In this issue:

  • UELAC 2021 Conference & Historic Event: Join the Revolution
  • Loyalists Lewdwick, Mary, John, and Hannah Croscup
  • William and Priscilla McKinstry: Forgotten Loyalist Ancestors – Part 1 by Stephen Davidson UE
  • Atlantic Loyalist Connections: Loyalists A to Z, Part 1
  • JAR: The Discovery of an Important Letter from a Soldier of the 1st Rhode Island Regiment
  • JAR: Key to Victory: Foreign Assistance to America’s Revolutionary War
  • Fort William and Mary
  • Washington’s Quill: Three Diaries
  • Loyalists and Black Loyalists — What?
  • Borealia: The Fury of the Betrayed: What Attacks on Capitols Tell us
  • Ben Franklin’s World: Vast Early America
  • Remembering Prince Philip: Prince Andrew and Okill Stuart
  • All Aboard for National Train Day at Five Passport Places
  • Thompson-Okanagan Branch Offers “Additional Branch” Membership
  • Events:
    • Grand River Br.: The Castine Loyalists of New Brunswick Sun. 18 Apr. @2:00 ET
    • Kawartha Br.: St. Alban’s UEL Memorial Church: Sun. 18 Apr. @2:00 ET
    • Tales of the Southern Campaigns: Augusta and the River Forts — Sat April 24 @9:00
  • From the Twittersphere and Beyond
  • Last Post: KIPP BSc PhD MLS UE, Edward Burnice

 

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UELAC 2021 Conference & Historic Event: Join the Revolution
Bridge Annex is excited to announce that we are approaching 100 registrants at the All Access Pass level to UELAC 2021. We’re encouraged that so many people, both UELAC members and others, have taken an interest in participating. Our virtual conference and historical event is jam-packed with opportunities to engage and excite interest in Loyalist-related heritage.
We have recently updated our schedule of events, which is more detailed and this along with the interactive map on our website will give you a good idea of what you can expect May 27-31. Our innovative conference will provide an opportunity to experience history through a mix of live, interactive events, as well as a plethora of videos, audio, links and more! And if you miss travelling as much as we do, we know you’ll love taking our virtual tours through Stormont, Dundas, and Glengarry (SDG) Counties, a region with a rich history and dynamic present.
Purchasing the all All Access Pass, an excellent value at only $50, will ensure you take advantage of all that UELAC 2021 has to offer. Information and Registration at: www.uelbridgeannex.com/2021
See you in May!

Loyalists Lewdwick, Mary, John, and Hannah Croscup
By Brian McConnell UE
On Thursday 15 April I visited Christ Church Anglican Church Cemetery in Karsdale, Annapolis County, Nova Scotia to view gravestones of Lewdwick, Mary, John, and Hannah Croscup. They were all Loyalists from New York who arrived in Digby in 1783 and settled across Annapolis Basin at Granville to farm. Lewdwick and Mary were originally from Germany and married in 1762 at New York according to records of the Dutch Reformed Church. John was their son and Hannah his wife. Her maiden name was Fowler and she also came to Digby with her family as Loyalist refugees from New York. John and Mary were married in Digby in 1790. The headstones of two other children of Lewdwick and Mary, being Daniel and Ann, are also in the cemetery. Christ Church Anglican Church was built by Loyalists between 1789 and 1791. It was consecrated by Bishop Charles Inglis in 1793. The original name of the church was St. Paul’s, however it was changed in 1882 to Christ Church. Watch a video of my visit… Also twitter one and two

