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• • • • • Fall 2017 • 1 • By Robert Collins McBride Attractive Ad Rates UE, B.Sc., M.Ed., Editor PLEASE Since the cost of postage has increased Send all magazine submissions to: almost by half, the editorial team is very Robert Collins McBride UE, B.Sc., M.Ed. pleased that increased costs have not had E-mail: gazette.editor“at”nexicom.net to be passed on to you, the reader. We Please send other enquiries, address changes, etc., to the Dominion Office are, however, seeking advertisers at the address on this page. Thank you. new special rates listed on page 13. Our submission deadlines are: January Our annual subscription rates 15th and August 1st. Please submit text for non-members (two issues a year) are: as MS Word files and images in high Country 1 year 2 years 3 years resolution, including your phone number Canada $16CAD $30CAD $43CAD and e-mail address. USA $28USD $54USD $81USD Contact head office for international rates. Proofreaders Prices include mailing and handling. Please Our sincere thanks to our proofreaders: make cheque or money order payable to: • Jean Rae Baxter UE, United Empire Loyalists’ Association of Canada. • Peter Bolton UE, Mail it to: UELAC, The George Brown House, • Bev Craig UE, 50 Baldwin Street, Suite 202, Toronto, ON • James Edgar UE Canada M5T 1L4. Phone: (416) 591-1783. • Alex Lawrence UE, E-mail: uelac“at”uelac.org. Website: • Bob McBride UE, www.uelac.org. • Grietje McBride UE The UELAC has indexed The Loyalist • Jacqueline Murdoch and Gazette. This index is available at: http:// • Paul Thompson. www.uelac.org/publications.php#index. s members of the UELAC, we If you can help with this essential task, Please contact our office (see above) to th order copies of articles or back issues. each have celebrated the 150 please send me an e-mail. Anniversary of Canada in private Doug Grant UE is the editor of the and public ways. In this issue of excellent UELAC e-mail newsletter, Cover , we have The Loyalist Gazette Loyalist Trails. To subscribe, contact him Achosen to focus particularly on individuals at: loyalist.trails “at” uelac.org. All paid-for whose life’s work brought inspiration advertising for the Gazette should also to those around them. Whether known be sent to Doug. publicly, or making a fresh beginning in The Loyalist Gazette, “the window to this rugged pioneer land, the stories of the world for the UELAC,” may contain the Loyalists, discovered by your diligent viewpoints in some submissions that do research, and sometimes serendipity, bring th th not necessarily reflect the philosophy of us closer to understanding the 18 and 19 the UELAC or this editor. century world, whose people so fervently I am always thankful for your sought to create a stable, secure, country, feedback and suggestions to ensure “strong and free” from sea to sea. that we continue to maintain our high This issue focuses as well on your quality. celebrations in Branches across our Remember: country. We hope that you enjoy reading about Teamwork Encourages the 2017 UELAC Conference and AGM Active Members! The Battle of Germantown, 240 years ago, in London, Ontario, and we look forward Loyally yours, 04 October 1777, was a significant victory to seeing as many of you as possible Robert Collins McBride (Bob) by Sir William Howe over Washington. at the 2018 Conference in Moose Jaw, UE, B.Sc., M.Ed., Editor. Can you identify this chap? Is he a Rebel? Saskatchewan, entitled “Loyalist Ties — • — Photo: Bonnie Schepers UE, 04 Oct. 2008. Under Living Skies.” Electronic Distribution of Articles As we approach the publication from The Loyalist Gazette: deadline for the Fall 2017 issue, we were All content in The Loyalist Gazette informed of the loss of Oemar Halvorsen, is made available electronically, article- (05 December 1919, Saxkjobing, Denmark by-article, for sale through a royalty – 17 October 2017, Toronto, Ontario). agreement with Thomson Gale. These He is the father of Mette Griffin, the UELAC copies provide an additional way for the Design by Office Administrator since mid-2004. general public to become aware of the Unexpected Our condolences to her and her family. Association and The Gazette. Company (1979) • 2 • The Loyalist Gazette • • • • • What’s Inside Articles 14 The Loyalist McConnells by Brian McConnell 16 Patrick Barry Biography by Trevor Angell 18 Sir John Johnson Manor by Carolyn Thompson Goddard 45 42 34 20 Quilt of Belonging by Ruth Nicholson 22 My Family History 14 22 by Kathleen Lynch 38 Columns 5 President’s Message by Barbara J. Andrew 29 6 Conference: 22 June 2017 London, Ont., by Greg Childs 6 10 Conference 2018 8 Moose Jaw, Sask. 12 Scholarships Support the Scholarship Fund 24 Branch News Highlights & Well-Remembered 20 41 Eye-Popping Publications Reviews of Books, CDs, Films 23 47 Historian’s Corner 32 Amos Wright, by Peter Johnson 48 The Dorchester Award 25 Myrtle Johnston, by Barbara Law • • • • • Fall 2017 • 3 • The United Empire Loyalists’ Association of Canada Published by authority of Regional Vice-Presidents The United Empire