Loyalist Trails UELAC Newsletter, 2010 Archive

In this issue:
- Madame Sarah Paine: Part Two -- © Stephen Davidson
- Samuel Jarvis (1698 – 1779) – Third Generation in America. Part 5 of 6 – © 2009 George McNeillie
- Loyalist Memorial Tiles at St. Alban The Martyr
- Book “In Defence of Monarchy" Now Available
- Book or CD - Loyalists and Land Settlement in Nova Scotia
- Book or CD - Sketches Illustrating The Early Settlement and History of Glengarry in Canada [Ontario], By J. A. MacDonell
- Last Post: Edith Lillian Lomas (nee Ironside), UE, ON

Madame Sarah Paine: Part Two -- © Stephen Davidson

It was not easy being a loyalist woman. Your contributions to your cause in the American Revolution were ignored by history and quickly forgotten by your family. As your husband sought financial compensations for what your family lost during the war, he failed to even mention your name and all that you had to endure while he went off to the battlefield. Maintaining the family farm, caring for the children, or running the family business kept you very busy during the revolution, but male historians couldn't see all of that. Instead, they focused on male encounters with tar and feathers or blazing cannon and muskets. It wasn't until the later quarter of the 20th century that female historians began to slowly uncover the treasure trove of material that would reveal all that female loyalists did during the War of Independence.

Thanks to the forward thinking of Elizabeth Sturgis in 1903, we have the story of a remarkable loyalist woman recorded in the family genealogy titled A Sketch of the Chandler Family in Worcester, Massachusetts.

Sarah Chandler Paine was by no means an average loyalist. She occupied the upper strata of colonial society and within that influential circle she often encountered highly placed rebels. Her husband, Timothy Paine, had been appointed a member of the Mandamus Council that ruled Massachusetts in place of elected representatives. Sarah was very familiar with the machinations of government. Despite her family's wealth and influence, Mrs. Paine would pass through some very difficult years in the mid-1770s.

Sarah's brother, John Chandler, had such pronounced views that his neighbours dubbed him "Tory John". In 1774, he was forced to leave his wife and 16 children in Worchester and seek refuge in England. It would not take long for the patriots of Worcester to turn their attentions to Chandler's sister and her family.

One evening, Sarah Paine was passing by a guardhouse as she walked along Worcester's streets. The rebel guards on duty noted the middle-aged loyalist. One muttered to the other, "Let us shoot the old Tory". Sarah abruptly turned to face the two and said, "Shoot if you dare", and walked away. Later she reported the incident to General Knox, a rebel officer who had married a loyalist. He saw to it that his men never insulted Sarah again.

But General Knox could not prevent the inevitable deterioration of safety for Worcester's loyalists. The Boston Massacre and the Boston Tea Party only served to harden the rebel hatred of the British government and the appointed members of its Mandamus Council. Finally, rebel soldiers came to Sarah's home to carry off her husband. Sarah stood in the doorway and told them they could not enter the house "except over her prostrate body". The men turned away.

But Sarah could not stop a crowd of 3,000 colonists.

On August 22, 1774 a rebel throng assembled in the Worcester common and demanded Paine's resignation from the hated Mandamus Council. Compelled to take his hat off, Sarah's husband stood before the crowd and apologized, promising to never "act in that office contrary to the charter" (of Massachusetts). During his apology, Paine's wig fell off. >From that day forward, he never wore a wig again.

Although most of the loyalists of Worcester were --like Sarah's father and two sons-- forced to leave the colony, Mr. and Mrs. Timothy Paine were allowed to remain. The worst treatment they seemed to have received after Paine's public humiliation was an attack on a family portrait. During the course of the Revolution, Sarah and Timothy were compelled to house rebel soldiers. The "guests" repaid their loyalist hosts by slashing the throat of Paine's full length portrait from ear to ear.

Timothy died at age 63 in 1793. His loyalist son, William, returned to live in Worcester and took Sarah into his home. Finally, in 1811, Sarah Paine died in her 85th year.

