Loyalist Trails UELAC Newsletter, 2007 Archive

In this issue:
- Early Bird Deadline for Conference 2007 Registration Approaches
- Conference 2007: Did You Know? Some Interesting facts about Essex County
- HMS Clinton Passenger List: Thanks for Posting
- Greetings from Oriskany Battlefield
- Forbidden Loyalist Delights: Juggling, Tight Ropes and Puppet Shows
- Died This Day 16 March 1687: Sieur de la Salle (Globe & Mail)
- Queries
      + Military Definitions and Details About Paul Trumpour
      + Source of "kinder, gentler nation"
      + Cemetery Protection "Murison Restoration"

Early Bird Deadline for Conference 2007 Registration Approaches

Only 2 weeks left to get your Conference 2007 Registration Forms in for the Early Bird prices. Visit our web site to get your copy of the Registration Form and Schedule of events. We take Visa, Master Card and Personal cheques for your convenience. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us. We look forward to seeing you all "At The End of The Trail" May 31st-June 3rd, 2007-Windsor, Ontario, Canada.

...Kimberly Hurst UE, 2007 Conference Chair, Bicentennial Branch, {Gypsygirl2002 AT aol DOT com} how do I email her?

Conference 2007: Did You Know? Some Interesting facts about Essex County

Detroit’s first murder victim was Father del Halle. In 1706, he became a victim when he was killed by a group of Ottawas fleeing Bourgmont's soldiers.

The first European settlement in Essex County was in the early 1700s.

Essex was established as a County in 1792.

Essex County was named for a county in England.

Indian chief Pontiac led an unsuccessful uprising against the English at Detroit in 1763.

So much to learn; so much to see. What better way to do it then with a bunch of fellow loyalist historians and history buffs.

See you in Windsor at Conference 2007, May 31 - June 3.

...Kimberly Hurst UE, 2007 Conference Chair, Bicentennial Branch, {Gypsygirl2002 AT aol DOT com} how do I email her?

HMS Clinton Passenger List: Thanks for Posting

I was thrilled to find the complete Houseal family in the above newly added passenger list and just wanted to thank who ever was responsible for doing so.

Under a variety of spellings of the name (Houseal/Howseal/Honseal/Hanseal) the complete family appears and it's nice to see them all listed including baby Barn'd [4 mos].

I've also taken the opportunity of having a quick look around your site and will keep it on my favourites list for the future.

...Hilary Plunket (gggggranddaughter of the Rev'd through his daughter Sibylla who married Ensign Thomas Lane of the SC Loyalists)

Greetings from Oriskany Battlefield

Greetings to all our UELAC friends from the frozen tundra of Oriskany Battlefield where we are starting to shake off the winter doldrums and peek our heads above the mountains of snow and ice. The crocus should be surfacing around the monument soon as the first robin arrived over the weekend.

Thank you for the many wonderful newsletter bits on the varying cultural mind sets among Americans about Loyalists. Diversity of mind provides us with a great many teaching opportunities here at the battlefield on that very subject. Too often in today’s world, pop culture forces a false economy upon some convincing them to think there are only two conditions in life; winning and losing. If only life were that easy, eh? Perhaps it is only in hindsight, having experienced enough of both, that we later come to realize the greater relevancy of a third state of mind….that of wondering “why”. Just ask my littlest one…..she knows. Best wishes for a wonderful year…come visit on August 6th. Cheers!

...Nancy Demyttenaere, Oriskany Battlefield State Historic Site

Forbidden Loyalist Delights: Juggling, Tight Ropes and Puppet Shows

As you slip the newest movie into your DVD player or get ready to go out for an evening at the local playhouse, consider for a moment that you are enjoying what would have been a forbidden pleasure for your loyalist ancestors. Juggling, animal exhibitions, Shakespearean plays, acrobatics, ventriloquism, and tight rope walking were all considered "wanton entertainments". Oh, and I almost forgot the most scandalous of them all -- puppet shows.

When I discovered that one of my loyalist ancestors was the first innkeeper of Kingston, New Brunswick, it made me curious about how a colonial inn operated and the services it would have provided to the travelling public. Time spent at an internet search engine brought some interesting facts to light, and with them an understanding of what our loyalist ancestors considered forbidden pleasures.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, in both Great Britain and the New England colonies, activities that we would consider wholesome, family entertainment were banned from being presented in taverns and inns. They were thought to be evil distractions for women and children as well as men. Such diversions kept them from their civic responsibilities, their worship and their work.

For example, in the Burwell, Cambridgshire of 1727 England, a barn where a puppet show was being presented accidentally caught fire. Eight adults and a number of children died in the blaze. Members of the community saw this tragedy as a judgement on puppet shows. The records of the inferno state that, clearly, this kind of entertainment was an "offense against God".

In Redding, Connecticut (the home of many loyalists), puppet shows were still considered illegal long after the last shots were fired in the War of Independence. It is noted in 1802 that John Read, Jr., was "excused" for admitting puppet shows into his house, "on said Read's paying the cost."

My ancestor, Hepzibeth Lyon, helped her father, Stephen Betts, run their tavern on the main coach road through Redding in the years leading up to the Revolution. Seeing as the Betts inn was just across the street from the local Church of England, they no doubt had to be very careful about what they provided in addition to room and board.

Fines were the usual penalty for innkeepers who allowed Punch and Judy shows on their premises, but there were more severe measures that could be meted out. An innholder could be prosecuted for "refusing to make suitable provision when desired, for the receiving of strangers, travelers or others, and their horses and cattle, or for any public entertainment"; if found guilty, a tavern keeper would lose his license and have his sign taken down by the sheriff.

