gives history of area families
Toward the year 1984
Colborne Chronicle, Wednesday December 18, 1983
By Percy L. Climo
The year has been set aside for celebration. Colborne plans to commemorate its past. The province of Ontario is promoting remem- brance and encouraging various groups, organizations and municipalities to honor events and happenings of the past two hundred years of our history. The federal and provincial governments are making grants of money available for celebration. The year 1984 can be made a very special one to remember.
The main thrust of the 1984 Commemoration is the Bicentennial of the arrival of the United Empire Loyalists. At that time, Northumberland county was a total forest. The first settlers came later. It was in the early 1790's when newcomers started to move into Murray Township from the Quinte area. Joseph Keeler was the first to come into this locality. By the year 1795, others were moving into Cramahe Township. That year, the cen- tral government hurriedly or- dered two survey parties to mark out the township boun- daries. The following year, Aaron Greeley and his helpers laid out the township con- cessions and lots. More people came to Cramahe.
Two hundred years ago, Up- per Canada started out as a military settlement. First to come were the Loyalist veterans of the American Revolutionary War, and later, the British Army and Navy men who received their discharge in Canada. Descendants of the for- mer and some of the latter came into this area. Some of the later generations of these families are still with us.
"FIDELITY", a United Em- pire Loyalist publication, out of Toronto, recently featured a for- mer Cramahe Township resident, by telling about some of his naval exploits. The story is about Lieutenant Francis Brockwell Spilsbury, a son of a naval surgeon. He was a Canadian hero.
The Barbary Coast off the shores of Africa, was plagued by a fleet of privateers led by the notorious Barbastro, nefarious ally, of Napoleon Bonaparte. Lloyd’s of London was loosing a fortune in insurance payments due to the havoc Barbastro inflicted on British shipping. Prize money was offered to Royal Naval personnel for the capture of the pirates. On an April evening, 1812, H.M.S. Hyacinth and three other navy boats trapped Barbastro’s fleet, at anchor near the molehead, Malaga, under the guns of a fortified castle. Lieutenant Splisbury and tewn- ty-Five others raided and cap- tured the boats of the pirates. During the encounter, Bar- bastro escaped by jumping overboard. First officer, Lieutenant Spilsbury, and others, were highly com- mended. The following month Spilsbury again saw action with distinction at Almuncar and was promoted. Shortly af- ter, he came to Canada and again saw action at the Battle of the Forty near Stoney Creek, in the war of 1812.
Francis Brockell Spilsbury obtained post-rank, September 15, 1815, and a pension of 250 pounds per anurn was granted to him for wounds, on the November 4, that same year. Spilsbury settled in Cramahe township on land just west of present day Salem Church, bet- ween No. 2 Highway and the lake.
The writer has few other details on Spilsbury. He became an active farmer. In 1830, he ap- parently entered his farm in competition for prizes, under the auspices of the then Nor- thumberland County Agricultural Association. The farm was visited along with others by the committee of judges, and the citation reads "Found the farm in general good order. The barns, stables and yards are very comfortable and convenient: The Judges were much pleased with them, and recommended them to the notice of the farmers throughout the county. Captain S. has made numerous and valuable im- provements to his farm and raises good crops on it, con- sidering the natural deficiency of the soil."
The above is a brief story about a retired naval officer who came to this area. Our local bicentennial review would not be complete unless mention was made of a United Empire Loyalist family. For this part, the writer has chosen the Rusk family as representative of this group.
Andrew Rusk served in the King's Royal Regiment of New York. Following the close of the American Revolutionary War, he, along with many others who remained loyal to the British Crown, was given a grant of land in township Number Two, later named Ernestown, on the Bay of Quinte. In the year 1790, Andrew married Elizabeth Cook. To this union, four children were born namely Samantha, Elizabeth, Andrew and Sarah. Samantha married Hammel Madden of Ernestown. Elizabeth married David Johnston of Ernestown. Sarah married John Sansburn of Cam- den East.
The Rusk family took up residence at Camden East, located to the north of Er- nestown. The son, Andrew, became a blacksmith and married perhaps before 1830. He had a family of ten children. Before 1850, Andrew and his family moved west into Murray Township taking up residence between Wooler and Stockdale. Here he carried on some far- ming along with his blacksmith work, and lived in this locality for a number years. The names of his children are: James, Mary, Isaiah, Robert, Elizabeth, John, Amanda, Matora, Lorenzo and Sarah. In time, the children married. Some remained in the area, others moved on to various places
The Rusk families of to-day, living in Castleton, Colborne and Cramahe are descendents of Isaiah, the grandson of the original Loyalist settler. There are now many descendents of the Andrew Rusk who came to Upper Canada two hundred years ago. They live in any areas of Canada and beyond our borders. The writer has known family members for many years.
The Spilsbury family, representative of retired military and naval personnel who came to Canada; the Rusk family group, representative of the many United Empire Loyalist who chose Canada as a place to live under the British Crown, they and their descen- dents were the main thrust of pioneers of days gone by, who cut down the forest, created far- ms, made improvements, and laid the foundation for a great nation. The Bicentennial Year should be people-oriented. These are the people to recall and to remember.
The year 1984 has been set
aside for celebration. We can do
this in many ways. Families can
search out their roots, hold re-
unions, and family picnics.
Groups and organizations can
take on some special project in
their community.
Municipalities' can promote
special celebrations, review
their history and stage special
events. We, in Canada, have a
lot to celebrate and to be thank-
ful for in 1984.
The Colborne Chronicle. Wednesday, December 28, 1983
Early in the year 1966, a new book was published under the name of " NIAGARA" , by Philip D. Mason, and printed in Toronto. Some statements in the book proved offensive to some Canadian historians, particularly United Empire Loyalist descendents living in the Niagara Peninsula.
