In this issue:

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UELAC Scholarship awareness
As chair of this committee I recently heard from a committed UELAC member who wrote – in part – “Scholarships is about the only thing we spend money on that is outside our organization and helps research/develop the Loyalist intellectual story. I think it is rather important to tell people that we have this program.”
With that in mind here are some important things to know:

  • The scholarship information on uelac.ca is not behind a password.  You can share this information with family members, students and academic faculty at any time.
  • The list of scholars who have or are currently receiving UELAC Scholarship funds are listed with a link to their photo and biography.  The two 2024 winners have just been added.  Read what Blake and Graham have to share.
  • Donations are an ongoing need.   Look for the donation page on the site.   The official tax receipt is issued by CanadaHelps.  Thank you for your support.
  • It is not too early to talk about the 2025 application deadline.   Add a comment to your branch meeting and newsletter.
  • Each issue of the Loyalist Gazette has UELAC Scholarship information.  Sign in, go to members section. See page 11 of the Spring 2024 issue.

Thank you from Christine Manzer UE and members of the committee.

The First Loyalist Legislature
copyright Stephen Davidson UE
On January 3, 1786 the first General Assembly of New Brunswick convened in the city of Saint John to propose and approve the laws for a colony that was just two years old. After years of hardship and persecution during the American Revolution, the members of a legislature committed to the head of the British Empire were now at liberty to establish a society untainted by rebel objectives or republican ideals.
    Edward Winslow, who would eventually attain power within the colonial government, had vowed that “we will be the envy of the American states … when the people of the neighbouring states shall observe our operations … and compare their state with ours, will they not envy us? Surely they will.”  The first session of New Brunswick’s assembly would consider 61 pieces of legislation, indicating the vision the newly elected politicians had for a colony governed and populated by loyalist refugees. A quick examination of the proposed laws provides an interesting insight into the hopes and dreams of a loyalist legislature.
The 26 men who considered New Brunswick’s first bills represented the colony’s 8 counties.  All but two of the legislators were Loyalists. They had been born in New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Vermont, Connecticut, Scotland, Ireland, and England.  Four had attended Harvard; two had attended Yale, and 10 had had military careers during the revolution. With the passage of time, 4 of the colony’s first legislators would eventually return to the United States.
The composition of the general assembly was not as representative of the colony as it could have been. The voters of Saint John had elected six members, but the results of the city’s election were overthrown. Six men who shared the lieutenant governor’s vision of a loyal colony were put in their place. Not all of the hand-picked men were necessarily happy with the fact that they were living in New Brunswick. Jonathan Bliss referred to the colony as “this wretched corner of His Majesty’s Dominions“.
But whether they were loyalist refugees, New Englanders, or born overseas, the 26 legislators sat down to “make a go” of an historic first in world history – they were enacting laws for the first colony that was predominantly comprised of political refugees.
Not surprisingly, the first act of legislation to be considered was one that established the colony’s eight counties, towns, and parishes as well as the sites of courthouses and jails. The next bills had to do with legal matters pertaining to grants, deeds, and wills. The Church of England was recognized as the established church, but there was a guarantee of a “liberty of conscience in matters of religion“. This was followed by an act  “against the profanation of the Lord’s Day, and for the suppression of immorality” which included the criminalization of shooting, gaming, and drunkenness. (Indigenous People were exempted from this law.) This act remained in effect for 45 years, finally being repealed in 1831.
