William & Catherine in 1812

By David Serafino

The two-act play tells the story of William Hamilton Merritt, the founder of the First Welland Canal, and his romance with Catherine Pendergast, who became his wife during the turbulent times of the War of 1812 in the Niagara Frontier. Though it is a fictional account, it is based on historical record to a reasonable degree. The story starts with Merritt, as a young man, surveying the land in Niagara. It is here that he first encounters Catherine hanging laundry at her homestead. Their second meeting takes place in a dry goods store where William is a partner. Catherine arrives and introduces him to her parents Dr. and Mrs. Pendergast. A romance begins and, eventually, William asks for Catherine’s hand in marriage, which must be approved by her parents who evaluate his financial stability as well as his ambitions. They give their approval but before nuptials can take place, America invades the British colony, plunging the countryside into war. William volunteers to fight for the British and is made a Captain where he is engaged in the bloodiest battle of the war, captured, and moved to a small town in New York State where he is held prisoner until the war’s end. Once back in Niagara, he and Catherine marry.
The story is a fanciful creation of what might have been but does not purport to be truth. The facts however are as follows: William Hamilton Merritt worked as surveyor in Niagara; he was a partner in a dry goods store in Shipmans Corners (later to be renamed St. Catharines (for Catherine Pendergast in spite of the different spelling); Catherine’s father was in fact a doctor; William joined the British army as a Captain Merritt; he fought at the battle of Lundy’s Lane, was captured and spent the rest of the war as a prisoner in upstate New York; after the war he returned to Niagara where he and Catherine married. After that, and beyond the time frame of this book, Merritt went on to own and operate a flour mill on Twelve Mile Creek, and conceived of a method to bring a more reliable water supply to his mill, thereby instigating the construction of the First Welland Canal.
The play is written in a comedic style, with characters introduced throughout with comic presence. Though the War of 1812 was a serious affair, as was Merritt’s ambitions to build a canal to circumvent the cataract of Niagara, this play is best described as a romantic adventure comedy with more opportunity for laughs rather than tears.

• Language: English
• Publisher: David Serafino
• Release date: Jul 17, 2020
• ISBN: 9780463837702

David Serafino

David Serafino was born in 1947 and grew up in Niagara Falls Ontario but has lived almost all of his adult life in the historic town of Port Dalhousie, now a suburb of St. Catharines Ontario. He began writing while a young adult, contributing to local publications and attempting a first yet-to-be published auto-biographical novel. In 1997 he began publishing Dalhousie Peer Magazine which ran for 14 years and 150 monthly issues. He is a published author by virtue of having a short story adjudicated for inclusion in a Canadian literary journal in 2009. In 1997 he co-authored and printed a history book of Port Dalhousie titled “A Nickel a Ride” In 2020 he produced, published and co-authored a more detailed and complete history of Port Dalhousie titled “Port Dalhousie: An Intimate History. Serafino has also written a series of five plays based on the War of 1812 and two children’s plays, some of which were performed locally and in New York State. He has also published two novels and a book of short stories & poems as eBooks. He is an amateur musician who uploads self-produced music videos of original songs to YouTube. Together, with his wife Lana, they have built an off-grid, solar-powered retreat in Central Ontario where they spend much of their summer. Since retirement in 2010 they have spent part of their winters in Latin America.

Book preview

WILLIAM & CATHERINE IN 1812

A TWO-ACT PLAY (Romantic Comedy)

by DAVID SERAFINO

ISBN: 9780463837702

Copyright © 2011

David Serafino

Dalpeer Productions

6 Pine Street, St. Catharines ON L2N4T1

905-934-9676

[e-mail]

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review or scholarly journal. This play may be performed for free by any school group or not-for-profit community theatre group with permission from the author.

ACT ONE

SCENE I:

Summer 1811. A young man, WILLIAM, is looking through a surveyor’s eyepiece in an outdoor setting with his instructor, Mr. Richard COCKREL, beside him, notebook in hand. William’s leather shoulder bag lies on the ground beside a surveyor’s chain.

COCKREL

It’s taking you a long time to locate our flag-boy, William. I can see him now with my bare eyes waving his shirt. What is it that keeps you from acknowledging his position?

(Cockrel steps behind William)

Why you’re not even pointing your instrument in the right direction. Have you forgotten the basic lessons? You’re at least ten degrees to the west, aimed at the Prendergast homestead.

WILLIAM

(distracted)

Uh huh…

COCKREL

William! Focus please, both your attention and your instrument.

WILLIAM

Spare me a moment if you will, sir. I’m surveying the surroundings.

COCKREL

(pushing William aside)

Let me see.

(looks through the scope)

Oh. I do see. Yes indeed. No doubt the young Catherine Prendergast has distracted you while hanging out her washing. Perhaps you mistook her knickers flying on the clothes line for our flag. Indeed…

(lingers at the eyepiece)

WILLIAM

I’m sorry sir but I feel it’s a natural distraction for a man of my age and situation.

(pauses waiting to have the eyepiece yielded)

But I’m sure an older married gent such as yourself would not be so inclined to linger at length.

COCKREL

No, of course not. But I am curious as to the proximity of the Prendergast farm in relation to our survey line.

(swings the telescope a few degrees east)

Now focus and find our flag and read out the bearing.

WILLIAM

197degrees, 30minutes, 4 seconds. If you wish sir, once we’ve staked out our line I could measure the distance to the Prendergast property. I have young legs that could save you the exertion of hiking into that marsh.

COCKREL

Very well William. I have grown tired and wouldn’t be much of a teacher if I were to discourage your unbridled passion for your subject. Off you go now.

WILLIAM

(shouldering his bag)

I’ll see you in your office tomorrow then?

COCKREL

I certainly expect so. And you’ll have the measurements with you, correct?