USA > New York > Loyalism in New York during the American revolution > Part 16
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The homeless and landless exiles, defeated and at the mercy of Great Britain, were fed, clothed and housed until a distribution of land could be made.8 When the war closed 3,204 "unincorporated loyalists" were receiving rations, beds and blankets.9 Although the Canadian officials had no instructions to continue these supplies after the war, still they did so.10 The English government approved of the action, ordered rations to be furnished to the needy and sent over articles of use and comfort to them." For the sake of economy and to prevent frauds, all orders for supplies in upper and lower Canada were signed by the agents.12 Allow- ances were made only to those who settled on crown lands.13 Although loyalists were welcomed from the "States " after
1 Can. Archs. (1888), 753, 754, (1891), 17.
2 Ibid. (1891), I.
$ Ibid. (1888), 845.
4 Caniff, Hist. of Prov. of Ontario, 636. July 20, 1784, 620 loyalists petitioned for land at Niagara. Can. Archs. (1881), 2-5.
6 Can. Archs. (1886), 418, April 15, 1784.
6 Ibid. (1888), 718, 719, (1885), 352, 354, 367, 368.
1 Ibid. (1890), 245; ibid. (1883), 71, Sept. 16, 1791.
8 Ibid. (1892), 419, Jan. 21, 1783, (1886), 409.
9 Kingsford, Hist. of Canada, vii, 218.
10 Can. Archs. (1888), 731, (1887), no. 91.
11 Ibid. (1885), 286, April 8, 1784, 354, (1886), 409, Jan. 5, 1784, 411, Jan. 19, 1784.
1? Ibid. (1886), 409, Dec. 29, 1783, and Jan. 5, 1784.
13 Ibid. (1886), 423.
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1784, they were not entitled to provisions.1 The king's in- structions forbade the liberal "privileges granted to those in Nova Scotia," but the royal agent was resolved to " grant all indulgences possible" and to beg the ministry for more.2 The practice was adopted of feeding the loyalists until they could support themselves.3 In June 1785, 6,000 were still victualed for a year,4 and in 1787 loyalists still petitioned for three months' provisions.5 Some of the distressed were aided as late as September, 1791, when it was proposed to set aside certain lands "for the permanent support of dis- tressed loyalists " and for those whose claims for compensa- tion were not allowed.6
In addition to food, clothing and blankets were given to the loyalists. Supplies of this character were granted in 1783 at various points,7 asked for on all sides the next year8 and generously given.9 As late as June, 1787, clothing was still asked for and granted.1º "Clothing" here includes coarse cloth for trousers, Indian blankets for coats, hats and shoes.11
The first work before the loyalists was to build homes, clear the land and cultivate small plots. In these lines the government rendered valuable and generous assistance. Some planks, bricks and nails were given out for houses.12
1 Can. Archs. (1886), 423, 429. The loyalists sent from England to Upper Canada were also " entitled to indulgences." Ibid. (1890), 321.
2 Ibid. (1886), 350, 411, 426, May 14, 1784, (1892), 431, (1894), 403.
3 Ibid. (1886), 409, 422, 430, 431, 434, 437, 438, 442, 443, 456, 459, (1887), 164, (1888), 718, 719.
Ibid. (1890), 159. 5 Ibid. (1890), 187. 6 Ibid. (1890), 304.
7 Ibid. (1886), 467, (1888), 956. 8 Ibid. (1888), 718, 719.
9 Ibid. (1886), 409, 423, 427, 429, 430, June 3, 1784, 439.
10 Ibid. (1890), 187.
11 Caniff, Hist. of Prov. of Ontario, 190.
12 Can. Archs. (1886), 463, 433. .3
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The loyalists asked for tools, and the request was readily granted,' although pronounced extravagant.2 By July 26, 1784, tools arrived and the loyalists went to work 3 and from that time on they were distributed until all were sup- plied.+ " An axe, a hoe, a spade and a plow" were " allot- ted to every two families ; a whip and cross-cut saw to every fourth family." To every five families a set of carpenter's tools was given. Pick-axes and sickles were also supplied.5 Bateaux were placed at their disposal,6 and grindstones,7 corn-mills,8 grist-mills9 and saw-mills 10 were furnished. At first arms were refused, but later some guns were distributed among the settlers "for the messes, for the pigeon and wild- fowl season." 11
To complete their outfits they were given seeds in consid- erable variety for the garden and farm.12 These were sent out for distribution as late as November, 1788.13 It was not intended, at first, to give them live stock," but the resolve was soon changed, and one cow was allotted to every two families.15 But it was very difficult to secure an adequate
Can. Archs. (1886), 391, 414, 416, 423, 433.
