Loyalist Trails UELAC Newsletter, 2005 Archive

In this issue:
- Westward Ho 2005 Conference: Welcome Reception
- New Memorial Monument to Loyalist Lieutenant Jeremiah French to be Unveiled June 19
- Gibert Hyatt's Highway (update)
- U.E. or UE: that is the question
- Queries
      + Col. James Huston (also spelt Hewetson)
      + Jabez Benedict
      + Need a book recommendation for a library
- Books
      + The Guns of Independence: The Siege of Yorktown, 1781
      + Palatine Hill (Secord-Servos Families)
      + Kenneth Roberts Books
      + Response re Machiche, Quebec and Other Refugee Camps
      + Response re Quebec Plan
- Events
      + The Grand Old Dukes of York
      + The Office of the Governor-General of Canada

Westward Ho 2005 Conference: Welcome Reception

As you may or may not know we in Saskatchewan are celebrating Saskatchewan's Centennial this year! Enjoy the bright lights, the incredible sunshine, and smiling faces of old friends and new as the Regina Branch UELAC helps celebrate "A 100 Years of Heart!"

Our registration table will open at 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday June 1, and your packages will await your arrival. The Regina Branch has invited a number of dignitaries to give you a true Saskatchewan Welcome. Our Patron, Saskatchewan's Lieutenant-Governor Dr. Lynda Haverstock, Regina Mayor Pat Fiacco, and Saskatchewan Premier Lorne Calvert are among those invited. Come out on Wednesday evening to kick start another jam-packed conference weekend. Enjoy good company, with some food and drink while you browse through the display area.

Visit the web site for details, mark it in your calendar and register today!

...the Regina Branch Conference team

New Memorial Monument to Loyalist Lieutenant Jeremiah French to be Unveiled June 19

This event is part of a Loyalist Heritage Day Weekend which will be held at Cornwall and Williamstown, Ontario. On Saturday, June 18, the Recreated King's Royal Regiment of New York will parade its old Regimental colours through Williamstown to the Nor'wester and Loyalist Museum where it will be retired. Following the retirement ceremony the "Royal Yorkers" will parade back to Sir John Johnson Manor House National Historic Site where they will perform an 18th century military drill.

Jeremiah French was the first member of Ontario Legislature for Stormont from 1792 to 1796. On Sunday June 19, 2005 - Loyalist Day in Ontario - a church service to honour the memory of Loyalist Lieutenant Jeremiah French of the King's Royal Regiment of New York will be held at Trinity Anglican Church in Cornwall, Ontario. The service will begin at 10:00 A.M. and will be attended by descendants of the French family; members of St. Lawrence and Sir Guy Carleton Branches of the United Empire Loyalists' Association of Canada (UELAC); The King's Royal Regiment of New York; and members of various historical associations within S.D.&G. The dedication ceremony will follow at 2:00 P.M. at Maple Grove Cemetery (Vincent Massey Drive) of the new monument for Jeremiah French.

For more information, please contact:

1. Capt. Michael Eamer, St. Lawrence Branch, 667 Hamilton Cres. Cornwall, ON, K6H 5N6; Tel.: 613-937-3953; e-mail {eamerp AT sympatico DOT ca}

2. George Anderson, 64 Saginaw Cres, Nepean, Ontario K2E 5N7; Tel: 613-226-6348, e-mail {andrew1 AT magma DOT ca}.

how do I email them?

Gibert Hyatt's Highway (update)

Attended the Waterville Municipal Council Meeting last evening and everything is still up in the air. We had a great contingent and our argument was well presented, but when one is addressing those that do not want to listen, then there is a problem. Our petition along with a cover letter will be sent to the Toponymie Commission at the end of the week and it will be up to them to settle it with Waterville. It is so very frustrating!

...Bev Loomis, Little Forks Branch

U.E. or UE: that is the question

In response to your item on To U.E. or UE relating to the proper use of these initials, I would suggest that perhaps we might refer to official website of the United Empire Association of Canada where we are advised that following Lord Dorchester's statement of November 9th, 1789, the printed militia rolls carried the notation:

N.B. Those Loyalists who have adhered to the Unity of Empire

and joined the Royal Standard before the Treaty of Separation

in the year 1783, and all their Children and their Descendents

by either Sex, are to be distinguished by the following Capitals

affixed to their names: U.E. Alluding to their great principal

The Unity of Empire.

Even though both Mr.Peter Johnston and Mr. Bob McBride may have decided otherwise, it would seem quite clear to me that the correct form includes a period after each capital.

...John Gardiner

Col. James Huston (also spelt Hewetson)

I was referred to you by Corlene Taylor of Beamsville, Ontario, who is the co-founder of the Mayholme Archives in St. Catharines and a fellow member of the Niagara Historical Society. She felt you might be able to direct me to information about a Col. James Huston (also spelt Hewetson) who seems to have recruited amongst the Palatine German settlers of New York and (possibly) New Jersey. Both internet and library searches have been dead ends. I am wondering if he may in fact have been in the Indian Department.