The accompanying letter of February 12, 1966, written by the St. Catharines and Lincoln Historical Society, and The United Empire Loyalist View of the U.S. Revolution, with notes arranged by Mr. Vernon C. Jones (deceased) of St. Catharines, is re-produced here.
The year 1984 has been set aside for celebration in Ontario and Canada, to commemorate the Bicentennial of the arrival of the United Empire Loyalists in Canada.
The above letter and notes should be of special interest at this time.
Percy L. Climo,
Colborne, Ontario.
December 26, 1983.
35 River crest Drive,
St. Catharines, Ont..
February 17, 1966.
TO: MR. J. A. C. AULD, MINISTER.
DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM & INFORMATION,
Parliament Buildings, Toronto, Ontario.
TO: THE EDITOR, ONTARIO HISTORY.
DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY,
UNIVERSITY OF WATERLOO, WATERLOO, ONT.
TO: MR. CHARLES DALEY, CHAIRMAN.
NIAGARA PARKS COMMISSION,
Box 150. Queen Victoria Park, Niagara Falls, Ont.
We object to the publication of "NIAGARA" by Philip D. Mason, printed in Toronto. p.46 which purports to give the Canadian view of the history of the Niagara Peninsula. In p.48 this book British (Canadians) are accused of acts they did not commit and Americans are p.48 excused from atrocities they did commit. Please note the following strange statements p.49 for a Canadian history.
p.68 1. People are asked to visit the Stoney Creek battlefield "for chuckles". (Canadians died there saving Canada for us.) The monument is described as "ugly”.
2. Iroquois Indians fighting to defend their homes from American invaders are described as "vicious". "... women, children and aged were slaughtered or made captive by p.46 Butler's Rangers and the Indian auxiliaries ...." This refers to the capture of Ft. Albion by the Indians. Col. Butler was not there. See - "The Truth About John Butler" in the St. Catharines Standard. November 12, 1965, referring to an American lecturer Col. C. B. Briggs of N.Y.
p.46 3. "It was a long time before the British gave up their prized possession." (Fort Niagara). No mention is made of any reason. Egerton Ryerson says the British were (see waiting for United States to carry out their peace terms of paying the United Empire more) Loyalists for property taken from them. This they never paid but Britain gave up the forts.
p.46 4. "Scalps were paid for at Niagara as readily as for beaver pelts."
P.47 5. "British animosity to the new republic took the form of emigrant stealing ...... British government was actually giving (land) away in 5000 acre lots". What hist- orian ever said this was a bribe for United States settlers?
p.48 6. The town of Niagara-on-the-Lake was wantonly burnt in the depth of winter by U. S. p.49 Gen. McClure. This is excused with "Town burning appeared to be a normal part of frontier war." Canadians who retaliated on U.S. towns are called "marauders".
p.50 7. "British fleet on Lake Erie suffered total defeat.” No mention is made of the disparity in size of the fleets - 6 Canadian ships to 9 U.S. ships, or that the fire power of two U.S. ships was 30 more than that of the whole Canadian fleet, or that Capt. R. H. Barclay destroyed and captured Perry's flag ship and Barclay's force would have won except for an accident in sailing. The fight the Canadians put up here for their hones convinced the United States that the invasion of Canada would not be easy.
8. No mention is made of the fact that the man who built the U.S. Erie fleet, Daniel Dobbins, had been captured by Sir Isaac Brock's men at Fort Michillimackinac and had been released on parole with promise to take no action against Canada.
p.68 9. Stoney Creek battlefield is referred to as "a field not noted for either beauty or usefulness".
p.47 10. No mention is made that the excuse for the United States starting the war of l8l2 - the "right of search" - is false because it was not even mentioned in the peace treaty.
p.46 11. "Small wonder they [Loyalists or Tories] retaliated in the cruelest way," Did you ever read that Loyalists or Tories tarred and feathered U.S. settlers for robbing them? Of course not. The Loyalists were tarred and feathered and robbed for being loyal to the crown.
The book shows on Page 73 a good photo of the Secord house which was originally built at the Twenty-Mile Creek. (It was moved to the Sixteen Creek by W. E. Troup.) Mrs. Simcoe in her famous diary says she stayed over night at a trapper's cabin at the Twenty Creek. Since this was the first cabin it must have been the one mentioned in her diary.
Would suggest that the author refer to LIFE Magazine issue of July 6, 1962, which con- tains the following statements : -
(a) "Although it is not much recognized today, the truth is that the American Revolut- ion occurred because the colonists under British rule had been given a good deal of liberty, not because they had too little."
(b) "…... in 1770 the crown backed down repealing its taxes on all but tea and molasses and in the following three years there was unprecedented commercial prosperity in America. The colonists quietly paid their taxes and waxed fat...."
p.46 History records that the British government which --- in 1763 won the war in North America against France was a Tory government under William Pitt. They won the war for the colonists and paid the colonists for expenses incurred by the British army only to have the colonists turn against them thirteen years later, and with the help of their former enemies, the French, gain their independence. [See Egerton Ryerson "Loyalists of America."]
One American historian admits that in the war of 1812 the Americans were the aggress- ors. Therefore they were the cause of all the troubles of that war.
Would recommend that this book "NIAGARA" be withdrawn from sale and that it be satis- factorily revised before re-issuing.
Gordon C. Merritt, President
St. Catharines 6 Lincoln
Historical Society.
This letter endorsed by
V. C. Jones, President,
The Empire Loyalists Association of Canada.
St. Catharines, Ontario.
