Yes, the King’s Royal Yorkers are Coming!

Yes, the King’s Royal Yorkers are Coming!

Yes, the King’s Royal Yorkers are Coming!

Standford Mansion

Stanford Home
Hearing
Information
Hearing Notes
January 23 Hearing
Canadians are Coming!
Archeological
Information
Photos – Outdoor
Photos – Indoor
Bonding
Editorial
Preservation
 
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Yes, the King’s Royal Yorkers are Coming!
Well, one man is representing the Captain Richard Duncan Company.

Background: In the 1777 and 1783, Captain Richard Duncan commanded a company in the 1st Battalion of the King’s Royal Regiment of New York, under Sir John Johnson. Richard was son of John Duncan who owned 800 acres and established his beloved Hermitage, a farm and estate, in Niskayuna. Upon the death of his father in 1790s, Richard Duncan returned to Niskayuna.

The only land left today is the core of the Hermitage, 12 acres where there is an elegant brick mansion built in 1816, after the Duncan house burned. That new home sheltered many notables. And five generations of Leland and Charles Stanford families, until sold for a home for indigent ‘Aged Men’ in the 1920s. It was renamed a memorial for the Ingersoll family, who never lived there.

The brick mansion, the 1840s addition and a mid-1900s addition are under threat of dismemberment by developer John Roth of Schenectady, who plans to build a shopping mall across from the existing Mohawk Commons Mall. As part of the campaign to preserve the ancient trees, the graceful hill and green space that surround the lovely building, the Friends of Stanford Home reached out to many local and area people. And by chance, communications started with the Captain Duncan Company in Canada, a re-enactment group. Shaun Wallace of the Museum of Applied Military History, a member of Captain Richard Duncan’s Company, will come to Niskayuna on January 23rd to present his group’s views and interest in preserving this historic land and the current building.

Artifacts from the Duncan era are being uncovered in the preliminary archaeological dig currently underway on the remaining 12 acres.

We are pleased that this international support recognizes the historic value and the potential for tourism that might evolve from this site being used in combination with other groups, to showcase our rich history from Native times to the present at this beautiful entrance to the Town of Niskayuna and the City and County of Schenectady.

The Canadian King’s Royal Yorkers have put our on-line petition in circulation in Canada so if you want to see both the local and the international list as it grows, find it here. http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/Ingersoll-Stanford-Home

Locally we have collected hundreds of petitions to urge a no-vote on the Special Use Permit before the Town Board on Tuesday, January 23, 2007 at 7 p.m.

Spend a night out, bring the kids, to a large gathering of good people. We need to send a message against bad commercial development in Niskayuna and in our entire Capital District of New York. Councilwoman Liz Orzel Kasper at a Town Board meeting, urged a large turnout to inform the board of community concerns. She has stated that she is against a mall replacing our history in this corner of Niskayuna.

The on-line newsletter from the Canadians is below the letter from Shaun Wallace.

Sincerely,
Linda Champagne
518-346-8316
Niskayuna, New York, United States

 

Yes, the King’s Royal Yorkers are Coming! Well, one man is representing the Captain Richard Duncan Company.

Background: In the 1777 and 1783, Captain Richard Duncan commanded a company in the 1st Battalion of the King’s Royal Regiment of New York, under Sir John Johnson. Richard was son of John Duncan who owned 800 acres and established his beloved Hermitage, a farm and estate, in Niskayuna. Upon the death of his father in 1790s, Richard Duncan returned to Niskayuna.

The only land left today is the core of the Hermitage, 12 acres where there is an elegant brick mansion built in 1816, after the Duncan house burned. That new home sheltered many notables. And five generations of Leland and Charles Stanford families, until sold for a home for indigent ‘Aged Men’ in the 1920s. It was renamed a memorial for the Ingersoll family, who never lived there.

The brick mansion, the 1840s addition and a mid-1900s addition are under threat of dismemberment by developer John Roth of Schenectady, who plans to build a shopping mall across from the existing Mohawk Commons Mall. As part of the campaign to preserve the ancient trees, the graceful hill and green space that surround the lovely building, the Friends of Stanford Home reached out to many local and area people. And by chance, communications started with the Captain Duncan Company in Canada, a re-enactment group. Shaun Wallace of the Museum of Applied Military History, a member of Captain Richard Duncan’s Company, will come to Niskayuna on January 23rd to present his group’s views and interest in preserving this historic land and the current building.

Artifacts from the Duncan era are being uncovered in the preliminary archaeological dig currently underway on the remaining 12 acres.

We are pleased that this international support recognizes the historic value and the potential for tourism that might evolve from this site being used in combination with other groups, to showcase our rich history from Native times to the present at this beautiful entrance to the Town of Niskayuna and the City and County of Schenectady.

