Willet Casey
Encyclopedia
Willet Casey was a farmer and political figure in Upper Canada
.
He was born in Rhode Island
in 1762. Casey was a Quaker and was viewed with hostility because he would not join in the combat. His father Samuel had been killed during the American Revolution
. He first settled near Lake Champlain
in the belief that it was held by the British
. After the boundary was established, he moved to Adolphustown Township
around 1790. He was elected to the 5th Parliament of Upper Canada
in an 1811 by-election for Lennox
& Addington
after John Roblin
was disqualified because he was a Methodist
preacher; Casey was reflected in 1816.
His son Samuel
also represented Lennox & Addington in the assembly and his grandson, Willet Casey Dorland, served in the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada
. His nephew William E. Niles
also served in the legislative assembly.
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 was born in Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
in 1762. Casey was a Quaker and was viewed with hostility because he would not join in the combat. His father Samuel had been killed during the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
. He first settled near Lake Champlain
Lake Champlain
Lake Champlain is a natural, freshwater lake in North America, located mainly within the borders of the United States but partially situated across the Canada—United States border in the Canadian province of Quebec.The New York portion of the Champlain Valley includes the eastern portions of...
in the belief that it was held by 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...
. After the boundary was established, he moved to Adolphustown Township
Adolphustown, Ontario
Adolphustown is a geographic area located in Greater Napanee, Ontario, Canada, at on the Adolphus Reach of the Bay of Quinte in Lake Ontario. It was founded in 1784 by United Empire Loyalists. The original Loyalist Landing site is now the U.E.L...
around 1790. He was elected to the 5th Parliament of Upper Canada
5th Parliament of Upper Canada
The 5th Parliament of Upper Canada was opened 2 February 1809. Elections in Upper Canada had been held in May 1808. All sessions were held at York, Upper Canada and sat at the Parliament Buildings of Upper Canada...
in an 1811 by-election for Lennox
Lennox County, Ontario
Lennox County is a historic county in what is now the Canadian province of Ontario.As an upper-tier municipality, the county of Lennox was created on paper in 1792, but has never existed as a discrete municipal entity. From 1792 until 1864, it was part of the United Counties of Frontenac, Lennox...
& Addington
Addington County, Ontario
Addington County is a historic county in what is now the Canadian province of Ontario.It was named after Henry Addington, 1st Viscount Sidmouth. As an upper-tier municipality, the county of Addington was created on paper in 1792, but has never existed as a discrete municipal entity. From 1792...
after John Roblin
John Roblin
John Roblin was a farmer and political figure in Upper Canada.He was born in Smiths Clove Orange County, New York in 1774. He was a United Empire Loyalist and after the American Revolution, he settled in Adolphustown Township. He was elected to the 5th Parliament of Upper Canada for Lennox and...
was disqualified because he was a Methodist
Methodism
Methodism is a movement of Protestant Christianity represented by a number of denominations and organizations, claiming a total of approximately seventy million adherents worldwide. The movement traces its roots to John Wesley's evangelistic revival movement within Anglicanism. His younger brother...
preacher; Casey was reflected in 1816.
His son Samuel
Samuel Casey (Upper Canada politician)
Samuel Casey was a farmer and political figure in Upper Canada.He was born in Adolphustown Township in Upper Canada in 1788, the son of Willet Casey. He served in the local militia during the War of 1812, becoming lieutenant in 1823 and captain of cavalry in 1834...
also represented Lennox & Addington in the assembly and his grandson, Willet Casey Dorland, served in the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada
Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada
The Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada was the lower house of the legislature for the Province of Canada, which consisted of the former provinces of Lower Canada, then known as Canada East and later the province of Quebec, and Upper Canada, then known as Canada West and later the...
. His nephew William E. Niles
William E. Niles
William E. Niles was a farmer, businessman and political figure in Canada West.He was born in Coeymans, New York in 1799 and came to Upper Canada to live with his uncle Willet Casey in Adolphustown Township. He later moved to Detroit and then settled on a farm in Upper Canada near the current...
also served in the legislative assembly.