AUSTIN FAMILY NOTES
AUSTIN
SOLOMON AUSTIN was originally from North Carolina. He was a private
in the Queen's Rangers and served all through the Revolutionary war.
On one occasion, at least, he exhibited conspicuous bravery.
This was at the battle of the Horseshoe. The standard-bearerDEFINITION was killed
and the flag fell to the ground and was in danger of being lost. Solomon Austin
leaped forward, and grasping the standard bore it
bravely till the close of the action. After the battle, Major General John Graves Simcoe (see portrait inquired his name, praised him in public before the marshalled
company, and gave him to understand that if he could ever be of
service to him afterwards his bravery would not be forgotten.
After the war North Carolina passed a Confiscation Act, which
embraced sixty-five specified individuals, the terms applied
not only to the lands of these persons, but their negroes and other
personal property as well. Some of these continued to live in their
native state, although the majority immediately proceeded to
Canada. Solomon Austin, however, remained in Carolina till 1794,
but in that year determined to remove his family to Upper Canada,
where General Simcoe, his old friend, was Governor. In June, 1794,
he appeared at Newark with his wife and family of nine cliildren
(four sons and five daughters). He met with a very flattering
reception, the Governor offering him a home in his own house
until he should make a selection of land. He was also offered
six hundred acres in any unselected part of the province.
The Governor directed him to inspect the country and choose
for himself. Accordingly he made a trip through the western
district on foot with his eldest son, going as far as Detroit.
Finally he chose a home on Patterson's Creek, now called the
River Lynn, about three miles south-east of Simcoe, in the
County of Norfolk. This proved to be a very pleasant and
fertile district. It is now known as Lynn Valley.br>
To this spot he removed with his family in the early spring of
1795, and by the end of the summer had a log cabin erected
and almost an acre of land cleared and fall wheat planted.
In the war of 1812, true to their principles of loyalty, the father
and four sons shouldered their muskets and marched under Brock to
fight the hated "Yankees', once more. They fought at Malcolm's
Mills (Oakland), Malden, and Lundy's Lane. (See Description of Battles) In the Norfolk militia
two of the sons soon obtained the rank of captain. The descendants
of this family are the most numerous of any of the families
of the settlement.
Solomon, the eldest son, married Miss Sarah Slaght, and
became the father of ten children. Two of their sons were the
proprietors of the largest carriage works in the county, and
continued their business for over twenty-five years.
Another son is a Baptist minister.
Jonathan, the second son, married Miss Hannah Potts, and
had seven children. He and his son John built Austin's
mills in the Lynn Valley.
Philip, the third son, married Mary Slaght, a sister of
his eldest brother's wife, and had a family of sixteen children.
Moses, the youngest son, married Mary Wisner, of Townsend, and
had seven children.
Of the daughters, Mary, the eldest, married Henry Walker, who
is said to have been the second white child born in Norfolk County.
Amy married a man named Styles, and had fifteen children.
Esther married Raymond Potts, a U. E. Loyalist.
Elizabeth married John Pegg, who had accompanied the party
from Carolina.
Anna married David Marr Jr and had nine children.
The last one of the original family to die was Philip (October
17th, 1876), in his 87th year, having lived to a greater age
than any of his brothers or sisters.
For many years previous to Philip's death an annual gathering of
children and connections was held at the old homestead on the
anniversary of his birthday. On the last gathering his direct
descendants numbered 137, while the direct descendants of the
original founder, Solomon, numbered 734.
JONATHAN AUSTIN AND HARRIET BEEMER
HARRIET BEEMER
AUSTIN FAMILY LINKS