The Canadian King’s Royal Yorkers have put our on-line petition in circulation in Canada so if you want to see both the local and the international list as it grows, find it here. http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/Ingersoll-Stanford-Home

Locally we have collected hundreds of petitions to urge a no-vote on the Special Use Permit before the Town Board on Tuesday, January 23, 2007 at 7 p.m.

Spend a night out, bring the kids, to a large gathering of good people. We need to send a message against bad commercial development in Niskayuna and in our entire Capital District of New York. Councilwoman Liz Orzel Kasper at a Town Board meeting, urged a large turnout to inform the board of community concerns. She has stated that she is against a mall replacing our history in this corner of Niskayuna.

The on-line newsletter from the Canadians is below the letter from Shaun Wallace.

Sincerely,
Linda Champagne
518-346-8316
Niskayuna, New York, United States

—– Original Message —–
From: <uppercanada@hotmail.com>
To: <lmcwrite@nycap.rr.com>
Sent: Monday, January 15, 2007 8:19 AM
Subject: RE: Attending the January 23rd meeting

Linda,

It has been decided and I will be attending the meeting on January 23rd.
Just to let you know where I am Morrisburg, Ontario is located about 1.5 hrs
west of Montreal. That makes it about 4 hrs to Niskayuna coming down the
North Throughway ie: Interstate 87.

Flying may be an issue. I know US customs will have concerns with the
military kit ( musket and bayonet etc…) on the plane. I could come without
it, but I think appearing in campaign dress will have a larger impact.

For the public meeting how many speakers will there be and much time will be
allotted for each speaker? What will be the format of the presentations?

Best regards,

Shaun

From: "Linda Champagne" <lmcwrite@nycap.rr.com>
To: <uppercanada@hotmail.com>

>>Subject: Canadian Royal Yorker to Come And "Loyalist Trails" UELAC
>>newsletter 2007-02 Jan 14, 2007
>>Date: Sun, 14 Jan 2007 19:05:52 -0500
>>
>>Shaun,
>>
The date we are talking about for the Public Hearing is JANUARY 23rd,
meeting at 7 p.m. in the evening in the Niskayuna Town Hall.

The final vote by the board will be two weeks following that public
meeting. And we hope a big public hearing will affect the vote. If not,
legal action.
. Will try to find out where the Duncans are buried.
These will be our first online international signatures! Will look them
over soon.
Linda
Original Message —–
<uppercanada@hotmail.com>
To: <lmcwrite@nycap.rr.com>
Sent: Sunday, January 14, 2007 4:17 PM
Subject: FW: "Loyalist Trails" UELAC newsletter 2007-02 Jan 14, 2007
Ms. Champagne,

It’s great we have opened this international dialogue on a project that
we both share an immense interest in.

Attached is new issue of the Loyalists Trails electronic newsletter that
was sent out today to Loyalists and supporters of Loyalist history all
across Canada. You will note that Captain Duncan’s Hermitage is the second item
in the newsletter. By reading the contents of the other articles you will
get a feel or an understanding for the United Empire Loyalist Association of Canada.
I looked at the online petition just before sending this note and I
noticed that the current president of the association, Peter W. Johnson has signed
the petition as has the past president Doug Grant. A number of members of the King’s Royal Regiment of New York, Duncan’s COY have also signed the petition. As have a number of local residents here
in the Morrisburg area (Dundas County, Ontario).
I can assure you that some one will attend the public meeting. What I
need to clarify is the date and time of the meeting.
On another matter related to this issue is the location of the graves
for members of the Duncan family, namely John Duncan and his son Captain
Richard Duncan along with Richard’s wife and daughter. Would members of your
committee know the locations?
My very best regards,
Shaun Wallace
Museum of Applied MIlitary History; KRR NY, Duncan’s COY
St. Lawrence Branch, United Empire Loyalists Association of Canada
Morrisburg and District Historical Society

From: Doug Grant <doug.grant@insurance-canada.ca>
To: uela@becon.org
Subject: "Loyalist Trails" UELAC newsletter 2007-02 Jan 14, 2007
Date: Sun, 14 Jan 2007 14:04:57 -0500

"Loyalist Trails" UELAC Newsletter 2007-02 Jan. 14 2007

This email newsletter, issued every one to two weeks, is for
members and friends of the United Empire Loyalists Association of Canada – see
the end of the note for subscription information. Please forward this note
to others whom you think may find it of interest.
In this issue:

The Mystery of the Ruiter Ledgers 1799-1811: Were Thomas, Morris and
Joel Black Slaves?
Action: Help Save Captain Richard Duncan’s "Hermitage" from
Development
"Polly" by Murray Killman UE Available in Hardcopy
Signed Commemorative Edition of "Loyal She Remains" For Sale
Interest: Books on American Silver & Silversmiths
Interest: Allen, Robert S. (editor). The Loyal Americans:
Loyalists Joining Regular British Battalions
Vermont Played Two Ends At Once
Query: Loyalist migrations into Canada
Query: Loyalists with Italian Roots
Query: John Grant "Ian Mohn Na Catheran" "Big John the Robber"
Query: Maritime or Maritimes or ? Loyalists
Query: Major-General Isaac Brock’s message about Fort Mackinac in
1812
Query: Information about Capt. Andrew Thompson, Butler’s Rangers
Query: Did any Black Loyalists Serve Under Sir John Johnson
Volunteer: to transcribe One Sheet for Military
Paul Bunnell’s "Loyalist Quarterly" Available
Military Information on the Web Site

The Mystery of the Ruiter Ledgers 1799-1811: Were Thomas, Morris and
Joel Black Slaves?
During Black History Month in February 2007, the never-before-seen
Philip Ruiter Ledgers (1799-1811) will be exhibited for the first time
at the Missisquoi Museum in Stanbridge East QC. Kept in an attic for over
a century, the ledgers shed new light on the debate about the presence of
Black people living in the shadow of "Nigger Rock" in the St. Armand
region of Missisquoi County.
Visitors will discover shopping trends of the community at
Missisquoi
Bay, identify early families and have the opportunity to study the
ledgers
to determine if they provide an answer to the ongoing debate about the
lives of the Black community that lived in the region at the turn of the
>> >>19th Century.
>> >> Thanks to a loan from Robert Galbraith and Phyllis Montgomery,
the
>> >>Philip Ruiter Ledgers will have their first public viewing in
Black
>>History
>> >>Month to honour the individuals whose names have not been recognized
in
>> >>conventional local history. The ledgers will be on display each
Thursday
>>to
>> >>Sunday afternoon throughout the month of February 1 p.m. – 4:00
p.m. The
>> >>opening and vernissage for the exhibit will be held on Thursday
February
>>1,
>> >>2007 from 7-9 p.m. at the Missisquoi Museum. All are welcome.
Several
>> >>lectures will be presented to accompany this exhibit throughout
the
>>month
>> >>of February.
>> >> Please watch for details on our website at http://www.missisquoimuseum.ca
>>or
>> >>call the Missisquoi Museum for more information at 450-248-3153.
>> >>From: Missisquoi Museum, 2 River Street, Stanbridge East QC
>> >>Re: Black History Month Exhibit
>> >>Date: Thursday to Sunday, February 1st to February 25, 2007,
1 p.m.
>>to
>> >>4:00 p.m.
>> >>Contact: Pamela Realffe, Executive Secretary, 450-248-3153
>> >> ….submitted by Bev Loomis UE, President
>> >>Little Forks Branch
Action: Help Save Captain Richard Duncan’s "Hermitage" from Development
It has been brought to the attention of Duncan’s Company, of the
re-created King’s Royal Regiment of New York that a piece of property
(12.5acres) that once belonged to our lustrous captain is in danger of being
destroyed. This piece of land is all that is left of a once large
country estate originally owned by the Duncan family. It was called the
Hermitage, located in the Mohawk Valley, about five km east of Schenectady, 20 km
northwest of Albany. Presently it is a refuge for low income men and women and is run as a charity.
Richard Duncan was an ensign in the British Army and served with
the 55th Regiment of Foot during the Seven years War. He re-joined the
British Army in 1777 after he was declared a dangerous person by the committee
of safety. He was with Major General John Burgoyne at Saratoga but was
given permission along with a number of other soldiers to retire to Fort
Ticonderoga before the surrender was completed. At Fort Ticonderoga he
joined Sir John Johnson’s regiment with the rank of Captain. The
Duncan’s were strong Tories and always supported the cause of the King. Richard’s
father, John, was an very wealthy business man and was too old to fight
but
stayed behind to run his business affairs and to aid the Tory cause
locally.
The Duncan’s owned an extensive estate comprised of 800 acres in
Niskayuna out side of the Schenectady district. Here John Duncan amassed
a cache of some 300 stands of arms for the King’s cause and regularly had
>> >>visitors who were deemed to be enemies of Liberty.
>> >> After the peace Captain Richard Duncan settled with his men
in the
>> >>Lunenburgh District of Upper Canada and was instrumental in
establishing
>> >>the first village (Mariatown) in what was to become Dundas County.
>>Captain
>> >>Duncan served as the first judge in the district as well as
in the
>> >>Legislative Assembly at Québec and in the first Legislative
Assembly of