2 Ibid. (1886), 417, no. 157.
" Ibid. (1886), 437, 439, 441, 446, (1887), 165.
Ibid. (1885), 357, Aug. 6, 1784, (1886), 427, 428, 463.
6 Caniff, Hist. of Prov. of Ontario, 190; Can. Archs. (1888), 958. 1 Ibid. (1886), 426.
6 Ibid. (1886), 427, 435.
8 Caniff, Hist. of Prov. of Ontario, 190.
9 Can. Archs. (1886), 447, (1887), 263, 265, 266.
10 Ibid. (1886), 428, 433.
11 Ibid. (1886), 419, 427, 463.
12 Ibid. (1886), 391, 416, 423, 433, 437, 439, (1887), 164; ibid. (1886), 417, 420, 428, (1888), 957, 958; ibid. (1891), 1; ibid. (1890), 305; ibid. (1886), 429, 437, 441, 446, 462, 463, (1887), 165.
13 Ibid. (1890), 222.
14 Ibid. (1886), 391, 414, 416, 423, 433.
15 Ibid. (1886), 462, 463; Caniff, Hist. o) Prov. of Ontario, 190.
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number.1 Bulls were supplied for neighborhoods.2 Hay was furnished for the cattle.3 In a few years, however, the farms were well cleared, yielded good crops, and live stock became plentiful. At first there had been considerable discontent,4 and numerous and angry cries for relief were raised, but as the early hardships wore away, the people became comfort- able and prosperous, and even boastful of their early sacri- fices for loyalty to king and empire.5 Before the Canadian loyalists were established on a self-supporting basis perhaps $4,000,000 had been expended in surveys, official salaries, clothing, food, tools and stock.
Lord Dorchester, formerly Sir Guy Carleton, requested the council of Quebec " to put a marke of honor upon the families who adhered to the unity of the empire, and joined the royal standard in America before the treaty of separa- tion in the year 1783."6 Therefore all loyalists of that de- scription and their descendants were " to be distinguished by the letters U. E. affixed to their names, alluding to their great principle, the unity of the empire."7 A registry of these U. E. loyalists was ordered to be kept.8 For a period of over twenty years names were added to the list,9 and the
1 Can. Archs. (1888), 720. At Cataraqui and Oswagatia a population of over 1000 had but 6 horses, 8 oxen and 18 cows.
2 Ibid. (1886), 434.
" Ibid. (1886), 427, 428, 463.
Ibid. (1886), 391, 414, 423, 425, (1889), 63, 66, 67, 68, 69, 78, (1883), 204, (1887), 164, 441. Some even deserted and returned to the United States. Ibid. (1886), 411.
5 The commissioners who went to Canada to examine loyalists' claims said the people were flourishing and apparently satisfied. This was in the report of Jan. 24, 1788. MS. Transcript . . Books and Papers of . . American Loyalists, vol. 2, P. 333, etc.
6 The United Empire Loyalists' Centennial, (1884), 127-128.
1 Can. Archs. (1890), 245.
8 Ibid. (1890), 250; The United Empire Loyalists' Centennial, (1884), 127-128.
" Can. Archs. (1892), 386, Min. of Oct. 28, 1807; cf. ibid. (1883), 206; cf. Caniff, Hist. of Prov. of Ontario, 156.
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descendants of these hardy pioneers have taken great pride in continuing the title.
