52 Ancestors: Thomas Montgomery Taken Prisoner War of 1812

Amy Johnson Crow has a new challenge for geneabloggers called Challenge: 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks. Amy challenges genealogists to write about one ancestor once a week.

One of my ancestors had a spot of tough luck during the War of 1812. Thomas Montgomery and his wife Mary Johnston with sons William, Thomas, Johnston, James,Frederick,and John and possibly Ann left Warrenpoint Ireland around 1810 in An American vessel headed for the United States to join their son Robert in New York State. They were apprehended by a British Man of War off the coast of Newfoundland and taken prisoners. They were kept in Newfoundland for a period of time before being sent on the Quebec†City. After the end of the war in 1814 they went on to† Toronto leaving William in Quebec. Johnston had already singed up with General Caldwell and fought in Upper Canada.Thomas Jr, stayed in Toronto and built Montgomery, Inn. The rest later went on the Bennington New York.

From  "History of Wyoming County" 

"James MONTGOMERY was born near Petico, County Donegal, Ireland, in 1800. In 1824 he married Betsey PAGE of Herkimer County, NY, who died in 1879. He has served as overseer of the poor. His father, Thomas MONTGOMERY, was born near Enneskillen, Ireland, about 1769, and married Miss Mary Johnson of his native place. In 1812 the family took passage on an American vessel bound for New York, at Warring's Point, [Warren's Point, Co. Down?] in the north of Ireland. After a voyage of four weeks the vessel reached the coast of Newfoundland, where it was taken in charge by a British man-of-war, and all on board were made prisoners of war and taken to St. Johns, where they were detained four weeks 

Upon their release the MONTGOMERY's were obliged to make their way to Quebec, British subjects not being allowed to land on American soil during the continuance of the war; and until 1816 they remained in Canada, but came to New York State in the latter year, locating in Westmoreland, Oneida County, and removing from there to Bennington, Wyoming County two years later, when Mr. MONTGOMERY purchased one hundred and twenty five acres of lot 9, section 8, where he died in 1830, at the age of seventy three, and his wife in 1831, aged seventy one."

Thomas and Mary are buried in  Summit View Cemetery, Town of Bennington, Wyoming Co., New York

"Mary MONTGOMERY, d. 01/25/1831, Age 71y, Wife of Thomas MONTGOMERY and a native of Ireland

'Happy soul thy days are ended,  All thy mourning days below,  Go by angel guards attended,  To the sight of Jesus go"

Thomas MONTGOMERY, d. 03/10/1830, Age 73y, A native of Ireland, emigrated in 1812 'Although I sleep in dust, Beneath this silent clod, Ere long I hope to rise and smile,  And see my saviours God"