Thursday, May 5, 2016

Loyalists

Loyalists
John Murray, Esq., of Rutland, in said county of Worcester. Daniel Murray, gentleman. Samuel Murray, gentleman. Familiar surname, Joseph Ruggles, Nathaniel Ruggles, yeoman, John Ruggles, all of Hardwick, county of Worcester... Loyalists of Massachusetts, Confiscation Act (Conspiracy Act) pg 142: John Murray... [Passed 4/30/1779].
Biographies of the Loyalists of Massachusetts (pg 145): Thomas Hutchinson (Governor of MA 1771-4), sketch of his mansion (pg 155), destroyed by the mob... 6/1/1774, he turned away from his beautiful mansion and extensive farm... left his home forever... embarked on the warship Minerva, which was to convey him to England (sketch of house, pg 170), where he arrived July 1st... received by the King... (*Hutchinson Diary)... his property in America having been confiscated... (diary entry) 9/1/1778: The changes in the last four or five years of my life make the whole scene, when I look back upon it appear like a dream, or other delusions. From the possession of one of the best houses in Boston, the pleasantest house and farm at Milton, of almost any in the world and one of the best estates in the Colony of Rhode Island, with an affluent income, and a prospect of being able to make a handsome provision for each of my children at my death-, I have not a foot of land at my command... depending on the bounty of Government for a pension... his sons and daughters and their families to the number of 25 were all dependent upon him... his name was held to be a stigma. Hutchinson Street in Boston became Pearl Street. The town of Hutchinson... cast off its title as that "of one who had acted the part of a traitor and parricide," ... His great possession and large estate were confiscated... they did not spare even his family tomb. It was sold by the State and the bones of his ancestors, some of the greatest men of the colony, and those of his wife and children were thrown out... He was probably the wealthiest person in the state of MA at the commencement of the Revolutionary War. The author is indebted to the late John T. Hassam, A.M., for the list of Confiscated Estates in Suffolk County... (his biography is followed by the Oliver family)... 
Francis Bernard... William Pepperell... John Singleton Copley... Lord Lyndhurst... King (Joseph) Hooper of Marblehead... William Bowes... General Timothy Rugggles... Thomas Ruggles... Faneuil Family (Heguenaot refugees from La Rochelle, France)... Coffin Family (Admiral Sir Isaac Coffin)... Judge Samuel Curwen... 
James Murray (pg 254) was a direct descendant of Sir John Murray of Philiphaugh, Scotland, who sat in Parliment for the County of Selkirk in 1612... Cape Fear Region in North Carolina... 1744 he returned to Scotland... return 1749... Boston... Prosperity for one member of the family must help for all. Boston thus became a second home for the Murrays in America. In 1761 Mr. Murray m: Miss Thompson, daughter of Mrs. Mackay, who lived on King Street... in 1765 he removed to Boston permanently... Dorothy Murray m: Rev. John Forbes, settled in St. Augustine, Florida. The Forbes of Milton are the descendants... When the troops sent by General Gage from New York arrived in Boston, Mr. Murray came forward and the sugar house was opened to them for barracks... marked him as a King's man... he was appointed in 1768 Justice of the Peace... he became a victim of a mob... "State Street Massacre"... the siege of Boston by Washington's army... evacuation of Boston... compelled to flee with the army to Nova Scotia... Mr. Murray, like the rest, had no recourse but to sail with the troops for Halifax... he received a salary from England as inspector of imports and exports...
Sir Benjamin Thompson... (Robert) Hallowell Family... (John) Vassall... (Isaac, William) Royall... General William Brattle... Joseph Thompson... Colonel John Erving... Major General Sir David Ochterlony... Judge Auchmuty's Family... 
Colonel Adino Paddock *Robert Paddock, one of the Pilgrim Fathers, settlers of Plymouth... had a son, Zachariah b. 1636, who was the ancestor of the subject of this sketch (pg 305)... he was one of the foremost of the loyalist party... left Boston at the evacuation, 3/17/1776, went to Halifax and in the following June embarked for England... 
