Loyalist Challenges in Their New Land, PDF 1783

WHAT CHALLENGES DID THE LOYALISTS FACE IN THEIR NEW LAND? The thousands of Loyalists who arrived in the Maritimes and Québec brought with them hopes for a good life in “It is now afternoon and I have British North America. Many families left behind thriving been on sh...

WHAT CHALLENGES DID THE LOYALISTS FACE IN THEIR NEW LAND? The thousands of Loyalists who arrived in the Maritimes and Québec brought with them hopes for a good life in “It is now afternoon and I have British North America. Many families left behind thriving been on shore. It is I think the roughest farms and became refugees, on the promise of freedom and land I ever saw. It beats ‘Shortrocks’ [in Stamford]. I think that is nothing to new land. They soon found out that rebuilding their lives in this; but this is to be our city they say.... British North America would bring unexpected challenges. We are to have our land sixty miles AN UNTAMED NEW LAND further up the river. We are all ordered to land tomorrow, and not a shelter to The journey to British North America was long and difficult go under.” for many of the Loyalist refugees. Loyalist Sarah Frost left — Sarah Frost, Loyalist New York by ship for Nova Scotia in the spring of 1783. She and her family lived on the crowded ship for more than 30 days before finally reaching the banks of present-day FIGURE 4.12 This diary entry was written in 1783 by Frost upon arriving in British North America. Analyze: New Brunswick. Her diary tells of an uncomfortable trip on an How does Frost’s experience compare with the way overcrowded ship where many people were ill. Upon landing the Loyalist arrival was shown in Figure 4.1? FIGURE 4.14 This image is an undated pen and ink in British North America, Frost set eyes on a rough and unsettled land. Read an excerpt from her diary in Figure 4.12. WAITING TO OWN LAND drawing by C.W. Jefferys called Loyalists Drawing Lots For Their Lands, 1784. Jefferys did not live in this time What is Frost’s first impression of her new home? Once Loyalists had arrived, they could begin the process of period. He drew this scene of the 1784 lottery system showing settlers drawing a lot of land from a hat. Land had to be divided up into lots before it could be acquiring land. Individual Loyalists or groups of Loyalists Analyze: Based on this depiction, how do you think the FIGURE 4.13 This painting entitled A View of the given to the arriving Loyalists. The British government Ruins of the Fort at Cataraqui by James Peachey could petition, or request, one or more lots. They would Loyalists felt while waiting to randomly choose a lot sent out surveyors to divide up the land. Figure 4.13 shows in 1783 shows British cartographer (map-maker) often divide the land they acquired among themselves by of land? surveyors at work near the old Fort Frontenac. What do Samuel Holland and his team surveying land. Their job lottery. Examine the land lottery shown in Figure 4.14. Do was to divide the land into settler plots on the site of you think Loyalist settlers had to do to make a home out of ruins of the old French Fort Frontenac. Analyze: Who you think this was a fair or effective way to give out land? this land? do you think was not invited to settle in the site of the Along with land, Loyalists were given some free supplies, old Fort Frontenac? such as farm tools, food, and clothing. As well, they did not “We pitched our tents in the have to pay taxes for a number of years. In exchange for all of shelter of the woods and tried to cover this, the Loyalists needed to complete certain tasks or else them with spruce boughs. We used they had to give the land back. This usually meant that they stones for fireplaces. Our tents had no had to clear and farm a set amount of their land within a floors but the ground... how we lived through that winter, I barely know...” certain time period. However, many Loyalists did not receive land right away. Read the quote in Figure 4.15 from Loyalist — Mary Barbara Fisher, Loyalist Mary Barbara Fisher, which describes her and her family’s harsh living conditions. What other supplies could the FIGURE 4.15 Fisher recounts her family’s arrival in British government have provided to help Loyalist refugees October 1783. The account was found in a manuscript when arriving in British North America? written by her granddaughter Georgianna in the 1880s or 1890s. Analyze: What does this tell you about the living conditions that many Loyalists had to endure as they waited for their land? 112 UNIT 1: New France and British North America: 1713–1800 NEL NEL CHAPTER 4: Loyalists in British North America: 1775–1800 113  BROKEN PROMISES For most of the Loyalist refugees who survived the