Capt. Edward Zealand, Sr.

This gentleman was born at Scarborough, England in 1793. He had two brothers, both in the navy. One of them, Thomas, was drowned off a man-of-war in the German Sea, and the other, William, was taken prisoner by the French, where he was kept for some time. He died in Scarborough in 1865. Edward went into the navy when about twelve years of age, and served in different engagements in Nelson's fleets in Europe, also on this side of the Atlantic and on the lakes until the close of the American war. During the trouble in 1837 he was in command of one of Her Majesty's ships on Lake Erie, and took a prominent part in the expedition which sent the Caroline over the Falls. He was before and afterwards in command of several mail and passenger boats on Lake Ontario. He owned a number of vessels hailing from the port of Hamilton.

Captain Zealand was elected commodore of the Hamilton Yacht Club, a position which he held for some years. He was married to Agnes Sinclair in Nelson Township in 1827. His wife died in 1859. After that he engaged in the forwarding business, but for some years before his death he had been living a retired life. He was killed by a wild cow in Hamilton on December 21, 1869 and was interred with military honors in Burlington Cemetery, the funeral procession being one of the largest ever seen in Hamilton. He left six sons, five of whom were sailors and became master mariners.

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