Samuel Lount
Encyclopedia
Samuel Lount was a businessman and political figure in the province of Upper Canada
. He participated in the Upper Canada Rebellion
of 1837.
He was born in Catawissa, Pennsylvania
, United States
, in 1791 and he came to Whitchurch Township
in Upper Canada in 1811 with his family. He returned to Pennsylvania during the War of 1812
, returning to Whitchurch in 1815. He briefly kept a tavern in Newmarket
while doing work as a surveyor, but spent most of his adult life as a blacksmith
in Holland Landing
. As blacksmith, he helped to build the first steamboat on Lake Simcoe
.
In 1834, he was elected to the 12th Parliament of Upper Canada
representing Simcoe County
, where he became a supporter of William Lyon Mackenzie
. After he was defeated in the election of 1836, he joined the movement pressing the British
government for reforms.
In the winter of 1837, Lount helped organize people from the Simcoe area to join a planned march on Toronto
and joined the rebel group gathered at Montgomery’s Tavern
.
When the rebellion fell apart, Lount attempted to flee to the United States
, but was arrested and accused of treason
. He was hanged on April 12, 1838 in the courtyard of the King Street Gaol at King and Toronto Streets in Toronto. Peter Matthews
, another public-spirited farmer who participated in the rebellion, was executed along side him.
Lount had intervened to try to get medical aid for loyalist Lieutenant Colonel Robert Moodie and had stopped Mackenzie from burning the house of sheriff William Botsford Jarvis
. However, the Executive Council of the province had felt that they needed to set an example. Lount was accompanied by Matthews.
Lount's last words were recorded: "Be of good courage boys, I am not ashamed of anything I've done, I trust in God, and I'm going to die like a man." These words are replicated on a historical plaque near the site of the jail where he was executed.
).
Upper Canada
The Province of Upper Canada was a political division in British Canada established in 1791 by the British Empire to govern the central third of the lands in British North America and to accommodate Loyalist refugees from the United States of America after the American Revolution...
. He participated in the Upper Canada Rebellion
Upper Canada Rebellion
The Upper Canada Rebellion was, along with the Lower Canada Rebellion in Lower Canada, a rebellion against the British colonial government in 1837 and 1838. Collectively they are also known as the Rebellions of 1837.-Issues:...
of 1837.
He was born in Catawissa, Pennsylvania
Catawissa, Pennsylvania
Catawissa is a borough in Columbia County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,589 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Bloomsburg–Berwick Micropolitan Statistical Area....
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, in 1791 and he came to Whitchurch Township
Whitchurch-Stouffville, Ontario
Whitchurch–Stouffville is a municipality in the Greater Toronto Area of Ontario, Canada, approximately 14 kilometres north of the City of Toronto. It is 206.74 square kilometers in size, and located in the mid-eastern area of the Regional Municipality of York on the ecologically sensitive Oak...
in Upper Canada in 1811 with his family. He returned to Pennsylvania during the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
, returning to Whitchurch in 1815. He briefly kept a tavern in Newmarket
Newmarket, Ontario
Newmarket is a town in Southern Ontario located approximately 50 km north of downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is part of the Greater Toronto Area and is connected to Toronto by freeway, and is served by three interchanges along Highway 404. It is also connected to Highway 400 via Highway 9...
while doing work as a surveyor, but spent most of his adult life as a blacksmith
Blacksmith
A blacksmith is a person who creates objects from wrought iron or steel by forging the metal; that is, by using tools to hammer, bend, and cut...
in Holland Landing
Holland Landing, Ontario
Holland Landing is a village in the town of East Gwillimbury, located in the northern part of the Regional Municipality of York, in south-central Ontario, Canada. Its major road is Yonge Street and the village has bus service by GO Transit and York Region Transit...
. As blacksmith, he helped to build the first steamboat on Lake Simcoe
Lake Simcoe
Lake Simcoe is a lake in Southern Ontario, Canada, the fourth-largest lake wholly in the province, after Lake Nipigon, Lac Seul, and Lake Nipissing. At the time of the first European contact in the 17th century the lake was called Ouentironk by the Huron natives...