first few years in British What could be North America, their hard work eventually paid off. Many present-day towns some reasons why Loyalist families were across southern Ontario, Québec, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince able to survive their Edward Island can trace their roots back to the Loyalists. However, the first few years in British promise of a better life did not come true for all the Loyalists who came to North America? British North America. LACK OF COMPENSATION Whenever British subjects lost their property due to war, the British government would compensate, or pay back, a portion of their losses. Some of the Loyalists who left behind property in the Thirteen Colonies expected they would receive government money, in addition to free land, to help them start over. They petitioned the government for this compensation, but the money was slow to arrive. Some Loyalists, such as the Black Loyalists, never received any compensation. Read Figure 4.18, a quote from Sir Guy Carleton, the British commander-in-chief in British North America, whom you learned about in Chapter 3. Do you think that the British and American governments had a responsibility to pay back all the Loyalists for FIGURE 4.16 Elizabeth Simcoe’s their losses? CLEARING LAND watercolour painting Thousand Islands dated July 1796 shows a Some of the land that you see around present-day Lake Ontario’s north shore rugged coastline, thick with trees. Analyze: Look at the people in the and the St. Lawrence River has been cleared for farmland, roads, and buildings. foreground of the painting. What “Ten years have elapsed since many [Loyalists] have been When the Loyalist settlers arrived in British North America, the land was very could they be doing? deprived of their fortunes, their helpless families reduced from different. It was wild, with great forests often to the edge of the water. Look at independent affluence [wealth] to poverty and want. Some are now Figure 4.16. The painting shows what part of the Thousand Islands looked like languishing [suffering] in British jails, unable to pay their debtors. in 1796. The painter, Elizabeth Simcoe, was the wife of John Graves Simcoe, the Provision should now be made for payment of those whose claims have first lieutenant-governor of what is southern Ontario today. How did she see her been settled and reported. It will not only relieve them of their distress new land? Compare Figure 4.16 with Figure 4.17, a present-day photo of part of but give credit to others whose claims remain to be considered and the Thousand Islands. What has changed? What has stayed the same? enable them all to provide for their wretched [unhappy] families and Once Loyalist settlers claimed their lots, trees needed to be cut down, become again useful members of society.” tree roots removed, soil turned, and homes built. Doing these tasks with — Sir Guy Carleton, British commander-in-chief human strength alone was extremely difficult. There FIGURE 4.18 This excerpt, written by Carleton, was part of a 1786 submission to the British were no bulldozers or power House of Commons that supported paying Loyalist compensation claims. Analyze: What are tools to clear land and build the arguments that Carleton makes for compensating the Loyalists? homes quickly. It was crucial for settlers to have a warm Now read Figure 4.19, a quote from Carleton about the Loyalist refugees. shelter in order to survive How does Figure 4.19 support his views in Figure 4.18? their first winter. Some settlers did not survive the harsh conditions. “Brave, unfortunate people, many of them of the very first families, reduced to a condition that makes one’s heart bleed.” FIGURE 4.17 This is a present-day — Sir Guy Carleton, British commander-in-chief photo of part of the Thousand Islands. Analyze: Why do you think the coastline has not been FIGURE 4.19 This undated quote by Carleton is in response to the state of Loyalist refugees. completely cleared? Analyze: Who do you think Carleton was referring to when he said “first families”? 