William and Priscilla McKinstry: Forgotten Loyalist Ancestors – Part One of Four
copyright Stephen Davidson UE
Given that people in the past tended to research the paternal line in their genealogies, it may well be that a husband and wife from Taunton, Massachusetts are completely unknown to their descendants. Dr. William McKinstry and his wife Priscilla experienced persecution at the hands of their neighbours because they were Loyalists. It was a perilous choice in a colony that was decidedly Patriot in the years leading up to the American Revolution.
The McKinstrys’ four sons all died as single men without any children, so the family name did not pass down through William’s line. Being “politically incorrect” would explain the fact that William and Priscilla have been forgotten by the descendants of their two daughters who married into Patriot families.
The only person who might have told the story of her Loyalist parents to her children was the couple’s oldest daughter, Priscilla. But if her descendants forgot the story of their maternal ancestors’ loyalty during the revolution, then William and Priscilla are numbered among the thousands of Loyalists who are unknown to their descendants.
Which is unfortunate. The McKinstrys deserve better. Their experience as Loyalists included Priscilla’s persecution by the women of Taunton and William’s mistreatment by local Sons of Liberty. These are stories that ought to be known.
The son of a minister, William McKinstry was born on October 8, 1732 in Ellington, Connecticut. Twenty-seven years later, William was a trained physician with a practice in Taunton, Massachusetts, a town about 64 km south of Boston. He built himself a 2-story “brick-end” house for himself and his bride-to-be. The house had a hipped roof that was framed by four chimneys. (225 years later this house would be added to the National Register of Historic Place — but not because it had once been the home of a Loyalist.)
On November 27, 1760, William married Priscilla Leonard, also the child of a minister. Records of the day note that the new Mrs. McKinstry was “a finely educated and high spirited woman, of elegant manners”.
Within a year, the couple had their first child who, despite his father’s medical skills, died on the day of his birth. The McKinstry family also acquired an African slave that same year. About 23 years old, Bristol had been bequeathed to William by his father.
In 1762, William and Priscilla had a second son born to them on November 13th. Following a custom that we find strange today, they gave the baby the same name as their first child: William.
About six months later, young William’s 28 year-old Aunt Elizabeth visited the McKinstrys’ home. For reasons still not fully understood, Bristol, the family’s slave, murdered Elizabeth, thinking that her death would in some way lead to his being returned to Africa or at least set free. At Bristol’s trial, he was defended by Robert Treat Paine, a lawyer who would one day be among the signers of the Declaration of Independence. Bristol was found guilty of murder and hanged in December.
Despite the fact that their home had been the sight of a tragic event, the McKinstrys remained at 111 High Street. Over the next 12 years, Priscilla gave birth to eight more children, including a set of twins. John, a son born in 1763, died at the age of five. A year later the couple’s newborn son was given John’s name.
The loss of William’s sister and two of their children would have been seen as part of the sorrows of life, something to be borne with Christian patience and fortitude. However, events were coming to a head around the McKinstry family that were considered completely unnatural and unprecedented — a rebellion against their beloved king and the Mother Country.
Tensions over taxes and the lack of representation in the British Parliament were polarizing Massachusetts’ population. In the spring of 1775, a rebel militia of Minutemen set out to disarm a Loyalist militia under the command of Col. Thomas Gilbert. The Patriots captured 29 Loyalists and sent some of them to jail in Taunton. Injured in the exchange between Loyalists and rebels was Gilbert’s brother, Captain Samuel Gilbert.
Despite his wounds, Samuel would not allow a doctor known to have rebel sympathies to tend to his injuries. However, he permitted Dr. William McKinstry to dress his wounds. McKinstry must have been known to be a Loyalist or at least a neutral in Massachusetts’ growing political divide. Within a month of treating Gilbert, McKinstry’s world began to unravel.
Whatever his political convictions had been before treating Samuel Gilbert, McKinstry was thereafter regarded as a hated Tory in the eyes of his neighbours. As one historian noted, “That act excited suspicions against the amiable and popular physician. He became exposed to insult and injury. Being in feeble health and of a sensitive nature, he thought it wise to retire to Boston. His family, which was left in Taunton, was now subject to increased annoyance.”
In just over a month after he found sanctuary in British-controlled Boston, McKinstry was appointed surgeon general of the city’s hospitals. It was none other than General Thomas Gage, the commander in chief of all British forces in America, who enlisted McKinstry. The Loyalist doctor from Taunton established a new home on Boston’s Hanover Street, and remained in charge of the city’s hospitals until March of 1776 when he boarded the hospital ship, Dutton, to be evacuated to Halifax, Nova Scotia.
As for Captain Samuel Gilbert –the patient whose wounds prompted the Patriot persecution of Dr. McKinstry—he also sought sanctuary in Boston. Until his evacuation to Nova Scotia, Gilbert served in “procuring forage and provisions” for General Gage. Massachusetts later officially banished Gilbert and threatened to have him executed if he were to return to the colony. Mrs. Gilbert stayed behind on their 400-acre estate in Freetown, Massachusetts for about two years until the colony’s Patriots confiscated the family’s property, buildings, livestock, sailing vessel, and seven enslaved Africans.
In the spring of 1786, eleven years after his medical encounter with Dr. McKinstry, Samuel Gilbert appeared before the Loyalist compensation board when it convened in Halifax, hoping to receive reparations for his wartime losses. Historians disagree on whether Gilbert settled in New Brunswick or near Digby, Nova Scotia. Whatever his Maritime address may have been, Gilbert and his family eventually returned to the United States.
The story of William McKinstry’s wife Priscilla and the fate of their eight children will be told in next week’s edition of Loyalist Trails.
To secure permission to reprint this article contact the author at stephendavids@gmail.com.


