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This week we will look at a hero for Canada. Everyone has heard the name Laura Secord. Either, they know their history or they know their chocolates (a chocolate company has taken the name Laura Secord) or they saw one of those History Minute things. This week we shall see the life of this woman.
Laura Ingersoll was born in Massachusetts. When the Americans took over their government and sent the British back home many people called United Empire Loyalists who were loyal to the British crown came to Canada. Laura Ingersoll was one of them. She settled in the Niagara Peninsula in Queenston, Upper Canada. She married James Secord who was also from the Thirteen Colonies. James Secord was a volunteer in the militia artillery and fought at the battle of Queenston Heights where he was injured. About a year later was the Battle of Beaver Dam where the Americans won and took control of the Niagara Pininsula.
The Americans used the Secord house as their headquarters. The Americans decided to ambush Lieutenant FitzGibbon,who was the last resistance in the Peninsula, at Beaver Dams, Upper Canada. Laura heard the American plan and since her husband could hardly walk because of his injuries, decided to tell Lieutenant FitzGibbon the Americans' plan herself.
At Dawn, the next morning, Laura set out on her mission. She may have brought her cow along (depending on the story) for a while as a coverup story to tell the American sentries as if caught she would be killed. She went to her brother-in-law's farm where her niece, Elizabeth, accompanied her, although she gave up after a while.
Laura Secord had to go through the forest and swamps where she was soaked to the bone. She had the feeling of being followed and finally a band of Iroquois showed themselves to her. She explained her mission, and the chief ordered a man to follow her all the way to FitzGibbon's headquarters.
She finally arrived at the British/Canadian Headquarters and warned FitzGibbon before she collapsed from exhaustion. The British won the battle.
Some people believe that FitzGibbon knew about the planed ambush before Laura Secord arrived. In any case her bravery and patriotism earns her a spot in Canadian Folklore and History. At the age of 85, in 1860, she finally received formal recognition and the Prince of Wales who was in Canada, gave her 100 pounds.
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