>> >>Upper Canada. Following the death of his father Richard returned
to the
>> >>Hermitage to take up his inheritance. He died at the Hermitage
in 1819.
>> >>Following his death the estate’s title was taken up by the Stanford
>>family.
>> >> Although the Duncan’s home is no longer standing, 12.5 acres
of the
>> >>Duncan’s Hermitage has been preserved, along with the Stanford
Family
>> >>residence which was built in the late 1820’s or early 1830 after
the
>> >>Hermitage burned to the ground.
>> >> In recent months application has been made to have the land
rezoned
>> >>and to erect a shopping mall on the property. A local organization
>>called
>> >>the Friends of Stanford Home are attempting to stop the commercial
>> >>development of this park-like oasis in the middle of this already
>>heavily
>> >>developed
>> >>area.
>> >> The Friends of the Stanford need help to preserve this heritage
>>site
>> >>and have written a electronic petition to try to persuade the
supervisor
>>of
>> >>Niskayuna to preserve this important historical place and building.
You
>> >>don’t have to be a resident of Niskayuna, New York to sign the
>>petition.
>> >>You can access the iPetition at:
>> >>>> >> …..Loyally, Shaun Wallace <uppercanada@hotmail.com>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>"Polly" by Murray Killman UE Available in Hardcopy
>> >> This book was announced in "Loyalist Trails" 2006-48
December 17,
>> >>2006. It is now available in softcover hardcopy.
>> >> Persona-non-grata: a Latin term that could describe the status
of
>> >>thousands of New York born American citizens in 1775. The Biography
of
>>Mary
>> >>"Polly" Johnson (grand daughter of one of the most
powerful men in
>>America)
>> >>covers the incredible adventure of one such person.
>> >> This is a true story that tells it like it was during the birth
of
>>the
>> >>United States of America. The metamorphosis from thirteen violently
>> >>revolting colonies to a refined, cultured, carefully structured
>>benevolent
>> >>Nation did not happen over night. Like a new born child, America
came
>> >>kicking and screaming into existence; weak, in need of nourishment
and
>> >>lacking in direction. The fledgling Nation was so weak that
it could not
>> >>even occupy Fort Niagara until twelve years after the Revolution
had
>>ended.
>> >>France and the new United States were bankrupt along with England,
and
>> >>revolt was everywhere.
>> >> This is a story that needs to be told and who better to do
that
>>than
>> >>"Polly," a sophisticated eleven-year-old child who
lost her birthright
>> >>through no fault of her own.
>> >> From the era of Jane Austen, a carefully researched 215 p biography
>>of
>> >>an 18th, century woman, including the private letters of her
sister,
>>Julia
>> >>Johnson.
>> >> This carefully-researched book, titled Polly, is available
free of
>> >>charge <http://www.uelac.org/Books/Polly.php>on the UELAC
website;
>>acquaint
>> >>yourself with an example of real human tragedy in the American
>>Revolution.
>> >> Women in the 18th century were apolitical and Polly’s story
is not
>>an
>> >>attempt to distort the truth with historical revisionism. It
is however
>>an
>> >>example of just how far the women’s movement has gone in America,
by
>> >>illustrating how little power women of Polly’s time enjoyed.
>> >> The author, Murray Killman, UE, is a seventh generation
>>non-partisan
>> >>Canadian with native Indian, Patriot American and United Empire
Loyalist
>> >>roots.
>> >> …Murray Killman, UE, author, artist and historian
>> >>[The price of the book is $18. The dimensions are 8.5 x 11 x
0.5 inches.
>> >>The weight exceeds 500 grams, so to Canada Post it is a package.
>>Shipping
>> >>and handling will be between $8 and 12.00 in Canada, depending
on
>>distance.
>> >>If you want to order a copy, send your name and address and
I will
>>return
>> >>the shipping and handling cost. Doug Grant
>> >><doug.grant@insurance-canada.ca>)
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>Signed Commemorative Edition of "Loyal She Remains" For
Sale
>> >> I have a copy of " Loyal She Remains", the commemorative
edition
>>from
>> >>1984, in mint condition and signed by
>> >>Roland Michener and William Davis. It is number 149 of 500 copies
>>printed,
>> >>originally retailing for $ 500. Please contact me if you are
interested.
>> >> James J. Butler <liveplanet@gmail.com> Stratford ON
>>519 .
>> >>305 . 2000
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>Interest: Books on American Silver & Silversmiths
>> >>123. Langdon, John E. American Silversmiths in British North
America,
>> >>1776-1800. Toronto; printed at the Stinehour Press:1970. Edition
limited
>>to
>> >>350 copies. An important piece of research work which documents
39
>> >>silversmiths who were forced to flee the Colonies during and
after the
>> >>American Revolution because they were Loyalists. These craftsmen
settled
>>in
