Loyalist Trails UELAC Newsletter, 2007 Archive

In this issue:
- "At The End Of The Trail", UELAC Conference: Did You Know? - more about Windsor Area
- June 19 Loyalist Day, in Saskatchewan and Ontario
- A Little "Sears" Loyalist Promotion
- Further to: Participating in DNA Projects; Read the Fine Print
- Canada 1984 UEL Stamp Poster and Information Brochure For Sale
- UELAC Website Updates: Loyalist Directory
- Queries
      + Response re How many Loyalists Accompanied Captain Brant into the Grand River Valley?
      + Response re Ladies' Loyalist Straw Hats & Knitted Shawls

"At The End Of The Trail", UELAC Conference: Did You Know? - more about Windsor Area

- The Great Western Railway initiated service from Niagara to Windsor in 1854.

- Margaret McEwan of Windsor was awarded a gold watch for her kindness in aiding German travellers on the Great Western Railway who suffered from the cholera epidemic of July 1854. Her famous Revolutionary War ancestor was General Benedict Arnold. He was her grandfather. She is buried at St. John’s Cemetery, Sandwich.

- Numerous lighthouses provided for safe passage on the River. A light 100 feet above water level could be seen for thirteen miles under normal conditions.

- The block stone used in the construction of the Welland Canal (c. 1875) came from Pelee Island.

- Horse racing was a favourite sport played on the frozen Detroit River in 1875.

June 19 Loyalist Day, in Saskatchewan and Ontario

In Saskatchewan, REGINA BRANCH:

Our seventh annual UEL Day celebrations will begin at 2 p.m. on June 19 at the Loyalist Cairn on the Legislative Grounds in Regina. Their Honours, the Lieutenant Governor and his wife will be in attendance.

The large loyalist flag will grace the premier's balcony above the front door of the legislative building.

During the program, Regina Branch past presidents will be recognized and presented with a certificate of appreciation and past presidents pins.

All Regina Branch members, past and present, as well as the general public are encouraged to attend.

Logan Bjarnason UE, President, Regina Branch

In Ontario, KAWARTHA BRANCH:

Kawartha Branch U.E.L.A.C. will be having their 10th Anniversary Flag Raising of the Loyalist Standard Flag on the Provincially Acclaimed "Loyalist Day" at City Hall, Peterborough, on June 19th, 2007, - 10 to 10:30 am. In attendance will be the 1812 reenactors in full military uniforms from Norwood High School, local Dignitaries, the National Dominion President of Canada, Branch members in period costume and a large number of students from Armour Heights Public School, Peterborough. Cogeco TV will be taping and producing a professional DVD for the Branch to be used as a teaching aid for all the schools. All guests are welcome.

...Chuck Ross, U.E., President & Publicist, Kawartha Branch

A Little "Sears" Loyalist Promotion

Should you receive or have access to the new Sears Fall 2007 and Winter Catalogue. take a peek at page 72. There you can admire a loyalist flag. Thank you Sears.

...Pat Adair

Further to: Participating in DNA Projects; Read the Fine Print

I have just reviewed the waiver that I signed when I recently submitted my sample.

The waiver does state quite clearly that "There is no immediate benefit to you for participating in this study. We will not be providing genetic information back to you. The results of the study may benefit people in the future who use it to further their ancestral research."

It also states: "You have the right to end your participation at any time, and to decide whether your biological sample, genetic information, or genealogy already collected can remain part of the study or must be destroyed."

I participated because I thought it would benefit genealogy and my own research in the future.

...Mike More, Chairman, OGS Seminar 2007 Organizing Committee

Canada 1984 UEL Stamp Poster and Information Brochure For Sale

I have copies of the stamp poster that announced the Canada 1984 UEL stamp, as well as the information brochure that accompanied it. The poster is very suitable for framing.

The price is $25 for the pair. I have several copies available. [see 1984 Stamp: "The Loyalists"]

...David Jones, philatelist and member, Royal Philatelic Society of Canada, {commadore AT sympatico DOT ca}how do I email him?

UELAC Website Updates: Loyalist Directory

Loyalist Directory: information about these Loyalists has been added to the directory this week:
- Young, Alexander from Bev Loomis
- Totten, Daniel - from James Peter Totten
- Franks, Frederick and Franks, William John [updates] - from Helen Frank Aukerman

Responses re How many Loyalists Accompanied Captain Brant into the Grand River Valley?

