Peter Matthews c.1789-1838

Photo by Alan L Brown - June 7, 2004

Plaque Location

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

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.

Here's More
Information

Related page from my torontohistory.org website:
Samuel Lount and Peter Matthews

Here's More
Rebellion of 1837

---

Here are the comments for this page.

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.

Write a comment for this page.

Note: Comments are moderated. Yours will appear on this page within 24 hours (usually much sooner).