The claims of the wealthy loyalists could not be satisfied by lands. They demanded compensation in money. In part their claims were offset by lucrative offices. Rev. Charles Inglis was made' bishop of Nova Scotia.1 Sir John Johnson was made superintendent-general of the settling of the loyalists.2 Beverly Robinson, Jr., Christopher Billopp, Isaac Wilkins and Abraham de Peyster were appointed to civil offices in New Brunswick.3 Abraham Cuyler wished to be inspector of lands for Cape Breton.4 William Smith became chief justice of upper Canada.5 Gabriel G. Ludlow was first councillor, mayor and judge of St. John.6 Colonel Edward Fanning was made lieutenant governor of Nova Scotia.7 Many of the loyalists were appointed justices of the peace.8 Brook Watson secured a royal office for Chris- topher Sower in New Brunswick.9 The loyalist military officers were put on half pay, and in 1806 one hundred and ten were still on the pay-roll.1º
From the time Cooper and Chandler fled to England in 1775 to escape revolutionary mobs in New York until peace was concluded, loyalists had found refuge there. Many,
' Can. Archs. (1883), 52, (1894), 403, 405, 407, 443, 447, 452, 454, 456, 461, 465.
" Ibid. (1783), 57, 71, (1886), 426, 463, 482, (1887), 163.
' Ibid. (1895), 17, 19, (1894), 467. Ibid. (1895), 23.
5 MS. Transcript . . of Books and Papers . . of American Loyalists, vol. II, P. 78.
6 Lawrence, Footprints of New Brunswick, 10-12.
1 MS. Transcript . . of Books and Papers . . of American Loyalists, vol. 17, P. 95.
8 Murdock, Hist. of Nova Scotia, iii, 30.
9 New Brunswick Mag., i, 97.
.º Can. Archs. (1892), 375-377. List given. Cf. ibid. (1886), 431, 432; Par- liamentary Register, vol, 35, p. 209.
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with their wives and families, were sent to Great Britain in 1778. There was a general exodus thither of civil officers, of those too old or infirm to bear arms, of " great numbers" of clergy who had become obnoxious, of those who wished to be neutral, and of many of the wives and children of loyalists who were serving in the army or navy.1 Subsequent to 1775, allowances were granted these loyalists from time to time as temporary support until the war should end, when it was ex- pected that all would return to their country. These sums were paid by the treasury board, without uniformity as to time or amount, at first quarterly and later annually .? The amounts thus granted increased yearly until by 1782 more than $200,000 was paid to 315 recipients. Besides these allowances for temporary support, $90,000 had been paid during each of the three years preceding 1782 as compen- sation for special losses or services. Many of these pen- sioners came from New York and received annuities ranging from £500, which was paid to Oliver De Lancey and his family, to £20, which Thomas Moore obtained. Some of them, like Dr. Myles Cooper, had received help for seven years.3 In 1782 twenty-six loyalists from New York were receiving about $18,000 yearly.
1 Wilmot, Historical View of the Commissioners for Enquiring into the Losses . of . . Loyalists. 8, 9. .
2 Ibid., 15, 16, 22. These sums and those which follow in this chapter are ob- tained by reckoning the pound as approximately $5.00 ($4.86).
3 Chief among the pensioners from New York were Timothy Hurst, {200; Sam- uel Bayard, {200; John Tabor Kempe, {200; Rev. John Vardill, {200; Samuel Hoke, {200; Isaac Wilkins, {200; William Bayard, {200; William Edmeston, £150; Lambert Moore, {115; Col. Abraham Cuyler, {100; Rev. Harry Munroe, £100; Lieut. Thomas Webb, {100; Robert Auchmuty, {100, Samuel Kemble, £100; Peter Van Schaack, {100; Richard Vandeburg, {100; John Pickering, £80; Francis Stephens, {80; John Blockler, {60; and Matthew Sentis, £50. MS. Transcript . . of Books and Papers . . of Americam Loyalists. vol. 2, pp. 72, 74, 80, 82, 84, 86, 94, 96, 98, 100, 102, 106, 108, 110, 112, 114, 116, 120, 122, 126, 128, 132, 134, 136.
