Loyalist Trails UELAC Newsletter, 2006 Archive

In this issue:
- Celebrating Dominion and Independence Days: Doris Ward
- Black Loyalist Heritage Society of NS
- Request: Research for Film on Queenston Heights, Plains of Abraham
- Loyalist Settler to Canada: by Mary Bradshaw
- Searching for Your Revolutionary War Ancestor: Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter
- Repairing old Photos
- Monuments Commemorating Loyalists
- Loyalist Rose at Experimental Farm
- Book: Canadians in the Civil War by Clair Hoy
- Publishers in Canada; Changes to ISBN
- Remembering Ivan Mitchell
- Died This Day - Louis Quesnel, 4 July 1809
- Please Add More Information in Submissions for Loyalist Trails
- Queries
        Families of James Major Grant and Wife Penuel aka Widow Grant

Celebrating Dominion and Independence Days: Doris Ward

The piece in last week's Loyalist Trails about an American visiting a loyalist stronghold caught my eye.

I am a person whose American roots start with the Mayflower followed by the Winthrop fleet of 1630, the Palatine arrivals of 1710 to the Hudson, and Penn's settlers from 1685.

One of my grandmothers was captured by the Indians at Minden on the Mohawk in 1780 and taken to Canada without a plugged nickel's chance of survival or of producing descendants who would make any difference to either Canada or the US. But her granddaughter married into a Tory family, and descendants accomplished great things for both Canada and the US.

Because of her I was born in British Columbia, Canada, and was thoroughly proud of the fact that the sun never set on the great British Empire. I grew up through the Church's program of the Canadian Girls in Training - to be the best I could be. I never expected to be an American.

However I "came home" in 1950, and have learned the serious reasons why America could never have remained under the direction of a country across the Atlantic - three months for a letter to get over there to ask permission to do something, a month or two for English discussion, and then three months for a letter to get back with instructions....usually "NO!" It never would have worked. My ancestors were at Lexington Green, and Bunker Hill, etc. Of course I am sorry for the tar and feathers, and of course, no one knew which country was going to win. Families inevitably were torn apart. One of my husband's ancestors was the first one hanged by the Americans following the Battle of King's Mountain (which most Canadians never heard of!).

Today, at the genealogical society I wore red and white for the Canadian flag, and let it be known it was for Dominion Day, July 1st. Some of them didn't know what I was talking about until I explained it. (The south is a long way from the Canadian border!) Then they were sympathetic. Tomorrow we will eat hot dogs on the 4th of July and remember the homemade icecream we ate at our American grandfather's farm.

I have spent my life appreciating how beautiful North America is, from sea to sea. Both countries have followed what they thought was right.

I wrote a CD about the Palatines to the Hudson River in which both the US and Canada said thank you to Queen Anne for helping the oppressed have a chance for a new life. If you would like to see it, contact me.

...Doris Ward, North Carolina, {dorisward AT aol DOT com} how do I email her?

Black Loyalist Heritage Society of NS

As part of the response of the United Empire Loyalists’ Association of Canada, I am sending copies of a few of the materials that have been made available to schools and our Branches. You specifically requested The Loyalists, Pioneers and Settlers of the Maritimes. I am also including The Loyalists, Pioneers and Settlers of Quebec and Loyalist Clothing Guide for your Black Loyalist Heritage Society Resource Centre. I no longer have a supply of the Ontario Teacher’s Resource to share, but have asked Bev Craig of the Col. Butler (Niagara Branch) to send you one from her Branch. When the final book in the series, The Loyalists, Pioneers and Settlers of the West is published , we will send you a copy for your library as well.

I look forward to continued exchange of information between your organization and mine.

...Fred H. Hayward UE

Update About Wish-List of Books for Black Loyalist Heritage Society (Thurs July 6)

Thank you for forwarding the newsletter; your support is appreciated. Carleton’s Loyalist Index and The Loyalists, Pioneers and Settlers of the Maritimes have been removed from the Wish List we are holding. We are pleased with the response we have been receiving to the request for sponsorship of titles. The local newspaper is coming tomorrow to do an interview and we will be presenting Debra Hill, and a member of the board, with the books we are presently holding on behalf of the Black Loyalist Heritage Society. The article may bring another influx of donations.

Thank you again, we (my husband too) enjoyed reading the newsletter.

...Betty Camp {the DOT whirligig AT ns DOT sympatico DOT ca} how do I email her?

