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2022 UELAC Conference Invitation
The Planning Committee of the 2022 Dominion Conference would like to invite you to our virtual conference, “From Heartbreak to Hope in the Heart of the Continent“. Visit https://uelmanitoba.ca/conference2022 for more details and registration.

“Magnates, Mavens, and Miracle Workers: Loyalist Descendants in Manitoba”

Minnie Julia Beatrice Buck (Mrs. Colin Campbell)
Loyalist forebears:

  • Philip Buck of Bowman Creek and Susquehanna River, Wyoming County, Pennsylvania. Private in Butler’s Rangers. He settled in Bertie, Lincoln, Niagara.
  • John Howell, Sr. of Mohawk River, New York Province. Sergeant Major, 2nd Battalion, Sir John Johnson and Butlers Ranger’s. He settled in Sophiasburg and Ameliasburg.

Minnie was born 18th June 1862 in Palermo, Ontario to Dr. Anson Buck and Keturah Adelaide Howell. She was loyalist descended on both sides. The Bucks had roots in Germany, Mecklenburg and the Palatinate, and the Howells in Wales.
In 1884 Minnie married Colin H. Campbell, a barrister. They moved to Winnipeg
The early decades of the Twentieth century were the great era of volunteer organizations. Upper class women were not expected, indeed allowed, to work outside the home. Their domain was the many patriotic and service organizations. It was here that Minnie found her metier.
Mrs. Colin Campbell participated in service organizations both locally and nationally. The focus of her greatest involvement was the Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire.
During World War I Mrs. Campbell was probably the most influential I.O.D.E leader in Western Canada. She led the campaign to raise $100,000 to equip a hospital ship. The campaign began in September, 1914. By the end of September, the National I.O.D.E had raised $250,000. It was used to equip the Royal Navy Hospital at Portsmouth, England, and to purchase 40 ambulances.
It has been said that Minnie Campbell was “one of the most important women in Winnipeg” during World War I
Her devotion to the British Empire was recognized in Britain. She was presented at court and received Coronation Medals of Edward VII, George V, George VI, and the Silver Jubilee Medal of George V. Poland awarded her the Golden Cross of Poland for her war relief work. In 1935 she was inducted into the Order of the British Empire.
Minnie was a Founding Member of the Manitoba Branch of the United Empire Loyalists’ Association. Read more…
Mary Steinhoff, Chair, On behalf of the 2022 Conference Planning Committee of the Manitoba Branch