The progenitor of our family in Ontario, Adam Heins/Haines/Haynes seemed to have signed up under Col. Huston, at least according to two land claims. We had always assumed that he -- like almost all the Loyalist settlers -- was in Butler's Rangers. However, he is not in those lists.

Adam was born on Aug. 5, 1747 to Johan "Jacob" Heines and Anna Rickert at the hamlet of Peaswick on Rensselaer Manor, County Albany, New York Province. He died in March of 1814 at his farm in Grantham Township, Upper Canada (now St. Catharines), where both he and his wife Elizabeth (nee Fraelick) received their first land grants as U.E.Ls.. When Adam petitioned for land in 1795, he stated that he had often been imprisioned by the rebels, but didn't mention any military details. (Upper Canada Land Petitions, RG1 L3, H1/39 [1795], volume 222a NAC microfilm C2042). In an 1816 land petition his son stated that in 1777 Adam had served under a Colonel James Huston. (Upper Canada Land Petitions, RG1 L3, H11/56 [1818], volume 228 NAC microfilm C2047). On May 20, 1816 Christian Plato swore before magistrate John Warren that the late Adam Haines enlisted in 1777 under James Huston in Albany County "before he [Huston] was executed."

Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find any information on Col. James Huston -- other than his name may also have been spelt Hewetson-- let alone his regimental lists. If you would tell me if you had any information about him or know where I might look I would be very grateful.

...John C. Haynes {johnhaynes1964 AT sympatico DOT ca} how do I email him?

Jabez Benedict

Jabez Benedict b1786 Land Grant at Great Lake, New Brunswick, KING COUNTY, Wilmot Township 200.

(A man of this name received land at Great Lake ,New Brunswick; see Wright,p.260). Is there any way you can tell me if this is true or not?? How do I go about getting a copy of that land grant? Thank you.

...Bessie Benedict, P.O.Box 536, Bangor,Ca, USA 95914

Need a book recommendation for a library

I am an officer of a small genealogy society, here in a small town in southern Texas (Boerne - about 25 miles NW of San Antonio). One of our members, descending from some Canadian ancestors (unknown to me) has just recently passed away. Our society wants to buy a book in her name and shelve it in the society's collection in the local library. There are NO books on Canadian genealogy currently there.

Could you recommend one or more good books on Canadian (or UE) genealogy. I don't think that we need any "how-to" books as badly as we need some of the "who, and where" type.

Thanks in advance. (I have been a subscriber to your UEL newsletter Loyalist Trails for some time now, and want to express thanks for your efforts in producing it.)

...Harry Dell, descendant of Bassnet Dell UE through his son William {mahdell AT earthlink DOT net} how do I email him?

Response re Machiche, Quebec and Other Refugee Camps

Many thanks to Jean Norry for pointing a proverbial gun to my head regarding the question of the Loyalist refugee camps in and around Montreal during and after the war. My daughter Nancy has been agitating with me for years to do something about the camps, so with Jean's added spur, I will have to add 'the camps' to my list of future projects.

Last summer, after a couple of years of work, I finished a revised edition of Cruikshank's "King's Royal Regiment of New York" and hope to see a proof copy from Global Heritage Press this month. The Master Roll section is more than double the size of the 1984 edition including a large bibliography of sources and a substantial surname concordance.

As well, last month, I transferred to Dundurn Press materials for a revised edition of my 1997 book, "Burning of the Valleys," which has been unavailable since 1999. The new edition will be off-press in April.

Currently, I am researching a new book about the war waged from Canada against upstate New York in the last two active years of the revolution - 1781 and 82. While Canada's contribution was simple guerilla warfare in comparison to the major actions conducted in the Southern States, the sheer intensity of the operations is remarkable and fully explains the hostility towards Tories and natives that lingers in New York State today.

After this book is 'in the bag,' I plan to write Part Two of "The British Campaign of 1777." Its subtitle will be "Burgoyne's Loyalists" and, similar to what Part One did for the St. Leger Expedition, this book will provide a campaign overview of General Burgoyne's efforts and genealogical details of the many loyalist corps that fought in his grand army.

So, a promise - if someone else doesn't beat me to it - I will go to work on a study of the refugee camps when the above two books are complete.

...Gavin Watt, Honorary Vice-President, UELAC

Response re Quebec Plan

There were many plans for Quebec by the British. However, in my notes on Quebec, the cartographer John Melish made a map entitled Plan for Quebec, which was published in the Atlas of Military operations by John Melish.

Here are my notes:

JOHN MELISH aka MELLISH (1771-1822). Born in Scotland. A member of the Society of Scottish Cartographers and Publishers. He apparently arrived in Quebec c1795-1800.

He created numerous maps including the British Plans for the fortification of Quebec and Lower Canada, showing displacements of British troops. Later, in 1812, he completed several maps of Upper Canada including the Niagara area.

The Seat of the War in North America.