Atlantic Loyalist Connections: Loyalists A to Z, Part 1
By Leah Grandy 14 Apr, 2021
Do you know your loyalist ABCs? This post will familiarize you with some important terms for loyalist history and research!
American Loyalist Claims Commission
The Commission created to deal with the claims for compensation to restore property lost through loyalty to the British Crown during the American Revolution with an original deadline for submissions of spring 1784, which was later extended for those who were unable to submit claims earlier. The records of the claims made by American loyalists are found in the British Audit Office records 12 (Series I) and 13 (Series II) which consist of the evidence of witnesses, reports and other communicated documents, the examinations and decisions of the commissioners, lists of claims, etc..
Book of Negroes
Document produced in 1783 at New York which nominally recorded Black Loyalists, both free and enslaved, who intended to emigrate.
Committee of Safety
Local organizations formed by patriots during the American Revolution which evolved from committees of correspondence and committees of inspection to become the executive bodies of a “shadow government,” Read more…

JAR: The Discovery of an Important Letter from a Soldier of the 1st Rhode Island Regiment
by Christian M. McBurney 14 April 2021
Last spring, the Varnum Memorial Armory Museum in East Greenwich, Rhode Island, announced its discovery of a handwritten letter from a formerly enslaved man who had gained his freedom by enlisting in the 1st Rhode Island Regiment during the Revolutionary War. The letter, written in 1781, is one of only a few known existing letters sent by Black soldiers during the Revolutionary War, and it was from a soldier serving in Rhode Island’s famous “Black Regiment.” This makes the find a remarkable one; indeed, it is a “national treasure” as the curator of the museum and discoverer of the letter, Patrick Donovan, states. The contents of the letter are also noteworthy: the soldier made a shocking request of his former “master and mistress” who had once enslaved him.
The letter is from Thomas Nichols of Warwick, Rhode Island. It was sent to Benjamin and Phoebe Nichols of Warwick, who had once enslaved Thomas Nichols. According to Rhode Island’s 1774 census, Benjamin Nichols’ household contained two adult white men, two adult white women, three white children, two “Indians” (most likely servants of some kind since Rhode Island did not allow Native Americans to be enslaved), and one Black slave—Thomas Nichols. A state military census for 1777 listed Benjamin and Thomas as able-bodied men between the ages of sixteen and sixty. In mid-1778, Thomas Nichols became free, escaping enslavement by enlisting in the 1st Rhode Island Regiment of the Continental Army. Read more…

