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Chapter 41
Finch

Tisdale >

Titus Finch joined the Royal Standard shortly after the Declaration of Independence, and continued in the service till the close of the war. In 1784 he landed in Halifax with other Loyalists, and built a home for himself about forty miles west of that city.

Mr. Finch was a very religious man, and feeling himself called to the ministry, was ordained, and preached on the Sabbath to his friends and neighbors in their new home.

In 1798 he removed to Long Point, obtaining from the government a grant of six hundred acres of land on the fourth concession of Charlotteville. He and his son built a grist mill near Port Ryerse. This mill was burned on the 15th May, 1814, by Americans who came across Lake Erie in six schooners. No sooner had they left, however, than plans for a new mill were got ready, and in less than two months everything was completed and in operation again. In the Government satisfaction for damages Mr. Finch received £265, or one-half the value of the former mill.*

Following the example of the apostle Paul, who "worked at his trade" six days in the week, "Elder" Finch labored on the farm or in the mill, and on the seventh he preached the Gospel. In 1804 he organized the first Baptist Church in London District, and remained as its minister till his death, in 1821.

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Despatch from Lieutenant-General Drummond to Sir George Prevost ("Documentary History of Canada," Part I., p. 16):

"Kingston, May 31st, 1814.

"Sir,—I have the honor to transmit herewith for your Excellency’s information the deposition of Mr. Mathias Steele, of Woodhouse, who was on the spot at the time the enemy landed there on the 14th inst., and which I feel satisfied is correct.

"Personally appeared before me, the Hon. Richard Cartwright, one of His Majesty’s Justices assigned to keep the peace in and for the said district, Mathias Steele, of Woodhouse, gentleman, who, being duly sworn on the Holy Evangelists, saith, ‘That on Saturday, the fourteenth of the present month, an American force, computed at about eight hundred men, and consisting of regulars, militia and seamen, under the command of Colonel Campbell, disembarked at the mouth of Patterson’s creek from six schooners, where they encamped for the night. That having met with no opposition, they, on the following morning, advanced and took possession of the Village of Dover, and having plundered the houses of all the inhabitants and carried off all their provisions, set fire to the village and entirely destroyed it. They then proceeded to Ryerson’s mills, situate a little farther up the lake, and set fire to them with several other buildings; and proceeding still farther up the lake, destroyed another set of mills belonging to Mr. Finch. He further deposeth and saith, that to the best of his knowledge and belief they destroyed altogether twenty dwelling-houses, three flour mills, three saw mills, three distilleries, twelve barns, and a number of other buildings.  He further deposeth and saith, that they shot all the cows and hogs that they could find, leaving them to rot on the ground. And further, that on the said Colonel Campbell being asked the reason of this wanton and barbarous conduct, where he had met with no opposition, he answered that it was done in retaliation for the burning Havre de Grace, Buffalo and Lewiston, and further this deponent saith not.’"

(Signed) "Mathias Steele.

"Sworn before me at Kingston, this 31st day of May, 1814.
"Richard Cartwright, J.P."