This map was published in 1813 and 1815 by John Melish in his Military and Topographical Atlas of the United States. Colour is used to outline political divisions. A red dot to show the location of Stoney Creek. This map is only a small portion of the original, and shows the Niagara locations where battles were fought during the War of 1812. [From the Collections of the National Archives of Canada: See map///Cartographic and Architectural Archives Division]

If you look along the orange-coloured border line, you can see the British Fort George in Newark (now Niagara-on-the Lake, Ontario) and Fort Niagara now on the American side (Youngstown, N.Y.). The population of Newark at that time was 500 and at Queenston it was 300. (Hand-coloured engraving).

See the David Rumsey Historical Map Collection. Map of: Plan of Quebec and Adjacent Country. Melish, John. 1815

or Go to browser, enter ACMLA, this will bring up Map Libraries, then go to Map #144, by John Melish. This map shows details of War in North America.

Melish went to Philadelphia in 1811 where he joined his brother, Benjamin Milish. Benjamin was an engraver. John worked with his brother and then began to publish his own maps.

Thomas Jefferson wrote him a letter on 13 January 1813, in which he complimented Melish for his work.

Further Information may be obtained here.

Government of Canada - Archives. The following "may" include information of plans for QUEBEC.

Volume part of: Colonial Office fonds

Lower Canada: Reports on military settlements, Canadian topography and navigation. (original) [documents textuels] 1821-1823 Series CO 42. Canada, formerly British North America, Original Correspondence

REFERENCE NUMBERS: CALL NUMBER: MG11-CO42 REPRODUCTION: Microfilm of original, reel no. B-152

CONSULTATION/REPRODUCTION: Textual records Original: Volume 199 SOURCE: RC 244518

...Donald J. Flowers, UE, Toronto Branch

The Guns of Independence: The Siege of Yorktown, 1781

The Guns of Independence, by Jerome A. Greene, is the only modern in-depth scholarly study of this pivotal Revolutionary War campaign. It is based upon extensive archival research and firsthand archaeological investigation of the battlefield. We believe it to be a fresh and invigorating study that will satisfy everyone interested in American Revolutionary history, artillery, siege tactics, and brilliant leadership. You can read more about this title here.

Palatine Hill (Secord-Servos Families)

In 1970, Secord descendants June and Lois literally stumbled upon their family history in St. Mark's cemetery, Niagara-on-the-Lake. They started a genealogical search and ended up with the epic story of Palatine Hill. Three remarkable pioneer women - Elizabeth Servos Johnston, Laura Ingersoll Secord, and Euretta Servos Secord tell the story. Fact and fiction blend seamlessly. PALATINE HILL is about ordinary men and women roused out of their quiet, comfortable lives to perform heroics in extraordinary events that shaped both Canada and the United States of America. The Palatine Hill property grew out of the wilderness to become an important part of idyllic Niagara-on-the-Lake. The Servos and Secords survived contagion, revolution, and war, and when Euretta Servos and John Courtland Secord fall deeply in love and marry, the rival families are finally united. Historians and genealogists are still at work unearthing biographical data about the Servos-Secord family, but PALATINE HILL will always remain a story replete with passion and spiritual yearning, the finality of death and emergence of life.

Author Bio: Charlotte Fielden, born in Toronto has lived in Paris, Montreal, and North Carolina. She has written for stage, television, radio and film and her short stories and poetry have been included in various anthologies and literary reviews. PALATINE HILL is her second published novel.

It might interest your members to read my new novel, Palatine Hill, about the Servos-Secord UEL families. For more information and to order copies go to my website.

...Charlotte Fielden, author

Kenneth Roberts Books

After just finishing Oliver Wiswell as mentioned by someone in an earlier issue, I have recently read two other books by Kenneth Roberts.

His Rabble in Arms is another fictional account, based on the battle for the area around Lake Champlain and the defeat of General Burgoyne at Saratoga, New York.

In contrast, his book March to Quebec consists of a series of more than a dozen journals written by actual combatants in the battle for Quebec led by U.S. General Montgomery in December 1775. The writers range from Colonel Benedict Arnold, Captain Henry Dearborn and Major Jonathan Meigs to Private James Melvin of Hubbardston, Massachusetts and Private Abner Stocking of Connecticut. Casualty lists and a brief biographical sketch of each author are included.

...Nancy Conn, U.E., Gov. Simcoe Branch

The Canadian Royal Heritage Trust presents, at Suite 209 (upstairs) -- 3050 Yonge St (at Lawrence Ave), Toronto:

The Grand Old Dukes of York

The Grand Old Dukes of York, by Garry Toffoli. This talk, with slides, will look back at the stories of the Princes of the Royal Family who held the title of Duke of York, as we mark the 45th birthday of Prince Andrew, the current Duke of York, on 19th February. Wed 16th Feb, 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.

The Office of the Governor-General of Canada

The Office of Governor-General of Canada, by Garry Toffoli. The past, the present and the future of the office of Queen's Representative in Canada, which recently has come under considerable scrutiny, is the subject of the second presentation for the month of February. Tues 22nd Feb, 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. and Thurs 24th Feb, 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.

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