Loyalists in a German Soldier’s Diary
copyright Stephen Davidson UE
The stories of the Loyalist era are found in newspapers, personal correspondence, petitions, and journals. Usually these primary sources were composed by either Patriots or Loyalists who had to live with whatever political choices they made during and after the American Revolution. One fascinating glimpse of loyal Americans can be found in a somewhat unexpected source — the diary of a German soldier who was one of the 30,000 Germans who fought to defeat the rebellious thirteen colonies.
Johann Conrad Döhla came to North America as a member of the Ansbach-Bayreuth Regiment in June of 1777, and served the British crown until August of 1783. Born in Bavaria, Döhla was just three months away from his 27th birthday when he arrived on New York’s Staten Island. During the war, his regiment served in Philadelphia, Rhode Island, New Jersey and Virginia. Made a prisoner of war after the Patriot victory at Yorktown in October 1781, the young German continued to write in his diary while incarcerated in Maryland and Virginia.
Translated from the original German by Bruce E. Burgoyne, Döhla’s diary provides a unique eye-witness perspective on the revolution. He knew that he would be fighting rebellious American colonists. While he knew that the British were his allies, he seems to have been surprised to find that there were also loyal Americans and that they, too, were fighting for King George III.
On several occasions in his diary, Döhla takes a moment to define these unexpected fellow combatants. He wrote of troops going to Carolina to “support the inhabitants of that colony who had declared for the King and are called Tories“.
Later, he wrote, “These Countrymen are inhabitants who have sworn allegiance to the King of England and receive English pay and provisions, and in this war perform valuable service. What they capture, however, they keep for themselves. Should one of them be captured by the rebels, however, he is hanged without mercy, and they neither give nor take quarter.”
Although Döhla acquired some of the revolution’s terminology, he seemed to favour referring to Loyalist soldiers as “rangers”. His diary’s first reference to Loyalists is on July 9, 1777 when he mentions “a corps of the Royal Rangers under the command of the English General {John} Campbell“. In this context, it seems that Döhla was referring to the regiment that would become known as the Queen’s Rangers/Simcoe’s Rangers/the Queen’s American Rangers.
In August, he described a rebel attack on rangers who were yet another group of men. Döhla called these rangers “loyalists born in America who deserted and have joined as volunteer jaegers. The Rangers have a strength of about 400 men under the command of General Skinner and are stationed beyond Deckers Ferry.”
The commander to whom Döhla referred was Cortlandt Skinner. His men, the New Jersey Volunteers, wore green uniforms, causing some rebel leaders to refer to them as being the Green Brigade, Skinner’s Greens or the Regiment of Greens.
Döhla’s entry continued. “Many of the Rangers … were bayoneted which… was their own fault because they were not alert enough. As they are deserters from the rebels and already dressed in green, they are immediately recognizable…when they are caught, they receive harsh treatment such as they give the rebels.”
Döhla’s first three months in America saw a great deal of action. In September of 1777, he was part of an expedition that left Staten Island for Elizabethtown, New Jersey. Along with German and English regiments were “three companies of the Royal Rangers and over 300 inhabitants of Staten Island who on their own fought on the royal side, and all under the command of Lt. General Clinton.” Given that General John Campbell led this expedition, it seems likely that the “Royal Rangers” refer to the Queen’s Rangers. What is perhaps most interesting is the reference to the 300 Loyalist “civilians” who joined the raid on Elizabethtown.
As one would expect, the majority of Döhla’s accounts of Loyalists have to do with military operations; except for the mention of General Cortlandt Skinner’s name, there are few references to flesh and blood combatants. His accounts include the success of various raids, the capture of deserting soldiers, or the plundering of Patriot livestock.
But there are moments of humour even in the midst of war. On September 12, 1777, Döhla recorded an incident that occurred in Second River, New Jersey. When the Ansbach-Bayreuth Regiment arrived at nine in the evening, only the women and children had stayed behind. Nevertheless, the German soldiers remained “under arms the entire night. Here our troops also enjoyed a comical scene.”
It was pitch black when a Patriot on the opposite shore of the Second River mistook Döhla’s regiment as being his comrades. He called out that he had a prisoner, but was afraid that he might be captured by the British troops. Green Rangers (Döhla’s name for the New Jersey Volunteers), who were with the Ansbach-Bayreuth Regiment, heard the man. “They disguised themselves and promised him that they would meet him with a boat, if only he would swim part way across the river.”
For reasons that are never explained, the Patriot doffed his clothes and jumped into the river “completely naked after he received several shots directed at his place of embarkation“. Part way into the river, the man called for help, but was finally able to get himself on the bank near the German soldiers.
Men from the Rangers pulled him out of the water. Discovering his error, the Patriot cursed and swore at the Hessians. Remaining unclothed, the unlucky man spent the rest of the night sitting next to other prisoners of war that the Greens and Germans had captured earlier in the day. Döhla went on to record the fact that the naked prisoner was “one of those who betrayed the houses of loyal citizens for a small reward.”
Döhla’s last reference to Loyalists occurred on October 19, 1781 after the defeat of the British forces at Yorktown, Virginia. He listed the troops who had been under the command of Lieutenant General Charles Cornwallis. Included in his list are a corps of South Carolina militia –“called volunteers”– and six companies of the Royal American Rangers. (In this case, the German diarist meant the Queen’s Rangers.)
Under the terms of capitulation, Cornwallis was allowed two “safe ships”, meaning vessels which could not be searched and were allowed free, unhindered passage to New York. Cornwallis put “many members” of “the Light Infantry, Light Horse, Rangers, loyalists, and many sailors and ships’ crew members as well as many deserters who had gone over to the English from the French and American siege.”
Again, Döhla seemed to have a special concern for Loyalists, recognizing here — as in earlier entries—how dangerous it was for them to fall into rebel hands. The fact that Cornwallis had “Rangers” and Loyalists put on the safe ships indicates that they –more than British or German soldiers—were in the greatest danger of being harshly treated or even put to death.
As for Döhla and the men of his regiment, they would remain prisoners of war until April of 1783. On November 20th, the 32 year-old diarist was once again in “our beloved Bayreuth”, Bavaria. As he entered his regiment’s barracks, he found his father waiting for him. “We embraced and kissed and thanked God for His mercy in allowing us to be reunited in health and happiness, and we shed many heartfelt tears of joy.”
As Döhla was being reunited with his family, the last of the Loyalist refugee evacuation ships were leaving New York City for Nova Scotia. On board those ships — and on ships that had set sail earlier that summer—were the men who had once served in the Queen’s Rangers and the New Jersey Volunteers. Little did they know that their adventures had been recorded for posterity by a German soldier — a man who would always remember them as “inhabitants who have sworn allegiance to the King of England … and in this war perform valuable service“.
To secure permission to reprint this article contact the author at stephendavids@gmail.com.