JAR: Key to Victory: Foreign Assistance to America’s Revolutionary War
by William V. Wenger 12 April 2021
Historians have long appreciated that the colonies could not have won the American Revolutionary War against the most powerful nation in the world without significant foreign aid. What is not coherently presented in the historical record or documented in any meaningful depth is the quantification of that aide by France and her allies, primarily Spain. This article will provide condensed version of the in-depth investigation into the quantification of the direct foreign aid provided to the American Revolution presented in my book entitled The Key to American Independence: Quantifying Foreign Assistance to the American Revolution.
The historical record clearly and accurately summarizes the circumstances of the significant need of foreign aid and assistance to the thirteen-colonies and the countries opposed to Great Britain globally as a result of the many years of warfare among the Europeans prior to the American Revolution, culminating in the Seven Years’ War. Britain’s success in that war, although at great cost, left France and her ally Spain defeated. These primary providers of financial and military aid to the American Revolution ably assisted in supporting the American war effort as revenge and possible leverage, facilitated by the financiers of the Netherlands. In addition, some manpower was provided from Sweden.
It is relatively easy to determine who provided the aid to the American cause, but a number of questions must be addressed to determine the substance of that aid. Read more…

Fort William and Mary
The scenic town of New Castle, New Hampshire is the site of the ruins of Fort William and Mary. Like the college in Virginia, the fort was named in tribute to the (sort of) iconic British rulers of the Glorious Rebellion fame. It is ironic that each played a role in establishing the British monarchy in America under the rubric of a revolution. But it did and some claim here the first armed resistance to royal authority began long before Lexington and Concord.
The Agitation
In May of 1774, the closure of Boston’s port had most New Englanders inflamed. British authorities demanded the “salt-water tea” be paid for and Bostonians to show concede. In New Hampshire, the Committee of Correspondence vowed to make Boston’s fight their own.
Royal Governor John Wentworth knew there was now a radical shift in public opinion. Read more…

Washington’s Quill: Three Diaries
Currently, the editors at the Washington Papers are working on volume 31 of George Washington’s Revolutionary War papers, and we have started work on volume 32. These volumes of The Papers of George Washington cover the period from March 7 to July 4, 1781. Some of the most valuable primary sources for our annotation of Washington’s correspondence written during this period are three diaries.

  • Washington’s own diary, which he kept between May 1 and Nov. 5, 1781
  • British officer Frederick Mackenzie, who was often present in New York City, the location of the headquarters of the British commander in chief.
  • a journal kept by Captain Ludwig Von Closen, an officer of the French Royal Deux-Ponts Regiment and an aide-de-camp to Lieutenant General Rochambeau (the commander of the French army in North America).

Read more…

Loyalists and Black Loyalists — What?
By Elaine Cougler 14 April 2021.
It is really time. Time to stop hiding the history of our past–no matter what country we live in–and tell the truth.
Because of my own Loyalist background and several of the books I’ve written I have been the guest speaker at many UELAC branch meetings. That has led me to sign up for their weekly newsletter and learn more from the amazing historians who every week contribute knowledgeable and well-researched articles about various Loyalist histories.
One of those most interesting writers is Stephen Davidson UE. I have referenced his work before in my blog posts or newsletters. He is very generous with his well-documented research.
In a recent issue of the Loyalist Trails, Stephen’s article mentioned Black Loyalists who came to Nova Scotia and New Brunswick and how they were forced to live. Blacks were not given the same treatment as white Loyalists. Stephen’s stories of them living in 5 foot by 5 foot holes dug into a hillside and topped with small peaked roofs one side of which had a trap door for entry got my attention. Read Elaine’s Rant, and Accolades…

