Loyalist Trails UELAC Newsletter, 2005 Archive

In this issue:
- Loyalist Monument Re-dedicated in Belleville
- 2006 Fall Loyalist Mohawk Valley Bus Trip
- Update: "Early Settlers Along the Niagara River Parkway" by Colonel John Butler Branch
- Ontario Unveils Design for New Veteran's Memorial
- Died this day Aug 31 - Jean Boudreau
- Queries
      + Fanningsboro (The Town That Never Was)

Loyalist Monument Re-dedicated in Belleville

The City of Belleville will be unveiling the recently restored UEL monument originally erected in 1924 on Saturday September 10th, 2005 at 10:30AM at the Corner of Dundas and Front Streets in downtown Belleville, Ontario. The morning's events will begin with the dedication of the Parrott Riverside Trail Entrance, adjacent to the UEL monument at 10:00AM. All Dominion UEL members are welcome to attend this important event which celebrates our importance as a founding people.

The new monument is a restoration of the original unveiled in 1924 and commemorates the Founding of the Loyalists, the original 1924 ceremony, the efforts of Gwedolyn Lazier and Allan Dempsey in the 1924 events, and the 2005 committee responsible, including our own Bay of Quinte Branch UEL. The Bay of Quinte Branch will be holding its regular meeting that afternoon following these festivities.

...Brian Tackaberry, President, Bay of Quinte Branch

2006 Fall Loyalist Mohawk Valley Bus Trip

Edward Kipp and George Anderson are planning a four-day Loyalist Fall Trip to the Mohawk Valley from October 1 to October 4, 2006 to visit Loyalist, Dutch, Palatine and other Colonial Sites. Douglas Grant and Rodney Craig are also assisting with registration.

The tour will tentatively visit Johnson Hall and other historic Johnstown sites, the historic Schenectady Stockade District including the Tellier House and the Schenectady Historical Society, Fort Johnson, the Mabee Historic Farm which is the oldest farm in the Mohawk Valley, the Snell's Bush Church, Schoharie Creek Crossing, the 1745 Van Alstyne House in Canajorharie, Fort Klock, the Old Palatine Church, the Trinity Lutheran and the Dutch Reformed Churches and their cemeteries at Stone Arabia, and the Oriskany Battlefield.

The bus will leave Ottawa, travel via Loyalist Dundas and the historic St. Lawrence Water Front to Cornwall. It will proceed south through the Adirondacks to Johnstown, New York. The bus will return via the Ivy Lea Bridge.

Proceeds from the trip will go towards the Bernice Wood Flett Scholarship and the Loyalist Collection at Brock University.

The trip is open to Loyalists and friends. The number of people will be limited to 55 people. This four-day trip will probably cost $490.00 in Canadian Funds per person based on sharing double accommodation. Single accommodation will cost $685.00. A deposit of $250.00 ($290.00) is due upon registration. The balance is due July 1, 2006. Cheques should be payable to Sir Guy Carleton Branch UELAC. All monies will be refunded if there is not enough interest in the trip. The registration includes transportation, accommodation at the Holiday Inn, Johnstown and admission to each site. Meals will be arranged at an extra cost. Participants should have their own extra travel health insurance and carry a valid passport or two other pieces of photo identification.

If you are interested, and to register, please contact either of the following:

George Anderson {andrew1 AT magma DOT ca}how do I email him?
64 Saginaw Cres
Nepean, ON
K2E 5N7
(613) 226-6348

Edward Kipp {ekipp AT magma DOT ca}ekipp@magma.ca how do I email him?
6242 Paddler Way
Orleans, ON
K1C 2E7
(613) 824-1942

Update: "Early Settlers Along the Niagara River Parkway" by Colonel John Butler Branch

The Col. John Butler Branch is making good progress with their "Early Settlers Along the Niagara River Parkway" project.

There are four Townships which fall along the Niagara River Parkway. We have researched all of the original land grants at the Land Registry Offices and have compiled a map outlining this information, as well as any military information that we could discover. We use this map at our displays.

