Monmouth Loyalists Emigrate to Canada

Throughout the Revolutionary War, New York City was home to thousands of Loyalist refugees. Much of the time, the city was overcrowded; food and firewood shortages were common. While Loyalists sided with the British and performed military activities with British regulars, the relationship was an uneasy one. The British military was intensely hierarchical and harsh. 

American Loyalists, at least by British standards, were ill-disciplined. The British decision to court-martial Richard Lippincott in May 1782 for hanging Joshua Huddy angered Loyalists, as did other conciliatory gestures by the British.

Whatever the resentments, Loyalists backed the losing side in the war—and were therefore dependent on British largesse. In many cases, Loyalists who tried going home were unwelcome and met with violence. Canada was sparsely settled and the British were eager to relocate loyal English families as a counterweight to the French population. Guy Carleton, the former Governor-General of Canada and British Commander in Chief at New York, was well positioned to steer Loyalists there.

Monmouth Loyalists Head to Canada

Documentation of Loyalist resettlement is plentiful but sometimes confusing. There are many partially overlapping lists of Loyalists bound for or settled in Canada, but some Loyalists who are known to have ended up in Canada are absent from these lists. African American Loyalists were compiled in separate lists and are the subject of a different article.

With these data limitations in mind, it appears that the first Monmouth Countians resettled in Canada were part of a group of 600 Loyalists that left for Nova Scotia on September 20, 1782. Seven probable Monmouth County Loyalist families were among them, including Widow Buckalew (with two children) and Conradt Hendricks Freehold Loyalist with his wife and six children. Another group of 432 Loyalist refugees, the "Bay of Fundy Adventurers," left for New Brunswick, Canada on October 19.

The effort to resettle Loyalists grew more intense in early 1783. The New Jersey Gazette wrote on March 12 about "recent intelligence from New York” detailing “that the Provincial Corps [Loyalist military units] are to be immediately disbanded." British authorities prepared lists of the Loyalists they were supporting. One list, "Refugees from the Province of New Jersey… for support from 1 January to 31 March, 1783," included 79 New Jersey families of which 17 were probably from Monmouth County including the families of former County Collector Samuel Osborne, former Judge John Wardell, former militia colonel George Taylor, and widow Catherine Reading (wife of a Middletown Loyalist partisan killed on Staten Island in 1781).

Loyalist newspapers in New York began running glowing accounts of Canada and encouraging emigration. The advertisement excerpted below about Prince Edward Island (published on March 12 in the Royal Gazette) was written to specifically appeal to New Jerseyans. Prince Edward Island was called "the most eligible Country for you to repair to of any we know between this and New Jersey.” The advertisement discussed the island’s virtues:

The soil is good, it is well wooded, and free from rocks. The climate so good that fevers and agues unknown. Water everywhere is excellent. The government is mild, with but very few taxes.... Before we came here, we were told, as perhaps you may be, the worst things possible of this country but we have found the reverse to be true.

Seven officers from the King's Rangers signed the advertisement, including three Monmouth Countians, Lieutenant John Throckmorton, Ensign John Robins, and Ensign Joseph Beers.

Efforts were made to emigrate military units and their families together, but the decision to emigrate was voluntary. Some Loyalists had good reason not to leave when requested—perhaps they needed more time to sell possessions, settle business, or return to New Jersey to say goodbye to family. Ships taking some New Jersey Volunteers (Loyalist soldiers) and their families left on April 27 for New Brunswick. It appears that 24 additional Monmouth County families accompanied them that day, including the families of Rhoda Pew (whose husband was murdered in Monmouth County) and William Dillon (a Loyalist boatman from Toms River who would eventually return to New Jersey).

The once-feared Associated Loyalists split up. Roughly 400 Loyalists emigrated to Port Roseway in April 1783. But they did so with trepidation, worrying over the "suffering they must endure" as the British offered only six months of provisions. They did not believe they could be self-sustaining in that time. In January 1784, 220 men, women and children remained at Port Roseway. Fifteen of those families were probably Monmouth County families including those headed by David Thomson, James Thomson, and John Thomson—an extended family that included a number of London Traders.