OF THE U.S. REVOLUTION
NOTES ARRANGED BY V.C. JONES
A REVIEW OF LOYALIST HISTORY
Introduction
Chapter 1 Pilgrims of Plymouth
Chapter 2 Puritans of Mass. Bay
Chapter 3 Slave Trade and Slavery
Chapter 4 The French War
Chapter 5 Land Encroachment
Chapter 6 Before the Revolution
Chapter 7 Revolution
Chapter 8 French Assistance
Chapter 9 Loyalists
Chapter 10 More Land Encroachment
Chapter 11 War of 1812
Conclusion
Bibliography
The United Empire Loyalist viewpoint in history books of the U.S. Revolution has often been overlooked. This is a list of sources of arguments to which one can refer to keep the record straight. The marginal indexes refer to specific books and pamphlets in the Biblio- graphy, which should be read for fuller information. The arguments are rewritten in many cases, and are arranged to present a connected story favourable to the U.E. Loyalists. The sharper criticisms of the Americans are omitted. Much of this information is from Egerton Ryerson's book, "Loyalists of America ", written in 1880, which has not been refuted in 80 years. Besides vindicating the Loyalists, this study is a revelation to those thinking there was justification for the American revolution.
In this story the early Pilgrims of Plymouth, Quakers, and British Tories are the heroes. The bad people are the dishonest proprietors, land-jobbers, slave-traders, pirates, racketeers and some of the Puritans who settled in Massachusetts Bay. This story is against oligarchy, government of the many by the few. There is no disagreement with present day Americans except in their history.
The terrible power of propaganda is shown by the way some historians have made the revolting Americans appear to be more honourable than the loyal British Tories. Historians say the British Tories were “attainted of treason" for being loyal to the mother country which had protected them from their enemies for 100 years.
Chapter 1
PILGRIMS OF PLYMOUTH
The original Pilgrims were a group of Protestants at Scrooby, Notinghamshire, England, organized by Wm . 25-P. 54 Brewster. They protested about some of the Roman Catholic traditions that still remained with the early Protestant Church. They were fined £20 for being "disobedient in matters of religion". Some 15 of the original 60 escaped to Holland. These were of only three households, Brewster-Bradford, 25-P. 60 Robinson and Clifton. (Of these only one, Brewster-Bradford, ever reached the new world.) They were joined by some sympathizers at Leyden, Holland. Not enjoying the Dutch merrymaking, some of them left Leyden in the ship Speedwell for the New World. After trouble with storms and their leaky ship, they finally transferred to the Mayflower, joining a group of emigrants who were leaving England for economic opportunity and not for spiritual salvation.
The 102 persons on board the Mayflower were divided into three groups - 41 Pilgrims, of which 17 were men, 10 women and 14 child, (Of these 41, 10 or more were in- 25-P. 31 dentured servants.) - 30 crew members - 31 strangers, emigrants from England. In the two parties of passengers were 18 indentured servants mostly in the Leyden group, 5 hired men and 4 orphans from London.
After an eventful trip of 66 days and a month of 21- exploring, they landed at Plymouth Rock about December 10, 1620. They settled at an Indian cornfield left by an Indian tribe that had all died from smallpox. They worked all winter making huts for shelter. It was not until March 21 that they all had a hut to stay in. They had much sickness; so many died that by March 24 scarcely 50 remained.
They were shown by an Indian how to farm and how
to catch fish. They had a tough time for four years with
21- famine and other trials and troubles. Afterward they
prospered. They kept their own treaty with the Indians for
54 years and enjoyed quiet government. It was among the
sons and daughters of the Plymouth Old Colony Pilgrims that
much of the loyalty in New England was found in the following century.
25-P. 391 Later Pilgrims asked Indians re land near Eastham - "Who owns it?" "Nobody," meaning everybody. 'In that case," said the Pilgrims, "it is ours." Milford, Connecticut 1640 town meeting, 'Voted that the earth is the Lord's and the fulness thereof; voted that the earth is given to the Saints; voted that we are the Saints. "
25-P. 396 The Indian War started in 1675. Indians were losing their land and were being treated with contempt. The Whites would not sell to Indians any horses, boats or rigging, fire water or firearms. Philip, an Indian chief, organized resistance to the Whites. The Whites surprised an Indian 25-P. 397 camp on a winter morning - on a Sunday - and slaughtered many hundreds, not only men but also women and children. 25-P. 401 The Whites took the Indians' lands, much of Mount Hope going to the Bradfords. Indians were sold as slaves to the West Indies, Bermuda and Tangiers.
Chapter 2
PURITANS OF MASSACHUSETTS BAY
The Puritans who followed the Pilgrims 8 years 25-P. 318 later, subsequently settled along the Massachusetts Bay where Boston now is. They gave the franchise only to 7-1 Church members. One would think this was safe enough. However, the churches did not agree, with the result that the Congregationalist Church won out. Only members of that church could vote.
7-1 Egerton Ryerson says, "The Mass. Bay Puritans permitted the franchise only to Puritan Congregationalists who had to be passed upon by a minister." This reign of the 12-8-P.69 Congregationalist Church continued for 60 years. Those who complained to the British Government were punished for sedition and treason. Massachusetts was guilty of the church prosecution of which they accused England. Only 1/6 of the people were Congregationalist Church members and could 12-8-pp110 vote. So there was autocracy, oligarchy and despotism even -180 to the other churches. They persecuted, in 1643, the Presbyterians. They persecuted in 1644 the Baptists, in 7_1 1646 the Presbyterians and Episcopalians. They persecuted Quakers and provided banishment and death for Jesuits and Popish priests. Yet in 1651 Mass. Bay wrote to England, 18 "We have constantly adhered to you." In 1795 they persecuted the Methodists.
