Loyalist Trails UELAC Newsletter, 2008 Archive

In this issue:
- My New American Cousins, by Norman Hawley, Descendant of Ichabod Hawley
- Five Spies Who Settled in New Brunswick, by Stephen Davidson
- Grant Reunion August 1-3, 2008 at Southampton, New Brunswick
- Loyalist Directory Additions
- Loyalist Ships
- Last Post: SHAVER UE, Walter Edmond
- Last Post: NEVILLE, Donald Horne, UE

My New American Cousins, by Norman Hawley, Descendant of Ichabod Hawley

I live in the small village of Colborne, Ontario in Canada and I just recently discovered that I have quite a number of American cousins. The following will explain how this remarkable discovery came about.

About two years ago at the age of 67 it suddenly dawned on me that I knew next to nothing about my ancestry on my father’s side of the family. My two sisters Wanda Hill and Barbara Heppler had a bit more information than I did, but it still did not go back more than two generations.

Not knowing really where to start I began my research by wandering through cemeteries collecting any information I could glean about known Hawley relatives. My wife Judith and my son Thomas helped me gather data on these excursions.

When I visited my grandmother Hawley’s grave in Camden East, Ontario I started to remember things I had been told by my father and grandmother when I was a child.

My grandmother used to tell me with some degree of pride that I should remember that we were Ernestown Hawley’s who had landed at Adolphustown, Ontario. I also remembered that my father once told me that his grandfather Eli owned two taverns, a general store and a Potash Factory and all this has recently been verified for me from some information found in historical texts about the region.

I knew that Adolphustown was the landing place of some of the United Empire Loyalists who had entered Canada at Montreal around 1777 but left because of the French influenced feudal system. They traveled by bateaux some 600 miles up the St. Lawrence River and landed at Adolphustown.

I thought that it made sense to contact the UEL Association in the area. After contacting the Association, I was able to attend a Saturday Session at their headquarters in Adolphustown where they had genealogists present as well as providing access to all sorts of historical records. Within an hour I suddenly had information about my great grandfather. I knew who he married and when, I knew the names of his children and their birthdates, I knew who these children married and their marriage dates.

All of this information was quickly found by Eleanor Moult and Linda Corupe who were two genealogists attending the session. Here I had been wandering around cemeteries for months and they showed me all this information in an hour.

From that point on, I was hooked and I knew that I had to keep on going. I still work full time therefore I knew I could not do this work myself. I contacted Linda Corupe who was one of the genealogists I met at the UEL association and asked for her help.

Linda has done a wonderful job to date and has gathered all sorts of birth records, marriage records, land transactions such as deeds and mortgages, newspaper articles etc. But we got stuck on my great grandfather Eli Peters Hawley and could not find anything that would positively identify his father and mother.

That is when Trudy Hawley at the Hawley Society came to my rescue. We found that the Hawley Record indicated that Eli Peters Hawley was the son of Peter Hawley and Jemima Peters. The source for that information was a letter written to Elias Hawley by one of Eli’s sons a John C. Hawley.

The fact that Eli’s middle name was Peters and not just Peter convinced me the information from the Hawley Record was probably correct. I now have about a dozen legal documents covering land transactions clearly signed by Eli Peters Hawley. Most of these also bear the signatures of Peter Hawley, Jemima Peters, her brother William as well as her father.

Then Linda Corupe forwarded to me a copy of a baptismal record dated 1801 from the St. John Episcopal Church in Ernestown showing that Peter Hawley was the son of Ichabod Hawley and Mary Fairfield. I also have a copy of a land claims document that verifies that Peter Hawley is a son of Ichabod Hawley.

Ichabod was the youngest son of Jehiel Hawley and he came to Adolphustown with his brother Jeptha Hawley around 1777. I have several legal documents showing that Ichabod Hawley came to Canada from Arlington, Vermont.

Shortly after settling in Ernestown, Jeptha and Ichabod were instrumental in bringing the first Anglican Minister to the area. The church that was founded in Ernestown was the St. John Episcopal Church and it still stands and holds regular Sunday services. I would guess that founding a Church of England in a new settlement was something they learned from their father Jehiel while living in Arlington, Vermont.

