Richard Roy

Here's a trivia question for our New England friends, especially for those interested in genealogy. It may also be of interest to people north of the border. What group of people, ancestors of many border-area residents, migrated north after the War of Independence, and are believed by historians to be among the first settlers in the Eastern Townships?

WAR OF INDEPENDENCE
Here's a hint: not all American colonists supported Independence, and during the hostilities that followed many took up arms in favour of the British Crown in open defiance of their government. Incredibly, it is estimated that supporters of the British comprised about one-third of the population of the colonies, but only about 100,000 fled into exile following Independence.

Once the War of Independence was over, these people had either to make peace with the Republic, or leave. And they had good reason to leave for they were ostracized, had their lands confiscated, and could even be lynched. In fact, the terms "lynching" and "lynch law", which refer to a self-constituted court that sentenced a person without due process of law, are derived from the name of Charles Lynch, a Virginia planter and patriot who, during the American Revolution, conducted a sort of kangaroo court whose purpose was to hang people opposed to Independence.

Have you guessed the answer to my question yet? That's right, they were the United Empire Loyalists, people largely from New England, who, after the revolutionary war, found themselves refugees moving north into Canada. In Quebec, they settled mostly in the southern portion of the Eastern Townships, bringing their culture, customs, and the Protestant faith with them. They began arriving in the 1790s. These displaced people became a considerable "thorn in the side" of the British Government, because they sought compensation for the possessions they had forfeited during the Revolution. They had, after all, lost everything defending the Crown.


The Loyalists brought with them their customs and religions.
This Quaker meeting house, at East Farnham, was the last of its
kind in Quebec. (Photo: Farfan Collection)

One problem, along with the fact that the Loyalists wanted representative government, was the restrictive civil law of Quebec which did not allow Loyalists title to the land they settled on. The solution: divide Quebec into separate French and English provinces (Upper and Lower Canada), where the English province of Upper Canada and the Eastern Townships in Lower Canada would share the English common law and assembly. The French province would retain its form of government provided by the Quebec Act.

TWO BRANCHES
Little Forks is one of two branches of the United Empire Loyalists' Association of Canada in the Eastern Townships. Bev Loomis, U.E., president and genealogist of the Little Forks Branch, says that "the Indian people were here first, but yes, the Loyalists were among the first settlers of the area." She explains that the "U.E." which she places after her name is actually a title that may be used after the name of any authenticated descendant of a Loyalist. This descent has to be proven, however, and then certified by the Loyalists' Association. According to Loomis, "people seem to think that when you're a member of the Loyalists' Association, you're a head above everyone else, which is truly ridiculous. The only thing that it does is force you to dig into your genealogy." Little Forks shares the mission of all branches of the association -- to unite together irrespective of creed or political party -- and is dedicated to the descendants of families who lost their belongings while remaining loyal to the British Crown. Little Forks' documentation relates to Loyalists who settled in the part of the Townships east of Lake Memphremagog. For more information contact: Bev Loomis, U.E., 5955 Rte. Gilbert Hyatt, RR2 Lennoxville, Quebec, J1M 2A3. She may be reached by phone at: (819) 346-6746, or by email: mbloomis@ican.net

If you wish to contact the other local branch of the Loyalists' Association, the Sir John Johnson Centennial Branch, write to: Jean McCaw, 18 Dorais Apt. 2, Sutton, Quebec, J0E 2K0. She may also be reached by phone at: (450) 538-2345, or by email: jmccaw@citenet.net.