Clearly the members of the assembly wanted an orderly society. The next bills they considered had to do with the selection of juries, the work of the supreme, inferior and county courts, real estate, debtors, fraud, weights and measures, rates of interest, the prevention of multiple law suits, and promissory notes. The colony’s Quakers were given the right to make affirmations in court, allowing for the fact that their faith did not permit them to swear oaths. Another law was passed to “prevent frivolous and vexatious arrests.”
Many of those sitting in the hall used as New Brunswick’s first house of assembly would no doubt remember how they had been treated by the Patriots’ legal system during the revolution – being tried by rebel committees, tossed in jail without trial, and being accused of acts against the government. No doubt those experiences helped to shape the legislation they approved for their new colony.
Bills were considered to prevent a variety of irritants, including gaming, idleness, trespassing, careless fires, river obstructions, and the maiming of cattle. There was an act to regulate tavern keepers and the sale of “spirituous liquors” as well as one to regulate indentured servants and apprentices.
In reading over the 61 bills as they were introduced, one can see what the loyalist legislators considered to be most important, followed by legislation of lower priority. An act for the preservation of moose was followed by several dealing with financial concerns, supporting the poor, the regulation of auctions, for “the better extinguishing of fires” and to “lay a tax on dogs“.
The bill to preserve the colony’s moose population echoes modern legislation aimed at safeguarding endangered species. Proposed as a two year measure, the act begins with these words: “Whereas the wanton destruction of moose has been carried to an alarming degree by persons who kill the same in great numbers, taking only the skins and leaving the carcases in the woods, and as such proceedings must be extremely detrimental and would if not timely prevented go near to extirpate that useful animal, on which the remote settlers in this province in a great measure depend for their subsistence, for remedy whereof and to preserve to the inhabitants of this province so valuable a support.”  It would seem that these Loyalists were –to some degree– 18th century environmentalists.
Strangely enough, the pieces of legislation referenced above preceded acts against disorders around petition presentations, the speedy punishment of those committing grand larceny, the conviction of criminals refusing to plead when arraigned, and an act for “the Trial and Punishment of Criminals who shall steal Bills of Exchange, Bonds, Warrants, Bills or Promissory Notes.”
Great Britain’s taxation of colonists had been the major catalyst of the American Revolution, prompting the oft-repeated slogan, “No taxation without representation“.  Many Loyalists agreed with their Patriot neighbours that they should not be taxed, but when push came to shove, they were not willing to split the empire over the matter.
The loyalist legislators of New Brunswick were all too aware of how fraught with danger taxation could be. It is interesting, therefore, that an act “for raising a revenue in this province” –rather than being among the first acts passed –was the 54th piece of legislation proposed among the first assemblies 61 bills. In that piece of legislation, the words “duties”, “rates” and “imports” were used, but never once was the word “tax” employed.  The politicians also included a clause that the act was only to be in force for one year. It seems that even though almost two decades had passed since the colonial uproar over taxes had sown the seeds of revolution, the issue of taxation was still very much a “hot potato” for New Brunswick’s Loyalists.
The general assembly’s first session was prorogued after considering 61 pieces of legislation; it would convene once again in February of 1786, passing more acts to create a stable and orderly colony. The legislators drew upon their experiences of life in the former thirteen colonies, building a new society from the ground up. Only time would tell if they were able to fulfill Edward Winslow’s vision of a New Brunswick that would become “the envy of the American states“.
To secure permission to reprint this article contact the author at stephendavids@gmail.com.

