"Laura Secord 1775-1868. To perpetuate the name and fame of Laura Secord who walked alone nearly 20 miles by a circuitous, difficult and perilous route through the woods and swamps and over miry roads to warn a British outpost at De Cew's Falls of an intended attack and thereby enabled Lieut. Fitzgibbon on the 24th of June 1813, with less than 50 men of H.M. 49th Regt., about 15 militiamen and small force of Six Nations and other Indians under Captains William Johnson Kerr and Dominque Ducharme to surprise and attack the enemy at Beechwoods (or Beaverdams), and after a short engagement, to capture Col. Boerstler of the U.S. Army and his entire force of 542 men with two field pieces."
But first; who was Laura Ingersoll? Like so many of the American Immigrants, more commonly known as United Empire Loyalists, her personna is of a humble farm girl, living in the backwoods of Canada, with little more on her mind than baking the next loaf of bread or milking the cow for supper. The many stories about her life certainly play into this, until she's become almost a fictional character; everything from a chocolateer to a norotious spy. In fact, she was neither.
Laura Ingersoll was born on September 13, 1775 in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, the daughter of Thomas Ingersoll and Elizabeth Dewey.
Her father opened a tavern at Queenston, near Niagra, and was no doubt requainted with many old neighbors, including a large group of former natives, who found that they did not have a place in the new America, and followed the 'Loyalists', more than a decade previous.
The name was brought to North America by Ambroise Sicard, a "Saunier" or salt farmer from Mornac, near Marennes, just south of La Rochelle, France. His family had been in the area since the 4th century, but as a Hugenot (Protestant), he was forced to flee with his wife and six children, in 1681; leaving most of his worldly possessions behind, including vineyards, valued at about 40 livres. It is believed that his wife and one child may have perished at sea or died while in England, because by the time he arrived on American soil, he was a single father with a family of five. The name Sicard was derived from Sighard, and could be found in the early records as Secor, Seacord and Secord, the latter being the name that Laura assumed when she married James.
Ambroise's relocation was financed by the London Church's Refugee Committee, who arranged his family's transport to the Colonies, and he became one of the founding fathers of New Rochelle, New York. Considered to be of "Middle Quality" he was given 40 pounds as start up capital. In 1689, he signed an Oath of Allegiance to the Crown, listing his age as 67 and marital status as widowed. In 1696, he purchased 95 acres of land in New Rochelle and in 1710, at the age of 75, he was still residing on that property. The five children accounted for were Ambroise Jr., Daniel, Jacques, Marie and Sylvie.
The second eldest, Daniel, married Catherine Woertman in 1696, and they had a son Daniel, who married Catherine Mabille. Daniel and Catherine had a son James who married Madeliene Badeau and they had a son James, who would later become Laura Ingersoll's husband.
James Secord had joined the "Green Tigers", the 49th Regiment of Infantry under Brock, and fought alongside the Caughnawaga, a military division comprised of Mohawk-speaking Iroquois who were also descendants of United Empire Loyalists. James had been injured in battle and was at home recuperating when a group of American soldiers, burst into his home on the fateful evening of June 21, 1813. They demanded that Laura make them dinner and 'liberated' the Secord family of the contents of their "wine cellar". Laura and James were living comfortably with the income from their mercantile establishment, something that would not have gone unnoticed by the invaders.
As the evening wore on, the wine loosened tongues and Laura overheard a plot to attack the British forces at Beaverdams. Lieutenant James Fitzgibbons had a small force there as a defense against such assaults. Knowing that her husband was unable to walk very far, she decided to go to her brother Charles to see if he could get a message to Fitzgibbons. However, when she arrived at his home, he was in bed with a fever and his sons were off fighting with the militia, so with no other alternative, Laura decided to get the message to him herself. Avoiding the main roads, she chose a circular path through the dense woods and swamps, with the constant threat of wildcats, wolves and rattlesnakes. Her young niece, Elizabeth, accompanied her for part of the journey, but turned back after the first few hours, unable to convince her aunt to do the same.
Worn from exhaustion, she fainted in the woods, but was fortunately discovered by a Mohawk leader, who after hearing her story, ordered one of his men to escort the woman to De Cews House, where Fitzgibbons and his men were staying.
Laura Ingersoll Secord died on October 17, 1868 at Chippewa; a true Canadian Heroine.
I'll tell you a tale of a women brave, and her deed of honest daring.
Laura Secord was American born, in the state of Massachusetts,
But she made her home in Canada and proved so faithful to us.
Chorus:
There's American guns and five hundred men,
So the warning must be given.
Laura Ingersoll Secord is the stalwart heart,
Who braved the heat, and the flies and the swamp,
To warn Colonel FitzGibbon.
Soldiers pounding at the door, they've come from across the boarder.
American officers march inside, it's food and drink they order.
In comfort they have dined and drunk, their own success they've toasted,
But they pay no heed to the woman who hears their plan so widely boasted.
(Repeat Chorus)
"Oh! James I've overheard it all, a surprise attack their making.
FitzGibbon they intend to smash, his men for prisoners taking.
But James, a warning never you'll take, with your wounded knee and shoulder.
I myself must carry it past the sentries and the soldiers."
(Repeat Chorus)
It's an all day tramp to the British camp, by way of Shipman's Corners.
With snakes and flies, and sweat in her eyes, there is no respite for her.
She's lost her shoes in the muck of the bog, her feet are torn and blistered,
But there's many a soldier lad to be spared, if the message be delivered.
(Repeat Chorus)
So all you Yankee soldier lads who dare to cross our boarder,
Thinking to save us from ourselves, disturbing British order,
There's women and men, Canadians all of every rank and station,
To stand on guard and keep us free, from Yankee domination!
