Many Loyalists came to Canada by ship, especially those who settled in the Maritime provinces and, to a lesser extent, in Quebec. In this section we are developing a list of ships with some basic details about each voyage, along with secondary details including passenger lists etc.

When the terms of peace became known, tens of thousands of the Loyalists shook the dust of their ungrateful country from their feet, never to return. The party sailed from New York, in nine transport ships, on October 19, 1782, and arrived a few days later at Annapolis Royal.

On April 26, 1783, the first or ‘spring’ fleet set sail. It had on board no less than seven thousand persons, men, women, children, and servants. Half of these went to the mouth of the river St John, and about half to Port Roseway, at the south-west end of the Nova Scotian peninsula. All summer and autumn the ships kept plying to and fro.

In June, the ‘summer fleet’ brought about 2,500 colonists to St John River, Annapolis, Port Roseway, and Fort Cumberland. By August 23 John Parr, the governor of Nova Scotia, wrote that ‘upward of 12,000 souls have already arrived from New York,’ and that as many more were expected. By the end of September he estimated that 18,000 had arrived, and stated that 10,000 more were still to come. By the end of the year he computed the total immigration to have amounted to 30,000. As late as January 15, 1784, the refugees were still arriving.

The table below provides basic details on a number of Loyalist ships. Where the name of the ship (in the left-most column) is a link, click for more detailed information. Click on a column heading at the top to sort the table by the contents of that column, in ascending or descending order.

 

