Loyalist Trails UELAC Newsletter, 2005 Archive

In this issue:
- Promotions committee adds decals
- Edgar Clow UE passes away
- Subject: Bill S-18, Access to Post 1901 Censuses
- Port Talbot, Upper Canada
- Gilbert Hyatt Highway: Battling City Hall (cont'd)
- Molly Brant: The Opera: the origin history and 2005 schedule
- Queries
      + Colours of King's American Regiment
      + Response re Eligibility to be a Loyalist

Promotions committee adds decals

Promote the United Empire Loyalists’ Association of Canada with this oval peel-and-stick decal which can be attached to your car, van, truck or any smooth surface. The decal is manufactured for use out of doors but can be used on or in books, to customize folders - or for many other uses! Size is 4.5" x 2.25". Decals cost $5.00 each (or $22.50 for 5), which includes all taxes and shipping and handling costs. Order from your branch Promotions 2014 representative or directly from the committee - the online entry is here. Contact information is here.

Edgar Clow UE passes away

The Colonel Edward Jessup Branch UEl is very sad to inform you that our Honorary President, Past President and devoted member, Edgar Clow passed away yesterday in Brockville General Hospital where he had been a patient since breaking his hip a few months ago.

"CLOW, W. Edgar Peacefully at the Brockville General Hospital on December 19, 2004; William Edgar Clow at the age of 87 years. Beloved husband of Mildred Irene (Parslow) Clow, married 52 years. Dear father of Rod and his wife Teresa, and Meribeth and her husband Wes Rochester. Predeceased by a daughter Laurel, whose husband is Michael Perron. Dear grandfather to Erika and Katie Clow, Jonathan and Emilie Perron Clow, and Leyland Clow Rochester. Family and friends may pay their respects at the Irvine Funeral Home and Chapel, 4 James Street East, Brockville on Tuesday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. A ceremony in celebration of Edgar's life will be held at Wall Street United Church on Wednesday, December 22nd at 11am. Interment to follow at Oakland Cemetery. In remembrance to Wall Street Village will be gratefully acknowledged."

...Myrtle Johnston UE, President, Edward Jessup Branch

Subject: Bill S-18, Access to Post 1901 Censuses

OTTAWA -- November 2, 2004 -- This afternoon the government announced long-awaited legislation that will govern the release of census information. Senator Lorna Milne (Liberal -- Ontario), who has been fighting for the release of historic census records since 1998, was quick to proclaim that the bill meets the needs of Canada’s genealogists, historians, and archivists.

"Under Bill S-18 Canadians will have unrestricted access to all censuses taken before this date immediately upon the 92nd anniversary of each census. This is the kind of access that Canadians deserve and have been fighting for since 1998." Milne explained.

S-18 also contains provisions that will see Canadians indicate o>n future census forms whether or not they want to have their census information released after 92 years for future research. (Lots of information about this fight to gain access is available at Global Genealogy's web site -- we need to continue to press for such access.)

Subject: Bill S-18: To whom it may concern

As Past President of the Thompson-Okanagan Branch of the United Empire Loyalist Association of Canada, I would suggest that Bill S-!8 is vital to any genealogical and patriotic information needed for researchers of Canada's founding fathers and their descendants. We have 29 Branches across Canada and it is our Christmas wish for Bill S-18 to be passed. As a genealogist this information is vital to my research abilities.

...Patricia E. Kelderman UE, Vernon, British Columbia

Port Talbot, Upper Canada

I have recently acquired in London, UK an early image (c1836) litho view of Port Talbot Upper Canada which shows Col Thomas Talbot's house. It is approx 31cm x 49cm. the image was attached along with a blow up of the old hand writing in the lower right hand corner. The national archives has only one copy of this print in the national collection and there is an image & description of it on their web site under documentary art. It is likely therefore quite rare. Could you kindly forward to any affiliated museum who might have a particular historical interest in this view and who might be interested in acquiring it. thank you. (If you know a museum or other which might be interested in this, please forward this information to them and contact Ian)

...A. Ian Gillespie

Gilbert Hyatt Highway - Battling City Hall (cont'd)

Dec 18: Things are starting to heat up concerning our Gilbert Hyatt Hwy. There should be an excellent article in the Sherbrooke Record on Tuesday. The reporter has certainly been digging!! ..... There will be a picture which was taken at the time of the unveiling of the sign in 1992 and one showing the two signs, 143 & Gilbert Hyatt, going into the paper too. It may have the caption,"After 14 years and no one has gotten lost, why now"!!

The Townshippers Association is preparing a brief which will be addressed to the Waterville Council and a copy going to the newspapers. This is a huge association and I am sure that other historical societies in the Eastern Townships along with individuals will be writing "Letters to the Editor". I am happy to have the support of Marcel Bureau from the St. Jean de Baptiste Society, as it shows that it is not a political affair. He is a strong federalist. The reporter of the french daily,"La Tribune" wrote an article last week and has phoned for a follow-up. I have heard from quite a few about seeing your letter on the Township's web page.

Dec 20: Things are heating up. There should be great coverage in the english daily to-morrow and I have calls in to two great francophone historians who I am sure will support the saving of this historic name. I have been asked by Marcel Fourcaudot from Toponymie to send him copies of all newspaper clippings, historical info etc. on Gilbert Hyatt and the commission will build a case on the historic value of keeping the name "Gilbert Hyatt" on this stretch of highway.

If you would like to write him explaining the Loyalist interest, that it was Gilbert Hyatt and his Associates who opened up this part of the Eastern Townships, of course along with late Loyalists, and who first settled in this area before going to what is now known as the City of Sherbrooke. (1st. called Hyatts Mills and Upper Forks or Big Forks). The more letters of support the better. Copies could also go to the Record.