Theophilus and Edward and Samuel Lillie... Dr, Sylvester Gardiner... Richard King... Charles Paxton... Joseph Harrison... Captain Martin Gay, John, Nathaniel, Ebenezer... Daniel Leonard and Judge George Leonard... Harrison Gray and Edward Gray (from Lancashire, England)... Rev. William Walter, Thomas Walter... Thomas Amory and Hugh Amory... Rev. Henry Caner and Henry Caner... Frederick William Geyer (Gayers)... Apthorp Family of Boston, Charles... The Goldthwaite Family of Boston, Thomas... John Howe and Abraham... Samuel Quincy and Edmund... 
Colonel John Murray (pg 376) abt 1750 there appeared in Boston society a very handsome man by the name of Murray... he settled in Rutland, was very poor, "peddled about the country"... became a merchant and became a man of great influence... was a Colonel in the militia, a Colonial nobleman who lived in style... in 1774 was appointed a Mandamus Councilor, but was not sworn into office, because of mob of about 500, repaired to Rutland, to compel him to resign his seat in the Council... he abandoned his home on the night of Aug. 25th and fled to Boston... There was always a mystery surrounding John Murray, regarding who he was and where he came from, but his descendants had some reason for supposing that he was one of the "Athol Family" of Scotland, the surname of the Duke being Murray. Some years since one of Col. Murray's descendants went to "Blair Athol," the family seat of the Dukes of Athol, hoping to hear something about him, and there found an old retainer of the family who recalled the fact that many years ago a younger member of the family had disappeared, nothing to being heard of him again, though it was supposed he had run away to America. Miss Murray, after her father's death, went from St. John to Lancaster, MA, to be with her relatives, the Chandler Family. She had with her some amount of silver plate, and on each piece was the arms of the "Ducal House of Athol." She had small means, and when in need of money used to sell this silver, one piece at a time. In the grant of the town of Athol by the General Court the first name is that of John Murray, who probably gave the name of his ancestral home to the new town. In 1776, with a family of six persons, he accompanied the Royal Army to Halifax. Col. Murray left a very large estate when he fled from Boston, and in 1778 he was prosecuted and banished, and in 1779 lost his extensive property under the Confiscation Act. After the Revolution, Col. Murray became a resident of St. John, N.B. He built a house in Prince William street, with a large lot of land attached to it, which became very valuable. A portrait by Copley is owned by his grandson, the Hon. T.L. Hazen of St. John, a member of the Executive Council of New Brunswick... there is a hole in the wig, which is said to have been done by one of the mob who sought the Col. at his house after his flight... pierced the canvas with a bayonet... His estate was confiscated except one farm for his son Alexander, who joined the Revolutionists. He died at St. John, 1794. (his son) Daniel Murray, of Brookfield, MA... Major of the King's American Dragoons. 1778 he was proscribed and banished... 1832 he died at Porland, Maine. (John's son) Samuel Murray... was taken prisoner at Lexington, 1775. he was removed to his father's homestead in Rutland. 1778 he was proscribed and banished, died previous to 1785. (John's son) Robert Murray, 1782 Lieutenant, King's American Dragoons. settled in N.B. died of consumption 1786. (John's son) John Murray, 1782, Capt. King's American Dragoons. After the Revolution an officer in the 54th Regiment, British Army... Judge James Putnam (pg 382) 1780 General Rufus Putnam confiscated property of Colonel Murray (in Rutland, consisted of a large farm and spacious mansion), who married Lucretia Chandler... 
Judge Timothy Paine and Nathaniel Paine and Dr. William Paine... John Chandler and William Chandler... John Gore and Samuel Gore... John Jeffries and David Jeffries... Thomas Brinley... Rev. John Wiswell... Henry and John Barnes... Thomas Flucker (descended from a French Huguenot family settled in England)... Margaret Draper and Richard Draper... Richard Clarke son of Francis... Peter Johonnot (of French Huguenot origin) and Daniel Johonnot... (Jean Jeason, John Johnson)... John Joy (probably derived from Jouy in Normady)... and William Joy and Thomas Joy... Richard Lechmere and Hon. Thomas Lechmere... Ezekiel Lewis and William Lewis... Benjamin Clark and Dr. John Clark and Hon. William Clark (pg 416, Clark-Franklin House)... Lady Agnes Franklin and Sir Harry Franklin... Colonel David Phips and Sir William Phips... Dunbar Family of Hingham (Robert, a Scotchman, probably was the ancestor of all the families who have borne this surname in Plymouth Co)... The outrageous and brutal treatment he received from the "Sons of Despotism" are among the worst on record... Ebenezer Richardson and Samuel and Lieut. John (eldest son of Samuel)... Commodore Joshua Loring and Thomas of Devonshire, England... Robert Winthrop; Governor John Winthrop "Father of Boston"... Nathaniel Hatch and Col. Estes Hatch of Dorchester; son Nathaniel Hatch and Christopher Hatch... Ward Chipman and John of Dorchester, England... Governor Edward Winslow of Worchestershire, England and Josiah Winslow... Sir Roger Hale Sheaffe, Baronet; died at Edinburgh 1851... Jonathan Sayward (ancient Teutonic personal name); Henry Sayward came from England in 1637; Jonathan Sayward, Judge... 