Loyalists’ Atlantic Region James B. McKenzie New Brunswick Association of Canada Central East Region Anne Redish Kingston Dominion Office, The George Brown House, Central West Region Patricia Groom Toronto 50 Baldwin Street, Suite 202, Toronto, Canada M5T 1L4 Prairie Region Gerald Adair Saskatchewan Telephone (416) 591-1783 Pacific Region Diane Faris Vancouver E-mail: uelac“at”uelac.org Website: www.uelac.org ISSN: 0047-5149 Regional Councillors Atlantic Region Carol Harding Nova Scotia Central East Region Jennifer De Bruin St. Lawrence Central West Region David Kanowakeron Hill Morrison Grand River Prairie Region Joyce Lidster Assiniboine Pacific Region Frans Compeer Victoria Standing Committees Bylaws (Vacant) Education/Outreach Frederick Hayward Hamilton Finance Sue Hines Grand River Genealogist Angela Johnson & Bay of Quinte Peter W. Johnson Bay of Quinte Historian Peter W. Johnson Bay of Quinte Marketing Frans Compeer Victoria Membership Joyce Lidster Assiniboine Nominations Bonnie L. Schepers Bicentennial Publications Robert C. McBride Kawartha Public Relations (Vacant) President, Barbara J. Andrew UE Dominion Advisory Positions and Roles Archivist Carl Stymiest Vancouver Conference Chair Ruth Nicholson Hamilton Dominion Board Assist. James Bruce Little Forks Office Administrator Mette Griffin Legal Advisor (As needed) Parliamentarian (As needed) Standard Bearer David Ellsworth Col. John Butler Systems James Bruce Little Forks Honorary Officers of the UELAC Trustees Marlene Dance Vancouver Wayne Groom Toronto Honorary President: The Hon. Peter Milliken UE, PC, OC, Lance Lidster Assiniboine LLD, MA (Oxf), FRSC Brian McConnell Nova Scotia Web Master Doug Grant Governor Simcoe UELAC Dominion Council, 2016 — 2017 Ad Hoc Committees Credentials Gloria Howard Hamilton President Barbara J. Andrew Assiniboine Grants / Finance Sue Hines Grand River Past President Bonnie L. Schepers Bicentennial Loyalist Information Doug Grant Governor Simcoe Sr. Vice-President Sue Hines Grand River Loyalist Scholarship Bonnie L. Schepers Bicentennial Treasurer David Laskey New Brunswick Nomenclature (Vacant) Secretary Jo Ann Tuskin Gov. Simcoe Promotions Patricia Groom Toronto Volunteer Recognition Gerald Adair Saskatchewan • • • • 4 • The Loyalist Gazette • • • • • Yes, indeed, this year marks many anniversaries that all Canadians can, and UELAC should, celebrate. As descendants of the President’s United Empire Loyalists, we in particular should feel a great surge of pride in the fact that, as citizens of this great land, many Message years before Confederation, our ancestors By Barb Andrew UE helped shape Canada into the wonderful home we live in today. Not only is 2017 a year to celebrate all of anada 150 – This the above, it is a time to celebrate a number has certainly been of special anniversaries of the Branches in a PARTY!! What a our Association. It was indeed my honour to wonderful opportu- have been invited to attend several Branch nity celebrating 2017 celebrations during the early part of the year. has provided us, as Despite numerous travel difficulties, it was a proud Canadians. wonderful treat to attend the 50th Anniversary Yes, it is the 150th anniversary Celebration of the New Brunswick Branch on 07 Cof Confederation and celebrate April at the historic Union Club located in Saint we did, from sea to shining sea, John, New Brunswick, and to bring greetings with speeches, fireworks, and and congratulations to the assembly on behalf cake – and the year is not over.. of the UELAC. The trip to New Brunswick also There are so many anniversaries afforded an opportunity to attend the Spring to both reflect on and celebrate Meeting of the Nova Scotia Branch on Saturday, this year. 08 April, near Port Mouton, along with a visit Montreal celebrated the city’s At Queenston Heights and Lundy’s Lane, to the Port Mouton Loyalist cemetery. “Down 375th birthday on 17 May with a Our brave fathers, side by side, east hospitality” was extended ten-fold during full slate of activities. As I think For freedom, homes and loved ones dear, a trip I shall not soon forget. On that trip I met about the grandeur of those Firmly stood and nobly died; a distant cousin and her daughter. I learned celebrations, I wonder what And those dear rights which they maintained, that they are also descendants of Loyalists my ancestors arriving at that We swear to yield them never! on their paternal side. city so many years ago were Our watchword evermore shall be Anniversary celebrations continued on 13 feeling and experiencing: United “The Maple Leaf forever!” May in beautiful Victoria, British Columbia, Empire Loyalists fleeing from the when members gathered for the annual Thirteen Colonies or, years later, I witnessed the birth of a nation. “Spring Fleet” luncheon coupled with the immigrants arriving from Ireland 90th Anniversary celebration of their branch. and Scotland. There would not 09 April 2017 also marked the 100th A very informative programme and delicious have been fireworks or cake to anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge.