Loyalist Trails UELAC Newsletter, 2005 Archive

In this issue:
- Westward Ho Conference: register today
- Remnant of Revolutionary War washes ashore
- Historica Fairs
- Daniel Tryon of Connecticut
- Loyalists who served in the French Indian War
- Died This Day: Sir Hugh John Macdonald, 1929-2005
- Queries
      + Response re John Stewart
      + Response re fortepiano
      + Responses for Sharla (Heritage Fair Project)
      + James Anderson

Westward Ho Conference: register today

Our second tour will take you to a working seed farm. There you will see some of the modern wonders of the farming world. The farm machinery will be on display including their enormous air seeder, huge combine along with other equipment used on this large prairie farm. Come have your picture taken seated at the controls of a $250,000 combine. Another agriculture-related stop will take in a brand new flax roasting plant. The tour also features a look at Saskatchewan's own Grand Canyon. Join 72 others who are registered already and let's make this a great conference.

Remnant of Revolutionary War washes ashore

Tuesday, March 29, 2005 -- FERRISBURGH, Vermont (AP) -- For more than two centuries, the waters of Lake Champlain have hidden the remains of a marvel of 18th-century engineering -- a bridge built by 2,500 sick and hungry Continental soldiers. soldiers. Now a piece of that bridge sits in the preservation laboratory at the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, destined to give visitors a portal into revolutionary times. "When you look at what they wanted to do, it connects you right to the American Revolution," said the museum's executive director, Art Cohn. Visit this page for more.

Historica Fairs

Historica Fairs begin as hands-on, independent research projects. Taking on the role of historian, interpreter, storyteller and myth-maker, children learn and teach others about Canadian heroes and legends, milestones in their communities, or family achievements.

Once students have participated in the classroom or at a School Fair, their projects may be selected to attend a Community or Regional Fair. These Fairs, which can showcase anywhere from 50 to 400 student projects, generally take place during the second week in May. They are vibrant community celebrations where local museums, historical associations, businesses and multicultural groups come together to offer displays, demonstrations, food, and entertainment. Most Regional Fairs include heritage-related activities like educational workshops, cultural performances, and guest speakers, which enhance the students' experiences during the Fair and sustain their interest in history after the event is over. All Regional Fairs have public open hours when students are asked to interpret their projects for visitors, thereby sharing their stories with the community.

Check with Historica for Regional Fairs in your area.

...Heather James, U.E., Historica Foundation of Canada

Daniel Tryon of Connecticut

I am trying to research an ancestor of mine who may have been a Loyalist. Is there a place where there is a list of Loyalists from CT in the US. My ancestor's name was Daniel Tryon (possibly David). We believe he was married to a Vaughan. Do either of these names sound familiar? Thank you.

...Leslie from Connecticut

Loyalists who served in the French Indian War

I would greatly appreciate it if you would refer me to any books or articles dealing specifically with those loyalists who had previously served in the French and Indian War. I know that Robert Rogers, James De Lancey, Timothy Ruggles and others were soldiers in that war. I wondered if anyone had done a study of these and other loyalists.

My interest that lead to my question began in part by reading the tragic story of Timothy Ruggles' daughter, Bathsheba Spooner, who was hanged for murdering her husband. It occurred to me that some of the soldiers who served in the French and Indian War came home, like the Grecian heroes of Troy, to find themselves usurped by those who had stayed behind and that they found themselves fighting against their former comrades like George Washington and Israel Putnam.

I wondered if anyone had written on this rather tragic and dramatic story.

...James Tarsney {james AT tarsney DOT net} how do I email him?

P.S. So far as I know I have no loyalist roots. I'm writing from St. Louis Park, Minnesota, a suburb of Minneapolis.

(Note about Bathsheba Spooner: In March 1778, Joshua Spooner, a wealthy gentleman farmer in Brookfield, was beaten to death and his body stuffed down a well. Four people were hanged for the crime: two British soldiers, a young Continental soldier, and Spooner's wife, Bathsheba, who was charged with instigating the murder. She was thirty-two years old and five months pregnant when executed. Newspapers described the case as "the most extraordinary crime ever perpetrated in New England."

