Loyalist Trails UELAC Newsletter, 2005 Archive

In this issue:
- Canada Day Celebrations
- Canadian Red Ensign
- Boundary Matters
- Col. Edward Jessup Branch Helps Open Courthouse
- The American Rebellion, by Rudyard Kipling
- Kingston's Oldest Resident, Lulu Smith, 108, passes away
- Update on William Secord Servos
- New Tombstone For Loyalist Lieutenant Jeremiah French (update)
- Queries
      + Access to research materials
      + Small canon ball
      + Rose Museum, East Waupoos, North Marysburgh

Canada Day Celebrations

Heritage Branch once again celebrated Dominion Day by joining in the Canada Day Parade in Montreal on July 1, 2005. Adrian Willison, driving a "new" 2002 farm pick-up truck (replacing his former 1991 model) again decorated his vehicle tastefully with flags, educational posters (re the Rebel attacks on Montreal during the American Revolution and their repulsing) and maples leaf streamers. Three Branch members (and a prospective member with cute dog in her lap), sporting Loyalist-era attire, waved to the cheering crowds lining Ste-Catherine Street, and were enthusiastically recognized by many onlookers. Following the event, Maura Wilkins, wife of the Branch President, hosted a Dominion Day social, complete with homemade punch, sandwiches and cookies, back at the Wilkins residence. A good time was had by all."

...Robert Wilkins UE, President, Heritage Branch

Canadian Red Ensign

You've probably read the news articles regarding the return of the 1st National Flag of Canada (commonly referred to as the Maple Leaf flag) which flew over the Parliament Buildings being returned to Canada.

But what of the last Canadian Red Ensign to fly over the Parliament Buildings?

It is now in the Canadian Museum of Civilization, Item No D-1776, described as "This was the last Canadian Red Ensign to be flown from the Peace Tower in Ottawa and was lowered on February 15, 1965 at 10:45 a.m. That day was the day was the day of the proclamation of the Canadian Flag. Flag made of silk. Label sewn on it reads 'SCYCO PRODUCT, MADE IN CANADA' Stamped on side is 'Canadian Ensign' D.P.W. 12 ft. Canadian coat of arms is sewn on separately."

On 16 December 1965, the Secretary of State transferred two "Red Ensign flags for safekeeping" to the National Museum." The large one is the last Canadian flag to be flown from the Peace Tower and which was lowered on February 15, 1965. The smaller one was used for the ceremony in front of the Peace Tower.

...Bill Smy UE

Boundary Matters

Officially known as the International Boundary, the present border originated with the Treaty of Paris in 1783, which ended the war between Great Britain and the separating colonies which would form the United States.

The Jay Treaty of 1794 created the International Boundary Commission, which was charged with surveying and mapping the boundary. Disputes over the interpretation of boundary demarcation led to the Aroostook War and the ensuing Webster-Ashburton Treaty in 1842 which better defined the boundary between Maine and New Brunswick and the Province of Canada.

Westward expansion of both British North America and the United States saw the boundary extended west from the Lake of the Woods to the Rocky Mountains under the Convention of 1818. U. S. President James Knox Polk's expansionist desires for the northern boundary of the U. S. to be 54°40? north (related to the southern boundary of Russia's Alaska Territory), and Great Britain's claim that the border should follow the Columbia River to the Pacific Ocean, led to the Oregon Treaty in 1846, which established the 49th parallel as the boundary through the Rockies.

In 1903 a joint Great Britain-Canada-U. S. tribunal established the boundary with Alaska. In 1925 the International Boundary Commission was made a permanent organization responsible for surveying and mapping the boundary, maintaining boundary monuments (and buoys where applicable), as well as keeping the boundary clear of brush and vegetation for 6 metres (20 feet) on each side of the line.

...Joyce Stevens

Col. Edward Jessup Branch Helps Open Courthouse

On Friday June 24th, 2005 the Leeds and Grenville Counties Courthouse built in 1842 was officially opened after a $15 million make-over. Colonel Edward Jessup Branch member, Don Ruston in Jessups Rangers uniform carried the Loyalist flag in the parade of local and provincial dignitaries, pipe band and colour party which preceded the opening ceremonies. In his speech to the assembled crowd the Counties the Warden praised the Loyalists for what we have today.