The restoration of Charles II was acclaimed in the loyal colonies from the Bermudas to Plymouth. Only Mass. Bay (Boston) refused to proclaim Charles II, King. England 7-1 tried to deal fairly with the colonies. Mass. Bay promised to comply with the English Government, but actually did the opposite in Massachusetts. They violated all direction from England for 54 years. They were deceptive to the Indians and consequently had much trouble from them. 21
25-P. 409 "Both the Pilgrims and the Puritans repeatedly sinned against the basic concepts of their faith, but the democratic equalitarianism implicit in it was never killed and has constantly grown stronger."
25-P.423 Mrs. Hemans' hymn -
25-P. 270 Artemus Ward, the noted lecturer said the same thing in a different way: "The Puritans nobly fled ......... to a land of freedom where they could not only enjoy their own religion, but could prevent everybody else from enjoying his" (religion).
Chapter 3
SLAVE TRADE AND SLAVERY
A large part of the labour of the early American 12-8-P. 103 colonies was furnished by semi-servile white people imported P. 132 under bond for a term of years, 5 to 7, usually to pay for their passage from Europe. Finding it difficult to secure an adequate supply of indentured servants, the Puritans turned to negro 12-8-P. 105 slavery. (Puritan Cromwell sold Irish men as slaves to the 12-8-pp110 West Indies.) In the early 1700's, Boston developed the slave -180 trade in what became known as the infamous triangle trade 19 between Massachusetts Bay, the West Indies and the Gold 12-8-P. 92 Coast of Africa. Boston ships carried codfish to the West 12-8-P. 126 Indies, where they traded the fish for molasses. They dis- tilled the molasses at Boston to rum, and traded the rum at 7-1 the Gold Coast for slaves, which they brought back to Boston and other American ports. This trade was very lucrative because the fish were free for the taking and a ship load of 500 or more slaves sold for approximately $500. each. Other ports competed with Boston in this nefarious trade and became very wealthy in the same way. Such ports were - 3,9,11,4. Newport, Gloucester, Bristol R.I., Providence, Salem, Marblehead, Newburyport, and Philadelphia. Boston was the chief slave port. Congress Record March 26, 1884 p. 2284 says: "Mass. is more responsible than any other State for introducing slavery to U.S." In 1688, 84 ships cleared from 11 Boston for the West Indies in this triangle trade; in 1701, 104 U.S. slave ships sailed for Africa. From 1713 to 1733 9 15,000 slaves were shipped annually to U.S. By 1790 there were 700,000 negro slaves in U.S. Other countries joined in the trade so that by 1790 they were bringing in 100,000 slaves per year.
The slave trade was abolished by Great Britain in 1807 and by U.S. officially at the same time. Great Britain also paid Spain and Portugal to abolish their slave trade. U.S. laws were not effective to stop their own slave trade. In 1842 by the Ashburton Treaty with England, U.S. agreed to suppress their own slave trade. Slaves were, however, imported every year.
It took a lot of rum to trade for all these slaves. 9 Newport R.I. had 22 distilleries in the early 1700's. 11 Massachusetts had 63 distilleries in 1750. There were other money making schemes. Some of the public men of Boston were pirates as well as slave traders. The 4 Governor of Pennsylvania, Robert Morris, was a slave trader and a pirate. He later financed the start of the Revolution. Peter Faneuil of Boston was another slave trader. Faneuil Hall is the historic market building at 4 Boston. Stephen Girard made $10 million in this trade which lasted until 1812.
Chapter 4
THE FRENCH WAR
The French built Fort Du Quesne on the Alleghany 14 River to fence in the English from the fertile Ohio Valley. The British built Fort Pitt nearby to hold their claim. Virginia claimed the Ohio Valley and was more than anxious to keep the French back. This accounts for George Washing- 10 ton's expedition. Washington inherited the great estate of 12-4-P.103 Mt. Vernon, and later by marriage to Martha Dandridge 12-1-P.45 Custis, he became the land holder of 200, 000 acres.
When Virginia and the British became involved in the war with the French, Pennsylvania's Governor, Robert Morris, 4 the slave trader and pirate, prevented Pennsylvania's Assembly from raising money to help them, because the French were not molesting Pennsylvania ! He told the Assembly that he had instructions forbidding him from assenting to any law raising money, unless he or the proprietors, land-jobbers, could have a hand disbursing it. This was not a very honest deal for one reason that the proprietors' estates were exempt from taxes ! Other reasons are obvious. This proprietary party of Pennsylvania was against the Quakers with their kinder 4 treatment of the Indians and loyalty to England.
The 7 year war with France, 1756-1763, was to benefit Virginia and the New England colonies who started it. 7-1 Yet, when Col. Sir Wm. Johnson won the battle at Crown Point and the fort at Niagara, Massachusetts Bay colony refused to let the British troops be quartered upon their inhabitants. Boston men would not join the British Navy to fight the French for Boston's own benefit.
During this war the American colonists were not averse to trading with the enemy: France. Witnesses testified to the flagrant conduct of the Americans in trading with the enemy while England and the Colonial Governments were engaged in a death grapple with France. When that struggle was at its height, Thomas Penn informed Wm. Pitt, the British Prime Minister, that the river at Philadelphia
was crowded with "shallops unloading their illegal cargoes, . . . cheating the King of his duties, besides carrying 12-8-ppl99 provisions and ready money to the enemy". The principal - 200 merchants in Philadelphia were openly trading with the French in the West Indies, making profits while war was raging. In Rhode Island, the traffic with the enemy was more defiant. Nor did New York appear in any better light. In fact there was evidence that ships from nearly every American port were trafficking with the enemy. If such was the conduct of the American colonists in time of war when their own safety, like that of England, was at stake, large inferences can be made with respect to their activities in time of peace. Certainly the English Government had every reason for desiring to tighten its restraint when George III came to the throne in 1760.
