“Loyalist Trails” 2005-37 November 5, 2005

In this issue:
Col. Edward Jessup Branch Awards Bursary
The Loyalists 1984 Stamp and the UEL Cultural Centre
Donation of Two Books on New Brunswick to Dominion Library
Self-Serve Digital Copying Pilot Project at Library and Archives Canada
Remembrance Day
Comment re Red Ensign in Last Week’s Issue
Forts William Edward and William Henry celebrate Their 250th Anniversaries
Queries
      + Response re List of Loyalists from New Jersey

Articles

Col. Edward Jessup Branch Awards Bursary

In honour of a Past President, the late Edgar Clow, one of our most dedicated members for a great many years, the Colonel Edward Jessup Branch donated a $250.00 Bursary at the Brockville Collegiate Institute Fall Commencement.

Edgar Clow was a graduate of B.C.I. and was instrumental in the formation of the Loyalist Library at that school.

The criteria set by the branch was that the student chosen had shown an interest in and demonstrated high achievement in history and was pursuing a post-secondary education.

The winner of the Bursary was Tamara Kingsbury who is now attending Queens University. The branch plans to award this bursary on a yearly basis.

…Myrtle Johnson, President, Col. Edward Jessup Branch

The Loyalists 1984 Stamp and the UEL Cultural Centre

To Help Celebrate its 50th Anniversary, the U.E.L. Heritage Centre & Park has been Given Access to Canada Post Artwork.

Adolphustown – The U.E.L. Heritage Centre & Park has been granted permission to reproduce The Loyalists (1984) stamp on literature and advertising promoting the celebration of its 50th Anniversary.

As part of Ontario’s bicentennial celebrations, Canada Post held the commemorative stamp launch at the U.E.L. museum, Adolphustown, on July 3, 1984. The original artwork was designed by Belleville illustrator, William Davies. It depicts refugee Loyalist families with the traditional flag in the background.

Loyalists landed at Adolphustown in June 1784. The original landing site and the adjacent cemetery now form the nucleus of Greater Napanee’s largest tourist attraction. U.E.L. Heritage Centre & Park will be celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2006. June 17th, 2006 will be the date this year’s festival titled Loyalist Landing and Market Days.

With 26,000 visits U.E.L. Heritage Centre & Park is the second largest tourism attraction in Lennox and Addington County. In 2005 visitors arrived from throughout Canada, United States and Europe.

U.E.L. Heritage Centre & Park is a not-for-profit preservation project of the Bay of Quinte Branch, United Empire LoyalistsTM Association of Canada

Additional information regarding The Loyalists, 1984 stamp can be found at the web site of Library and Archives Canada, Postal Archives (visual search, 1982-1992).

…Brandt Zatterberg, Executive Director

Donation of Two Books on New Brunswick to Dominion Library

Thanks (again) for Loyalist Trails. If the New Jersey list of Loyalists is found, I would appreciate hearing about it.

I am donating two books to UELAC which I am sending via Nancy WILLIAMSON. She will call you when she gets back up. The books are Early Families of “The Mackadavy” and The Young Emigrants and Craigs of the Magaguadavic Both provide a lot of detail on Loyalist settlers to this part of Southwestern New Brunswick, 1783/85 etc.

…Calvin Lee CRAIG, UE

Self-Serve Digital Copying Pilot Project at Library and Archives Canada

The Self-Serve Digital Copying Pilot Project is a six-month initiative that will allow the clients of Library and Archives Canada (LAC) to use their own photographic equipment (digital and non-digital cameras) and LAC microform printers/scanners to copy certain documents from the holdings of LAC for the purposes of research or private study. This pilot project will enable LAC to assess the feasibility of implementing this service on a permanent basis. See the Collections Canada site for details.

…Bill Smy UE

Remembrance Day

Many branches do like Hamilton Branch does and participate in a local Remembrance Day celebration of those who fought in and especially those who fell for our country in any of the wars in which Canada has participated. If not actively participating in a ceremony, do take a few minutes to remember, and especially add a thought for the Loyalists.