Loyalist historian, Janice Potter-MacKinnon, wrote of another 300 Associated Loyalists who went to Sorel, Quebec in July and August 1783. She notes that they were from New York and New Jersey and one fourth were of Dutch descent. One of those Loyalists was Joseph Allen, a mill owner in Dover Township before the war, who would become a successful owner of several mills in Canada.

While some New Jersey Volunteers had already left for Canada, it appears that the largest tranche--more than 600 men, women and children—emigrated to New Brunswick on July 8 along with "4 companies of free Black Refugees." Elisha Lawrence of Upper Freehold (former Lt. Colonel in the New Jersey Volunteers) and John Antill (former Major) left for Canada on April 17 to scout for a large-scale emigration site. They returned to New York and brought off the 600 Loyalists in July. But Lawrence ran afoul of the Royal Governor who complained to General Carleton of Lawrence’s and Antill’s “unreasonable demands and illiberal ideas.”

Additional New Jersey Volunteers continued to emigrate. A September 5 report, "Embarkation Return of Troops to Settle in Nova Scotia" included information on 59 New Jersey Volunteers settled there. “Staging for embarkation” were another 153 men, 67 women, 98 children and 12 servants from the 1st Battalion, and 134 men, 46 women, 67 children and 25 servants from the 2nd Battalion.

Personal Accounts Regarding Emigrating to Canada

Unfortunately, there are no surviving diaries or personal letters from Monmouth County Loyalists during their emigration. But a good sense for the journey is provided in the diary of New York Loyalist, Sarah Scofield Frost. She left on the ship, Two Friends, with 250 other emigres on her ship and 2,000 in total; on board with her, "many of the voyagers were or had been members of the New Jersey Volunteers."

They boarded their ships June 8, 1783, bound for resettlement near St. John. The ships left Manhattan on June 9 but were detained by bad weather for a week at Staten Island and then detained again near Sandy Hook on June 15. She wrote, "We came to anchor about six miles from Sandy Hook Light House... This evening, we had a terrible storm, and hail stones fell as big as once balls." They sailed again on June 16 but were delayed for several hours as each of the fourteen heavily loaded ships (carrying 2,000 Loyalists) had to clear the Hook one at a time. During this time, Two Friends sat over the fertile fishing banks off Sandy Hook. Frost wrote that "the men are fishing for mackerel... It is the handsomest fish I beheld."

After ten days at sea, the convoy arrived at St. John. The Loyalists had to live in tents and because it took time to build cabins for themselves; most spent the next winter in those same tents. Frost matter-of-factly wrote:

Many of the women were unaccustomed to such living and this was made more serious by the care of the children, many of them being of tender years. Living in tents with snow at the time being six feet or more in depth caused much suffering.

Two Monmouth County Loyalists wrote letters regarding emigrating to Canada. John Morris (formerly of Manasquan) commanded the 2nd Battalion of New Jersey Volunteers through the first half of the war before retiring on a half-pay pension due to disability. In August 1783, he wrote Guy Carleton to request reinstatement into the Army and reassignment to Quebec. It is unknown if his request was granted.

Richard Robins (formerly of Upper Freehold) was a leader in December 1776 Loyalist insurrection. He wrote Carleton a memorial on his service in September 1783: “Your memorialist was called upon by Sir William Howe to furnish the Army with a number of wagons and horses, which your memorialist did." Robins suffered for his loyalty, writing that he was "confined in close gaol for eighteen months & upwards" and had his £1000 estate confiscated. He wrote that "has been drove from his home with the loss of the remainder of his property" and was leaving for Canada in “destitute” condition. He asked for compensation. The British created a process for Loyalist compensation in 1787, but Robins was dead—dying on Prince Edward Island in 1784.

