Part 3 of 3

FortErie Earl Plato
Final 3 of 3: Writer’s note: Globe and Empire reporter, Fred Williams, never mentioned Fort Erie’s historic St. Paul’s church by name in his lengthy article. Nevertheless, that’s the structure he is talking about. He continued. “In 1820 the chapelry of Chippawa was proclaimed in the townships of Stamford and Willoughby. Rev. William Leeming became the first minister recording baptisms. Marriages and burials at Fort Erie, Bertie and Waterloo. A church of sort was opened in 1823.” Note: No name given to church by writer. Why?
“ It lasted until 1874 when it was replaced by a larger stone structure.” Note: That’s St. Paul’s Anglican church that stands today on the Niagara River. “ Some time in 1823 the Rev. John Anderson became the minister of the church (St. Paul’s). Colonel Kerby in the 1832 managed to secure from Sir John Colborne free entry through the customs for a church organ. It had been bought in Buffalo for one hundred English pounds (That was about $500, a goodly sum for that day). In 1834 Colonel Kerby, then Collector of Customs, presented the church with a solid silver communion service which is still in use. Two years later the parish was endowed by Sir John Colborne. In May 1836 Rev. Anderson was officially inducted at the church by Archdeacon Strachan. Writer’s note: It was in 1837 that my ancestors Christian 2nd Plato and wife Mary (Benner) Plato had their two oldest children Charlotte and Sophia, baptized at St. Paul’s by Rev. Anderson. Other family members would follow as the church records show.
From December, 1837 to July. 1838 the deserted and dilapidated barracks at Fort Erie and other hastily improvised quarters at Waterloo were occupied by the “Queen’s Niagara Fencibles.” Note: Remember there was the Rebellion of 1837 in Upper Canada at this time. Vigilance was needed.
“Colonel Kerby was in command during the Rebellion and he wanted to prevent any invasion from Buffalo. The !0th Provisional Battalion succeeded the Queen‘s at Fort Erie also commanded by Colonel Kerby until May, 1839.”
Writer’s note: Just a brief mention by Fred Williiams of June, 1866 and the Fenian invasion.
“Bur Fort Erie was not so lucky in 1866 for it was through that gateway that O’Neill’s band of brigands entered the Niagara Peninsula. It was there that some of the Toronto troops suffered from the failure of the authorities to provide food and shelter.” Note: The Fenians were Civil War veterans with Spenser repeating rifles. We Canadians were not ready for an invasion. That’s another story. Thanks Free Williams for your reporting on historic Fort Erie.