DUFFERIN COUNTY  -   UNITED EMPIRE LOYALISTS

These are some items found in the newspapers referring to United Empire Loyalists

(This page was last updated: Thursday March 22, 2007)

Orangeville Banner dated 29-May-1913 Page 8, Column 4
HOW THE U. E. LOYALISTS CAME TO CANADA 130 YEARS AGO TO-MORROW
    The St. John River, with its wide sloping banks, wooded until sight was lost in the dim recesses of the forest, presented but a poor welcome to the three thousand weary loyalists, who, one hundred and thirty years ago, sailed up the broad stream that Cartier had called "a goodly river, but rather shallow," to carve a new home from the forest over which the British flag still flew. But they were happy on the May morning, for when their little sloops had sailed from Boston harbor they had left the land of persecution behind them. They were again beneath the Union Jack, and little recked they for the years of hardships before them.
    During the bloody years of the Revolution, the high-souled spirits who remained true to England had borne patiently with the contumely of the secessionists. They had suffered in silence when their barns and houses had been burned, because of their avowed adherence to the Mother country. But when peace was declared, the British troops were withdrawn, the estates of the loyalists were confiscated. Their lives were in danger. Their families open to every insult. The United States was indeed a free country for those who had fought for the revolutionary cause, but those whose allegiance had bound them to the land of their birth found little freedom in the new democracy - either of thought or speech.
    Many of them set sail for England. Others packed their few little household effects in an ox-cart, and set out overland for Canada. But the largest party of enforces exiles was the party of 3,000 who set sail from Boston, landing in St. John, New Brunswick, on May 18th, 1783. This was the first huge body of Loyalists to settle in Canada, and their descendants to-day form the backbone and sinew of the Maritime Provinces.
    On May 4th, however, an early party of 471 landed at Shelburne, Nova Scotia, and built up that little Acadiantown.
    It was not until late in the fall of 1783 that the first party of loyalists settled in Ontario. Drawn from New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, they had come north in ox-carts and flat bottomed batteaux, by way of the old Lake Champlain route. Then a party of eighty of them crossed Lake Ontario and landed on the wooded shores of the Bay of Quinte. A little town sprang up, as if by magic, among the charred stumps. Strongly religious, the citizens built a church the following year, and Adolphustown took its place in the social life of the Province of Upper Canada.
    The Niagara Peninsula in 1784 saw an influx of loyalists that materially helped in the development of that portion of the Province. The British authorities received them gladly,, and gave them liberal grants of land, with rations and other assistance, until they were able to produce their own crops. Hardship and privation was an ever-present part of their daily life.
    The women and children found it far different to the life they had led in England, and in the older settled parts of the States. But they fought on -- not now against their brother colonists, as in the great war that had led to their enforced exile -- but against the monarchs of the forest that covered their so called farms.  In time the wheat sprouted, and on a flat stone, it was roughly ground into flour. Roads were cut through the country, towns sprang into being from length to length of the Province, and he country flourished.
    These were the United Empire Loyalists, the men whose standing in Canada was commemorated last Monday, the men whose sterling qualities, whose innate loyalty, is evinced in the spirit of the nation to-day. They were the true pioneers, who, with the broadaxe carved out the country's destiny as they carved out their forest homes. Strong, true, noble minded, they moulded the spirit of the country and to their influence is largely due the wholesome conservatism that has made of Canada a nation among the nations, and the greatest of Great Britain's overseas domains.

Orangeville Banner dated 03-Dec-1914 Page 2, Column 2
MRS. W. E. McKAY - Death of Widow of Former Pastor of St. Andrew's Church. - The death occurred at her home on West Broadway at 6.30 o'clock on Tuesday morning of Mrs. Angelina McKay, relict of the late Rev. W. E. McKay, one of the pioneer Presbyterian ministers of this district. The late Mrs. McKay, who was in her 81st year, had been in failing health for several months and her demise had been expected for some days. By her death Orangeville loses another of its early residents and a woman who was held in high esteem by all classes and denominations of our citizens. Her husband, who died in 1885, was pastor for many years of the Old Kirk congregation in Orangeville, which, prior to the union, worshipped in a stone church which stood on the ground now occupied by the Orangeville Post Office. After the union in 1880 Mr. McKay became pastor of the newly organized congregation of St. Andrew's, to whose spiritual wants he ministered until his retirement from the active work of the ministry late in 1881. The late Mrs. McKay is survived by a family of four sons and three daughters. The former are Messrs. Edmund and Willis McKay, of the National Biscuit Company, New York, W. J. L. McKay, barrister, of Toronto, formerly Crown Attorney of Dufferin, and Kenneth McKay, municipal reporter for the Toronto Evening Telegram. The daughters are Mrs. A. Mackid, Patterson, N. J., Mrs. G. W. McKee, of Toronto, and Miss Emma McKay at home. A daughter, the late Mrs. J. F. Dodds, died eight years ago. The late Mrs. McKay is survived by 15 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren. Deceased lady was a Canadian by birth, having been born in Camden East. She was a descendant of an old United Empire Loyalist family, which came to Canada from Vermont at the time of the American Revolution. Mr. Isaac Lockwood, a well-known citizen of Napanee, is a brother. Mrs. McKay was a member of St. Andrew's Church and was at various periods during her life identified with all the departments of active church work. She was a woman who enjoyed the good will and love of all who knew her. By her close friends she was held in the sincerest affection and the memory of her upright life and character will be long and tenderly cherished. The funeral will be held from her late home to the Forest Lawn Cemetery at 2.30 o'clock this (Thursday) afternoon. A short service will be held at the house at 2 o'clock.

