Loyalist Trails UELAC Newsletter, 2011 Archive

In this issue:
- New Brunswick Newspapers Remember: Part Four – by Stephen Davidson
- The TWO Peter Rupert of Osnabruck, by Guylaine Petrin
- Loyalist Lane at Fanshawe
- War of 1812: Isaac Ferriss SUE and the Battle of Detroit
- Top Tweets
- Fall Gazette Update
- Novel Broken Trail Receives Moonbeam Awards' Gold Medal
- Burritt 1812 Cannonball at Bytown Museum
- America did not lose the War of 1812
- The St. Lawrence War of 1812 Alliance
- War of 1812 Event: Southern Georgian Bay in Barrie May 31 to June 3, 2012
- Canadian Genealogy Survey; Participate Before Nov 30
- Queries
      + Joseph House Family

New Brunswick Newspapers Remember: Part Four – by Stephen Davidson

In the first three articles in this series, we saw that despite the fact that New Brunswick was founded by loyalists, the obituaries that appeared in the newspapers of the province hardly ever identified the recently deceased as being a loyalist. The last reference to the death of a loyalist's offspring occurred in the March 15, 1895 edition of the Kings County Record. But as the original settlers of the province disappeared, a new pride in being the grandchild of a loyalist became evident in the obituaries of the late 19th century.

As early as 1841, a recently departed New Brunswicker was noted as being a loyalist's grandchild. Ann Johnston had Capt. William Baillie of the Loyal American Regiment as a grandfather. Nothing beyond Miss Johnston's male ancestry is recorded in her obituary.

Thirty-four years later the Saint John Daily News carried the second obituary to note the passing of a loyalist's grandson. Capt. Barker was briefly mentioned as Elijah Barker's grandfather.

William Whitlock's 1877 obituary proudly descried the double loyalist lineage of its subject. Captain Thomas Whitlock was the paternal grandfather and Lt. Hallet was the maternal grandfather. William was described as "one of the links that connects the present with the early history of the province".

In 1883, an obituary notes that Captain William McCready, the son of "united empire loyalists" died. Besides the usage of the longer phrase favoured in Ontario (New Brunswick usually described its founders simply as "loyalists"), the obituary is interesting delves into the history of McCready's maternal grandfather. His mother was the daughter of the loyalist Christopher Sowers, the first king's in New Brunswick.

An excellent illustration of the value that Victorian-era Maritimers put on a loyalist lineage is seen in an 1883 issue of The Times of Moncton. It described an Englishman named John Smith who had settled in Nova Scotia before the American Revolution. Smith eventually married the daughter of a "united empire loyalist officer" named Grant. The Smiths' son John married the daughter of a "U.E.L" named Harris. (Yes, 1883 is the first year in which "UEL" appeared in a New Brunswick newspaper – a full century after the loyalists arrived in the province.) Their grandson Bennett married the daughter of the loyalist David Harris.

In 1886, a sentence about a loyalist ancestor was part of a man's obituary, despite the fact that he was two generations away from the events of the American Revolution. Of James Burden's grandfather it was said that he "came from old united empire loyalist stock" and left "everything behind to find a new home in St. John".

An entire paragraph of George Atherton's lengthy 1887 obituary described his loyalist heritage. His grandfather, Benjamin Atherton, had been an officer in the British Commissariat who "preferred the wilderness of New Brunswick" to the United States. He made his living trading furs with the Natives who travelled through Fredericton.

As the children of the loyalists breathed their last, the editors of New Brunswick newspapers realized rather wistfully that an era was coming to an end. In 1890, the Saint John Evening Gazette referred to Rev. Edward Brudenell, the loyalist who organized Nova Scotia's first Sunday School in Digby. In the obituary for another loyalist's son, the same newspaper noted that when the loyalists settled the Annapolis Royal area, there were only three houses to be found between Yarmouth and Digby. In 1893, the Saint Croix Courier published an article about the first loyalists who settled southwestern New Brunswick: Pagan, Wyer, Tompkins, Caleff, and Osborne.

The last person to have his obituary record that he was the grandson of a loyalist (in any New Brunswick newspaper) was Rev. J.O. Ruggles. The October 9, 1895 issue of The Daily Sun noted that the Massachusetts loyalist, General Timothy Ruggles was his grandfather. Within a year, The Kings County Record published the first obituary in any New Brunswick newspaper to note the death of a great-grandson of a loyalist. Sir Leonard Tilley, a Father of Confederation, was a descendant of Samuel Tilley, a loyalist from Brooklyn, New York.