Ship Database

Click on any column heading to sort by the data in that column

Ship Departed Date Landed Date Passengers Notes
Alexander New York 1783, fall New Brunswick 1783, Oct. 17 116 Ref. Evacuation of NY
Amity’s Production New York 1783, Jun. 16 New Brunswick 1783, Jul. 5 62 Ref. Evacuation of NY
Amphitrite New York 1782 Annapolis 1782, Oct. 19 360 Ref. Evacuation of NY
Ann New York 1783, fall New Brunswick 1783, Sept. 27 204 Ref. Evacuation of NY
Ann New York 1783, Jul. 8 New Brunswick 1783, Jul. 24 103 Ref. Evacuation of NY
Ann & Elizabeth Port Roseway / Shelburne from The Book of Negroes
Antelope Gordon Bremer Lee (German port) from The Book of Negroes
Apollo New York 1783, Jun. 8 (?) Port Roseway, NS
Apollo New York 1783, fall New Brunswick 1783, Sept. 27 605 Ref. Evacuation of NY
Argo St. Augustine, FL Halifax 1784, Jul. 13 TheShipsList has more information: Argo Transport from St. Augustine FL, arrived at Halifax NS 13 July 1784
Ariel New York 1783, Apr. 27 New Brunswick 1783, Jun. 10-12 185 Ref. Evacuation of NY
Aurora New York 1783, Apr. 27 New Brunswick 1783, June 10-12 212 Ref. Evacuation of NY
Aurora New York 1783, Jul. 8 New Brunswick 1783, Jul. 24 111 Ref. Evacuation of NY
Baker & Atlee Port Roseway / Shelburne; Quebec from The Book of Negroes
Beaver, sloop Port Roseway / Shelburne from The Book of Negroes
Berwick England from The Book of Negroes
Betsey Annapolis Royal from The Book of Negroes
Blacket Port Roseway / Shelburne from The Book of Negroes
Bonetta Halifax 1783, Aug. 25 Port Roseway 1783, Oct. 4;
Bridgewater New York 1784, Nov. 1 Spithead/Portsmouth 1784, Dec. 172 Ref. Evacuation of NY
Britain mouth of St. John River, NB from The Book of Negroes
Brothers New York 1783, Apr. 27 New Brunswick 1783, June 10-12 139 Ref. Evacuation of NY
Camel New York 1783, Apr. 27 New Brunswick 1783, June 10-12 135 Ref. Evacuation of NY
Camel New York 1783, July Quebec 1783, August 12 106 Passenger List
Camel New York 1783, late August Saint John NB / Beaver Harbour NB 1783, Sept 18 / Sept 29 254 see Loyalist Trails 2015-20, May 17 2015
Caron Annapolis Royal from The Book of Negroes
Charming Nancy Port Roseway / Shelburne from The Book of Negroes
Clinton New York 1783, August Halifax Evacuation of NY
Clinton New York 1783, Sept. 20 Halifax Evacuation of NY
Clinton New York 1783, Nov. 14 Halifax Evacuation of NY
Commerce New York 1783, Jul. 8 New Brunswick 1783, Jul. 24 117 Ref. Evacuation of NY
Commerce New York 1783, fall New Brunswick 1783, Sept. 27 262 Ref. Evacuation of NY
Commerce New York 1783, fall New Brunswick 1783, Sept. 27 262 Ref. Evacuation of NY
Cyclops Port Roseway / Shelburne from The Book of Negroes
Cyrus New York 1783, Aug. 21 St. John 1783, Sept. 195 from The Book of Negroes
Danger [no destination given] from The Book of Negroes
Diana New York 1783, Dec. 17 New Brunswick 1783, Dec. 24
Duchess of Gordon New York 1783, Jun. 16 New Brunswick 1783, Jul. 5 97 Ref. Evacuation of NY
Duke of Richmond New York 1783, fall New Brunswick 1783, Sept. 27 669 Ref. Evacuation of NY
Eagle, schooner Port Roseway / Shelburne; mouth of St. John River, NB from The Book of Negroes
Elijah Port Mattoon (near Shelburne) from The Book of Negroes
Elizabeth New York 1783, Jul. 8 New Brunswick 1783, Jul. 24 83 Ref. Evacuation of NY
Elizabeth New York 1783, fall New Brunswick 1783, Sept. 27 509 Ref. Evacuation of NY
Elk Port Mattoon (near Shelburne) from The Book of Negroes
Emmett New York Evacuation of NY
Enterprise Spithead; Germany from The Book of Negroes
Escape New York 1782, late Sept. New Brunswick 1782, Oct. 19 70 Ref. Evacuation of NY
Esther River Saint John 1783, Oct. 10 (?)
Fanny New York 1783 Shelburne, NS 1783 130 “At the end of the war, in 1783, he (Charles Church) went from New York with his family of 11 persons and 3 servants to Shelburne, NS, where the Crown granted him one town and one water lot.” [Source: Mayflower generations info; submitted by Terri Pierce]