Reconstructing the Battle of Ridgefield CT. Update from Ken MacCallum
In early December 2019 three skeletons were uncovered during excavations in Ridgefield CT. It was suspected that they belonged to Revolutionary War soldiers who fought in the Battle of Ridgefield in 1777.
Ken MacCallum UE who lives close by kept us informed and several items were carried in Loyalist Trails. Ken’s latest:
“..see below for the latest email from the Ridgefield Historical Society. The link (‘can be viewed here’) is to a presentation by Dr. David Naumec last week to discuss the Battle and the research project that is being funded by the National Park Service. I have been helping him in this work. Your readers may find it interesting, as SOME of the men on the British side were in Loyalist regiments, called out by name in the presentation, and others who became Loyalists (including my 5x great grandfather Jacob Van Wart) were serving in Patriot militia units, elements of which participated in the Battle (eg the 60-80 men of the Third Regiment of Westchester Militia). And I am about three miles from Main Street Ridgefield… Ken

Thank you to all those who were able to join us last week for Reconstructing the Battle of Ridgefield, presented by David Naumec, PhD, field researcher and historian from Heritage Consultants. We hope you enjoyed learning about the latest findings in the Battle. Remarkable and exciting!
A recording of the presentation may be viewed here. You may also find the Technical Report for the Battle of Ridgefield National Park Service American Battlefield Protection Program Grant here.

JAR: Duncan Robertson, 71st Regiment of Foot, Wanders Off
by Don N. Hagist 4 April 2022
Three pounds was a lot money for a working man in Scotland in the mid-1770s. More than two months’ pay for a laborer, it was. What better enticement for men from the highlands of Scotland to flock to recruiting officers raising a new corps, the 71st Regiment of Foot, in late 1775 and early 1776? The fact that it was established specifically for the war that had just broken out in America may have given some potential recruits pause, but there was another incentive besides the three-pound enlistment bounty: men who enlisted after December 16, 1775 could remain in the army only until the end of the war (as long as they had served for at least three years), and upon discharge could claim a land grant of 100 acres in America. For tenant farmers and laborers, this was an outstanding opportunity to have a farm of their own, albeit on another continent.
Some 2,000 men were drawn to this new regiment, a mix of new recruits and men with military experience from previous wars. Among them was Duncan Robertson (or Robinson), who, from the time he enlisted in early 1776, “always did his Duty and was an obedient soldier.”
The 71st Regiment arrived in America in August 1776, landing on Staten Island to join the army there under Gen. William Howe. They participated in the campaign that drove rebel forces out of New York and New Jersey in 1776, distinguishing themselves particularly at the storming of Fort Washington in November, before spending a miserable winter and spring quartered in New Jersey, frequently harassed by marauding rebel militia. Read more…