>> >>Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Ontario and built new lives for
>>themselves.
>> >>Langdon begins by discussing not only silversmiths but also
other
>>craftsmen
>> >>who were forced to flee the American colonies and resettle in
Canada,
>>and
>> >>then offers full biographies of the 39 silversmiths. The superb
text
>> >>carefully documents these individuals, using both printed and
manuscript
>> >>records; the text is fully footnoted. Hardcover. 6.5"x10",
82 pages; a
>> >>finely printed book with marbled endpapers -an elegant volume.
A fine
>>copy
>> >>in the original glassine dust wrap and slipcase; glassine split,
case
>> >>slightly soiled. [06863] $450.00
>> >> Books for sale
>> >><http://www.joslinhall.com/Catalog_289.htm>http://www.joslinhall.com/Catalog_289.htm
>> >>Home
>> >><http://www.joslinhall.com/index.htm>http://www.joslinhall.com/index.htm
>> >>
>> >>Also [103061] Allen, Robert S. (editor). The Loyal Americans:
The
>>Military
>> >>Role of the Loyalist Provincial Corps and Their Settlement in
British
>>North
>> >>America, 1775-1784. Ottawa ON: National Museum of Man, 1983.
Soft Cover.
>> >>Fine ISBN: 0660107538. Catalogue of a travelling exhibition
of the
>>Canadian
>> >>War Museum in collaboration with the New Brunswick Museum. $15.00
>> >><http://www.chelseabooks.ca/prod01.htm>http://www.chelseabooks.ca/prod01.htm
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>Loyalists Joining Regular British Battalions
>> >> From "A State of the Expedition, J. Bourgoyne, Evidence
p.25" as
>> >>quoted in the Proceedings of the Vermount Historical Society
June 1938:
>> >>" On September 21st (1777) one hundred and twenty brave
men of courage
>>and
>> >>fidelity were drafted from the four Loyalist Corps as replacements
into
>>the
>> >>regular British battalions, which had become sadly depleted
from the
>>heavy
>> >>fighting at the first battle of Saratoga."
>> >> This serves to confirm that colonists had indeed served in
British
>> >>regiments.
>> >> ……Winston Dobson UE
>> >>Comment from Gavin Watt
>> >> Yes, I’m very aware of this special instance when loyalist
>> >>Provincials were drafted to serve in Burgoyne’s depleted battalions;
>> >>however, I’ve never found a list of those men, or any record
of how many
>> >>were lost in combat or illness during the balance of the campaign,
or
>>how
>> >>many stayed with the Regulars and went with the ‘Conventional’
Army.
>> >> I have not found a single mention of these men in the records
of
>>the
>> >>Provincial battalions from which they were drafted. Nor, a single
record
>>of
>> >>any veteran from that particular instance in a petition for
redress to
>>the
>> >>government. It’s as if they disappeared into an information
vacuum.
>> >> If anyone out there in the broader ‘loyalist land’ has any
light to
>> >>shed on this particular topic, please do so.
>> >> In any event, in my previous Loyalist Trails query on this
subject,
>>the
>> >>loyal Americans I was attempting to track were those who enlisted
in
>> >>British regiments voluntarily. Recruits who made the decision
entirely
>>on
>> >>their own, without duress, other than the usual recruiting shenanigans.
>> >>Many thanks,
>> >> …..Gavin Watt. Honorary VP UELAC
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>Vermont Played Two Ends At Once
>> >> On Monday, January 15, 2007, Vermont will celebrate an event
of
>>becoming
>> >>an independent republic in 1777. During the American Revolution,
>>relations
>> >>continued to be on edge between New York and Vermont. If Vermonters
>>could
>> >>maintain a balancing act between the British in Canada and the
American
>> >>Congress, America might eventually realize Vermont’s value to
the cause.
>> >> TRUCE
>> >> While the battle raged in the Champlain-Hudson corridor during
the
>> >>Revolution, Congress continued to also deny Vermont entrance
as a state
>>of
>> >>the Union. In July of 1777, a convention met in Windsor, Vermont,
to
>>frame
>> >>a constitution for an independent state of Vermont. Ethan Allen
thought
>>it
>> >>ridiculous that Vermonters should be "obliged to defend
the independence
>>of
>> >>the United claiming States, and they, at the same time, at full
liberty
>>to
>> >>overturn and ruin the independence of Vermont". Delegates
therefore
>> >>declared Vermont an independent state and continued to do so
until 1791,
>> >>when it became admitted as the 14th state in the Union.
>> >> In the first couple of years as an independent state, Ethan
Allen
>> >>believed that Vermont’s preservation hinged on the sowing of
confusion.
>> >>The longer the war lasted, the better for Vermont, as long as
the
>>British
>> >>did not decide to invade again.
>> >> Beginning in 1779 Vermont leaders entered into negotiations
with
>> >>General Frederick Haldimand, commandant at Quebec, for the exchange
of
>> >>prisoners. By the spring of 1781 Ethan Allen’s brother, Ira,