Monmouth County Loyalists Settle in Canada

Canadian records from 1784-1786 provide information on Monmouth County Loyalists during the first years in Canada. A large number of the 2nd Battalion of New Jersey Volunteers had settled together in New Brunswick. A “List of Volunteers” compiled on July 14, 1784 (eight years after 60 Shrewsbury Loyalists marched to Sandy Hook to establish the group) includes 27 likely Monmouth Countians. Four were junior officers who served continuously through the war (Ensign Lewis Thomson, Lieutenant John Combs, Lieutenant Cornelius Thomson, and Ensign John Leonard).

The 1st Regiment of the Kings Rangers was established halfway through the year, made up partially of Monmouth Countians who tired of the New Jersey Volunteers. They settled in Nova Scotia. A June 12, 1784 roll lists 85 household heads including eleven probable Monmouth County families:

• Lieutenant John Throckmorton (with wife and 2 two servants, 500 acres),

• Ensign John Robins (single, 500 acres),

• Ensign Joseph Beers (with wife, child, servant, 500 acres),

• Sergeant Alexander Campbell (with wife and child), 200 acres),

• Privates Peter Rose, Matthew Griggs, Thomas Smith, John Croxen, John Jackson, Daniel Wall, William Armstrong (all single with 100 acres each).

Ward Chipman, the Muster Master for the Canadian Maritime Provinces, compiled rolls of “disbanded” American officers and widows of officers in his provinces. Ten likely Monmouth Countians are listed:

• John Horner, Lydia Horner, Anthony Woodward, Anthony Woodward Jr., Richard Lawrence, Michael Wardell (at Bellevue in Beaver Harbor, July 1, 1784);

• John Leonard (at Digby, May 29, 1784);

• John Taylor (1st NJ Volunteers), John Williams (at Gulliver's Hole, St. Mary's Bay, and Sissiboo, June 6, 1784);

• John Throckmorton (“Preparing to settle in the Island of Saint John” on August 12, 1784).

There are other records of land grants being made to Loyalists in 1784. At least four more prominent Monmouth County Loyalists received significant grants of land.

• Nova Scotia: Captain Samuel Leonard, New Jersey Volunteers, 700 acres (October 8) and Major Thomas Leonard, 1000 acres (October 22);

• Cape Breton Island: Captain Thomas Crowell, 500 acres (March 15) and Major John Antill, 1,000 acres (November 28).

An undated Canadian report, "List of Provincial Officers that Served in North America During the Late War" included the following probable Monmouth Countians as active:

• 1st Battalion, New Jersey Volunteers - Captains John Taylor, Samuel Leonard; Lieutenants John Thomson, John Lawrence, James Britton, Henry Britton, Ensigns John Woodward, Joseph Britton, Ozias Ansley, Reuben Hankinson;

• 2nd Battalion, New Jersey Volunteers - Lieutenant Cornelius Thomson, Ensigns Robert Morris, John Leonard;

• Roger's Rangers - Lieutenant John Throckmorton, Ensign Joseph Beers, John Robins.

A list of retired officers on half-pay included: Lt. Colonels John Morris, Elisha Lawrence; Majors John Antill, Thomas Leonard; Captains John Longstreet, Robert Morris, Lieutenants John Throckmorton, Thomas Okerson; Ensign John Robins.

Retired or not, Elisha Lawrence was entrusted by the British to make land grants to New Jersey Volunteers under his leadership. He granted 36 Loyalists 300 acres each on July 2, 1785. A year later, at St. John, Jonathan Odell (formerly of New Jersey) made 613 land grants in New Brunswick. Dozens of possible Monmouth Countians were among these grantees including Catherine Reading.

Canada was not a frozen wasteland. But it was cold, the land was untamed, and support from the British fell short of expectations. The New Jersey emigres were not frontiersmen; most farmed land that had been cleared for decades. During the war, most lived on British rations or food purchased at New York City markets. Given all of this, there should be no doubt that while a few Loyalists prospered (Joseph Allen soon owned several mills and a great deal of land in Quebec), most found life in Canada, particularly in the early years, very difficult.

