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Westchester County, NY Loyalists |
This page was last updated: Wednesday, 01-Jan-2003 06:12:04 MST
Loyalists were those colonials who remained loyal to the English crown during the American Revolutionary War. After the war, their land and property were confiscated by the new republic's government and they fled to Canada or returned to England.
Some loyalists later made legal claims for compensation for the lost land and property in the States or made claims for land in Canada. Some records of such claims can be found at the New York Public Library and at the Public Record Office in London, England and microfilmed copies are available through your local Family History Center and elsewhere.
Some Loyalist information can also be found at the Tryon County's NYGenWeb site. Researchers might also look at Albany County to which Tryon belonged just prior to the Revolutionary War as well as look at Herkimer and Montgomery Counties from which people reportedly left for Ontario, Canada, after the Revolutionary War.
Repositories
According to Philip Ranlet's book entitled The New York Loyalists, the following repositories have collections which relate to Loyalist research:
- Archives of Ontario, Toronto, Canada
- New Brunswick Museum, Saint John, Canada
- Provincial Archives of New Brunswick, Fredericton, Canada
- Public Archives of Canada, Ottawa, Canada
- Public Archives of Nova Scotia, Halifax, Canada -- Nova Scotia Archives and Records Management at the URL http://www.nsarm.ednet.ns.ca/
- Columbia University, New York City, NY, USA
- Library of Congress, Washington, DC, USA
- New-York Historical Society, New York City, NY, USA
- New York Public Library, New York City, NY, USA
- http://www.nypl.org/research/chss/lhg/research.html#DAR
- The Library is a depository for New York State D.A.R. Genealogical Records Committee publications of New York Bible, cemetery, and vital records. They hold one of the most extensive collections of American Loyalist Claims. You can search their catalog on-line at: http://www.nypl.org/
Some other Repositories are of interest to Loyalist researchers are:
- Loyalist Collection, Harriet Irving Library, University of New Brunswich, http://www.lib.unb.ca/Collections/Loyalist/
- LDS Family History Library: Search their catalog under "American Loyalists" as well as "Military History".
- P R O http://www.pro.gov.uk/leaflets/riindex.htm British Army records are kept at the Public Record Office in London. Go to http://www.pro.gov.uk/ and look under genealogy.
- The National Archives of Canada Website: http://www.archives.ca/
- The David Library of the American Revolution
"The library is particulary strong in materials from British sources, some of which are not available elsewhere in this country. It has underwritten the microfilming of collections that are relatively inaccessible. Significant collections from Britain include: American Loyalist Claims; Sir Jeffrey Amherst Papers; Lord Cornwallis Papers; Sir Frederick Haldimand Papers; Sir Guy Carleton (British Headquarters) Papers; Admiralty Secretary's Letters; Colonial Office Correspondence; Annual Army Lists; War Office Papers; Foreign Office Papers; and Home Office Papers. In addition to the complete Loyalist claims series, the library also has other materials from Canada and Britain on Americans who opposed the Revolution such as American Loyalist Muster Rolls; Ward Chipman Papers; and Documents Relating to Refugees. Information on German troops may be found in British records and Hessian Documents of the American Revolution."
LDS Family History Library Research Outlines
With all the information available to the researcher at the Family History Library Centers, the Library went "on-line" during the summer of 1999. Some sources of interest to Loyalist researchers are listed below in the Bibliography along with FHC film numbers. In addition to their databases, they have placed their invaluable Research Outlines on-line at: http://www.familysearch.org/sg/. Two of interest to loyalist researchers are the following:
- LDS FHC RESEARCH OUTLINE: Canada
- http://www.familysearch.org/sg/Canada.html
- LDS FHC RESEARCH OUTLINE: Ontario
- http://www.familysearch.org/sg/Ontario.html
A Loyalist Bibliography
- Bell, D.G. Early Loyalist Saint John [New Ireland Press, 1983]
- Burleigh, H.C. New York State -- Confiscations of Loyalists. Copied from original lists during the year 1950 from papers at the New York Public Library. LDS FHC film nos. 1321358, item 2.
- Murtie June Clark's Loyalists in the Southern Campaign of the Revolutionary War, 3 Volumes, Genealogical Publishing Company, Baltimore, 1981.