Deblois Family, Etienne Deblois b. France, lived in Belguim, a French Hugenot; family name DeChatillon, he was descended from the last counts of Blois and was banished from France at the revocation of the Edict of Nantes; he removed to England, was present at the battle of the Boyne; his sister was burnt at the stake in Ireland by the Papists, he died in England. (son of Etienne) Stephen Deblois came to New York... removed to Boston 1720; died 1785, Boston; (his son) Gilbert DeBlois -while residing in Boston, planted some elms which came to be known as the Paddock elms (he asked Adino Paddock to keep an eye on them); 1778 Gilbert was proscribed and banished, his estate confiscated; died 1792 in London... 
Lyde Family, Edward, Byfield... James Boutineau, Stephen (French Protestants/Huguenots who came to Falmouth (Portland), Maine in 1687, 1779 Conspiracy Act, estate confiscated, he went to England and died there... Colonel William Browne (of "Browne Hall", Lancashire, England; William b. 1608 came to Salem in 1635... Archibald Cunningham, banished 1778... Captain John Malcomb... The Russell Family of Charlestown, James Russell, Dr. Charles Russell... Jonathan Sewall (Attorney General of MA), Henry and William both Mayors of Coventry, England; son Henry emigrated to New England in 1634 "out of dislike to the English Hierarchy" settled in Newbury, d. 1657, son Henry b. 1614 d. 1700, returned to England, resided for some years at Warwick, 1659 returned to New England, son Stephen b. 1657, England, came to New England 1661 settled at Salem, was a Major in the Indian Wars, d. 1725; son, Judge Jonathan Sewall b. 1728, Boston; was an intimate friend of John Adams, they lived together, frequently slept in the same chamber and often in the same bed, were in constant correspondence; Adams (1861) when the ordinance of secession was passed: "The die is now cast, I have now passed the Rubicon; sink or swim, live or die, survive or perish with my country, is my unalterable determination." They parted an met no more unitl 1788. Adams, the Minister of the new republic at the Court of St. James, Sewall, true to the Empire, [they] met in London; Sewall [said] he was going to Nova Scotia in hope of making some provision for his children.
In 1774 [Sewall] was an Addresser of Governor Hutchinson, in Sept his elegant home in Cambridge was attached by the mob and much injured. He fled to Boston; was proscribed in the Conspirators Act of 1779. [ended up in] St. John's, N.B., having been appointed Judge of Admiralty for Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. d. 9/26/1796. Son, Jonathan Sewall; his son Samuel Sewall, first chief justice of MA, sat in judgment upon the witches and afterwards repented it; in the Banishment and Proscription Act in 1778 his large estate was confiscated; he went to England, n 1776 was a member of the Loyalist Club, London; d. 5/6/1811 in London, unmarried... Thomas Robie, William -Thomas "In mathematics and natural philosophy he was said to have no equal in New England." He was a staunch loyalist, obliged to leave the town and take refuge in Nova Scotia; after the war was over some of the refugees attempted to return to their former homes; during the month of April 1783, Stephen Blaney, returned and [created a stir]; April 24th a town meeting was held "All refugees who made their appearance in town were to be given 6 hrs notice to leave, any who remained were to be taken into custody and shipped to the nearest port of Great Britain." [after this] a vessel approached with the detested Robie family on board; the wharves were crowded with angry people; Mr. Robie went into business again in a limited extent, d. 1812, Salem, well esteemed and respected... Benjamin Marston, John Marston, 1st of his name to come to America from Ornsby, Norfolk, England to Salem in 1637, d. 1681; (son) Benjamin, his son, Benjamin, his son Benjamin, was one of the Addressers of Gov. Hutchinson, harshly and brutally treated by the "Sons of Liberty"; in 1775, his home was mobbed by a Marblehead Committee, who without any legal authority, entered his