John Moore (from Boyd Nielsen research)

John Moore

John Moore, son of Edward and Mary Moore, was born in New Jersey in 1738 and married Dinah, daughter of Jonathan and Deborah Pettit.

At the beginning of the War of the Revolution, John Moore promptly joined the Colonial Guards of New Jersey and was made a junior officer.  When that Corps turned its coat later on John stuck to the red tunic of his King and fought on the side of the British until the end of the war.

In 1787 John, with other Loyalists, began the long trek to Canada.  The following description of the journey has been recorded:

“With all their worldly goods that could be carried by ox and horse drawn waggons, Captain John Moore and his household, including several slaves, at length reached the end of the road to Rochester, in those days called The Mill Seat Tract.  Hiring flat-bottomed boats there the family and part of the chattels were borne by water to Niagara, the remainder of the property being left in charge of two or three of Moore’s bondsmen.  When the Captain returned from Niagara, he found that not only had wagons, cattle and goods gone with the wind but the slaves as well.  Buying some pieces of furniture and other equipment the despoiled Loyalist returned by bateau to this province.”

John Moore’s Petition is dated July 13, 1795, and tells much of his activity, loyalty and losses.  Based on his petition, John Moore was granted land in Grimsby Township Lots A.-B. in Grimsby Gore—Lot 1, Concessions 1 and 11, Grimsby township—300 acres in 7^th Concession, Grimsby township and 400 acres in Plainum.

In New Jersey John Moore engaged in the manufacture of felt hats—one of the first industries of its kind on this continent.  Later when he came to The Forty and found farming unsuited to his temperament, he resumed hat making.  He opened a shop in the settlement.  There, we are told, he made little money as the turnover was too limited.

John Moore was named the first Clerk in the Township Council in 1790, the record of Municipal Government for Ontario.  He was also a member of the Masonic Lodge in Grimsby in 1799.  And he was presumably a member of the Episcopal Church, as his name heads the subscription list for the building of the plank church in 1800.  John Moore died May 16, 1803.  Dinah, his wife, was a sister of Andrew and John Pettit.  She was born about 1764 and died in Grimsby November 8, 1804 (killed by a falling tree).  She and John were first buried at the lake on the west side of the creek.  Later the remains were interred in St. Andrew’s churchyard.