Irish Migration to Kings County, N.B.
By Barb Pearson UE
By the 1850s, Saint John’s founding Loyalists “found themselves a minority within their own city,” said William Acheson, a retired history professor at the University of New Brunswick and an author on the history of Saint John. “They were certainly outnumbered by the Irish.”
The Irish have always been prominent in New Brunswick. Sir Guy Carleton, the British commander-in-chief who organized the first wave of migration here of the United Empire Loyalists, was a native of County Tyrone, Ireland. Major Gilfred Studholme, who built Fort Howe in Saint John eight years before the Loyalists came, and then officially welcomed them here in 1783, was another Irishman.
Rather than the Loyalist City, Saint John has for a century and a half been an Irish city. And many of those who can trace their family trees back to the Loyalists probably have even more ancestors who were Irish.
Read more…

JAR: Governor William Franklin: Sagorighweyoghsta, “Great Arbiter” or “Doer of Justice”
by Joseph E. Wroblewski 7 April 2022
William Franklin, son of Benjamin Franklin, was the last Royal Governor of New Jersey, from 1763 to 1776. He is usually identified in U. S. History texts negatively as an ardent Loyalist and opponent of the American War of Independence. Historian Larry Gerlach offers a different view: “He was one of the most popular and successful of all royal governors, effectively representing both the crown and the people of New Jersey from 1763 to 1776.”[1] One area of his administration that is overlooked is his actions in 1766 seeing that justice was afforded to Native Americans in New Jersey.
William Franklin took office after the French and Indian War and during Pontiac’s Rebellion. Those events stirred up increased hatred for Native Americans throughout the Colonies and led to several atrocities directed towards them regardless of whether they had participated in attacks on settlers or they were non-belligerents. These acts of violence took place with disregard to the overall policy of the British Government to treat the Native American population with equanimity.
In 1766 two crimes were perpetrated against Native Americans in New Jersey that reflected this hatred: the murder in northwestern New Jersey (Sussex County) of a visiting member of the Oneida tribe; then the murder of two Lenni Lenape women who lived in Burlington County. In both cases, Governor Franklin, as the representative and chief law enforcement officer of the Crown, oversaw the capture, trial, and execution of the murderers. One result of his actions in these incidents occurred at the 1768 signing of a treaty with Native Americans at Ft. Stanwyck, New York, when an Oneida chief bestowed upon William Franklin the honorific “Sagorighweyoghsta” (Great Arbiter or Doer of Justice). Read more…

Common Place: Insurance For (and Against) the Empire
By Hannah Farber
Marine insurance itself was a business that flourished during periods of war and uncertainty. It had a complex relationship with the British state.
The merchant from Providence was making a questionable insurance claim, and his Philadelphia underwriters didn’t want to pay.
As John Brown told it, he and his (now deceased) uncle Obadiah had undertaken precisely the voyage for which they had purchased the insurance policy in 1760: a trip to the West Indies to exchange prisoners of war with the French enemy, under the protection of an official flag of truce. Their vessel had, they declared, traveled to Port-au-Prince, in the French colony of Saint Domingue (modern-day Haiti). Then it had headed back to Providence.
Britain was at war with France, and the Browns knew that their vessel would be in constant danger of capture. They had thus prudently acquired an insurance policy through a Philadelphia broker shortly after the vessel departed Providence in early 1760. While it was possible to acquire an insurance policy that covered only the natural and typical hazards of a sea voyage (such as storms, rocks, or water damage), the Browns instead opted for a more comprehensive (and more expensive) policy that covered them against “all Risques, English, &c.” This meant that their underwriters would indemnify them for losses occasioned by the capture of their merchant ship by any vessel whatsoever—French enemies or British compatriots. Read more…

Horace Walpole on Queen Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
Geri Walton 19 May 2017
When King George III succeeded to the throne, he decided to take a wife and the wife he chose become Queen Charlotte. She was 17-year-old Princess Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz and the reason he chose her was because he, his mother, and his advisors liked that she had no experience with politics or party intrigues. In fact, when she arrived in England, George III instructed her to avoid meddling in such things. Although Princess Charlotte spoke little English, she was happy to comply.
Charlotte set out for England on 17 August 1761, when the Princesse de Lamballe was 11 and the future Queen of France, Marie Antoinette, was 5. Charlotte was accompanied by her brother, Duke Adolphus Frederick, and by the British escort party. On 22 August, they reached Cuxhaven, where a small fleet awaited to convey them to England. The voyage was extremely difficult; the party encountered three storms at sea and landed at Harwich on 7 September. They then set out at once for London, spent that night in Witham, at the residence of Lord Abercorn, and arrived in on 8 September in the afternoon at St. James’s Palace.
Princess Charlotte was received by the King and his family at the garden gate, which marked the first meeting of the bride and groom. At 9:00 pm that same evening, within hours of her arrival in London, she was united in marriage with King George III and became Queen Charlotte. Read more…