We have researched all of the Lots in Willoughby Township, original settlers, Loyalists, petitions, family members, photographs, etc., but some are still incomplete (the Land Registry Offices have put all of their information on microfilm at St. Catharines after closing the Welland Office) as far as some research and footnoting. Here are two of the Lots which have been pretty much completed.

- Lot 7, Concession 1, Willoughby Township, Jonas Carol (Carl) U.E.

- Lot 14, Concession 1, Willoughby Township, William Burn(s)

Information is accumulating in binders for the other Townships and some have been researched. There has certainly been a lot of progress thus far but we need additional information on many families, and certainly welcome contact with descendants who have more.

Visit the project page and have a look. If there is anything we need to change, just let me know.

...Gail Woodruff U.E. Col. John Butler Branch

Ontario Unveils Design for New Veteran's Memorial

August 17, 2005, Toronto -- Canadian Veterans And Peacekeepers Permanently Honoured On The Grounds Of Queen's Park

QUEEN'S PARK -- Premier McGuinty announced that Ontario is commemorating the sacrifices of Canada's veterans and peacekeepers by unveiling the design of a new memorial that will be erected on the front lawn of the legislature at Queen's Park.

"For millions of Ontarians, this monument will be a reminder of the heroism, bravery and sacrifice of our veterans and the protection of the freedoms we have today," said Premier Dalton McGuinty. "We must always remember our servicemen and women, past and present, who served in times of war and in times of peace."

The monument will be located on the northwest part of the front lawn at Queen's Park. It will consist of a 100-foot-long granite wall etched with scenes from Canada's war history and inscribed with text contributions from author Jane Urquhart and military historian Jack Granatstein. As well, the monument will feature a stone-paved gathering area, a seating area, paths and a gently sloping lawn.

"This monument will be a legacy forever on the grounds of the legislature for all to see and visit," said Government Services Minister Gerry Phillips. "We appreciate the dedication of the advisory committee, as well as the input of veterans, in this important project."

All parties and the Speaker of the House expressed unanimous support for the construction of the memorial on the grounds of the legislature. It is the first time in 65 years that a new monument will be built on the grounds of Queen's Park. The monument is expected to be completed in 2006.

The Veterans' Memorial Advisory Committee, under the leadership of Major-General Richard Rohmer (Retired), selected the design created by well-known Canadian artist Allan Harding MacKay and landscape architectural firm Phillips Farevaag Smallenberg. The Advisory Committee held a nation-wide competition earlier this year to determine the artist and the design firm to construct the memorial.

"The Veterans' Memorial will be a fitting tribute to the sacrifice, courage and dedication of our veterans," said Major-General Richard Rohmer. "This memorial will honour every Ontarian and Canadian who was involved in war whether they were on the front line or the home front, or in peacekeeping."

"The monument, along with The Memory Project, which is preserving the recollections of Ontario's veterans, underlines our government's respect for those who answered yes when Canada called," said Minister Responsible for Seniors Jim Bradley.

Died this day, Aug 31: Jean Boudreau

Jean Boudreau, died August 31, 1827. River worker and politician born in Port Royal. now Annapolis Royal N.S., in 1748.

A descendant of one of the first Acadian colonists of the colony, he avoided deportation by the British in 1755 and escaped with his parents to Quebec. In 1757, the family settled in Deschambault, about 60 kilometres west of Quebec City, and he grew up to become a navigator on the St. Lawrence River. During the War of 1812, he served as lieutenant in the militia. After the war he took an interest in politics. In 1792, he won a seat in the first general election of a new Legislative Assembly. He supported the Canadian party but did not seek re-election. He died in Deschambault, where he had built a comfortable manor house.

Query: Fanningsboro (The Town That Never Was)

I am a descendant of UELs and have recently found a monument on the North Wallace Road in Cumberland County N.S.

The piece is dedicated to the UELs who settled there, and in the surrounding district.

More interesting is posted information regrding a town plan, complete with full descriptions with numbered diagram and names of lot owners. The town, which apparently never came into being was surveyed by the Royal Army in the late 1700s and was to be called Fanningsboro.

It contained 239 three acre lots and much common area and totalled well over 700 acres.

I would be very interested in finding more information on the "Town that Never Was" , as it seems to be known here.

