McLennan Family Fond

John McLennan was described by his grandson as a “large man, soft-voiced, white-haired, and with a long upper lip which reappears in some of his descendants” (McLennan p.16). He was born on May 14th 1789 in Gelnshiel Rosshire. He was the eldest son of Murdoch McLennan and his family emigrated to Quebec, Canada when he was 13 years old in 1802. Before the emigration John attended school in Scotland, where his family previously lived. However, after the emigration he was unable to attend school so he began schooling himself as a clerk at the Court of Williamstown, Quebec. Nicknamed the “Squire” due to his problem solving abilities and strategic solutions many disputes that occurred in the Canadian countryside were bought to him during his time there.

 

When he was 21 years old the war of 1812 broke out and he became a clerk for the Royal Engineers. The war of 1812 was between the United States and Great Britain and as a British colony, Canada was “swept up” by the war, frequently invaded by the Americans (Berton and Marsh). John became a Sergeant and then a Lieutenant in the Glengarry Militia and during the war John broke his leg and it was never repaired so he was left crippled for the rest of his life in a wheelchair. His grandchildren described him as “impressive in the highest degree” (McLennan p.18). 

 

 

Works Cited

 

Berton Pierre, James H. Mars and Tabitha Marshall eds. The Canadian Encyclopedia. “War of  n        1812”. Historica Canada.20th March 2015. Web. 7th Feb 2016.

 

McLennan, John S. Hugh McLennan. n.d. Monograph on Hugh McLennan. Box 1 file 2. McLennan Family      Fond. University of British Colombia Library Rare Books and Special Collections,                Vancouver, Canada.