Past Meetings
June 11, 2008 | |||
| Members and guests filled the room at the Donald Gordon Centre, Queen's University on Wednesday, June 11th. We enjoyed an excellent dinner and good conversation, then a little branch business was followed by our guest speaker. |  | ||
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Dorothy Duncan, former executive director of the Ontario Historical Society, gave an interesting talk after dinner, entitled "Canadians at Table - Food, Fellowship and Folklore". In particular she mentioned Loyalists: types of foodstuffs and seeds first provided to them by the government, the "Hungry Year" they endured, and the types of foods they knew and enjoyed. After the meeting, those present eagerly lined up to purchase one or other of Ms. Duncan's books and have them signed. | ||
| Four membership certificates were presented by Branch Genealogist Eva Wirth -- including her own! Congratulations to these members for their detailed research, proving their Loyalist descent. Receiving their certificates were Dean Taylor (ancestor Finlay Malcolm), Barbara Carson (Joseph Hicks), Jean MacLean (Abram Snider) and Eva Wirth (George Buck, Sr.) all June 11th photos by Nancy Cutway |
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March 29, 2008 | |||
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Peter Johnson, UE - the current President of the United Empire Loyalist Association of Canada - addressed the topic "Marching To A Different Drum: Your Loyalist And The Military". Peter challenged all Loyalist descendants to become familiar with their Loyalist ancestor's military career. Many of us accept the fact our ancestor was a Loyalist, based on his claim for losses submitted to the government. But do we know which regiment(s) he served with? what battles was he in? or did he act as a courier, or offer his home as a "safe house"? There are sources of this information available, but not being fully explored by most Loyalist descendants. | ||
| Peter's uniform today was that of a musketman in the New Jersey Volunteers. He pointed out that his hat is a bicorne, not a tricorne; its shape makes it less likely to catch on the soldier's musket when it rests against his shoulder. all March 29th photos by Nancy Cutway |
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left: Jim Long gives an animated introduction to speaker Peter Johnson. right: conversation over tea and biscuits |
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January 26, 2008Elizabeth Bardon, Director of Development and Community Relations at Hotel Dieu Hospital, Kingston, spoke on the history of the Hotel Dieu Hospital. Some of the Loyalists who settled in the Kingston area would still have been alive when it was founded in 1846, and likely benefited from the medical care provided by the Sisters. |
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| photos courtesy Fraser Carr | |||
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The Religious Hospitallers of Saint Joseph nuns had been working in Montreal for 187 years before extending their ministry to Kingston. The Jeanne Mance building at Hotel Dieu Hospital is named in honour of the order's founder. | ||
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November, 2007Tim Campeau, a PhD candidate at the University of Western Ontario, spoke on "Loyalists and Memory in the USA". The story begins by relating how many Americans, only uneasy at the prospect of "independence", were forever considered "traitors", or worse, Tories!! Mr. Campeau outlined the deep personal connections within families that made some Loyalists and some Patriots. Joel Stone, the founder of Gananoque, was a classic example of this dilemma: he being a Loyalist and his brother a Patriot. Joel Stone left the USA, but maintained strong connections with his patriot family in Litchfield, Conn. There was a Treaty in 1783, which permitted Loyalists to return home; as there were many connections between exiles and their homeland, and as "the family" dominated, it was hoped that families would not be divided by politics. However, over time, many Patriots forgot about their Loyalists cousins, and tended to lop them off the Family Tree. Once again, the Stone Family is a good example of current healing as the Stone homestead in Litchfield is recognized for its historical significance as a "mythical home divided". Many Americans today are becoming more aware of Loyalists. Tim invited all to visit his website on Joel Stone: www.colonelstone.ca. |
 President Lin Good chairing a meeting photo courtesy Fraser Carr |
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