Sgt. DANIEL YOUNG (1755 – 1836) and DOROTHY ELIZABETH WINDECKER (1763 – 1830)

 

 

 

Daniel Young was born in the year 1755 according to census records, and in 1749 according to military records.

 

It is unclear where Daniel Young was living in the years immediately preceding the Declaration of Independence.  Only one record can definitely be tied to him.  On 9 April 1776 he collected a debt from the court in the amount of 1 pound, 11 shillings pertaining to the lawsuit of Adam Young against John Weaver.   There is a strong possibility that he was working for his uncle Frederick.  There is no indication in any record source yet examined that he owned any land prior to the Revolution.  He was, however, indicted by the Rebels on the same date as his Uncle Frederick, again suggesting that he was in the employ of his uncle.

 

Prior to 15 June 1777 Daniel Young became a ranger in the Indian Department.  He transferred to Butler's Rangers with the formation of that unit in Sept. 1777, becoming a sergeant in Capt. William Caldwell's Co. before 25 Dec. 1777.  He finished his service in this corps in Capt. Peter TenBroeck's Co., being assigned to Oswego at some point during 1783, and serving throughout the War.

 

Daniel Young "by an invitation of the Indians settled on the Grand River where he made large improvements".  He resided on the Young Tract opposite the lower end of Young's (now Thompson's) Island.  While living on the Grand River, Daniel Young sued William Dennis over the death of one of his mares.   The horses of both Daniel and his brother John had a habit of straying, and commonly found their way into the paddock of their brother Henry.  In March 1792 William Dennis and Henry Young, apparently fed up with the situation, filled their guns with peas in order to scare away a horse belonging to Daniel, and one belonging to John.  The shots connected, however the wound received by Daniel's mare proved fatal.  The court ruled in favour of Daniel Young.  Another event occurring prior to Daniel's removal from the Grand River to Barton was the issuing of a commission to him as a lieutenant in the militia of Lincoln County 23 July 1794.  Furthermore, in 1794 Daniel and Elizabeth took 4 of their children (Adam, Henry, Dorothy, and Elizabeth) to St. Mark’s Anglican Church at Niagara – on – the – Lake for baptism.

 

Daniel Young wrote in 1795 that, "thinking his situation impermanent removed last spring to the Township of Barton" where he settled on Lot 13 Concession 8 - land granted to his wife as the daughter of a U.E. Loyalist.  He built his house on the slope above a spring which arises from the ground on the edge of Red Hill Creek (pre 1830 ceramics having been collected from this site by the writer).  Assessment rolls of Barton for 1816, 1817, and 1818 indicate that his house was a one story log building (squared timber on two sides) and two fireplaces.

 

Daniel Young became a prominent man in the Barton community.  Soon after his arrival, Young joined the Barton Masonic Lodge as a founding member, assuming various roles, including worshipful master, between 1796 and 1807.  He was also a township assessor in 1816. In a long and distinguished military career, Daniel Young served as a captain the 5th Lincoln Militia during the War of 1812-15.  According to testimony given 4 Oct. 1875 at a pension hearing, by Jacob Hagle, a private who served under Daniel young, his company was present at the "battles of Fort Erie and Blackrock".

 

Occasional details of a general nature pertaining to his life in Barton Township are to be found in merchant's account books, and in the account book of a local physician.

 

Daniel Young was involved in a bizarre "murder" case in 1827-1830.  Two of his sons and one of his grandsons were charged with murdering their hired hand subsequent to someone finding bone material in the coal - kiln used to make charcoal.  In desperation, Daniel took out an add in the Gore Gazette newspaper asking anyone with information about the alleged dead man to come forward.  The bottom line is that the hired man was located, very much alive, in the USA, and so the Youngs were exonerated.  A few years later, in 1833, Daniel Young joined with many of his relatives and other local residents to become founding members of the Barton Presbyterian Church.

 

A collection of archaeological artifacts from the house site of Daniel Young in Barton Township. was obtained under licence of the Ministry of Citizenship and Culture, and is presently held in trust by the writer.

 

In his will, Daniel Young "of the Township of Barton being sick in body but in perfect mind and memory…" mentions sons and daughters Peter Young, Henry Young, George Young, James Young, John Young, Catharine Wintermute, Priscilla Sipes, and Elizabeth Bradt; late father Adam Young; and grandson Christopher Young, son of his son Peter Young.  He appointed his "trusty friends" Samuel Ryckman land surveyor, David Kern, and Stephen Blackstone all of Barton to be executors of his will-which was witnessed by Simon Bradt, Samuel Ward Ryckman, and William Young.  Other listings of the children of Daniel Young include the Upper Canada Land Petitions, and a mortgage written 15 June 1832 between Simon Bradt and some of the children and grandchildren of Daniel Young.  The latter document mentions Catharine Wintermute of the District of Niagara, daughter of Daniel Young; Peter Young of the Grand River; Priscilla Sypes of Glanford, wife of Jacob Sypes and daughter of Daniel Young; Henry Young of Barton; Dorothy Wintermute of the Grand River, wife of Jacob Wintermute and daughter of Daniel Young; Elizabeth Young, Rebecca Young, Catharine Young, Mary Young, John Young, and Martha Young of Barton, children of Adam Young deceased son of Daniel Young; Elizabeth Bradt of Barton Township., wife of Simon Bradt, daughter of Daniel Young; George Young of the Grand River; and Frederick Young of the Grand River. 

 

Daniel’s burial place is unknown, but probably St. Peter’s Church Cemetery which was used at the time by both the Presbyterian and Anglican congregations.  It is also possible that Daniel and Elizabeth are buried with his mother in the Smith Family Cemetery at Ryckman’s Corners.  The date of death of both Daniel and Elizabeth come from a Family Bible owned by a descendant of Daniel’s son James F. Young.