Chippawa in Niagara Falls in Niagara Region, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)
Laura (Ingersoll) Secord
Photographed by Kevin Westell, July 3, 2025
1. Laura (Ingersoll) Secord - Marker
Laura Ingersoll was born in Massachusetts, USA, on 13 September 1775 and came with her family to Queenston, Upper Canada (now Ontario), where she later married James Secord. They moved to Chippawa when James was appointed Collector of Customs. After his death in 1841 she moved to a brick cottage (now 3800 Bridgewater Street) where she ran a private school with her daughters Charlotte and Harriet.
Laura had gained lasting fame during the War of 1812 for her heroic trek from Queenston to Thorold on 22 June 1813 to warn Lieutenant James FitzGibbon, commanding the British outpost at the DeCou House, of an impending American attack. In the ensuing Battle of Beaverdams, fought on 24 June 1813, the invaders were soundly defeated, mainly by the British Native allies.
On 16 September 1860, during a tour of Canada, the Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII) attended services here at Holy Trinity Church, where Laura was a parishioner. Learning of her noble deed and greatly moved by her courage and sense of duty, he arranged for a gift of £100 to be sent to her by his mother Queen Victoria.
Laura died on 17 October 1868 and is buried beside James in Drummond Hill Cemetery, in Niagara Falls.
Erected 2015 by Lundy's Lane Historical Society.
Topics. This historical
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Location. 43° 3.698′ N, 79° 3.434′ W. Marker is in Niagara Falls, Ontario, in Niagara Region. It is in Chippawa. It is at the intersection of Portage Road and Norton Street, on the right when traveling west on Portage Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 7820 Portage Road, Niagara Falls ON L2G 5Y8, Canada. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is on Ontario’s Golden Horseshoe and in Niagara Canada. It is also in Central Canada. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony, the Viceroyalty of New France, the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy, and Ruperts Land.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Church of the Holy Trinity (here, next to this marker); Laura Secord Home (approx. half a kilometer away); James Cameron (approx. half a kilometer away); The Founding of Chippawa (approx. 0.6 kilometers away); Raid on Fort Schlosser 1813 (approx. 0.6 kilometers away); Fort Chippawa 1791 (approx. 0.6 kilometers away); Chippawa Town Hall (approx. 0.6 kilometers away); Chippawa Post Office Sign (approx. 0.6 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Niagara Falls.
Regarding Laura (Ingersoll) Secord. DeCou is an alternate spelling for DeCew.
Photographed by Kevin Westell, July 3, 2025
2. Laura (Ingersoll) Secord - Marker in context
Photo faces north from Portage Road. This marker is the left marker in this photo, on the lawn of the old white church.
Credits. This page was last revised on July 7, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 6, 2025, by Kevin Westell of St. Catharines, Ontario. This page has been viewed 109 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 6, 2025, by Kevin Westell of St. Catharines, Ontario. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
