Noah Force (Cir 1768 - Bef 1851)
I posted most of this item on August 22, 2014, but decided to post again with some additional information.
1. Edward Kipp
2. Lorne Bernice Kipp (b Sept. 3, 1901) - Gobles, Oxford Co. ON, Canada
3. William Henry Kipp (b Oct. 1, 1862) - Burford Twp, Brant Co., Canada West
4. Elizabeth Force (b Mar. 19, 1818) - Burford Twp, Brant Co., Upper Canada (m Benjamin Kipp)
5. Resiah Force (b Feb. 12, 1788) - Sussex County, New Jersey (m Elizabeth Schramm)
6. Noah Force (b cir 1768) - Sussex County, New Jersey (m Mary Beamer)
[Manning Force is a possible father of Noah, but proof is required.]
7. Manning Force (b cir 1730) - Morristown, Morris County, New Jersey (m Lucretia Winchell)
8. Obadiah Force (b cir 1691) - Gravesend, Long Island, New York (m Joanna Manning)
9. Thomas Force (b cir 1670) - Gravesend, Long Island, New York (m Hannah Smith?)
10. Matthew Force (b cir 1645) - Europe (m Elizabeth Palmer)
I have decided to include the parents of Noah Force as Manning Force and Lucretia Winchell. I am doing this for several reasons. They all came from New Jersey. Noah and Mary (Beamer) Force named one of their sons William Manning Force. Also, Obadiah Manning Force a son of Manning Force ended up settling in the same general area of Michigan as some of the descendants of Noah Force.
Please note that this still requires some proof.
The first mention we find of Noah Force is in New Jersey, where he is found on a 1793 tax list, Sussex County, Wantage Township. He is also listed on a militia list in 1793, same location. After discussion with local historians at the Mayholme Foundation, in St. Catharines, we may conclude that Noah came from New Jersey to Upper Canada between 1800 and 1813.
He probably travelled overland by wagon in New Jersey with his family, to the Hudson River, and then New York, where they took shipping on a boat up the Hudson River to Albany. They probably went overland from Albany by wagon to Schenectady, where they would have taken shipping on a boat along the Mohawk River. They would have proceeded by boat to the Carrying Place near Fort Stanwix, crossed along Wood Creek to Oneida Lake and then across the lake to Oswego on Lake Ontario. Here they would have hired another boat to take them to the Niagara River or further west to where the Beamers were settled near 20 mile Creek, west of present day St. Catharines. This trip would have taken them about 6 weeks.
Noah was settled in Louth Township, Upper Canada by mid 1813. He was listed on two Upper Canada Militia lists in Jacob Ball's 1st Regiment Lincoln Militia, dated April 20 to May 29, 1813 and Sept. 19 to 24, 1813. His name appears on a map of Grantham and Louth Township dated December 24, 1814. Checking the land records indicates that Noah did not own the land (Louth Township, conc. 8 lot 14). It was owned by Henry Beamer, his father-in-law.
The Burning of Newark (Niagara-on-the Lake) by the American forces took place on December 10, 1813. It could be that Noah was somehow connected to Joseph Willcocks and his Canadian Volunteers, who wrecked vengeance on the people of the Niagara area in 1813. In November and December of 1813 Canadian militia took prisoners of many suspected traitors in the province. Noah was taken prisoner on December 11, 1813, by Ensign Lewis. All prisoners were sent to the York Gaol to be tried in the court.
He appears on two Petitions of Confined Prisoners dated January 9, 1814 and February 14, 1814. He then appears on a List of Prisoners at York dated March 13, 1814. On all three of these lists he appears along with another prisoner named Levi Lawrence from Burford.
The Bloody Assize trial of 1814 took place starting May 23, 1814 in Ancaster, Upper Canada. The trial lasted until June 21, 1814. Of those held, 19 were found guilty and 8 were hanged. Noah Force and Levi Lawrence were not on the lists of those found guilty or who specifically had there lands confiscated. The remaining prisoners were probably let go. I could not find a reference as to when all prisoners were discharged, but it was probably after the trial in 1814 and maybe even early 1815.
Noah Force appears on an 1824 voters list for Burford Township, Upper Canada, along with Levi Lawrence, Beamers and Kipps. So when he was in Gaol at York, he must have had discussions with Levi who persuaded him to move his family to Burford Township, Brant County, Upper Canada. The Forces were considered to be among the first settlers of Force's Corners or Woodbury, Ontario. [Just south of my hometown of Princeton, Ontario.]
The next interesting item about Noah is found in the War of 1812: Board of Claims for Losses, 1813-1848, RG 19 E5A, Library and Archives Canada. Noah is claiming for the loss of 8 large hogs 3 goats and one bee hive. Date of Affidavits was January 11, 1816. Two claim summaries are found in the American Loyalist Claims, 1776-1835 on Ancestry.com. The National Archives of the UK; Kew, England. Noah appears along with Henry Beamer Sr. and Levi Lawrence. They all made claims for losses that took place during the War of 1812. They all received some payment. For Noah the amount recommended was 22 12 6 33 1/3 p Cont. Currency paid out was 7 10 10 on March 7, 1834 to G W Whitehead attorney for Noah Force.
