Image 1: The Niagara River at Queenston, showing the Hamilton house nearest the river. Robert Hamilton, whose family the Merritts visited, was a very important businessman and politician. His son George founded Hamilton, Ontario.
Image 2: Although built later than the Merritts’ house, this 1810 homestead in the Niagara region was probably similar to theirs.
Image 3: The interior of Fort George, painted in 1804, shows the “lock step” marching style of the British infantry — and some tame bears!
Image 4: A bird’s-eye view of Fort George as it may have looked in 1812.
Image 5: A view of the Horseshoe Falls in 1804.
Here’s how to make a whirligig
Image 6: You can make a whirligig like kids played with at Fort George. Find a large button and put a string through it like this.
Image 7: Next, hold it like the boy in the picture. Swing it around to twist the string, then gently pull your hands apart. The whirligig will unwind, then wind up the other way. Can you keep it spinning?
To Make Syllabub Under the Cow
Put a bottle of strong Beer, and a Pint of Cyder into a Punch Bowl, and grate in a small Nutmeg. Sweeten it to your Taste, then milk as much Milk from the cow as will make a strong Froth, and the Ale look clear. Let it stand an Hour, then strew over it a few Currants, well washed, picked, and plumped before the Fire. Then send it to Table.
Image 8: In this painting of Sir Isaac Brock he is wearing the “undress” coatee of a brigadier general, which he wore on the day of his death.
Image 9: An artist’s impression of Tecumseh. The courageous Shawnee chief was killed in 1813 at the battle of Moraviantown, one week less than a year after Brock’s death. Tecumseh held his ground even though the British forces were defeated, and was slain.
Image 10: The meeting of General Brock and Tecumseh. Brock called Tecumseh a “gallant warrior.” Tecumseh is reputed to have to have said of Brock, “This is a man!” Here Tecumseh has been depicted more like a Sioux warrior than a Shawnee.
Image 11: This print of the Battle of Queenston Heights combines several events at once, a common device at the time.
Image 12: The famous painting showing the mortal wounding of General Brock.
Image 13: The “coatee” worn by General Brock at Queenston Heights shows the fatal bullet hole, about level with the fourth button down. The striped sash is the one given to him by Tecumseh. Brock’s coat and sash are on display at the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa.
Image 14: A modern photograph of the powder magazine at Fort George, originally built in 1796.
Image 15: American President Thomas Jefferson declared that invading Canada would be “a mere matter of marching.”
Image 16: The area near Susanna’s home at The Twelve, also known as St. Catharines. An important battle was fought in 1813 at Beaver Dam.