Papers and Records [Called Ontario History After 1946]

Ontario History Scholarly Journal of The Ontario Historical Society Since 1899 Papers and Records [called Ontario History after 1946] Volume II, 1900 Published by The Ontario Historical Society, 1900 The Ontario Historical Society Established in 1888, the OHS is a non-profit corporation and registered charity; a non- government group bringing together people of all ages, all walks of life and all cultural backgrounds interested in preserving some aspect of Ontario's history. Learn more at www.ontariohistoricalsociety.ca. ®ntario Jbistorical Society. PAPERS AND RECORDS VOL. II. The United Empire Loyalist Settlement at Long Point, Lake Erie. BY L. H. TASKER, M.A., Collegiate Institute, Niagara Falls. TORONTO: \ WILLIAM BRIGGS. 1900. ®ntario 1bistoricaI Eaocietg. PAPERS AND RECORDS VOL. II. The United Empire Loyalist Settlement at Long Point, Lake Erie. BY L. H. TASKER, M.A., Collegiate Institute, Niagara Falls. TORONTO: VVILLIAl\/I BRIGGS. I900. CONTENTS. clurrnn me»: I. Introduction — ~ - - - — - - — — — ~ - ~ ~ 9 II. Political Aspect of the Revolution - - — - — — - - 10 III. Motives of the Loyalists — — — - - - — — - - — 15 IV. Treatment of the Loyalists During the War - — - — - 17 V. Legislative Enactments for the Punishment of the Loyalists 19 VI. British Parliament and the Loyalists - — - — - — — 22 VII. VVhat Britain Did for the Loyalists — — ~ ~ — — — 25 VIII. Loyalist Emigration — — — — - — — — — — — — — 27 IX. Routes of the Loyalists — — — - - — — — — - - - 29 X. Modes of Travelling — — — — — - — — — — — ~ — 30 XI. Early Accounts of Long Point - — — - - ~ - — - 33 XII. The County of Norfolk - — - — — - — — — — — — 35 XIII. The Townships of Norfolk — - — — ~ — — » — - - 37 XIV. The Indians of the Long Point District — — — — — - 42 XV. The Migration to Long Point — — — — - — — — — — 43 XVI. Charlotteville — — ~ - — - - ~ — » — - — » — 48 XVII. Clearing the Land — — — - - - - - - — — - - 51 XVIII. Buildings - — — — - — - - - — — - - - — . 52 - — — - — — - — — — — - - - - - - XIX. Food . 54 XX. Mills - — — — — - — — - - - - - — — — - - 56 XXI. Clothing » - — — - — — — - - — — - — - - - 57 XXII. The Preaching of the Gospel — — — — - - — — — — 60 XXIII. Marriage — — - - — — - - - » - — — - — - 63 XXIV. Funerals — - - — - - - — - — — — — - - - 67 XXV. List of U. E. Loyalists who Settled at Long Point - - 68 - - — - — - — — — — — ~ — ~ XXVI. Dedrick - - - 70 XXVII. — — ~ — — - — — — — — — — Maby (Mabee) . 71 XXVIII. Secord — - - — - — — — — — - ~ — - — — - 73 XXIX. Teeple — - — - — — - — — — — - — — - — — 7 4 XXX. Smith — — - - - - » — - — — — - - — — ~ 75 XXXI. McMichael ~ — — — — — — - - — - - ~ — — » XXXII.Austin~»~—~———--—————»—7877 viii CONTENTS. PAGE CHAPTER XXXIII. Welch - - — - - - - XXXIV. Culver — — - - - — XXXV. Ryerse (Captain Samuel) — XXXVI. McCall - - « - - - XXXVII. Munro - - - — - - — XXXVIII. Hazen — - - - XXXIX. Bowlloy — « — — — — - XL. Freeman - — - - « - XLI. Finch - - - - — - - XLII. Tisdale XLIII. Berdan - - « - - — - XLIV. Cope—-—- XLV. Ryerson (Lieutenant Joseph) ~ XLVI. Anderson - - - - - - XLVII. Gilbert - - - - - - - XLVIII. Johnson - XLIX. Montross L. Millard LI. Mattliexvs LII. Powell LIII. Foster — — — — — - « LIV. Williams — — — — — ~ LV. Brown ~ LVI. Spurgin - ~ - - - LVII. Hutchison LVIII. Buclmer - - - — - — LIX. Wycofl’ - — - - - - - LX. Havilund LXI. Fairchild - — - - - LXII. Wilson - — « - - - — LXIII. Shaw — « - - — « — LXIV. Davis — LXV. Glover 122 LXVI. Dougharty - - - - - ~ 122 LXVII. Green - - 123 Conclusion - — - ~ « - 125 References « - - THE UNITED EMPIRE LOYALIST SETTLEMENT AT LONG POINT, LAKE ERIE. CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION. N 0 more inspiring subject can engage the pen of any Writer than the theme of loyalty. Fidelity to the constitution, laws and institutions of one’s native land has been honored in every country and in every age. From infancy We have been told of the brave men of our race, and yet the tale, ever told, is ever new. The hero stories that thrilled us in our childhood have still the power to make the heart beat quickly and the current of feeling sweep over us, rich and strong. Socialists and revolutionists may affect to scorn it, but they cannot blot out the inherent glory contained in the Word “ patriot.” “ Dulce et decorum est pro pcttmla m0'r'i.” To die for one’s native land is assuredly sweet and seemly, and yet there is a truer and a nobler loyalty than this. It is that of preserving inviolate one’s faith to the established government, when all around is sedition, anarchy and revolution. When to be loyal means to fight, not against the stranger and the foreigner, but against those of the same language, the same country, the same state, and, it may be, the same family as one’s self——when loyalty means fratricidal