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.