.
In 1834, he was elected to the 12th Parliament of Upper Canada
12th Parliament of Upper Canada
The 12th Parliament of Upper Canada was opened 15 January 1835. Elections in Upper Canada had been held in October 1834. All sessions were held at York, Upper Canada. This parliament was dissolved 28 May 1836 by the new Lieutenant Governor, Sir Francis Bond Head. Head ordered a new election...
representing Simcoe County
Simcoe County, Ontario
Simcoe County is located in central portion of Southern Ontario. The County is situated just north of the Greater Toronto Area stretching from the shores of Lake Simcoe in the east to Georgian Bay in the west...
, where he became a supporter of William Lyon Mackenzie
William Lyon Mackenzie
William Lyon Mackenzie was a Scottish born American and Canadian journalist, politician, and rebellion leader. He served as the first mayor of Toronto, Upper Canada and was an important leader during the 1837 Upper Canada Rebellion.-Background and early years in Scotland, 1795–1820:Mackenzie was...
. After he was defeated in the election of 1836, he joined the movement pressing the British
Kingdom of Great Britain
The former Kingdom of Great Britain, sometimes described as the 'United Kingdom of Great Britain', That the Two Kingdoms of Scotland and England, shall upon the 1st May next ensuing the date hereof, and forever after, be United into One Kingdom by the Name of GREAT BRITAIN. was a sovereign...
government for reforms.
In the winter of 1837, Lount helped organize people from the Simcoe area to join a planned march on Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
and joined the rebel group gathered at Montgomery’s Tavern
Confrontation at Montgomery's Tavern
The Battle of Montgomery's Tavern was an incident in the Upper Canada Rebellion. The abortive revolutionary insurrection inspired by William Lyon Mackenzie was crushed by British authorities and Canadian volunteer units near a tavern on Yonge Street, Toronto.The site of Montgomery's Tavern was...
.
When the rebellion fell apart, Lount attempted to flee to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, but was arrested and accused of treason
Treason
In law, treason is the crime that covers some of the more extreme acts against one's sovereign or nation. Historically, treason also covered the murder of specific social superiors, such as the murder of a husband by his wife. Treason against the king was known as high treason and treason against a...
. He was hanged on April 12, 1838 in the courtyard of the King Street Gaol at King and Toronto Streets in Toronto. Peter Matthews
Peter Matthews (rebel)
Peter Matthews was a farmer and soldier who participated in the Upper Canada Rebellion of 1837.He was born in the Bay of Quinte region of Upper Canada around 1789, the son of United Empire Loyalists. In 1799, the family moved to Pickering Township. Peter served with Isaac Brock as a sergeant in...
, another public-spirited farmer who participated in the rebellion, was executed along side him.
Lount had intervened to try to get medical aid for loyalist Lieutenant Colonel Robert Moodie and had stopped Mackenzie from burning the house of sheriff William Botsford Jarvis
William Botsford Jarvis
William Botsford Jarvis was an important member of the Family Compact and Sheriff of the Home District. His estate in what was then York, Upper Canada gave it's name to Rosedale, Toronto...
. However, the Executive Council of the province had felt that they needed to set an example. Lount was accompanied by Matthews.
Lount's last words were recorded: "Be of good courage boys, I am not ashamed of anything I've done, I trust in God, and I'm going to die like a man." These words are replicated on a historical plaque near the site of the jail where he was executed.
In popular culture
Samuel Lount, a 1985 film by Laurence Keane and Elvira Mary Lount (a great-great-grandniece of Samuel), portrayed the life of Samuel Lount (R. H. ThomsonR. H. Thomson
Robert Holmes "R. H." Thomson, is a Canadian television, film and stage actor.Thomson was born in Richmond Hill, Ontario. He studied at the University of Toronto, and the National Theatre School. His own play The Lost Boys was staged at the Great Canadian Theatre Company in March 2000 and at...
).