Brick wall: Isaac Blasdell emigrated to Canada c. 1796

Question

I trying to take down my  brickwall for the below person. I can find him in land records of Canada and in those records he states that he just emigrated from the US (most likely from New Hampshire) I just can't find him in any US records. I really need to find his parents.

Blasdell-50; Isaac Blasdell b. circa 1780 in Rockingham, New Hampshire and migrated to Upper Canada about/before 1796. He may have married his wife, Rebecca Misener circa 1796 probably in New Hampshire or possibly in Upper Canada. About 1800 he owned land in both Lynden and Beverly.

In 1832 he walked to Toronto and brought back a supply of Testaments and other material for organizing a Sunday School.

He may have died c 1855 most likely in Beverly.

The profile manager and I have researched:

1. .Ancaster Township Historical Society, Ancaster's Heritage (Ancaster, Ontario: Ancaster Township Historical Society, 1973), Page 127

2. Blaisdell Papers, Genealogical Outline., Blaisdell Family National Association., v. 10, no 5, supplement, p 57.

3. Belize, Michael R, author. (https://archive.org/stream/AHistoryOfMountsbergAndWestoverBaptistChurches/AHistoryOfMountsbergAndWestoverBaptistChurches-Belzile1994#page/n0/mode/2up/search/isaac+blasdell) A History of Mountsberg and Westover Baptist Churches: In Celebration of 150 Years of Service to Jesus Christ. Ontario, Canada: August 1994. Digital. archive.org. Archive.com. 

4. Library and Archives of Canada Canadian Council of Archives, RG 1 L3; microfilm C-1619, Vol 28, Bundle B2, Petition 54.

5. John A Cornell, author, The Pioneers of Beverly: A Series of Sketches (1889), digital image, (Dundas, Ontario: The True Banner, 1889), pp 76, 90, 95

What we still don't know is who his parents are and why he went to Canada.

Any help would be appreciated!

Answer 1

Hi Barry,

Isaac Blasdell has puzzled me for a number of years, but I am not related to him.  Several years ago, I was researching the 2^nd York Militia during the War of 1812.  Isaac served as a sergeant and may have lived in Beverly Twp.  I found several documents for him but could not prove that he was the same Isaac in your profile.  I can send you more details if you would like to look them over.

Here are the discrepancies that had me puzzled.  Isaac of Beverly Twp. made his land petition in 1796 and had a wife and at least one child at that time.  Isaac was probably married before he arrived in the province.  If this was Rebecca, there is a child missing from the profile.

He was a “recent” arrival in the province.  Most land petitions had more details like place of birth and origin and how many months they had been in the province.  The Oath of Allegiance was also missing from this petition.

To make a land petition in 1796, he had to be 21 years old and therefore born in 1775 or earlier.  But other sources estimated his birth year as at least 5 years later.

I could not be positive that there were not two men with the same name in the area, so I did not add my sources to the profile.

Please let me know if you discover more about Isaac.

Fred

Answer 2

Isaac Blasdell, death 9 May 1872 burial at Lynden, Hamilton, Municipality, Ontario, Canada. Cemetery is Lynden United Cemetery.

"Find A Grave Index, " FamilySearch

Comments

The Isaac Blasdell who died in 1872 and is buried in Lynden Cemetery was 1yr 4mos when he died. His father is listed as George Blasdell. I can't remember off the top of my head to whom father George belonged to, but I believe that he was a grandson of the Isaac Blasdell that Barry is looking for information about.

Answer 3

There was an Isaac Blasdell who was on the United States Revolutionary War Rolls in the Military Service on 2 Nov 1780. He was a Private serving out of New Hampshire. He could be the father of the Isaac Blasdell  who was born circa 1780.     Familysearch.org

Comments

Thanks for checking, Frank!

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There is a Blasdell genealogy published in the Essex Antiquarian (Volume 9, 1905) . The Isaac Bladsell who fought in the Revolution may be person #100, Isaac, the son of David, who moved from Amesbury, Mass to Chester NH and fought in the Revolution.

Other members of the family could have named their son Isaac circa 1780 though.

I also see an Isaab Bladsell who was married to Abigail Pettingale Rev. Josiah Badcock in Salsbury NH on Oct 16, 1788.  This was published in the New England Historican and Genealogical Register Vol 58, page 17. 

Based on this info, I'd definitely be looking in Amesbury Massachusetts and New Hampshire for your man.  

In terms of why, I can think of a couple of possible reasons.  First, his spouse is Rachel Misener - a German name. Many Germans were Loyalists, and others were unhappy with the new American government.  Maybe he shared their sentiments?  

Another possible reason is the Deacon.  I've seen a couple of ministers who engaged in missionary work on the frontier during this period.  He was a layman, but could have shared those sentiments - bringing God to the godless. 

Then there was the free land the English were granting - good farmland in Upper Canada.  Maybe he just thought it might be a prosperous decision?  

Happy hunting!

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Laurie,

You're on the right track. Even though he was born too late for the Revolution, he was a Loyalist sympathizer who was unhappy with the new government, thus his move to Canada to live under British rule.

Thanks Laurie.

Answer 4

An Isaac Blasdoll put in a claim for losses in 1815 after the War of 1812. Doesn't much help with why he came to Canada, but it's another possible source. See Library and Archives Canada, War of 1812 .