Borealia: The Fury of the Betrayed: What Attacks on Capitols in Montreal (1849) and Washington (2021) Tell Us About the Long History of Anti-Democratic Sentiment in North American Political Culture
By Dan Horner 13 April 2021
On the night of April 25, 1849, a riled-up crowd of protesters showered Montreal’s parliament building with rocks, stormed through its front doors, and set the building—a repurposed public market in the city’s west-end—on fire. In many ways, the Rebellion Losses Riot stemmed from the same sense of grievance that shaped the unrest at the capitol in Washington on January 6, 2021. It points to an important thread of anti-democratic sentiment that has been a defining, if often unrecognized, feature of North America’s political cultures.
During the spring of 1849, Montreal’s Tories—a political faction composed almost entirely of English-speaking Protestants—found themselves nursing the same brand of political and cultural grievances as the supporters of Donald Trump at the end of 2020. In the recent past they had enjoyed almost unfettered access to the levers of political power in the Province of Canada. The Crown’s decision to adopt the principle of responsible government, though, threatened to have devastating consequences. Suddenly the colonial establishment would no longer be able to count on the Governor to disallow legislation that passed in the province’s elected assembly. Read more…

Ben Franklin’s World: Vast Early America
What do historians wish more people better understood about early American history and why do they wish people had that better understanding?
In honor of our 300th episode, we posed this question to more than 30 historians and they obliged us with answers. Their answers range from the temporal and geographic scope of Early America to what they wish more people understood about the work historians do. Listen in…

Remembering Prince Philip: Prince Andrew and Okill Stuart
The success of LOYAL SHE REMAINS: The Ontario Story, a 600-page, highly illustrated volume published by the United Empire Loyalists’ Association of Canada, 1984, commemorated Ontario’s two hundredth anniversary. At the time, I began an agenda to leave teaching and enter into the publication world by co-founding Heirloom Publishing Inc. in 1985. By 1986, I and several partners set out on a very ambitious endeavor, namely, to produce a series of books celebrating Canada’s rich culture, history, and heritage. After publishing the first two volumes of the upbeat CANADA Heirloom Series, CANADA from sea unto sea (1986), Volume I, and CANADA’s Native Peoples (1986) Volume II, Heirloom decided on publishing Volume III of this same series named ALLEGIANCE: The Ontario Story.
Honoring the founding, in 1791, of the province of Upper Canada by John Graves Simcoe, Heirloom Publishing felt that ALLEGIANCE had enough credibility to entice Premier Bob Rae to write the Introduction, to persuade Lt. Gov. Lincoln Alexander to write the Preface; and to convince Dan Hill, a pioneer in Black Studies, to dedicate ALLEGIANCE to John Graves Simcoe whose 1793 legislation promoted the abolition of slavery throughout the province.
Additionally, I decided to approach Prince Andrew to write a very special introductory message for ALLEGIANCE. I felt that the Prince was a good candidate for this muscular endeavor in that he had lived in the Province in 1978 while attending Lakefield College School, proudly claiming, at the time, that “Ontario was his home away from home.”
Instead of going through Government House in Ottawa when I approached Prince Andrew to write this special introduction to ALLEGIANCE, I wrote directly to the Prince Andrew at Buckingham Palace, requesting that the Prince graciously accept Heirloom’s invitation. I also supplied the Prince with suggestions for his message.
When six months came and went and the Prince had yet to provide us with no response, we were getting a little panicky as the production of ALLEGIANCE was imminent. I also happened to know that Prince Philip, husband of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, and father of Andrew, was visiting Montreal at the time and that my good friend, Okill Stuart, was going to have lunch with the Prince. So I contacted Okill, stating the scenario and he told me with certainty that he would follow through with my request and do his best for me.
I knew that Prince Philip had gone to school with Okill in Scotland but was not too sure of their close friendship. Nevertheless, within ten days Heirloom received a package from the United Kingdom. Upon opening it, there was Prince Andrew’s special introduction on Buckingham Palace letterhead, signed by him, and accompanied by a wonderful official photograph.
When I called Okill Stuart, who was born in St. Lambert, Quebec, the same place where I was born, he informed me what had happened when he and the Prince had a private luncheon get-together. He told me that when he brought up the topic for discussion, Prince Philip was seemingly annoyed that his son, the Prince, had not responded to “Mr. Humber’s invitation”, exclaiming that matters would be taken care of when he returned to the UK.
I have often wondered if Prince Philip remembered me back in 1984, Ontario’s year of Bicentennial Celebrations, when Gay and I were presented to Her Majesty outside Kingston, Ontario, on the newly opened Loyalist Parkway. At the time I was privileged to give Her Majesty, on behalf the United Empire Loyalists ‘ Association of Canada, a special limited edition of Loyal She Remains. Prince Philip was right there watching the ceremonial presentation….
All I can say is that it’s not what you know, it’s not who you know, but it’s who knows you. I was so lucky to have Prince Philip remember me or to have someone prod the memory of His Royal Highness. As playwright William Congreve said in 1700, it’s “The Way of the World.”
Charles J. Humber