During the 7 year war with the French, the American merchants, planters and farmers had been unusually prosper- 12-8-P.211 ous; produce of every kind brought high prices. This boom was followed at the end of the war by a depression.
The British Government which won the war in North America against France was a Tory Government under Wm. Pitt. They won this war for the colonists with only half- hearted help from the colonists.
England paid the colonies for expenses incurred by 7-1 the British Army. Massachusetts Bay begged for and received most of the payments for such expenses.
Chapter 5
LAND ENCROACHMENT
Johnson Hall, at Johntown , N. Y. , on the Mohawk Trail was the baronial home of Sir Wm. Johnson, Superintend- ent of Indian Affairs. It was built on land granted to him by the Indians in 1763. For 11 years it was the principal centre 17 for Indian negotiations. Here the Iroquois Indians assembled in great numbers in conference with Sir Wm. who often presented the policies of British Government, speaking to the Indians in their own tongue. Here he entertained with generous hospitality important officials from American colonies and from abroad. He supervised the expansion of white settlers westward and northward.
After Sir William's death in 1774, the house was occupied by his son, Sir John Johnson, until May 1776, when 17 warned of probable seizure by the revolutionaries, he fled to 15 Canada. The buildings and grounds were seized by New York 16 State and were sold with Johnson properties.
Chapter 6
BEFORE THE REVOLUTION
It was during the post-war depression, after the war with France, that Great Britain imposed the Stamp Tax. There could not have been a worse time for such a controver- sial tax. The tax was on legal papers and documents. This antagonized all lawyers and editors. These two classes were skilled in controversy and loquacious in expressing themselves and were accustomed to fish in troubled waters. There could 12-8-P. 209 not have been a worse kind of tax.
The Whig ministry, under Lord North (1770-1782) 12-8-P. 223 worsened the trouble by the tax on tea.
These taxes were not to go to England, but to pay 12-3-P. 17 for 1/3 of the expense of the Army to defend the colonies. 12-4-P.189 The colonies objected, but only Massachusetts Bay defied England and released mob rule. England tried to pacify them by repealing the Stamp Act in 1766.
12-8-P. 116 Francis Bernard, Governor of Massachusetts, was 7-1 double dealing to mislead the King and oppress the colonists. But for him there would have been no British war boats sent to Boston and probably no revolutionary war. He 23-P. 47 privately asked England to have the Massachusetts House of Assembly removed. He asked England to leave all the taxes on Massachusetts, but in public, he said the opposite.
Great Britain tried to placate the colonists. They 7-1 cheapened the tea for the colonists; this made the Boston smugglers mad. The East India Tea Company used their own consignees, which made the smugglers' tea merchants mad. The smugglers and tea merchants of Boston then used gangster tactics to destroy the British tea, thereby eliminat- ing competition. Seventeen men dressed as Indians, broke open 342 chests of tea on board a British ship and emptied 23-P. 187 them in Boston harbour. Governor Hutchison, who was a 3 tea merchant as well as Governor of Massachusetts had advised this policy. Samuel Adams planned the Boston Tea Party and directed it. The chief objectors were Johnathon
Williams, John Hancock, Sam Adams and three others. John 12 Hancock was Treasurer of Harvard College and, like Samuel 2 Adams, was a defaulter. John Hancock was also a smuggler.
7-1 Governor Hutchison later admitted that Boston had been paying the Stamp Tax for two years without serious protest before the tea was dumped in Boston Harbour. The 3 local merchants wanted Boston colonists to buy the smuggler's tea at a higher price.
The temperate element in Boston sent a petition to 7-1 King George III saying they would pay their civil judges and 12 protect themselves in peace, time, and in case of war were ready to grant supplies and to raise forces. This was a good, fair offer, but it was withheld from the public by the Whig Government. It was not published in England until an election 7-1 was completed, which returned an anti-colonist government. The Whig Prime Minister, Lord North, advised strong measures against the colonists. Wm. Pitt, the Tory leader of the opposition, who became Earl of Chatham, moved to remove the British troops from Boston. His motion was lost 13 to 63. Lord North (Whig) sent 17,000 German mercenary troops to Boston.
Revolution was pressed by Massachusetts and Vir- 4 ginia, especially Virginia. Other states merely wanted grievances corrected. Massachusetts and Virginia figured they had to revolt or they would lose their lucrative but 12-8-P. 115 nefarious slave trade of Massachusetts, and Ohio Valley land encroachment of Virginia. Their first and essential necessity was to persuade Pennsylvania to join them, because Pennsyl- vania was such a large and important state. It all depended on Pennsylvania, which therefore became the "Keystone State". At one time Benjamin Franklin was the only Pennsylvania delegate in favour of revolution. How Pennsylvania was per- suaded to revolt is not clear. However, Robert Morris, the Governor of Pennsylvania was a slave trader and stood to lose his slave trade if Pennsylvania did not revolt. Benjamin Franklin was an influential writer and publisher. The leading 4 traitors were Chas. Thompson, John Dickinson and Thos. Mifflin.
The American colonists did not have a spontaneous 8-P. 130 uprising. In fact it was touch and go whether they would rebel or not. On June 7, 1776, Congress had a motion for indepen- dence. Those who voted against revolting were New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland and South Carolina. The score later was six to six with Pennsylvania abstaining, because their delegates were evenly split. Sam Adams exerted his influence and one delegate was either converted or stayed away, thereby breaking the tie. This 7-1 vote was secret. They had earlier agreed that, whatever the result, they would announce to the world that the result was unanimous.
