ST. CATHARINES HISTORICAL MUSEUM-RICHARD PIERPOINT

ST. CATHARINES HISTORICAL MUSEUM
RICHARD PIERPOINT
May 29, 1985
Butler’s Rangers- one of eight known Black men
BAKER, Jack
FRY, Joseph
MARTIN, Peter his son served in the Coloured Company)
MARTIN, Richard (former slaves of Col. Butler)

MINK, Philip
PIERPOINT, Richard
PRINCE, John (believe he had a son, Henry, who served in the
Coloured Company)
ROBERTSON, James

1786- drew rations for him and a woman (from a Victualing List at Niagara of Murray’s District, Dec.
14, 1786).
(They could have been married by the Post Commander)
Pierpoint proposed to raise a Corps of Men of Colour
June 18, 1812, the War of 1812 started
Runchey’s Coloured Company- –
raised July 1812 as an infantry unit
-last time commanded by Capt.
Runchey was August, 1812
-Runchey not with unit at
Queenston Heights, October 13,
1812
-disbanded Winter 1813
-re-formed March 1813 as the
“Corps of Colour” under the
command of George Fowler (a
white man)
-James Robertson took command
afterwards and served to the end
of the War
-The Corps was an artificer unit
-Corps of Colour retreated from
Fort George (June 7 or 1813?) and
saw action at Stoney Creek, May
27, 1813
Dick’s Creek in St. Catharines is named for Richard Pierpoint

Likely died in the St. Catharines area, circa September, 1838
-he drafted his will when living in Louth Township
-the application for probate of the will says
“Richard Pierpoint of Grantham”
-Lemuel Brown, who witnessed his will, was from St. Catharines and would not likely have travelled
to Fergus
-reference in Junius indicates he was likely in this area