- Crary, Catherine S., editor. The Price of Loyalty: Tory Writings from the Revolutionary Era [New York: McGraw-Hill, 1973]
- East, Robert, and Jacob Judd, eds. The Loyalist Americans: A Focus on Greater New York [Tarrytown, NY: Sleepy Hollow Press, 1975]
- Egerton, Hugh E., editor. The Royal Commission on the Losses and Services of American Loyalists 1783 to 1875: Being the Notes of Mr. Daniel Parker Coke, M.P. [Oxford, 1915]
- Fraser, Alexander, editor. United Empire Loyalists: Enquiry Into the Losses and Services in Consequences of their Loyalty [Toronto, 1905]
- Fitzgerald, E. Keith. Loyalist Lists: over 2000 Loyalists names and families from the Haldimand papers. [Toronto, Ont.; Ontario Genealogical Society, 1984] The Haldimand papers were created by Sir Frederick Haldimand (1718-1791). Contents: part 1. General return of refugee loyalists in the province of Quebec; part 2. Roll of King's Rangers; part 3. Return of the 1st Battalion of the King's Royal Regiment of New York; part 4. Return of Loyal Rangers, company of pensioners. LDS FHC fiche nos. 6010886.
- Flick, Alexander Clarence. Loyalism in New York during the American Revolution [New York: Arno Press, 1969] Reprint of 1901 edition. LDS FHC film nos. 0982493, item 5; or 1045477, item 3.
- Gilroy, Marion. Loyalists and Land Settlement in Nova Scotia [Halifax, 1937]
- Hayward, G.H. Upper Carleton County Cemeteries
- Hayward, G.H. New Brunswick Marriages
- Hulslander, Laura Penny, editor. New York Loyalist Confiscations [Alexandria, VA: Sleeper, 1995] LDS FHC film nos. 2055161, item 32.
- Jones, Caleb. Orderly Book of the Maryland Loyalists Regiment, June 18, 1778, to October 12, 1778, .... [Brooklyn, NY: Historical Printing Club, 1891] LDS FHC fiche nos. 6078185.
- Kelby, William, comp. Orderly Book of the Three Battalions of Loyalists, Commanded by Brigadier-General Oliver DeLancey, 1776-1778 to which is appended a list of NY Loyalists in the cinty of New York durin the War of the Revolution. [New York, 1917] LDS FHC film nos. 155059 or 0928188, item 2.
- Mika, Nick and Helma. United Empire Loyalists [Belleville: Mika Publishing, 1976]
- New York. Committee for Detecting and Defeating Conspiracies. Minutes of the Committee and of the first Commission for Detecting and defeating Conspiracies in the State of New York, Dec. 11, 1776 -- September 23, 1778, with collateral documents, to which is added minutes of the Council of Appointments, State of New York, April 12, 1778, -- May 3, 1779. LDS FHC film nos. 1035605, item 6.
- Reid, William D. THE LOYALISTS IN ONTARIO, The Sons and Daughters of the American. first published in 1973 by Hunterdon House, and since reprinted.
- Palmer, Gregory. Biographical Sketches of Loyalists of the American Revolution [Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press, 1984]
- Ranlet, Philip. The New York Loyalists [Knoxville, TN: Univ. of Tennessee Press, 1986]
- Stewart, Walter. True Blue: The Loyalist Legend [Toronto, Ontario: Collins Publishers, 1985]
- Talman, James J., editor. Loyalist Narratives from Upper Canada [Toronto, Ontario: Champlain Society, 1948]
- Vaughan, Harold Stearns. History and Genealogy of Vaughan Family: History and Genealogy of the Descendants of John, Daniel, and Anthony Vaughan, who emigrated to Nova Scotia 1764, 1768: and the descendants of Daniel Vaughan who moved to New Brunswick in 1796. [Irvington-on-Hudson, NY: s.n.] n.d.
- Wallace, William Stewart. The United Empire Loyalists: A Chronicle of the Great Migration [Boston: Gregg Press, 1972]
- Wright, Esmond, editor. Red, White and True Blue: The Loyalists in the Revolution [New York: AMS Press, 1976]
- Wright, Esther Clark. The Loyalists of New Brunswick [Hansport, Nova Scotia: Lancelot, 1981]
- Yoshpe, Harry Beller. Disposition of Loyalist Estates in the Southern District of the State of New York [New York: Columbia University, 1939]
Some web sites relating to Loyalists are:
- Cumberland, Nova Scoti GenWeb site: Westchester Loyalists, October 15, 1784 Return
- http://www.rootsweb.com/~nscumber/loyalist.html
- Cyndi's List of Links to Loyalist web sites
- http://www.CyndisList.com/loyalist.htm
- Loyalist Units
- http://www.brigade.org/loy.html
- The NY State Library lists some resources of interest.
