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History of Europe 9 May, 1695 Christening Vrigne-Meuse Ardennes, France ; Mother Gillet Gordier.The GORDIER name was in France in the 1600's Lutheran Palatines, Dutch Huguenots of France, and French Huguenots The French Huguenot areas in France were predominately in the south and south west in the areas to the south of the river Loire, and west of the Rhone. This was due to the Edict of Nantes (1598). The Edict of Nantes issued by King Henry IV in 1598, granted restricted religious freedom to the Huguenots (Protestants) after decades of religious wars in France. Religious freedom was granted to most nobles and to the citizens of a certain number of cities and towns. Huguenots were forbidden within a certain radius of the city of Paris and in a number of other areas. The success of the religious movement became a threat to the monarchy & the established Catholic Church. This resulted in bitter persecutions, including the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre in 1572. Louis XIV revoked the Edict of Nantes in 1685 and forced the flight of the Huguenots to England, Ireland, South Africa, America, and some to the Prussia, German Palatinate. The Protestant Huguenots belonged to the middle, upper, and nobility classes of France. Many of these were skilled artisans, horticulturists, paper makers, smiths, weavers, explorers, and cartographers. The French Huguenots were in sympathy with the German Lutherans. In 1708 the people living in the German Palatinate on the south bank of the Rhine, the eastern border of France, were given only three days to vacate their homes. They were Protestants, having become so at the time of the Reformation. Louis XVI, King of France, wished to make the Rhine part of France and his Generals attacked the Palatinate. The Palatinates fled by the thousands to the friendly camp of the Duke of Marlborough, then Commander of the Allied armies. Queen Anne of England sent a fleet to Rotterdam for the distressed Palatinates and Huguenots and carried 7,000 to England. By October 1709, 15,000 had reached England. Doing all she could, Queen Anne sent some to Ireland; some to the Carolinas, and 3,200 were sent to New York; some finally found homes in Pennsylvania among the Quakers. By January 1710 over 3.000 Palatines had arrived in Ireland. They were sent there to give an increase to the protestant numbers, and strengthen the loyalty to the Crown. Some settled around Dublin others settled on the Estate of Lord Southwell in Co. Limerick. The Irish Rebellion of 1798 and the over crowding in the rural areas caused hardships on the Irish Palatines. During the rebellion many Loyalists fled to Scotland for safety. In 1800 the Act of Union moved the Irish legislature to London, and Dublin's importance declined and times became harsher again. When the War of 1812 was in its early stages, the Crown transported descendants of the Palatines and Irish protestants to Upper Canada, and arranged land for them to farm. Once again they strengthened the ties to the British Crown. The Irish immigrants of the Great Potato Famine were of the 1840's. Earlier Palatine immigrants had settled on land granted by Queen Anne in the Mowawk Valley, and in Pennsylvania and had enjoyed reasonable prosperity for forty years. The Pennsylvania Dutch were in fact German Palatines. The American Revolution caused many families to break apart: some wished to stay loyal to the British who had helped them to obtain passage to and land in America far from the tyranny in Germany. These were the United Empire Loyalists, who settled in Upper Canada on land granted to them for their loyalty. Others, wished to retain their land, given to them in the early 1700s, and to not have to live under the British yoke . Some Ontario HUGUENOTS were : Talbot, Massey, Conde, Mowat, Bongard, Burdett, Caniff, Corby, Dafoe, Demille, Laux (Loucks), Dulmage, GOODIER, Mosier Purdy, Trumpour, Valentine, Tremaine, Lamont, Misener, Bedel, Goulet, Delatre, Collard. Coons (Kuntz) would have been one of the many German Palatinate U.E.L. The Cordier name was common in France,as was the name Louis Cordier, the spelling was changed to Gordier when some sought refuge in the Germany Palatinate. This is partly an extract from articles published by the Loyalist Gazette. In the Canadian census Gordier was listed as immigrating from Ireland once & Scotland once. Each time they stated their origin as French and their religion as Weslyan Methodist. Gordier is not listed as a United Empire Loyalist but Margaret Coons is listed as a daughter of Jacob Coons . On Feb. 25, 1806 Margaret Coons petitioned for land. She was given 200 acres : Lot 2 Concession XII Mountain Township. One requirement to petition was to be a daughter of a U.E. Loyalist , and another was you had to wait until you were 21. (warrant v35 offered 28th Feb. 1806 ; reels c-1649 & c1650 form #44)