had
>>persuaded
>> >>the British of the wisdom of not fighting on Vermont’s territory,
>>agreeing
>> >>to a truce and the prisoner exchange. Ira reasoned any reasonable
>>person
>> >>would see a truce as a positive step with the British as aggressors
on
>> >>Vermont’s northern borders and in the Lake Champlain country.
The truce
>> >>lasted for the duration of the war. It effectively immobilized
British
>> >>forces in the area and helped to preserve Vermont’s independence.
>> >> By the fall of 1781, the British became suspicious that Allen
used
>> >>them for his own purposes. Haldimand thought Vermont a formidable
enemy
>> >>and that they sought only to make Congress jealous so that they
could
>>enter
>> >>the Union. He felt that nothing is to be expected from Vermont
but
>>cursed
>> >>hypocrisy and deceit. Nonetheless, he decided to try again,
presenting
>>Ira
>> >>Allen with a plan. In October, 1781, British troops moved up
Lake
>> >>Champlain and issued a proclamation offering Vermont the status
of an
>> >>autonomous colony within the empire. Haldimand intended moving
south
>> >>anyway, so Allen lost nothing by agreeing to the proposal.
>> >> Lt. Colonel Barry St. Leger with 1000 men moved up the lake
and
>> >>occupied Crown Point. To lull the suspicions of the Vermont
people,
>>Allen
>> >>stationed a force, under the command of Brigadier General Roger
Enos,
>> >>across the lake. The two commanders knew that they would not
come to
>>blows,
>> >>but with their subalterns not being in the secret, a skirmish
took
>>place.
>> >> In attempting to capture a Vermont soldier to act as messenger
>>for
>> >>Haldimand’s proclamation, British Captain Justus Sherwood accidentally
>> >>killed one Vermont Sergeant Tupper. Sherwood took the rest of
the
>>company
>> >>prisoner. Lt. Colonel St. Leger, with a letter of apology sent
to
>>Governor
>> >>Thomas Chittenden, returned to General Enos the prisoners taken.
He
>> >>furthermore sent the clothing of the slain with the message
that the
>> >>deceased would be given decent burial, and any of his friends
who wished
>>to
>> >>be present at the same time would be permitted to cross the
English
>>lines.
>> >>Vermonters became baffled and demanded to know what was going
on.
>> >> An enemy of the Allens intercepted the letter to Chittenden
and
>>took
>> >>it straight to the Assembly. Ira Allen and Chittenden spent
several
>>days
>> >>explaining why a British commander apologized for killing an
American
>> >>soldier. Then news arrived that though not yet attacked, St.
Leger had
>> >>retreated. A few days later word arrived that Cornwallis had
>>surrendered
>> >>at Yorktown, and St. Leger returned to St. Johns. In an uproar,
the
>> >>Assembly demanded to know what was going on. Though they could
not
>> >>discover any evidence of a conspiracy, they suspected such.
>> >> As a fitting end to this bizarre little invasion, Governor
Clinton
>>of
>> >>New York finally decided to move against rebellious Vermont.
With the
>> >>victory at Yorktown, the time had come to settle old scores.
Showing
>>both
>> >>contempt for and ignorance of the forces he faced, Clinton only
sent two
>> >>hundred militiamen, under the command of General Peter Gansevoort,
east
>> >>toward Bennington, Vermont. Chittenden sent an equal number,
and on
>> >>December 20, 1781, the two miniature armies met at the Walloomsac.
After
>> >>exchanging insults and threats, the two sides settled in, each
claiming
>>to
>> >>be laying siege to the other.
>> >> Ethan Allen now arrived in the Vermont lines with additional
>> >>reinforcements. With Allen’s arrival the New York militiamen
broke up,
>> >>stating that they would not fight their neighbors. Allen won
the field
>> >>without firing a shot. Vermont drove the New Yorkers into retreat,
and
>> >>sent Clinton into a rage. By the end of 1781 Allen had succeeded
in
>> >>repelling a British invasion by spinning out treaties and words
and a
>>New
>> >>York army with a grand show. Allen managed to accomplish a brilliant,
>>if
>> >>occasionally embarrassing, sequence of victories.
>> >> …submitted by Bill Glidden, Historian, Valcour Battle Chapter,
>>SAR
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>Query: Loyalist Migrations into Canada
>> >> I’m a 2nd year student at the University of Western Ontario
and
>> >>currently doing a project on Loyalists in one of my classes.
Your
>>website
>> >>has been very helpful. However I am looking for a basic timeline
of the
>> >>Loyalists’ movements from the United States into Canada from
the very
>> >>beginning. Would you have access to such a timeline or perhaps
direct me
>>to
>> >>a website which would be the most accurate? Any help would be
most
>> >>appreciated.
>> >> …..Waheeda Ekhlas reckless_ekhlas@hotmail.com
>> >>[editor’s comment: if you can point Waheeda at some information
on a web
