U.E. Loyalist History

As a young boy I was familiar with the story told by my mom of our ancestor James Humphrey who served as a Private with Jessup's Rangers in the American Revolution. However, that was in the distant past.  My dad's parents and his relatives in Canada came from Ireland and they were people I had met.   Consequently, this had a greater impact on me and how I thought of myself.   I learned I had grandparents called Ulster - Scots.  This referred to the fact they were born in Ulster, one of the four provinces of Ireland, along with Connacht, Leinster, and Munster, and were descended from persons who originally lived in Scotland.      My second book which I authored, entitled   Canada's Ulster - Scots  , includes a chapter on well known United Empire Loyalist, Bishop   Charles Inglis  (1734 - 1816).   He was born in County Donegal in Ulster and an Ulster - Scot.  As explained by James Barclay Woodburn in...

On August 8, 2026 a day of presentations and events was held at  Fort Beausèjour National Historic Site near Amherst, Nova Scotia.  The activities were organized to mark the 250th anniversary of the Eddy Rebellion and Siege of the Fort in November 1776 when it was called Fort Cumberland. Jonathan Eddy led a rebel force in an unsuccessful siege of the Fort that was garrisoned by Lieut. -  Col. Joseph Goreham and members of the Royal Fencible American Regiment.   As an historian interested in the American Revolution I attended.  During the day there were historical re - enactors in civilian clothing present and members of the  DeLancey's Brigade and 84th Regiment of Foot, two re - enactment groups who portray Loyalist units from during the American Revolution,  who put on musketry and drill demonstrations.  Presentations were also made by historians.  As well the  Festival by the Marsh   presented  T he Complete History of ...

For over fifty years, since my mother told me her Campbell and Ferguson ancestors arrived in Canada from Ireland in 1847,  I have wanted to visit Grosse Île , Quebec. On July 18, 2026,  I did and, as with many historic sites I have been to,  learned of a connection to the American Revolution.  Grosse Île and the National Irish Historic Site Grosse Île is an island located in the middle of the St. Lawrence River and was Canada's main immigration gateway from 1832 to 1947. During that time a quarantine station was operated there for the Port of Quebec. From 1860 to 1867 Anthony von Iflund (1798 - 1876) was the medical superintendent at Grosse Île.  His father, Johann, was born in Germany and served with Hessian troops during the American Revolution.  He was a soldier in the von Knyphausen Regiment which arrived in New York in August 1776. It took part in the fighting at Long Island, White Plains, Fort Washington and was garrisoned at Trenton, New Jersey. Celt...

On September 23, 1779, an important naval engagement took place off the north Yorkshire coast of England near  Flamborough Head . It demonstrated that conflict between the Americans and the British during the American Revolution was not limited to North America.  I was reminded of this while visiting nearby Scarborough in Yorkshire this week.                                    Flamborough Head Flamborough Head is a dramatic eight mile promonotary extending into the North Sea. A convoy of 40 merchant ships carrying supplies, protected by two British Royal Navy ships, was attacked off here by four ships commanded by John Paul Jones, often referred to as the Father of the American Navy .  The convoy escaped into Scarborough Harbor, where it was safe under the cannons of Scarborough Castle . Scarborough Harbour During my visit this week,  at Scarborough Castle, a guide explained to...

The oldest official viceregal house in Canada was commissioned by a Loyalist, Sir John Wentworth.    Government House , located on Barrington Street, in Halifax, Nova Scotia was built between 1799 and 1805 and has served as the official residence of Lieutenant Governors for over 200 years. Government House, Halifax, NS.  Sir John Wentworth  (1737 - 1820) was born in Portsmouth, New Hampshire and was the British colonial Governor of New Hampshire at the time of the American Revolution. Due to the concern for safety he was forced to flee and in 1778 sailed to England. He was appointed Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia in 1792 and served in that role until 1808. The  Wentworth Valley  in Cumberland County, Nova Scotia and several other locations within the province were named for him. On his death he was buried in the crypt underneath St. Paul's Church in Halifax.  A son of a United Empire Loyalist in Nova Scotia who became Lieutenant Governor was  ...