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The increased emigration of loyalists to England in 1782, and consequently the large number of claims for assistance, led parliament to suspend all donations until a committee could investigate both the old and the new claims, and pass on their merits. The committee dropped 81 persons from the list, thus reducing the existing annual grant of $200,000 to $158,500, and considered 428 new claims, on which they allowed over $87,000, making the total grant for 1783 #245,725.1 Of the 428 fresh claims 223, or more than half, came from New York alone. Only twenty-five applications were refused .? No new grant was made above £200, and from that amount grants fell off to £5. Loyalty, actual loss and need were made the reason for assistance. Over $5,000 were paid to finally settle many claims of loyalists from New York, and about $35,000 were allowed them in annuities. With but few exceptions, these claimants were all resident in England. Among them were representatives of all social classes, from emancipated negro slaves 3 to the aristocratic land-owners 4 and merchants,5 of both sexes,6 of all ages and
' Wilmot, Historical View, etc., 16-23; Can. Archs. (1886), 480, 482, 552.
: Refusal was on the ground of " no claim," or because the claimant was not in need of help. John Tabor Kempe took {14,000 with him to England, yet asked for aid, but was refused it.
' John Ashfield, Thomas Farmer, John Jackson, David King, John Thompson and Benjamin Whitecuff.
* John Cumming, James McCara, Archibald Kennedy, Claude Saubier, Christo- pher Billopp, William Knox, John Rapalje, etc.
' Thomas Hughes, Thomas Miller, William Bayard who lost £100,000, Col. Cruger, John Weatherhead, Alexander Wallace, V. P. Ashfield, William Axtill, Isaac Low, Benjamin Booth.
6 Mrs. Auchmuty, wife of the Trinity rector, Mrs. and Miss Dawson, Mrs. Jessup, Mrs. McAlpin, Mrs. Norman, Mrs. Paschall, Mrs. Catherine Ridout, Mrs. Mary Swards, Nelly Malloy, the Misses Kemp, Mrs. Mary Smith, Mrs. Mary Airy, Miss Eliz. Floyd, Mrs. Henrietta Colden, Mrs. Mary Browne, Mrs. Price, Mrs. Col. Fred. Phillips, Elizabeth Brinley, Mrs. Mary Henley, Elizabeth Macdonald, Mrs. Eliza- beth Lawrence, Elizabeth McAlpin and Miss Jane Sidney.
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of all trades and professions-soldiers, sailors, teachers, wine-merchants, brewers, clergymen,1 lawyers, physicians, crown officers,? flax dressers, silver-smiths, farmers and shop-keepers.
" Numberless persons" flocked to England after the treaty of peace, mostly from New York, to secure compensation.' Altogether 5,072 loyalists, representing perhaps 25,000 per- sons in all, either in person or through agents, submitted claims for losses.4 These loyalists had a general agent ap- pointed for each state. James DeLancey acted for New York, and also served as agent for the whole " committee."s The claims examined by the " commissioners" in England, by June 10, 1789, numbered 939, and by commissioners in Nova Scotia and Canada 1,272.6 Others were withdrawn, or not pressed for settlement, or dropped without consideration,
The king urged parliament to treat the loyalists with "a due and generous attention," and hence that body, in July, 1783, appointed a " commission " of five members to classify the "losses and services of those who had suffered in their rights, properties and professions on account of their loy- alty." The commissioners were empowered to examine persons under oath, send for papers, and use the testimony of loyalists in England and America to determine the valid-
1 Rev. John Doty, rector at Schenectady, Rev. John Mackenna, a Roman Cath- olic priest, Rev. Agnew, Dr. Charles Inglis, Rev. John Milner and Rev. Samuel Seabury.
: Stephen DeLancey, Judge Thomas Jones who lost £44,600; Colonel James DeLancey, sheriff of Westchester; John Tabor Kempe, attorney general of New York, who lost £98,000; George D. Ludlow, judge of the Supreme Court, who lost £7000; David Matthew, mayor of New York city, who lost 26,774 acres; Arthur Kendall, tide surveyor of New York; Andrew Elliott, lieutenant-gov- ernor of New York; Philip Skene, lieutenant-governor of Crown Point, who lost £39,189.
' Wilmot, Historical View, etc., 25-28.
