Sharing with you things that are on my mind...Maybe yours too. Come back to Wrights Lane for a visit anytime! And, by all means, let's hear from you by leaving a comment at the end of any post. THE MOTIVATION: I firmly believe that if I have felt, experienced or questioned something in life, then surely others must have too. That's what this blog is all about -- hopefully relating in some meaningful way -- sharing, if you will, on subjects of an inspirational and human interest nature. Nostalgia will frequently find its way into some of the items...And lots of food for thought. A work in progress, to be sure.

07 December, 2018

UNITED EMPIRE LOYALIST STATUS A GREAT HONOR FOR MY FAMILY...AND ME



It was a great honor for me to learn officially of my acceptance as a member of the United Empire Loyalists of Canada after several years of assembling family history and final presentation of credentials for crucial review by Dominion genealogists. 

It is a bit unusual that I obtained UE status due to direct links to two United Empire Loyalists, great-great-great grandfather Henry Wright and great, great grandfather John Stockwell -- both of whom settled in Upper Canada (Essex) in the late 1700's. 


*You can sort it all out by reading more on this rather unique "Wright Story" at *
https://mywrightstory.blogspot.com/

Being a proved Loyalist descendant confers no special status in Canadian or other society, but many members use the post-nominal letters "UE" after their name, in consequence of Lord Dorchester's Order in Council in 1789, conferring recognition of the service of the Loyalists in defense of "The Unity of Empire."



T
he United Empire Loyalists came to Canada from the United States when the Thirteen Colonies revolted against England and setup an independent country in 1776. As their name suggests, the Loyalists were loyal to Britain and did not share the Americans' independent aspirations. Some fled north during the war of independence. Some came after, fleeing persecution by the victorious revolutionaries.


Many Loyalists headed for Nova Scotia. Many others arrived in Quebec, but the Governor, General Frederick Haldimand, was afraid of conflict with the French so he encouraged the new settlers to move up river. Here they rapidly populated the north shore of Lakes Ontario and Erie in what became, under the Canada Act of 1791, the new colony of Upper Canada. Its first lieutenant-governor was John Graves Simcoe. Simcoe wanted to re-create a piece of England in the new world and he encouraged the immigration of Loyalists from the United States. Depending on their rank, the newcomers received varying grants of land and other assistance in clearing and establishing farms.


Wright and Stockwell crown land grants were on the north shore of the Detroit River at Fort Malden and Colchester South, now considered Amherstburg area in Essex County.

It was pressure from the UEL's that led to the Canada Act of 1791. They wanted to ensure that they had free title to their lands - the freehold system of land tenure - and they wanted an elected Assembly like they were used to in the United States.

They also wanted a certain amount of land set aside for Protestant clergy reserves (just as the Catholics had). The Canada Act provided these reserves, but didn't specify which Protestant church was entitled to them. The Church of England Anglicans assumed the clergy reserves belonged to them. But a generation later, other Protestant churches, like the Scottish Presbyterians, were demanding a share, too.

Not all Loyalists were white Anglo-Saxons. A lot of black slaves had fled to the British side during the American revolution and came north after the revolutionaries won. Most of them settled in Nova Scotia, but a large number also came to Upper Canada via the underground railway and eventually settled in what would become Essex and Kent counties. About 2000 Iroquois Loyalists came north as well.

1 comment:

anniemaria192 said...

Interesting article, really. I visit again here to see more. Thank you. Family Status