Orangeville Banner dated 04-Mar-1915 Page 5, Column 5
LEFT MANY MONUMENTS - Late Thomas C. Keefer, of Ottawa, Was an Eminent Engineer - The announcement of the death of Thomas C. Keefer, C.M.G., of Ottawa, caused deep regret throughout Canada in all parts of which he was well known.  The late Mr. Keefer was one of the best known civil engineers in the Dominion and his name is connected with many important public works.   Thomas Coltrim Keefer was born November, 1821, and was in his 94th year when he died. His grandfather was a United Empire Loyalist and took part with the royal troops in the ward of 1776. He lost his life and his property was confiscated. Later his two sons settled in the Niagara peninsula where George, one of the sons, was granted 400 acres of land by the Government. He cleared the land and in conjunction with other United Empire Loyalists founded the village of Thorold, where he brought up a family of 10 sons and five daughters. The last survivor of this large family was the eminent engineer, Thomas C. Keefer, C.M.G., of Ottawa.
    Thomas Keefer was educated at Upper Canada College and was a member of the first cricket club of that academy in 1836. He began his career as an engineer on the Erie Canal in the United States and later was employed on the Welland Canal, remaining on that work until 1845. He was then engaged to take the chief position in connection with the Ottawa river works, the object of which was to facilitate the immense lumber trade of that river and its tributaries. He carried on these works until 1894, designing important improvements which are in use at present.  In 8149 he produced his Philosophy of Railways, a work which had a great influence on the policy of the Government in respect to the construction of railways in Canada. In the following year he won Lord Elgin's prize for the best essay on the Influence of the Canals of Canada on Her Agriculture, and subsequently published various essays and reports, among them one favoring the construction the the Canadian Pacific Railway and another death with Canadian waterways from the Great Lakes to the Atlantic.
    In 1850 he was employed by the Government in making a survey of the rapids of the St. Lawrence with a view to their improvement also in examining the river below Quebec for a harbor of relief and in exploring routes with a view to the building of a canal railway between the St. Lawrence and the upper St. John waters of Lake Temiscouata. He was afterwards engaged in preliminary surveys for the Grand Trunk Railway between Montreal and Toronto and in preparing plans for the famous Victoria bridge at Montreal, which was undertaken on his survey and report.
    Later, he was employed in constructing water works for the cities of Montreal, Hamilton and Ottawa. For some years he was the engineer of the Montreal Harbor Commission. He served as chairman of the Royal Commission on ice floods. It was through his efforts that the railways of Canada adopted the standard gauge in place of the narrow. In 1857 he was Canadian commissioner for the first international exhibition of 1862 and 1878 he was executive commissioner of the Paris exhibition. He was elected an officer of the Legion of honor and a Companion of St. Michael and St. George.
    Mr. Keefer was elected vice-president of the Society of American Engineers in 1886 and 1887 and president in 1888. He was one of the founders of the Canadian Society of Civil Engineers in 1887 and was its first president. His engineering works have made his name familiar throughout Canada and his writings have stamped him as a man of remarkable foresight in public affairs.
    The late Mr. Keefer was married in 1848 to Elizabeth, daughter of the late Hon. Thomas McKay, M.L.C. Of this union one son, Charles H. Keefer, of Ottawa, is the sole survivor. His first wife having died, the deceased married in 1873 Annie, widow of John McKinnon, of Ottawa. She died in 1906. Besides his son, C. H. Keefer, he leaves two grandsons, T. C. Keefer, jr., and Allan Keefer, both well known in Ottawa. The late Mr. Keefer was an Anglican in religion.

Orangeville Banner dated 04-Mar-1915 Page 5, Column 5
MRS. N. M'CALLUM - About three months ago Mrs. N. McCallum was taken ill with a stroke, although she had improved considerably with the hot weather. She, however, became weaker until death relieved the patient sufferer Saturday morning, all that human hands could do proving valueless. Mrs. McCallum, whose maiden name was Evangeline Sanderson, was born at Sheridan 58 years ago, and had always been a bright, attractive and energetic little woman.  These qualities she retained to the end of life.  She was predeceased by her father, brother, sister, also her mother, who died last January at the age of 75.  Her parents were descendant of sturdy U. E. Loyalist stock.  She had made many friends and will be greatly missed by them, besides having left to mourn the loss of a noble wife and kind and loving mother a husband and a family of eight children, Mrs. M. Millar, Markham; Mrs. Ernest Denney, Orangeville; Mrs. Albert Wolfe, Streetsville; W. C. McCallum, Orangeville, C. D. McCallum, Holland Landing; W. J. and Misses Margaret and Bessie, at home, and two sisters, Mrs. McCulloch, Hamilton, and Mrs. Collins, Humber Bay.  The funeral service was held from her late residence to Brampton cemetery on Monday afternoon at three o'clock and was conducted by the Revs. John Locke and A. Fromow.  Mr. Fromow was a very kind visitor to Mrs. McCallum during the absence of Mr. Locke on his holidays.  Mrs. McCallum was a member of St. Paul's Methodist church. -- Brampton Conservator.

