Loyalist Ships: The Camel
“The Settlement” below is an excerpt from the PDF biography of Joshua Knight in the Loyalist Directory.
It is followed by a passenger list for the Camel.
Below that is a list of Loyalists who settled in the Beaver Harbour, Belle Vue, Pennfield areas in Charlotte County, New Brunswick. They came on His Majesty’s armed transport Camel to Passamaquoddy, Charlotte County in September 1783. The information is taken from the ship muster, contributed by Mike Mallery.
“The Settlement”
The place chosen for settlement through John Parr of Halifax and Governor Carleton was Beaver Harbour or Bellevu. The settlers were brought to Saint John, N.B., by ship under convoy. One ship was the Camel, 293 tons, Capt. William Tinker, and arrived 18 September, 1783. A list of the people she carried includes James Reed, Pilot, wife and two children; 30 children over the age of 10 years found as supernumeraries for victuals and victualles at two-thirds of all provisions (spirits except) by order of Rear Admiral Digby; also Loyalists and refugees, consisting of 104 men, 50 women, 20 servants as well as 47 children who received half rations.
Nearly all the passengers of the Camel belonged to two special companies of Quakers and Anabaptists. They were immediately sent down the shore by ship to Beaver Harbour where they settled what was to have been a large town by the name of Bellevu. They suffered many hardships during the first winter.
One hundred and forty-nine lots were laid out as first grants, and these were soon followed, by 950 more. There were 15 streets and 800 residents when the town was incorporated June 4th, 1785. Three agents were appointed, Samuel Fairlamb, John Rankin and George Brown.
Original Grantees of Beaver Harbour town plots: John Rankin, Isaac Woodward, Peter Walton, Samuel Fairlamb, Samuel Stilwell, Daniel Registar, John Knight, Nimrod Woodward, Thomas Buckley Sr., Joshua Knight Sr., Caleb Paul, Caleb Paul, Jesse Lawrence, Elias Wright Sr., Moses Foulk, Benjamin Brown, Joshua Knight, John Gill, John Horner, John Horner, John Dennis, John Loufbourron, William Holmes, John Harris, Joseph Harris, Joseph Parker, John Horner, Elias Wright, Joshua Knight.. John Horner, Elias Wright Sr., Elias Wright, Abraham Woodward, Jeremiah Fills, Richard Mead, Anthony Woodward, Jacob Buffington, Freeman Smith, John Strickland, Joseph Tomlinson, George Bennison, Jesse Woodward ,Richard Matthews, Amos Strickland, Samuel Woodward.
Passenger List for the British Transport Camel, 1783
This is a list of Loyalists going to Quebec, Canada on the British Transport, Camel. The Camel was in a fleet of eight ships that left New York City in July 1783. The Camel was the first to arrive at Quebec on the 12th of August about a month after their departure from New York. This list has been sorted alphabetically.
| Names | M | F | Children over 10 | Children under 10 | Servants | Total | Misc. |
| Adams, James | 1 | 2 | 3 | ||||
| Armstrong, Jesse? | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 9 | |
| Atkinson, William | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1st Lieut. | |||
| Auser, Arthur | 1 | 2 | 3 | (Orser) | |||
| Auser, Gilbert | 1 | 1 | (Orser) | ||||
| Auser, Isaac | 1 | 1 | 2 | (Orser) | |||
| Auser, Joseph | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 9 | (Orser) |
| Auser, Solomon | 1 | 1 | 2 | (Orser) | |||
| Brady, Samuel | 1 | 1 | |||||
| Brower, Aaron | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||||
| Buro, Augusts | 1 | 1 | 3 | ||||
| Cunard, Robert | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | |||
| Daler, Michael | 1 | 1 | |||||
| Danby, Christopher | 1 | 1 | |||||
| Denton, Solomon | 1 | 1 | |||||
| Diffindurf, Jacob | 1 | 1 | |||||
| Elderbeck, Emanl. | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2nd Lieut. | ||
| Fadle, George | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | |||
| Fadle, John | 1 | 1 | |||||
| Grant, John | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||||
| Grass, Michael | 1 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 9 | Capt. | |
| Groomes, Elijah | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||||
| Hall, Richard | 1 | 1 | |||||
| Holmis, John | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | ||
| Humberston, Saml. | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | |
| Jacklin, John | 1 | 1 | 4 | 6 | |||
| Mc Donald, Michael | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | ||
| Mooney, Ambrop? | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | Ambrose? | ||
| Palmer, Silas | 1 | 1 | |||||
| Shaffer, Jacob | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | |||
| Supply, Enoch | 1 | 1 | |||||
| Swarts, Simon | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||||
| Wright, Samuel | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 9 | ||
| TOTALS: | 33 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 12 | 106 |
[Transcribed by Jean Ann Orser Lupinetti]
The information below may relate to a different ship also called the ‘Camel’ (or there may be partial or total overlap); we are in the process of sorting out the details.
Loyalists aboard the Camel, Aug. 1783, who settled in Charlotte Co., NB
Loyalists transported aboard His Majesty’s armed transport Camel to Passamaquoddy, Charlotte County in September 1783, and settled in the Beaver Harbour, Belle Vue, Pennfield areas in Charlotte County, New Brunswick.