The address: Commission de Toponymie, 750 Blvd. Charest Est., 1st. Floor, Quebec, Quebec G1K 9M1, Att: M. Marcel Fourcaudot

The address for The Record is: P.O. Box 1200, Sherbrooke, Que. J1H 5L6; e-mail to : newsroom@sherbrookerecord.com Att: Nelson Afonso (They love the "Letters To The Editor" column)

Dec 21: There was great coverage in the Record to-day including the photo taken the day that one of the Gilbert Hyatt road signs was unveiled. The Lennoxville-Ascott-Historical Society has written Waterville Council with a copy going to the toponymie. Rod McLeod, President of the Quebec Anglo Heritage Network (QAHN) is writing a letter to Council with copies going to toponymie, the Montreal Gazette and to the List Serve covered by QAHN which is all over Quebec. Marie-Paule Labreque,now living in Granby, a great historian and long time friend, is speaking out loud and clear. She is prepared to be interviewed on both T.V. and radio and will write letters. She did her thesis on Gilbert Hyatt and has just finished the Hyatt story for the Canadian Dictionary.

...Bev Loomis UE, President, Little Forks Branch

Molly Brant: The Opera: the origin history and 2005 schedule

A DAUNTING TASK: compose an opera based on the life and times of Molly Brant -- the challenge came from an artist living in Cape Vincent. Molly lived on Carleton Island. Her leadership kept the natives loyal to King George III. After reading the study paper by Sue Bazely of the Cataraqui Archaeological Research Foundation, certain aspects of the document seemed to indicate that arias could be written. MINE NOW IS THE POWER, Molly’s manifesto so to speak, tells of her ability to represent her people at the King’s court in Philadelphia in 1754. At 18 she had become the advocate for her people. Her marriage to Sir William Johnson in a Mohawk ceremony appears to have been based on love.

Molly sings of her love for Sir William THIS GENTLE MAN IS MINE noting that she can do more for her people because of his understanding of native ways. Their life in colonial America is indicated by others whose writings describe a visit to Johnson Hall in the Mohawk Valley (now New York State). In JOHNSON HALL IS THE CENTRE she sings of the abundance of game and food and the guests and business (Johnson was the Superintendent of Indian Affairs for the King). After the death of her consort (1774), Molly was left to lead her people north to Upper Canada­leaving Johnson Hall. Her aria BUT WHAT OF MY PEOPLE? addresses the dilemma of assimilating vs keeping faith with heritage. HERE I REMAIN finalizes her move as a Loyalist by accepting the land grant from the King and refusing the offers from the young American government.

I wrote lyrics for each of the arias adapting the writings of Bazely . Between arias, Bazely’s text narrates the history. In all, it is music for the non-opera listener as well as the afficianado. The hour includes 14 music selections.

The first performance of MOLLY BRANT included soprano, RHONA GALE, flutist, CARRIE WYATT, and myself at the keyboard. We are on the CD which was taped at the dress rehearsal.

As C. A. R. F. was celebrating its 20th anniversary, archaeologist, Sue Bazely was Mistress of Ceremonies for the premiere April 25, 2003 at Kingston’s St. George’s Cathedral. Molly had been a benefactor of Rev. John Stuart’s little church which developed into this great cathedral. The Quinte Mohawk Dancers under the direction of Barbara Brant were the first part of the evening and two dancers are featured in the opera. The guard for the event were Yorkers (RRNY) including Tex Joyner and Jon Wannamaker.

MOLLY has had several performances including a now-famous production on Wolfe Island, (August of 2004) with none other than "Mr. Hockey Night in Canada," Don Cherry, as M.C. The Whig Standard’s photo of Mr. Cherry as a British Red Coat, hit many papers. Fellow commentator, Ron McClean announced it on TV from the Summer Olympics in Athens.

MOLLY BRANT is scheduled at Mayfield House in Amherstview July 30, 2005. A U. S. performance under conductor Charles Schneider is planned for Oriskany in August 2005. The CD is available here. Also: C. A. R. F. in Kingston

...Augusta Cecconi-Bates

Colours of King's American Regiment

I am looking for a picture of the Standard or colours of the King's American Regiment (4th American Regiment). I wonder if you might be able to point me in the right direction.

...Mark Biles {a1a24477 AT telus DOT net} how do I email him?

Re: eligibility to be a Loyalist

I think it's more a matter of common sense than a written policy, but refer to Bylaw Article 5, 5.01 (I): "and who, through adherence to the great principle of the Unity of Empire, departed from the newly established republic and settled in territory remaining under the rule of the Crown, or from etc."

We do know, from [burial site] submissions, that a number of claimed Loyalists were not so, because they settled directly in the Maritimes or Newfoundland having immigrated from Europe directly and never lived in the American Colonies. They were committed British subjects in the first place.

...Ray Lewis, Chair, Burial Sites Committee

The UELA HQ has a "Report on Nomenclature" which was done way back in the 1970s. The question of who was a Loyalist was put to a number of distinguished historians and it was noted that an individual did not have to come to the "Canada" that Carleton governed in order to be a Loyalist, so that the definition the Association uses is quite limited. For example, the definition does not cover those Loyalists who fled to the Carribean, Bermuda, the UK, or Florida, as well as Newfoundland.

I once had a reference that the Royal Newfoundland Regiment had an Order Book dating to one of its predecessors in the Revolution, but I cannot find it.

...Bill Smy

Comment on draft dodgers vs Loyalists

I get furious when people compare draft dodgers with the Loyalist migration north. The Loyalists were not draft dodgers and they certainly did not come here to avoid military service!

...Bill Smy

I can't disagree. One part of our challenge is to get people to recognize the term "United Empire Loyalists". Equally or more challenging is to get them to appreciate who the Loyalists really were and what they really represented.

...Doug

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