Canadians who can prove, through their ancestry, that they are directly descendant from an original Loyalist are entitled, under law in Canada, to place the letters U.E. after their name. It is the only hereditary title in Canada.
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.
Madam,
According to the practice of the day most soldiers of that time were paroled. The problem was that the Colonies had no system of prisions for their captives (something that would last until the War between the States, and then only a feeble attempt), nor the logistics and money to support them. They mearly made a pact on the honor not to return to the hostilities, as it appeared as if that were that. The British however, had "Prision Barges", quite litierally ships in which prisioners were taken, and a working P.O.W. camp was set up upon the water. A few of these boats transported their captives back to places like Plymouth, Eng. where the unforuntate individuals spent their last days in a British prision.
It appeared however that a different "standard" existed for Colonists who considered themselves loyalists. Loyalists were depraved of property, rights, and in some cases it appears as if serious civil retribution was preformed to these people. For example loyalists in the Kingston, New York area (the then Capital of New York), were essesntially emtombed in the basement of the Provincial Congress. The stench was so bad that the Congress passed a resolution permitting members of the legislature to smoke, "for the preservation of their health." On Kings' Mountain in South Carolina, the surrender of Loyalist under Maj. Patrick Furguson, essessentially trasgressed to the wholesale murder of the entire loyalist force. (This was in part retribution for the earlier event by Banaster Tarlton at Waxhaws, and quite simply most of the mountain men at King's Mountain had no idea of what a white flag meant, or didn't think an fighting force could surrender). Loyalists has properity and assesst seized from them, by the colonists, and them were forced to roam, as destitute individuals.Loyalists were made indentured servents; jailed; and in some cases lynched. The tarring and feathering of loyalists and loyalist supporters seem to be quite prevelent.
In addition it appears as if a number of the Hessians (which is actually a misnomer as most of these troops were from Brunswick), once paroled, settled into the south central region of Pennsylvania, and started their own communities. It also appears that some of them, reformed a small company, and went to war on the side of the colonists as well.
To all to whom these presents shall come greeting. Know ye that I, John Parr Esq., Lieutenant Governor and Commander in Chief in and over his Majesty's Province of Nova Scotia and its dependencies, vice admiral of the same, have given, granted and confirmed and do by these presents give grant and confirm unto Etc. Etc. and the whole of the aforesaid lots, in Guysborough with all and all manner of mines unopened, excepting mines of gold, silver, lead, copper and coal to have and to hold the said granted premises with all privileges, profits, commodities and appurtenances here unto belonging unto the said grantees, their heirs and assigns forever. Yeilding and paying by the said grantees and assigns which by the exception here of they bind and oblige themselves, their heirs and exectutors and assigns to pay to his Majesty and his heirs and successors or to any person lawfully authorized to recieve the same, a free yearly quint (sic?) rent of one farthing for the premises, the first payment of the Quint rent to commence and become payable at the expiration of two years from the date hereof and is to continue payable yearly thereafter for ever. On default thereof, this grant to be null and void. Provided also that this grant shall have been registered at the register's office and a docket thereof entered at the auditors office within six months from the date hereof, otherwise this grant shall become null and void. In witness whereof, I have signed these presents andcaused the seal of the province to be hereunto affixed at Halifax this seventh day of August in the thirtieth year of the reign of our sovereign Lord, George the Third, by the grace of God, of Great Britain and in the year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and ninety. Nova Scotia, Halifax............Registered 7th August 1790 by command of his Excellency The Lieutenant Governor, The above grant Names Paul McPherson as well as others as being granted lot 16 division L in the town of Guysborough.
Paul McPherson November 23, 1808
About six years ago I found myself with time on my hands and the need for a little mental exercise, so I decided to make a "nice little family tree" to ultimately distribute freely among the kinship. Little did I know how addictive this form of armchair detective work can grow -- especially with the increasing power of the internet fueling the effort.
