may be honestly due upon the Estate after my decease if it cannot be otherwise discharged. I struggle hard and shall so long as God is pleased to spare me in this life to clear my Estate of incumbrance that whatever remains may be of service to my dear family. I bequeath to my son CORNELIUS my sword and I hope he will think I have done by him as well as the rest of his brothers, they are all equally beloved by their poor old father, and if I should err in any way in this my will its not with a design to favor one more than the other, that they will be friendly and kind to one another and that they will never see one another in distress without giving relief to each other, and they will be prudent, careful, and industrious to make the best use of what may remain of the Estate after all debts is paid. I do appoint my loving Nephew HUGH MUNRO, ESQ., Doctor PHILLIP MOUNT, Malcolm McMartin, Esq., my Cousin HUGH MUNRO, Esq., THOMAS FRASER, Esq., and my son HENRY MUNRO or any three of them, to be my Executors, giving these full power and authority and anything to do all lawful deeds and acts, the same as I would do in my lifetime. For the use and benefit of my poor family I further will that my son HENRY, DR. PHILIP MOUNT shall be trustees to oversee and regulate all and everything belonging to my Estate to prevent waste or mismanagement in carrying this my will on to Execution and last of all I give all my loving family my blessing, praying that God may bless and prosper them in this life and in the life to come. In witness whereof I hereunder set my hand seal at the fourteenth day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred. (s) John Munro Signed, sealed and published and delivered by the Testator JOHN MUNRO as and for his last will and testament in presence of each other have hereto subscribed our names respectively as witnesses: (s) Rev. F.C.L.Broeffle, br T. Fraser, CORNs Munro" LETTER FROM JOHN MUNRO TO CHILDREN (Accompanies Will) "My dear children and friends, my Executors in which I have every confidence to do all for the best. I request that you will bear all your Mother's unfortunate temper with patience as I have done and that she might have what will be sufficient to keep her comfortable during her lifetime. I should have appointed her Executrix, but being sensible of her disposition, I conceived it dangerous to the interest of all the family as her rashness of temper might lead her to what she afterwards would be sorry for, injurious to herself or her children. I request that my silver watch will be delivered to my son WILLIAM, and my miniature picture be given to my son HUGH, being my oldest ... any clothing I may have to my son JOHN. I further request of all my children to let John have the best part in making the decision in consideration of him staying with his father and mother to carry on the business, and be good to him, for he is little acquainted with the world and the nature of mankind to guard against every advantage which may be taken of him, which is indeed my reason for not giving him more power. Be kind and friendly to one another upon all occasions and should it so happen that the one is more successful than another let him give his assistance to him who may be in want, resoluting that all blessings is from the Hand of Providence. I shall leave a list of what I may be indebted at the time of making this my last will and testament as near as I can recollect. God grant you his blessing which is the prayer and will be while. (s) John Munro" The family erected a stone at his original burial site which was later flooded by the St. Lawrence Seaway Project. It stated "The Honorable John Munro, Esq. one of his Majesty's Legislative Council of Upper Canada, Formerly Captain in the King's late Royal Regiment of New York who died 27th of October, 1800 age 72 years." The Munro burial marker stones were relocated at the Riverside Heights U.E.L. Memorial Cemetery with Honors in 1968. Also included in the new burial plot, surrounded with an ornate wrought iron fence, was the grave site of his wife Mary with the following inscription: "Here lies the remains of Mary Brewer (sic) relict of the late Hon. John Munro who departed this life the 12 April AD 1815 age 76 years. This humble monument is erected to her revered memory by her affectionate daughter Charlotte Munro de Lotbinere." The spelling of her name varies in references, however, the error in spelling here occurred when the old original markers were refaced and a copy of the old inscription was engraved on the new marble back in preparation for the UEL Memorial. Ref: Clan Munro files - Munro, James Donald Stroud, Anna Margaret References: (1) "The Munro Beacon" - Spring/Summer 1996 - Vol. 22, No. 2 - p. 5 (3) "The Munro Eagle" - number 27 - summer 1997-1998 - p. 29-30 Ref: "The Monroe Book" by Dr. Joan S. Guilford - New York Unconnected Monroes Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

  
  

• Sources

  [S14] Clan Munro files - Munro, Henry Dallas, Henry Dallas Munro, GEDCOM file - prepared 8 Oct 1996 - RIN 78-79 (Reliability: 3). [S830] Munro Beacon, J. Tuskin Ed. Vol. 33, No. 4 (Winter 2011): Published by The Clan Munro Association of Canada. (Reliability: 3). [S14] Clan Munro files - Munro, Henry Dallas, Henry Dallas Munro, GEDCOM file - prepared 8 Oct 1996 - RIN 73 (Reliability: 3).