doors... embezzeled his money, carried off his books and accounts... After the evacuation of Boston he went to St. John, N.B. and then to Windsor, N.S., finally settling in Halifax; he returned to Boston after the peace in 1787, visited friends in Plymouth, embarked for London; d. 8/10/1792 on the Island of Bulama of the African fever... Hon. Benjamin Lynde Chief Justice of MA; Enoch Lynde of London d. 1636; Benjamin Lynde b. 1666, Benjamin Jr b. 1700, appointed Navel Officer for Salem, d. 1781; during his term as Judge the "Boston Massacre" trial took place... Pagan Family, Robert of Glascow, Scotland b. 1750 came to Falmouth 1769; abandoned his business and country after the burning of Falmouth by Mowatt; "That he uniformly declared his sentiments in favor of Great Britain. Never submitted to join the rebels or to take no part with them." Feb. 1776, he privately embarked his family on board a Brig and sailed to Barbados, returned hom, remained until the end of the war, removed to St. Andrew's; was proscribed and banished; d. St. Andrews, 1821, childless... The Wyer Family of Charlestown; Edward Wyer came from Scotland, d. 1693; son William d. 1749; son David removed to Falmouth (Portland), all the officers of the revenue of that port were loyal except one, Thomas Child, who joined the Revolutionists; they all became refugees, abandoned their country; David Jr, b. 1741, Attorney to the Crown, d. 1776 at Stroudwater, where he removed after the burning of Falmouth... Jeremiah Pote, William Pote of Marblehead as early asa 1688; son William; son Jeremiah, was imprisoned; got to Nova Scotia; went from Halifax to New York in 1778; prisoner and kept in prison during the winter... Ebenezer Cutler, John I came from Spranston, England; Samuel 2 Cutler b. 1629, England; Marblehead 1654, Salem 1655 d. 1700; Ebenezer 3 b. 1664, Salem, d. 1729, Salem; Ebenezer 4, b. 1695, Salem d. 1779; Ebenezer 5, Oxford, MA, inn keeper and trader, tried to remain neutral; a price was set on his capture [1775]; went to England, d. 1831, England; He was proscribed and banished in 1778, his property confiscated; Ebenezer 6, b. 1765, Oxford, MA; went to Nova Scotia, d. 1839, Nova Scotia...
(pg 471) The True Story Concerning the Killing of two Soldiers at Concord Bridge, 4/19/1775. The 1st British Soldier killed in the Rev. War. "It shows, that the British soldiers were men like you and me..


Loyalist List… *Markle***
Daniel Murray (proven) Major. Settled, Carleton, NB (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia ?); son of Col John Murray, Major King’s Am Dragoons. B. Brookfield, MA
Duncan Murray, Lt. settled, Home District, no other information *expunged 5/19/1802
Edward Murray, settled: St. John, NB
Hugh Murray, settled: St. John, NB
Joel Murray (proven)...
John Murray (proven) Capt. settled: St. John, place of birth, Rutland, MA
John Murray (proven) Col. settled, St. John, place of birth, Rutland, MA *his portrait by Copfey still extant.
John Murray Sr (proven) settled: St John, 7/26/1784 -place of birth: 1735, Scotland… before war: Harpersfield, Tyron Co, NY. m: Mary Kennedy. Note: 1775, was taken prisoner.. 1777, indicted as a Loyalist, estate confiscated… by 1780 abandoned home in Harpersfield… 1782, fled to NY… transported to Nova Scotia…
John Murray (proven) descendants, Shelburne 2/20/1991
Robert Murray (proven) Lieut. Settled, St. John; son of Col John Murray, 1782 was Lieut King’s Am Dragoons. D. 1786
William John Murray Sr (proven) settled, Home District (?) no other information given…
Stephens. John (Stephens/Stevens), settled: St. John, NB. b. Charlestown, MA. Biography: Grad Harvard 1766; d. 1792 (Selah b. 1799 -not his son)
Phineas, settled: St. Mary’s, NS
Solomon, settled: Musquash, St. John Co, NB. b. New Hampshire. D. 1819
Stevens. Aaron -no other information except, proven descendants: Col John Butler. Abel (Stevens/Stephens) Sr, settled: 1796, Bastard Twp, Leeds & Grenville Co, ON. b. 11/11/1755, Quaker Hill, Dutchess Co, NY. Arent, Rank: Comy (Commissionary), settled, Home District. Biography: Jay Aaron Stevens 6/20/1800, Family Genealogy.

