“Loyalist Trails” 2004-20 November 6, 2004
In this issue:
– Fall Gazette
– Christmas Social: Sir Guy Carleton Branch
– Errors for Historians
– Genealogy Seminars/Displays: Vancouver Branch
– Lost Burial Sites
– Queries
+ Proper Uniform
+ Delmar Valleau
+ Who qualified as Loyalists
Articles
The Fall 2004 issue of the Gazette was sent from the mailing house to Canada Post on Wed. Nov. 3. I spoke with Past President Myrna Fox today and she received her copy on Friday. Remember that, as we send the Gazette in bulk, it may get hung up in various places, so you may not get your copy for a couple of weeks.
Christmas Social – Sir Guy Carleton Branch
The Christmas Social will be held at Rideau Park United Church, 2203 Alta Vista Drive, Ottawa, on Nov. 18th, from 5:30 pm. Special guest The Hon. Peter Milliken has said he could attend from 5:30 to 6:15 pm.
Guest Speaker: Doug Grant, President of the UELAC speaking on “Loyalists from Coast to Coast”
Turkey Dinner at 6:15 pm, provided by the United Church Women. Buy Christmas Presents from the many Loyalist items
of Glassware, luggage, and clothing. Door Prizes.
Tickets at $20 available by phoning 726-674 or emailing {sylvia_powers AT hotmail DOT com}
Just for clarification, in the Sir John Johnson branch announcement regarding Sir Colpoys Johnson being the official guest at the Colours Ceremony at Fort York June past referred to the regiment as “The King’s Royal Rangers.” The KRR NY was never referred to during the war as a ranger operation, which is an entirely different classification of military duty as opposed to line infantry.
…Gavin Watt
I am most embarrassed to see that I erred in the name of the King’s Royal Regiment of New York. I know the proper title and I gave it the proper wording in our 2004 Fall Newsletter. Gavin, my most sincere apologies to you and to the KRRNY
…Myrtle Johnson
The item in the last issue about the Archives used this quote “Of all of our Nations assets, Archives are the most precious. They are the gift of one generation to another, and the extent of our care of them marks the extent of our civilization.” It was attributed to Arthur Douglas, Dominion of Canada Archivist (1904-1935), but the name should have been Sir Arthur Doughty.
…David Anderson
Genealogy Seminars/Displays at Surrey Family History Centre: UELAC Vancouver Branch Outreach
A big “thank-you” to Audrey Viken, UE, Albert Bahry, Clark Shea, and Janet White for helping with our Outreach UELAC display, Saturday, October 16th 2004 at the Tri-Stakes “Finding Your Roots” Family History Seminars, Surrey FHC. The tri-cities of Vancouver, Burnaby and Surrey held their annual genealogy workshops at the Morman FHC over this weekend. Approximately, 150 participants attended. The Vancouver Branch Outreach Committee didn’t miss “a beat” by having their UELAC Outreach display in full view.
The Vancouver Branch UELAC display was a “hit” to say the least. Probably, the most colourful display at the workshops. Dressed in costume – Kings Royal Regiment New York, yours truly attracted many interested folk in our Association. Several new prospective members filled in the Vancouver Branch “interest form” that we use for such Outreach programs and displays. Informational handouts were distributed as well.
…Carl Stymiest, U.E. UELAC Vancouver Branch: Genealogist
At the UELAC Council meeting on October 23, it was decided that a Committee should be appointed to determine a way to recognize the burial sites for those Loyalists whose burial sites have been lost over time, or who are buried outside Canada. The following article discusses the situatrion caused by the development of the St. Lawrence Seaway and the flooding of many areas settled by Loyalists. “Pioneer Memorial at Upper Canada Village” – The Cemetery that Never Was …
“How can a halo be cast over the departed, or ‘sweetness and light’ be reflected on the grave?” – Ecclesiastical Art Review, February 1878.
