Joseph Ryerson (28 February 1761 – 9 August 1854) was a
United Empire Loyalist
United Empire Loyalist (UEL; or simply Loyalist) is an honorific title which was first given by the 1st Lord Dorchester, the governor of Quebec and governor general of the Canadas, to American Loyalists who resettled in British North Ameri ...
, Lieutenant in the Prince of Wales American Volunteers in the
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War (April 19, 1775 – September 3, 1783), also known as the Revolutionary War or American War of Independence, was the armed conflict that comprised the final eight years of the broader American Revolution, in which Am ...
, a Lieutenant-Colonel Commanding the First Regiments of the Norfolk Militia in the
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was fought by the United States and its allies against the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, United Kingdom and its allies in North America. It began when the United States United States declaration of war on the Uni ...
and father of
Egerton Ryerson
Adolphus Egerton Ryerson (24 March 1803 – 19 February 1882) was a Canadian educator, author, editor, and Methodist minister who was a prominent contributor to the design of the Canadian public school system. Ryerson is considered to be the fo ...
. Ryerson was a descendant of Dutch immigrants who held judicial appointments to King George II and
King George III
George III (George William Frederick; 4 June 173829 January 1820) was King of Great Britain and King of Ireland, Ireland from 25 October 1760 until his death in 1820. The Acts of Union 1800 unified Kingdom of Great Britain, Great Britain and ...
.
Some texts include the spelling of the surname as "Ryerse" rather than Ryerson. This was the result of a mistake in Ryerson's brother, Samuel's military commission at the start of the Revolutionary War. The mistake continued through Samuel's military career and was finally retained in that branch of the Ryerson family.
Early years
Joseph Ryerson was born in 1761 in
Paterson, New Jersey
Paterson ( ) is the largest City (New Jersey), city in and the county seat of Passaic County, New Jersey, Passaic County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey.
Revolutionary War
At the outbreak of war in 1776, Ryerson entered the war on 6 May 1776, as a cadet. He was too small of stature to handle a musket and therefore was assigned a "light fowling-piece" or a light shotgun used for hunting fowl. Later in 1776, he joined an infantry corps that was intended to besiege
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the List of municipalities in South Carolina, most populous city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The city lies just south of the geographical midpoint of South Carolina's coastline on Charleston Harbor, an inlet of the Atla ...
. The mission being extremely hard and dangerous, only one-sixth of the original 550 men returned to the Northern States, Ryerson being one of those returned.
In recognition of his service in the Charleston campaign, in 1778, he was made an ensign in the Prince of Wales Regiment. No stranger to risk-taking, while on a scouting expedition, he crawled up to a tent of American Officers. He was discovered, by one, standing at the door of the tent, and then plunged his bayonet into the heart of the American before others could give pursuit. Altogether, he fought in six battles, several minor encounters and was wounded.
As a result of his service and courage, he was in 1779 promoted to the rank of lieutenant in the Prince of Wales Regiment.
Ryerson had earned the respect of his comrades, one of which, Peter Redner, of the Bay Quinté, described him as "a man of daring intrepidity, and a great favourite in his company". Redner represented Ryerson as being one of the "most determined men he ever knew, with the service of his great country uppermost in his mind, he often exposed himself to great danger to accomplish his desires."
United Empire loyalist
At the conclusion of the war, Ryerson who held allegiance to the British Crown, could not remain in his home state of New Jersey. He moved to
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is a Provinces and Territories of Canada, province of Canada, bordering Quebec to the north, Nova Scotia to the east, the Gulf of Saint Lawrence to the northeast, the Bay of Fundy to the southeast, and the U.S. state of Maine to ...
receiving land at Majorville, Saint John. From there, in 1799, he transferred to
Charlotteville
Charlotteville is a village lying on the northeastern tip of Tobago on Man-o-War Bay.
History
The first European settlement on Man-o-War Bay was part of the colony of Nieuw Walcheren established by Jan de Moor, the burgomaster of Vlissingen ...
in
Upper Canada
The Province of Upper Canada () was a Province, part of The Canadas, British Canada established in 1791 by the Kingdom of Great Britain, to govern the central third of the lands in British North America, formerly part of the Province of Queb ...
where he remained until his death.
Ever the public servant, Ryerson could not refrain from public office. In 1800, he was made a member of the first commission of magistrates and became Chairman of the Courts of Quart Sessions. Additionally, he served as high sheriff and treasurer of the London District.
War of 1812
When the
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was fought by the United States and its allies against the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, United Kingdom and its allies in North America. It began when the United States United States declaration of war on the Uni ...
broke out, Ryerson was tapped by
Isaac Brock
Major-General Sir Isaac Brock KB (6 October 1769 – 13 October 1812) was a British Army officer and colonial administrator from Guernsey. He is best remembered for his victory at the Siege of Detroit and his death at the Battle of Quee ...
to be a Lieutenant Colonel Commanding the First Regiments of the Norfolk Militia. Ryerson, his brother Samuel and his sons, George, William and John, also served to defend Canada from the Americans. Egerton at the time was too young to join in the fighting. In 1830, Joseph tendered his resignation not out of lack of desire, but citing reasons of ill health and advanced age (he was 69 years old).
Personal life
In 1784, he married Sarah Mehetable Stickney. Together, they had the following children: George (1792–1884), William, John (?–1878), Egerton, Edwy (1808–1858), and Samuel. In 1850, Sarah died at 84 years of age. Joseph continued living a vigorous life after the death of his wife; riding and walking several miles the Friday before his death, in 1854.