Don, a Wiltse descendant was also in uniform when, accompanied by member Don Clunas, visitors were welcomed to the Wiltse Pioneer Cemetery during Doors Open Ontario.

...Myrtle Johnston UE

The American Rebellion, by Rudyard Kipling

1776
Before

Twas not while England's sword unsheathed
      Put half a world to flight,
Nor while their new-built cities breathed
      Secure behind her might;
Not while she poured from Pole to Line
      Treasure and ships and men--
These worshippers at Freedoms shrine
      They did not quit her then!

Not till their foes were driven forth
      By England o'er the main--
Not till the Frenchman from the North
      Had gone with shattered Spain;
Not till the clean-swept oceans showed
      No hostile flag unrolled,
Did they remember that they owed
      To Freedom--and were bold!

After

The snow lies thick on Valley Forge,
      The ice on the Delaware,
But the poor dead soldiers of King George
      They neither know nor care.

Not though the earliest primrose break
      On the sunny side of the lane,
And scuffling rookeries awake
      Their England' s spring again.

They will not stir when the drifts are gone,
      Or the ice melts out of the bay:
And the men that served with Washington
      Lie all as still as they.

They will not stir though the mayflower blows
      In the moist dark woods of pine,
And every rock-strewn pasture shows
      Mullein and columbine.

Each for his land, in a fair fight,
      Encountered strove, and died,
And the kindly earth that knows no spite
      Covers them side by side.

She is too busy to think of war;
      She has all the world to make gay;
And, behold, the yearly flowers are
      Where they were in our fathers' day!

Golden-rod by the pasture-wall
      When the columbine is dead,
And sumach leaves that turn, in fall,
      Bright as the blood they shed.

Poems by Kipling and other poets may be found online here.

Kingston's Oldest Resident, Lulu Smith, 108, passes away

Lulu Smith, who celebrated her 108th birthday on May 14, died yesterday afternoon. Lulu Emmons was born in Colebrook, north of Yarker, in 1897, in the time of Wilfrid Laurier. Her life spanned three centuries. She predated such Kingston landmarks as the La Salle Causeway, which opened in 1917, the Kingston Daily Standard, which started publishing in 1908, and the Kingston Light, Heat and Power Company – the forerunner of Utilities Kingston.

Her father, Albert, was a contemporary of Sir John A. Macdonald, Canada’s first prime minister, who died in 1891. She knew about hard work. "One night, I milked 20 cows," she said last year. One time, she helped her father cut down 400 trees. She met and married a farm boy, Joseph Smith, in 1917. Her husband died in 1955, but Mrs. Smith continued to run their farm for many years.

[Mrs. Lulu Smith was the 3rd ggd of Capt. Peter Ruttan U.E. & Jannetje Ackerman and the 4th ggd Simon Snider U.E. & Mary Ann Lane.]

...Brandt Zatterberg

Update on William Secord Servos

As a result of the article in the July 1st Loyalist Trails regarding the restoration of the grave of William Secord Servos, William's family has been found ! Jack Peltier,UE of Calgary, a Servos descendant, made the contact and then, with clues provided from William's will, the connection. Mary Servos, William's niece who inherited his property and goods, is the daughter of William's brother Robert Franklin Servos. Robert was one of the witnesses to the will. As well, George Washington Servos, an Executor, is also a nephew of William. Other names mentioned in the will are also familiar to the Servos family.

William's family line is: Christopher Servos; Jacob Servos UEL; William Secord Servos. In the family lineage, William is recorded as William Servos as no middle name for William was known. As a result, Wm. S. Servos, the name on the tombstone, seemed to be a stranger to the family. However, in his will, William names himself as William Secord Servos. It would certainly seem, with the clues from the will and with thanks to Jack and to Marilyn Jackson UE, a Servos descendant whose files on the Servos Family helped make the connection, that William Secord Servos has been reunited with his family.

[This story, with pictures, has now been posted at our Projects page - see Restoration of William Secord Servos's Grave.