The items Madame Paine bequeathed to her children indicate that the family was still prosperous 30 years after the Revolution ended. Among the items were a crimson satin bed-cover, a silver butter boat, the china service, and English parlour chairs. Daughters and granddaughters treasured Sarah's buckled shoes. They were made of silk of many different colours, had very high heels and pointed toes. Sarah's oldest son William inherited the family carriage which had been imported from England. It was "a very handsome vehicle, painted outside a sage green, with much glass and gilding about it and lined with satin in the same colour."

Sarah was buried next to her husband in the graveyard on Worcester's Common. Years later, when their grandson tried to find their graves so as to move their remains to a new cemetery, he could find no trace of their tombstones. The stories of loyalist women, like the Tory tombstones of Massachusetts, have also had a tendency to disappear and be forgotten. This sad fact of history makes the survival of Sarah Chandler Paine's story all the more amazing, a treasure more valuable than any heirloom.

Future editions of Loyalist Trails will feature stories about Sarah's son, Dr. William Paine, her three loyalist nephews, as well as her brother who became famous in England as "The Honest Refugee".

To secure permission to reprint this article, contact the author at {stephendavids AT gmail DOT com} how do I email him?

Samuel Jarvis (1698 – 1779) – Third Generation in America. Part 5 of 6 – © 2009 George McNeillie

(See parts one, two, three, and four.)

It may be observed in this connection that the fifth child of the Stamford Jarvis Family, Sarah, married Nathaniel Munday. Her sister Polly Dibblee named her own fifth child “Sarah Munday”, and she afterwards married John D. Beardsley of Woodstock (in 1793) and is spoken of by her descendants as “Sally Munday Beardsley”. She seems to have been a true Jarvis, for she too was the mother of eleven children, six sons and five daughters. The oldest of these was my Grandmother Raymond, Polly Sylvia, who was so called after her two grandmothers Polly Jarvis and Sylvia Punderson.

This surely is a “Chapter on Names.” The circumstances under which Fyler Dibblee and his wife Polly came to New Brunswick in 1783 have already been related in this book [Editor’s note – the Dibblee family saga will be told in another series. Briefly, Fyler and Polly went to New Brunswick in 1783. He had been a successful Stamford lawyer, but lost everything in the War, and the Dibblee family then suffered a series of calamities; Fyler took his own life in 1784 leaving his widow and children in straitened circumstances].

The rather forlorn situation of the family after death of Fyler Dibblee is spoken of by Munson Jarvis in his letter of Aug. 5th, 1788, to his brother William, who was then in London, England. He writes:

“I have not received about sixty guineas of what Brother Dibblee owed me when he died, and what I have given them since, which together in full is much more. Sister Dibblee is now about going to Stamford with her two youngest children [who were Sally Munday, aged 13, and Ebenezer, aged 8 years]. Bedell, William, and Ralph have taken land at Meductuck, 130 or 140 miles up the River, where they say the lands are much better than where they are now; but I fear they are but poor farmers. William is a very hard-working man; believe Ralph will work if he can’t help it. Walter seems entirely detached from the family, taking shelter under the wing of his father-in-law Mr. Beardsley, who I believe is full as good a farmer as a Preacher.”

If Mrs. Dibblee really ever went to Stamford with her children, she must have soon returned and gone up the River to Woodstock to live with her son William. The settlement there seems to have been still spoken of by the Indian name “Medoctec” (or Maductic), so called from the waterfall -- nearly 100 feet in height. It is the highest fall in the St. John River System.

Excerpt from Book of Family History, written by the Ven. William Odber Raymond, LL.D, FRSC. © 2009 George McNeillie, all rights reserved [published here with permission; see footnote]

...George McNeillie {ggm3rd AT sympatico DOT ca} how do I email him?

Loyalist Memorial Tiles at St. Alban The Martyr

Participants at the United Empire Loyalist Memorial Service held at 2 p.m. on Sunday June 14 following the close of the conference in Adolphustown will vividly remember the warmth of the reception and the unique beauty of the sanctuary.

St. Alban the Martyr church located in the quiet hamlet of Adolphustown was built as a memorial to United Empire Loyalists and the cornerstone was laid in 1884, as part of the celebrations commemorating the 100th anniversary of the landing of the Adolphustown Loyalists. It stands just a few hundred yards from the landing site and the sacred first burial ground of these early Loyalists.