Noah appears in the Historical Atlas of Oxford & Brant Counties, 1875. Burford Township. Force, Noah, Con 3 lot 13. Settlement date 1845. Farmer. [This is where Woodbury is located!]
We do not know exactly when Noah was born. Since he was on a tax list in 1793 he must have been at least 21, so he was probably born before 1772. We do not know when he died either, but we can suggest it was after 1845 and before 1851. He does not appear on the 1851 Census of Upper Canada.
I need to look at the land records (copy books) for Burford Township. They are located in Brantford, Ontario.
I do know the following:
Henry Beamer had a Crown Patent on Burford, conc 3 lot 12 dated May 13, 1805;
Levi Lawrence had a Crown Patent on Burford, conc 4 lot 12 dated April 24, 1805.
Both of these lots are on the east side of the Burford Township middle town line right at Forces Corners.
William Force (William Manning son of Noah) appears on Burford, conc 3 lot 14 in a land transfer dated Aug. 31, 1839.
Thomas L Force (Thomas Lamport son of Noah) appears on Burford conc 4 lot 13 in a land transfer dated Nov. 23, 1872.
Sources:
1) New Jersey, Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1643-1890.
Noah Force, Wantage Twp., Sussex County, NJ. 1793 June Tax list.
2) New Jersey in 1793. An Abstract and Index to the 1793 Militia Census of the State of New Jersey, by James S Norton. Preface by Kenneth Richards. Salt Lake City, Utah. 1973.
Township of Wantage. A Noah Force is listed on page 296.
3) Atlas of Early Pioneers of Niagara Peninsula. Corlene D Taylor. 2002. P. 30.
Library and Archives Canada, National Map Collection. No. 14700/H3/340/...1814. Plan of the Townships of Grantham and Louth Dec. 24, 1814. R. Hamm.
Noah Force is listed on Conc 8 Lot 14. Photostat of map in the Brock University map library.
4) Library and Archives Canada (LAC) mf T-10385. Available on the Heritage website of Canadiana.org. No Index. 1st Regiment Lincoln Militia Captain Jacob A Ball.
Muster Roll P. 697 (153) 20th April to 29th May 1813 [Noah Force and Rosiah Force]
Muster Roll P. 698 (154) 19th Sept. to 24th Sept. 1813 [Rosiah Force]
Force, Noah - Jas Ball's Co. - 47 in 1812 - Present Fort George (action).
He is not listed on the War of 1812 Lincoln Militia document prepared by David F Hemmings. Niagara Historical Society. 2012.
5) Register of Persons Connected with High Treason During the War of 1812-14, by Angela Files and Tess (Moore) Rowe. Brant County Branch, Ontario Genealogical Society. 1985. Publication #76-85-1.20. Original records in the Archives of Ontario. Christopher Beamer, Noah Force and Levi Lawrence are listed. [I could not find the original source in the Archives of Ontario.]
In November and December of 1813 Canadian militia took prisoners of many suspected traitors in the province. All prisoners were sent to York to be tried in the court.
6) Upper Canada Sundries
LAC mf C-4543. V 19. Images 746 & 747. Pages 7747 & 7748. Petition of Confined Prisoners. January 9th, 1814. Noah Force and Levi Lawrence are listed.
7) Upper Canada Sundries
LAC mf C-4508. V 16. Images 537 & 538. Pages 6736 & 6737. Petition of Confined Prisoners. February 14, 1814. Noah Force and Levi Lawrence are listed.
8) Upper Canada Sundries
LAC mf C-4543. V 19. Images 1059 & 1060. Pages 8056 & 8057. List of Prisoners at York, March 13, 1814.
Names Residence Where taken ? When By Whom & by Whose Authority
Noah Force Louth Louth 11 Dec [1813] Ens Lewis
Levi Lawrence Burford Burford 2 Nov [1813] Col Bostwick
9) The Bloody Assize of 1814. On May 23, 1814 in Ancaster, Upper Canada the trial of 19 men charged with treason began. The trail lasted until June 21, 1814. Of these, 19 were found guilty and 8 were hanged. The remainder of the men were exiled. The other men in the list of Prisoners at York were probably let go. (Assize is an historical term referring to courts that periodically administered civil and criminal law)
10) Noah was discharged from the York Gaol July 15, 1814 or 15 - lack of evidence.
[Cannot find this reference.]
We did some searching in the Archives of Ontario but found no references to Noah.
Assize Minute Books RG 22-134 mf MS530 reel 2.
Court of Kings Bench Records of High Treason Trial of 1814. RG 22-143 mf MS7237.
11) War of 1812: Board of Claims for Losses, 1813-1848, RG 19 E5A. Library and Archives Canada. mf T-1122. p. 83. Claim # 476.
Noah Force (Burford Township, London District) was claiming of the loss of 8 large hogs & 3 Goats Pds 22-5 one bee hive pds 1-10 Total claim pds 23-5-0.