Loyalist Rector – Reverend Roger Viets – a School for Blacks in Digby
By Brian McConnell, UE
Reverend Roger Viets (1738 – 1811) was a Loyalist from Connecticut who ministered at Digby, Nova Scotia to Loyalist refugees.  His ministry included Black Loyalists as well as White. Within the historic Trinity Anglican Church in Digby is a plaque to him and also large colourful stained glass windows dedicated to his memory and his son Roger Moore Viets who succeeded him there as Rector of the Anglican Church.
In 1792 the Blacks living in Digby were desirous of schooling their children and prepared a Petition which was supported by Reverend Roger Viets and others. Read more…

Note: Brian is making a presentation on Black Loyalist history at the Black Loyalist Centre in Birchtown as part of the Black Loyalist Academic Conference of Knowledge on August 10 – see Events. He may be the first UE Loyalist or member of UELAC to do so.

A Thirteen-Star American Flag Found: Is it from the American Revolution?
by David Kindy 11 July 2024 Journal of the American Revolution
In 1902, the new owner of a furnished house in Medford, Massachusetts, was rummaging through the accoutrements and amenities of his recent acquisition. John O’Callaghan then noticed a box with an unusual inscription: “Here’s our family flag from the war.”
Intrigued, O’Callaghan opened the container and found a frayed flag. As he unfolded the red, white and blue banner, he realized it had far fewer stars than the then-current flag’s forty-five. He counted the handstitched five-pointed celestial symbols and was excited by the total: thirteen. Had the home’s new owner discovered an original Revolutionary War flag?
Since 1976, O’Callaghan’s great grandson, James Mooney of Cincinnati, has been on a quest to determine the authenticity of his family’s flag. Read more…

Teaching About Young Patriots through Newbery Classic Novels: Johnny Tremain, My Brother Sam is Dead, and The Fighting Ground
by Linda J. Rice 8 July 2024 Journal of the American Revolution
“If one is to truly love a country, one must be acquainted with its history and what it took for that country to stand today. In this particular field, I was, and I believe still am, lacking. After reading and studying My Brother Sam is Dead, however, I have come to a better understanding of the sacrifices that were made in order for me to be able to sit and type this paper about patriotism and the land that I love. Because of this reality check, I’m very grateful.”—Brian Zeit, college junior in Army ROTC
“Prior to studying The Fighting Ground I had very little knowledge of what the Revolutionary War was like. Avi really helped me experience it in a way that made me feel like I was actually there in the heart of it all . . . After Jonathan went to battle, I was scared for him. As a reader, I really got to know the characters and feel for them . . . I was moved by the compassion that Jonathan displayed. He was faithful, and at times, brave beyond his years. He was insightful and non-judgmental, and [this] was really encouraging. My eyes were opened by the view of war from a younger person’s perspective.”—Heather Laughlin, college junior and pre-service English teacher
As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary in 2026, America250, the official semiquincentennial planning commission, has been working to prepare a yearlong series of special events. Schools are sure to find ways to participate in the semiquincentennial celebration in honor of the nation’s founding and evolution. This is an ideal time to revisit three Newbery Award Winning classics that showcase the complexity of the American Revolution. This article will detail five strategies to help students engage in active learning as they use these novels to explore the concepts of duty, family loyalty, fighting for a cause, taking risks and the complexity of war. Read more…

Hessian Soldiers Travelling to America: New York – A Soldier’s Life July 1780
From a Hessian Diary of the American Revolution.
This excerpt from the diary of Johan Conrad Dohla (170 pages).

Major Moves during Johan’s deployment:

  • March 1777:   Depart Germany
  • 3 June 1777:   Arrive New York, then Amboy NJ
  • November 1777:  To Philadelphia
  • June 1778: to Long Island
  • July 1778: To Newport RI
  • October 1779: to New York

July 1780: At New York (page 85)
Continuation of Occurences in North America During the Fourth Year, 1780

IN THE MONTH OF JULY [1780]
This began with exceptionally great heat, which we could hardly tolerate, day or night.
1 July. Our baggage arrived from New York. We immediately set up camp on a height at McGowan’s Pass, near Philipse’s Point. The entire army of twenty-three regiments was  in a line from the East to the North River.
3 July. During the morning a command of five hundred men went forward seven miles to get hay for the regimental horses.
5 July. I went on picket duty.
6 July.  Eleven  men  of  the  newly  formed  English  Black  Hussar  Corps  deserted  together. They were native-born Frenchmen.
8 July. Four Ansbachers, who deserted, were missing.
9 July. I went on field watch as lance corporal.

The following concerning the capture of the city of Charleston was told me by the Hessian Grenadiers, who were there.
It was a beautiful,  large, and secure city surrounded by  a  wall which was covered  on  the outside with iron plates. From without, the city was well guarded with defensive positions and forts. Within, however, there were many swamps and morasses. There was a shortage of good drinking water in the city, and  it was necessary  for the people to drink and cook with water caught  from  the  rain  and  kept  in  cisterns,  because  the  well  water  contained  saltpeter.  Also, there  is  much sandy  soil  outside  the  city,  grass  does  not grow well,  and  therefore  cattle  are thin and meat [is] expensive.
All the defenses are built  with  oystershells,  because  there  are  no  stones  to  be  seen  in  the region. Furthermore, in South Carolina it is very warm. There are also crocodiles, from which the  inhabitants  eat the  tail.  If  the  provisions  had  not  been  insufficient, the  Englanders  could not  have  captured  the  city.  At  that  time,  also,  an  Indian  king  visited  General  Clinton, accompanied  by  six  hundred  savages.  He  remained  in  Charleston  three  days,  inspected  the army,  the city,  and  the  defenses,  and  also  was  invited  to  dine  with  the  general,  which, however, he declined. He had three golden rings, set with diamonds, hanging in his nose. His arms were bare, and on each were three rings of gold and precious stones, decorated with red and green; expensive, intricate bands of gold and silver threads. In place of trousers, he wore a loincloth, or a short little skirt, of yellow damask with silver stripes. Also, around his neck he wore a silver chain of three loops, and on his feet he had short boots of Morocco leather, on the upper part of which hung golden tassles, with large rubies, also.
(to be continued)