- http://unix2.nysed.gov/genealogy/loyalist.htm or http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/genealogy/loyalist.htm
- The Kings Men, Loyalist MIlitary Units in the American Revolution:
- Hudson Valley and New York City Loyalists http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Delphi/4171/kingsmen_02.htm
- Memorial of New York Loyalists
- A Loyalist memorial originally found in Nova Scotia archives and re-printed in the NY Genealogical and Biographical Record in 1890. http://www.rootsweb.com/~nyrichmo/loyalists.shtml
- A Loyalist Answers Thomas Paine
- The Early America Review presents an article about James Chalmers, loyalist, and his response to Thomas Paine's "Common Sense" at http://earlyamerica.com/review/fall96/loyalists.html
- A Loyalist Mailing List
- http://members.aol.com/gfsjohnf/gen_mail_country-can.html#LOYALIST
- The archived postings to this mailing list can be found at: ftp://genweb.net/pub/archive/loyalists-in-canada-digest.archive NOTE: this web url begins with "ftp" and NOT "http" therefore, it is not a graphical display.
- The United Empire Loyalists' Association of Canada
- http://www.npiec.on.ca/~uela/uela1.htm
- The Loyalist Gazette
- http://www.npiec.on.ca/~uela/uela3.htm Published by Dominion Council of the United Empire Loyalists' Association of Canada, 50 Baldwin Street, Toronto, ON, Canada M5T 1L4. This periodical includes articles and records about Loyalists and their descendants in North America.
- LOYALISTS IN CANADA series
- In his introductory column, Brenda Dougall Merriman answers the questions of what a Loyalist was/is, how the concept developed, postnomial usage of the initials "UE" as well as web site links and a reading list. Your input is encouraged and your questions solicited.http://globalgenealogy.com/Gazette/gaz43.htm
- Loyalist Cultural Centre and Museum
- http://www.freeyellow.com/members6/loyal-ists/Index.html
- Canada's Genealogy & Heritage On-Line Newsletter
- Muster Rolls, Soldiers and Loyalists, 25 Sept 1784
- http://www.isn.net/~dhunter/25sept1784.html
- Loyalist Collection, Harriet Irving Library, University of New Brunswick
- http://www.lib.unb.ca/Collections/Loyalist/
- North Carolina Loyalists During the American Revolution
- http://members.aol.com/HoseyGen/NCLOYAL3.HTML
- Land Records in Ontario
- http://wwnet.com/~treesrch/ontland.html
- The Olive Tree: American Revolution ~ Ontario Loyalists
- http://www.rootsweb.com/~ote/loy.htm
- The Olive Tree: War of 1812
- http://www.rootsweb.com/~ote/1812.htm
- The Olive Tree: Ontario Resources
- http://www.rootsweb.com/~ote/ontres.htm
- New Brunswick Web Links
- http://www.genweb.net/NBGenLinks
- St. John's, New Brunswick web site on RootsWeb
- http://www.rootsweb.com/~nbstjohn/
- Land Grant Index for New Brunswick
- A Grant Index is on-line, thanks to the Univ. of New Brunswick. The Petition Index is not. URL is: http://degaulle.hil.unb.ca/library/data/panb/panbweb.html
- Some Loyalist links
- http://genweb.net/~boquel/Links.html
- UNITED-EMPIRE-LOYALIST Mailing List
- Homepage: http://www.rootsweb.com/~onprince/uelist.html
- Belyea/Bulyea/Boulier
- Many of the Loyalist that came to New Brunswick were from Westchester County. The Belyea/Bulyea/Boulier, etc. family was one of the largest family groups. Below are two more of links, of a more general nature, but there are NY connections on them:
If you are aware of other Loyalists-related web sites, please share that information with your fellow researchers by letting this County Coordinator know the URL so that it can be added to this page.
Return to Westchester County's Town Index page.
Return to the main page for Westchester County at NYGenWeb.
Return to the NYGenWeb web site.
© 1996-2002 Cathy Horn. All rights reserved.
This web site was designed by and has been exclusively maintained since November 1996 by Cathy Horn.