July 2024
The southern Ontario City of Stoney Creek is known for many things, but one of their lesser-known having their own warlock. Coming from the Old English word “waerloga,” one who lies or breaks faith and is also a word for the Devil. They are a person, usually a man, who uses magic against others, like a wizard or sorcerer.
The Hamilton warlock was a man named Robert Van Dusen. Born in 1780 in Hillside, Columbia, New York, USA, Van Dusen and his family moved to Wentworth County in 1815.
Robert died in September 1873 and was away from his family plot across from Mount Albion Cemetery on Upper Mount Albion Road in what was then known as Saltfleet Township. The family plot had originally been a part of the Pearson Farm, geographically located at Lot 32, Concession 7, across from the existing Mount Albion Cemetery, which had been established
The grave was enclosed by an iron fence with the words WARLOCK on his gravestone. This gravestone is now missing, leaving only the base.
Decedents of Robert Van Dusen still live in the Hamilton area.
sources: Mount Albion Cemetery at Historical Hamilton, Hamilton Paranormal – Mt Albion Cemetery, Robert Van Dusen (1780-1873) – Find a Grave Memorial.
There is a small cemetery on a hill across from the main cemetery. This was on the Pearson Farm Property. The few graves on this lot were not part of the Mount Albion Cemetery, therefore the graves are unattended. The Cemetery Board is considering re-locating the graves across the road into the official burial grounds. However this has not yet been done. The graves are still located on the old Person Farm across from Mount Albion Cemetery…..
