Loyalist Trails UELAC Newsletter, 2006 Archive

In this issue:
- Donation to Black Loyalist Society - Press Release
- Palatine Research happens everywhere
- Article about Polly [née Jarvis] Dibblee, widow of Loyalist Fyler Dibblee
- Her Majesty's Chapel of the Mohawks
- New Postings: Michael Showers Sr.
- Last Post: Keith Casselman, UE
- Died This Day, 13 Sept 1759: General James Wolfe
- Queries
      + Period Clothing Pattern or Purchase
      + Response re John Hamm

Press Release: Donation to Black Loyalist Society

Thursday, September 07, 2006 -- In a show of support, a representative from the United Empire Loyalist Association of Canada (UELAC) will be presenting a sizable donation to the Black Loyalist Heritage Society (BLHS).

The Society's Registrar, Debra Hill, stated that she was contacted by Fred Hayward, Senior VP of the Association, shortly after an arsonist targeted the BLHS Offices on March 31st, asking what the UELAC could do to help. Hill asked if it would be possible for them to replace the UEL publications that were in the Society’s destroyed library, as well as a digital copy of The Book of Negroes, which she relied heavily upon as genealogical resources. Shortly thereafter, the requested resources began arriving in the mail from various branches.

Mr. Hayward is also Chairman of the Finance Committee which authorized the amount of the $5000 donation according to the wishes made clear by the delegates at their June AGM held in Toronto.

The donation will be presented to newly elected President of the BLHS, Richard Gallion on Monday, September 18th at 2pm by Lewis Perry, President of the Halifax/Dartmouth Branch of UELAC, at the Birchtown site.

Daryl Currie, Past-President of the Governor Simcoe Branch of UELA will also be on hand to present the Society with a flag.

Palatine Research happens everywhere

Thank you for including George Anderson's comments about my CD in the last issue of Loyalist Trails.

I went to the referenced web site and printed out all the references George had listed there....which are of course, for those who will take the time to read the history. My CD includes the references to Henry Z. Jones Jr. and his team who researched the German records and identified the original identity and home places of a great majority of the Palatines who came here, and also who settled first in Ireland. That was an enormous step forward.

The CD not only recognizes the coming of the Immigrants, but follows a sample of the events in the lives of their descendants right up to the 21st century - indicating that they had a chance to say a real "thank you" to England by going back and helping to defeat Hitler's plans. The program is geared for easy reading - from 4th grade on up through Seniors with limited time.

Along with all the books I mention for studying the Palatines that we already have, I will be putting copies of George Anderson's reference sheets into our Old Buncombe County Genealogical Society Library here in Asheville, North Carolina - of use to both Americans, and to those who have Loyalist lines. This is a great retirement center and serves many people from many areas of the country. The web sites listed will be particularly helpful.

...Doris Ward

Article about Polly [née Jarvis] Dibblee, widow of Loyalist Fyler Dibblee

In the Sept. 9 '06 issue of The New Brunswick Reader, the Saturday insert of the Saint John Telegraph Journal, there is an article about Polly [née Jarvis] Dibblee, widow of Loyalist Fyler Dibblee; Polly, Fyler and their six children came to S. J. on the Union ship of the Spring Fleet, May, 1983. Fyler committed suicide the following year.

...Audrey Fox

(Audrey has asked the author if we may post the article on our web site; more news next week I hope -- Doug)

Her Majesty's Chapel of the Mohawks

Her Majesty’s Chapel of the Mohawks is the oldest Protestant church in Ontario. We invite you to visit this historic site, and experience its peaceful, spiritual atmosphere.

History: Originally called St. Paul's, this chapel was the first Protestant church in Upper Canada and is now the oldest surviving church in Ontario. It is the only Royal Chapel in North America.

Built by the Crown in 1785, it was given to those Mohawk Indians led by Joseph Brant who had supported the British during the American Revolution. Their choice cost them their lands in New York. To compensate for the loss the Mohawks were granted 760 000 acres on the Grand River complete with two mills, a school and a chapel. Although the church has undergone many alterations, it stands as a reminder of the important role played by the Loyalist Mohawks in the early settlement of Ontario.

The first Chapel of the Mohawks was built at Fort Hunter in 1712 during the reign of Queen Anne. Representatives had made an historic visit to her Court from the Six Nations people, then living in the Mohawk Valley. They pledged their loyalty and Friendship to the Crown, and made a request for a Chapel and Priest.

For more history and other related information, click here and check the history section.

[submitted by Lynne Cook, St. Lawrence Branch]

New Postings: Michael Showers Sr.

Additional information for Michael Showers Sr. has been posted in the Loyalist Directory, with contributions from Jill Sybalsky in California.

Last Post: Keith Casselman, UE

CASSELMAN, Keith. At the Wellington House Nursing Home, Prescott, on Thursday, September 14, 2006, Keith Casselman of Morrisburg, age 95. Beloved son of the late Grant and Emma Casselman (nee McIntosh). Dear brother of Lloyd and Carl. Predeceased by a sister Hilda McMillan and a brother Ralph.

Keith, was a Charter Member of the St. Lawrence Branch of the UELAC, and the first treasurer. He was also the first treasurer of The Casselman Ancestral Society, and of St. Pauls Lutheran Church. He did a lot of genealogy, tombstone transcriptions, curling and square dancing, and loved to visit people.

Died This Day, 13 Sept 1759: General James Wolfe

British army officer, born at Westerham, England, on Jan. 2, 1728.

The son of a senior army officer, he seemed destined for a military career. At 14, he joined his father's regiment and was soon thrust into the Battle of Dettingen in 1743. He served in Scotland against the Jacobite army of Bonnie Prince Charlie. At the Battle of Culloden, he refused orders to kill a wounded Highlander, an act that gained him huge popularity among Scottish troops. Wounded in a battle in Germany in 1747, he was made a colonel during the siege of Louisbourg in 1758 and a year later was promoted to general and charged with capturing Quebec City. He defeated the French on the Plains of Abraham on Sept 13, 1759 and died of his wounds. He is credited with beginning British rule in Canada.

From the Globe & Mail, 11 Sept 2006.

Period Clothing Pattern or Purchase

I am interested in a "Preacher's" outfit and would like to find a pattern to make or have one made, depending on the skill involved. Could you please advise where or from whom I could get this information. I received my UE designation for Christian Warner and as I am a Licensed Lay Preacher in the United Church and some of my ancestors were Methodist Saddle Bag Preachers, I thought it was a good theme.

...Eugene Oatley UE {ero DOT uel AT cogeco DOT ca}

Response re John Hamm

Under note of John Hamm buried in Ernstown Cemetery, a stone with name and date 1832 is in what we call the Lutheran pre-1817 / Union Cemetery west of the unmarked Link's Mills, 4 houses today, within the 2nd concession of Ernestown ( ward) former township, and north of the dormant railway station of Ernestown Station. There is a Methodist ( United ) cemetery in the former village called Ernest Town, now Bath. In some books on Methodism, there is Switzerville Cemetery, and church now demolished, also labelled Ernestown by itinerants, before there was more complicated mail service.

...Philip Smart

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.