Request: Research for Film on Queenston Heights, Plains of Abraham

This past week, many of us received the following request for assistance and direction from Robin Weight of YAP Films:

"I am working on a one-hour documentary special about the Battle of Queenston Heights, to be broadcast on History Television later this year. Our show is part of a larger three-part series exploring historic Canadian conflicts (Plains of Abraham, Queenston Heights, Louis Riel) through an investigative, genealogical process. We will document the search for living descendants of veterans of these conflicts, assisted by internationally recognized historians and genealogists. The film will be very much about the process of this search, as any new information adding to the larger story of these conflicts will surface through the quest for these unique family narratives.

We are currently conducting an extensive search for living descendants of ancestors involved in the battles of Queenston Heights and the Plains of Abraham. As Loyalists were involved in both these conflicts, I thought your branch would be a good place to inquire.

There are several participants we're considering featuring in the film about Queenston Heights, to give you a sense of our scope of interest. Shooting is due to commence within the next six weeks."

...Robin Waite, Researcher, YAP Films Inc. 96 Spadina Ave., Suite 205, Toronto, ON, M5V 2J6, Tel: +1 (416) 504-3662 x225, {rwaite AT yapfilms DOT com} how do I email him?

If you would be willing to be interviewed for your family stories about the Queenston Heights involvement of your ancestor, please contact Robin Waite directly.

...Fred H. Hayward, VP-UELAC

Loyalist Settler to Canada: by Mary Bradshaw

Mary Bradshaw, Genealogist, Abegweit Branch was contacted recently by Robert Arsenault, Canadian Broadcasting Radio Canada to write a summary of a Loyalist Settler to Canada. The radio programme dealt with Settlers to Canada in each of the provinces. The information which she forwarded was written up in the form of a three scene playette, of 3 - 4 minutes length. It hasn't been aired yet. Nary wrote about her ancestor William Wright, a Quaker, and his son Nathaniel, of the Loyalist militia.

Scene I, New York State, Exterior scene. Model size, Loyalist militia 1780, fighting patriots in New York State. William Wright, Quaker, speaking with his son, Nathaniel, who is fighting in the Loyalist militia. William tells his son that the rebels had confiscated the crops, livestock, food, clothing and personal possessions.

Scene II, Battle Scene

Scene III, August 1784, Bedeque, PEI. William and Nathaniel working on their new log cabin, filling the chinks with sea weed and red mud.

...Ruth MacDonald UE, President, Abegweit Branch

Searching for Your Revolutionary War Ancestor: Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter (2 July 2006)

http://blog.eogn.com

As Americans celebrate Independence Day this week, perhaps now is the time to focus on finding more information about your ancestors who took part in the war that brought independence to this great nation. Luckily, there are numerous online resources to help you get started.

I would suggest that you first read an excellent introductory article, Finding Your Patriot: Basic Sources for Starting Revolutionary War Research by Curt Witcher. Curt is the department manager for the Historical Genealogy Department of Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and is a well-known and respected genealogy researcher. Click here for his excellent article.

James C. Neagles has written an excellent article on how to find Revolutionary War service records. Click here for the article "Compiled Service Records: Revolutionary War Period, 1775-83."

Revolutionary War Sources by Kip Sperry also contains many excellent references. Click here for Kip's article.

Perhaps the best online resource available anywhere is the Revolutionary War Era Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application Files available on HeritageQuest Online. These are some of the most popular records for those researching 18th and early 19th century ancestors. Best of all, these are not transcribed records. This database allows you to view the original, hand-written records on your screen and to print them on a local printer. HeritageQuest Online is not directly accessible by individuals. If you want to access these online records, you must use the services of a subscribing library or perhaps a genealogical or historical society or museum. You may have to travel to that society or library although some do offer remote, in-home access to these records. Further information is available from the Encyclopedia of Genealogy.

Here are other articles and online resources worthy of note:

- Revolutionary War Bounty Land Grants by Lloyd DeWitt Bockstruck;

- Revolutionary War Military Records by Myra Vanderpool Gormley;

- Researching Your Revolutionary War Ancestor by Jaime Simmons focuses on Virginia and West Virginia resources but has excellent background information;

- The Revolutionary War Forum is an online message board containing discussions about many topics associated with the War, including researching of ancestors;

- American Revolutionary War Soldiers & Their Descendants is an online "clearinghouse": web pages containing the email and/or URL addresses of descendants or persons who can give you some background on many Revolutionary War veterans;

- Loyalist Genealogy is a web site about those Americans who remained loyal to the King and then paid a high price for that loyalty: most were exiled to Canada or to other places outside of the new United States. Those who went to Canada are discussed here.

