"The United Empire Loyalist"

 

I have mentioned before that I am a descendant from Canada and hold many kinship's still with Canada, and yet I still do not know much about Canada.  As I do my research I am perplexed with location of Lower Canada and West Canada and Upper Canada.  I have probably missed many opportunity to find my ancestors because some source document stated that the family was from West Canada.  West Canada is truly "Ontario" today which by the way is still the most populated province in Canada.  So yes, I probably discounted someone along the way thinking that the family had moved to the Pacific "West" side of the country, when really they had just migrated north with the Loyalist migration.

In my post of Thursday, October 14th, "The American Revolution" I described the many parties such as Patriots and Loyalists and how we have ancestors on both sides.   Many settlers to Canada in the 18th and early 19th centuries were Loyalists who had left America and the thirteen colonies prior to the American Rebellion.  While others were British Soldiers who were given land grants in Canada by the British forces, because at that time West Canada was part of British North America.

Before I go on I want to give credit to Sherry Koshney Downward for all her efforts to research and document the Loyalists.  Another online source I used was by author Wilbur H. Sherbert vol. VII.

As I pour through family letters passed down to me, and thumb through our family cookbook an unknown term catches my eye.  Pennsilfaanisch Deitsch, "Pennsylvania Dutch" associated with the surname Ruiter.    

What identifies one as Pennsylvania Dutch I asked myself?  So I went to Wikipedia and here is what they had to say: "Recently due to loss of the Pennsylvania German language (among others) in many communities, as well as to intermarriage and increased mobility especially in the more secular communities, Pennsylvania Dutch ethnic  consciousness is often very low, especially among younger Pennsylvania Dutch. Many young Pennsylvania Dutch consider themselves only descendants of Pennsylvania Dutch and it is not part of their personal identity. Additionally, as a result of two wars against German enemies, many older Pennsylvania Dutch have deemphasized any Germanic traditions or influences they inherited from prior generations. However, many of those raised in the immediate area, or those who have close ties there, still hold those ties close even if their parents do not emphasize those ties. In some communities the Pennsylvania Dutch name is reserved only for members of the Amish and traditional Mennonite communities."

Now just to remind you of my prior post "What is it to be an Immigrant." I went on a rant about our choice to pick an ethnic identity.  No where did I see where I could have made the choice for Pennsylvania Dutch.  This isn't anything new by the way.  I have looked at all the census data going back to the first census in 1790.  Back then it was just a matter of Black or white.  Well this isn't a posting about the census, let me get back on track, on with the story.

So in my current language, Pennsylvania Dutch was just another way of saying "Those People" someone who was different and spoke funny.  Wow!  All the above copy just because Great Great Grandfather Philo England c. 1833 married Margurite Eunice Ruiter c. 1832 and my 2nd great Grand Uncle George England c. 1828, brother of Philo,  son of Fredrick England c. 1789 married her sister Elizabeth Ellen Ruiter c. 1828.

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 On the left is a photo of Philip Lampman Ruiter c. 1804 - photo courtesy Pam Wood Waugh.  It is written that he was the first white child born in Cowansville an area just west of Lake Brome between Beebe Vermont and Montreal Canada.  In the book, "The History of Eastern Townships" chapter II.  It begins with a geographical description of Missisquoi and the land grant petition for Dunham which was issued April 28, 1795.  The following historical names follow.  The first is Thomas Dunn, as this hamlet is the land of Dunn's, "Dunham!"  Then we have his associates where I find my ancestors highlighted below. "Joseph Buck, John Heilker, Jacob Heliker, George Saxe, Mathew Hall, William Ferrand, David Ferrand, Joshua Chambers, Amos Woodard, David Reychart, John Clark, Thomas Best, Daniel Mills, Jeremiah Reychart, Daniel Trevor, Alexander McDougall, Thomas Pell, Andrew Ten Eyck, Henry Ten Eyck, Archibald Henderson, Henry Hall, Elisha Dickinson, Jacob Best Senior, George Waymore, Abraham Lampman, John Mills, Stephen Jenner, Jacob Best junior, Adam Deal, Frederick Streit, Samuel Mills, Philip Ruiter, and Jacob Ruiter.  It is said that Dunham was the first township erected in Lower Canada.
Philip Ruiter c. 1766 and his brother Jacob Ruiter c. 1772 were both land agents for Thomas Dunn, and in 1794 Mr. Dunn gave Jacob a land grant.  These two brothers were born in Hoosick, Rensselaer, New York.  They were Loyalists and left New York as they supported the Crown, and removed to Quebec.  They arrived with their families, and settled in Caldwell Manor (Clarenceville) before moving to Missiquoi Bay.  Do you like history? I hope you do as much as I.  "In the early French regime the area now known as Clarenceville was then called the Seigneurie de Foucault . After the Treaty of Paris signing in 1763, the lands in New France were transferred to British rule. In 1774 the area was leased to Col Henry Caldwell and the area became known as Caldwells’ Manor . and at a later date Allard's Manor It is only in 1822 that we find the area after government proclamation being called Saint Georges de Clarenceville . It must also be noted that once the religious element became involved in this area we find the Parish of Saint Thomas and the Parish of Saint George , segmenting the area of the Seigneurie de Foucault even further. "  If you want to read more on this subject, The above paragraph was written by: J C McCorkill.

During the summer of 1798, Jacob Ruiter left his family at Missisquoi Bay and went to claim his land granted to him by Thomas Dunn. He built a temporary shelter where we find today the seniors residence, Manoir Cowan, on Main Street. He went back to his family for the winter, returning the following spring with his wife Eunice Freeman Ruiter c. 1780, his first born son John c. 1778 and daughter Elizabeth c. 1800.  They settled on the south side of the Yamasaka River near what is today the bridge at South street.  Back then the area was covered by a thick forest, so during that summer, 26 year old Jacob built his home of logs.  In the early 1800's, Jacob built a flour mill and saw mill that was used by the people in the surrounding areas for several years. This place was known then as "Ruiter's Mill".  In 1805, Jacob named this new settlement, Nelsonville, it is told that this was in honor of the British Admiral Lord Nelson who died during the Battle of Trafalgar during the Napoleonic Wars (1803–1815).  At this time I cannot prove nor disprove this fact, however there was another founder in the area with the surname Nelson.   Then in 1811, Jacob gave a piece of land for the building of the first school and later he gave another lot for the Union Cemetery on Main St.  He and his wife had twelve children in this area. Their son, Philip Lampman Ruiter was born March 29, 1804 and as I mentioned above, he is probably the first white (as in skin color) child to be born in Cowansville. 
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