Loyalist Trails UELAC Newsletter, 2005 Archive

In this issue:
- Loyalist Cairn to be Unveiled at "Westward Ho" Conference
- "Finding Private Foster"
- Distinguished Town Crier Award to Loyalist
- Books: As a fan of Kenneth Roberts you must read Arundel
- Press Coverage in Hamilton: People of the Niagara Escarpment
- Events
      + Re-enactments at Crysler's Farm Battlefield, July 9 & 10
      + Genealogical seminar Kelowna, B.C. on Sept. 30 to Oct 2
- Queries
      + Jabez Benedict (concerning a land grant in New Brunswick)
      + Col. James Huston (also spelt Hewetson)
      + John Dunn
      + Response re Book on Genealogy
      + Response re UE or U.E.; that is the question

Loyalist Cairn to be Unveiled at "Westward Ho" Conference

(Thursday, June 2) The Regina Branch is excited about the unveiling of our new Cairn. The Cairn has already been built; the two plaques are ordered and will be mounted in time to be unveiled. A third plaque will be mounted on the occasion of the UELAC 2014 anniversary. Thursday evening the buses will transport us, preferably in costume, to the Legislative Grounds for the ceremony. Again, a number of dignitaries have been invited to be in attendance. The ceremony will be followed by a short tour through Wascana and a wine and cheese reception back at the Ramada. Although there is no charge for this event, don’t forget to circle the N/C on the Thursday evening unveiling. We do need numbers for the buses and reception. Come join the celebrations!! Register today.

...The Regina Conference Team

"Finding Private Foster"

This message was posted to one of the lists I belong to. This morning I took the time to watch the show online (use the link below and click on Finding Private Foster under Web Extras --note the 2 segments). Some of you may have watched the original program. If you missed it, I urge you to watch it now -- I am not sure how long CTV -- W5 will leave the link up. This teacher (Blake Seward) has made history alive and meaningful.

"There was a segment entitled 'Finding private Foster.' It was about a History teacher in Smith's Falls, Ontario, who decided that the names on the local cenotaph from WW 1, should become more than that and assigned each of his students a name from the cenotaph for them to find out as much as they could about that particular fallen soldier.

A very touching show to watch. All Canadian children should have, number one, to have had such a teacher, and number two, to have had the opportunity that these Smith's Falls students were given. I'm sure that the brave men of Smith's Falls are looking down and feeling very honoured to have come from such a community."

Here is a direct link.

...Kathie Orr, Toronto Branch

Distinguished Town Crier Award to Loyalist

From The Community Press, Quinte Edition, Feb 18, 2005, it was reported that Bruce Bedell (a UELAC member) was named Official Town Crier for the Hastings County Historical Society. He is the recipient of a Distinguished Town Crier Award. The article also included a little bit of Loyalist history for the reading public.

...Peter Johnson, Sr. VP, UELAC

Books: As a fan of Kenneth Roberts you must read Arundel

I can scarcely do better than quote the bookseller's blurb:

"Roberts still stands as one of the best American writers of historical fiction, renowned for his scrupulous accuracy and unforgettable depictions of of past times. Arundel is the story of the American attempt to take Quebec in 1775, a heroic but doomed effort masterminded by one of the most brilliant (and later infamous) of George Washington's officers: Colonel Benedict Arnold."

As I mentioned before, 60 years of voluminous research have corrected small errors in his information but have taken away little of the colour and force of the story in Roberts' narrative of the relentless march of the New Englanders' expeditionary force through the Maine wilderness toward Quebec City. It is indeed "unforgettable". He also gives a good impression of Arnold's spectacular leadership quality which was in distinct contrast to his otherwise contentious and disagreeable character.

...John Ruch, Sir Guy Carleton Branch

Press Coverage in Hamilton: People of the Niagara Escarpment

People of the Niagara Escarpment - part 1

People have called the Niagara Escarpment home for more than 12,000 years. It has been a bountiful provider of food, shelter and resources for millennia. And while the lives of successive waves of people have been shaped by the escarpment, inevitably the scarp itself has been reshaped by human setttlement. Here are some highlights of that interaction.

The United Empire Loyalists, 1775-1783

Settlers loyal to the British Crown flee persecution in the U.S. colonies during the American Revolution. Tens of thousands of Loyalists cross the Niagara River and settle on fertile land between the escarpment and Lake Ontario. Streams such as Twenty Mile Creek are numbered by distance from the Niagara River. The area experiences radical physical and demographic change as settlers begin to clear large areas at the foot of the escarpment.

Thayendanegea, first citizen of Burlington, 1742-1807

Thayendanegea, better known as Joseph Brant, is an Iroquois whose name means "two sticks bound together" or "symbol of united strength." Born a Mohawk on the banks of the Ohio River in 1742, the 13-year-old Brant serves with the British forces in the French and Indian wars, then attends a Connecticut school where he likely converts to Christianity.