The obituaries that appeared in New Brunswick newspapers between 1787 and 1896 can be accessed online at the website for the province's public archives. They are a fascinating – though limited – glimpse into how early New Brunswickers regarded their history. Upwards of 15,000 loyalists settled in the province, and yet only 249 obituaries record the fact that their citizens were loyal to King George III during the American Revolution. Why so few?

As one considers this question, it is important to remember a few significant points. First, the majority of New Brunswick's population did not have their deaths noted in newspapers.

Secondly, whole components of the population were ignored in the province's press. There is not a single reference to a black man's death in which it is noted that he was a loyalist – despite the fact that 3,000 free blacks who had served the British during the Revolution settled in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Women's obituaries usually only noted age-at-death and their husband's names. They did not delve into the woman's families' histories. The obituaries of 19th century newspapers leave out far more than they reveal.

Finally, because a loyalist heritage was so commonplace in New Brunswick, it may be that its significance was only realized and appreciated by later generations rather than during the lifetimes of the loyalists themselves.

So as we look at the ways in which New Brunswickers identified with their loyalist heritage in their obituaries during the 1800s, we must remember that we are looking at the past through a very tiny crack in the wall of time. Nevertheless, even with the small sample left to us by posterity, it is clear that Victorian New Brunswickers did identify with their loyalist ancestors and their epic saga of upheaval and resettlement. In very short obituaries, the descendants of New Brunswick's founders publicly celebrated their connection to their loyalist ancestors for one last time.

[Update, 24 Feb 2013: the article has been revised and expanded by Stephen Davidson]

To secure permission to reprint this article, email Stephen Davidson.

The TWO Peter Ruperts of Osnabruck, by Guylaine Petrin

The most confusing thing about the Rupert family of Osnabruck is the fact that there were TWO brothers known as Peter Rupert of Osnabruck UE. It caused a lot of confusion for both the Surveyor's Office and for the Executive Office when it was time to grant land to their children. Both Peter filed many petitions and their children filed many petitions which contain complementary information.

The eldest of the Peter was probably baptized Pader Rupert. Pader, or Pather, is a fine German name which means father, and it might be a name given in honour of someone in Barbara's family. Pader became known as Peter in the English speaking army, and eventually he was known as Peter the Elder to distinguish him from his younger brother Peter. In his will, he refers to himself as Pader Rupert. In their petitions, his children sometimes call him Peter or Pader or Pather.

So in 1807 when Peter the Elder applied for his extra military land, he attached a letter signed by John Crysler J.P. who stated that he knew the family well and that there were two brothers, both sons of Adam Rupert and they were both Peter.

In order to distinguish the two Peter Rupert of Osnabruck, the trail of their land ownership was followed.

Land granted to Pader Rupert

Peter the Elder, also known as Pader, of Osnabruck received from the government as military grant the following land:

- Charlottenburg conc. 1 S.S. River Raisin, lot 17 E ½ is patented by Peter Rupert in March 1823 and sold to Alexander McMartin in March 1827

- Osnabruck, conc. 4 lot 7 was patented by both Francis and Peter Rupert in 1807. The will of Pader Ruport is registered in 184819, and the will of his relict Elizabeth in 1854. Son Adam, Peter and Henry are named. No daughters are named in the will.

- Finch twp con. 10, E.Pt. 21 is patented in March 1808, but sold by the Sheriff to George Crawford in 1841. At the time, land in Finch was going very cheap, and they might not have found it worthwhile to pay taxes on this land.

Pader the Elder Rupert married Elizabeth and died in 1845. His widow Elizabeth died in 1854. They had sons Adam, Peter and Henry still alive in 1845, since they are mentioned in their father's will. Adam is still alive in 1854 when he registered his mother's will in the Cornwall Land Registry office.

Land granted to Peter Junior Rupert

Peter Rupert Junior received the following land:

- Osnabruck twp conc. 4 lot 6 E1/2 was patented in September 1797, and sold in 1814 to Frederick Shaver.

- Mountain twp, conc. 9, lot 24 gets patented by Peter Rupert in November 1802. In 1861, the lot is sold by William Rupert and wife to John Nicholson with quit claim by Jerome Rupert. The Deeds of sale dated in 1861 establish that the heir at law of Peter Rupert of Osnabruck were William Rupert of Sidney township, heir at law and Jerome Rupert of Sidney township, heir at law of John Rupert, deceased and himself heir at law of Peter Rupert of Osnabruck.

So it appears that Peter Rupert died intestate, and his wife probably predeceased him, since no mention is made of dower rights in her name.

So from these land records, it became easier to distinguish the two Peter Rupert of Osnabruck. Pader lived to 1845 and left a will. He had children named Peter, Henry and Adam who were still alive in the 1851 census, while Peter Junior died intestate and had sons William and John who lived in Sidney township, Hastings County.