Lewis Gordier was born between 1782 and 1789 possibly in Ireland, although his origin is French. His religion was listed as Weslyn Methodist. He came to Matilda Township in Dundas County, Eastern District, Upper Canada in the spring of 1812. He would have been in his mid twenties. He leased 100 acres from Captain Thomas Fraser which was lot 28,located on Concession 6. Lewis built a log shanty on the banks of the Black Creek a tributary of the Nation River. Captain Thomas Fraser was the commanding officer of the Militia, Dundas Regiment. When the War of 1812 broke out the militia recruited new men. The militia was made up of the large Sedentary Militia and two Flank Companies. The Flank Companies were considered the elite of each regiment. The Grenadier was the right flank and the Light or the Cavalry was the left. These Flank Companies were to be dependable, so they could be counted on to support the regulars. Lewis was a private in the First Flank Company of the Dundas Regiment of Militia, commanded by Capt. Michael Ault, between the 29th June and the 29th December 1812. Lewis would have had good horsemanship, and possibly some military training. He was not old enough to have served in the American Revoluntion. Lewis served as a private in the Incorporated Corps, also known as the Provincial Light Dragoons, between 24th April 1813 and 24th February 1821, commanded by R.D. Fraser. During the war,this Troop was stationed at Fort Wellington, but housed in Prescott, at the Stockade Barracks. This troop served as dispatch riders. Captain Andrew Adams was in charge of Lewis's troop who were from the Johnstown District(Cornwall). In September 1813 the two troops were amalgamated and 19 privates elected to join Capt. Fraser's troop while the rest returned to the regular militia. Fort Wellington's main purpose was to guard the St. Lawrence River which was the supply route to Montreal. The militia did see action in a) The Battle of Matilda on 16 Sept. 1812. b) Some of the militia participated in the Battle of Chrysler's Farm on November 11, 1812. c) The Incorporated Militia and the Embodied Militia participated in the Battle of Ogdensburg and were entitled to a share in the Prize money from the capture of it on Feb. 22, 1813. On December 24, 1814 the Treaty of Peace was signed, to end the war. Capt. R.D. Fraser issued a notice on August 2, 1815 disbanding the Dragoons from Fort Wellington. Lewis who was described as a Yeoman, would have returned to his farm. While serving in the Dragoons Lewis became friends with his future wife's cousins, Jacob, George, Henry, John, and Joseph Coons. Lewis married Margaret Coons, the oldest daughter of Jacob C. Coons on October 30th 1821, in the Township of Matilda, County of Dundas. Both Lewis and Margaret Coons would have been around 36 years old, when they were married. In 1821 Margaret gave birth to a daughter, Rachel, and in 1825 a son Lewis. Their farm gradually became more prosperous, until when Lewis died it had 30 acres under cultivation. His son Lewis worked with him on the farm, as did Margaret and Rachel. They had 25 acres on which they grew oats, barley, wheat, rye, hay, peas, potatoes, and flax. On 5 acres of pasture they raised 3 milk cows, a bull, and a heifer. They had 2 horses, 7 sheep and 5 pigs. They made wool, flannel, linen, and fulled cloth. They also made butter, cheese, and beef barrels. From the Maple bush he produced 20 pounds of Maple Sugar. The absence of Tobacco and Cider indicates a healthy Life Style. Besides from Military support the Militia served an additional function. The inhabitants of the Eastern District needed a social outlet, since many were isolated and spent all of their time working to survive. On Tuesday 23rd of April 1822 members of the Dundas Militia were to appear at the parade grounds at the Rapids du Plat (Morrisburg). Of the 65 privates, Lewis was #12. "The orders were that all Captains and Officers were to insure that every man within their division from age 16 years to sixty were to appear at Rapid-du-Plat, armed, on Tuesday 23rd April at 10:00 " Signed John McDonell Col. Dundas Militia. On the June 4, 1834 the Dragoons were to assemble on parade at Mariatown in the township of Williamsburg, County of Dundas. This was for all men of the area aged 19 to 59. Out of the 962 privates #222 was Lewis. By 1845 Lewis's son had married Dinah Steinberg, and Rachel had given birth to Ann and William. A new and Larger house was required. Lewis was entitled to 100 acres of "Waste Lands of the Crown" for serving in the War of 1812. In Oct of 1845 Lewis