The few leaders of independence proceeded to 7-1 practice on their own colonists the victimizing which they complained they had suffered from the King and Parliament of Great Britain. They sought the alliance of France against their own mother country.
Chapter 7
REVOLUTION
The Declaration of Independence was a great mistake. 7-1 It was the start of persecutions, proscriptions and confisca- tions of property. It was written in the name of liberty, but the very first acts under it were to deprive a large part of the colonists of liberty. It became a contest of loyal Tories against Rebels. New York was largely Tory. Laws were passed against Loyalists by Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, New Hampshire, New Jersey and Virginia.
There also was violence of mobs under guise of patriotism. Loyalist Tories were subject to them as well as 7- 1 to the laws, with punishment up to death.
Benjamin Franklin now fostered French help and at the same time professed a desire for reconciliation with Great Britain. He asked help of the French Government which had paid Indians to scalp their forefathers, while the British Government strove to protect them from destruction.
In wholesale destruction of life, men, women and children, the United States troops were more savage than the Indians. To top it all, they persecuted the Loyalists for adhering to the faith of their fathers by driving them away so the revolting Americans could take their houses and 7 2 property. The Americans proclaimed that all men were born free and equal, except Tory Loyalists, who were exposed to severe penalties, confiscation of property, imprisonment, banishment and finally death. John Adams of Boston, second President of the United States, did as much as any one to promote this cruel policy. He wrote a revealing letter which was intercepted by the British ship "Cabot". "He (Adams) recommended to fine, imprison and hang all (Loyalists) 7-2, 3 without favour or affection."
A ferocious saying became popular. They considered that what they did to the Loyalists was right according to the 7-2 Bible, because while the Bible commands us to forgive our enemies it does not say to forgive our friends !
A convention of New York State in 1776 resolved that, "Any (Loyalist) should be guilty of treason and suffer death". Similar death laws were enacted by Rhode Island, 7-2 Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Georgia. Similar laws, except death, were enacted by Connecticut, Virginia, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, North Carolina and South Carolina. However, 25,000 British 12-3-P.25 Loyalist Colonists enlisted in the British Army.
Some German Protestant Palatines settled in the Mohawk Valley protected and assisted by Sir Wm. Johnson. There was an agreement between the Colonists and these 6 Germans, but in 1775 Philip Schulyer plundered them of everything. Schulyer received thanks from Congress. Sir John Johnson later raised a battalion of these Palatines. Butler's Rangers were mostly Palatines. Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, George Washington and Congress tried 10 to bribe the Hessian Germans to desert from the British Army.
13-P. 154 The revolting Americans were diffident about taxing 12-8-P 241 their people to pay the expense of their armies. Instead they issued bills of credit in 1775. In 18 months $20 million had been issued, by 1780 the amount in circulation was $200 million. These bills depreciated until they finally passed several hundred for one! The loss in value of U.S. 12-8-P. 155 money fell on all the American States. The earnings of a lifetime were, in a few years, reduced to a trifling sum. This was a catastrophe compared with which the small stamp 13-pp. 152-205 tax was a mere trifle. Later the Americans found a way to 2-P.92 have the Indians pay for the cost of the war.
5-P.130 The United States lost 5,000 soldiers and $127 12-8-P. 417 million and became almost bankrupt. They could easily -P. 430 have obtained autonomy legally, as Canada did later.
2 Col. Alex Hamilton was appointed Secretary of the
Treasury. He recommended that the United States repay in
2-pp. 197-9 full the public debt. Speculators bought the Bonds at 10 of
13 face value . Congress decided to discharge this debt by the
sale of Indian lands to the west. The United States sent an
13-pp.200- army to seize the Indian lands of Kentucky and Ohio. This
205 army was successful and the United States Bonds went up
12-8-pp. 351-3 to 100. Federalist Government speculators realized 12-8-pp. 343-4 immense fortunes. Years later it was found that at least 29 members of the First Congress held Federal securities 12-8-P. 354 and some were extensive operators in public funds. Hamilton's economic measures exploited one section of society for the benefit of another. There was a resolution of Congress to criminate Alex Hamilton. In 1795 he 13-P. 207 resigned as Secretary of the Treasury and in 1804 he was killed in a duel with Vice President Col. Burr.
In 1806 Col. Burr attempted to organize the country west of the Alleghanies and form an independent 13 empire with New Orleans as capital and himself as chief. This plan was discovered and the insurrection was put down.
Chapter 8
FRENCH ASSISTANCE
At the conclusion of the war with France in 1763, Great Britain gave the French in Canada "Freedom of Religion". Congress protested against letting the Frenchmen keep their Catholic religion. Address to the people of England by Congress of Philadelphia, September 5, 1774: "Nor can we suppress 8-P. 131 our astonishment that a British Parliament should ever consent to establish in (French Canada) a religion that has deluged your Island with blood, and dispersed impiety, bigotry, perse- cution, murder and rebellion through every part of the world."
There is no surprise that when the American colonies made a call to arms in the next year the French of both Quebec and Acadia were indifferent to the issue.
As this letter had no effect, the revolting Colonists 8-P.132 tried the opposite move. Congress tried to get French Quebec to join them in opposing British "tyranny" as they called it and in establishing the principles of "true liberty throughout the continent", as they said. This was not successful either.
On September 25, 1775, George Washington signed and issued a special appeal to the French Canadians, similar to that of Congress, which dwelt upon the struggles of "the free- 8 born sons of America", the blessings of liberty and wretched- ness of slavery; the "poverty of soul and baseness of spirit" of those who would oppose them; the "cruel and perfidious schemes which would deluge our frontiers with blood of women and children"; the "tools of despotism" in England and "the slavery, corruption and arbitrary dominion" which would follow if the Motherland of his own race should prevail in the coming struggle. Congress sent B. Franklin, Chase and Carroll to 8-P.137 help persuade the French to accept George Washington's offer. 8-P.136 The hollowness of the U. S. promise was disclosed by the U.S. attack on French Quebec.