war, the breaking up of home, the severing of the dearest heart cords, the loss of everything except honor—— “Oh ! who shall say What heroes feel, " When all but life and honor’s lost Z Such was the loyalty of these who plunged unshaken, unterrified and unseduced into a conflict unutterably bitter, which was destined 9 10 UNITED EMPIRE LOYALIST SETTLEMENT AT LONG POINT. to last for seven long years, and finally to sever them from their native land. During the War of the revolution, and in the blind revenge exacted by the victorious side, their property was confiscated, their families ostracised and exposed to insult, outrage and spoliation, their lives were in danger, and often ruthlessly declared forfeit, to satisfy malicious hatred and suspicion. Their zeal for the unity of the empire gave them the title of United Empire Loyalists, and these were the men who, at the close of the war, sought a refuge and a home on British soil, among the northern forests, and laid deep the foundations of the institutions, the freedom, the loyalty, and the prosperity of our land. “ Dear were the homes where they were born, Where slept their honored dead ; And rich and wide, on every side Their fruitful acres spread ; But dearer to their faithful hearts Than home, and gold, and lands, Were Britain’s laws. and Britain’s crown, And Britain's flag of high renown, And grip of British hands.” CHAPTER II. THE POLITICAL ASPECT OF THE REVOLUTION. THE Acts of the Imperial Parliament by which direct taxes were imposed on the American colonies are to be regarded as the culmination of the series of causes which brought on the revolution. In this series of events the most important is, no doubt, the renewal of the restrictions on colonial trade, enforced soon after the third George began his reign. Under the old “navigation laws” and “laws of trade” the colonial produce had to be exported directly to Britain, and thence by British vessels only, carried to its destination. Similarly, goods for the colonies had to be brought to Britain and thence to the colonies in British ships. The American colonies were not allowed to trade even with other colonies directly. For nearly a THE POLITICAL ASPECT OF THE REVOLUTION. 11 century these odious Acts had been evaded by an organized and Well arranged system of smuggling. The revenue officers of the Crown were lax in their enforcement of the letter of the law; consequently the merchants of various states, and chiefly those of Massachusetts, had grown rich by the illicit traflic, and were exasperated beyond measure by the attempts of the revenue officers, under fresh orders, to enforce the laws. Fourteen of the signers of the Declaration of Independence were engaged in trade which was affected grievously by these restrictions.* At the time of the Declaration of Independence John Hancock was a respondent in suits of the Crown to recover £100,000, or over, for alleged infractions of the trade laws. Thus the questions relative to trade and commerce are to be regarded as a primary cause of the revolution. Another primary cause was the fact that colonial industry and manufacture were restricted. The colonists were denied the use of natural advantages, such as waterfalls; they were forbidden the erec- tion of sundry kinds of machinery, particularly spinning and weaving machines; the kings arrow was placed on trees in the forest, which were two feet or over in diameter, at a height of twelve inches from the ground; the manufacture of sawn lumber, except for home con- market for dried fish was cut ofi" the sumption, was interdicted; the ; commerce in sugar and molasses was rudely interrupted; the most important and profitable avenues of trade were closed to them. Hence one of the aims of the revolution was to take off the shackles which bore heavily on the rising colonies. The explanation, or excuse it may be called, for these impositions lies of course in the opinion held by all Imperial governments at that time, that colonies existed for the benefit of the Mother Country only. The world has at last outgrown that doctrine, and we are to-day reaping the benefit of the removal of restrictions which was accelerated by the shock of the loss of half a continent. But all nations and governments are to be judged according to the general standard of enlightenment at the time of the events under consideration. It is easy to criticise a public policy when the result of a chain of events has demonstrated it to be Wrong. Before the issue, its Wisdom or foolishness is for the most North’s part a matter of opinion. Had We been a member of Lord Government we would have, no doubt, thought the existing colonial policy a natural and necessary one; had we made a fortune smuggling that same tea, Wine, or molasses, we would have, no doubt, thought * Hancock, Adams, Hewes, Langdon,

Load more