4 Kingsford, History of Canada, vii, 217; Jones, Hist. of N. Y., ii, 663.
5 Jones, Hist. of N. Y., ii, 257-258. 6 Ibid., 661.
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ity of claims. Most of the loyalists were frank and honest in their statements, but some were not.1
The "commission" first laid down rules of procedure and then began their inquiry in October.2 Loyalists were by them divided into six classes. 1. Those who had rendered services to Great Britain. 2. Those who had borne arms against the revolution. 3. Uniform loyalists. 4. Loyalists resident in Great Britain. 5. Those who took oaths of alle- giance to the American states, but afterward joined the British. 6. Those who armed with the Americans and later joined the English army or navy. Claimants had to state specifically in writing the nature of their losses.3 So strict were the rules and so rigid were the secret examinations that the " Enquiry " was denounced by the loyalists as the " inquisition." 4 All claims were to be in by March 25, 1784, but the time was later extended till 1790.5 On the first date 2,053 claims were presented, representing a loss of about $35,231,000 in real and personal property, $11,770,000 in debts, and $443,000 in incomes, making a total of nearly $47,500,000.6
The examination of these claims was no easy task-es- pecially such claims as those of the DeLanceys. The board refused to allow compensation for losses in East and West
' Wilmot, Historical View, etc., 42-47. The "Compensation Act" is 23 Geo. /11., ch. 80. Given in Jones, !list. of N. Y., ii, 653; Parliamentary Register, vol. 35, p. 205.
" Notices had been sent to the governors of Canada and Nova Scotia, to the com- mander at New York, and printed in the newspapers.
'C'aniff, Ilist. of Prov. of Ontario, 61. Case of Aspden, p. 119, gives report to commissioners, May 30, 1788, and has II classes.
* Wilmot, Historical View, etc., 65.
' Ibid., 89; 29 George III., ch. 62; Jones, Hist. of N. Y., ii. 658-659; 25 George III., ch. 76; 26 George III., ch. 68; 27 George III., ch. 39; 28 George 111., ch. 40.
· Wilmot, Historical View, etc., 50.
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Florida, or in the form of uncultivated lands, estates bought after the war, rents, incomes of offices received during the re- bellion, anticipated professional profits ; losses in trade, labor, or by the British army; losses through depreciated paper money, captures at sea and debts. Claims were allowed for loss of property through loyalty, for offices held before the the war, and for the loss of actual professional incomes. By July, 1784, claims amounting to $2,675,000 were settled for the sum of $1,010,000.' Next the claims of 1068 persons needing immediate relief were considered, and by December 23, 128 of these claims, aggregating $3,446,000, were paid off for the sum of $755,000. In May and July, 1785, 122 claimants, asking for $4,500,000, were granted $1,283,000.2 A fifth report, made in April, 1786, allowed $1,252,500 for 142 claims, aggregating $3,666,500.3 By April 5, 1788, the commissioners had examined 1,680 claims on which they allowed $9,448,000.
It was soon evident that, to do justice to the loyalists, commissioners must be sent to America. Hence Colonels Dundee and Pemberton were sent to Nova Scotia, while John Anstey went to New York.4 They were to inquire into the claims of loyalists, and thus relieve them of the neces- sity of going to England. They had the same powers as the board at home and proceeded in the same manner. Their work began November 17, 1785, and lasted till 1789. The various governors were apprised of this arrangement and General Haldimand, governor of Canada, was instructed
1 Wilmot, Historical View, etc., 50.
2 Ibid., 54-55.
* Ibid., 59. The commissioners met in London from Aug. 9, 1785, to March 25, 1790, and examined the claims of loyalists. The MS. Transcript . . of Books and Papers . . of American Loyalists, vol. 9, has the minutes of the proceedings of the commissioners. The minutes are bare and meagre, however.
' Wilmot, Historical View, etc., 58; Can. Archs. (1890), 169, Feb. 10, 1786; 25 George III., ch. 76; MS. Transcript . . of Books and Papers . . of American Loyalists, vol. 2, 35.
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to co-operate with them by sending in loyalists' petitions.' Governor Hope of Quebec issued a proclamation, January 21, 1785, to loyalists having claims for losses, and ordered their leaders to collect and forward them. He asked the commissioners for an extension of time in which to prove losses, and urged them to make a journey to Quebec.2 Gov- ernor Patterson also demanded an extension of time for the loyalists of Prince Edward Island.3 The commissioners in- tended to go from Nova Scotia to New Brunswick and Canada to expedite matters. They sat at Halifax, St. Johns and Montreal.
