Charles was brought by his parents to Jefferson county at an early age, so that he was reared here amid the scenes and environments of pioneer life. He continued to reside in this county until his death. His wife also passed away here, and
both, by reason of their many excellent traits of heart and mind, left behind them a memory which is still cherished and revered by their descendants and by those who were their friends while they were still active factors in the busy affairs
of life.
1 CMNT died in childhood
1 CMNT res. Brooklyn, NY
William was a lover of liberty, and was always deeply interested in every movement which tended to secure freedom for the people from oppressive governmental rule. He came to the United States in 1812, settling in Jefferson county at about the
time of the outbreak of the second war with Great Britain, becoming an employe of the United States government and rendering valuable service upon the forntier during the continuance of hostilities. He was afterward connected with another
military movement which appears now most curious and inexcusable. It was a popular effort on the part of American citizens on the northen frontier to overthrow the government of Canada by an unwarranted invasion of the frontier towns. This
movement took place in 1837. William Johnston, who became an intimate friend of William Lyon McKensie, a leader of the Reform party in Canada, was also prominent in that party. He became the recognized patriotic commander of the people who
desired that Canada should be freed from British rule, and he and a band of followers fortified themselves on one of the Thousand Islands, within the Jefferson county boundary line. His intrepid daughter, Kate (or Katherine) Johnston, held
communication with them and furnished them with provisions and supplies. It was at that time that Johnston issued the following curious manifesto, which is probably the only instance in which an outlaw ever dared to declare war from his place
of hiding, against a friendly nation: "I, William Johnston, a natural born citizen of Upper Canada, do hereby declare that I hold a commission in the Patriot service as commander-in-chief of the naval forces and flotilla. I commanded the
expedition that captured and destroyed the 'Sir Robert Peel.' The men under my command in that expedition were nearly all natural born English subjects. The exceptions were volunteers. My headquarters are on an island in the St. Lawrence,
without the line of the jurisdiction of the United States, at a place named by me Fort Wallace. I am well acquainted with the boundary line, and know which of the islands do and which do not belong to the United States. Before I located my
headquarters I referred to the decisions of the commissioner made at Utica, under the sixth article of the treaty of Ghent. I know the number of the island, and know that by the division of the commissions it is British territory. I yet hold
possession of the station and act under orders. The object of my movement is the independence of the Canadas. I am not at war with the commerce or the property of the United States."Signed this 10th day of June, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty-eight.
"William Johnston."
It is unnecessary to state that William Johnston and his followers put forth effort that was of little avail, yet they were prompted by patriotic motives and an earnest love of liberty. His daughter Kate, after the war was over, was given
by her friends, in recognition of the aid which she rendered, a fine canoe, four feet long, and a beautiful ebony paddle, with a silver plate on it, as a token of the esteem of the givers, and these are now in possession of her son, W. W.
Hawes.
1 CMNT of Detroit, MI
Leander was educated in the common schools of his province, and located on Garden Island, where he remained until about 1850. He then came to Clayton, where he spent the rest of his life, dying in 1896.
Obituary from the Watertown Daily Times of Monday, 15 Oct. 1928: CLAYTON--Stricken with a heart attack three quarters of an hour after he had returned from an automobile ride with his family Sunday afternoon, Augustus F. Brabant, 61, 829 State
street, Clayton, died at his home Sunday afternoon at 5:45.Mr. Brabant started out for a drive in his automobile with his family early in the afternoon and returned to his home at 5. He had been in poor health for the past month.
Mr. Brabant was born in Clayton, Aug. 3, 1867, a son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Leander Brabant. Mr. Brabant had resided in Clayton all his life being superintendent of the Otis Brooks Lumber company of Clayton. Last year Mr. Brabant was
presented with a gold watch in recognition of his services. He was a trustee of St. Mary's church for several years, trustee of the village board for several terms and a charter member of the Clayton lodge, Knights of Columbus.Mr. Brabant was married twice, his first wife being Miss Catherine LaLonde, who died 14 years ago. One daughter, Lucy, was born to this union. She died several years ago. His second wife was Mrs. Philomena Thibault Belanger, widow of
Alden Belanger.Mr. Brabant is survived by his wife, Mrs. Philomena Brabant; one son, Joseph; one daughter, Miss Louise Brabant, both of Clayton; three sisters, Mrs. Louis Amo, Clayton; Mrs. G. H. Thibault, Syracuse, and Mrs. Stephen Pelow, Clayton.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday morning at 9 from St. Mary's church with burial in Clayton.