Loyalist Trails UELAC Newsletter, 2004 Archive

In this issue:
- Ellen Fairclough, Honorary Vice-President
- Hudson Bus Trip Concludes with Donations
- Help Keep Victoria Cross Earned by Canadian
- Old Iona Academy at St. Raphael's
- The Loyalist Canadian Empey Family
- Queries
      + Anglican Clergy
      + Impartial Children's Books of the American Revolution

'Tough as nails' but compassionate: Honorary VP Ellen Fairclough passes away

ELLEN FAIRCLOUGH 1905 - 2004; PM praises Fairclough as a pioneer who advanced women's role in public life.

Tough in politics, tough in business but always compassionate and caring with people. That's the near universal description of the Right Honourable Ellen Fairclough, who made Canadian political history by becoming the country's first female cabinet minister. Fairclough died peacefully around 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov 13, 2004, two days after suffering an apparent stroke at St. Joseph's Villa. She was just two months shy of her 100th birthday. "I was secretly hoping that Ellen would make it to 100," said Fairclough's niece Dr. Joan Heels, "but I guess when the time comes, the time comes."

From Elections Canada web site: The Rt. Hon. Ellen Louks Fairclough. The addition of the title "Rt. Hon." to her name may appear strange given that, in Canada, that title has normally been reserved for prime ministers, governors general and justices of the Supreme Court of Canada. And most of them have been men. However, on Canada Day in 1992, Queen Elizabeth II bestowed that title on Ellen Fairclough, almost 30 years after she left Parliament. It recognized her life of many achievements, the most notable being that she was the first woman to enter the federal Cabinet, on June 21, 1957. She was also elected to the House of Commons five times, a record unmatched by any other woman during the 1950s and 1960s. In addition, Fairclough was responsible for Indian Affairs when, in 1960, many Aboriginal Canadians were given the right to vote. In January 2003, she celebrated her 98th birthday.

She was born Ellen Louks Cook, in Hamilton, Ontario, on Saturday, January 28, 1905, the third of five children in a fifth-generation Canadian family. On her mother Nellie's side, she was descended from Huguenots and United Empire Loyalists who moved to Norfolk County from Vermont in 1790. Her paternal ancestors emigrated to Ancaster, Upper Canada, in 1802, from Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

She was also active in a number of voluntary organizations as Dominion Secretary of the United Empire Loyalists' Association, Provincial Secretary and Vice-President of the Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire (IODE) and a regional chair of the Zonta International women's group, which included members from American states and Canadian provinces.

Hudson Bus Trip Concludes with Donations

Those of us who went along for the ride down the Hudson Valley on the Loyalist Hudson Valley Trip really appreciated the whole event with its great itinerary. When we returned home the event was not truly over. When all the expenses were paid, there were some funds left over, and in the tradition it has become, the surplus has been donated: $300 to Friends of the Loyalists at Brock University, $800 to the Bernice Wood Flett Scholarship Fund and $800 to Project 2014.

As President of UELAC, my note of appreciation has been sent to Ed and Elizabeth Kipp and George and Janet Anderson, and the others who helped organize, not only for the wonderful learning experience, but for the considerable and thoughtful donations which will in turn help us preserve and promote our Loyalist Heritage.

...Doug Grant

The Friends of the Loyalist Collection at Brock University offer sincere thanks to George Anderson, Ed Kipp and the members of Sir Guy Carleton, Governor Simcoe, St. Lawrence and Colonel John Butler (Niagara) Branches of the UELAC, the organizers of the wonderful Hudson Valley Tour, for their generous donation to The Friends of the Loyalist Collection at Brock University. We sincerely appreciate their support for our project. We have purchased the Treasury Papers and the Headquarters (Carleton) Papers including the maps. The committee donated the Sir Guy Carleton Branch Index that makes the Papers such a useful resource and a microfilm containing Col. John Butler's speeches to the Indians. Hamilton Branch UELAC donated the Inspector General's Lists. We are planning another purchase in the next few weeks. Brock University has some of the Haldimand Papers and we plan to add to that collection if our Brock advisor agrees that they are a priority.

For more information, visit our website.

...Beverly Craig Secretary Treasurer FOTLCABU

Help Keep Victoria Cross Earned by Canadian, by Peter Worthington

AN IRREPLACEABLE part of Canada's heritage -- the Victoria Cross won by the late Fred Topham -- is in danger of leaving Canada. If $275,000 isn't raised by Dec. 31, the executors of the will of Topham's widow will feel free to sell it to a higher bid already in from Britain.

The Toronto Sun is appalled at this possibility. While many have begun contributing money to "rescue" Toppy's VC, this newspaper is launching a "VC Fund" to ensure all our VCs stay in Canada -- precious, invaluable parts of our history. How to contribute can be seen at the end of this column.

HOW TO HELP: You can make a non-tax deductible, non-refundable donation of any amount by mailing a cheque payable to "Victoria Cross Fund," c/o The Toronto Sun, 333 King St. E., Toronto, M5A 3X5. We'll turn over all money not used for the purchase of the Victoria Cross to the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion Museum Trust for similar future projects. See the article here.