Murdered by His Wife, by Deborah Navas, (University of Massachusetts Press, 1999) provides a vivid reconstruction of this dramatic but little-known episode. Beautiful, intelligent, high-spirited, and witty. The plots, the crime, the trial, and the aftermath are presented against a backdrop of revolutionary turmoil in Massachusetts.)

Died This Day (March 29): Sir Hugh John Macdonald, 1929-2005

Lawyer, politician and magistrate born at Kingston, Ont., on March 13, 1850. The son of Sir John A. Macdonald, he studied law at the University of Toronto. He practised for a time in Ontario and served in the miloitia, reaching the Red River with the Wolseley expedition of 1870. In 1882, he moved to Winnipeg and set up a law partnership there with the son of Sir Charles Tupper. In 1891, he entered politics, won a federal seat and was sworn in beside his father, then prime miniter, to trhe applause of the House of Commons. In 1897, he was persuaded to take over the leadership of the Conservative party in Manitoba and became premier two years later. In 1900, after introducing prohibition, he returned to federal politics to run against Clifford Sifton and lost. He returned to his law practise until appointed to the bench.

(NOTE: at Conference in Winnipeg in June 2003, one of the tour stops was a delightful visit to Dalnavert, the home of Sir Hugh, which was restored and is one of the tourist attractions in Winnipeg.)

Response re John Stewart

I saw your query in the UELAC Loyalist newsletter. Loyalist Trails looking for info on John Stewart/stuart. In Sabine's Biographical Sketches of Loyalists of the American Revolution lists a John Stewart of New Jersey, who at the peace, accompanied by his family of eight persons, and by one servant, went from New York to Shelburne, Nova Scotia, where the Crown granted him fifty acres of land, one town and one Water lot. His losses in consequence of his loyality were estimated at 500 pounds.

There is also a John Stewart and a John Stuart, who was a member of the Port Roseway Associates, listed as grantees at Shelburne in Marion Robertson's History of Shelburne.

...Lew Perry, U.E., President, Halifax/Dartmouth Branch

More on fortepiano

Thanks to Dwayne & Lynne Brigant for having raised this issue. "Therefore the name fortepiano referred to the fact that both the piano's pedals, and how hard the keys are struck, enable the player to adjust the volume."

I beg to differ. Although it can "do" both loud and soft, it has a different kind of action. When I first encountered the term in Dunlop's letters (along with details of other musical instruments and sheet music) I took them to Dr. Helmut Kallmann, editor of Encyclopaedia of Music in Canada. He assured me the term was correct and referred to a distinctly different instrument. You can see what specialists say by searching the Internet with Google for "Fortepiano"; you will get definitions (a keyboard instrument, the predecessor of the piano, popular in the 18th and 19th centuries) as well as makers (Paul McNULTY "Since 1985 I have built 47 fortepianos after Walter, Hofmann and Graf)."

...John Ruch U.E.

Responses for Sharla (Heritage Fair Project)

Education Committee Chair's Suggestions

Perhaps I have a number of resources that might assist you in your work.

On the internet, you might find some assistance on our website. In the education folder, I have listed a number of books suitable for the "Young at Heart". I have yet to update the list with the more recent releases but I do recommend With Nothing But our Courage, The Loyalist Diary of Mary MacDonald, of the Dear Canada Series, and The Hollow Tree as good fictional resources. Later trials of living in the wilderness are well portrayed in The Hungry Years. In the first suggestion you will find a good section at the back of the book that contains recipes, maps, pictures and general facts that might be of use.

When my ten-year-old granddaughter was preparing for a presentation on period clothing for the last UELAC Conference she made considerable use of the support material for Felicity of the American Girl Series i.e. Welcome to Felicity's World - 1774, Felicity's Paper Dolls, Felicity's Craft Book. I have since discovered a copy of the Felicity Cook Book for seven dollars at Home School and More, P.O. Box 458, Maple Creek, SK S0N 1N0

While you are in the Education Folder, you might look into the Quebec Resource/Addenda/Loyalist Children.

