Benjamin Milliken II U.E. (1794 in Bocabec,

New Brunswick New Brunswick (french: Nouveau-Brunswick, , locally ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is one of the three Maritime provinces and one of the four Atlantic provinces. It is the only province with both English and ...

– 1863 in Township of Markham,

Canada West The Province of Canada (or the United Province of Canada or the United Canadas) was a British colony in North America from 1841 to 1867. Its formation reflected recommendations made by John Lambton, 1st Earl of Durham, in the Report on the ...

Province of Canada The Province of Canada (or the United Province of Canada or the United Canadas) was a British North America, British colony in North America from 1841 to 1867. Its formation reflected recommendations made by John Lambton, 1st Earl of Durham ...

) was a

United Empire Loyalist United Empire Loyalists (or simply Loyalists) is an honorific title which was first given by the 1st Lord Dorchester, the Governor of Quebec, and Governor General of The Canadas, to American Loyalists who resettled in British North America duri ...

, farmer and soldier who lived in Markham Township, York County, Upper Canada in the nineteenth century.

Early life

He was the son of a successful

Upper Canada The Province of Upper Canada (french: link=no, province du Haut-Canada) was a part of British Canada established in 1791 by the Kingdom of Great Britain, to govern the central third of the lands in British North America, formerly part of the ...

lumber merchant and tavern keeper,

American Loyalist Loyalists were colonists in the Thirteen Colonies who remained loyal to the British Crown during the American Revolutionary War, often referred to as Tories, Royalists or King's Men at the time. They were opposed by the Patriots, who supporte ...

Norman Milliken Norman Milliken (July 11, 1771 Trenton, Maine – February 2, 1843 Markham, Province of Canada) was a loyalist, farmer, lumber mill owner and hotel/tavern keeper in York County, Ontario. The community of Milliken Mills in Markham, Ontario is nam ...

(17711843), after whom the community of

Milliken, Ontario Milliken and Milliken Mills are neighbourhoods in the cities of Toronto and Markham. Milliken is situated in the north west section of Scarborough, whereas Milliken Mills is situated in the south-central portions of Markham. The neighbourhoods a ...

, formerly Milliken Corners founded 1807, may be named. He started life as a millman and subsequently became a farmer in the Township of Markham.

Military service and citizen soldier

He had a distinguished military career in the British colony of Upper Canada. He served as a Private in Battalion No. 9 of the South Division of the First Regiment of the

York Militia The York Militia was a volunteer militia unit in Upper Canada formed after the passage of the Militia Act of 1793. Members of the York Militia were drawn from the settlers of York County, an area mostly made up of present-day Greater Toronto. Th ...

during the

War of 1812 The War of 1812 (18 June 1812 – 17 February 1815) was fought by the United States of America and its indigenous allies against the United Kingdom and its allies in British North America, with limited participation by Spain in Florida. It bega ...

at the age of 18 under Captain James Fenwick and saw action at the

Battle of Queenston Heights The Battle of Queenston Heights was the first major battle in the War of 1812. Resulting in a British victory, it took place on 13 October 1812 near Queenston, Upper Canada (now Ontario). The battle was fought between United States regulars wit ...

under General Sir

Isaac Brock Major-General Sir Isaac Brock KB (6 October 1769 – 13 October 1812) was a British Army officer and colonial administrator from Guernsey. Brock was assigned to Lower Canada in 1802. Despite facing desertions and near-mutinies, he c ...

. During the 1837

Upper Canada Rebellion The Upper Canada Rebellion was an insurrection against the oligarchic government of the British colony of Upper Canada (present-day Ontario) in December 1837. While public grievances had existed for years, it was the rebellion in Lower Canada (p ...

, Milliken continued his militia service in the First Regiment in the

, received a Captain's commission and ultimately attained the rank of Major.

Later life

In 1851, Milliken donated the land and built one of the first schools in the Milliken Corners area (School Section #8) which is now the location of Hagerman Corner School (now The School Fine Dining) building built in 1888.Benjamin Milliken House, Town of Markham Heritage Designation Bylaw 88-94 - Schedule B He hosted agricultural fairs on his farm during the 1860s and was an active member of the (Milliken Corners) Methodist Church. He was made a Justice of the Peace in York County, Upper Canada out of recognition of his militia service.

Benjamin Milliken House

Circa 1855, Benjamin Milliken constructed a Georgian Classic Revival house on his farm located on Part of Lot 5, Concession 5 Markham Township that was designated as a historical structure under the Ontario Heritage Act in 1994. Benjamin Milliken House located at 7710 Kennedy Road, Markham is currently occupied by a pub called The Major Milliken.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Milliken, Banjamin II Canadian people of the War of 1812 1794 births 1863 deaths Milliken family

Early life

Military service and citizen soldier

Later life

Benjamin Milliken House

See also

References