114 UNIT 1: New France and British North America: 1713–1800 NEL NEL CHAPTER 4: Loyalists in British North America: 1775–1800 115  FOCUS ON INTERPRET AND ANALYZE Having a strong inquiry question and researching Indentured service was a temporary form of FIGURE 4.21 This watercolour reliable information are only the first steps in slavery. People would sign away their freedom for of a Black woodcutter in Shelburne, Nova Scotia, was conducting a historical investigation. Once you a specific amount of time and receive a sum of painted by Captain William have your inquiry question and information, you money at the end of the term. Booth in 1788. It is one of the need to analyze, or make sense of, your findings. Racial tension between white and Black Loyalists few images from the period Ask yourself what your information means. Think increased as some white Loyalists arrived in British showing Black Loyalists. Analyze: How would you about how different pieces of information fit North America with enslaved people. Some free interpret this watercolour together. How do you think people would have Black Loyalists were kidnapped and sold back into with and without the other thought, or felt, based on your evidence? slavery. Black Loyalists also faced discrimination. two sources? They were not allowed to vote or allowed to have When you interpret and analyze information, you a jury trial. Their punishment for crimes was often need to whipping or being returned to slavery. There were think about your evidence in different ways even laws that prohibited them from dancing and using the historical thinking concepts having social gatherings. try to uncover new details and perspectives Read Lieutenant William Dyott’s description of look for ways that different pieces fit together the conditions in Birchtown in Figure 4.20. try to find patterns put the evidence you have found into your own words “... walked through the woods about two miles from the barracks to a negro town called Birch Town. At the evacuation of CASE STUDY: THE DAILY LIVES OF BLACK New York there were a great number of these Despite the harsh conditions, Birchtown became LOYALISTS IN NOVA SCOTIA poor devils given lands and settled here—The “About this time the country was the largest Black settlement in North America. The majority of Black Loyalists settled in Nova place is beyond description wretched, situated visited with a dreadful famine, which not Black Loyalists who were skilled workers were able Scotia and New Brunswick. However, many did not on the coast in the middle of barren rocks, only prevailed at Birchtown, but likewise at to find jobs as shoemakers, teachers, ministers, have the same support as white Loyalists. Along and partly surrounded by a thick impenetrable Chebucto, Annapolis, Digby, and other places. or woodcutters, as pictured in Figure 4.21. Some with the lack of compensation, the Black Loyalists wood—Their huts miserable to guard Many of the poor people were compelled to enslaved people escaped and found refuge in received either poor quality land or no land at all. against … a Nova Scotia winter, and their sell their best gowns for five pounds of flour, the free Black communities. Figure 4.22 is a Consider this inquiry question as you interpret existence almost depending on what they in order to support life. When they had parted description of life in Birchtown, written by a Black and analyze the information in this case study: Did could lay up in summer. I think I never saw with all their clothes, even to their blankets, Loyalist named Boston King. When you examine Black Loyalists in Nova Scotia experience the better wretchedness and poverty so strongly several of them fell down dead in the streets, Figure 4.22, what new understanding do you have life they were promised by the British? perceptible in the garb and the countenance thro’ hunger … poverty and distress prevailed about the lives of Black Loyalists? In 1773, a large group of Black Loyalists arrived in of the human species as in these on every side; so that to my great grief I was Nova Scotia. They settled in Birchtown, just outside miserable outcasts.” obliged to leave Birchtown, because I could TRY IT Shelburne, Nova Scotia. With the arrival of so get no employment.” 1. Consider the sources in this feature. What — Lieutenant William Dyott, many Loyalists in the area, food and shelter quickly patterns emerge? British infantry officer — Boston King, Black Loyalist became scarce. The Black Loyalists were the 2. Compare the sources here with other sources last to get provisions, tools, and land, if they got in the chapter. How did the experiences of them at all. Only one-third of the Black Loyalists FIGURE 4.20 This excerpt is from Dyott’s diary. It was white Loyalists differ? Are they similar in written in October 1788. Analyze: What are the key points in FIGURE 4.22 This description of conditions in Birchtown ever received land. Those who did, found that any way? Consider what perspective each this excerpt? during a 1787 famine was written by a Black Loyalist named the land was often unsuitable for farming. Boston King. Analyze: How is King’s description similar to or source represents. How do the sources help Often they were unable to wait for land and had different from Dyott’s diary in Figure 4.20? you to answer the inquiry question? to work as labourers or indentured servants. 