Private Jacob Hess Memorial Dedication

by Clare Stewart & Iain Sneyd

A service of commemoration was held at the Church of the Resurrection (Hamilton) on Sunday October 6, 2019.  Archdeacon David Anderson presided at the service, during which a memorial stone was dedicated in honour of Pvt Jacob Hess. 

Hess, who served in the 5th Regiment Lincoln Militia during the War of 1812, was commemorated with an 1812 Veterans stone and a historical plaque. The event took place in a space adjacent to the cemetery where Hess is buried.

Approximately 70 people attended, including descendants of the Hess family, veterans, and a current serving member from the parish, as well as re-enactors from the 2nd Regiment Lincoln Militia.

After the event attendees were invited to view displays which had been set up in the Fireside Room of the church which included the remnants of Jacob’s gravestone and information about the Hess family. There was also an information display by the Hamilton Branch of the United Empire Loyalists.

As a lead-in to the event, local author John Terpstra delivered a talk in September about his recent book Daylighting Chedoke which deals with the history of this area and the importance of the Hess family to the west mountain area of Hamilton.

This afternoon members of Resurrection and the wider community gathered for a ceremony to recognize the service of Private Jacob Hess, a war of 1812 veteran who was laid to rest in our cemetary. pic.twitter.com/tegkB3Muqo

— OneResurrection (@oneresurrection) October 6, 2019