a3Genealogy - Accurate, Accessible Answers - specializes in military, naturalization records, Native American and African American ancestry. The a3Gen blog is penned by Kathleen Brandt, an international genealogy consultant, speaker and writer. a3Gen clients span from Europe, Asia and Africa to the Americas.
can be quite fascinating, as seen on WDYTYA with Rachel McAdams and sister Kayleen.
Knowing the 18th century history and settlement of Canada reveals a few
interesting facts. Canadian researchers will find that one Canadian in ten has a
Loyalist ancestor. Descendants of these Loyalists are widespread, as kinship – cousin
DNA matches have proven. Descendants of loyalist
traced to Canada, may have originated in the United States, or settled in one of
the other British commonwealths – Australia, New Zealand or another British Colony.
Recap of Who Was a Loyalist
A Loyalist (also
called a Tory) was a North American colonist who sided with the Empire, and was
loyal to the British crown during the American Revolutionary War, that began in
1775. Land and property of Loyalists were
seized during the War. And, these “King’s Men” often left the colonies. Up to 100,000
Loyalists settled in Canada beginning in 1776. It was the Boston Loyalists noted
for the first large exile to Canada in 1776. New York was a stronghold that did
not fall to the “rebels” and can boasts the greatest number of Loyalists.
The United Empire Loyalists (UEL)
In determining eligibility
for compensation for War losses, Britain identified Loyalists as those born or living
in the American colonies at the outbreak of the War and rendered war services to
the Crown. Britain classified Loyalists as those who left America by the end of
the war or soon after. These honored Loyalists, given the United Empire Loyalist
(UEL) title, settled in Quebec, modern day Ontario, and in Nova Scotia (News Brunswick). Although many Loyalists returned to America after
the War, those who remained and complied with the parameters set forth were awarded land grants of 100 to 1000
acres for Army Officers. The average family was awarded 200 acres. (See The Old
United Empire Loyalist List below).
Know that others
may be considered “late loyalists.” Visit Historica Canada
for more information.
5 Resources to Begin Loyalists Research
American Claim, 1789
Like the Loyalist/Tory
ancestral research conducted on WDYTYA, Rachel McAdams episode, Season 5, researchers
are able to uncover worthy information of their American Revolutionary War Loyalists
who settled in America or in Canada. This may include military officers or
others who served the Crown. As mentioned, your ancestor may be found on both
sides of the border, as many exiled Loyalists returned to America after the
In addition to
the five resources below, be sure to use the keyword “Loyalist” in the
ancestry.com catalog for indexed images of papers, books, deeds, and patents.
These land petitions contain petitions
for grants or leases of land and other administrative records for over 82,000 references
to individuals who lived in Ontario between 1783 and 1865.
Albany Land Grant
3. Review Letters and
Diariesand NY Loyalists. Military
officers and Loyalists often corresponded via letters or recorded events in
diaries. Here are two resources giving an account of New York’s Revolutionary
War history That
Ever Loyal Island: Staten Island and the American Revolution by Phillip Papas is filled with names, dates, and social content
of Staten Island and the Loyalist sentiments.Notes of
Chapter 5 give a reference to various loyalist claims by names; and Merchant and Redcoat: The Papers of John
Gordon MaComb, July 1757-1760, Albany New York. This bound 3 volume doctoral
dissertation captures the early life of Albany, NY leading up to the American Revolutionary
War highlighting The Papers of John Gordon MaComb, July 1757 to Jun 1760 (New York,
British Army). A copy of the dissertation may be ordered from the University
of Michigan, Ann Arbor library.
4. Loyalist Muster Roll IndexThe National Archives of Canada holds various
volumes (C" Series”) that gives an account of the Loyalist Muster Rolls.
5. Library and Archives
Canada. Researchers must be familiar with the holdings of the Military
Research collections at the Canada Library and Archives.
Black Migration to Canada During American Revolutionary War
In exchange for
their freedom, free-coloreds and slaves, as early as 1779, were encouraged to
fight for the British. Over ten percent of the Loyalists that arrived in the
Maritime colonies of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island were black men, women, and children.
realize that since slavery was legal in Canada there were also slave-owning Loyalists
from the 13 colonies who migrated with their slaves. Approximately 2000 slaves arrived in Canada -
5500 in Upper Canada (Ontario), 300 in Lower Canada (Quebec) and 1200 in the Maritime