THE PALATINE

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A significant number of United Empire Loyalists originated from the Palatine region of Germany or were descendants of earlier Palatine immigrants. Many of these German-speaking families had settled in the Hudson, Mohawk, and Schoharie River valleys of New York.  During the American Revolution, they largely sided with the British Crown, subsequently migrating to Canada.

Families with roots in the German Palatinate, such as the Dillenbach, Chrysler, Casselman, Empey, Bowman, Loucks, and Shaver families, became prominent Loyalists. A large number of persons from the Palatine also settled in Upper Canada in the early 1800s, including the family Brethour. 

Grave of Michael Julius Brethour


During my family research, I learned that. Ann Brethour , whose father arrived in Upper Canada in the early 1800s, was part of a group of immigrants originally from the Palatine who, after leaving, lived in Ireland before settling in Canada.  Ann married James Hamilton Umphrey ,  grandson of my Loyalist ancestor, James Humphrey, UE. 

 Barbara Heck  ,  from Ballingarrane, Ireland, moved to Canada during the  American Revolution and helped establish the Methodist church. Her cousin was Phillip Embury, the pastor of America's first Methodist congregation. All members of his family were loyal to the British Crown. 

In May 2017, on a visit to Dublin, Ireland, I went to the former Palatine Square in Collins Barracks, where this group was kept before being moved out to rural Ireland as farm tenants. Ann's father,  Michael Julius Brethour, was also born in Ballingarrane, County Limerick, Ireland, and traveled with family to Canada, settling in Brock Township.  When he died on 7 November 1862 at age 87, he was buried in  St. John Cemetery  , Brock.

 

Former Palatine Square, Dublin,  Ireland


Palatine is the English name for the Palatinate region of southwestern Germany today occupied by the state of Rhineland - Palatinate (Rheinland - Pfalz)



Further Reference:

Irish Palatine Association accessed on April 20, 2026

James Humphrey - Loyalist soldier in Jessup's Corp by Brian McConnell,  UE 


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