All Aboard for National Train Day at Five Passport Places
National Trust for Canada
Canada’s enduring reliance on the railway officially started with great fanfare on July 21, 1836, when the Champlain and Saint Lawrence Railroad transported its first passengers from La Prairie to Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec. “Railway mania” would take hold in Canada, persuading politicians and entrepreneurs to notice the benefits of a transcontinental railway: the Canadian Pacific Railroad (CPR). Westward expansion and development often spelled significant and lasting negative impacts on Indigenous communities, as well as dire working conditions for over 15,000 Chinese labourers in the name of Nation building. For decades, the CPR (built 1881-1885) was the only practical means of long-distance passenger transport in most regions of Canada. Until it is safe to travel again, join us for National Train Day (May 8) through five heritage sites with important connections to the railway history in Canada.

  • Kettle Valley Steam Railway — Summerland, BC
  • Shogomoc Railway Museum — Florenceville-Bristol, NB
  • Elmira Railway Museum — Elmira, PEI
  • Toronto Railway Museum — Toronto, ON
  • McAdam Railway Station — McAdam, NB

Thompson-Okanagan Branch Offers “Additional Branch” Membership
The Thompson-Okanagan Branch in the interior of British Columbia now offers an “Additional Branch” membership, to those who are members of another branch.
For more information, Visit their website (as noted on the branches of UELAC).
To join as an additional branch member, log in at uelac.ca and follow the “Renew/Add Membership” button or if you are not a member now, you can join as an individual or family member by following the “Become a member” button on the homepage.
Carl Stymiest UE, a primary member at Vancouver Branch, was the first to take advantage of this new membership offering by this branch. Liz Adair of Assiniboine Branch followed not far behind.

Events:

Today! Grand River Branch: The Castine Loyalists of New Brunswick Sun. 18 Apr. @2:00 ET

Speaker R Barry Murray share via Zoom this intriguing story.
No need to preregister. Join anytime after 1:30 ET to socialize.
Join Zoom Meeting https://zoom.us/j/99129072340?pwd=NVZ0ZjZnUnlVSm1SZ0I5ZFhOVnRWUT09
Meeting ID: 991 2907 2340 Passcode: 761015
Teaser: What would you do if you had moved your family to a new community and built your life all over, only to find you were really not welcome in your new home? In particular what would you think if all of your friends had joined you in building this new community, and they too were not welcome?
To make matters worse, the other residents in your new community were plotting to have you arrested, or even killed?
Not a very welcoming position to be in for a group of British (Loyal) soldiers and their families who had already fled persecution in previous communities.
This loyal group did the unthinkable! They disassembled their houses, and loaded them on ships along with their livestock and worldly possessions, and set sail for more friendly shores. They did this in October, just before winter was to set in, and re established them selves on a small peninsula. In 1783. Join the meeting to hear more.

