The crazy story of a friendship between two families. Through violence and fate, they ended up the first settlers of Dundas and Hamilton (with a quick Stoney Creek connection thrown in!) This is the story of Anne Morden, original settler of the Town of Dundas.
..: Quick Links :..
TRAGEDY | MOVING TO DUNDAS | STAYING FRIENDS | FAMOUS LINEAGE
Friendship Ends in a Hanging
Anne Durham married Ralph Morden in 1765. Living in the State of New Jersey, with her Quaker family. Ralph was willing to take on the strict religion out of love for his new wife.
Quakers are known pacifists. Meaning they avoid all conflict and war. And the timing sucked, as only 10 years later the United States split from England.
Thus began the Revolutionary War.
This is when we learn about Ralph Morden’s friendship with a man named Robert Land.
Hamilton history buffs recognize this name! He’s the earliest settler to a Township named Barton. Later renamed to the City of Hamilton.
Land was a dispatcher for the New York Regiment of Loyalists fighting for England. And he had business in Easton, Pennsylvania.
Not familiar with the terrain, he reached out to his friend, Ralph Morden. Asking him to be a guide. Morden was against this! Mostly due to his Quaker beliefs. But eventually gave in.
The men were found out and confronted by the Americans. They shot and wounded Robert Land as he ran off, getting away. Presumed dead, but he survived.
However, Morden was captured. Brought to the Town of Easton and tried for treason. Morden stating, “… I was only helping a friend”. But the Americans didn’t believe him.
In 1780, Ralph Morden was hanged in Easton’s Townsquare.
Not much information remains about the hanging, except the simple writings of a British Prisoner-of-War named Thomas Hughes. He wrote …
“A man was hanged this morning for piloting some people through the back woods, to the Indians. He was very old and left a wife and 9 children. His death was chiefly owing to his being noted a friend of Government.”
Anne & the Morden’s Move on to Dundas
This left Anne Morden without a husband. And son’s John and Moses without a father. At very young ages, the boys joined up with the Loyalists. Abandoning their religion for revenge.
Both survived the War. Discharged a year after the it ended. They returned home knowing the British were defeated. And talked their mother into moving to Canada.
Travelling up to Wentworth County via Fort Niagara. Meeting up with a surveyor named Augustus Jones. Side note, he was the brother of Mary Jones Gage. The widowed pioneer who built today’s Battlefield House and settled Stoney Creek.
Eventually they took land in today’s North Dundas. Do you know where Grove Cemetery is, up near the Dundas Drive-In Park? That was originally a big portion of the Morden Farm.
Morden’s & Land’s … Friends Forever!
Now you know the two original settlers of Dundas and Hamilton were connected through strong history. And it’s easy to think Robert Land caused the death of Ralph Morden. But
Anne never blamed him! It was the violence of war.
She remained close friends with the Land family. Known to walk to their house in the Winter’s across the ice of Burlington Bay. Note, the Land house was in what’s Barton Village today.
Almost Died
This included one-time captured by the Hamilton Spectator. The reason for the news … Anne almost died!
Picture this, Anne being pulled in a sleigh by her son John. Walking beyond today’s Desjardins Canal, when the sleigh hit a hole in the ice. It cracked quickly, opened and sucked them into the icy waters. If not for a passing vessel, they’d both die.
Tells me their friendship was cursed. And kind of parallels the love-hate relationship between Hamilton and Dundas’s today. But Anne never saw it that way. Never would.
Leaving Dundas for London
Finally, the Morden’s stayed in Dundas until the early 1800s. Then moving to London, Ontario, and settling on a new farm.
In 1832, John Morden died. Anne, at the amazing age of 89 years old, was still alive! That is, for a little while. Most likely because of the death of her son. Her protector. She followed him to the grave only months after.
Today they rest in unmarked graves. Forgotten locations on the old London farmlands.
Showing how the energies of towns and cities go deep into history surrounding actual people. A great connection between Hamilton and Dundas!
Famous Lineage
I’m sure there are more. But here are two more ‘well-known’ famous lineages coming from the earliest settlers of Hamilton and Dundas.
Robert Land to Charles Lindbergh
First up, a little known famous Hamilton lineage!
The earliest settler to Hamilton was the Great-Great-Grandfather of famed American aviator, Charles Lindbergh!
Here’s the lineup …
- Robert Land’s son Ephraim had a son named Charles.
- Charles Land’s daughter (Evangeline) married another Charles (August Lindbergh).
- In 1902, they had a son also named Charles.
He became the first pilot to fly nonstop from New York to Paris in 1927.
Among other stuff, like …
- Having his son kidnapped and murdered. Eventually pinned on a German-American Carpenter named Bruno Hauptmann. Hauptmann was found guilty and sent to the Electric Chair in 1936.
- Praised the Nazi’s! Just before the start of World War II. Visited Germany and praised their planes. Was about to buy a house in Berlin. But everything went to crap and he fled back to America. Oops!
- But still preached for American neutrality during the war. Thankfully, he was in the minority.
He died at 72 years old from Lymphoma while living in Hawaii.
Anne Morden to Actress Sally Field
Ralph and Anne Morden had nine kids! Four sons (including John and Moses) and five daughters.
One of the daughters was Eleanor. She’d marry a man named, Gilbert Field. They lived and raised a family in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada. Location of one of our oldest Ghost Walks!
That line eventually led to famous American actress, Sally Field.
Known well for starring roles in movies like …
- Not without my Daughter
- Punchline
- Murphy’s Romance
- Steel Magnolias
And much more!
The Field House (her ancestral home) still remains as one of the oldest remaining pre-War of 1812 houses.
Most of the structures were burned down during the war. When an American occupation retreated in 1813.
The house was located outside the town, therefore spared the rushed burning and retreat.
Does anyone have more information about this
Hamilton and Dundas history?
If so, please comment below.
3 replies on “Friendship & Death | Deep Connection of Hamilton & Dundas”
I believe, as shown on the PBS series “Finding Your Roots”, that the actor Sally Fields is a descendant of Anne Morden.
Wow! Had no idea. Thanks for the fact Jim! Ref: https://famouskin.com/family-group.php?name=35252+sally+field&ahnum=130
Just updated the article thanks to your tip, Jim. She’s descendant from Ralph & Anne’s daughter, Eleanor. She married a man named, Gilbert Field. They lived and raised a family in Niagara-on-the-Lake.
The Field House remains. One of the oldest still standing in NOTL.