In the War of 1812 (1812-1815) the United States declared war on England because of trade restrictions, impressment, and British support for Indian attacks. They signed the Treaty of Ghent on December 24, 1814 after reaching a stalemate.
Fairfield County, Connecticut originally consisted of the towns of Rye, Greenwich, Stamford, Norwalk, Fairfield, and Stratford. Woodbury (1673) , Danbury (1687), Ridgefield (1709), Newtown (1711), and New Fairfield (1740) were added later. In 1751, part of Woodbury was included in Litchfield County.
Nathan Baxter was born about 1762 in Fairfield County, Connecticut. He was the son of David Baxter and Rhoda Lyon.
Nathan's wife was named Lois and their children may have included:
Asa Baxter,
Electa Baxter (married John Munro),
Ezra Baxter,
Richard Baxter,
Laura Baxter (1784, married Job Northrup Lamkin),
Alexander Baxter,
Fanny Baxter (1800, married Edward Albro),
Lois Baxter (1807, married Benjamin Franklin Austin),
William Baxter (1811),
Electa Baxter (married John Munro),
John Baxter
Benjamin Baxter (1798)
Jacob Baxter
Nathan was a private in Captain Asa Barnes Company Colonel Israel Chapen's regiment. He enlisted on October 16, 1779 and was discharged November 21, 1779.
Nathan was on the New Ashford list of men under General Patterson on October 25, 1780. He was also in Captain Marshall's Company, Colonel Marshall's regiment, General Paterson's Brigade from June 3, 1780 to January 3, 1781.
Connecticut Journal Nov. 16, 1785:
These are to give notice, that the subscriber hath sundry warrants from the Treasurer of this state for state taxes, by virture of which, the lands and buildings of Daniel Dodge, and Daniel Dodge, Junr., Nathan Baxter, Joseph Learned and Ezekiel Root, non resident proprietors, will be sold for the payment of each of their taxes, as the law directs on the second Monday of December next. Said vendue to be on the above said lands, lying in the town of Hebron. Dated New Haven, Oct 28, 1785 Joel Jones, Collector.
On April 19, 1790, Nathan was granted 34 acres in New Ashford for his services.
On November 25, 1790, Nathan bought 150 acres in New Ashford.
In March, 1791, Nathan was appointed surveyor of New Ashford where he was an innkeeper.
In 1794, Nathan received more land from the Massachusetts Commonwealth.
On April 6, 1795, Nathan was elected a constable and collector.
On September 7, 1795, Nathan Baxter was elected as a selectman in New Ashford.
After some problem with debts, Nathan moved to Vermont by October, 1797. Then they moved to Varnne in Lower Canada for a couple of years and then moved to Chateauguay in Lower Canada for about 5 years.
In 1807 the family was in Elizabethtown Township, Leeds County, Ontario.
The 1808, Elizabethtown census included Nathan, his wife, 4 sons and 3 daughters
During the War of 1812, Nathan was a private in the 1st Regiment Leeds Militia. He was wounded at Brockville (was Elizabethtown) on February 7, 1813 and received a pension as a result.
In 1825 Nathan and Lois Baxter and Edward and Fanny Albro bought property in Hounsfield, Jefferson County, New York.
Nathan was the gaoler for the Johnstown District/Leeds and Grenville Court of General Sessions of the Peace, 1800-1834.
In 1841 Nathan moved to Manchester, Washtenaw County, Michigan to live with his son William.
Nathan Baxter, departed this life on the 27th May, age 82 years 3 ½ months, of a lingering disease, supposed to be in the lungs. He was taken worse three weeks before death, and had terrible and heart rendering struggles for breath in the time, when death released the aged Father with hardly a struggle. . .
The first European settlements in Ontario were after the American Revolution when 5,000 loyalists left the new United States.
On February 7, 1813, the American army raided Elizabethtown (present day Brockville, Leeds County, Ontario). The Americans crossed the frozen St. Lawrence River and seized equipment, freed American prisoners, and captured Canadian men.
