Edward Jessup Loyalist association holds 34th charter meeting

Submitted by Fraser Carr

PRESCOTT - At noon on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2002, approximately 55 Loyalists and friends gathered at historic St. John's Anglican Church in Prescott for the 34th charter meeting of the Col. Edward Jessup Branch of the United Empire Loyalists' Association of Canada.

Many commented on the delicious turkey dinner, catered by Nancy and helpers of Nan C's Place in Prescott. The church hall was an excellent dining and meeting area for our group.

Our President, Myrtle Johnston, expressed a hearty welcome, reported on some of our activities and gave a brief history of this historic church. We noticed some of the beautiful stained windows with names whom we could recognize as Loyalist families.

Roy Lewis, a past president of our branch, presented the colours, introduced and thanked the speaker, Margaret Hall, from Ottawa, who gave a very interesting presentation on her quest for a UE certificate.

A highlight of the meeting was the presentation of certificates that indicate a person has been able to obtain evidence of being a descendant. A Loyalist is one who professed his/her loyalty to England and had to flee the American Colonies after the American Revolution, and had to start all over again somewhere else. Many came to Canada where they made significant contributions to the development of this country.

Since our last meeting in April, we had 23 more certificates to present; 17 of those were for descendants of Hendrik Jackson. Due to another engagement, this family was unable to attend. However, six certificates were given to those present:

.Barbara Law, using her ancestor Andrew Adams, Loyalist. Andrew was the son of Dr. Samuel Adams who settled in Grenville County. His grave is just east of Johnstown. Barbara told us her great grandparents, Agnes Adams and Daniel Wallace were married in St. John's Anglican Church, in 1872. Barbara lives just west of Brockville.

.Donald Ruston, from Brockville, whose ancestor was James Wiltse. There are many Wiltse descendants around our area.

This year we have a husband and wife receiving their UE certificates:

. Willard Gaylord using a John Lampson as his ancestor, while his wife Bonnie Gaylord, is a descendant of Benjamin Galloway. (Many will know Bonnie as a teacher and/or as a volunteer with the Grenville County Historical Society.)

. Venora Bradford, a descendant of Lytle Glassford. Venora and the Gaylords live just west of Prescott.

. Shirley Cooper, who lives in Brockville, is a descendant of William Casey.

. Clair Seeley, from Renfrew, his ancestor being Augustus Seeley, who settled in Elizabethtown Township.

Also present were four from the Ottawa area, four from the Kingston area, with the rest being from across Leeds and Grenville. .

Many Loyalists settled in our area, for example: the Adams, Dulmages, Jessups, Spicers, Sherwoods,and Wiltses, to name but a few. We would like to hear from Loyalist descendants and would be pleased to help them with their family trees. Contact fraser.carr@ripnet.com.

This was in the Prescott Journal, October 2002

For pictures, click on, Charter Meeting, St. John's Anglican, Prescott, On  Oct. 5th, 2002

 

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