When it came to dressing in period clothing, Aidan's grandmother made her the hat and dress found on the Simplicity pattern 5042 picture D. Of course the loyalists could not avail themselves of zippered closings, but you only need to give the idea of period clothing not the actuality.

Good luck with your project. I hope someone will send some photographs of you and your project when everything is done.

Lastly, my great grandmother, Elizabeth Walker Hayward, homesteaded north of Edmonton back at the beginning of the 1900s.

...Fred H. Hayward UE, Chairman, Education/Outreach Committee UELAC

A Teacher's Perspective

This is a response for the 10 year old who is doing a Heritage Fair project about Loyalists. I live in the state of Washington and I teach gifted students just like Sharla. We have studied the conflict between Tories and Patriots extensively this year. The thing my students found most fascinating was comparing how Canadian and American history books describe events like the Boston Massacre. We made a list of all facts presented in the American history textbook that is part of our district curriculum. Then we made another list of the facts about the same event presented in a Canadian history book written for children (The Loyal Refugees). Then we compared the two lists. It was surprising how biased both books were about all events between about 1770 and 1790. Neither book actually printed lies. They just left out important information and facts that made one side of the conflict look worse than the other side. My students were pretty upset that adults on both sides of the border would write books for children that are so opinionated and biased. The 10 year olds just want to know the truth! Sharla, I think you would find a project like this pretty fascinating.

...Ruth Roy

James Anderson: several notes

I am trying to determine if my GGGG Grandfather, James ANDERSON, was a United Empire Loyalist. James ANDERSON was born about 1748 (place of birth unknown). He was married to Mary (or Marie / Maria) BRIMMER.

I "suspect" he was an United Empire Loyalist as I have documentation on land and possessions he left behind in Fells Point, Maryland and the fact that the family eventually settled in Nova Scotia. Here is additional information I have on James:

- He died about 1796 in the West Indies when he was an officer or crew member on ship engaged in maritime commercial business.

- He was a Registered Master Mason of Lodge # 9 on the registry of Nova Scotia.

- They had 4 children:

1. Mary born 19 Nov 1776 in Baltimore

2. Eunice born 14 Mar 1782 in New York

3. John Secombe born 06 Feb 1790 in Chester, Nova Scotia

4. Ann (Anna / Isabella) Brimmer born 22 Sep 1796 in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

- He was admitted as a member of the New York Maritime Society on 11 Jun 1781.

Any help you can provide would be greatly appreciated.

...J. Patrick Hagan, White Rock, B.C.

I think if Pat could prove that James had his land in Maryland taken by the rebs that would be enough to prove that he was a Loyalist. In Loyalists and Land Settlements in Nova Scotia James Anderson was granted 150 acres in 1785, 2 Town Lots in 1788 in Chester, Lunenburg Co., NS. There was an echeat of 300 acres in 1813 in Chester Township. I guess if he died about 1796 he wouldn't need the land in 1813. Noted his third child was born in Chester in 1790. Have not heard of the New York Maritime Society.

...Lew Perry, U.E., President, Halifax/Dartmouth Branch

The book Loyalists of NS by Gilroy lists James Anderson who received land in Chester twp in 1784. There was also one who received land in Schubenacadie River. Since this gentleman mentions that one of the children was born in Chester perhaps this is the one. He should write to the Public Archives of NS and ask them is they have his Land Petition. Perhaps they have a birth or baptism of one of the children born in NS. Unfortunately, with a name like Anderson he is going to have to be sure that this is his connection. There may be records on the internet. I hope this helps.

...Libby Hancocks, U.E.

I wasn't so much wanting to prove that my ancestor James Anderson was a UEL but rather I was hoping that there existed a registry of people who had been recognized as or granted status as an UEL. And of course if he was/is, I would be pleased to join the UELAC.