Old Iona Academy at St. Raphael's

Just to make sure you all know about the meeting Tuesday evening, November 23, 2004, regarding the future of the old Iona Academy at St. Raphael's. This is the old stone building at the west end of the Iona Academy complex, consisting of the central bishop's palace, built by the Rev. Alexander Macdonell (the Big Bishop) in 1808, and matching wings added on either side in 1924. This is an important and very handsome stone building, well maintained and in excellent condition, in need of a new use.

Everyone is encouraged to attend the meeting, perhaps to bring ideas about what can be done with the place, but more basically to show concern and support for one of the most historic buildings in Glengarry County.

The Descendants of Johan Ernst Emichen, Emigrant to America.

Volume II: The Loyalist Canadian Empey Family, compiled by Herman Wellington Witthoft, Sr. and Barbara Empie Greene, 2003.

This book contains about 1041 pages including index. Family lines included are descendants of the Loyalist families:

- Philip Empey Sr. and Maria Elizabeth Barbara Schults

- William Empey and Maria Margaretha Loucks

- Anna Margaretha Empey and William Casselmann

The above are three of the children of Johannis Empie and Elizabeth Snell.

Please check my web site for current prices.

...Edward B. Kipp {ekipp AT rogers DOT com} how do I email him?

Anglican Clergy

Thank you very much for your reply to my letter. I look forward to hearing from anyone who can help me.

I just saw your newsletter and realized that I omitted part of the title of the Society in London. They are "The Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts." They ceased their support for the Clergy of the Church of England remaining in the newly created United States in 1786 but they continued their support for those in Canada and other provinces loyal to the Crown. There are many other Loyalist Anglican clergy who settled in British North America but I mentioned only a few of them.

I would like to subscribe to your Loyalist Trails. Please let me know the cost. I will certainly send you a copy of the book when it is finally published.

...Ron Cooksey

Hi Ron, You asked for portraits of the early American clergy. My ancestor was the Reverend Samuel Cooke of New Jersey and New Brunswick. Several months ago I discovered a silhouette of a Samuel Cooke on Montreal's McCord Museum website. I contacted them and asked if it was my ancestor Reverend Samuel Cooke. They replied that the silhouette was used with permission from the New Brunswick Museum and they didn't have any further information. I contacted the New Brunswick Museum and was told that the image is a late 18th C photograph of an early 18th C silhouette - the age of the sitter, costume and hairstyle indicate that there is a strong possibility that it was my ancestor Reverend Samuel Cooke.

...Beverly Craig UE

Dear Ron, On Saturday evening I received a "Loyalist Trails" UELAC newsletter 2004-21 November 13, 2004 from Dominion President, Doug Grant. On Sunday, Nov. 14th, we had a Sir John Johnson Centennial Branch UELAC semi-annual meeting. At that meeting one of our members talked about her Loyalist ancestor, Rev. John Stuart. I read the section in which you asked for illustrations about any of the Anglican clergy who had remained loyal and who had come to Canada during or after the Revolutionary War. The presentation included a number of illustrations and I am sending you a photo of Rev. John Stuart, D.D. (1740-1811) and his wife,Jane Okill (1747-1821). When I receive other illustrations, I will forward them to you.

...Adelaide Lanktree, President, Sir John Johnson Centennial Branch

Dear Adelaide, Thank you very much for your letter and illustrations. At present I am proof reading the publisher's copy of my book. I am happy to be able to put faces to names and I would be very grateful to receive other illustrations you are able to provide. John Stuart was called "the little giant", he was 6 feet 4 inches tall and he was a devoted missionary to the Mohawk Indians in New York. He features quite prominently in my work, along with Sir William Johnson. If I can provide details of other Anglican Clergy Loyalists I will be glad to help.

...Ron Cooksey

Impartial Children's Books of the American Revolution

In my view, it is difficult to find any books for youngsters that tell both sides without harsh judgements.

Connie B. Crook wrote a series of novels for kids between 8-14 which tell the story of loyalist children from the loyalist point of view. They make good reading, but they are quite strong in their loyalist leanings. Have you seen any of these?

A wonderful book, which is slanted more towards adults but does tell the loyalist story from the female perspective, is Janice Potter-MacKinnon's While the Women Only Wept - Loyalist Refugee Women in Eastern Ontario (McGill-Queen's University Press, 1993). It is so rare to have a whole book dedicated to female experiences in history, this is very worthwhile. You'd have to judge for yourself whether it is far above the reading level of your students.

I'd like to recommend my own books, but I know they are too complicated for youngsters to work their way through, BUT they are definitely well balanced in outlook taking both sides' perspectives into consideration.

...Gavin Watt

Thank you very much for publishing my request for neutral history books for children that portray both sides of the conflict. I have received several responses and I am placing some book orders at Barnes & Noble. I also made a connection with an Avery relative who lives in Kamloops. What an exciting response that was! I am looking forward to reading the books and creating a better and more balanced educational study of the Revolutionary War era.

...Ruth Roy

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 send 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.