Honouring our Loyalist Ancestors and 1812 Veterans,’ April 27
Mississipi Mills (West of Ottawa)
Join the North Lanark Historical Society on Wednesday, April 27 at 7 p.m. as we host David Smith and his presentation, “Honouring our Loyalist Ancestors and 1812 Veterans.”
Since the Bicentennial in 2012, the Canadian Fencibles have been marking and remembering War of 1812 Veterans at rest in Eastern Ontario. To date they have marked and entered over 50 veterans into the National database. This year, with the support of the Bay of Quinte and Kawartha branches of the United Empire Loyalists’ Association of Canada (UELAC), they will be marking twelve veterans in the Warkworth region and one in Mississippi Mills.
Next year they will be marking several cemeteries in Stone Mills. These men were loyal then and are loyal now. God Save the King!
Presenter David Smith has been involved in building the re-enactment of living history events in the Eastern Ontario Region for over twenty years. Read article for background, more details and to register for this virtual presentation.

Query: What Route From New Brunswick to Upper Canada?
Some of the Loyalists who settled in the new Colony of New Brunswick after the American Revolution subsequently emigrated to Upper Canada (now Ontario).
I have tried unsuccessfully to find an article or book written about the Loyalists’ journey from New Brunswick to Newark (Niagara on the Lake), Upper Canada. I am wondering if they went by the Saint John River to the St. Lawrence or did they go by land in wagons. By water they would have encountered the Lachine Rapids as one of their challenges. I am sure they likely went as a group. I wondered how long the journey took, what problems they encountered etc. I believe Daniel Cook and his family made the journey twice. He seemed from his land petition to be in Upper Canada in 1802, but then he was in New Brunswick in 1810 to sell his land there. I would think you wouldn’t want to do that twice. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
NOTE. Daniel Cook is a new entry in the Loyalist Directory
Kathy McIlwaine <kathmcil@sympatico.ca>

Jean Rae Baxter UE, Authour, is Featured
The Artisanal Writer is an online magazine devoted to the Writer’s Craft. It features an interview with a different writer each month. They selected me to be the April featured writer. https://artisanalwriter.com/2022/04/01/the-knotted-rope/
The subject of the interview is my new book The Knotted Rope. As you know, this is the sixth and final book in my Loyalist series. Set in 1793, its subject is the struggle to end slavery in Upper Canada. I feel honoured (and somewhat surprised) to be featured.
The interview will be on line for the whole month of April.
Jean Rae Baxter U.E.,

Book Reviewers Needed For Loyalist Gazette
The UELAC Loyalist Gazette and Communications Committee is looking for 3-4 additional Book Reviewers.
Quite often the UELAC Dominion Office receives complimentary fiction and non-fiction books, published on the Loyalist era and the American Revolution. The reviewer submits a book review for a book supplied by the UELAC Library & Archives for a future Loyalist Gazette publication.
The Loyalist Gazette is published in the Spring and Fall when Book Reviews are submitted for inclusion.
Our next submission will be 05 August 2022 for our Fall Loyalist Gazette Publication.
If you enjoy reading and would like to be included as a possible Loyalist Gazette Book Reviewer, please feel free to contact me for further details at…
Carl Stymiest UE, Communications@uelac.org
UELAC Dominion Vice President
UELAC Loyalist Gazette and Communications Committee Chair

Who are the People In The Picture? A New Photo
Go to Who’s In The Picture (WitP). Apr. 7, 2022. This photo (Ref. Code 2-14-12) was taken on May 20, 1989, at the banquet. The caption by Gerry Rogers is “Joyce Bradford, Ben Fuller & Friend.” Joyce Bradford is in the period dress on the left with Ben in the centre. The identity of the woman immediately to the left of Ben is unknown, as are the three women to his right.