Some of Canada’s oldest surviving Marker Stones are in a cemetery with no burials. Of course, we are referring to the Pioneer Memorial at Upper Canada Village, near Morrisburg, Ontario. When the St. Lawrence Seaway was constructed in the late 1950’s, thousands of local lives were disrupted. Complete villages disappeared, while the faces of others were changed completely. Eighteen Cemeteries were to be affected by the construction and flooding. Originally, Ontario Hydro intended moving all monuments, and re-interring all remains. After a great deal of local discussion, families who could be contacted were given the choice to re-inter or to leave remains at the original sites. This arrangement worked for all but one cemetery, which was to be excavated before the flooding. In this case, all remains had to be removed. Read the article here.
Queries
Proper Uniform
I am a reenactor serving with the 1st Battalion of New Jersey Volunteers. Within our company, a dispute has arisen concerning the accuracy of our uniforms. We portray the 1780 version of the unit, wearing red coats with blue racings and white lace around the buttons, white linen waist coats and breeches, and black half-gaitors. The disputing party has found inconclusive evidence that the waist coats and breeches should be white wool, and the leggings should be of brown wool in a wrap and tie style, matching garters worn on the outside of the leggings.
I am wondering if you can either clarify the issue with supported documentation, or at least point us in the right direction by advising reading materials. Any help in this matter would be greatly appreciated.
…Guy Valachovic {valachovic2 AT verizon DOT net}
I am attempting to locate Delmar Valleau and his wife Olive Valleau, son of O. W. Valleau, deceased. Mr. Valleau’s first name was Oakland, and everyone called him “Oak.” The county may have been Lanark. I know that it was west of Ottawa, along a tributary to the Ottawa River. It was a large red brick home, and Mr. Valleau grew up in that home. Unfortunately I do not know at what age he moved to Melfort, Saskatchewan.
O. W. Valleau was an Empire Loyalist who moved from Ontario to Melfort, Sask. and became a member of the Government of Sask. from 1944 until the 1960’s. He was Provincial Secretary and Minister of Social Welfare, and was responsible for the first Public Automobile Insurance Act in Canada. In 1944 he was approximately 53 years of age; I am not aware what year he passed away. There may be a record in the Legislative Library, Legislative Building, Regina, Sask. He was a member of the CCF political party and member representing the Constituency of Melfort, Sask. Delmar Valleau was their only son.
In late 1940 or early 1950 Delmar and his wife Olive moved to B.C. It runs in my memory that they lived in Pt. Coquitlan (?) for a period of time. I am not aware whether Delmar is still alive. If he is, I would appreciate if you could contact Delmar and ask him to contact me.
I was private secretary to O. W. Valleau from 1944 to 1948, and am anxious to contact Delmar Valleau re an estate in Ontario.
…Helen Engel {padre AT mts DOT net} 206 S. Dominique Dr., Selkirk, MB R1A 2G1, Phone 204-482-3734
Several issues ago I noted that to qualify as Loyalist, one had to have been settled in the American colonies before the Revolution broke out, have displayed loyalty to the Crown and have been settled in Canada when the war ended. Since then numerous questions and comments have lead me to one should work through the proving process if there is any thought or suspicion that your ancestor may have been a Loyalist. There are many exceptions to the above. In some cases people arriving as late as 1789 qualified. Best to take he advice from baseball philosopher Yogi Berra “It ain’t over ’til its over.”
….doug
Many Loyalists were still trekking to British North America in 1784 and 1785, some of whom were held prisoners a bit longer. Some went to Florida first, and then came north, after the new American government took over Florida from the Brits. – a six month chapter in Florida’s history, which was settled in a humane way, allowing the Loyalists to finish bringing in their crops, before leaving. And our Association also respects applications of folk who went to Bermuda, as it was part of British North American in May 1783.
… Philip Smart UE
On October 19th I had the opportunity to give a talk to the Hastings County Historical Society in Belleville. I took a look at what I term “The Hidden Loyalists”. They were those non-Northern Dept. Loyalists who settled in Upper Canada, but are often not listed on the standard Loyalist lists for Upper Canada. A prime example is Peter Stoneburgh, a veteran of the New York Volunteers (3rd American Reg’t), who moved from the Maritimes to the Trenton area c1805.
…Peter Johnson UE