Document generated on 09/26/2021 3:59 p.m. Histoire Québec Loyalists in the Richelieu Valley Raymond Ostiguy Le Richelieu : un survol historique Volume 22, Number 1, 2016 URI: https://id.erudit.org/iderudit/81922ac See table of contents Publisher(s) Les Éditions Histoire Québec La Fédération Histoire Québec ISSN 1201-4710 (print) 1923-2101 (digital) Explore this journal Cite this article Ostiguy, R. (2016). Loyalists in the Richelieu Valley. Histoire Québec, 22(1), 25–27. Tous droits réservés © Les Éditions Histoire Québec, 2016 This document is protected by copyright law. Use of the services of Érudit (including reproduction) is subject to its terms and conditions, which can be viewed online. https://apropos.erudit.org/en/users/policy-on-use/ This article is disseminated and preserved by Érudit. Érudit is a non-profit inter-university consortium of the Université de Montréal, Université Laval, and the Université du Québec à Montréal. Its mission is to promote and disseminate research. https://www.erudit.org/en/ Loyalists in the Richelieu Valley by Raymond Ostiguy Raymond Ostiguy, born in Montreal in 1942, moves with his family to Ottawa in 1948. After obtaining a B.A. from Carleton University in 1963, he attends Queen’s University in Kingston to obtain an L.L.B. in 1966. Called to the Bar in 1968, he practices for five years in Windsor, Ontario, where he also teaches law part-time at the University. Returning to Ottawa in 1972, he rejoins Gowling Lafleur Henderson where he practices Education and Municipal Law until his retirement in 2007. Heavily committed to the Canadian Bar Association throughout his career, he occupies a number of provincial and national positions, including the presidency of the Ontario Branch. Member of numerous historical societies, since 2001 he conducts extensive research in local history allowing him to present conferences on the War of 1812 and other subjects. In September 2008, as a co-author, his society publishes Saint-Mathias, un domaine en partage, no. 32 of Les Cahiers de la seigneurie de Chambly, and again in September 2014, Le temps des Meuniers, no. 38 in the series. In September 2013, Les Éditions Histoire Québec publishes his Chambly et la guerre de 1812-1814, l’année 1812, and in 2015, with Georges Aubin, his Louis-Joseph Papineau, les débuts, 1808-1815. After the American rebels (les Laprairie late in 17771, provides servants, whether anonymous or not, Bastonnais) retreated from their the surnames of some 80 of the first as they are as much refugees as their occupation of Montreal and the wave of those refugees enumerated, employers, and they all contributed Richelieu Valley, more and more among others, at St. John’s (11; inclu- to the settlement of Canada. I believe Loyalists facing harassment and ding John Jones (1761-1801), arri- it may be safely assumed that the persecution began fleeing north- ving November 15, with a wife and majority were black slaves, as servant ward seeking refuge via the Lake five children from Fort George), was a contemporary euphemism for Champlain, Richelieu River route. Ste. Therese (27), Chambly (one), slave”. In his Refugee Roll, Watt lists For many men, women, children and seven other locations in the 62 individuals accompanied by one and their servants the exile would district of Montreal. While per- or more servants.2 become permanent. manent refu gee camps were esta- blished at St. John’s and Chambly, After the war numerous refugees First and possibly the foremost Ste. Therese proved to be merely an will establish themselves in the among them was Sir John Johnson “in transit” location. Richelieu Valley and contribute to (1742-1830), son of Sir William its development. From among those, Johnson, 1st Baronet of New York, On the Richelieu, a major refugee five have been selected: Sir John John- a major landowner in New York’s camp was established throughout son, Abraham C. Cuyler, Jacob Glen, Mohawk River Valley. Facing the war at Sorel, becoming a govern- William Byrne and John Jones. imminent arrest, Johnson with about ment seigneury and permanent reset- 180 of his tenants left Johnstown to tlement area at the end of the hosti- SIR JOHN JOHNSON travel overland to Chambly. On his lities. Wives (receiving a half ration) Established in Montreal following arrival in June 1776, at Governor and children (one-quarter) of men his arrival in Quebec, Sir John will Carleton’s request, Johnson began serving in corps normally accom- fulfill numerous military and civil raising the 1st of two battalions of the panied their husbands where they functions. He is appointed Super- King’s Royal Regiment of New York were posted. For example, in 1780, intendent and Inspector General of (KRRNY). His pregnant wife Mary the families of those men serving in Indian Affairs in 1782. In 1784, as (Polly) Watts (1754-1815), retained the 1st Battalion of the KRRNY joined Superintendent of