Person:Isaac Secor (5)

Isaac is believed to have been born in Kakiat in the British Province of New York, and the son of John Secor born 1730, and his wife, Marie Giraud 1735-1785, and great grandson of Ambrosia Sicard 1631-1712, a Huguenot expatriate from the Province of Poitou in France.

Isaac and Mary lived in Haverstraw Precinct of Orange County (Rockland County). With the exception of their two youngest children, Rebecca, born November, 26, 1787, and Joseph, we find the birth dates and the baptism dates of their other children in the Clarston Register of the Tappan Dutch Reformed Church. This seems proof that the family remained there during the Revolutionary War.

It was in Haverstraw, on September 21, 1780, that Major John Andre had a clandestine meeting with Benedict Arnold. John Andre was the son of a Huguenot who had fled from France to England. He was Deputy Adjutant General. Andre's ship was anchored in the Hudson and was fired upon, forcing him to make his was back to Westchester by land. He was helped along the way with a pass signed by Arnold allowing "John Anderson." his code name, to pass through American outposts, his uniform exchanged for other clothing. Late in the afternoon of September 22, he started out on horseback with written information hidden in a stocking. By the time Andre reached Tarrytown, he was waylayed. Because of the incriminating message he was carrying, he was arrested. It would be with a heavy heart that Isaac Secor heard the news of the arrest of Andre. One can't help but wonder if Isaac was involved in some way with the plan for Andre to reach the Loyalists with the message from Benedict Arnold.

Isaac's mother, who appears to have resided with Isaac and Mary, died in 1785, and is presumed to be buried in the Churchyard at Clarkston. It was soon after that he had his family started out on the trek to Canada. It is possible they stayed in Ballston Falls, New York enroute. This was a Loyalist stronghold during the Revolutionary War. Rebecca was born in Ballston Falls, and this could account for the family tradition that Isaac and Mary were from Ballston Falls.

It is believed that they took a horse and two cows, and all the clothing, food, and equipment they could manage. Before they reached Cape St. Vincent, the horse and both cows had strayed and were lost or stolen. After a short stop at Kingston, they moved to the present site of Nappanee, where Isaac had secured employment as a Millwright on a gristmill in course of construction. During their residence in the Township of Marysburgh and vicinity, their youngest son Joseph was born in October 11, 1790 and their eldest Isaac married Rachel Ferguson in 1798, and their eldest daughter Sarah married Isaac Benn. It is reasonable to beleive that before moving to Scarborogh, they spent some time in the Township of Hamilton in the County of North Cumberland. This is indicated by the fact that the record of Reverend Robert McDowell in the archives of Queens University at Kingston states under Hamilton Township records the baptism of "Children of Isaac Secor and Mary Simmons."

In 1804, they had arrived in York, and lived in the Township of Scarborough in the County of York, as Isaac had secured a contract to cut the timber and clear the right-of-way on a section of a road under construction between Kingston and the Town of York. Isaac purchased Lot 19 Concession D in Scarborough where a gristmill was erected.

Isaac with a mill builder and owner. He built or managed mills at Napanee, and Prince Edward County. He petitioned for a "quantity" of land as "friend of the British Government during the late American War" from Marysburg August 13, 1797. He was recommended for 500 acres.

-- Posted by Garry Johnson, Johnson Web Site.

On List of Taxpayers for Dutchess County 1771-1777. Moved to Phillipstown, Dutchess County, New York; lived in Ballston Springs, New York; Kingston, Ontario; Napanee, Ontario; Toronto, Canada.

Refused to take up arms to defend the American cause, he was given "notice" to leave soon after the end of the Rvolutionary War. Came into Canada in 1788. Wife and family followed later about 1795. They traveled on foot from Ballston with a couple of cows and a colt which were lost or stolen on the way.

Isaac was a mill builder and owner. He built or managed mills at Napanee, and in Prince Edward County. Peritioned for a "quantity" of land as friend of the British Government during the "late American War" from Marysburg 8/13/1797. He was recommended for 500 acres.

-- Posted by Don Secor, Secor Web Site