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Canada Day Celebration was Enjoyed by All Column published: 05 July 2008 By: Rick Roberts, Biography & Archived Articles
A welcome addition to the audience were several descendants of the real Robert Land who came to enjoy the performance (group photo below)-- one descendant coming all the way from Winnipeg to meet her "many-times-great grandfather". Robert Land was an educated and successful farmer/carpenter who was a cornerstone in his community in New York State until he refused to commit treason against the King. He was neighborly man, reading documents and letters for his illiterate neighbors, and serving as a pastor, marrying and burying members of the families of those same neighbors. However, his refusal to join the local insurgents during the American Revolution resulted in his life being repeatedly threatened. He was eventually kidnapped by the rebels who tarred and feathered him, leaving Land for dead on his own front lawn. More than fifty percent of those who suffered burns from boiling tar during the American Revolution died of their injuries -- Land was an exception. After a lengthy recovery, Robert Land left his family under the protection of his son and became a Loyalist soldier in Joseph Brant's Volunteers. As a soldier he was engaged in brutal hand-to-hand combat, served as a messenger and spy, was caught and sentenced to hang, escaped, survived being shot in the chest, eventually migrating to the Canadian wilderness to recover from his wounds and become the first settler of Hamilton, Ontario. The weather was perfect. The performance was superb and the audience enthralled. In all - a great day! This was the second annual Canada Day historical performance that has been organized and sponsored by Global Genealogy. Plan to be our guests for the third annual event next year! Although Global Genealogy sponsored the financial expense of the event, the day would not have been as great a success without the help of a core group of volunteers. The Destination Campbellville Community Association (especially Stu Johnson) provided assistance with organization and local promotion. Crime Stoppers of Halton provided the sound system. Town Councillor Jan Mowbray represented the municipality and formally recognized Mr. Morris for his brilliant performance on behalf of the community and the event sponsors. Finally a special thank you to Sandra Roberts of Global Genealogy who conceived the idea and coordinated it's successful completion. Pictures The following pictures of the event were taken by volunteer Andrew Devai of Technically Yours Inc. Canada's leading distributor of lighting filters for the movie and theatre industry, Miller Tripods, Rose Brand fabrics & accessories, and Brightline fluorescent studio fixtures. Mr. Devai also managed the sound system.  "Robert Land" explains how he ignored the "Patriot's" threats to his safety for his refusal to commit treason against the King.  Pointing out where Land's New York farm was burned shortly after his family fled a murderous mob posing as "indians". Land heard that his entire family was killed that night. Many years later, while following up on a rumour that a man who might be Robert Land's brother had settled on the west end of Lake Ontario, his shocked wife and two of his sons found him. She had been told that Robert was killed in a battle many years before. The couple reunited and became quite prosperous.  Discussing the finer points of hand-to-hand combat using a scalping knife and tomahawk. Land, like many other Loyalists, fought side-by-side with First Nations allies, from whom they learned how to fight, dress and live. Many Loyalists became skilled non-traditional soldiers with scores to settle. "Beware of the blue-eyed Indians".  "How not to hold a knife when in combat"  "Land" reminisces about the solitude of living alone on his land grant in Upper Canada before he was reunited with the surviving members of his family  Telling the story of the day that his long-estranged family found him at his new home at the west end of Lake Ontario  "Robert Land" posing with descendants of the real Robert Land Esq. More Pictures (high resolution): The following links are to 34 high-resolution pictures of "Robert Land" and audience. These large image files (1 to 4 megs ea) are provided for those who want to save and/or print high quality images of their Canada Day in Campbellville.
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