General Chat

Specifically the Toronto Area.

I have a very old sketch-book with sketches made in the Toronto area in 1849/50

One shows an fort and the sketch says "Fort Henry from Cedar Island July 9th 1850"

I've googled Fort Henry and have found a site for the fort located near Kingston, Ontario.

I cannot tell from the sketch whether the fort is a substantial one, nor whether it is built of stone or of wood.

It would, however, appear to be operational as the Union flag is shown hoisted.

My question is, were (or are) there two Fort Henrys in the area?

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

Regards

Allan

n

Allan, I am near Niagara Falls, but spent the latter part of my childhood in Toronto. As far as I know, The fort in Toronto is Fort York, while Old Fort Henry is in Kingston,Ontario. Not sure if there is a Cedar Island among the 'thousand islands' in the St Lawrence river, Kingston area, but as far as I know the island by Toronto has always been called Centre Island. If anyone else can shed more light, feel free, I'm not an expert, but wanted Allan to have a response!!
mary

Many thanks maxiMary,

I have had to use a magnifying glass to read the label so it could have been wrong.

I will google Fort York to see what results I get.

Other comments/views more than welcome

Regards to you all

Allan in Oz

~~waves to Allan and Mary~~

Oh blimey, I was in Toronto and Niagara Falls a fortnight ago! Ooh, getting those withdrawal symptoms again!

Both lovely places. BTW Allan, good luck with your search.
x

According to my "Rough Guide to Canada"

Fort Henry and Fort Frederick

The twin headlands over the Lasalle Causeway to the east of downtown Kingston have long been used by the military. The first home to the Royal Military Colleage, the training academy for officers of all three services; the second to Fort Henry (open late May to Sept daily 10am - 5pm www.forthenry.com) a large and imposing fortress built to keep the Americans at bay after the War of 1812. The fort's thick stone and earth ramparts are flush with the lie of the land to protect against artillery bombardment, but as it turned out it was all a waste of time and money. Anglo-American relations improved and the fort never saw a shot fired in anger, so when the last garrison upped sticks at the end of the nineteenth century, the fortress fell into disrepair. Restored in 1938, the fort's focus is now the large parade ground, where students periodically dress up in military gear and fill the fort with the smoke of muskets and cannons and the racket of bugles, drums and fifes. These period enactments are firmly aimed at families, and theres lots for kids to do, from joining in on drill parades and helping with the gun salute, to participating in lessons in a Victorian school room and doing the laundry. If this does not appeal you can explore the ramparts with their vistas of Lake Ontario and the Thousand Islands, and examine the forts magazines, kitchens and officers quarters. Proto-miliarists can also double their fun by visiting the RMC Museum (Royal Military College Museum; July, and August daily 10am-5pm. in Fort Frederick, a Martello tower on the more westerly headland, which is stuffed with military bric-a-brac.

Harpstrings x (in England)

Allan

Have you misinterpreted what the sketch says

One shows an fort and the sketch says "Fort Henry from Cedar Island July 9th 1850"

The artist drew the sketch from Cedar Island looking out towards Fort Henry.


Also a p.s. to my first post, in the index to Routh Guide to ... it only mentions one Fort Henry, that in Kingston, Ontario.

Hope that helps. :)

Harpstrings x

Glenace the Menace - how envious I am of you, I was so hoping to visit Canada this year, but OH has had a fit of the vapours about flying! :((((

Harpstrings xxx

hi Glenys and HS,

many thanks for your responses.

the sketch is very "sketchy" lol but as I said, it is unclear whether it is a sbstantial fort or not.

In a roundabout way I am trying to trace my grandfather, Clifford Mortimer, and although the sketch book is from before he was born (c1860) family tradition has it that these books came from his side of the family.

As other sketches from earlier in the book are from Ireland and Scotland, I have concludede, rightly or wrongly, that perhaps my grandfather's father may have been in the Army.

I have posted a thread on the TTF board regarding Clifford but in summary, I have his marriage cert and death cert but nothing in any census before 1911 (marriage 1904, Death 1930,)

again, all suggestions are welcome

Regards

Allan

Tina, my sis-in-law was the same as your OH, but being half-Canadian she really wanted to go on this trip (she did come, after all). We said to her that our only gripe with flying is that it makes your arms ache (think about it, lol).
She was so glad she went, as she and my OH saw the very address where their late father was born. They also met cousins for the first time.
Whether you have family, friends or not out there, if the piggy bank allows it, I'd urge you both to go. You'll love it.
x

Yup, Fort Henry is in Kingston. Been there! Love Kingston for a weekend getaway, and love all the old forts along the St. Lawrence Seaway.

Here ya go.

http://www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/on/lawren/natcul/natcul1b_e.asp

Cathcart Martello Tower, Cedar Island

Cedar Island, located just off the shore from historic Fort Henry, is the site of Cathcart Martello Tower, one of four such towers built in the 1840s to protect Kingston's harbour and the entrance to the Rideau Canal. Their construction was prompted by a dispute between Great Britain and the United States over the boundary between British Columbia and Oregon that threatened to lead to war and to the invasion of Canada.. When war was averted, Cathcart Tower was used for a time as a barracks for soldiers garrisoned at nearby Fort Henry. Eventually it was abandoned. It is now a national historic site within the boundaries of St. Lawrence Islands National Park.

My thanks to you all.

Susan,

tried various combinations of the name, and can find no trace of Clifford.

the informant of his death was my grand mother....which doesn't take me any further.

Many kind people on this site have tried to help but to no avail.

I will nudge the thread forward on the TTF board in case any new members can help

Once again my thanks to you all

Nudging for people ... urgh, makes me nuts ...

Here's the other thread, with my compliments!

http://www.genesreunited.co.uk/boards.asp?wci=thread&tk=1127809