At that point in my research I decided to contact Trudy Hawley again to get more information about the DNA tests that she had previously talked to me about. Based on the advice I received from Trudy and Doctor R. James Hawley I completed the maximum marker DNA test.

The DNA test results have so far matched me with seven male Hawley’s in the USA that are definitely direct descendants of Joseph Hawley. I was absolutely elated when I received these matches because now I knew that without question, I was a direct male descendant of Joseph Hawley.

Because of all this research, I have also discovered and met with a first cousin once removed, right here in Canada. This cousin is Martin Hawley and his great grandfather was John C. Hawley, John was the man who wrote the letter to Elias Hawley.

John C. Hawley and my grandfather James Eli Hawley were brothers.

Martin owns a farm less than a ten minute drive from the cemeteries where I started my search for my Hawley ancestors.

There are many other Hawley’s in Canada with relatives in the USA and many of these people I am sure can trace their lineage back to Joseph Hawley. I would like to offer my assistance to Trudy in trying to help fill in the blanks on the Hawley genealogical tree on this side of the border.

My advice to any Hawley doing research on either side of the border would be first contact a genealogist and at some point along the way do the DNA Test. I would like to close by sincerely thanking everyone that has helped me pull all this information together.

...Norman Hawley {nhawley AT eagle DOT ca} how do I email him?

Five Spies Who Settled in New Brunswick, by Stephen Davidson

Being a loyalist spy was a dangerous occupation. When Lemuel Caswell was caught red-handed in an espionage mission with Thomas Lovelace, he spent the last two years of the American Revolution in prison. His friend Lovelace, however, was hanged for treason.

While Caswell settled in Quebec, the Lovelace family sailed with other loyalists to New Brunswick's Bay of Chaleur. Three years after the end of the war, young James Lovelace journeyed to Halifax to seek financial compensation for the losses his father sustained. The story of the Lovelaces gives us an intriquing glimpse into the ramifications of having a spy in the family.

As he stood before the compensation board, James quickly outlined his father's life, beginning with the establishment of their homestead in Saratoga, New York. When the revolution broke out, Thomas Lovelace joined the British army at Lake Champlain. In his absence, rebels made off with all of the Lovelaces' livestock. In 1781, Lovelace went to Albany, New York "on private intelligence", was captured by rebels, and was eventually executed for espionage in 1782.

Lovelace left behind a widow and seven children. As with most women in her situation, Lonas Lovelace was compelled to marry again, moving to the Bay of Chaleur with her new spouse, Mr. Norton. The family was further fractured by the fact that Ebenezer Lovelace had settled in Detroit, Lucy had married a man in Nova Scotia, Thomas Jr. was in Niagara, while William, Archibald and James were with their mother along New Brunswick's northeastern shore. Such was the high cost of being a loyalist secret agent in His Majesty's service.

The espionage career of Benjamin Sealey was not as tragic as Lovelace's. The Stratford, Connecticut native had been carried off to jail by his patriot townsmen because of his efforts in helping other loyalists escape to the British lines. While Sealey was in prison, his rebel neighbours took his gold and silver, and then stole his beef, furniture, china, corn, horse, and saddle. Once he was released, Sealey crossed Long Island Sound to join the British forces at Fort Franklin.

Sealey soon found work as a messenger, carrying dispatches for the British. Perhaps his most significant mission was the discovery of a rebel plot to set British-held New York City afire. When the revolution came to an end, the Sealeys sailed to the mouth of the St. John River with the Spring Fleet. These Connecticut loyalists settled in Maugerville, an early refugee community in what would become New Brunswick.

One of Benjamin Sealey's neighbours in Maugerville had also been a loyalist spy. William Caldwell's service to the crown was recognized by none other than Benjamin Franklin's son, William Franklin, the last loyalist governor of New Jersey. He described Caldwell as "a brave loyal subject."

Caldwell certainly did not start out with any intentions of becoming a hero. A native of England, Caldwell had settled in Union Township in Pennsylvania before the revolution forced him to take a stand against his patriot neighbours. On June 15, 1775 a rebel committe sentenced the loyalist to a severe punishment. Two hundred of the town's militia stood on guard to insure that Caldwell was duly tarred and feathered.