116 UNIT 1: New France and British North America: 1713–1800 NEL NEL CHAPTER 4: Loyalists in British North America: 1775–1800 117  THE FALL OF SHELBURNE Shelburne, Nova Scotia, was a small port settlement isolated from other parts of Nova Scotia. It was a quiet place with a small population. Everything changed when masses of Loyalist refugees began arriving on Shelburne’s shores. By December 1784, Shelburne’s population had increased drastically to more than 10 000 inhabitants. It became the largest city in the British colonies and the fourth largest in North America after New York, Philadelphia, and Boston. However, despite arriving in a location with a large supply of unsettled land, hundreds of Loyalist families still found themselves without land. The British government had claimed large tracts of land in Shelburne for the King, as well as for naval and military purposes. These kinds of restrictions caused a land shortage and slowed down the land FIGURE 4.24 Cooper’s Inn is grant process. Loyalists without land were left frustrated and homeless, with one of several historic buildings in Shelburne that date back to no way to support themselves. They were dependent on government aid in the Loyalist migration. Analyze: the form of food and shelter. In 1787, the British government stopped all aid Why is it important to protect to the Shelburne Loyalists. historical buildings? People then began leaving for better opportunities elsewhere. By 1791, two- FIGURE 4.23 Samuel Holland thirds of Shelburne’s created the first map of P.E.I. to help the British government divide ABSENTEE LANDLORDS population had left. Despite the land into lots for settlement In 1764, Samuel Holland began mapping out Île Saint Jean (Île means this, Loyalists still left their following the expulsion of the “island”), which we now call Prince Edward Island (P.E.I.). His purpose was mark on Shelburne. In Acadians. Analyze: Where do you to divide the island, which included former Acadian land after the Acadian present-day Shelburne, there think the most desirable plots of land were? Expulsion, into large lots for new settlements. You can see Holland’s finished are many heritage buildings work in Figure 4.23. The government gave the plots of land to 17 friends of in the town that date back the British Crown, who were required to settle the island in exchange for to the Loyalist migration. land ownership. Many landowners lived in Britain, and a few were women Figure 4.24 is an image of What might who inherited the land from their families. One such landowner was Anne Cooper’s Inn, built in 1784 be the consequences Saunders, Lady Melville. Saunders inherited two lots of land from her father and protected today as of landowners living in Britain rather than since she did not have any brothers. She never visited P.E.I. while she owned a heritage property. Why in P.E.I.? land there. Instead, she used a land agent in P.E.I. to manage her lots for her. do you think Shelburne Many of the overseas landowners managed their land badly, often leaving preserves buildings from the much of the land untouched throughout the 1770s. This created a legacy Loyalist era? of “absentee landlords.” Why do you think so much of this land belonging to absentee landlords stayed undeveloped for so long? As the Loyalists’ demand for land continued to increase, the landlords agreed, in 1783, to give up about 109 000 acres. This is about the size of present-day Kingston, Ontario. The Loyalists were told that they would be CHECK-IN allowed to keep the land if they did the hard work of clearing it and building 1. GATHER AND ORGANIZE What other types of 3. CONTINUITY AND CHANGE For which Loyalist roads. Although Loyalist settlers did their part and worked the land, many evidence might help you understand more about immigrants did life get better, stay the same, or landowners never intended to keep their promise to hand over ownership. the challenges that the Loyalists faced? get worse after the American Revolution? The settlers in P.E.I. continued to fight the government over the land issue for 2. FORMULATE QUESTIONS Create an inquiry question 4. COMMUNICATE Imagine you are an Acadian farmer more than 100 years, finally resolving it with a bill named The Land Purchase that will help you investigate the similarities and watching the British government claim your land Act, 1875. differences between the various Loyalist groups. on Île Saint Jean. Write a diary entry expressing For example, you can compare different groups’ your feelings and concerns about how your old reasons for staying loyal to Britain. home is being taken away from you. 118 UNIT 1: New France and British North America: 1713–1800 NEL NEL CHAPTER 4: Loyalists in British North America: 1775–1800 119