Written documents: An Affidavite of Claimant (11 Jany 1816) that his claim is just and true for which he has never received and remuneration. 2. An Affidavit of Resiah and Noah Force (11 Jany 1816) that claim is fair and the charges moderate. Allowed pds 22 12 6.
12) War of 1812: Board of Claims for Losses, 1813-1848, RG 19 E5A. Library and Archives Canada. mf T-1123. p. 113. Board Minutes. Claim # 476. Noah Force.
13) War of 1812: Board of Claims for Losses, 1813-1848, RG 19 E5A. Library and Archives Canada. mf T-1126. p. 48. Amount. Claim # 476. Noah Force.
14) Canada, Loyalist Claims, 1776-1835. Ancestry.com
The National Archives of the UK; Kew, England; American Loyalist Claims, Series II, Claims. Miscellaneous. 1801-1835; Class: AO 13; Piece: 140. P. 17.
Noah Force. Residence year 1801-1835. May 7, 1824. Account of Losses.
Amt claimed Amt Allowed Twenty-Five %
Lawrence, Levi 11 4 3 5 10 5 1 7 6
Beamer, Henry Sr 20 10 3 15 10 6 3 15 6
Force, Noah 23 15 10 22 12 6 5 13 1 1/2
15) Canada, Loyalist Claims, 1776-1835. Ancestry.com
The National Archives of the UK; Kew, England; American Loyalist Claims, Series II, Claims. Miscellaneous. 1801-1835; Class: AO 13; Piece: 140. P. 62.
Noah Force Date of payment July 5, 1824. Amt cled by Commissioners 22 12 6. 25 percent 5 13 1/2. No of claim 476. No of ? 509.
16) Canada, Loyalist Claims, 1776-1835. Ancestry.com
The National Archives of the UK; Kew, England; American Loyalist Claims, Series II, Claims. Miscellaneous. 1801-1835; Class: AO 13; Piece: 140. P. 129.
Noah Force Date of payment March 7, 1834 Commissioners Award Currency 22 12 6
33 1/3 P Cont. Currency 7 10 10 Signed Noah Force Attorney G W Whitehead [Burford area]
17) 1824 Voters List Burford Township
Beamer, Henry Burford Farmer Lot 12 Con 3 Acres 200 Voted for Horner, Racey
Beamer, George Burford Farmer Lot 20 Con 1 Acres 200 Voted for Horner, Racey
Beamer, Christopher Burford Farmer Lot 9 Con 1 Acres 200 Voted for Horner, Racey
Beamer, Jacob Burford Farmer Lot 9 Con 1 Acres 1 Voted for Horner, Racey
Force Noah Burford Farmer Lot 13 Con 4 Acres 20 Voted for Ingersoll
Force Henry Burford Farmer Lot 12 Con 4 Acres 50 Voted for Ingersoll
Kipp, James Burford Farmer Lot 13 Con 1 Acres 98 Voted for Racey
Kipp, Isaac Jr Burford Farmer Lot 24 Con 1 Acres 50 Voted for Horner, Racey
Kipp, Isaac Sr Burford Farmer Lot 23 Con 2 Acres 50 Voted for Horner, Racey
Lawrence, Levi Burford Farmer Lot 13 Con 4 Acres 120 Voted for Horner, Ingersoll
18) Historical Atlas of Oxford & Brant Counties. Published by Walker & Miles/Page & Smith. Toronto. 1876. 1875. P. 73. Burford Township. Force. Noah, Con 3 lot 13. Settlement date 1845. Farmer. [This is where Woodbury is located!]
19) Rockway, Louth Twp., Con 8 lot 1/2. Beamer/Beemer. Cemetery where many early settlers were buried. Rockway, Louth Twp., Con 8 lot 1/2. Beamer/Beemer.
20) Elizabeth Force who married Benjamin Kipp
I have been thinking about Elizabeth Force for a while and considering who was her father.
As far as I knew there was nothing documenting who her father was. However, if we look at the children of Resiah Force we find there is a time slot between the birth of Charlotte in 1816 and John H in 1820 where Elizabeth Force would fit.
The birth date I have for her, March 19, 1818, came from the tombstone in the Princeton, Ontario Cemetery. I found a copy of a document I have on file, which came from Phyllis Davidge.
It is titled Birth Record of Resiah Force and Elizabeth Force and their children. Elizabeth is listed there.
21) Mayholme Foundation, 525 Ontario Street, St. Catharines, ON L2N 6P3. www.mayholme.ca
Additional sources:
Descendants of Matthew Force. The Settlers of the Beekman Patent. Vols. 1-7 [Dutchess Co., NY] Pp.305-330.
Force Family Clippings [1 folder; APT-F (Force)]. New York Public Library. Images 08OCT10 - 0424-0434.
Force Genealogy. Descendants of Mathew Force (b. ca. 1640-45) of Gravesend, Long Island. New York Public Library NYGB AZ Fam 09-139. EKImages 07OCT10 - 5626,5651-5685.
Additional research is still ongoing into the land records of Lots 11, 12 and 13 concessions 3 and 4 of Burford Township, Brant County, Ontario, around Forces Corners or Woodbury.