Adding insult to injury, the militia officers made off with Caldwell's household goods and ordered him out of town. The loyalist moved to Philadelphia where he entered the British army. It was here that Caldwell became a secret agent. At the end of one recognizance mission, he was taken by rebels who stole his horse and money before putting him in prison.

Found guilty of espionage, Caldwell was condemned to be hanged. The loyalist spy bribed his jail guard to let him go, and he escaped back to Philadelphia. Caldwell later served the British army as a guide in Virginia until the end of the revolution. The former spy and his family came to New Brunswick with the last of the loyalist refugees who sailed in the Fall Fleet.

Just before the revolution broke out, William Wright kept both a store and a tavern in New York. By 1775 the grocer's loyalist convictions forced him and his wife Hannah to flee to New York. Over the next four years, British General Skinner sent Wright on a number of espionage missions where he gathered data that was described as "good intelligence". As so often happened, Wright was eventually found out and arrested in 1779. Somehow, Hannah Wright was able to raise £150 (the cost of five very good horses) to pay the fine for William being "an accessory to intelligence being carried within British lines".

Having barely avoided being hanged for treason, Wright did not continue in the secret service for the remainder of the war. He and his family eventually settled on the Kennebecasis River in New Brunswick.

John Stinson was a New Hampshire native who had family members on both sides of the war. His uncle, General Stark, was a rebel who saw to it that his orphaned nephew was educated. Despite this early influence, Stinson and his only brother Samuel remained loyal Americans. They both went to New York and joined the British army. While he was under General Prescott's command, Stinson went into Rhode Island for a total of twenty spy missions. He received a pound and a shilling for each mission -- the only example we have of a spy's wages. Following these successes, Stinson went on two espionage missions into Philadelphia for Sir Henry Clinton.

At 26 years of age, John Stinson came to New Brunswick with other loyalist refugees, settling above Fredericton on the St. John River. It is amazing to consider that if -- in 1788-- one plotted a trip along New Brunswick's waterways properly, a visit could be made to the homes of each of these five loyalist spies.

...Stephen Davidson {stephendavids AT gmail DOT com} how do I email him?

Grant Reunion August 1-3, 2008 at Southampton, New Brunswick

On August 1, 2 and 3, in Southampton, New Brunswick on the Saint John River there will be a Gathering of descendants of three Grant brothers, Peter, William and Lawrence, born in the Colonial period, probably in today's New York state. A young fourth brother, Finlay, left few family records. Their mother, Elizabeth (Lockwood?), a.k.a. "the widow Grant", was among the King's American Regiment group under Capt. Peter Clements apportioned land in "Woodstock, Block 6" on the Saint John River in August 1787. Their father is thought to be (Pte.) John Grant who died in military hospital a few months before the Loyalist 1783 embarkation; Elizabeth remarried the next year to K.A.R. veteran Henry Cronkhite.

Keen family historians associated with this Grant clan branch will be at the reunion and all distant cousins are invited. We will meet and tour the still rural countryside these ancestors cleared. Interested readers may recognize themselves in the following branches known largely through the published work, now out of print, of the late Ruth Winona Grant.

PETER GRANT (1771-1852) married Abigail, daughter of neighbour Capt. Jabez Lockwood (Queen's Rangers). Their daughter Sophia Lockwood (b.1798) married John Ketchum but descendants are unknown. Her brother John (b.1796), apparently later a captain in the "border war" militia, married Phoebe Chase, daughter of George Miller (Queen's Rangers). Their children, born between 1818 and 1837, with spouses followed by number of children, included: Epenetus (m. Lucy York) 9, Almira (m. George Fox) 11, Elizabeth (m. David P. Grant) 8, John L. (m. Mary Jane Churchill) 3, Absolom (m. Hannah Hartley) 4, Jane (m. Nehemiah "Ned" Hillman) 6, Allen (m. Annabel Gibson) 3, Nathan (m. Theresa Patterson) 6.