>> >>site – a map showing the migration patterns, dates, number of
Loyalists,
>> >>etc., or dates of events such as the various landings of the
Loyalists
>>in
>> >>NS and what became then NB, please also copy me. This would
be a good
>> >>subject for our web site as well…Doug Grant
>> >><doug.grant@insurance-canada.ca> ]
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>Query: Loyalists with Italian Roots
>> >>I recently came across an interesting passage in a book mentioning
that
>> >>some Loyalists were Italian (or of Italian heritage). Is there
any way
>>to
>> >>verify this? If so where can I get documentation? I am a freelance
>>writer
>> >>and if this is in fact accurate it may be a perfect story for
a local
>> >>magazine!
>> >> …….Alessandro Nicolo, Montreal,
>> >><alessandro.nicolo@videotron.ca>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>Query: John Grant "Ian Mohn Na Catheran" "Big
John the Robber"
>> >> I have received information about a John Grant "Ian Mohn
Na
>>Catheran"
>> >> "Big John the Robber" who carries the designation
United Empire
>> >>Loyalist. He was born between 1731 -1737 in Dundreaggan, Glenmoriston,
>> >>Inverness, Scotland. By his first wife, Catherine Grant of Corriemony
>>he
>> >>had the following children:Angus, Jane, Patrick (Peter), Janet,
Hannah,
>> >>Alexander (Col), Betsey, and Catherine. His second wife (not
sure if
>>they
>> >>were married) produced a son Alexander. His third wife was Mary
>>MacIntyre
>> >>(supposedly a servant girl from Dundraeggan(by whom he had the
following
>> >>children: Duncan, Margaret, Isobel, Ellen (Helen), Isobel, John,
Lewis
>>and
>> >>Alpin. The family came to Glengarry County. He died in 1802
and is
>>buried
>> >>in St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church cemetery in Williamstown,
Ontario.
>> >> My connection with the family comes through John Grant the
son of
>>John
>> >>Grant and Mary MacIntyre
>> >> Additional information states John Grant arrived in Montreal
in
>>August
>> >>1786 after spending time in Philadelphia. The following year
they made
>> >>their way to Upper Canada, via New York and Albany. Because
he and his
>> >>orphaned children arrived in Canada via the United States, they
were
>> >>labeled "Immigrant Loyalists" and were eligible for
land grants. He
>> >>became a Justice of the Peace.
>> >> Other information says that he succeeded his father in wadset
of
>> >>Duldreaggan in 1779. After the Battle of Culloden he spent 14
years in
>> >>Barbados, returning to Scotland in 1773. Also, states that he
created
>>quite
>> >>a scandal by marrying Mary MacIntrye.
>> >> Can anyone tell if this information is true? Is John Grant "Ian
>>Mohn
>> >>Na Catheran" a United Empire Loyalist? And is the information
I have
>>about
>> >>him correct?
>> >> Thank you. …..Joyce Nagy s.kent@shaw.ca
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>Query: Maritime or Maritimes or ? Loyalists
>> >> The Spring 2007 issue of The Loyalist Gazette will be featuring
a
>> >>number of excellent academic articles about the Loyalists who
settled in
>> >>the Maritime provinces following the American Revolution. Thus
we are
>> >>interested in learning the correct phrase to use when describing
these
>> >>Loyalists. "Maritimes Loyalists" has been used in
the past to describe
>> >>those Loyalists who settled in Prince Edward Island and Nova
Scotia, the
>> >>latter group being so large that the province of New Brunswick
was later
>> >>formed.
>> >> A reminder that all submissions for the Spring 2007 issue should
be
>> >>sent to the editor by January 15th. Please send them to my new
e-mail
>> >>address: <mailto:gazette.editor@nexicom.net>gazette.editor@nexicom.net
>> >> – Sincerely and loyally, Bob McBride UE, editor, The Loyalist
>>Gazette.
>> >><mailto:gazette.editor@nexicom.net>gazette.editor@nexicom.net
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>Query: Major-General Isaac Brock’s message about Fort Mackinac
in 1812
>> >> At the outset of hostilities between the United States and
Canada
>>in
>> >>the summer of 1812, the British Major-General Isaac Brock sent
>>messengers
>> >>from Fort Joseph near present day Niagara to organize a surprise
attack
>> >>against the United States Fort Mackinac on Mackinaw Island.
His men
>>went
>> >>by canoe across Lake Ontario, up the Humber River, portage to
Georgian
>>Bay
>> >>and then on through Lake Huron. Fort Mackinac and its ranking
officer
>> >>Lieutenant Porter Hanks were not even aware that war had been
declared
>> >>because the information had been sent by regular post from Washington.
>> >>Lieutenant Hanks surrendered the fort without a fight.
>> >> I am looking for primary source documentation of any aspects
the
>> >>above story, but with an emphasis on anything related to the
canoe
>>journey.
>> >> Articles in news papers, private journals or any type of government
or
