A summary of John’s recorded information:
John Presley and Elizabeth Fitzpatrick appear to have been an Irish-born Loyalist-era couple living in and around Cornwall, Ontario (then Upper Canada), though no direct marriage record has been found. A militia unit summary dated February 10, 1789 lists John as born in Ireland and age 24, which suggests a likely birth year of 1764 (with the note that he likely turned 25 later that year).
John’s land history is complicated but well documented. In 1789 he was granted 100 acres—the east half of Lot 33, 2nd Concession, Osnaburg (Osnabruck) (now Stormont County)—as compensation for “having served in the Late War as a Militia man in New York.” The lot was drawn and verified by Patrick McNiff on June 8, 1786, and McNiff’s well-known township map illustrates Presley’s lot. However, a later-1786 document states John “appears” not to hold land in that township, creating a conflict with later records showing the property eventually connected to the family: it is shown as acquired by John Crysler from John Presley’s son John in 1834.
John and Elizabeth had at least four children together, most connected to baptisms performed by Rev. John Bethune. Their daughter Catherine was born 1791 and baptized by Bethune, likely in Cornwall, based on where the parents were recorded as living. Their son John was born in 1793 and baptized September 15, 1793, also by Bethune. A key research caution is noted: Bethune’s register covered all of his congregations, but later archival descriptions often tied these entries only to Williamstown Presbyterian Church, which has led some researchers to assume Williamstown incorrectly.
Their son James was born in 1796 and baptized March 9, 1796. At James’s baptism, John Presley was reportedly not present, as he was traveling to the United States. A fourth child, George, was born April 13, 1799 in Stormont County.
John Presley died in the United States, sometime in 1799 or 1800, and an affidavit states he died intestate (without a will) there. This is important because many researchers have attributed his death to a different man: a John Priestlysaid to have died in 1800 as a British soldier in Quebec City. British regimental records instead show that this John Priestly enlisted in 1779 at age 18 and was discharged in 1801 in the UK at age 40, indicating he was not the same person as John Presley.
By May 5, 1800, Elizabeth is clearly identified as a widow when she petitioned for land. She received a Crown Patent for Lot 40 (200 acres), Concession 3, Township of Osgoode, though how long she retained it is unclear. Later that year, Elizabeth remarried: on September 29, 1800, she married Daniel Baxter, with both recorded as living in Cornwall. Elizabeth and Daniel had at least four sons: Patrick (birth date unknown), Daniel (b. 1801), Peter (b. 1807), and Samuel (b. 1812).
Information backing the summary above:
Most people have John as being born in what is now the United States. Based on this evidence I believe he was born in Ireland. In the link below you will see John Presley listed in Col. James Gray’s Company on the 10th of February. 1789. It lists his “Country” as Ireland. Upon checking a number other individuals on the list their genealogy matches their stated country of birth in this document. This document also lists John as being 24. As this was dated in February chances are he was actually born in 1764 – not 1765 as commonly recorded.
https://heritage.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.lac_reel_h2943/1204
I cannot find a record of a marriage date to Elizabeth Fitzpatrick only references that they were married.
The common wisdom is that John and Elizabeth’s children were baptized in Williamstown, Ontario. I believe this potential misunderstanding stems from when Archives Canada first microfilmed the data. Here Archives Canada refers to Rev. John Bethune settling in Williamstown.
https://heritage.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.lac_reel_c3030/325
There is no mention that he was also clergy to churches in Cornwall, Lancaster – the Archives/publication reference refers to Glengarry only laving out his other congregations.
https://heritage.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.lac_reel_c3030/341
Secondary sources also indicated he was a minister to more than just Williamstown: https://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/bethune_john_1751_1815_5E.html
Baptismal Records:
Catherine Presley – John and Elizabeth were listed as living in Cornwall. No birth date provided; baptismal date only. The Protestant tradition of the time was not as rigid as the Roman Catholic one in terms in having a child baptized ASAP so we can assume her birthdate was not necessarily immediately before the baptism. https://heritage.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.lac_reel_c3030/352
John Presley – John and Elizabeth were still listed as living in Cornwall. https://heritage.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.lac_reel_c3030/359
James Presley – Interesting difference here. It states. “…John Presley formerly of Cornwall ???? now on his way to the United States.” It’s unclear how long he was gone, however, John/Elizabeth’s son George was born in 1799. https://heritage.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.lac_reel_c3030/365
George Presley – no record found of his baptismal only his birth year in census data and gravestone.
John’s death is also a matter for discussion. It has been thought that he died in Quebec City in 1800. He is listed here as a member of the 41st Regiment of Foot named John Priestly who did serve in Quebec in 1799 but went back to the UK by 1801. He was from Leeds, Yorkshire. With that, the John Priestly who was thought to be our John Presley, is not the same person.
We do know that Elizabeth was a widow before May 5, 1800 as this is when she applies for land and is listed as a widow. Upper Canada Land Petitions “P” Bundle 5, 179901802 (RG 1, L3 Vol. 401).
As a final piece regarding John’s death (when and where) there is a disposition made by John Presley Jr. on June 22, 1819 in Cornwall, that his father “…died in the United States about eighteen since without making any will…” You will recall that when James Presley was born John Presley as on his way to the United States.
It seems fairly clear that John Presley died in the United States and that the John Priestly referred to in UK Regiments was not our John Presley.