With this information, it became a bit easier to divide up the various petitions and list of children they included.

Excerpt from Disentengling a Loyalist family tree: The Rupert of Osnabruck Township, Ontario, by Guylaine Petrin. The article is in the Fall 2011 issue of the Loyalist Gazette. It can also be read along with a timeline of events in the Loyalist Directory, in the details of the record for Adam Rupert.

Loyalist Lane at Fanshawe

It doesn't seem such a long time ago that I was told that we had only three monuments to the United Empire Loyalists. While the UELAC Mission statement directs the Association to work towards "erecting, constructing and repairing buildings, monuments and memorials in Canada to perpetuate the memory of the United Empire Loyalists", few members are aware of what had been done in the past across our country.

Over the past five years, the Dominion website has developed a section of Loyalist Monuments, Memorials and Commemoratives to record the a broad range of tributes to our ancestors. This week the fifty-fourth addition has been made with Loyalist Lane and United Empire Loyalist Memorial Boulder. Thanks to June Klassen, President of the London and Western Ontario Branch, the 1999 efforts of her branch have been documented in this section.

When you have read about the dedications at Fanshawe Pioneer Village, please skim through the rest of the folder. If you are aware of another monument or plaque to the Loyalists, please tel me about it so that it can be added to our electronic resources.

...FHH

War of 1812: Isaac Ferriss SUE and the Battle of Detroit

My 3rd great-grandfather Isaac Ferriss UE served in 3 battles during the War of 1812-14. He served at the Battle of Detroit, the Battle of the Maumee and the Battle of Raisin River - all in the Michigan and Ohio areas. His father, Joseph Ferriss UEL is my 4th great-grandfather and the United Empire Loyalist who left his life behind in the Pennsylvania area to become a first refugee, due to the American Revolutionary War, in the New Settlement (N. shore Lake Erie). He was granted Lot 22, second concession Colchester, New Settlement in 1792.

Joseph's son, Isaac was in the militia and he was given an MGS (Military General Service) medal for his service at the Battle of Detroit. August 16, 1812. The War Office awarded medals for three actions only: Battle of Detroit, Battle of Chatteauguay and Battle at Chrysler's Farm in 1848. The MGS Medal was authorized by General Order June 1, 1847 and was issued in 1848, 32 years after the event, to each surviving officer and soldier present in any battle commemorated.

Upon the Declaration of War June 19, 1812 the great Shawnee Chief, Tecumseh offered his services to Colonel Matthew Elliott, Deputy Superintendent of Indian Affairs, hoping to receive justice from the Americans who had defeated the Shawnees at Tippecanoe under General William Harrison (Nov 8, 1811). Tippecanoe was the homeland of Tecumseh and his brother the Propeht, who was in charge, while Tecumseh was out and about trying to form a Western Indian Confederacy. Tecumseh and about 25 Menominee Indians, 46 Mohawk and the majority were Wyandottes to make a total of 600 Natives at te Battle of Detroit. These Natives, along with 300 regulars and 400 militia achieved the bloodless surrender of Detroit.

Isaac Ferris was in the 1st Essex Militia, under Col. Matthew Elliott who took part in the Battle of Detroit. It is written in the local newspaper, The Amherstburg Echo, in 1934 that Isaac was one of two young 17 year old men who volunteered to swim across the Detroit River and spy on Fort Detroit and General William Hull.

(Click here to read an extended version, with pictures, in PDF format.)

...Ruth Nicholson UE, President Hamilton Branch

Top Tweets

We are engaged! Well, no need to send congratulations at this point. I am however happy to report that UELAC is building bridges across the history community through an increasing dialogue with established heritage professionals. Again this week I am reminded of the vast resources available simply by placing fingertips to keyboard.

1. Early in the week one of my favourite Tweeters, @RagLinen, posted a link to a video podcast titled Divided Loyalties: How the American Revolution Came to New York. This presentation is offered by the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, a non-profit organization supporting the study and love of American history. In the video, historian and author Richard Ketchum describes the unsettled climate in New York City at the outbreak of the American Revolution. Based on letters, journals and diaries he discusses the problems faced by United Empire Loyalists including a first hand account of the experiences of the DeLancey family. Our own Loyalist Scholarship recipient and PhD candidate, Tim Compeau has done extensive research on the DeLanceys.