Related Historic Site: United Empire Loyalists Heritage Centre (Ontario)

Sources: List of Loyalists, Great Britain, Public Record Office, Colonial Office, CO 5, v97, #427; Loyalists Evacuated from New York to New Brunswick, (David Bell, Early Loyalist St. John, Fredericton, NB: New Ireland Press, 1983), compiled by Edward Kipp; Advertisement in Royal Gazette in Great Britain, Public Record Office, Colonial Office, Class 226, vol 9, folio 5-6; List of Provincial Officers, Great Britain Public Record Office, T64/23; Joseph Allen’s bio, United Empire Loyalists, Loyal Directory: http://www.uelac.org/Loyalist-Info; United Empire Loyalists, Loyal Directory: http://www.uelac.org/Loyalist-Info; Library of Congress, Early American Newspaper, New Jersey Gazette, reel 1930; List of Refugees from the Province of New Jersey, David Library, British HQ Papers, Carleton Papers, #7258; David Bell, American Loyalists to New Brunswick: Passenger Lists (Formac, 2015); Return of the Port Roseway Associated Loyalists, www.buckingham-press.com/project; Associated Loyalists in Report on Canadian Archives (Ottawa: S.E. Dawson, 1894) p403; National Archives, Papers of the Continental Congress, reel 66, item 53, #276-94. Library of Congress, Peter Force Collection, series 7C, box 24, folder 3, 53:281-7; Notice, David Library of the American Revolution, Great Britain Public Records Office, British Headquarters Papers, #7575; Library of Congress, Rivington's New York Gazette, reel 2906; Diary of Sarah Scofield Frost, Migration by Ship/United Empire Loyalists' Association of Canada, www.uelac.org/Loyalist-Ships/Loylalist-Ships.php; Captain John Hatfield : A Genealogy of the Descendants of Captain John Hatfield, Loyalist (New York: Genealogical Publishing Co, 1943) p10; Janice Potter-MacKinnon, While the Women Only Wept: Loyalist Refugee Women Eastern Ontario (Montreal: MacGill U.P., 1993) p 135-6; United Empire Loyalists, Loyal Directory: http://www.uelac.org/Loyalist-Info; Governor Parr to Guy Carleton in Alfred Jones, “Letter of David Colden, Loyalist, 1783”, American Historical Review, October 1919, vol. 25, p81 n5; John Morris to Guy Carleton, David Library of the American Revolution, Great Britain Public Records Office, British Headquarters Papers, #8799; Return of Troops to Settle in Nova Scotia. Great Britain Public Record Office, WO 36/3, p 96; Richard Robins, Report on American Manuscripts, Library of Congress, v4, p336; Richard Robins to Guy Carleton, David Library of the American Revolution, Great Britain Public Records Office, British Headquarters Papers, #9022; Sketch of the Movement of the Troops, Clements Library, U Michigan, MacKenzie Papers, October 1783; Return of Loyalists Gone from New York to Nova Scotia, Great Britain Public Record Office, WO 36/3, p 97; Digitized Manuscripts: Loyalists in the Maritimes – Database: Ward Chipman, Muster Master (http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/military-heritage/loyalists/loyalists-ward-chipman/pages/search.aspx); Muster Roll of the King’s Rangers, 1784, www.islandregister.com/kingsrangers/html; Muster Roll, King's Rangers, Capt Samuel Hayden, June 24, 1784, www.islandregister.com/kingsrangers/html; 2nd Battalion of New Jersey Volunteers, List of Volunteers, Collections of the New Brunswick Museum, folder 75, box 9; Nova Scotia Archives, Land Papers, http://www.novascotia.ca/nsarm/virtual/landpapers/archives.asp?ID=183&Doc=memorial&Page=201100512; List of Grantees, We Lived: A Genealogical Newsletter of New Brunswick Sources: http://freepages.geneaology.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cannbfam/SJ.pdf; Michael Adelberg, Biographical File, unpublished at the Monmouth County Historical Association.