John Baptist Askin

Part Three of Three – John Baptist Askin (1788-1869) – The Askin Family’s Connection to Detroit, 1700s-1800s

Detroit, John Baptist Askin, Ontario / /

London, Ontario Metis office holder, John Baptist Askin (1788-1869) hailed from Detroit, where his family were well-known citizens. His grandfather’s son-in-law Elijah Brush (1775-1813) advocated for the freedom of two Black slaves, Peter and Hannah Denison. The Denison’s daughter, Lisette Denison, helped establish a church in 1868 where people of any background could worship.

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Part Two of Three – John Baptist Askin (1788-1869) – His Connection to My Eldon House Play

Eldon House, John Baptist Askin, London / /

London, Ontario Metis office holder, John Baptist Askin (1788-1869) was discussed by the two characters in my Eldon House play. While Amelia Harris (1798-1882) considered Askin to be one of her “oldest friends,” John Wilson (1809-1869) did not share her enthusiasm.

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Part One of Three – John Baptist Askin (1788-1869) – His Connection to London, Ontario, Canada

Detroit, John Baptist Askin, London, Ontario / /

London, Ontario Metis office holder, John Baptist Askin (1788-1869) was a controversial figure in the Forest City. Journalist L N Bronson (1905-1994) described Askin in a 1968 London Free Press article as “Colonel to his friends, Indian to his detractors.”

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