After posting the link from our Twitter Feed we received a response from @HeritageMuse indicating that there are still descendants of the DeLancey family living in Annapolis Royal. A biography of Colonel James DeLancey is available on the Annapolis Heritage Society website. @HeritageMuse (Ryan Scranton) also shared an interesting side story about a Central Park pine tree. Canada's oldest National Historic Site - Fort Anne, on the Annapolis Basin in NS holds in its collection a section of a pine tree that once grew on the DeLancey estate in New York City. The estate is now part of Central Park. James evidently hid in the DeLancey Pine when revolutionary forces were looking for him. When the tree was cut in the early 20th century, a section was sent to Annapolis Royal. This arboreal artifact was used by curator Ryan Scranton, Executive Director of the Annapolis Heritage Society, in a Loyalist exhibit in 2008.

2. This week Ryan Scranton and I were caught up in discussion about another Loyalist individual, in particular a Reverend Jacob Bailey. Thanks to @FoundersTweets I learned that on November 17, 1776 the Episcopal missionary in Powalborough, MA, a Reverend Jacob Bailey, posted bond after refusing to read the Declaration of Independence, for the reason that he had sworn an oath to King George II in 1760. @HeritageMuse (Ryan Scranton) replied to @uelac indicating he has done extensive research on Rev. Bailey who lived in Annapolis Royal until his death in 1808. He generously shared the link to his blog post Jacob Bailey - Youth and Education, part one of a three-part series, and indicated that some of Bailey's journals and sermons are held in the Annapolis Heritage Society archives. He also mentioned that James S. Leamon, historian, Professor Emeritus, Bates College is currently working on a book length manuscript tentatively titled, 'For God, King, Country and for Self: Rev. Jacob Bailey, Maine Loyalist'. I wonder if we have descendants of the Reverend Jacob Bailey as members of UELAC?

As you can see there are dangers in courting Twitter verse. When one is attracted by a simple historical fact there is always a greater story waiting beneath the surface. You might say UELAC followed up on a successful first date and is now working on a beautiful friendship.

You can read our Twitter feed from the Dominion website. On the top right beside the Google search box is a blue letter 't' . When you click on that it brings you to the Twitter home page of the United Empire Loyalists' Assoc. And as always, if you would like to become a follower and actively participate (which we encourage) go to twitter.com to open an account. I look forward to seeing you there!

...B. Schepers, VP UELAC

Fall Gazette Update

The Fall 2011 Gazette has been in the production stage for some time. Design and layout was done some long while ago and the Gazette has been printed. It is now at the mailing house and it will most likely be in the mail to you, if you are a member or subscriber, this week.

Novel Broken Trail Receives Moonbeam Awards' Gold Medal

Congratulations to Jean Rae Baxter. On Saturday evening, November 12 in Traverse City, Michigan, the novel Broken Trail received the Moonbeam Awards' Gold Medal for young adult historical fiction.

This was a great honour for Jean, since entries for the Moonbeam Awards came from 33 U. S. States, six Provinces, and three countries overseas. Jean notes: "It was especially thrilling to me to have a book telling about the Revolutionary War from a Canadian point of view receive such acclaim."

In her acceptance speech, Jean noted: "More than 200 years of history both connect and separate my country and yours. Canadian children and American children both study the Revolutionary War in their classrooms, but they study it from very different books. It is only within the past 20 years or so that either side has shown a genuine desire to understand that war from the other's point of view."

Burritt 1812 Cannonball at Bytown Museum

I have recently received a request from a family member of Col. D.H. Burritt via the Canadian War Museum re: the "Burritt cannonball". This famous cannonball is indeed in our Collections here at the Bytown Museum, and is currently part of our permanent exhibition. I have attached a fact sheet about the piece (PDF), but would love to get any more information on this famous cannonball and the associated story if it is available, to add to our records. [Note, more about this as previously published in Loyalist Trails here and here].

The Bytown Museum is at 1 Canal Lane in Ottawa. For more information visit www.bytownmuseum.ca.

...Grant M. Vogl, Collections and Exhibitions Manager

America did not lose the War of 1812

After now working at a War of 1812 historic site for almost five years I have often been asked the question: Who won the War of 1812? It is a common belief among many Canadians that Canada/Britain won the War of 1812 and thereby defeated the United States. However, this is not the case.

Many feel that since the United States failed to conquer Canada that this means the US lost the war. However, what many fail to realize is that the US government did not declare war to conquer Canada. Attacking Canada was seen as a means to an end in order to force the British to heed to American demands. The US simply wanted to continue to expand West and to not have their ships harassed on the high seas.

The Treaty of Ghent, which ended the War of 1812, helped to guarantee American expansion into the West. The treaty did not adequately protect the natives and this allowed the US to continue its policy of expansion. The end of the War of 1812 guaranteed that the native population in the West would no longer be a serious threat.

