ABOUT THE LOYALISTS
At the time of the American Revolution 1775-1783, many inhabitants of the thirteen colonies were loyal to the King, George III, and took up arms on Britain’s behalf. During and at the conclusion of the War, most of these “loyalists” were forced to leave. Of these, some 40,000 or more came to what is now Canada, and over the following years, greatly influenced the character of much of our country.
In 1784, many Loyalists settled along the St. Lawrence River and the north shore of Lake Ontario, from Prince Edward County to near Montreal. Kingston was one of the main settlements in that line of new settlement.
In the 1884 centennial of their arrival, Loyalist celebrations were held across the province and proved to be the genesis of the Loyalists’ Association of Ontario some years later. From that evolved the United Empire Loyalists’ Association of Canada (UELAC), formally incorporated in 1914.
Kingston Branch (officially, “Kingston and District Branch”) is one of twenty-seven branches across Canada, from Halifax to Victoria.
If you wonder, Am I descended from a Loyalist? you can learn how to find out in this great posting on Ken McKinlay’s blog, at Family Tree Knots.
Some people wonder “Why do the Loyalists matter?” We offer historian Brian McConnell’s response to that question for your consideration. His article, Why Do The United Empire Loyalists Matter? can be accessed in PDF format here
AN INTRODUCTORY ONTARIO LOYALIST READING LIST
Disclaimer: Older books may have older perspectives, and use outdated terms, especially racial ones, but much of the overall picture remains the same. And of course, new research may have proved that certain ‘facts’ are less true than we thought or knew at earlier times.
TURNER, Larry. A Voyage of a Different Kind: The Associated Loyalists of Kingston and Adolphustown. c 1984
FRYER, Mary Beacock. Escape, adventures of a Loyalist Family c 1976 (An easy read, suitable for middle or high school students.)
THOMAS, Earle, U.E.. Greener Pastures: The Loyalist Experience of Benjamin Ingraham
THOMAS, Earle, U.E.. The Three Faces of Molly Brant: A Biography
THOMAS, Earle, U.E.. Sir John Johnson: Loyalist Baronet (Dundurn Lives Series No. 9)
MAGEE, Joan. Loyalist Mosaic, A Multi-Ethnic Heritage c 1984
BRUCE, R. M.. The Loyalist Trail c 1965
LAPP, Eula C.. To Their Heirs Forever c 1977
BROWN, Gerald Richardson. Road to Ganneious. (About people of Palatine ‘Germany’ leaving and coming to the Bay of Quinte Area)
HOLMES, Vicki. Three River Valley’s Called Home. (Similar topic to the above)
BAXTER, Jean Rae, U.E.. Forging A Nation Young Adult historical novel series (The Way Lies North, Broken Trail, Freedom Bound, The White Oneida, Hope’s Journey, and The Knotted Rope)
BAXTER, Jean Rae, U.E.. The Battle on the Ice. c 2023 (based on the American invasion of Pelee Island in 1836)
BAXTER, Jean Rae, U.E.. Beginnings: Stories of Canada’s Past. c 2001.
DEBRIUN, Jennifer, U.E.. Shadows in the Tree. c 2013.