Loyalists in the Revolutionary War

[macwilkin]

Note that the Queen's York Rangers (1st Americans), a Canadian reserve unit, traces their lineage to exiled Loyalists during the Revolution:

http://qyrang.ca/about/history/

Robert Rogers, of "Roger's Rangers", remained loyal to the crown and raised the Queen's Rangers from exiled Loyalists.

T.

[creagdhubh]

From the reading I've done of that period, many of the colonials referred to themselves as Americans. Whilst they may still have been British subjects, they did not enjoy the same rights and privileges of those across the pond in the mother country. By the time the Revolution occurred, they had developed their own unique culture and dialects. In many ways, they considered themselves as a different people - even the ones who may have still felt loyalty to the Crown. But yes, they were very much Americans (as distinctly separated from what later became a "citizen of the United States of America").

Precisely, well said.

[creagdhubh]

Also, religious and political differences; Highlanders were largely Episcopalian and Roman Catholic, which put them at odds against their Ulster-Scottish Protestant neighbors. Duane Meyer, in his Highland Scots of North Carolina, also notes that ex-Jacobites tended to be monarchists in their leanings, and the ideas put forth by their Ulster-Scots neighbors didn't tend to hold water with them -- any king, even one of the Georges, was better than none at all.

Spot on, Sir William, in both your posts.

T.

Very interesting indeed. Both of you are spot on! Everyone who has responded to the OP thus far, as been 'quicker on the trigger' than I, and I am a highly-trained Marine rifleman!

Fantastic thread...

[islandkilt]

So then, brother, we have claim to Vermont land.. perhaps even parlay to Ben n Jerry's stock?? Reparations I say,... Reparations!!!


(and yes, fascinating stuff, thanks all)

[macwilkin]

This particular branch of my family tree was settled in Pownal, VT in the very S.W. Corner of Vermont. History I've found says the town was split over this "Civil War" The folks who supported the Empire were driven out of town and their lands were confiscated. They went north to Quebec and resettled around Philipsburg, just over the border.

One branch of this bit of family was Palatine German, the other English by ancestry. So no Scots until they intermarried into one of my Scot lines after the war.

Their units were specifically the Kings Royal Regiment of New York 2nd Battalion and the Kings Loyal Americans/ later the Queens Loyal Rangers. I believe both were formed from American colonists who stayed loyal to the King rather than rebel.

Didn't expect any tartan, unless maybe some higher level of command over them had one. Just double checking.

Thanks for all the feedback.

In a bit of famiy irony....the next generation settled very near the border on what they thought was the Canadian side. Considered themselves Canadians from Quebec. When the border was resurveyed turned out they were actually on the American side of the newly surveyed border.

Interesting, Ron...Vermont was a bit of a "no-man's land" during the Revolution, as it was still disputed territory between the "Yorkers" and folks from Mass. & NH who received land grants from New Hampshire. It was the latter that made up Ethan Allen's famed Green Mountain Boys. In an ironic twist, Allen actually threatened to take "Vermont" (Green Mountain in French) back into the Empire when he was basically snubbed by Philadelphia. Allen had assisted Arnold in taking Ticonderoga, but he could never quite get the rebels to recognize his claims -- Vermont became a de facto independent republic for 10 years after the end of the Revolution, until it finally joined the Union in the 1790s.

T.

[dutchy kilted]

Ron -

Here is a link to the 84th of Foot Royal Highland Emigrants reenactors page:

http://www.84thregiment.org/Home.html

If anyone would know the answer to your questions these guys would.

[hkjrb623]

Very interesting indeed. Both of you are spot on! Everyone who has responded to the OP thus far, as been 'quicker on the trigger' than I, and I am a highly-trained Marine rifleman!

Fantastic thread...

Every Marine rifleman is highly trained!

[Singlemalt]

This is a story which virtually shaped Southern Ontario as we know it today and is very close to my wife's family. This part of the world was virtual wilderness before the American revolution. However, tens of thousands of refugee's from the fighting ended up settling here during and after the Revolution. In Canadian terms they were United Empire Loyalists (UEL's) and they were the first large wave of English speaking immigrants to central Canada.

My wife's g-g-g-grandfather was granted land in Prince Edward County Ontario in return for military service to the Crown. He lost all the land and livestock he owned in Long Island NY for his political convictions.

It even shaped language, I watched a fascinating BBC documentary on the evolution of English and this early and large influx of UEL's is the reason most English speaking Canadian's sound more American than British in our accents.

[Sheep In Wolf's Clothing]

This is a story which virtually shaped Southern Ontario as we know it today and is very close to my wife's family. This part of the world was virtual wilderness before the American revolution. However, tens of thousands of refugee's from the fighting ended up settling here during and after the Revolution. In Canadian terms they were United Empire Loyalists (UEL's) and they were the first large wave of English speaking immigrants to central Canada.

My wife's g-g-g-grandfather was granted land in Prince Edward County Ontario in return for military service to the Crown. He lost all the land and livestock he owned in Long Island NY for his political convictions.

It even shaped language, I watched a fascinating BBC documentary on the evolution of English and this early and large influx of UEL's is the reason most English speaking Canadian's sound more American than British in our accents.

It's very fashionable in my neck of the woods, to use the post-nominal letters "UE" after ones name if they happen Loyalist descendant. There's many of them around here along the St. Lawrence River!

Ron, you might be interested in the UEL website:http://www.uelac.org/

Sara

[Singlemalt]

I have not run into anyone yet who uses the title UE but here in Brant County they started putting a little plaque outside cemetaries which contained the remains of original UE Loyalists. I was quite surprised to find the very small old rural cemetary at the end of my road is the resting place of several.

Of course Joseph Brant the Mohawk chief for whom our county is named was himself a loyalist during the revolution.