During the American Revolution, the Six Nations Confederacy becomes crucial to the British. Brant, a British Army officer, fears natives will lose their lands if the American colonists achieved independence. In 1777, a Treaty of Alliance is reached between the British and the Iroquois, and Brant becomes war chief of the Six Nations. In 1784, Brant receives a grant of land from the mouth of the Grand River to its source and leads thousands of native Loyalists, mainly Iroquois, to settle the fertile lands. For his military service, Brant receives a pension and 3,450 acres of land in what is now Burlington.

The Head of the Lake, 1793

When John Graves Simcoe arrives to become first lieutenant-governor of Upper Canada in 1792, he moves the seat of government from Newark (Niagara-on-the-Lake) to the less vulnerable York (Toronto). He also sends Augustus Jones, his right-hand man, to survey roads at the Head of the Lake, today's Hamilton.

America Invades, 1812-1813

Many of the famous battles of the war between the English and the Americans are fought on the escarpment.

After capturing Fort George in Niagara-on-the-Lake in the summer of 1813, more than 3,000 U.S. troops move north along the escarpment in pursuit of the retreating British. They reach the Gage farm in Stoney Creek on June 5 and make camp for the night.

Unknown to them, 19-year-old local Billy Green rushes to where the British were encamped at Burlington Heights, now Dundurn Castle, and leads them through the woods at night for a surprise attack. The Americans are routed and retreat back down the escarpment.

...Gloria Oakes UE, Hamilton Branch

Re-enactments at Crysler's Farm Battlefield, July 9 & 10

"The United Empire Loyalist heritage of Eastern Ontario will come alive at Crysler's Farm Battlefield Memorial on July 9 and 10 of this year as hundreds of historical re-enactors from across eastern North America converge on the site, adjacent to Upper Canada Village near Morrsburg, to stage a two-day re-enactment of the life and times of the era of the American Revolution.

Green-coated Loyalist regiments will stand shoulder-to-shoulder with red-coated British regulars and His Majesty's Mohawk Allies as they take part in three period battle reenactments - based loosely on the 1775 rebel invasion of Canada - at the battlefield memorial and inside Upper Canada Village.

The Crysler's Farm Battlefield Memorial commemorates the November 11, 1813 action on the property of John Crysler, UE, in which an Anglo-Canadian army defeated a force three times its size, ending an American attempt to capture Montreal. For more information see the web site."

...Carolyn Goddard, President, St. Lawrence Branch

Genealogical seminar Kelowna, B.C. on Sept. 30 to Oct 2

Many of the UEL members belong to the Vernon, Kelowna & Penticton Branches. The "Harvest Your Family Tree" KDGS Seminar 2005 Registration Brochure is now on-line at the KDGS Web-site. We have some excellent speakers & workshops.

...M. Marie [Loyst] Ablett, UE, Thompson-Okanagan Branch

John Dunn

I searched for the marriage certificate of John Dunn (? and ?) married to Marie-Madeleine Paget (Francois Paget and Marie Thérese Angélique Tossier or Marie Lauzier said Tauxier) about 1778 to 1782 or 1783 in Percé or Gaspé or Quebec City.

I know that Marie-Madeline Paget married a second time to John(Jean) Hogan in Notre-Dame de Québec or Gaspé or Percé on the 30 October, 1810 because John Dunn death between 1805 to 1810. But c1777 John Dunn was here in Percé by Lieutenant Cox.(?). There is two John Dunn ? One who was fisher worker of Charles Robins and the second John Dunn Scottish Loyalist who was here in Quebec City or Percé before arrival Liberty boat on the June 9,1784 in Quebec City.

Or it's the same, so just only one John Dunn, who was the Youth Scottish Highland Loyalist or Emigrant Highland 84th 2th Battalion garrison and who after was beginning to fishermen in Gaspésie of Quebec Province.

Because the first son of John Dunn ans Marie-Madeleine Paget was Francois( or Francis ) Dunn born in Percé in November 21, 1783 or July 6,1783 ? And the second son was John ( Jean ) junior born in Percé or Gaspé June 29, 1785.

Help me. I have searched since 8 years, I never finding in Catholic Register in Carlation, and nothing concerning the date of born of John Dunn, Scottish, born in Ireland or Scotland.

...Jean-Claude Dunn, Montreal {jeanclaudedunn AT yahoo DOT ca} how do I email him?

Jabez Benedict (concerning a land grant in New Brunswick)

The Provincial Archives of New Brunswick has an excellent website. I did an online search of the Land Grants Index located in the RS686 series. There was no land grant to Jabez Benedict. There was a grant for Eli Benedict in 1788 (York County).

However, there was a Land Petition (RS108) for Jabez Benedict. Information about this can be viewed here. This application was for property in Queen's County. I can't tell from the online information whether or not this property was actually granted. With these index numbers, you can request a copy of the petition, I believe the website provides instructions on how to request it and the cost.