8-P. 136 U.S. General Montgomery, in attacking Quebec,
promised loot to his soldiers in these words: "The troops
shall have the effects of the Governor, the garrison and of
(those) who have been distressing the friends of liberty, to be
equally divided among them".
All that saved the United States from complete annihilation was the assistance, after 1778, of the continental French army, fleet, provisions, clothes and loans of money, with further assistance from Spain and Holland. But with all this assistance the cause was even as late as 1780 generally believed to be a hopeless one. In fact, General Washington at this time was prepared to become a guerilla. In case of being further pressed he said, "We must retire to Augusta County in Virginia. If over-powered, we must cross the Alleghany mountains. George Washington admitted later, "French supplies saved the United States for two years."
France’s Interest in assisting the United States was not in their independence, but in weakening Great Britain. French loans had to be kept secret so the States would do part. 8-P.129 In the capture of the British Army at Yorkton, France obtained her revenge for the defeat of Montcalm at Quebec in 1759.
The French assistance in the U.S. war of revolution was so costly that it was a contributory cause of the French Revolution in France. The French King Louis XIV became bankrupt and appealed to his National Parliament for funds in 12-8-P.359. 1789. His Parliament refused and the French Revolution started soon after.
Chapter 9
LOYALISTS
2-P.93 The revolting Americans, at the inception of their republic, violated every precept of Christianity and of civili- zation - even to confiscation of estates of helpless. Loyalist women. For all time it is to be a part of American history 2 that the last decade of the 18th century saw the most cruel and vindictive acts of spoliation recorded in modern history. General Washington said of the Loyalists that he could see nothing better for them than to recommend suicide. Neither Congress nor State Governments made any recommendation that humane treatment should be meted out to Loyalists. John Adams wrote from Amsterdam that he would have hanged his own brother if he were a Loyalist - or words to that effect.
2-P.94 Americans had a covetous eye on the property of 2 Loyalists. Legislative bodies hastened to prevent the Loyal- ists from selling their property before leaving. 2-P.95 On the other hand, even the French Minister to the United States urged fair compensation to the Loyalists.
When the U.S. rebels won, they passed laws to take 2 over the confiscated property, but not one percent of all the confiscation arrived at the public treasury.
In the peace treaty. Congress solemnly promised
three things:
< center>1. U.S. to permit Loyalists to recover debts
2. No new persecution of Loyalists
3. Congress to recommend to the States to repeal their
confiscatory laws.
2 They failed on all three. The States even passed 7-2 worse confiscatory laws so that the Loyalists were robbed, 8-P.152 tortured and killed with impunity. This was the "Century of Dishonour".
Congress recommended State laws; Loyalist troops
7-2 were to be treated as traitors instead of prisoners. Suspicion
of holding Loyalist opinions involved the loss of liberty and 3 property. No modern civilized country has presented such a spectacle of persecution (as of 1880). The persecutors were at the same time law makers, law judges, law executioners and receivers and disposers of confiscated property. One would expect that the Loyalists would act against such persecu- tors.
Great Britain, on the other hand, was most generous to the Loyalists. She made the best bargain she could with the 2-P.95 United States. She proved honourable and generous in the high- est degree by compensating the Loyalists out of their own treasury - an act only excelled in the next century by their purchase and emancipation of all the slaves in the British Empire, by taxing themselves. This was the most generous act ever performed by any nation in history.
Over 5,000 Loyalists submitted claims for losses. 2-P.96 Even as late as 1785, 26,000 were supplied with rations. The total cost to Great Britain was $30 million. Great Britain kept paying U.E. Loyalist claims for 7 years - more than 30,000 claims.
4,500 Loyalists settled along the St. Lawrence River 8-P. 153 28,000 Loyalists settled in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia Many Loyalists settled in Quebec and Eastern Townships 10,000 Loyalists settled in Ontario Some Loyalists settled in Great Britain and the West Indies
Among the Loyalists were - Benjamin Franklin's own son, the Governor of New Jersey, and Governor Wentworth, 25 the Governor of New Hampshire, who gave up his position and came to Canada. The latter's name is perpetuated by Wentworth County in Ontario.
Chapter 10
MORE LAND ENCROACHMENT
As stated in Chapter 5, Sir William and Sir John Johnson, under the British Government, kept the lawless settlers from taking land from the Indians, instead of buying it. During the war of revolution, this British protection for the Indians was removed. The United States settlers savagely laid waste the Indians' lands and burnt their villages and drove them out. The settlers built Fort Alden near the Mohawk 20 Indian Trail to hold the seized lands from Indian reprisals. The Indians undertook to solve their home protection problem in their own way. They attacked and captured Fort Alden in 1778 and unfortunately killed the American soldiers and settlers who had stolen and destroyed the Indians' homes and who had settled on their land. The Butler's Rangers with the Indians could not control the Indians now that they had the upper hand.
Some writers have tried to justify the settlers' action and to give the Indians a bad name by calling this Fort Alden battle the Cherry Valley Massacre.
During the Revolution, the Indians taught the United 2-P 90 States settlers a lesson at Wyoming and Fort Alden, giving them a taste of their own medicine. The U.S. historians state these raids were exceptionally barbarous, without stating that this was in revenge for inhumane brutality by the Americans.
2 p 91 Benjamin Franklin wrote deliberate fiction for political purposes, e. g. He wrote of 8 bales of scalps taken by Canadian Indians to be sent to the King of England. He itemized the numbers taken from soldiers, civilians, men, 2+3 women, children and infants. This was, of course, entirely false, being written only for political purpose. It was for long accepted as fact by U.S. historians.