...David Kemlo, Kawartha Branch

Repairing old Photos

Vancouver UELAC Member Warren Sadler makes perfect repairs to damaged photographs. He offers an unconditional guarantee of satisfaction to all and an automatic 20% discount to members. Warren was professionally trained in the art of photo retouching as applied to 1940s black & white film technology; employed in computer technology and its application to the graphic arts since 1976. Completed post secondary credit courses in computer technology and business systems, Harvard and UBC.

Now retired, and still hard at work -­ finepictures.ca

...Warren Sadler {warren DOT sadler AT finepictures DOT ca} how do I email him?

Monuments Commemorating Loyalists

From Fred Hayward with help from Frances Morrisey, we have now posted the first Loyalist monument from New Brunswick. It is a stylized sculpture of the Loyalist Flag, right next to Loyalist House in Saint John. Click here for more.

Loyalist Rose at Experimental Farm

The Sir Guy Carleton Branch has added a new page to its website: click here

Book: Canadians in the Civil War by Clair Hoy

I just recently finished reading an excellent book by a prominent Canadian journalist, Clair Hoy. The book, "Canadians in the Civil War" was an eye opener to me. I have always had a keen interest in (and I thought, a reasonable knowledge of!)the Civil War but this book really jolted me! I have always rather wondered, but not too intently, what exactly Canadians were doing in the Civil War years. Well this book tells it all! Over 50,000 Canadians fought in the war, most on the side of the North but many for the south as well. The attraction of fighting for the Confederate side was fostered by the fear of another American invasion of Canada. It is important to note that these particular Canadians were mostly children or grandchildren of Loyalists and this event took place less than 50 years after the War of 1812 and less than100 years from the Loyalist immigration to Canada. Many actually became officers. It is an excellent read and I encourage everyone to try and read this book.

...Peter Davy UE, Kingston Branch

Publishers in Canada; Changes to ISBN

Don't miss out on important changes to the International Standard Book Number (ISBN). Effective January 1, 2007, you will be required to apply the new 13-digit ISBN to any newly published titles; also, any unused 10-digit ISBNs must be converted to the new ISBN-13 format. Click here for more information.

...Library and Archives Canada

Remembering Ivan Mitchell

Of interest, I was a class mate of Ivan in Prince of Wales College, Charlottetown PEI 1946-8. He was a wonderful photographer.

...Ruth MacDonald UE, President, Abegweit Branch

Died This Day - Louis Quesnel, 4 July 1809

Sea captain, pet, composer born on Nov. 15, 1746, at St. Malo, France.

He arrived in Canada after being captured by the British while shipping arms to the American revolutionaries. He was taken to Quebec City where Governor Frederick Haldiman granted him safe conduct. By war's end he had found Canada to his liking and set up a wine-importing business Boucherville, Que. However, he missed the artistic life and decided to write Canada's first opera. "Colas et Collinette" had its first performance in 1790. The opera was forgotten until 1963 when it was reconstructed by composer Geoffrey Ridout to great acclaim.

...from the Globe and Mail, Tuesday July 4, 2006 p S9

Please Add More Information in Submissions for Loyalist Trails

I am completely dependent upon you people who read Loyalist Trails for the content which goes into it. That said, when you submit something and it relates to a person somehow, it would add to your contribution if you could add a bit more information, if you know it readily.

When you send something about a current member or someone who has just passed away, if you know the person's loyalist ancestor(s) and what UELAC Branch the person belongs to or used to belong to, that would be interesting added information.

Similarly when a Loyalist ancestor is names, added information such as the place where the person had been settled in the American Colonies before the war, where they first settled after the war, what their military unit and rank were etc.

If any of those are readily available, please do add them.

...Doug

Families of James Major Grant and Wife Penuel aka Widow Grant

James Major Grant, Married Penuel ? (Grant) aka Widow Grant 1783 Saint John New Brunswick.

James is my great great great great grandfather.

His sons Samuel Sgt Grant, married Ann "Nancy" Nichols was my great great great grandfather

Samuel's brother William l'le Grant, married Ann Maidstone Hillman.

I believe Samuel and William probably had brothers named Peter (Fur trader) and John, as both resided in 1787 with Widow Grant.

Samuel's son William, married to Hannah White, was my great great grandfather.

What I did find (from the Great Britain Public Office Headquarters Papers of the British Army in America PRO30/55/2482

The company commanders of the corp were Captain (later) Major John Aldington, Captain Peter McPherson, Captain Samuel Lindsay, Captain Francis Fraser, Captain William McAlpine and Captain Jonathon Williams

I would like to find our Scotland roots. Can you help with more information about the parental families and family story of James Major and Widow Grant

...Rebecca Grant, Calgary, {bgrant AT yorkwest DOT com} how do I email her?

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.