received Script in lieu of land, and by 1848 Lewis and Lewis had built a new Log House. Louis died in the year of 1850. By the 1851 census, Margaret is listed as having been a widow for over a year. Lewis was buried in the Hainsville Cemetery, although his tombstone has since disappeared. While Lewis died in his sixties, Margaret lived into her 93rd year. The farm was finally sold by B&S (Barter & Sale) to Lewis and Margaret's son, Lewis on July 5 1855 from Richard Fraser W1/2 Quantity. On July 13, 1855, 3 acres were sold by Lewis Gordare & his wife to Ida Adams. On Feb. 16,1875, the farm was sold by Lewis Godarr and his wife, and they moved to Dawn Twp. in Bothwell County, Western Ontario. Time line comments. : . Black Creek had been an early camp ground used by the natives. . In 1784 the first settlers arrived and built farms along the St. Lawrence River, and in 1797 lots were registered along Concession 1. By the time you "Bush-Whacked" back to concession 6, you were in rough and rugged terrain. . During Lewis' time travel was by water, or along blazed trails that led from one farm to the next. . Methodism in Matilda was practiced by a circuit preacher who traveled from place to place and held meetings in houses, barns, and schools. . In the 1827 there were 46 schools in the Eastern District. . 1st library in 1853 . The Grand Trunk Railway started construction in 1854 . The first newspaper in Dundas county was the Iroquois Chief , which began publication about June 1st 1858. References To: The following are references to Lewis, along with various spellings of Gordier. Since neither Lewis nor Margaret could sign their name, the spelling was done phonetically, by others. Gordare, Lewis Living in 1812 ON22-396 (Dundas - Atlas) Age 23-28 Goddar, Luie 1812 1st Flank of the Dundas Militia Gaddar, Louis 11 July 1812, Duncan Clark's Militia Journal Gardur, Luis 24 Oct. 1812 Flank Pay List, Muster Rolls Gardar, Luis 24 Jan. 1813 Flank Company Muster Rolls Godare, Lewis 1813 Provincial Light Dragoons Gordier, Lewis 1821 Marriage Record to Margaret Coons Gaudere, Luey 23 Apr 1822, Militia 1st Reg. Dundas, Col John McDonnell Mentions Lot 28 Con 6 Girdier, Luea 4 June 1834 Militia Godare, Lewis 1 Oct 1845 Lawyer signs Lewis's Land Petition Godare, Louis 20 April 1850 swears in an Edward Foster land grant affidavit. Gordier, Lewis and Diana listed as Baptism Sponsors Jan 1846 New House built in 1848. Gorderr, Lewis 1851 Census Agriculural part Gordier, Lewis 1851 Nominal part / born Canada Died 1846 to 1850 buried Hainsville Cemetery Cordier, L. Con 6. Lot 28, 1862 Historical Atlas Gordier, Lewis 1861 Census, Place of Birth (Last country lived in) Ireland 1871 Census , Place of Birth (Last Country Lived in) Scotland Margaret Coons UEL 27 October, 1806 petitions for a land grant as the daughter of a United Empire Loyalist. Margaret signs with an " x " From the above dates and information I have composed the Biography of Lewis Gordier.
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An Excerpt from Fairfield's Pioneer History of Lassen County, California by Asa Merrill Fairfield, 1916.
Search the WWW its listed on a web site some where.
The Murder of Harry Gordier
1857 - Not many of the people in the valley stayed during the winter of 1856, but the following year men
began to come into the valley. Among others recorded are:
James Hood and Isac Coulhurst took a tract on Susan River 8 miles east of Roop's; ... Harry Jarder,
probably Gordier, located east of Hood and Coulthurst.
Page 66 of the book:
"Harry Gordier took a claim on Baxter Creek south of the east end of the Bald mountain, the ranch
afterward owned by Thomas Mulroney."
1858 - In spring and early summer of 1858 a series of events took place in western Utah which caused
great excitement throughout that region. The first of these was the murder of Henry Gordier, a
Frenchman in Honey Lake valley, and the events following were a result of this.
In the fall of 1857 a man whose name is said to have been William Combs Edwards killed a postmaster
at Snelling in Merced County, Calif. He fled across the mountains to western Utah. Snelling was a mason
and the Lodge offered a reward of $1500 for the arrest of Edwards. He came to Genoa in western
Nevada and became acquainted with William B. Thorrington, a man of means and a gambler with a poor
reputation, generally known as "Lucky Bill".
Edwards came after a while to Honey Lake valley and lived with John Mullen and Asa Snow, who had a
cabin on Lasson Creek. Snow and Mullen also had bad reputations; Snow was said to have killed a man
before coming to the valley and Mullen was handy at picking up other people's calves. Edwards spent
the winter working in his placer mine which was not far from the cabin.
