The Hunter Patriots or Hunters' Lodges were a secret society of filibusters in the United States during the mid-19th century. They appear to have somewhat resembled Freemasons structurally with degrees of rank such as "Snowshoe", "Beaver", "Master Hunter" with the highest rank being "Patriot Hunter". The group was dedicated to the eviction of the British Empire from North America and the "liberation" of Canada. It is claimed that their lodges may have numbered in the thousands.[1]
"The Hunters", as they were called, were associated with the Upper Canada Rebellion in Canada. They attacked Windsor, Ontario in 1838 and were driven off and dispersed after a pitched battle. In November 1838, a force of about 1,500 men started from New York to seal off the St Lawrence River and thereby allow a hypothetical revolt to take place in Upper Canada.
About 300 men actually occupied and held a stone windmill at Prescott, Ontario where a five day battle called The Battle of the Windmill was fought against British regulars and Canadian militia. The rebels were eventually captured, tried, and, in some cases, executed or transported to Tasmania.