Peter Matthews c.1789-1838

Photo by Alan L Brown - Posted June, 2004

Plaque Location

The Region of Durham
The City of Pickering
In Brougham, on the northwest corner of
Highway 7 and Brougham Road
1 block east of Brock Road

Coordinates: N 43 55.149 W 79 06.327

Plaque Text

Peter Matthews farmed the lands immediately northeast of here in the early nineteenth century. On December 2, 1837, neighbours asked him to lead men from the area to join an uprising against the government in Toronto planned by William Lyon Mackenzie. Matthews supported democratic reforms, was popular in his community, and had served in the War of 1812. He agreed to the request and played a leading role in the confused events of the Rebellion of 1837. When the rebellion failed, Matthews was captured by government militia. Authorities decided to make an example of Matthews and another prominent rebel, Samuel Lount. Convicted of treason and publicly hanged they became martyrs of the rebellion whose memory would be invoked by reformers for generations to come.

Related Ontario plaque page
Samuel Lount 1791-1838

Related Toronto plaque pages
Samuel Lount and Peter Matthews
William Lyon Mackenzie 1795-1861

More
Information

More
Rebellion of 1837

Here are the visitors' comments for this page.

Posted April 15, 2010
I feel so happy for the people that have great uncle's like him. Also this page is very helpful for school projects especially for ones that are really hard.

Posted November 13, 2008
Peter Matthews is my great, great, great, great, great, uncle!

Posted June 17, 2008
I think that this page was very helpful with my history project, and I can't wait to recommend it to my friends.

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