Upon entering this lovely old stone church one’s eye is immediately drawn to frieze of Victorian ceramic tiles that encircle the interior of the church. Sixty-four twelve-inch memorial tiles inscribed with names and dates are set diagonally within a decorative border and the colours and patterns combine to create a stunningly beautiful frieze.

The tiles were made and inscribed in Victorian England, at the time of the great Arts and Crafts movement, by a firm headed by a member of the famous Minton family that was known for the fine china they produced. Thirty-three Memorial Tiles were installed before the first service was held in the new church in 1889. These tiles were commissioned and sponsors who wished to honour an early Loyalist underwrote the cost. The desired commemorative message was chosen at the time the order was placed. After the initial order, the frieze was gradually completed and an additional thirty-one tiles were added over a period, which extended until 1909 when the last commemorative tile was in place. Most but not all of the thirty-one later tiles were also dedicated to Loyalists. See the names here.

In addition to the historical significance of the individuals memorialized in the tiles, it has been rewarding to discover that the tiles themselves are of interest to a dedicated group of enthusiasts in the field of ceramic arts. Although we have not been able to find other examples of Victorian Memorial Tiles in Canadian churches or buildings to date, several churches in England and St. Andrew’s Cathedral, Sydney, Australia contain Memorial Tiles that have a strong resemblance to the St. Alban’s Memorial Tiles. The English and Australian examples have been featured in Journal of the Tiles & Architectural Ceramics Society and in Glazed Expressions a specialty tile magazine respectively. We hope to submit articles about the St. Alban’s Tiles to these publications and we also hope our future book will be of interest to Scholars and researchers in this specialized area of the arts.

Just recently a website about St Alban The Martyr, the tiles and the Cemetery was introduced - visit St Alban.

Photographing the Tiles and Fundraising

When a professional award winning photographer, Graem Coles, who is a member of our small congregation, offered to preserve through photography, a record of the Memorial Tiles, it was decided that we should undertake an ambitious project to create a high quality book with about seventy coloured plates, biographies and background information about the tiles. The tiles have now all been carefully and expertly photographed. This was no easy task as the light in the church was very uneven. With the assistance of his wife Joan, Graem often had to carefully choose the time of day stand on a ladder, and use a screen to filter or direct the light. Anyone who has tried to photograph a tile of his or her ancestor when visiting the church will understand what an accomplishment Graem has achieved. We now hope to use the sale of individual photos to help underwrite the cost of what will of necessity be a rather expensive printing job for our future book. If you wish to order photos please contact Graem Coles - for a sample picture and more details about ordering go here.

A Book in Progress: Can You Help us with Information?

Over the years parishioners studying the tiles from their vantage point during the weekly service came to the conclusion that it was important to collect biographies of the individuals memorialized and preserve a written record. The list of names was divided up and several members of the congregation set about to write biographies. Their research included talking to Loyalist descendants, looking through family bibles and some limited research in local archives.

Twenty first century technology has allowed me to computerize the accumulated handwritten biographies and add to their research with modern computer search programmes. We know however that the best information still comes from family descendents and we would appreciate any information you can provide to add to our somewhat limited biographies before we publish our book (hopefully summer 2010). A list of the names here. To view the biographical material already collected please go to Biographies.

If you are able to add information please email it to Diane or send by posted mail to Diane Berlet, 8 McWhirter Wharf Lane, RR 1, Bath, K0H 1G0.

...

Book “In Defence of Monarchy" Now Available

This week Garry Toffoli, Executive Director of the Canadian Royal Heritage Trust, announced the release of “In Defence of Monarchy”, the collected writings of Prof. Hereward Senior and the late Dr. Elinor Kyte Senior from thirty years of Monarchy Canada Magazine. The couple are better known to members of UELAC as the writing team responsible for Heritage Branch’s “The Loyalists of Quebec, A Forgotten History”in 1989, but Professor Hereward Senior also has been a Honorary Vice-President of UELAC for many years. He was highlighted as one of the “People Behind the Scenes” in “The Loyalist Gazette”, Vol. XLIII, No. 2, Fall 2005.

The February Focus On Canada's Royal Heritage presentation in Toronto on Thursday 11th February will look at a 17th Century ancestress of Canada's Royal Family. Noel McFerran, Editor of The Jacobite Heritage website, will speak on "The Winter Queen: Elizabeth Stuart, Queen of Bohemia."