Fishburn New York 1783, Aug. 4 New Brunswick 1783, Aug. 14 130 Ref. Evacuation of NY
Free Briton Charleston, SC Nov. 1782 Halifax After Halifax, the Free Briton was to take settlers from Halifax to Saint John but took them to Shelburne instead (see Esther Clark Wright’s book).
Friends Halifax; mouth of St. John River, NB from The Book of Negroes
Friendship Port Roseway / Shelburne from The Book of Negroes
Generous Friends New York 1783, Jun. 16 New Brunswick 1783, Jul. 5 49 Ref. Evacuation of NY
Grace New York 1783, Jul. 8 New Brunswick 1783, Jul. 24 65 Ref. Evacuation of NY
Grand Duchess of Russia New York 1783, Apr. 27 New Brunswick 1783, June 10-12 113 Ref. Evacuation of NY
Grand Duchess of Russia New York 1783, Aug. 4 New Brunswick 1783, Aug. 14 12 Ref. Evacuation of NY
Greg Port Roseway / Shelburne from The Book of Negroes
Happy Couple New York 1782, late Sept. New Brunswick 1782, Oct. 19 76 Ref. Evacuation of NY
Hero Spithead; Germany from The Book of Negroes
Hesperus Mouth of St. John River, NB from The Book of Negroes
Hind Spithead; Germany from The Book of Negroes
Hope New York 1783, Apr. 27 New Brunswick 1783, June 10-12 167 Ref. Evacuation of NY
Hopewell New York 1783, Jun. 16 New Brunswick 1783, Jul. 5 105 Ref. Evacuation of NY
Jane Port Roseway / Shelburne from The Book of Negroes
Jason New York 1783, fall New Brunswick 1783, Oct. 17 124 Ref. Evacuation of NY
Jenney Port Mattoon (near Shelburne) from The Book of Negroes
John & Jane [no destination given] from The Book of Negroes
John & Mary New York 1783, fall New Brunswick 1783, Oct. 17 232 Ref. Evacuation of NY
John and Bella Charleston, SC Nov 1782 Halifax From Granville W. Hough’s American Marine Units and Vessels and Their Supporters During the Revolutionary War 1775-1783: British snow/transport John And Bella, Capt. Andrew Green, active 1775 and 1776, James River to London with tobacco and shingles, at Oxford, MD., in 6 Sep 1775. Also mentioned in A Hessian Diary of the American Revolution – Sept. 6, 1783 at Quebec.
Joseph New York 1783, Jul. 8 New Brunswick 1783, Jul. 24 47 Ref. Evacuation of NY
Katy, sloop Port Roseway / Shelburne from The Book of Negroes
King George New York 1783, fall New Brunswick 1783, Sept. 27 Ref. Evacuation of NY
Kingston Port Roseway / Shelburne from The Book of Negroes
L’Abondance Port Roseway / Shelburne from The Book of Negroes
Ladies Adventure Spithead; Germany from The Book of Negroes
Lady’s Adventure New York 448 Ref. Evacuation of NY
Lehigh Annapolis Royal from The Book of Negroes
Littledale New York 1783, Jun. 16 New Brunswick 1783, Jul. 5 81 Ref. Evacuation of NY
London Frigate Port Roseway / Shelburne; Bremer Lee (a German port) from The Book of Negroes
Lord Townsend New York 1783, Jul. 8 New Brunswick 1783, Jul. 24 116 Ref. Evacuation of NY
Lord Townshend Mouth of St. John River from The Book of Negroes
Lucifer Fireship Spithead from The Book of Negroes
Lydia, sloop Annapolis Royal from The Book of Negroes
Mars New York 1783, Apr. 27 New Brunswick 1783, June 10-12 208 Ref. Evacuation of NY
Martha New York 1783, Sept. 15 New Brunswick
or ship sank, some survived?
1783, Sept. 27
or ship sank?
72 Ref. Evacuation of NY
Mary New York 1783, Aug. 4 New Brunswick 1783, Aug. 14 77 Ref. Evacuation of NY
Mary New York 1783, fall New Brunswick 1783, Oct. 17 106 Ref. Evacuation of NY
Mercury New York 1783, fall New Brunswick 1783, Oct. 17 197 Ref. Evacuation of NY
Michael Annapolis Royal from The Book of Negroes
Mid-Summer Blossom Halifax from The Book of Negroes
Milford Germany from The Book of Negroes
Minerva Spithead from The Book of Negroes
Molly Spithead from The Book of Negroes
Montague New York 1783, Jul. 8 New Brunswick 1783, Jul. 24 101 Ref. Evacuation of NY
Montague New York 1783, fall New Brunswick 1783, Sept. 27 355 Ref. Evacuation of NY
Nancy New York 1783, fall New Brunswick 1783, Oct. 17 175 Ref. Evacuation of NY