Sources, Loyalists in Canada
Niagara Settlers. Land Petitions of The Niagara Settlers.
Olive Tree - Loyalists Genealogy. *Butler’s Rangers…
Loyalist Overview
©Lorine McGinnis Schulze
    When the American Revolution started in 1775, many Loyalists were harassed socially and politically. Many were expelled from their land and their property was seized. The first trickle of Loyalists into Canada was in March 1776 when 1 000 people fled Boston and accompanied the British Army as it retreated before the American forces. During the next six years, Loyalists by the thousands crossed the border to land allocated in Nova Scotia.
    In 1782 when the Revolution ended, Canada had two colonies: Quebec and Nova Scotia. About 10,000 Loyalists went to Quebec, the rest to Nova Scotia. Those who settled in Quebec ran into problems with the French feudal system of land ownership and agitated for the creation of an English-speaking province. As a result, the Quebec colony was divided into Upper and Lower Canada in 1791. Loyalists came overland to the Niagara Peninsula in the new area of Upper Canada.
Although there were exceptions, Loyalist settlement in Ontario in 1784 was mostly by discharged servicemen from Ranger Units who settled in roughly the following pattern, going from east to west along the St. Lawrence River and Lake Ontario:

  > Lancaster Township: Royal Yorkers settled there in 1785
  > Charlottenburgh Township: Roman Catholic Highlanders in the Royal Yorkers
  > Cornwall Township: Scottish Presbyterians in the Royal Yorkers
  > Osnabruck Township: German Calvinists in the Royal Yorkers
  > Williamsburgh Township: German Lutherans in the Royal Yorkers
  > Matilda Township: Anglicans in the Royal Yorkers *Markle
  > Edwardsburgh, Augusta and Elizabethtown Townships: Major Jessup's Loyal Rangers
  > Kingston Township: Captain Michael Grass and his New York Loyalists
  > Ernestown Township: Jessup's Rangers
  > Fredericksburgh Township: Major James Rogers' Co. of the King's Rangers and the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Yorkers
  > Adolphustown Township: DeLancey's Corps
  > Marysburgh Township: German mercenaries and disbanded English and Irish troops
  > Sophiasburgh Township: Americans who arrived after the Revolution
  > Ameliasburgh Township: no specific Loyalist units
  > Sidney Township: no specific Loyalist units
  > Niagara Region: Butler's Rangers
By 1784, Loyalists could return to the U.S.A. without fear of persecution or physical assault, and many did. Those who stayed in Canada were granted land under the following conditions:

  > 100 acres for head of family plus 50 acres per family member
  > 50 acres for single men
  > 300 - 1000 acres for army officers
  > 200 acres for an NCO plus 200 for wives, if they applied
  > 100 acres for a private soldier plus 50 acres for each family member
    Lots were drawn for locations and when the land had been occupied for a year, the Loyalist received a permanent deed. In 1789, it was decided that sons would receive 200 acres when they became 21 and daughters the same, except they would receive the grant upon marriage if not yet 21. The United Empire Loyalists were the first settlers to take up land for homes in Lincoln and Welland Counties. There were other people on the Niagara Peninsula before the Loyalists but they were not permanent land-holders and only wanted to trade with the Indians.
