"The Bloody Assize" 1814

Photo by Alan L Brown - Posted April, 2004

Plaque Location

The City of Hamilton
In Ancaster, on the north side of Wilson Street East between
Sulphur Springs Road and Rousseaux Street/Mohawk Road

Coordinates: N 43 13.638 W 79 58.570

Plaque Text

During the war of 1812 marauding bands of renegade settlers, many of whom had defected to the United States from the Niagara and London Districts, were active in Southwestern Upper Canada. A number were captured, and in May, 1814, nineteen prisoners were indicted for High Treason. A special court was authorized to sit at Ancaster, and the acting attorney-general, John Beverly Robinson, instructed to prosecute. The trials were conducted by Chief Justice Thomas Scott and Puisné Judges William Dummer Powell and William Campbell. Fifteen were condemned to death as traitors. On July 20, 1814, eight were executed at Burlington Heights and the remainder sentenced to exile. These trials became known as the "Bloody Assize".

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War of 1812

Here are the visitors' comments for this page.

Posted November 14, 2011
To the person who posted their great great grandfather was Adam Crysler. I am writing a play about the 8 men hanged at Burlington Heights and wonder if you have any more information on Crysler.
Thanks. lorilemare@bell.net

Posted December 13, 2010
My 3rd great grandfather Garrett Null (Neill in some records) was found guilty 9 June 1814 and died in the Kingston jail, of typhus, 6 Mar 1815. Ken Heeter at kjheeter1@verizon.net

Posted September 21, 2010
My Great....Great Grandfather was Adam Crysler who was hanged 20 July 1814.

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