Peter Matthews (1796-1838) .
and Samuel Lount (1791-1838).
Peter Mathews was a farmer and militiaman in the Bay of Quinte area. After moving to Toronto he became very involved in local politics. He and his wife Hannah Major had 8 children; Samuel Lount was a blacksmith and a surveyor’s assistant, and the father of 7 children.
Dissatisfied with the way the political system was working, they became involved in the Mackenzie Rebellion in 1837. The final fight of this rebellion was at the corner of Yonge and Carlton with the soldiers marching north, the rebels coming south. The rebels shot once and then the front row kneeled down so the next row could shoot. The army shot once and the rebels, thinking the first row was shot, turned around and ran. There were other unsuccessful skirmishes such as the one lead by Peter Mathews at a bridge over the Don River during which a man was killed and the bridge set on fire.
The Rebellion effectively over, Mackenzie fled to the United States. Matthews and Lount, who attempted to escape by separate routes, were both captured and put on trial. They were convicted of treason and despite petitions for mercy and the fact that 15 children would be left fatherless, Lt. Governor Sir George Arthur felt that an example had to be made and they were hanged in the Court House Square at King and Church Street on April 12, 1838. There’s a coffee and donut shop there now. It was quite a festive occasion with families bringing picnics and a band was in attendance. They were buried in Potter's Field at Bloor and Yonge Streets, and re-interred at the Necropolis in 1893.
The top of their distinctive monument on the Necropolis grounds appears to be broken, but is not. It was designed like that as a symbol of their shortened lives.
and Samuel Lount (1791-1838).
Peter Mathews was a farmer and militiaman in the Bay of Quinte area. After moving to Toronto he became very involved in local politics. He and his wife Hannah Major had 8 children; Samuel Lount was a blacksmith and a surveyor’s assistant, and the father of 7 children.
Dissatisfied with the way the political system was working, they became involved in the Mackenzie Rebellion in 1837. The final fight of this rebellion was at the corner of Yonge and Carlton with the soldiers marching north, the rebels coming south. The rebels shot once and then the front row kneeled down so the next row could shoot. The army shot once and the rebels, thinking the first row was shot, turned around and ran. There were other unsuccessful skirmishes such as the one lead by Peter Mathews at a bridge over the Don River during which a man was killed and the bridge set on fire.
The Rebellion effectively over, Mackenzie fled to the United States. Matthews and Lount, who attempted to escape by separate routes, were both captured and put on trial. They were convicted of treason and despite petitions for mercy and the fact that 15 children would be left fatherless, Lt. Governor Sir George Arthur felt that an example had to be made and they were hanged in the Court House Square at King and Church Street on April 12, 1838. There’s a coffee and donut shop there now. It was quite a festive occasion with families bringing picnics and a band was in attendance. They were buried in Potter's Field at Bloor and Yonge Streets, and re-interred at the Necropolis in 1893.
The top of their distinctive monument on the Necropolis grounds appears to be broken, but is not. It was designed like that as a symbol of their shortened lives.