...Noreen Stapley, UE, Col. John Butler Branch

New Tombstone For Loyalist Lieutenant Jeremiah French (update)

A larger version of the article on this dedication, with pictures, has been posted online. Click here to read more.

From doug

After Canada Day helping out the Gov. Simcoe Branch Volunteers at Fort York, we spent two days holidaying with friends in Youngstown NY, admiring the Toronto skyline across the lake. Also enjoyed the spectacle of a reenactment of the British siege of Fort Niagara in July of 1759. We continue to be amazed at the commitment of reenactors and their search for authenticity. A whole industry has grown to supply reenactor needs for period gear. All quite fascinating.

Access to research materials

I have 2 Loyalist ancestors, Joseph Avery and Benoni Smith, who settled in Ontario. I want to do some research about them but I don't have the time to go to Ontario to access the archives there. I live in the state of Washington. Is there any library in British Columbia that might have Loyalist records on microfilm? (Ruth has submitted queries previously about children's books which balance the Loyalist and Patriot perspectives, which she uses in her teaching at the public/grade school level.).

JosephAVERY, UE, served in Capt. Samuel Adams' Corps of Royalists. This corps joined Burgoyne's forces. The only Loyalist court evidence I found for him is testimony for another Loyalist named David Beverley, indicating that he came from Granville, Charlotte County, NY. This may not be true, though. Another researcher thinks Joseph AVERY was from New Jersey. I need help to find Joseph's own Loyalist court records. Joseph AVERY married Rebecca SMITH, daughter of Benoni SMITH U.E. Joseph later served in the War of 1812 along with his son, Benoni B. AVERY. No evidence of his death but his wife died in 1850 and is buried at the Blue Church in Oswegatchie, Ontario.

Questions about Joseph AVERY: 1. Where did he come from - New York or New Jersey? 2. Where are his Loyalist court records?

Benoni SMITH's name is often misspelled. Sometimes it is Bonnoy, Benoney, and more. Benoni SMITH served in Capt. Daniel McAlpin's Corps. Benoni SMITH's Loyalist court claims say that he was a blacksmith, served as a soldier from 1736 - 1750. He settled in Albany County, married Mary Springer, and had 7 children. Loyalist court records say 2 of his sons also served in Loyalist corps.

The names of Joseph AVERY and Benoni SMITH are together on the Roll of Loyalists in Augusta Twp in 1796.

...Ruth Roy, Bellevue WA {MrsMerlin5 AT aol DOT com} how do I email her?

Small canon ball

A telephone call last week brought to our attention a 1.8 inch in diameter 1-pound cannon ball that had been sent to someone in Winnipeg from his friend who was excavation for a new school in Unionville, North Carolina. He felt that it must be British shot as it was so perfectly formed and Unionville was very near where the last Loyalist battle in the South took place. Can anyone enlighten us as to what kind of a cannon it might have been made for.

...Margaret Carter, UE {jmcarter AT mts DOT net} how do I email her?

Rose Museum, East Waupoos, North Marysburgh

There is a rumour that this museum is in danger of closing. Prince Edward County is now serious tourist country and there's a beautiful new grape winery and a well established apple winery (with a spectacular loyalist period house) just down the road in East Waupoos from the Rose Museum. These wineries and the beauty of the south shore route attract hundreds and hundreds of people every season.

Why the County can't organize a few signs to direct these visitors to travel another mile and half to the museum is beyond me. The museum is really well laid out on a fine piece of property and is housed in an original building which represents the loyalist settlement period in that region, even if it was a German veteran who drew the land.

It would be a disaster for our early Ontario history to see this building closed up for lack of visitation or cost of maintenance problems.

Can you shed any light on this rumour?

...Gavin Watt, Honorary Vice President, UELAC

To protect the people who send in queries from unwanted spam email, the online edition of Loyalist Trails no longer uses direct hyperlinks for their email addresses. Simply rewrite "name AT website DOT net" as name@website.net and sent your email to that address. For example, "doug DOT grant AT insurance-canada DOT ca" is doug.grant@insurance-canada.ca. Contact Doug with questions, or to be put in touch with someone whose email address is not listed.