Ref: The National Archives, KEW, Admiralty, Navy, Royal Marines, and Coast Guard. ADM36/9430.
- See the Camel ship muster (August 1783) (PDF)
Samuel Stillwell – Boarded His Majesty’s armed transport Camel on August 23, 1783 in New York and was discharged from the ship on September 29, 1783 at Harbour de lute in Passamaquoddy.
Samuel Fairland – Boarded His Majesty’s armed transport Camel on August 23, 1783 in New York and was discharged from the ship on September 29, 1783 at Harbour de lute in Passamaquoddy.
Joshua Knight
Wife Sarah Knight
son Joshua Knight jr.
Boarded His Majesty’s armed transport Camel on August 23, 1783 in New York and was discharged from the ship on September 29, 1783 at Harbour de lute in Passamaquoddy.
Abraham Rankin – Boarded His Majesty’s armed transport Camel on August 23, 1783 in New York and was discharged from the ship on September 29, 1783 at Harbour de lute in Passamaquoddy.
Roads (Rhodes) Rankin – Boarded His Majesty’s armed transport Camel on August 23, 1783 in New York and was discharged from the ship on September 29, 1783 at Harbour de lute in Passamaquoddy.
Abigale Rankin – Boarded His Majesty’s armed transport Camel on August 23, 1783 in New York and was discharged from the ship on September 29, 1783 at Harbour de lute in Passamaquoddy.
Amos Strickland – Boarded His Majesty’s armed transport Camel on August 23, 1783 in New York and was discharged from the ship on September 29, 1783 at Harbour de lute in Passamaquoddy.
Mary Strickland – Boarded His Majesty’s armed transport Camel on August 23, 1783 in New York and was discharged from the ship on September 29, 1783 at Harbour de lute in Passamaquoddy.
Peter Waltman – Boarded His Majesty’s armed transport Camel on August 23, 1783 in New York and was discharged from the ship on September 29, 1783 at Harbour de lute in Passamaquoddy.
John Dennis
Wife Martha Dennis
Child under 10 years old Henry Dennis
Possible other children under 10 on the ship – John Dennis and Elizabeth Dennis
Boarded His Majesty’s armed transport Camel on August 23, 1783 in New York and was discharged from the ship on September 29, 1783 at Harbour de lute in Passamaquoddy.
Daniel Register – Boarded His Majesty’s armed transport Camel on August 23, 1783 in New York and was discharged from the ship on September 29, 1783 at Harbour de lute in Passamaquoddy.
Benjamin Dunn – Boarded His Majesty’s armed transport Camel on August 23, 1783 in New York and was discharged from the ship on September 29, 1783 at Harbour de lute in Passamaquoddy.
Mary Dunn – Boarded His Majesty’s armed transport Camel on August 23, 1783 in New York and was discharged from the ship on September 29, 1783 at Harbour de lute in Passamaquoddy.
Rebecca Dunn – Boarded His Majesty’s armed transport Camel on August 23, 1783 in New York and was discharged from the ship on September 29, 1783 at Harbour de lute in Passamaquoddy.
John Parker – Boarded His Majesty’s armed transport Camel on August 23, 1783 in New York and was discharged from the ship on September 29, 1783 at Harbour de lute in Passamaquoddy.
Samuel Parker – Boarded His Majesty’s armed transport Camel on August 23, 1783 in New York and was discharged from the ship on September 29, 1783 at Harbour de lute in Passamaquoddy.
Benjamin Parker – Boarded His Majesty’s armed transport Camel on August 23, 1783 in New York and was discharged from the ship on September 29, 1783 at Harbour de lute in Passamaquoddy.
Elizabeth Parker – Boarded His Majesty’s armed transport Camel on August 23, 1783 in New York and was discharged from the ship on September 29, 1783 at Harbour de lute in Passamaquoddy.
Joseph Parker – Boarded His Majesty’s armed transport Camel on August 23, 1783 in New York and was discharged from the ship on September 29, 1783 at Harbour de lute in Passamaquoddy.
Michael Stump – Boarded His Majesty’s armed transport Camel on August 23, 1783 in New York and was discharged from the ship on September 29, 1783 at Harbour de lute in Passamaquoddy.
Benjamin Brown – Boarded His Majesty’s armed transport Camel on August 23, 1783 in New York and was discharged from the ship on September 29, 1783 at Harbour de lute in Passamaquoddy.
Joseph Williams – Boarded His Majesty’s armed transport Camel on August 23, 1783 in New York and was discharged from the ship on September 29, 1783 at Harbour de lute in Passamaquoddy.
Elias Wright – Boarded His Majesty’s armed transport Camel on August 23, 1783 in New York and was discharged from the ship on September 29, 1783 at Harbour de lute in Passamaquoddy.
Joseph Thorne – Boarded His Majesty’s armed transport Camel on August 23, 1783 in New York and was discharged from the ship on September 29, 1783 at Harbour de lute in Passamaquoddy.
