Whether the Revolutionary War was a war for independence or a civil war depended on the beholder's perspective. Not widely known is the saga of those who remained loyal to the crown. The story of the Loyalists - called Tories by the colonists - gets short shrift in America history classes. For genealogists with Loyalist ancestors, it's a story that may greatly affect how they trace their family trees.
About 20,000 Loyalists fought for the British, although probably 500,000 more colonists shared their beliefs. Loyalists came from all walks of life. Farmers, merchants, preachers and British officials were among them. They also included blacks, Indians, indentured servants and some German immigrants.
The Paris Peace Treaty of 1783 urged Congress to return confiscated Loyalist land to the owners. That concession worked better on paper than in reality. Some large estates, particularly in the Carolinas and New York, were sold to farmers.
The result was that many displaced Loyalists relocated to other states. About 100,000 left the country. Many moved to Canada, the Bahamas, the West Indies and England.
Tracking Loyalist forbears can be difficult. But Web sites and other resources can point the way. The Online Institute for Advanced Loyalist Studies (www.royalprovincial.com) is a good place to start. The Web site authors reinforce the basic rule of rooting with this admonition: "As in any genealogical research, the ultimate proof that your ancestor was a Loyalist is finding his name in a primary source document associated with Loyalists, such as a muster roll, a claim for compensation of losses or a land petition." The site features helpful genealogy and history sections.
The New Brunswick Provincial Archives (archives.gnb.ca/archives) is another resource. Click on government records. You'll find information about records of Revolutionary War soldiers and their widows, land grants and vital statistics.
The United Empire Loyalists Association of Canada is our northern neighbor's answer to the DAR. You must be able to prove that you are a Loyalist descendant to join. The group is dedicated to recognizing the contributions of Loyalists to Canada's development. Go to www.uelac.org/index.html for details and historical background.
Some people remain proud of their Loyalist leanings.
The Web site users.erols.com/candidus/overview.htm focues on Loyalists from Maryland and is interesting and entertaining.
Blacks whose ancestors were Loyalists should check out the site collections.ic.gc.ca/blackloyalists.
Plenty of other Web sites are devoted to Loyalists. Put the word "loyalist" in your search box and see what pops up.
- Read past Donna Murray Allen columns online at www.sptimes.com Type "Donna Murray Allen" in the search box. You can write to Allen c/o Floridian, St. Petersburg Times, P.O. Box 1121, St. Petersburg, FL 33731, or e-mail her at rootscolumn@yahoo.com Her Web site: www.rootsdetective.com includes information on classes and lectures. Allen welcomes your questions about genealogy and will respond to those of general interest in future columns.
