CAPTURE OF THE “ANNE”

Plaque on east side of County Road 20, just south of Old Front Street (Dalhousie Street) at number 779, Amherstburg

The still-continuing rebellion of 1837-39 featured a sortie of American sympathizers who joined Canadian forces, and landed on Bois Blanc Island. Raids included local actions at Fighting Island, Pelee Island, and Windsor. Supporting the invasion, the US schooner “Anne” cruised along the Canadian mainland firing on structures near Fort Malden (Amherstburg).

Forces loyal to the Family Compact grounded the schooner “Anne” on the Canadian side and captured those aboard including US citizen and leader Dr. E.A. Theller and others. They were first taken to Fort Malden, then to London and the Middlesex “gaol”; from there they went to Toronto by way of Brantford and Hamilton, avoiding the Dundas road which says Theller “lay through a thickly settled country of Reformers”. In Toronto they were held in the old jail at Toronto and Court streets where Theller witnessed and wrote about the hanging of Lount and Matthews. Then taken to Fort Henry, destined for Van Dieman’s Land. Dr. Theller was part of a dramatic escape along with John Montgomery. He ended his years in California as a School Superintendent.