Butler's Rangers, a company of UE Loyalists, came to Niagara in 1784 and began to build homes on land granted to them by the government. By 8 May 1784, an official survey showed that 46 families had settled and built 44 houses and 20 barns. Isaac Van Valkenburg, aka Vollick, my 5th great-grandfather, was one of these settlers under the command of Colonel Butler. Colonel Arent Schyler DePeyster succeeded in command at Niagara and received instructions to disband the Rangers in March of 1784. He was to settle as many of Col. Butler's Rangers as possible "on the tract of Land opposite to Niagara...and the rest at the Head of Lake Ontario, towards the Grand River". Lots were to be numbered and drawn to prevent jealousy, and officers and men had to sign up if they wished to settle there. Lots were to be given only to those willing to cultivate them and Rangers were allowed to occupy their barracks until lots were assigned, with rations provided from the day of being disbanded. Rations were allotted as one per person over 10 years of age, and 1/2 for those under 10.
They consisted of:
  > 1 1/2 lb. flour or biscuits
  > 1 lb. beef or 8 oz. pork
  > 1/4 pint of peas
  > 1 oz. butter
  > 1 oz. of oatmeal or rice
    This was the total per day. Any not wishing to settle at Niagara were to be sent to Quebec or Cataraqui [now Kingston, Ontario]. Many settlers were unhappy with the proposal that they become tenants of the Crown with rented land and signed the list to cultivate Crown Lands slowly, as indicated in a letter from Col. DePeyster in June of 1784. He states that there are only about 100 names on the list and that about 70 of the settlers who had refused to sign "went off without leave with the intent never to return". Thirty went to Montreal with DePeyster's permission.
    On 21 July 1784, a List of Subscribers was sent to Haldimand. Isaac Vollick's name is on this list, along with his wife and 6 children. By 24 June 1784, the troops were disbanded, and victualling lists were to be kept. Isaac Vollock, his wife and 5 children, Derrick Hayner, wife [Hannah Vollock] and 2 children, Benjamin Crumb [who later married Sarah Vollock], Christian Bradt and wife [Elizabeth Vollick], and Adrian Bradt and wife [Sophia Vollick] are all listed as victualled at Niagara of Murray's District, 14 December 1786. Murray's District is believed to be the area now known as St. Catharines, including Grantham and Louth Townships.
    During the winters of the American Revolution, Butler, Joseph Brant and other commanders had wintered at Niagara, from where they could send many expeditions against the Americans. After the war, land was first settled along the old French Road leading around Niagara Falls, then along the shores of Lakes Ontario and Erie and on river banks. Gradually, as roads were extended inland, settlers took up this land and made homes. Many of the refugees who settled in Lincoln and Welland in 1784, endured many hardships. They had to make their way through hundreds of miles of forest. Those who received land erected simple log homes which took no more than one or two days to build. Many settlers dressed in buckskin for lack of other clothing. Women wove cloth to make their clothing. In 1787, due to poor crops, the settlers endured a year of hunger where they were forced to live on anything that could be eaten: buds of trees, plants, fish and wheat bran, made into a tasteless bread.
    During the summer of 1787, the Loyalists' evidence for claims of losses during the Revolution, began to be heard. In August, many Loyalists who had settled near Niagara went to Montreal to appear before the Commissioners.
    In 1788, Upper or Western Canada was divided into four new districts. In 1795, Newark (now Niagara on the Lake) was made the capital of Upper Canada. When Fort Niagara across the river was surrendered to the Americans in 1796, the capital was shifted to York. In 1798, Upper Canada was again divided into 8 districts of 23 counties and 158 townships. Lincoln County consisted of 4 ridings: the townships in the first were Clinton, Grimsby, Saltfleet, Barton, Ancaster, Glanford, Binbrook, Gainsborough and Caistor. In the second were Niagara, Grantham and Louth. In the third were Stamford, Thorold and Pelham. The fourth comprised Bertie, Willoughby, Crowland, Humberstone and Wainfleet.
ORDER IN COUNCIL (OIC)
On 9 November 1789 at Quebec, it was ordered that the Land Boards provide for the sons of Loyalists, as soon as they reached the age of 21, and to daughters at age 21 or at marriage by providing to each a Lot of 200 acres. This was known as the OIC and will often be seen in lists of Loyalists as:
Cornelius Vollick OIC 25 May 1793
This OIC date provides us with important clues. We can estimate Cornelius' date of birth as 1772 since he would have received his land at age 21. It is more difficult with daughters since we don't know whether the OIC date is a marriage date or a 21st birthday. However the OIC date still provides clues for estimated birth dates
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