Klass "Nicholas" Klaes Outhouse

In Westchester County, Nicholas grew up learning the waterways as the men of his family had done for centuries. He married Elizabeth Flewelling in 1747 in North Castle, New York. Elizabeth was the daughter of Robert Flewelling and Maphlet Jeacockes of North Castle. The young couple moved across the Hudson River to Haverstraw Township, Orange County, New York where they lived and raised their children.

The American Revolution broke out and threw their lives into anarchy. In 1777 Nicholas fled with his wife and twelve children from Haverstraw, into Fort Montgomery. Nicholas along with his four oldest sons, Simon, Robert, Peter and Israel joined the British forces. Peter and Israel were later captured by the American Rebels and forced to fight against the British Army.

Nicholas served as a guide in Colonel Beverly Robinson s newly raised Corps of Loyalists. He was stationed at Stony Point, which commanded the narrows of the Hudson River, controlling traffic by a means of a chain 450 feet long reaching across the river.

In 1783 at the conclusion of the war, Nicholas and Elizabeth, along with their younger children and eldest son Robert were evacuated to Nova Scotia. Their names appear on the Muster Roll at Gulliver's Hole, St Mary's Bay, Nova Scotia on June 24, 1784. Elizabeth died, like many other women, during that cold winter of 1784-85. Nicholas, however, made the perilous trek back to his homestead at Haverstraw, to rejoin his family. His name appears on the Federal Census of 1790 at Haverstraw, New York. However, the Militia Census of 1793 exposed him as a Loyalist and he was obliged to leave the state or be hanged as a traitor.

In 1794, Nicholas with his second wife, Mary and a large family of children including married daughters and their husbands, entered Canada at Newark (now called Niagara-on-the-Lake) the location of Fort George and was recommended for 200 acres of land at Charlotteville Township, Upper Canada. Nicholas Outhouse filed his first land petition in Charlotteville Township on September 1, 1796 and the results returned on October 4, 1796. The Petition is as follows:

Return of persons who have been permitted by His Honour, the Administrator to occupy lands during the recess of Council having been laid before the Council on September 1, 1796, farm lots to Nicholas Outhouse, which being confirmed, were ordered accordingly.

In an Order-in-Council dated October 12, 1796, Nicholas claimed: He joined the British Troops at Fort Montgomery, New York and remained through the war. He was a guide to Colonel Robinson s newly raised Corps at Stony Point. Later he resided at Turkey Point, Ontario for 1 year while awaiting his land grant. He has a certificate from William Dickson of the State of New York. In a later court dated of April 12, 1799 he states: He joined His Majesty s troops and at the evacuation of New York went to Nova Scotia. He took his wife and 12 children within the British lines and three of his sons were engaged in service during the war. He has now settled and improved Lot 21 Concession 1 of Charlotteville Township, Norfolk County which was in reserve. He has built a house and made improvements. The Order-in-Council was then recommended.

On April 9, 1802, Nicholas made another request for the vacant land on Lot 21 Concession Front of Charlotteville Township that he claims he erected a good dwelling house and frame barn, cleared land and planted fruit trees. The request was recommended on November 27, 1802.

In Court Proceedings on December 15, 1803, Mary Outhouse, wife of Nicholas, relinquished her right of dower on Lot 7 Concession 7 Walpole Township, Haldimand County to Peter Teeple.

In the Township Papers released on February 19, 1822, Mary Outhouse, widow of Nicholas sold her all her rights to Lot 21 Concession 1 to Amos Palmer for a scant 50 pounds.

Nicholas died in May of 18