LAWRENCE GRANT (d. c.1841) may have married a "Colwell". A son Levi Grant (b. 1802) and wife Sarah Ford (daughter of Corp. Titus Way, K.A.R.) had these children (name) and grandchildren (number): Titus (m. Hannah Brooks) 6, Justus (m. Isabel Biggar) 7, Richard (m. Charlotte Augusta Cronkhite) 4, George (m. Mary Black) 6, Enoch (m. Mary Cronkhite) and adopted Esther (m. George Brooks) 13. His daughter Lydia Mott married William Thomas Price in 1824 and their daughters had spouses surnamed Bates, Gray, Hull, Schriver, Barrows and Dunlop. Barry Price's "RootsWeb's WorldConnect Project: Price and Shepherd" website examines this branch. Descendants of two other grandsons, Nehemiah Grant (m. McMullen) 3 and Daniel A. Grant (m. Birmingham) 2, are still unknown.

WILLIAM GRANT (1773-1847) and Ann Maidstone, daughter of Capt. Tristram Hillman who drowned in the River in 1788 soon after transferring from St. Andrews, N.B., had 20-plus offspring born between 1796 and 1826. Many of these descendants are aware of the Gathering through the efforts of Beth Taylor in California and her mother Catherine Armour, in Maine, family record keepers.

If you are, or know, a long-lost cousin of these "Southampton" Grants or have information to share, please contact the Registrar, Mary McCutcheon, at 514 271-6650 or visit the website.

...Mary McCutcheon, Registrar, {marymccut AT primus DOT ca} how do I email her?

Loyalist Directory Additions

Some time and some assistance allowed us to once again post a few additions to the Loyalist Directory:
- Caldwell, William - from Kimberly Hurst
- Crysler, Adam - from Lenore Harris
- Drummond, Peter - from Richard Dorrough & Don Galna
- Everitts, Sylvanus - from John W. Kelly Sr.
- Gorham (Gorum), Nathaniel - from Eric Langley
- Hawley, Ichabod - from Norman Hawley
- Merkley, Henrich (Henry) - from Betty and Earle Fladager

Click here for the directory where those people for whom additional information has been added are listed. Thanks to those who have provided this additional information.

Loyalist Ships

An addendum from Rev. Jessie C. Drysdale, UE about the ship Esther has been added to the Loyalist list of ships.

A small boat called The Fanny has been added, from information provided by Terri Pierce

Last Post: SHAVER, Walter Edmond, UE

WW II Veteran, United Empire Loyalist. Passed away suddenly as a result of an accident on Wednesday, May 14, 2008 in his 83rd year. Dearly beloved husband of the late Frances Myers (2006). Father of Thora Fideau, Dannyboy Shaver, and Terry Anthony Shaver,and grandfather of many. Memorial Donations to Heart & Stroke Foundation can be arranged through www.gordonmonkfuneralhome.com. 11098252 HALIBURTON ECHO

...Lynne Cook UE

Last Post: NEVILLE, Donald Horne, UE

At Kingston General Hospital on Wednesday May 28, 2008, Donald Horne Neville in his 83rd year. Husband of the late Angela Victoria (Zacharias) Neville. Father of Faye Fitzpatrick (Ron), Shirley Bretzlaff (Lars), Bruce Neville (Desiree), Betty Eisner (David) and the late David. Brother of Patricia (the late Carl Freeman) and the late Nola (Charlie Zacharias and Denzil Zimmerling). Grandfather of many. Don was born in Port Medway, N.S., loved to play hockey and worked at the Springhill mine and on the railroad. May 1st 1943, he joined the RCAF. For a short time, he was a wireless air gunner and later ground crew. In spring of 1944 he went overseas and was stationed at the main post office in London. He married Angela on April 8, 1946. On the Zacharias homestead, he worked in the bush, then later the sawmill in Otter Lake. In the early 1950's Don moved to Kingston as an electrician at Barriefield, then as a policeman in the OPP and eventually in Security at Alcan. Don was a proud United Empire Loyalist, one of the founding members of Legion 560 and a devout member of St. Paul's Anglican Church. The Funeral was at St. Paul's Anglican Church, 137 Queen St. Donations to St. Paul's Anglican Church. 11109264 KINGSTON WHIG-STANDARD

...Lynne Cook UE