Refugee Loyalists, with their two children as hostages their husbands at Lachine and in Johnson helps resettle thousands of in Albany, managed to escape to 1781, at Pointe Clair. displaced individuals and families, New York City (still in British hands) testifying for many on their claims where she was joined by her hus- Many officers of the provincial corps for compensation for their losses. band to make their way by ship to as well as other refugees were ac- He is appointed for the first time as Montreal in May, 1777. companied by their servants. In Legislative Councillor in 1786, ser- his Loyalist Refugees, Non-Mili- ving until the formation of the two A Return of Royalists not Incorporated tary Refugees in Quebec, 1776-1784, provinces in 1791 and again for in any Corps, signed by H. Dickson, author Gavin Watt makes the follo- Lower Canada, in 1796. Acting Commissary of Musters at wing statement: “I have recorded all HISTOIRE QUÉBEC VOLUME 22 NUMÉRO 1 - PAGE 25 In 1794 Johnson acquires the Archibald Kennedy (1792-1866), appoints Cuyler Inspector of Refugee Seigneury of Monnoir which he pro- Lieutenant 100th Regiment, Secretary Loyalists and to serve prisoners motes and develops, establishing his to the Indian Department, settles of war from both camps. Cuyler is country seat, manor house and family at Mount Johnson, exchanges with in England in 1784 to promote his burial vault at Mount Johnson (today nephew Charles MacDonnell, sells and other claims for losses and to mont Saint-Grégoire). At the same out to seignior Rolland and moves to seek assistance for a settlement of time Sir John, having acquired lands Upper Canada. He dies October 8 at 630 families (3150 persons) on Cape in Chambly, builds and promotes St. Helier, Jersey. Breton Island, a project which will grist and saw mills for his tenants, not prove entirely successful. In 1799 builds another manor house in The recently restored Johnson he is back in Montreal. In part for his St. Mathias (which still exists today), Family Vault contains the remains losses, Cuyler obtains for his family encourages and endows Catholic and of Sir John and Lady Johnson, sons extensive lands in the new Township Anglican parishes as well as schools William, Robert, John, Adam and of Farnham. In 1806 and 1808 Cuyler of the Royal Institution. son-in-law Edward MacDonnell, acquires two 2 x 25 arpents farms father of Charles, as well as uniden- on the Richelieu in the Parish of Beginning in 1804, Sir John forms and tified infant children. St. Therese. Buried in the family plot commands the Eastern Townships on his property in 1810, a Chambly Militia, ultimately of seven batta- ABRAHAM CORNELIUS CUYLER Canal (it passes through his lands) lions. In 1815, while Provincial Grand Born in Albany, like his father, worker will find his tombstone there Master (1778-1830) Johnson sells his Abraham C. Cuyler (1742-1810) in the 1950s. prestigious Montreal residence to becomes mayor of Albany for six neighbour and Freemason Brother years in 1770, six years after marrying JACOB GLEN John Molson. All nine of Sir John’s Jane Elizabeth Glen (1734-1817). In A native of Schenectady, N.Y., adult sons by his wife Lady Mary, June, 1776, Cuyler is apprehended Jacob Glen (1761-1843), nephew of serve in His Majesty’s Forces. Two and sent to Connecticut where, in Abraham Cuyler, enlists as an Ensign of his sons retain our attention for December, he escapes to New York. in the 1st Battalion of the KRRNY. their contributions to Chambly and While in Montreal he meets and mar- Monnoir. John (Junior) (1782-1841), The 1779 New York Confiscation ries Frances Southouse before lea ving Lieutenant Colonel of Militia, resides Act specially attaints some 59 indivi- to conduct business in New York. In in the Manor House at St. Mathias, duals, including Cuyler and Sir John 1801 he returns to settle in Chambly marries Mary Dillon, has four sons, Johnson, whose estates are forfeited with his family: Catherine Frances including William George, 4th Baro- and their persons banished, under (1785-1861), John (1786-1855), Sophia net, and four daughters, as well as penalty of death if they return. In (1795-18--) and Edward (1787-1850). other natural children. October, 1782, Governor Haldimand Captain and Adjutant of Sir John Johnson’s Eastern Townships Militia he is appointed Justice of the Peace. Jane Anna (1804-1861) and Jacob Junior (1807-1837) are added before John leaves to find fortune in Barranquilla, Columbia, around 1809. There he will befriend Liberator Simon Bolivar before returning to Chambly in 1839 to marry the widow of Charles de Salaberry, the Hero of the Chateauguay. He oversees the establishment of the toll plank road between Chambly and Longueuil and administers the declining fortunes of his wife’s family, including Hermine, widow of his deceased brother Jacob, before returning forever to Barranquilla and his natural family.