Could you possibly direct me to a source.

Perhaps it would be easier if you could direct me to a chapter of the Associadtion that deals with the Northern Nova Scotia area, I can't seem to find them on the web.

...Robert M. Tuttle, Pugwash Junction, N.S (To Bev Loomis, Little Forks Branch)

Response from Halifax Branch:

Good to hear from you again. Been meaning to get up to see you. Quite busy this summer. Hope to make it in the fall.

Got your query from Doug Grant, president of UELAC about the monument on the North Wallace Road. I am the president of the Halifax-Dartmouth Branch of UEL. I was in that area last summer and saw the monument and wondered about. I didn't realize that was a major loyalist area. I have never heard of Fanningsboro before Sound like it requires more research. Will see what I can find. Will get back to you

...Lew Perry, Halifax Branch

Info from Halifax Branch:

Hi Doug, A point of interest. Bob Tuttle was the best man at my wedding in 1958. He phoned me a few months ago to say hello. I have not seen him for nearly twenty years. Small world!!

...Lew

Response from Halifax Branch:

Thanks for the info on the UEL. I have some info on Edmund Fanning who the "town" of Fanningborough was to be named after. Along with a couple of references on Fanningborough. I did take a few pictures (slides) of the monument and the names there. Most of the names appear in Marion Gilroy's Loyalists and Land Settlements in Nova Scotia. I think the area of Wallace was called Remsheg. Fanning was the Lt. Gov. of NS and later of PEL (St John Island). Looking forward to seeing your information.

...Lew

Response from Bob Tuttle:

I have been in touch with Lewis Perry and would you believe it, we were in the RCAF at Torbay Nfld. In 1957-59. Lew has pretty well has all the info that I was able to gather, including pictures. I shot a few and was going to e-mail them but he already has that covered.

You may already have the story on Fanningsboro (The Town That Never Was) but here is the skinny that I was able to gather this AM on a visit to the Wallace Area Museum:

The town was laid out by a Charles Baker, a subject of His Majesty, possibly a member of the Royal Army. Apparently the object was to lay a plan that would make a modern town available for the inevitable arrival of Loyalists. All they would have to do is draw for a numbered lot and build a house and they would be in business. It seems like a good idea to avoid lots of various sizes being claimed and fought over and houses built all over the place, perhaps not leaving room for proper streets. However, when the Westchester Loyalists arrived in 1784 after, according to museum staff, spending a terrible winter near Amherst N.S., they looked at the site and decided that the body of water called The Remsheg was too much of a barrier between them and the town of Wallace which was beginning to thrive. Dangerous ice conditions in early winter and in spring meant that they would have to travel 12 miles around the head of the Bay for about four months of the year.

These people had also been granted large farming and woodland acreages, some were 100, 200, and 300 and one of the hierarchy got 1800 acres, anyway, most of them decided to build on the large grants.

Another slant on the story was that they just figured it was too far to travel to their farms and woodlots, so they abandoned the 'town' idea. One of my ancestors would have had to travel 8 miles one way to his grant.

Both these approaches make sense so I don't know which is more accurate.

I have studied the plan and it looks like it would have been a beautiful little town of 239 three acre lots with commons and wetlands, all told, over 800 acres. The site occupies a peninsula with The Remsheg (now Wallace Harbour) on one side and Fox Harbour on the other. Apparently only a few of the original arrivals stayed to build and live on the townsite. I understand that there is still one street that can be found and I shall try to locate it next time I am out that way. It was known by the locals as, "Green Street", and I read that it was used by horse and wagon until recent years.

I took my GPS out this AM and got some bearings and coordinates on fairly reliable landmarks. I may do some more work later.

...Bob Tuttle

Information:

Fox Harb'r Resort is idyllically situated on the picturesque north shore of Nova Scotia, a Canadian province rich in tradition and maritime hospitality. Named for the area in which it resides, Fox Harb'r Resort rests on a coastal peninsula near the community of Wallace. (History of Wallace, Nova Scotia.)

Following a scenic hour-and-a-half drive from Moncton or Halifax airport, you will find Fox Harb'r Resort nestled between the villages of Tatamagouche and Pugwash.

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.