UELAC Membership

Join the UELAC and be part of the family that enjoys history, especially that of the Loyalist era. Share family stories. Learn more about the Loyalists. Receive our Loyalist Gazette and Branch newsletters. Be part of the group that had significant impact on the shaping of our country in its relatively early days.

To join the UELAC, you join a branch. With twenty-seven of those across the country, there may well be one local to you. We recommend that you join that one so you can share in events and network with others. However, some people in Canada, or from other countries round the world, are remote from a branch. If you have Loyalist ancestors, we suggest you join a branch near where they originally settled. Some people belong primarily to a local branch, and additionally to branches where their ancestors settled, in order to receive newsletters etc. from those locations.

For those who believe they have Loyalist ancestry, you have the option of proving that ancestry. Once a member, work with the Branch genealogist to verify that your ancestor was a Loyalist and collect the genealogical proofs between yourself and that Loyalist. The genealogist will provide direction and guidance, but being a volunteer like the rest of us, is generally not able to do the research. You can then submit a certificate application form, available from the branch genealogist, with proofs and a fee to our Dominion Genealogist for review. If all is in order, you will receive a certificate attesting to your Loyalist ancestry.

We have members in several countries, with most of those outside Canada residing in the USA. Some of these members have proved their Loyalist ancestry; others have joined because of an interest in all aspects of the Revolutionary War/Loyalist era. It is intriguing that quite a number of members both in Canada and in other countries have proven ancestors who were Loyalists and others who were Patriots. We can't do anything about the ancestors we have inherited, so why not celebrate them all.

For a list of branches, contact emails and web sites, visit our Branches page.

Very simply, the general guidelines are as follows:

• Either male or female, as of 19 April 1775, a resident of the American colonies, and joined the Royal Standard prior to the Treaty of Separation of 1783, or otherwise demonstrated loyalty to the Crown, and settled in territory remaining under the rule of the Crown; or
• a soldier who served in an American Loyalist Regiment and was disbanded in Canada; or
• a member of the Six Nations of either the Grand River or the Bay of Quinte Reserve who is descended from one whose migration was similar to that of other Loyalists.

As noted these are general guidelines. If you think you may have Loyalist ancestry, why not join and undertake the journey – at a minimum you will learn more about your family.

Being a proved Loyalist descendant confers no special status in Canadian or other society, but many members use the post-nominal letters "UE" after their name, in consequence of Lord Dorchester's Order in Council in 1789, conferring recognition of the service of the Loyalists in defense of "The Unity of Empire."

If you wish further information before contacting a Local Branch, please contact us.