Nancy, schooner Port Roseway / Shelburne from The Book of Negroes
Nancy, brig Annapolis Royal from The Book of Negroes
Nancy, ship Halifax; mouth of St. John River, NB from The Book of Negroes
Narcissus New York 1783, Aug. 25 Port Roseway 1783, Oct. 4;
Nautilus Abaco (Barbadoes) from The Book of Negroes
Neptune New York 1783, fall New Brunswick 1783, Oct. 17 176 Ref. Evacuation of NY
Nero Port Roseway / Shelburne from The Book of Negroes
Nicholas & Jane Fort Cumberland (NS/NB border) from The Book of Negroes
Nisbet Port Mattoon (near Shelburne) from The Book of Negroes
Pallisar New York 1783, fall New Brunswick 1783, Sept. 27 215 Ref. Evacuation of NY
Pallacier Spithead from The Book of Negroes
Passesier mouth of St. John River from The Book of Negroes
Peggy New York 1783, Aug. 4 New Brunswick 1783, Aug. 14 58 Ref. Evacuation of NY
Polly Mouth of St. John River, NB from The Book of Negroes
Polly to Peggy New York 1783, Aug. 4 New Brunswick 1783, Aug. 14 53 Ref. Evacuation of NY
Prince of Orange Port Roseway / Shelburne from The Book of Negroes
Prosperous Amelia Port Roseway / Shelburne from The Book of Negroes
Providence Port Roseway / Shelburne from The Book of Negroes
Ranger New York 1783, fall New Brunswick 1783, Sept. 27 217 Ref. Evacuation of NY
Ranger, brig Annapolis Royal from The Book of Negroes
Rebecca Spithead; Germany from The Book of Negroes
Robert & Elizabeth Annapolis Royal from The Book of Negroes
Roy Britton Germany from The Book of Negroes
Sally New York 1783, Aug. 4 New Brunswick 1783, Aug. 14 117 Ref. Evacuation of NY
Sally New York 1783, fall New Brunswick 1783, Oct. 17 144 Ref. Evacuation of NY
Sally, schooner Port Roseway / Shelburne; mouth of St. John River from The Book of Negroes
Selina Port Roseway / Shelburne from The Book of Negroes
Skuldham Annapolis Royal from The Book of Negroes
Sloop Delight mouth of St. John River, NB from The Book of Negroes
Sovereign New York 1783, Apr. 27 New Brunswick 1783, June 10-12 245 Ref. Evacuation of NY
Sovereign New York 1783, Jul. 8 New Brunswick 1783, Jul. 24 44 Ref. Evacuation of NY
Sovereign New York 1783, fall New Brunswick 1783, Sept. 27 243 Ref. Evacuation of NY
Spencer New York 1783, Apr. 27 New Brunswick 1783, June 10-12 139 Ref. Evacuation of NY
Spencer New York 1783, Aug. 4 New Brunswick 1783, Aug. 14 87 Ref. Evacuation of NY
Spring mouth of St. John River, NB from The Book of Negroes
Stafford Port Roseway / Shelburne; Halifax from The Book of Negroes
Supply Halifax from The Book of Negroes
Sybill The Downs (UK port?) from The Book of Negroes
Symmetry New York 1783, Jun. 16 New Brunswick 1783, Jul. 5 147 Ref. Evacuation of NY
Tartar New York 1783, Jun. 16 New Brunswick 1783, Jul. 5 77 Ref. Evacuation of NY
Thames New York 1783, Jun. 16 New Brunswick 1783, Jul. 5 92 Ref. Evacuation of NY
Thetis Fort Cumberland (NS/NB border) from The Book of Negroes
Three Friends New York 1782, late Sept. New Brunswick 1782, Oct. 19 106 Ref. Evacuation of NY
Three Sisters New York 1783, Jul. 8 New Brunswick 1783, Jul. 24 75 Ref. Evacuation of NY
Tree Briton Port Roseway / Shelburne from The Book of Negroes
Trepassey Fort Cumberland (NS/NB border) from The Book of Negroes
Trident Bremer Lee (German port) from The Book of Negroes
Two Sisters Long Island 1783, Jun. 16 New Brunswick 1783, Jul. 5 224 Ref. Evacuation of NY
Union New York 1783, Apr. 27 New Brunswick 1783, May 11 164 Ref. Evacuation of NY
Venus Port Roseway / Shelburne from The Book of Negroes
Volcano Fireship Spithead from The Book of Negroes
William New York 1782, late Sept. New Brunswick 1782, Oct. 19 82 Ref. Evacuation of NY
William New York 1783, Jul. 8 New Brunswick 1783, Jul. 24 127 Ref. Evacuation of NY
William New York 1783, fall New Brunswick 1783, Sept. 27 345 Ref. Evacuation of NY
William and Mary Annapolis Royal; Germany; Halifax from The Book of Negroes

 

 

Our thanks to Stuart Langridge for the table-sorting script.