Being from New Brunswick (I now live in Toronto), I can tell you that there is no Great Lake. We have a GRAND Lake, which lies completely in Queen's County. I hope this helps!

...Andrew Stillman, Gov. Simcoe Branch

Set your browser and ENTER; PANB (Provincial Archives of New Brunswick). Go to Government records RS 108 and enter, surname and Christian name. Here is your answer; 1788, he received a shared grant, which was a common practice in those days.

You state he was born in 1786, I cannot find an older Jabez Benedict. This grant was issued in 1788, therefore, he may have been the son of an older BENEDICT. You could research his birth to determine if he was related to Ensign Eli BENEDICT, Guides and Pioneers. Eli was with the Return of Troops on the 4th April 1783. He obtained a grant in 1787 with other men at YORK, NB. Eli BENEDICT may have been born or settled on Long Island.

On microfilm F1035 see petition of: WIEKES, ALEXANDER. The grant was issued in Queens County, not King's County. You may obtain a copy of the grant, see instructions below. SEND YOUR REQUEST IN WRITING IN US DOLLARS.

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

Col. James Huston (also spelt Hewetson)

I have never seen James Hewetson referred to as a colonel, although he may have held that rank in the militia prior to the revolution. A book by myself and James F Morrison entitled, "The British Campaign of 1777 - the St. Leger Expedition - The Forces of the Crown and Congress" provides details of Hewetson's activities and his death. This book is available from GlobalGenealogy.com.

Hewetson had been appointed a captain of a battalion raising for a brigade to be commanded by Sir John Johnson. He lived in or nearby to Coxsackie, NY on the Hudson River and was recruiting for his company in that area. The rebels took him up on two or more occasions as they were suspicious of his activities. It would appear they had proof of his recruiting in the last instance of his interrogation and he was released on parole with the warning to cease and desist. Hewetson chose to ignore the warning and continued his efforts. He was again arrested, tried and found guilty and sentenced to death. His hanging took place in August 1777. Inserted below is some material that was edited out of my book "Rebellion in the Mohawk Valley" as being superfluous.

The testimony that finally condemned Sir John came from Michael Ryan on April 23. Ryan stated that a blacksmith in Cambridge told him that Samuel Anderson of Pownall and his brother Joseph had commissions in a secret regiment being raised by Sir John Johnson and the brothers had enlisted a great number of men. Also, Captain Gray from near Albany had enlisted about 100 men and John Munro, 80. Alex Doyle, an appointed serjeant, had left on the 22nd for Johnson Hall to report these recruiting successes. Some Indians were to mark a trail from Saratoga to Johnstown to assist recruits to join Johnson.

Pay of the Privates was to be 1 shilling, 6 pence sterling and 200 acres of confiscated lands when the rebellion was over. Samuel Anderson was said to have seven beeves salted for the use of the recruits and 16 bbls of flour in town and some pork and guns.

James Gray was a half-pay officer who had served in Loudon's Regiment from 1745-49, then for 15 years in the Black Watch. He was at the capture of Martinique and Havana and retired with a serious illness in 1763 as a half-pay captain. He settled first in New Jersey and then moved to Stone Hook, five miles from Albany. When the rebellion broke out, he was offered command of a Continental Regiment and declined. Later, he was offered the post of Chief Engineer in the army about to invade Canada. Again he demurred. Secretly he was a confidant of Sir John, amongst the first Johnson had consulted regarding the raising of a regiment.[vii] Due to Ryan's testimony, Gray was taken before the Committee in Albany. He gave his parole and was released.[viii]

Munro was brought before the Albany Committee on April 24 and coerced into giving his parole. This read,

I do promise on the Word and Honor of a Gentleman that I will hold no matter of Correspondence or Conversation on Political matters... that are inimical to measures now pursued by the united Colonies of America.[ix]

Ryan had not mentioned James Hewetson, but his case was heard at the same time. Hewetson was a half-pay lieutenant whose name was on Sir John's secret list of future officers. He gave a similar parole and was confined within his home district of Coxackie, many miles south of Albany.

...Gavin Watt, Honorary Vice President, UELAC

Response re Book on Genealogy

Some suggestions for the persons looking for the book on genealogy for the library in Texas:

Genealogy in Ontario: Searching the Records, by Brenda Dougall Merriman

In Search Of Your Canadian Roots, by Angus Baxter

...Nancy Conn, UE

Response re UE or U.E.; that is the question

I actually agree with Mr. Gardiner that "U.E." is preferred. The use of "UE" in The Gazette remains a matter of saving space, and convenience. In all other circumstances I use "U.E."

...Peter Johnson, UE

We all have seen B.A. become BA and Ph.D. become PhD according to the Can. Press Stylebook. And this was a big part of the reason to drop the periods on UE. Similarly we note English evolving with other punctuation. Bob and I noted this week that older versions of the Oxford say "step-son" while new ones prefer "stepson".

...Michael Johnson

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.