Advertised on 11 July 1774: “The Sign of the LEOPARD”
What was advertised in a colonial American newspaper 250 years ago today?

July 11, 1774

“The Sign of the LEOPARD.”

When Daniel Scott advertised his “Medicine Store [at] the Sign of the LEOPARD, South End” in the July 11, 1774, edition of the Boston Evening-Post, he adorned his notice with a woodcut depicting that exotic animal.  The device that he chose to represent his store gave colonizers greater access to faraway places that were part of global networks of trade and (often involuntary) migration.  Residents of the busy port spotted the leopard when they passed by Scott’s store.  His advertisement disseminated an image of an animal native to Africa and Asia even more widely, reaching readers who encountered such creatures mainly through descriptions rather than images.  Something similar occurred with the “Sign of the ELEPHANT” that marked the location of “HILL’s ready Money Variety Store” in Providence and the woodcut of an elephant in Hill’s advertisements in the Providence Gazette in the spring and summer of 1774.  That these entrepreneurs used these animals as their emblems suggests that colonizers were familiar enough with their descriptions to recognize them when they saw them, yet the signs and woodcuts helped clarify their visualizations.
Colonizers did have some opportunities to view exotic animals transported to British North America.  In August 1768, for instance, Abraham Van Dyck advertised that he had on display “one of the most beautiful Animals, call’d, The LEOPARD” that had “JUST ARRIVED” in New York. Read more…

New Zealand Flax Cloaks in the 1770s
Observations by Joseph Banks, Daniel Solander et al.
By Viveka Hansen 18 June 2018 in ikfoundation.org
From October 1769 to March 1770 James Cook’s first circumnavigation sailed in the waters and visited the islands of New Zealand. From a European perspective this stay was fruitful and foremost aimed on discovery, exploration as well as cartography. The clothes of the local people and the production of them formed a subject of interest for the journal writers Banks, Cook and the artist Sydney Parkinson, and of which Daniel Solander too must have been aware even if not keeping a journal. Parkinson noted down four descriptions on the North Island and in addition several drawings showing how the New Zealand warriors were attired and adorned; particularly decorative and informative is the illustration below of a warrior dressed in a large cloak demonstrating his high status. Read more…

In the News

Archaeologists uncover 250-year-old musket balls tied to American Revolution in Massachusetts
By Ashley J. DiMella 11 July 2024 Fox News
Archaeologists working at Minute Man National Historical Park in Concord, Massachusetts, unearthed a piece of American history tied to the “shot heard round the world.”
Five musket balls were discovered and believed to be fired at British forces by colonial militia members during the North Bridge fight, Jarrad Fuoss, Minute Man park ranger and historic weapons specialist, confirmed to Fox News Digital.
The ammunition was found in an area where British soldiers formed up to resist the river crossing and analysis indicates that each one was fired from the opposite side of the river, not dropped during the process of reloading, according the National Park Service (NPS). Read more…
Contributed by Ken MacCallum