John Horner – Boarded His Majesty’s armed transport Camel on August 23, 1783 in New York and was discharged from the ship on September 29, 1783 at Harbour de lute in Passamaquoddy.
Lydia Horner – Boarded His Majesty’s armed transport Camel on August 23, 1783 in New York and was discharged from the ship on September 29, 1783 at Harbour de lute in Passamaquoddy.
Hannah Smith – Boarded His Majesty’s armed transport Camel on August 23, 1783 in New York and was discharged from the ship on September 29, 1783 at Harbour de lute in Passamaquoddy.
James Harris – Boarded His Majesty’s armed transport Camel on August 23, 1783 in New York and was discharged from the ship on September 29, 1783 at Harbour de lute in Passamaquoddy.
Jacob Buffington – Boarded His Majesty’s armed transport Camel on August 23, 1783 in New York and was discharged from the ship on September 29, 1783 at Harbour de lute in Passamaquoddy.
John Burk – Boarded His Majesty’s armed transport Camel on August 23, 1783 in New York and was discharged from the ship on September 29, 1783 at Harbour de lute in Passamaquoddy.
Edward Burk – Boarded His Majesty’s armed transport Camel on August 23, 1783 in New York and was discharged from the ship on September 29, 1783 at Harbour de lute in Passamaquoddy.
Evan Griffiths – Boarded His Majesty’s armed transport Camel on August 23, 1783 in New York and was discharged from the ship on September 29, 1783 at Harbour de lute in Passamaquoddy.
George Sinclair – Boarded His Majesty’s armed transport Camel on August 23, 1783 in New York and was discharged from the ship on September 29, 1783 at Harbour de lute in Passamaquoddy.
Moses Foulk – Boarded His Majesty’s armed transport Camel on August 23, 1783 in New York and was discharged from the ship on September 29, 1783 at Harbour de lute in Passamaquoddy.
William Harrison – Boarded His Majesty’s armed transport Camel on August 23, 1783 in New York and was discharged from the ship on September 29, 1783 at Harbour de lute in Passamaquoddy.
Margaret Tomlinson – Boarded His Majesty’s armed transport Camel on August 23, 1783 in New York and was discharged from the ship on September 29, 1783 at Harbour de lute in Passamaquoddy.
Loyalists aboard the Camel, Nov. 1783, who settled in Nova Scotia
Loyalists who came to Canada on the second sail of His Majesty’s armed transport Camel. It stopped at several ports in the Annapolis Basin, Nova Scotia, late 1783 and into 1784.
Ref: The National Archives, KEW, Admiralty, Navy, Royal Marines, and Coast Guard. ADM36/9430.
Benjamin Jones – Long Island, Nova Scotia
Boarded His Majesty’s armed transport Camel on November 9, 1783 in New York and was discharged from the ship on February 9, 1784 at Digby Nova Scotia.
Elisha Jones – Long Island, Nova Scotia
Boarded His Majesty’s armed transport Camel on November 9, 1783 in New York and was discharged from the ship on February 9, 1784 at Digby Nova Scotia.
Elijah Jones – Long Island, Nova Scotia
Boarded His Majesty’s armed transport Camel on November 9, 1783 in New York and was discharged from the ship on February 9, 1784 at Digby Nova Scotia.
Nathaniel Jones – Long Island, Nova Scotia
Boarded His Majesty’s armed transport Camel on November 9, 1783 in New York and was discharged from the ship on February 9, 1784 at Digby Nova Scotia.
Michael Prime – Long Island, Nova Scotia
Boarded His Majesty’s armed transport Camel on November 9, 1783 in New York and was discharged from the ship on February 9, 1784 at Digby Nova Scotia.
William Totten – Digby, Nova Scotia
Boarded His Majesty’s armed transport Camel on November 9, 1783 in New York and was discharged from the ship on February 9, 1784 at Digby Nova Scotia.
Jane Totten – Annapolis, Nova Scotia
Boarded His Majesty’s armed transport Camel on November 9, 1783 in New York and was discharged from the ship on February 9, 1784 at Digby Nova Scotia.
John Paul – Digby, Nova Scotia
Boarded His Majesty’s armed transport Camel on November 9, 1783 in New York and was discharged from the ship on February 9, 1784 at Digby Nova Scotia.
Samuel Teed (Tidd) – Digby, Nova Scotia
Boarded His Majesty’s armed transport Camel on November 9, 1783 in New York and was discharged from the ship on February 9, 1784 at Digby Nova Scotia.
Joseph Totten – Clements, Nova Scotia
Boarded His Majesty’s armed transport Camel on November 9, 1783 in New York and was discharged from the ship on February 9, 1784 at Digby Nova Scotia.
John Housman – Digby, Nova Scotia
Boarded His Majesty’s armed transport Camel on November 9, 1783 in New York and was discharged from the ship on December 13, 1783 at Annapolis Nova Scotia.
John Chandler – Wilmot, Nova Scotia
Boarded His Majesty’s armed transport Camel on November 9, 1783 in New York and was discharged from the ship on December 13, 1783 at Annapolis Nova Scotia.