>> >>military record would be acceptable. Lacking these kind of documents
I
>> >>would even settle for a source coming from a recognized historian
of the
>> >>War of 1812.
>> >> Alvin Glassford <alving@andrews.edu>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>Query: Information about Capt. Andrew Thompson, Butler’s Rangers
>> >> We Loyalists, though on an isolated ranch beyond the frontier
[in
>> >>Winnipeg], celebrate Dec. 25 to honour our ancestor, Capt. Andrew
>>Thompson
>> >>of Butler’s Rangers. Thompson became a captain on that date
in 1779.
>> >>Thompson was killed in 1781 in service at Detroit. That’s all
I know
>>about
>> >>him.
>> >> I am a journalist, TV documentary producer and writer of history
>> >>books. I am considering a book about Capt. Andrew Thompson and
another
>> >>relative of ours, Charles Thompson, U.S. president and clerk
of the
>> >>Continental Congress at Philadelphia from 1776 until Washington
was
>>elected
>> >>president after the Revolution.
>> >> I would appreciate any direction which your knowledgeable and
>>learned
>> >>readers might provide.
>> >> ….Charles Duncan Thompson at
>> >><mailto:cthompson139@shaw.ca>cthompson139@shaw.ca
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>Query: Did any Black Loyalists Serve Under Sir John Johnson
>> >> Let us use this momentum to make sure that the Johnson Family
Crypt
>>is
>> >>finally restored above ground, and marked by a cairn of some
sort. Also,
>> >>would you know if there were any Black Loyalists serving under
Sir John,
>>or
>> >>Blacks and their names, as there were with Butler’s Rangers?
>> >> …..Robert J Galbraith <perch@videotron.ca>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>Volunteer: to transcribe One Sheet for Military
>> >> I have received from Rod Craig a one page listing titled "Military
>> >>History of the United States – The Principal Battles of the
Revolution".
>> >>This list has the date, name and place of the battles, the commanders
>>both
>> >>American and British, the number of Americans engaged with losses
and
>>the
>> >>number of British engaged and losses.
>> >> If someone would volunteer to transcribe this document, I will
then
>> >>add it to the Military Information part of our site.
>> >> …….Doug Grant <doug.grant@insurance-canada.ca>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>Paul Bunnell’s "Loyalist Quarterly" Available
>> >> The January 2007 issue of "Loyalist Quarterly" has
been published.
>>It
>> >>includes in the contents these topics:
>> >> – Life Before The Loyalists;
>> >> – A Massachusetts Loyalist;
>> >> – Website of Loyalist, Joel Stone;
>> >> – Cape Ann Association Loyalists;
>> >> – Sir William Pepperell & Isaac Royall, Reluctant Loyalist;
>> >> – African Canadian Loyalist Promoted;
>> >> – New Brunswick Loyalists Military & Timeline Record;
>> >> – Legislative Enactments For The Punishment Of The Loyalists;
>> >>Visit
>>http://www.bunnellgenealogybooks.citymaker.com/page/page/1386164.htm
>> >>for information and ordering instructions
>> >> ……Paul Bunnell, <BunnellLoyalist@aol.com>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>Military Information on the UELAC Web Site
>> >> Thanks to several of you who have forwarded information for
our
>> >>military section at http://www.uelac.org/Military/Military.php
– we will
>> >>add this new information as time permits (things have been a
tad hectic
>> >>lately.)
>> >> Rod Craig transcribed a page from an old Gazette which listed
many
>> >>Loyal or British American (Provincial) Regiments and these have
been
>> >>listed. Our advisors Gavin Watt and Bill Smy will tell me when
something
>>is
>> >>incorrect – thank you both. Others will be recognized as their
>> >>contributions are posted. We welcome more names of units, as
well as
>>long
>> >>or short descriptions of any one of them, and/or links to web
sites
>>which
>> >>represent them.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>If you are looking for past issues of Loyalist Trails, issues
since
>>October
>> >>2004 have been posted on the web at
>> >>http://www.uelac.org/Loyalist-Trails/Loyalist-Trails-index.php.
>> >> Please do pass these newsletters on to others who may be
>>interested;
>> >>we welcome new subscribers be they members or friends.
>> >> If you have received this directly from me, then you are
>>subscribed.
>> >>Otherwise, if you would like to subscribe to "Loyalist
Trails", please
>>send
>> >>me a note. I would be interested in knowing which branch you
belong to,
>>if
>> >>you are a member, and which City and Province/State you are
from.
>>Likewise
if you wish to unsubscribe.
>> >>Douglas Warner Grant UE
>> >>Past-President, United Empire Loyalists’ Association of Canada
>> >>www.uelac.org
>> >>doug.grant@insurance-canada.ca Tel: (416) 921-7756 Fax: (416)
>> >>753-7202
>> >>315 Carlton St., Toronto ON M5A 2L6 Canada
>
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