On the other hand, there is another example of U.S.
2+3 settlers crossing the Ohio River boundary and killing and
robbing some 90 Moravian Christian Indians who did not even
resist; one example of Christian Indians and savage White settlers.
13_p 152 General Sullivan, in 1779, savagely burnt 40 Indian villages and drove the Indians out and seized their lands. General Wayne wantonly invaded the Indian lands at Miamis 13-P 213 (Illinois) and laid waste the whole Indian country in 1794. This land was then available to sell-to settlers for money to pay the war debts.
Chapter 11
WAR OF 1812
It has been stated that the causes of the 1812 War to 7-2 capture Canada were the twin questions of "Right of search" and the "position of neutrals in time of war". The fallacy of this statement is proven by the fact that neither one of these questions was mentioned in the peace treaty. The cause of 12-3-P. 33 the War was the greed of Americans for more land and not 12-8-P. 412 for "Freedom of the Seas".
P.415 A Buffalo paper printed in 1812, "We now approach 5-P. 157 the period of second war of independence". How an armed 12-8-P. 417 invasion of a peaceful neighbouring country can be called a war of independence by the invader is an unsolved mystery.
The Democratic Party attained power by fostering 2 the old grudge against Great Britain and maintained itself in power by the same method. President Madison promised declaration of war on Great Britain as a condition precedent of his nomination for second term. In 1812, Thomas Jeffer- son truly said that every continental power of importance except Russia was allied with Napoleon against Great Britain 2-pp. 99-100 who stood alone. At this moment President Madison chose to launch his war message. His action was eagerly supported by Thomas Jefferson, Clay, Calhoun and younger members of his Party.
12-8-P. 379 Thomas Jefferson said in 1800, "I have sworn upon the altar of God eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man", but this Thos. Jefferson, the champ- ion of the "Rights of Man", wrote in 1812, "The acquisition 2-P. 103 of Canada this year (1812) will be a mere matter of marching. Perhaps the British will burn New York or Boston. If they do we must burn London by hiring some criminals to do it."
His prediction did not come true. General Hull was
defeated and his army captured by General Brock, who dis-
armed the U.S. Militia and sent them home. Later the U.S.
2-P. 103 Army of General McClure, under order dated October 4,
1813, from the. U.S. Secretary of War Armstrong, burnt the
5-P.217 capital of Upper Canada in the depth of winter leaving only one building standing. They also burnt York (Toronto). The 8 British retaliated by burning Washington Parliament building only, not the whole city. Then Thomas Jefferson stigmatized the burning of Washington Parliament building as vandalism and declared it would immortalize the infamy of Great Britain. This is quite a different story to his own deliberate plan of burning the city of London unprovoked.
Congressman Quincy said later that their attack on 12-8-P. 422 their northern neighbours (Canadians) was less defensible than the conduct of Captain Kidd, the pirate, and the W.I. buccaneers. Daniel Webster spoke in the same vein.
CONCLUSION
There is no quarrel with present day Americans. They are now doing their part by assisting underprivileged nations by the Marshall plan and by other means. Great Britain kept the peace of the world for 100 years up to the First World War. During the two World Wars, in striving to protect herself and other nations from German dictators, she used up her resources until she was bled white and of necessity has had to drop the mantle of World Protector. This mantle has now fallen on the Americans who are nobly doing their part in protecting the world from a new Oligarchy, Communism.
The Americans have a difficult job on their hands because the Communists have now conquered 900 million 24-P. 14 people and they aim at conquering the rest of the world by 1973 without a war, by peaceful coexistence. 1966
THE UNITED EMPIRE LOYALIST VIEW
OF THE U.S. REVOLUTION
BIBLIOGRAPHY
2. Loyalists of Massachusetts - J. H. Stark (Boston 1910)
3. Myths and Facts of U.S. Revolution - A. Johnson
4. Pennsylvania Colony - Fisher
5. Annals of Niagara - W.Kirby (Welland 1896)
6. Story of Dundas - J.S. Carter, 1784-1904
7. Loyalists of America, Vol. 1 &: 2 - Egerton Ryerson (Toronto 1880)
8. Story of Canada - Hopkins (J. Castell) (Toronto 1922)
9. Slave Ships and Slaving - George F. Dow
10. Secret History of U.S. Revolution - Carl Van Doren (Viking 1941)
11. Boston - Cradle of Liberty - John Jennings (Doubleday 1947)
12 Common Fallacies re U.S. History - 0. A. Lindquist (Dietz Press 1948)
13. U.S. History - Rev. Chas. Goodrich (Connecticut 1833)
14. H.S. History of England and Canada - Buckley & Robertson (Toronto 1902)
15. Sir William Johnson - Arthur Pound
16. Joseph Brant - B. Read
17. Johnson Hall - Historic Sites (New York 1959)
18. Log of Provincetown & Truro- M. C. M. Hatch (Provincetown 19 39)
20. Historic Cherry Valley - H. E. Streeter (Cherry Valley Gazette)
21. Story of Mayflower II - (Plimouth Plantation Inc.)
23. American Revolution 1766-1776 - Trevelyn
24. International Communism - Frederick Charles Schwarz (Washington 1957)
25. Saints and Strangers - G. F. Willison (New York 1945)
12-1 George Washington - Bernard Fay (New York 1931)
12-3 War Myth in U.S. History - C. H. Hamlin (New York 1927)
12-4 George Washington, Image and Man - W. E. Woodward (New York 1926)
12-8 Rise of American Civilization - C.A. and M.R. Beard (New York 1930)