Today! Kawartha Branch: St. Alban’s UEL Memorial Church: Sun. 18 Apr. @2:00 ET

A Rich Past & Promising Future
The fall of 2018 saw the closing of St. Alban’s as an Anglican Church.
The Friends of St. Alban’s, a not-for-profit charity, has been established to preserve this significant heritage site.
Our guest speakers, Diane Berlet and Axel Thesberg, will talk about the next chapter of the story: plans to preserve the integrity of this heritage building while transforming it into a vibrant community hub.
Join for visiting anytime after 1:30 p.m. Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/98287126662?pwd=NGFYOUdkeWRpQlhOd2FxVVJzMG1tdz09
Meeting ID: 982 8712 6662 Passcode: 654985

Tales of the Southern Campaigns: Augusta and the River Forts — April 24, 2021, 9AM EST (2 hrs)

The lectures will cover events that mainly occurred in May of 1781

  • Steve Smith — Siege of Fort Motte
  • Wayne Lynch — Henry Lee and the Militia (Fort Granby)
  • Steve Rauch — 2nd Siege of Augusta
  • Q&A with panel

Register in advance for this webinar at https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_mU9RSPOtQzupzpps67vl1g
Wayne Lynch

From the Twittersphere and Beyond

Last Post: KIPP BSc PhD MLS UE, Edward Burnice
APRIL 16, 1943 – APRIL 10, 2021
Following a long illness bravely fought, Edward Kipp passed away at 2:19 am Saturday 10 April after an evening spent with his wife and two daughters. Edward Kipp was born 16 April 1943 In Burford Township, Brant County, Ontario. He was one of the two sons of his parents Lorne Kipp (born in Gobles, Ontario) and Phyllis Link (born in Carievale, Saskatchewan). His brother Allan and sister in law June predeceased him.
He attended public school in Princeton, Ontario and high school in Paris, Ontario. He then attended the University of Western Ontario where he studied Chemistry and received his HBSc and PhD in Inorganic Chemistry. He worked as a Research Scientist for two years in Environmental Chemical Engineering. He returned to the University of Western Ontario to do his MLS. He then worked at the National Research Council of Canada for nearly thirty years as a Research Information Specialist.
He is survived by his wife Elizabeth, daughters Margaret and Kathryn, son in law Rick.
During his seventeen years of retirement (and before) he was very involved with the Ottawa Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society, co-led Historical Bus Trips into the United States and with his wife toured parts of the United States and Europe. In 2012 he received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for his lifelong volunteerism. In lieu of flowers donations to the Ontario Genealogical Society would be very much appreciated. May God bless you and keep you dear Edward, may God’s Countenance shine upon you and give you peace. More here…
From Fred Hayward UE: In Ed’s designations, The CMH stands for Companion of the Order of Meritorious Heritage, an honour received in 2000.
A few of the contributions to our genealogical and Loyalist heritage by the Late Edward B Kipp. For example he spoke to the Palatines to America NY Chapter , October 11, 2003 on “Who were the Loyalists“.
At that time his biography indicated he was ” Active in Sir Guy Carleton Branch and St. Lawrence Branch, trip leader and coordinator of numerous Hudson and Mohawk Valley trips 1998 – 2006, extensive publications, talks and tours, responsible for King’s Names Project – Sir Guy Carleton Branch to create a database, then in a CD-ROM format.” The King’s Name Project was a project of the Sir Guy Carleton Branch. The purpose of the project was to index, selectively, names of loyalists and associated people found in the British Headquarters Papers. The project involved several researchers reading the microfilm and creating an index card, containing pertinent information, for each loyalist name. There are about 50,000 index cards available covering names from A to Z. See Carleton’s Loyalist Index.
In time there will be other reports on his genealogical work in the Ottawa area (GENE-O-RAMA) as well as his research on his ancestral Empeys.
His stamp of excellence is evident in everything he did.
From Doug Grant UE: Ed also helped develop the Loyalist Directory. He transcribed from various issues of the New York Genealogical & Biographical Record published between 1904 and 1909 some details of Loyalists who settled in what is now New Brunswick. A significant effort totalling almost 3,300 Loyalists.

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