North American. [volume] (Swanton, Vt.) 1839-1841, 1839-06-12
ORIGINAL BIOGRAPHY.

JosErH JACauEs RoEERT was born in
the year I179, Of very respectable family
in the County of Huntingdon. He settled
as farmer, in the Parish o! St. Philippe,
in the county Of Laprairie, and the district
of Montreal His honesty and industry
soon acquired him very substantial for
tune, for man of his profession In poll
tics he never once changed. He was
Patriot from honest conviction, and from
principle. At every political crisis of his
country he was always the unwaverng
supporter Of those principles which had for
their object the "greatest good of the
greatest number" The reader will not
be surprised to find such man among
those who opposed the tyrannical admin
is,ratons OF Craig, Dalhousie, Aylmer and
Gosford. At the great meeting of the
County Of Laprairie, held at St. Constant,
in the month of August, 1887, Mr.. Robert
was one OF the principal actors. He had
for many years held commission of Cap
tain in the Provincial militia. Ashamed
To hold rank in body, from which Lord
Gosford had unjustly dismissed many wor-
thy Reiormers, Mr.. Robert resigned his
commission, and told the Governor that he
could not continue to serve government
which acted so tyrannically.
After the disasters which beiel the Pat
riots in the fall of 1887, he was not dispi-
rted on the contrary the prosecutions
inflicted on his fellow countrymen reused
to higher pitch, his hatred towards the
British Government he made up his
mind to seize the first opportunity to over
throw the present form of monarchca
despo,ism and establish Republic.
On the third Of November the signal was
given; faithful to his pledge, he was among
the first to engage in the strife. His respect
ability and love of freedom, which is always
accompanied by courage, entitled him TO
place of distinction. His countrymen hon
ored him with the rank ofMajor; and at the
head of some few men, he proceeded to
disarm the loyalists in his neighborhood.
He was the commander Of the party that
went to Walkers house. (Our readers
lave already been made acquainted with
this affair, and we shall not therefore again
dilate on this subject.) When the patri.
OTIS could no longer stand their ground,
Mr.. Robert was made a prisoner by the
British. Some would have thought that
his advanced age and his respectable ap-
pearance would have entitled him to res.
pect from the boodhounds into whose
hands he had fallen, but whoever is con.
versant with British practices is well aware
that they respect nothing. Our unfortu-
nate friend received IRON them the most
crue! treatment. He was thrown into
dungeon, and on the third day of January
last, he was dragged before the Court Mar.
'ia TO undergo mock trial, which he knew
would end in predetermined sentence Of
death, which OF course would be carried
into effect. These things he told before
hand 10 friend in jail.-Not murmur
was heard from him. He denied the au
ihoriIy and right Of such a tribunal TO de.
eide upon his life or death, but that awaited
HIM not. His trial continued, and on the
18th OF the same month he received official
notice that on the 18th, he should end his
existence Ike leIon or a murderer on the
scafold. This awful news he received
with great apparent calmness. The terri