I began the usual way, names I remember, asking parents who their grandparents were etc. I found out that my mother, Donna Frances (MacPherson) Gray had been making up family history scrapbooks for quite some time and had a number of leads for me beyond the grandparent level and many photographs back to the early 1900's. I was told a romantic tale which had been treasured in the McPherson side of the family about a Scottish sea captain named Paul McPherson who had eloped with an English lady named Mary and that they had settled in Nova Scotia. The facts turned out to be a little less Harlequin Romance but to my mind the truth was if not stranger, then more interesting than the fiction. (Now you MUST read the rest of the site to find out the story!)
In about 1996 my mother showed me a long printout of the McPherson Family Tree which had been compiled by a distant cousin named Donald MacPherson (the Mc's and Mac's got switched around different times in different branches for different reasons). I was thrilled to see how many of the lines had been traced as far as my own generation. Unfortunately, it quickly became evident that many parts of his tree were like the old legend. There was a Paul and Mary McPherson but the details were sometimes a little off (mispelled names, wrong spouses). Given the huge task he had undertaken alone this was to be expected and in no way diminishes the long hard hours he must have devoted to the task. Had he not done the ground work I would never have been able to come so far so quickly.
Next I contacted another cousin, Larry Lee, who was using the same printout as a guide to his further investigations and we traded data. It was Larry who put me onto the researchers into the ancestry of Ann Catherine Whitman, especially David Crittenden.
Contacts on the internet brought me contact with Helen (McPherson) Jamieson. She was 80 when we had our conversations and she told me what she remembered her grandparents telling her about the family's move from Nova Scotia and she also gave me a lead that strongly indicates English "Mary"'s maiden name was Oliver.
Next to check in as a cyber cousin, was Cathy Wagner (from the Hutchinson/McPherson line) We have been in touch ever since and have met face to face. I had the pleasure of an online meeting with Maureen (Craig) Tranfield which has developed into a warm friendship although we have not yet had the pleasure of a face to face meeting. Maureen helped to fill in a lot of data on the branches who went west.
Other contacts have come from Tim Gillies, Rick McPherson and four separate Machan descendants of Maggie McPherson and Bob Machan.
Definitely a bonus to this hobby is the pleasure of meeting so many "cousins" and establishing friendships. If it is not practical to plan an actual reunion back in McGillivray Township, Ontario I wonder if we might not arrange to meet in the chat room of my private myfamily.com site for a cyber reunion?
Do not imagine that the job is done! There are still some mysteries to solve. Additions and corrections are welcome. Then I will have to redo this site again...............
Coming soon: MOLLARD FAMILY HISTORY The Descendants of J. Thomas and Sarah Mollard
Coming soon: BULL & GRAF FAMILY HISTORY
Coming soon: THE GRAHAM'S & THE GRAY'S OF LOBO TOWNSHIP, ONTARIO
Coming soon: McCALLUM, CAMERON, CAMPBELL, FERGUSON: My Scottish Connections
Familytreemaker:
Barbara Dorey's Family History
Surnames and Locales and Most Wanted List
McPherson Surname
List: #1 Most Wanted: The descendants of David McPherson born 1849
in Nova Scotia ??? He is known to have moved from McGillivray Twp,
Ontario to Bay City, Michigan.
#2 Most Wanted: The descendants of George McPherson born
November 24, 1835 in Nova Scotia. Married Lucy Edwards in Lobo
Township, Ontario September 07, 1858. They then moved to Iowa.
Selection of
Surnames: WILSON, HUTCHINSON, WOODROW, ANDREWS, BROWN, GILLIE, LEET,
DIXON, WHITMAN, ATWATER, POLLOCK, MOLLARD, MCKAY, KEAY.
McPherson Locales:
Banffshire, Scotland; Guysborough, Nova Scotia; Reach Township, Ontario;
McGillivray Township, Ontario; Greenway, Corbett, Grand Bend and Parkhill,
Ontario; Stephen Township, Ontario; Akron, Michigan; Bozeman, Montana;
Minnesota; Balmoral, Manitoba; British Columbia.