On November 11, Hamilton Branch will be at the Cenotaph in Gore Park, Hamilton where they will raise the flag and lay a wreath.

Comment re Red Ensign in Last Week’s Issue

When my father died in 1995 there was a Legion service for him that was beautiful, but overwhelming. A flag was to be draped on the coffin and my mother refused to have the current flag used. Dad would be buried under the flag he fought for or none at all. She got her wish. Change is not a bad thing, but perhaps change should not forsake what has gone before.

…Sue Hines Grand River Branch

Forts William Edward and William Henry celebrate Their 250th Anniversaries

A most informative article in the October 5 – October 11, 2005 edition of the Champlain Weekly newspaper written by a retired major, Bill Glidden, is of great interest to Canadians. Titled Forts William and William Henry Celebrate Their 250th Anniversaries, it contains much information that connects the story with British and Canadian history. Topographical names and two people who are cited have special meaning to Canadians.

During the Seven Years War (known in North America as the French and Indian War) 1754-1763 England recognized the strategic importance of the Hudson Corridor, and much military activity was concentrated in this area. Forts were built and armies and medical facilities were of great importance.

William Johnson named Lake George after King George II of Britain.

Fort Lyman on the Hudson River was renamed Fort Edward in honour of a grandson of George II.

Fort William Henry on Lake George was named after another grandson of George II.

“The siege of Fort William Henry, the burning of the fort, and the massacre of the garrison and its families as they left the fort became famous in James Fennimore Cooper’s historical novel Last of the Mohicans”.

William Johnson played a major role in this war and saved the English colony of New York from the French in an English victory at the Battle of Lake George on September 8, 1755. “On November 27, 1755 a grateful English Parliament presented Johnson with 5000 pounds and the title of baronet of Great Britain”. In March of 1756, King George II bestowed upon Johnson the commission of “Colonel, agent, and sole superintendent of the affairs of the Six Nations and other northern Indians,” a position he held until the end of his life.

In 1756, Major Robert Rogers and four of his companies made a base at Fort Edward and the island became known as Rogers Island.

The members of Sir John Johnson Centennial Branch UEL were greatly honoured by the presence of Major (ret’d) Bill Glidden. at our October 16th meeting in Stanbridge East, Quebec. He was accompanied by New York another historian, Addie Shields. They enjoyed meeting our Canadian UELAC President, Doug Grant and his wife, Nancy and listening to Doug’s PowerPoint presentation about the Loyalists.

…Adelaide Lanktree UE, President, Sir John Johnson Branch

Queries

Response re List of Loyalists from New Jersey

There is a book entitled The Loyalists of New Jersey. Their memorials, Petitions, Claims, etc. from the English records. by Alfred Jones. Republished from the NJ Historical Society Proceedings, 1926-7 by the Heritage Books, Inc. 1540E Pointer Ridge Place, Bowie, MD 20716 in 1988.

…Elizabeth Hancocks UE, Dominion Genealogist

Here are the names of several books to check for your New Jersey Loyalist ancestors:

– “The Loyalists of New Jersey” by E. Alfred Jones, published by Willow Bend Books, 2002;

– “The Revolutionary War in the Hackensack Valley”, by Adrian Leiby, published by Rutgers University Press, 1980; and

– “Voyage of a Different Kind” by Larry Turner, published by Global Heritage Press, 1999. You might also check

– “American Loyalist Claims” by Peter Wilson Coldham, published by the National Genealogical Society, 1980.

Each of these books mention my ancestor, John Parcels, who lived in Bergen County and came to Adolphustown with Peter Van Alstine in 1784. His Loyalist brother, Abraham, went to Nova Scotia I believe. Good luck with your search.

…James Allin Gubb, U.E., Bay of Quinte Branch, UELAC