According to page 57 of the "Loyalist Families of the Grand River Branch UEL" published by Pro Familia Publishing, Copyright 1991, an article written by Mary Nelles "United Empire Loyalists Along the Grand River in Haldimand County":

About half of the Six Nations Confederacy, with a majority of Mohawks, settled along the Grand River. There were some Delewares who made their homes south east of the present site of Cayuga. A few Mississaugas remained along the south west bank of the river in Oneida Township.

Joseph Brant, who had been Captain of the Indian Department during the Revolutionary War, was the leader and spokesman for the Six Nations Indians. When he saw the vastness of the territory, he invited his comrades and friends who had served with him during the war and had lost their properties in the Mohawk valley, New York State, to establish their homes in the Grand River Valley.

The first to arrive was Lieutenant John Young who had served for seven years in the Indian Department. His father Adam Young, a private with Butler's Rangers, together with John's brother's Daniel, a sargent and Henry, a private, made their homes on the shores of the river, southeast of York.

In the following year Captain Heinrick Nelles who had served for eight years in the Indian Department, arrived at the river with his family. His oldest son Robert, who had served as Lieutenant in the Indian Department for four years, had a farm just south of York. Heinrick's farm abutted to the north. Their establishments were used for trading as well as farming. The Young and Nelles property was located in what later became Seneca township.

Further south along the river Sergent Heinrick Huff and his son, private John Huff, both families in Brant's Volunteers, settled. John Huff married an Indian woman; in 1812 he returned to New York State.

In what later became Canboro township, Lieutenant John Dochstader, of German ancestry settled. He served with the Indian Department for seven years. He first married a Cayuga woman and they had a daughter; at the death of his first wife he married an Onondaga woman and they had another daughter.

On 26 Feb 1787 a deed was issued to Heinrick Nelles,, Robert Nelles, Warner Nelles, Adam Young, John Young, Daniel Young, Hendrick Young, John Dochstader, Hendrick Huff and John Huff."

There is other information on the white Loyalists who accompanied Joseph Brant to the Grand River lands in this article as well.

I received much of my information from the Oshweken Land Claims office while researching my Loyalists in the area. I have a copy of the Young family land deed but it is all in Mohawk.

Other Loyalist who were given Brant Deeds are my Daniel Secord of Brantford (who married a Mohawk woman), Henry Windecker of Dunnville and many more that I am not positive about, most having been in the Indian Department or Brant's Volunteers.

Hope this information answers some of the questions asked in the query.

...Pat (Young) Kelderman UE

Without question, a number of whites who served under Brant settled amongst the natives in the Grand River settlements. As well, a number of white Indian Department officers, clerks and artificers also settled in that area.

Was there a list of all persons who settled along the river? That would be the easiest way to determine which of his followers settled with the natives. I believe I've got a good chance of recognizing the names of the whites. Such lists exist for all of the white settlements, but I've never seen them for Deseronto or Grand River.

If there appears to be no such document, then I think I can put together a list of many of those who did settle there, but it would be somewhat speculative.

[Editor: Is anyone aware of such a list of settlers in those areas? Can you help us out?]

...Gavin Watt, HVP UELAC

Response re Ladies' Loyalist Straw Hats & Knitted Shawls

Straw hats: Merchant: http://www.sillysisters.com/headwear.htm

These merchants are as accurate as people who purvey to the reenacting community get. Most merchants are way less careful. You can sometimes find the hats in Canada, but that can be hit and miss for accuracy and it's worth patronizing a recognized merchant.

Knitted Shawl:

I'm pretty impressed that you noticed that and took it seriously. I am not a knitting expert, but I have never seen a painting or extant garment that was a knitted shawl and my understanding is that shawls (not actually called shawls commonly in our period, but variously kerchief, neck handkerchief, fichu, mantle, cloak and a host of less common names, depending on fabric, style and status of the wearer) is that it's just possible you might get a woven wool one, but outrageously unlikely to find a knit one. Your best bet is to make a kerchief (smaller) or cloak (larger and warmer) out of a very fine melton wool in a definite check or solid colour.

I might also suggest that as a basic guide any of your women who are interested would get a lot of value out of purchasing this publication. I think the price for non-members is higher and it won't be entirely one-step to contact someone at the Brigade of the American Revolution to find out, but it's probably worth the fuss for its broad overview of accuracy concerns. [editors note: I am contacting the BAR to see if there are any restrictions. Their order sheet on the web site notes payment is ONLY by money order in US Funds, and that the surcharge to ship an item to Canada is $1.50. I will note any further items in a future issue.]

...Nancy Watt

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