Orangeville Banner dated 13-Feb-1918 Page 8, Column 5
<MRS. JOHN MATTHEWS, nee Jane Brown, died Toronto, d/o Alexander Brown, aged 84; ...Her father was not only a pioneer, and a leader in the community but was one of the founders of the Methodist church in Acton.  Of sturdy United Empire Loyalist stock he took a keen interest in the welfare of this young community...; m/o Alexander, Mrs. Wm. Brown, Mrs. J. M. Fernley and Maggie if you're looking for this article, please copy and paste this information with date, page and column for a lookup request>

Orangeville Banner dated 09-May-1935 Page 10, Column 3
MRS. ANDREW EBERT
    Mary in Orangeville will sympathize with Mrs. Carlyle Moore in the death of her mother, Mrs. Andrew Ebert, who passed away at the home of her daughter, Mrs. John Thompson, in Quebec City, on Tuesday, April 30th, in her 82nd year.
    Mrs. Ebert was much beloved and will be greatly missed by a large circle of friends.  Her sterling qualities, inherited from U. E. Loyalist ancestors, particularly qualified her for the various offices, which she held in religious and other organizations for the uplift of humanity.  During the war, her work as President of Wiarton Women's Patriotic League was outstanding.  The influence of her long, active Christian life is widespread.  She will be deeply mourned by her family of one son and five daughters and also by a wide circle of friends.

Orangeville Banner dated 06-Jun-1935 Page 1, Column 4
<Death of Edmund W. McKay, UEL Descendent, aged 72 - if you're looking for this article, please copy and paste this information with date, page and column for a lookup request>

Orangeville Banner dated 07-Aug-1919 Page 1, Column 4
George Bretz, of Toronto, formerly of Shelburne, has changed the spelling of his name to Brett. His great-grandfather Bretz was a Dutch U. E. Loyalist, who, coming to Canada in 1810, received a grant of land from the British government in the County of Waterloo. However, one cannot be explaining this to everybody and he has taken this step to avoid prejudice.

Orangeville Banner dated 23-Oct-1919 Page 3, Column 5
THE HISTORY OF THE TOWNSHIP OF CALEDON
  The following is the composition which won the first prize given by The Brampton Conservator for the best history of the Township of Caledon: --
  The Township of Caledon lies in the north west corner of Peel, and is the second largest township in the county.  The earliest settlers of Caledon came about 1821. At that time the township was covered with thick forest and swamp.
    My grandfather, who is now in his eighty-third year, remembers well when there were no roads, narrow paths through the forest being the only means of travel.  Many of the settlers avoided the level land and chose the hills, because there they found an abundant supply of spring water.  For this reason we find our oldest farmers occupying hilly land.
    To-day we find Caledon a township with good roads and a number of thriving villages.  The earliest settler in my home village of Caledon East was a man named Tarbox, whose wife was a United Empire Loyalist.  He marked out the land on which the village is now built.  The settlement was at first called Paisley and went by a number of other names until the establishment of the post office in 1857, when it was given the name of Caledon East permanently.
    The first settler came to the village of Alton in 1834 and three years after a grist mill was built and a general store was opened.  About that time it received its name and a post office was given to the inhabitants. After that came churches, a large woollen mill, and later a school house, which is the pride of the village.
    Inglewood is one of the thriving villages of Caledon, which has grown rapidly on account of its woollen mill.  It is a railway junction of the Grand Trunk and C.P.R. railways, and for this reason, besides its nearness to the Caledon Club house, it is a very busy little place.
    The earliest settlers in the village of Charleston came in the year of 1821.  The first store was built in 1838 and in the same year the post office was opened.  Charleston is the capital of Caledon township and in the early days when the centre road was the main highway along which grain passed, was a busy and thriving place.
    A great change has taken place since the first settlers landed in our township.  Now, instead of a track through the forest, are good country roads and two lines of railway.  Instead of the old log school houses are modern schools with modern equipment.  Instead of small log cabins are beautiful houses of brick and frame, with all modern conveniences.  When our grandparents describe to us the country as they found it, we can hardly conceive the vast change in the number of years, so we must take off our hats to those old heroes who toiled in the early days to make our township what it is to-day.

Orangeville Banner dated 05-Aug-1920 Page 2, Column 7
<Death of Sophia MORRIS, d/o Abraham MARSH and Abigail WHITTIER(?); aged 78, parents were UEL- if you're looking for this article, please copy and paste this information with date, page and column for a lookup request>

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This page was last Updated: Thursday March 22, 2007