The War of 1812 helped to establish a standing American army. This meant that the US would no longer be seriously threatened by outside forces since they were now able to sufficiently defend themselves.

If someone asks you who won the War of 1812, just remember that the answer is more complex. However, if anyone wants to form their own opinion I encourage them to attend the numerous 1812 events celebrating the peace between two great nations.

...Justin Letourneau

Originally published in 'Niagara This Week' on October 27, 2011 – reprinted with permission of the author.

[submitted by Shirley Lockhart UE, President, Col. John Butler (Niagara) Branch]

The St. Lawrence War of 1812 Alliance

See what is going on in the St. Lawrence Alliance area by visiting their website.

The Alliance has begun distributing a monthly newsletter entitled, News From the Front which showcases blog posts, upcoming events and other information shared on our website.

You can subscribe to the newsletter at the website, or message alicia@celebrate1812.ca to be added.

War of 1812 Event: Southern Georgian Bay in Barrie May 31 to June 3, 2012

The Nine Mile Portage, an ancient native trail, once formed a land bridge between Kempenfelt Bay and the Nottawasaga River enabling a continuous trade and transportation route from Lake Ontario through to Georgian Bay for many centuries.

During the War of 1812, the British military improved the route for the transport of supplies and personnel as the lower lakes were occupied by the Americans following the Battle of Put-in-Bay. This land route became strategically important in keeping the captured American Fort of Mackinaw supplied and in British hands.

Following the War, the route remained active and, what was known as "the portage landing", grew into the community we know today as Barrie, Ontario. The City of Barrie will be celebrating its founding's with a huge War of 1812 Bicentennial Event including a very large War of 1812 land and naval component. This potential four day event will include two education days on Thursday and Friday and continuing with two public days on Saturday and Sunday. We are once again looking for participants to partake in this expanded potentially four day event at Heritage Park on the waterfront in downtown Barrie.

For more details (note that they are seeking proposals for paid performers to participate), click here.

Canadian Genealogy Survey; Participate Before Nov 30

We would like to thank you and your members for taking the time and effort to participate in the Canadian Genealogy Survey. Thanks to involvement of participants from the United Empire Loyalists, over 2,000 surveys have been completed.

Please note that the survey will be live until Wednesday, November 30th, 2011. If you have not done so already, please consider taking it now at http://www.cusurveycentre.ca/gensurvey/.

Once all the data is collected and analyzed after the survey deadline, the results will be posted on a blog created for the project. It will be delivered in such a way that you and others involved in the activity will have a chance to both comment on the results and perhaps interject other perspectives on the genealogical world. The URL for our blog is http://genealogyincanada.blogspot.com/.

Thank you again for your participation. We hope that our results will provide some guidance for the development of future projects to help promote the Loyalist epoch in Canadian history.

Reference to the survey was previously included in our July 31 issue.

...Leighann C. Neilson, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Carleton University

...Del Muise, Professor Emeritus, Dept. of History, Carleton University

Joseph House Family

The Loyalist Directory lists several people with the surname HOUSE, several of whom are of the Hermanus HOUSE family. One of these is Joseph HOUSe, who is shown as "suspended".

We believe that this Joseph HOUSE had a son, George [C.?] House m. Charlotte ___.

They in turn, we believe, had a son, David W. House m. c. 1847, unknown place, Hannah E. (Elizabeth) (nee unknown).

However, The District Marriage Registers of Upper Canada, Talbot District 1837-1857, Provincial Archives of Ontario, Toronto list, Hannah Eliza Smith, Townsend, Norfolk County, Ontario as being married in 1847.

David and Elizabeth were found in Grimsby Township, Lincoln County, UC with their two children, as follows:

1. Theresa House, born 05 OCT 1847, Grimsby, Lincoln Co., Ontario, married John Rowe, died 12 Oct 1939, Brantford, Brant County, Ontario, Canada, buried Greenwood, Brantford Brant Brantford; and

2. Eliza Lija L. House, born 1850, Grimsby Township, Lincoln County, UC.

A third child was born later in Waterford. Elizabeth J(ulia?) House, born 15 Apr 1857, Waterford, Townsend Township, Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada, married 04 Jul 1877, Brantford, Brant County, Ontario, Canada, Abraham Abram Abrahm Weakley Weekley, died 20 May 1928, St. Catharines, Grantham Twp., Lincoln Co., Ontario, CANADA, buried, Mt. Hope, Brantford, Ontario, Canada.

We are seeking names of the parents of David W. House and Hannah Elizabeth (nee unknown). Any additional information would be much appreciated.

...Howard Lawrence