Events Upcoming

American Revolution Institute: Lord Dunmore’s War, Wed July 17 @ 6:30

By Glenn F. Williams who was the senior historian at the U.S. Army Center of Military History, Fort McNair, D.C.
Known to history as Dunmore’s War, the 1774 campaign against a Shawnee-led Indian confederacy in the Ohio country marked the final time an American colonial militia took to the field in His Majesty’s service and under royal command. Led by John Murray, the fourth Earl of Dunmore and royal governor of Virginia, a force of colonials including George Rogers Clark, Daniel Morgan, Michael Cresap, Adam Stephen and Andrew Lewis successfully enforced the western border established by treaties in parts of present-day West Virginia and Kentucky. As an immediate result of Dunmore’s War, the frontier remained quiet for two years, which allowed colonies to debate and declare independence before Britain convinced its Native allies to resume attacks on American settlements.   Details and registration…

American Revolution Institute: Portrait of Lafayette, Fri July 26 @ 12:30

A Portrait Miniature of the Marquis de Lafayette Painted During the Farewell Tour
The marquis de Lafayette’s farewell tour of the United States produced a staggering number of images of the general, from original oil portraits commissioned by government entities and wealthy individuals to prints mass produced for sale at public events. One of the lesser-known original works of art created during the tour is a watercolor portrait miniature of Lafayette painted by Charles Fraser during the general’s visit to Charleston, South Carolina, in March 1825. Details and registration…

Friends of St. Alban’s Centre: Fish Fry, Sunday 28 July at 5:00pm

The popular annual St. Alban’s Fish Fry has two prices: $25 for adults and $15 for children under 10 (smaller helping). Again, tickets are available online and buying now will avert disappointment as this event traditionally sells out.
Tickets:  adult    children under 10
Both adult and children’s tickets can also be purchased at the Hallowed Grounds Café, while they last.

Black Loyalist Heritage Centre: Academic Conference of Knowledge Sat. 10 August

The schedule is set for the Black Loyalist Academic Conference of Knowledge on August 10 at the Black Loyalist Heritage Centre. If you are interested in the latest research and public history concerning the Black Loyalists and/or looking to connect with fellow travelers at ground zero of the Black Loyalist diaspora; Beautiful Birchtown, this is an event for you. Please review the event schedule
Please if you intend to participate, register to help manage logistics. Stay tuned for further updates.
Register here.

From the Social Media and Beyond

  • Townsends, or “anything food”
    • Building an 18th Century Barn: Full Build! (21 min)
      We filmed the entire process of building a dog run barn at the David Crockett Birthplace State Park in Limestone, TN. Filming this process made us want to build something ourselves, and it eventually led to  breaking ground on our log cabin.  Special thanks to everyone involved. We had a blast!
  • This week in History 
  • Clothing and Related:

    • It’s very hot in California and I’m out of practice when it comes to dealing with the heat. I need a big hat like this one! This 18th-century French hat in the @mfaboston  has lovely floral appliqué embroidery.
    • Robe à la française, French, probably made in the #1760s, updated in style probably #1770s & possibly adjusted for another wearer.
  • Miscellaneous

Last Post: KLASSEN UE DAR, June
Passed away peacefully at Victoria Hospital, London on Monday, July 8, 2024 in her 91st year. Beloved wife of the late Ernst (1987). Dear mother of Brenda (David) McLennan, Murray (Janet) Klassen and Nancy (Fred Dixon) Klassen.  Loving “Grandma June” to Hayley McLennan and Brooke (Brendan) Johnson. June was predeceased by her parents George and Nellie Henry and her siblings Ferne, Keith, and Stewart. June will be lovingly remembered by many nieces and nephews and extended family members.
June was an enthusiastic quilter, winning many awards over the years. She was also a genealogist, researching her family’s roots back to United Empire Loyalists (UEL), and Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR).  After moving to Glendale Crossing, she took an interest in painting and attended classes every Monday morning.
Read more …  https://amgfh.com/obituaries/june-klassen/

London and Western Ontario Branch
Our Past President June Klassen passed away on Monday. We are very sad to hear this as June was an avid supporter of the Branch.  Her 90th Birthday was celebrated on April 20;   several of our members attended. On behalf of UELAC, I presented June with a Congratulations letter on her 90th Birthday from our Dominion President Carl Stymiest UE. June was extremely pleased to be remembered by National.
Carol Childs UE, President-London & Western Ontario Branch

Editor’s Note:
We are home again. A good trip, but some catching up to do.

Published by the UELAC
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