The examinations began at Halifax.4 Claims under the act of parliament of 1783 were first considered.5 Some loyalists from the United States appeared before the com- missioners, hoping for compensation amounting to about $24,000, for losses which resulted from loyal service, but their claims were invariably rejected. On June 10, 1786, the. commissioners reported that 642 claims had been presented from Nova Scotia, Cape Breton, the Island of St. John and the United States, of which 199 were approved. Also 402 new claims from New Brunswick and 716 from Canada had been sent in. The losses examined amounted to $335,000. A second report was made September 30, 1786, submitting a list of forty old claimants and sixty-four new ones, mostly from Nova Scotia. Before the third report was made, March
1 Can. Archs. (1886), 480, Haldimand to Watts, Jan. 6, 1783, 555; Comsrs. to Haldimand, Sept. 4, 1784; ibid. (1890), 168; ibid. (1895), 43.
? Ibid. (1890), 168, Jan. 29, 1785.
" Ibid., 43; MS. Transcript . of Books and Papers . . of American Loyalists, vol. 2, 351.
" Expresses were sent to Canada, New Brunswick, Cape Breton, St. Johns Island, and to Governor Parr, of Nova Scotia, to say that the work had commenced.
"Some were passed on at once while others, for various reasons, were delayed from one day to one year.
5
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26, 1787, the commissioners had gone by land from Halifax to St. John, where they heard 110 old claims and 239 new ones. Thence they went to Quebec and Montreal, where they examined the 716 claims sent to Halifax, 77 old claims and 300 new ones, and reported January 24, 1788. In June of that year, a report was made on 356 additional cases. The sixth and final report was made after they returned to Eng- land. It reviewed the whole work and showed that twenty- five inhabitants of the United States had sent in claims, that 432 claims under the act of 1783, calling for $3,375,000, and 1799 claims under the act of 1785, asking for $3,536,000, were filed; that altogether 1401 claims were heard and 834 were for various reasons not heard. The commissioners allowed $1,061,000 on the 432 old claims and $1,684,000 on 969 new claims, or a total of $2,745,000 for claims passed on in America.1
Of the 1401 claims examined by the two commissioners, 877, or nearly two-thirds, were those of New York loyalists.2 About two-thirds of the $6,911,000 claimed for losses and of the $2,745,000 allowed by the commissioners were also in behalf of the loyalists from that state. A reference to a few of the petitioners will sufficiently illustrate the character of the whole. Stephen Tuttle was a justice of the peace of Al- bany county, and joined the British in Canada. He was proscribed, and his property, valued at £2,539, was confis- cated. He did not bear arms himself, but his five sons went into the British service.3 Thomas Barclay, of Ulster county,
1 MS. Transcript . . of Books and Papers . . of American Loyalists, vol. 2, 333; Case of Aspden, 119, gives the report also. The 34 MS. vols. in the Cong. Lib. at Washington contain the Proceedings of the two commissioners at St. John, Halifax and Montreal, in 1786-1788.
2 MS. Transcript . . of Books and Papers . . of the American Loyalists, vol. IO, p. 253-378.
$ Ibid., vol. 17, p. 1-18. Nearly every claimant reported a loss of both personal and real property.
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left in 1776 to avoid taking up arms against his king, and for six years held the rank of major of loyalist troops. He re- ported that both his personal and real property was confis- cated and sold in the fall of 1776-the first confiscation in New York. He lost £2,745.1 Isaac Wilkins, a representa- tive of Westchester in the general assembly, went to England for a year, in 1775, after which he returned, and lived on Long Island. For six years he received an annual pension of £200. Although able to sell his property at Westchester for £2,500, still he claimed a loss of £3,600. Because of his brother's influence, he was not attainted.2
The " determinations on claims " by the commissioners in America began December 5, 1785, and closed December 19, 1788. The commissioners in each case considered three things-loyalty, service, extent of loss-and fixed the allow- ance accordingly. Loyalists padded their claims with en- tries of every kind of loss.3 The policy of the commission- ers was to refuse to allow claims for lands bought or improved during the war - a very long list - trading ships lost through capture by Americans, horses and grain taken by Americans, damage done by British or Hessian troops,
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