Rogers, William
Canada – History – Rebellion, 1837-1838

The Queen vs. William Rogers. – Bill of Treason. – March 1838.

William Rogers was a yeoman living in or near Albion, York township, Upper Canada. On 13 December 1837 he was arrested and charged with treason. In all 422 people were arrested in the Home District. He was tried in the Court of Oyer and Terminer on 18 April 1838 and acquitted (“Return of the Names and Quality of Station of the several person, arrested and placed in confinement in the Prisons of Toronto, etc.; printed by the House of Commons, 25 Feb. 1839).

The item is a Bill of Treason written on parchment against William Rogers. He is described as “not having the fear of God in his heart but being moved and seduced by the instigation of the Devil”. It is stated he wished to “depose our said Lady the Queen … and to bring and put our said Lady the Queen to death.” He was specifically charged with offences that took place before, after and on 4 December [1837] in the Township of York. They included plotting an insurrection against the Queen, persuading others to join this insurrection, and assembling, with around fifty others, armed with guns, muskets, rifles, bullets, bayonets, swords, pikes and other weapons. The document is signed by the jury foreman, J. W. Gamble, and witnesses.

Item was discovered in the Archives in May 2009. Its provenance is not known.
This description is the finding aid.
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