Sometimes encouragement to research a subject can come in unexpected ways. After a presentation to a local historical society, one of the attendees told me she had an old drawing she would like to present to me.   We arranged to meet again when she gave me a print that mentioned Waldeckers with Hessians and Loyalists. Waldeckers at Old St. Edward's Church   The Waldeckers who settled in Annapolis County, Nova Scotia had served in the Waldeck Regiment created in the Principality of Waldeck, Germany. In the summer and fall of 1783 these soldiers settled on the  Waldeck Line on lots of land varying between 100 and 300 acres.  This settlement was in the western part of the Township of Clements and neighbouring it was a settlement of Hessian soldiers who had also been disbanded.  The largest group of Germans fighting along with the British in the American Revolution were Hessians, primarily from Hesse - Kassel and Hesse - Hanau in modern day Germany. These two ...

Keith Marshall Jones III, founding President of the Ridgefield Historical Society, has authored a particularly interesting account of a Loyalist town in Connecticut. In recognition of the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, in 2025, his book God Save the King describes the experience of the town of  Ridgefield , Connecticut, including profiles of its Loyalist residents. Book about Ridgefield Loyalists   The book is 153 pages long and available in paperback format. It is very well researched and has a bibliography as well as end notes. At a town meeting in Ridgefield on 30 January 1775 it was resolved: We do acknowledge his Most Sacred Majesty King George the Third to be our rightful Sovereign and do publicly avow our allegiance to him and his lawful successors.  And that we will do to the utmost in our power,  Support his throne & Dignity against every combination in the universe.  One of the Loyalists profiled is Joseph Smith who settled in Nova S...

Between April and November 1783, British and American officials met at  Fraunces Tavern in New York City to document in the Book of Negroes approximately 3000, formerly enslaved,  Black Loyalists who were evacuating with the British. Samuel Fraunces opened the Tavern, originally called 'Queen's Head Tavern', in 1762 and during the American Revolution it became an important meeting place.  It was also the site of General George Washington's last meeting and farewell to his American officers on 4 December 1783.  The place remains an important historical site and is open with a museum. Display Room in Museum at Fraunces Tavern   On a visit to the Museum in Fraunces Tavern on 14 May 2025, I was interested to view correspondence between General George Washington and Sir Guy Carleton, the British Commander - in - Chief,  regarding the evacuation of Black Loyalists.  The two significantly disagreed over the interpretation of the 1783 Treaty of Paris which ...

It is a testament to the impact on Canada of the life of Charles Inglis   (1734 - 1816), UE, the first Anglican Bishop appointed in North America, that he is mentioned in seven books about United Empire Loyalists that I have authored.   Born at  Glencomcille  in the North of Ireland, of Scottish ancestry, he supported the British Crown during the American Revolution while preaching in New York. When he was later made Bishop based in Halifax he oversaw the establishment of Anglican churches across Nova Scotia and New Brunswick as well as the founding of  King's - Edgehill School .  He also farmed at  Clairmont  where he experimented in growing apples suited to Nova Scotia, one of which, the Bishop's Pippin , was named after him.    Plaque to Charles Inglis, UE , St. Mary's Church, Auburn, Nova Scotia Here are links to the seven books: 1.  Canada's Ulster-Scots 2.  Loyalist History of Nova Scotia 3.  Loyalist Cemeteries...

The   Loyalist Directory  serves  as a key resource for genealogists and history enthusiasts to research ancestors who remained loyal to the British Crown and settled in Canada after the American Revolutionary War. It is a growing online database maintained by the UELAC. It is built from submissions and historical research.  There are over 7000 entries. I regularly refer to it to assist with my research.  First Page of Loyalist Directory You begin by entering a name you wish  to find. After I proved my ancestor James Humphrey, I submitted his information to  the Loyalist Directory. When his name is entered in the search field it appears. J ames Humphrey in Loyalist Directory   Some of the names in the database include links to copies of the Application for a Certificate of Loyalist Descent. These commonly include birth, death, and marriage dates for them and their families and basic biographical details like places of residence and service in...

Beginning in 1775 and lasting until 1782, actions regularly occurred between American privateers and British ships as well as privateers from Nova Scotia off the coast of Nova Scotia as well as attacks on settlements.  The Second Continental Congress authorized privateers to operated against British shipping in a resolution dated 23 March 1776.  A few days later it made provision for issuing "letters of marque", formal licenses to privateers.  Nova Scotia issued 77 letters of marque during the American Revolution.  American colonies authorize privateering in March 1776 The New England coast was a primary area of activity for American Privateers who operated out of ports such as Boston, Newport, Providence, Rhode Island, New London, Connecticut, Salem and Beverly, Massachusetts.  They targeted the Canadian Maritimes as well as Atlantic Shipping Lanes, the West Indies and even European waters.    Privateering Actions: June 1775 -  Battle of Machias ...