Thanks to Lew for the land grant info. in 1785 and 1788. I had seen this before on the Internet but passed right over it. This may be my James. As you can see from the birth places of his children, he seemed to be "moving" North, from Baltimore to New York to Nova Scotia.

As for proving he was a UEL, please see the following:

1. A Memorandum of property Belonged to James Anderson from Baltimore in Maryland:

[content available only in hardcopy of Loyalist Trails — we apologize for the inconvenience]

I transcribed this from a photo-copy of a document, that I received from William J. Anderson of Gaspereau NS,. It appears to be an inventory of assets left behind in Maryland, by a James Anderson, who may be my GGGG Grandfather. The spelling has been retained from the document i.e. I have made no attempt to correct.

2. There is a James ANDERSON listed, along with many others, in the Banishment Act of the State of Massachusetts, passed in September 1778. I have included some of it below:

Banishment Act of the State of Massachusetts

An Act to prevent the return to this state of certain persons therein named and others who have left this state or either of the United States, and joined the enemies thereof.

Whereas

Thomas Hutchinson, Esq., late governor of this state,

Francis Bernard, Esq., formerly governor of this state,

Thomas Oliver, Esq., late lieutenant governor of this state,

Timothy Ruggles, Esq., of Hardwick, in the county of Worcester,

William Apthorp, merchant,

Gibbs Atkins, cabinet maker,

John Atkinson,

John Amory,

James Anderson,

Thomas Apthorp,

David Black,

. . .

and many others have left this state, or some other of the United States of America, and joined the enemies thereof and of the United States of America, thereby not only depriving these states of their personal services at a time when they ought to have afforded the utmost aid io the said states, and a desn defending the said states, against the invasions of a cruel enemy, but manifesting an inimical disposition tign, to aid and abet the enemies thereof in their wicked purposes, whereas many dangers may accrue to this state and the United States, if such persons should again reside in this state:

Sect. 1. Be it therefore enacted by the Council and House of Representatives, in general court assembled, and by the authority of the same, that if either of the said persons, or any other person, though not specifically named in this act, who have left this state or either of said states, and joined the enemies thereof as aforesaid, shall, after the passing of this act, voluntarily return to this state, it shall be the duty of the sheriff of the county, and of the selectmen, committees of correspondence, safety and inspection, grand jurors, constables, and tythingmen, and other inhabitants of the town wherein such person or persons may presume to come, and they are hereby respectively empowered and directed forthwith to apprehend and carry such person or persons before some justice of the peace within the county, who is hereby required to commit him or them to the common gaol within the county, there in close custody to remain until he shall be sent out of the state, as is hereinafter directed; and such justice is hereby directed to give immediate information thereof to the board of war of this state: and the said board of war are hereby empowered and directed to cause such person or persons so committed, to be transported to some part or place within the dominions, or in the possession of the forces of the king of Great Britain, as soon as may be after receiving such information; those who are able, at their own expense, and others at the expense of this state, and for this purpose to hire a vessel or vessels, if need be.

Sect. 2. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that if any person or persons, who shall be transported as aforesaid, shall voluntarily return to this state, without liberty first had and obtained from the general court, he shall, on conviction thereof before the superior court of judicature, court of assize and general gaol delivery, suffer the pain of death without benefit of clergy.

Passed, September, 1778.

...J. Patrick Hagan, White Rock, B.C.

The James Anderson referred to in the Banishment Act of the State of Massachusetts is probably the James Anderson listed in Sabines Biographical Sketches of Loyalists of the American Revolution. He was of Boston, Mass. Was an Addresser of Hutchinson in 1774, and of Gage in 1775. December, 1774; - "I am credibly informed," wrote Washington to the president of Congress, "That James Anderson, the consignee and part-owner of the ship Concord and cargo, is not only unfriendly to American liberty, but actually in arms against us, being captain of the Scotch company at Boston." In 1778 he was proscribed and banished. He was at New York in July, 1783, and one of the fifty-five who petitioned for land in Nova Scotia

...Lew Perry U.E.

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