O Canada!

A Chapter in the History of Canada--The Loyalists

Basically, the Loyalists were those who chose to remain loyal to the King of England, right or wrong, at the time of the American Revolution (1776-83). Most of these moved up to Canada to escape persecution and regain a peaceful, secure way of life. Most were British, though some were Quakers or Pennsylvania Dutch who did not wish to live among the racial tensions and chaos in the new United States. It has been estimated that over ten thousand Loyalists migrated to the Niagara district alone, bringing with them culture, education and industry. It was said that "a clean white table cloth is one of the sure tokens of a true UE Loyalist lady". They also migrated to other areas of Canada, such as Nova Scotia.
Some of my ancestors were among this group, most of whom were from New York and Pennsylvania. Each Loyalist was given 200 acres to cultivate and settle on. The British Crown aided them in the beginning and during the "Hunger Years".
The greater part of these settlers were wealthy, respectable citizens and families, some were farmers or artisans. Despite this, they all worked together with a unity of heart to build a new life in Canada after having been forced out of their homes and lands in the Colonies. (Their land in the US was confiscated and their lives threatened).

Butler's Rangers

The Butler's Rangers was a Loyalist regiment who fought for the Crown and all those loyal to it - for their homes and freedom back in the Colonies. They were the most successful band of all those fighting for the King. They enlisted the help of the Six Nations (Iroquois). The regiment was commanded by Colonel John Butler.
The book "Raiders of the Mohawk" by Orlo Miller tells the story of the Revolution, and particularly of the Butler's Rangers. Families were divided; brother fought against brother, father against son... The book focuses on Private Daniel Springer, a member of Butler's Rangers. After his father was murdered by the rebels at their home in Poughkeepsie, NY, Daniel, his older brother Richard and their mother fled to seek protection with Colonel Butler. Richard and Daniel both served in Butler's group, and survived the war to build a new life in Ontario, Canada. The epitaph on Daniel's tombstone reads:
Here lies in tomb, dispute it if you can,
An honest squire, and an upright man;
In all things he acted the manly part;
Blush, squires, blush - and copy Daniel's heart.

Such a group as Butler's Rangers, to which several of my own ancestors belonged, should have been appreciated and honoured for their valour. Instead, they were hated and reviled, not only by their enemies, but even by those they had sought to defend. After the war, the Americans launched such a hateful, bitter campaign against them, that British colonial authorities accepted and adopted their distorted beliefs. The Rangers had no choice but to move permanently to Canada, and give up their hopes of reclaiming their confiscated lands and rights in the United States, who had banned them from the country, threatening to imprison or kill them. Though they were defeated in this sense, if it had not been for these courageous, valiant men, Canada would likely be a part of the United States today.

Bibliography/Suggested Reading:
1. Raiders of the Mohawk--The Story of Butler's Rangers by Orlo Miller
2. Tales of the Old Town (Fort Erie, Ontario) by Marguerite A. Raymond UE, pp. 13-17