While the description and order form are available on-line, copies of the Prof. Senior’s book will also be available at the Focus On Canada's Royal Heritage talk, saving the cost of postage and handling for those attending. Copies of “The Loyalists of Quebec” are still available from Heritage Branch.

...FHH

Book or CD - Loyalists and Land Settlement in Nova Scotia

Compiled by Marion Gilroy under the direction of D. C. Harvey, Archivist

Originally published 1937 (This historical reprint by Global Heritage Press)

The list of United Empire Loyalists who appear in this book, was compiled from the land papers in the Public Archives of Nova Scotia and checked with the land papers in the Department of Lands and Forests of the province. The general purpose of this publication was to collect in as compact a form as possible all the information that has survived on Loyalist settlements in Nova Scotia and to make this accessible to the descendants who are interested.

ISBN 1-897210-95-7 (hardcover). Now available on CD too!

Click here for more information

Book or CD - Sketches Illustrating The Early Settlement and History of Glengarry in Canada [Ontario], By J. A. MacDonell

Originally published 1893 (This historical reprint by Global Heritage Press)

J. A. MacDonell recognized that much had been written on the subject of United Empire Loyalist settlement in Ontario, the War of 1812-14, and the Rebellion of 1837-8, but expressed concern that there was little mention made of the part that the Highlanders of Glengarry played in those conflicts. He corrects that oversight within the 29 chapters that comprise this formitable text. This book is an fine source of information for those interested in early settlement of the Highlanders in Glengarry and surrounding counties, and the role that Glengarry Highland Scots played in the 18th and 19th century military conflicts.

ISBN 1-894378-80-6 (hardcover). Now available on CD too!

Click here for more information

Last Post: Edith Lillian Lomas (nee Ironside), UE, ON

Edith passed away peacefully at Joseph Brant Memorial Hospital, Burlington, on Thursday, February 4, 2010, in her 87th year. Predeceased by her husband John Joseph Lomas, 1975. Lillian is survived by her loving children Martha (Bill) Hemphill, Elizabeth Lomas, Michael (Sandra) Lomas. She will be sadly missed by many nieces and nephews, especially her niece Gail Hongladarom of Seattle. Lillian also was predeceased by her siblings Keith, Frank and Ruby Chapman.

Born in Stoney Creek on September 15, 1923 to her parents Arabella Gore Hunter and Ernest Homer Ironside, Lillian was a proud member of the United Empire Loyalists' Association of Canada, Hamilton Branch securing her certificates of Loyalist Lineage for Titus Simons and Michael Showers. She served as secretary from 1982 to 1988 and corresponding secretary after her period as past president. During her terms as Branch President (1990-1995), the Hamilton Branch and the Col. John Butler (Niagara) Branch co-hosted the 1993 Conference in Hamilton. At the time of the restoration of the Cockpit at Dundurn Castle in 1996, her leadership resulted in the installation of a natural garden around the Cockpit. For her many contributions on behalf of Hamilton Branch UELAC, Lillian received a Hamilton Wentworth Heritage Award in 1998.

The Burlington Historical Society also benefitted greatly from her membership as did the Parish of St. Luke’s where the Loyalist Flag will fly on Monday. Lillian was particularly pleased to receive the Order of Niagara (for the Laity of the Diocese of Niagara) from “her” Bishop Ralph Spence.

She also enjoyed her writing groups at the Seniors Centre, visiting at Maple Villa and the many friendships that she built over her years of active involvement in the community. Her family and friends send a special thank you to the staff of the Joseph Brant Memorial Hospital for the care they gave.

While visitation will be held at SMITH'S FUNERAL HOME, (www.smithsfh.com) 485 Brant Street, BURLINGTON on Sunday from 3-5 and 7-9 p.m., the Funeral Service will be held at St. Luke's Anglican Church, 1371 Elgin Street, Burlington on Monday, February 8, 2010 at 11 a.m. A private interment will take place.

If desired, as an expression of sympathy, donations made to the St. Luke's Building Fund or the Heart and Stroke Foundation would be greatly appreciated by the family.

...Gloria Oakes UE, Hamilton Branch