Can you help resolve the questions?
If so, please send an email to Carl Stymiest, Leader of the Library and Archives Committee at communications@uelac.org — please note the date and reference number of the photo. Any additional relevant comments are welcome, and appreciated.
Carl Stymiest

We Know More People In This Picture! (Oct 29)
In photo 2-14-38, the names of a few more of the member of the St. Lawrence Branch:

(From Left to Right): Margaret Duval, Mildred Leitch, Gerald Duval, (unknown), (unknown), (unknown), Kathleen (Kay) McNairn, (unknown), (unknown), Mabel MacLean, John Gordier, and Stanley McNairn. …Murray Barkley UE

UELAC Loyalist Directory: New Entries
The reworked version of the Loyalist Directory is now active and people looking for it are directed there. The data brought over from the older version is the same. So what is new?
Entries which have been added, or revised, this week, with thanks:

Would you like to add some information to a directory entry, revise some or even add a new entry? Send a note to me at loyalist.trails@uelac.org – please include the name of the Loyalist about whom you would like to contribute information and if that person is in the Loyalist Directory already (send ID number too), or is a new entry. …doug

Upcoming Events:

Kawartha Br. “38 Hours to Montreal…” Sun 10 Apr @2:00 ET
Dan Buchanan will discuss his recent book, 38 Hours to Montreal: William Weller and the Governor General’s Race of 1840.
Governor General Charles Poulett Thomson is in a hurry. In response to the Rebellion of 1837-38, he has been urgently tasked by his masters in England to modernize and improve the governments in the Canadian colonies. After three months in Toronto and with politics heating up in Quebec, the Governor General must get to Montreal as fast as he can. More details at
Link to join the meeting. More details.
NOTE: Kawartha’s Annual General Meeting will follow the presentation.

Fort Plain: Benedict Arnold: Hero Betrayed Monday 11 April 7:00
Selections from the provocative new documentary will be shown. James Kirby Martin, executive producer of the film and author of the book will present the historical context and Tom Mercer producer and script writer will talk about the making of this ground breaking cinematic documentary.
About the documentary: Narrated by Martin Sheen and with literally a cast of thousands and dramatic special effects Revolutionary War events never before presented on film are brought to life. More details. Registration

Fort Plain: American Revolution Conference in the Mohawk Valley 10-12 June
(9 June bus trip sold out)
Conference – June 10th-12th (Please Note, the Conference is expanded to include 13 Speakers and Starts 1:00 pm on Friday, June 10th, Continues all day Saturday, June 11th and Ends about 12:30 pm on Sunday June 12th.
See Conference details for speakers, schedule, location etc.

From the Twittersphere and Beyond

Last Post: RECKER UE, Marvin 1938 – 2022
In London, on April 1st, 2022, Marvin Recker in his 85th year. Beloved husband of Mauricette Recker. Dear father of Lorraine Recker-Benfer (Mark Benfer), Marc (Lisa) Recker, Andre Recker and Christian Recker.
Londoners will remember Marvin for his many years of devoted service to his community and his country. He served his city as a City of London Alderman from 1966 to 1972…
Along with his passion for farming was his similar passion for the preservation of our surrounding history; to this end, Marvin was an active member of The United Empire Loyalist Society as well as the Upper Thames Re-enactment Society. He was instrumental in the creation of the Memorial Plaque to the Battle of Longwoods and the recognition of the Skirmish of Sturgeon Falls which also resulted in the erection of a commemorative plaque for that important page in our history. Marvin’s dedication to the continuous teaching of our local history found him regularly involved in organizing numerous historically related activities with the Upper Thames Re-enactment Society.
His presence will be greatly missed but his dedication will be remembered this coming May 1st weekend at the yearly re-enactment activities honouring the Battle of the Longwoods – no doubt his spirit will cast a warm welcome over all who attend.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, April 23, 2022. Read more…
Marvin, a staunch supporter of the United Empire Loyalists and a member of London & Western Ontario Branch, proved his descent from William Caldwell UEL in 1998.
Carol Childs UE

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