“Loyalist Trails” 2004-02: May 7, 2004

In this issue:
Hudson Valley Bus Tour
Loyalist Collection at Brock University
Queen’s Birthday
Spring Gazette

Articles

Hudson Valley Bus Tour

Many Loyalists have Dutch, Huguenot and Palatine Ancestry. In this regard, George Anderson and Edward Kipp, on behalf of the Sir Guy Carleton, St. Lawrence, Col. Butler and Governor Simcoe Branches, are planning a four-day Fall Trip to the Hudson Valley October 1- 4, 2004 to explore Dutch, Huguenot, Palatine and Revolutionary War Sites.

The tour will visit the Schuyler Mansion at Albany, the Palatine Monument and St. Paul Lutheran Church at West Camp, the Old Parsonage in Germantown (East Camp), Clermont (Livingston Manor), original Huguenot houses in New Paltz, Washington’s Headquarters, the Windsor Cantonment, Knox’s Headquarters and the site of the 1708 settlement of Palatines near Newburgh, and historic West Point which Benedict Arnold almost turned over to the British.

The bus will pick up people in Ottawa and Cornwall, Ontario. The trip is open to Loyalists and friends of Loyalists. This four-day trip costs $460.00 CDN per person for double accommodation. Single accommodation costs $665.00 CDN per person. The cost includes transportation, accommodation and admission to all sites. Meals are extra and will be arranged at a fixed cost. The meal cost is usually about $120 US and is payable at the time of the trip. Participants must have their own extra out-of-province travel insurance and must carry a Canadian passport.

The first deposit of $250.00 (330.00) CDN is due upon registration. The balance is payable by July 1, 2004. If there is insufficient interest, all monies will be refunded.

If you are interested, please contact George Anderson.

Loyalist Collection at Brock University

The first lot of microfilms of original documents relating to the United Empire Loyalists have arrived and are in place in the James A. Gibson, Special Collections Library at Brock University in St. Catharines.

These films were acquired from the Public Record Office in the UK. The series is T-50, Miscellaneous Documents Relating to Refugees, 1780 – 1836, American Loyalists. The films include the following:

– Pay Lists, Abstracts of pay

– Temporary Allowances Made to Loyalists

– Book of Payments Made to Loyalists

– Relief of Loyalists in East Florida

– Loyalist Quarterly Pension Lists

– Payments and Pensions to Loyalists

– Case of 55 Uncompensated Loyalists

– Payments to Loyalists 1830 – 1835

These are part of an estimated 1500 rolls of microfilm being purchased by The Friends of the Loyalist Collection at Brock University, a non-profit charitable group headquartered in Niagara.

The collection is estimated to be valued at upwards of $150,000.00. Approximately $7000.00 has been raised to date with donations from individuals, and groups. Very shortly “The Friends” will be publishing a book to sell as a fund-raiser, entitled “An Annotated Nominal Roll of Butlers Rangers 1777 – 1784”. This book compiled by Niagara Historian and Author, Lt Col. William A. Smy is a culmination of a lifetime of work, and lists the names of approximately 900 men who fought with the Butlers Rangers, and gives a brief biography of each man.

The Friends of the Loyalist Collection will have a web site shortly to promote the organization, and to sell the book on-line. A Special pre-printing sale offer will be made, if you would like to be kept informed of this of this please email your name, with “Book Offer” in the subject line to the address below.

…The Friends of the Loyalist Collection at Brock University {loyalist AT becon DOT org}

Queen’s Birthday

Celebrating the Official Canadian Birthday of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

By the Canadian Royal Heritage Museum (144 Barbara Street, Neustadt ON) and The Village of Neustadt.

Museum Hours are as follows. Saturday: 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sunday: 12:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday: 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

View Ongoing Exhibits that tell the story of Canada’s evolution from colony to kingdom, and its royal heritage

View Special Exhibits: 21st Century flags of Canada; Historic flags of Canada 1497-2004; Flags of the Queen’s Commonwealth Realms 2004; Royal Coats of Arms for Canada 1497-2004; and much more!

Meet in person Famous Monarchs, Heroes and Figures from Canadian History, and the Festival’s Town Crier. Browse the Used Royal Books Sale for great bargains. Inspect Classic Automobiles. Watch and Play Croquet.

Be sure to visit the great shops, galleries and restaurants of historic Neustadt!

Special Attractions

Saturday: 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. Afternoon tea at the museum in the style of 1940s to mark 60th anniversary year of the D-Day landing at Juno Beach.

Sunday: 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. Performance by the Governor General’s Horse Guards Regimental Band in the Village

Monday: 12:00 to 2:00 p.m. Special celebrations of the Queen’s Official Birthday

Admission to Museum: $2

Saturday Afternoon Tea: $10 (includes admission to museum)

Spring Gazette

The spring issue of the Loyalist Gazette has been printed and the met the deadline of being in the mail by May 1. I received my copy this past Monday May 3, so you should get yours before long if you have not already. Do note that the magazine is distributed in bulk mail, so it can sometimes sit in “the system” for a couple of weeks or even more. Aside from that, lots of colour and good content. Hats off once again to Peter Johnson editor, all the contributors and those who helped in the production.