Given these restrictions in their New England home, it seems unlikely that John and Hepzibeth Lyon would have even entertained the thought of allowing travelling performers to put on any shows in their Kingston, New Brunwick inn. However, now that we know what loyalists were NOT allowed to enjoy as "diversions", interesting (and perhaps unanswerable) questions come to mind.

As they sat before their rude fireplaces during their first winter in the Canadas or Nova Scotia, did some loyalist refugees smile over a remembered puppet show? Were some of those who bore the designation UEL former ventriloquists or acrobats? Had some magicians or actors been forced out of New England along with hated Tories? It is just one of those many "loyalist trails" that needs further exploration.

...Stephen Davidson (a ventriloquist for almost 40 years who regularly instructs his third grade students in the art of puppet shows)

Died This Day 16 March 1687: Sieur de la Salle (Globe & Mail)

Fur trader and explorer born Rene-Robert Cavalier de la Salle at Roeun, France, on Nov. 21, 1643.

Born into a wealthy family, he denounced a rich legacy to join the Jesuits in 1658. He took his vows in 1660 and was released from the order in 1667 for "moral weaknesses". Penniless, he set off to New France to make his fortune. He acquired a seigneurie on Montreal Island and founded a village that became known as Lachine. He learned to speak Iroquois and, after hearing of great rivers to the south, mounted a series of exploratory expeditions and built Fort Frontenac at what is now Kingston. In 1682 , he led a party in a descent of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, claiming everything for King Louis XIV. In 1864, he set of in command of a alrge expedition to set up a colony at the mouth of the Mississippi. The expedition was beset by misadventure and, unable to find the mouth of the river, he declared Matagorda Bay (Texas) to be an outlet of the Mississippi. Soon after, he was killed by mutineers.

Military Definitions and Details About Paul Trumpour

I need help of a military kind, with a short story I am putting together about the life and times of Paul Trumpour (1757 - 1813) of Adolphustown. I have his ancestors and his descendants figured out. I found his land and the story about his horses, as well as a social visit from Mrs. Simpson, but I need help with his military career.

Paul is described as a Lieutenant, a Cornet, an Ensign and a Captain in various references and websites. Page 319 of Reid's Sons and Daughters has him listed as in "Delancey's Horse". I know that an Ensign is a very young officer, but is a Cornet a type of Lieutenant ? Paul Trumpour was a Captain of a cavalry company at Fort Henry on alternating months during the war of 1812 before he died in 1813. He was probably in a cavalry troop in Delancey's Brigade, but he isn't listed in the three reference books, "Loyalists of the Southern Campaign.

I couldn't confirm that Paul Trumpour had been in Delancey's Brigade, but I found a Paul Trumpour in Col. Fanning's Regiment, the King's American Regiment. He was in Chapman's Company and later in Peter Clement's Company. He was doing recruitment in New York City in several muster rolls. Could it be that Paul Trumpour was in two regiments at the same time?

...Jean Norry {jeannorry AT sympatico DOT ca} how do I email her?

Source of "kinder, gentler nation"

thank you for having previously published my query about my ancestor, Captain Andrew Thompson of the Rangers, whom we celebrate each Christmas. From the replies I got, I am now researching our Mohawk Valley life. Also, I am writing another book, involving Prime Minister Sir John A. Macdonald and the formation of Canada in relation to our later rebellions, first in Winnipeg and then at Batoche, SK -- my home areas.

In the formation of Canada, of course, the UEL are outstanding figures. And they will be mentioned prominently. In our ancient, moss-covered, cobwebby Ranger Thompson family myths and legends, we credit the UELs with the concept and belief and prayers for the formation of a "kinder, gentler nation" that would be unlike the, then, warring European nations, or the United States, although a lot of them enjoyed fighting the U.S. in the War of 1812-15. the UEL had an important part in the formation of Canada, and we should be proud.

This is a long introduction to the question..... Are our ancient, moss-covered, cobwebby Ranger family myths and legends correct that the idea of a Canada as a "kinder, gentler" nation came from the UELs? If anyone has any leads or pointers where to go, what to research, I'd appreciate the help.

...Charles Duncan Thompson, Winnipeg, {cthompson139 AT shaw DOT ca} how do I email him?

Cemetery Protection "Murison Restoration"

This Email has been sent to you because a cemetery on the south side of Dundas east of Hwy. 25 in Palermo, Halton Twp., (now part of Oakville), is under threat of encroachment and potential damage by a subdivision which is in the planning stage.

It is our understanding that U.E.L. cemeteries are protected in perpetuity by the Ontario Cemetery Act. We know that some of the founding settlers in Palermo, on or before 1807 were U.E.L. and that they are now buried in the 1.5 acre cemetery. Does this mean that the cemetery is protected, or is there another factor which determines its inclusion with those cemeteries that are protected? Was it essential that the burying ground be purchased specifically for U.E.L. settlers by an organization?

We are trying to prepare for a Town meeting on March 20th, concerning this and other issues, so would appreciate any assistance and advice that you might be able to offer. (The geneological society is working on a list of name of those pioneers buried in this cemetery and those who are known to have been U.E.L.) so they will be able to provide some confirmation about the persons interred.

Thank you for any assistance that you may be able to provide.

...Tom Murison, Trafalgar Historical, {tommurison AT cogeco DOT ca} how do I email him?

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.