In the fall of 1857, Coulthurst and Gordier who had been partners in the mines of Calif., decided to buy
some of the cattle the Mormons were selling in Carson Valley because they were returning to Salt Lake
City to settle. Coulthurst went down and bought a band of fine Durhams and Gordier, who was a man of
considerable means, took most of them. At this time he lived on Baxter Creek just south of Bald Mountain.
In the spring of 1858, Thorrington ("Lucky Bill"), came to the valley and learned by chance of the fine cattle
Gordier had. He said he was going to see if he could buy some of them, but instead he went on and
spent some time with Mullen and Edwards, afterward leaving for home. Not long after this Mullen and
Edwards began to talk about buying Gordier's cattle and went to him to talk about it. They reported they
had bargained for everything he had. Around the middle of March they went to him and told him he had a
sick cow over on the south side of the river opposite the mouth of Willow Creek. They went over there
with him and as the three men were riding down the river Mullen dropped back a little and shot the
Frenchman through the head. They took off his clothes and put them into an old Indian campoodie close
by and set it on fire. They put a rock on his body, bent his knees up against it and then tied a rope around
him to keep it in place. Took the body to the river and sunk it in a deep hole. That night they started for
Genoa.
Snow then moved into Gordier's cabin and told everyone that Mullen and Edwards had bought out the
Frenchman and that the three men had gone to Genoa to get the money from Luck Bill to pay him.
The neighbors thought it queer that Gordier would leave so suddenly. A short time later Mullen and
Edwards were back, with the story that Gordier had met an old shipmate and after getting his money both
of them had started back for France. A letter came to the valley from Gordier's younger brother (some
say there were two brothers) inquiring about Henry and upon being informed that he had gone back to
France he wrote back and said there must be something wrong, for his brother would never have left the
country without coming to see him.
By this time the settlers in the valley were thoroughly suspicious and during a dance at Rooptown
(Susanville now) they talked over the matter. A party of men had heard a shot while camping near Willow
Creek and they decided it was the shot that had killed Gordier. They notified Mullen and Edwards they
wanted to question them, and immediately both men left the valley; Mullen was never seen again and
Edwards headed for Genoa. When it was known the two men had left the valley the suspicion became
stronger than ever; they went down the creek and investigated and found traces of the burned
campoodie and metal buttons in the ashes, dried blood on the ground and mark's of feet and horses'
hooves. Mrs. Isaac Coulthurst claims to have dreamed where the body was and told the men where to
look for it in the river. William Bankhead went out on a raft and scraped the bottom of the river with a pole
until he pulled Gordier's body up, feet foremost, a gruesome object, having been in the water 6 weeks.
They tied a rope to it and left it in the water until preparations could be made to take it away. The
murdered man was buried about 4 miles southeast of Bankhead's in a graveyard. An inquest was held
and the verdict was reached that Gordier had been murdered by Mullen and Edwards, with Luck Bill and
Snow being accomplices.
Snow had continued to live in Gordier's cabin and it wasn't long before a committee had him up for
questioning. He refused to admit any guilt and was kept prisoner for some time at the various cabins.
Finally he was sentenced to be hanged, after a trial, and there are conflicting stories about the way this
was carried out. Most authentic is the report that he was hanged to a pine tree near the north shore of the
lake, near Breed's cabin. He was buried right there, beneath the tree.
The arrest of Edwards and Lucky Bill and their executions is told on pages 129-144 of the book. A group
of Honey Lakers went to Genoa where the wealthly Thorrington was sheltering Edwards. Thorrington was
the head of an organized gang who had terrorized the community. He was eventually captured, tried and
executed at Genoa. Edwards was also tried and sentenced and brought back to Honey Lake for his
hanging.
Gordier had brought considerable money, nuggets, etc., to the valley from the mines of California, and it
was always supposed that some of it was buried near his cabin. But it is not known that anyone found any
of it until November, 1877, and then Miss Mary L. Dunn, afterward Mrs. S.L. Frazier, picked up a nugget
near where the Frenchman's cabin stood. She sold it to A.G. Moon for $240, and he took it to the States
where it was made into jewelry. The next day Miss Dunn, George Boyd, Thomas M. Barham, and
perhaps T.J. Mulroney found several smaller nuggets which were all worth something like $25. If any
more nuggets have been found there since then, the finder did not take the public into his confidence.
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