The Simcoe Loyalist. Book Your Calendars

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1 The Simcoe Loyalist Newsletter of the Governor Simcoe Branch of the United Empire Loyalists' Association of Canada. Volume XLIII, Issue #2, March Inside this Issue: Upcoming Meetings: Apr 5, May 3 1 Scholarship Challenge; Book Sale; Pres. Msg 2 Region Meeting Apr 8; Toronto Br. Meeting 3 Hamilton Banquet June 19; 4 Fashions of the Great War 4 AGM: President Report; Treasurer s Report 5 Loyalists of Toronto 6 UELAC Conference; Jacob Weegar Certificate 7 Upcoming meetings: Annual Potluck and Auction, Montgomery Inn, Wed., Apr. 5, :30pm Our Spring potluck and auction at Montgomery Inn has been a fun activity each year for twenty years or more. It is a great opportunity to enjoy tasty food and good friends, some who can't make it out to our regular meetings. Perhaps you will win the door prize, or buy a ticket and take home one of the raffle prizes. Or buy that little item on the auction table just the thing you always wanted. To reserve tickets, please contact: Robert Heath 15 Patika Ave. Weston, ON M9N 2E rnheath@hotmail.com "Toronto Statue to Queen Elizabeth II" by Garry Toffoli on Wed. May. 3, 2017 at 7:30pm The Canadian Royal Heritage Trust (CRHT) is the chief organization spearheading and sponsoring The Queen Elizabeth II Blue Sapphire Statue Project, a national initiative to install a distinguished statue of Her Majesty at Queen's Park, the grounds of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario in Toronto, Canada. The go-ahead plan is to unveil the statue in 2017 to commemorate 150 years of Confederation, which coincides with the Queen's Anne Neuman, grand-daughter Victoria Heath and Cynthia Young at the February potluck luncheon cut the birthday cake to Simcoe. John Graves Simcoe, army officer, lieutenantgovernor of Upper Canada (born 25 February 1752 in Cotterstock, Britain; died 26 October 1806 in Exeter, Britain). Simcoe served as an officer with the British army in the American Revolutionary War, but is best known to Canadians as the first lieutenant-governor of the new British colony of Upper Canada, which later became Ontario. Book Your Calendars Next Gov. Simcoe Branch Meetings/Events Regular meetings are held the first Wednesday of each month, October to May, at St. David s Towers, in the Community Room, 51 Donlands Ave. at the Danforth, 7:00 pm for 7:30 meeting. Apr 5: Potluck, Montgomery Inn Apr 8: Region Meeting, Tillsonburg Apr. 19: Toronto Branch Meeting: DNA May 3: Statue of Queen Elizabeth II May 17: Toronto Branch Mtg: Roads of Ontario June 19: Loyalist Day (Queen s Park?) June 19: Hamilton Branch Banquet June 22-25: UELAC Conference, London More details on later meetings in next issues. The Governor Simcoe Branch preserves and promotes Loyalist heritage with the assistance of a Grant from the province of Ontario. March 2017 Simcoe Loyalist Page 1

2 65th year on the throne -- the "blue sapphire" anniversary of Her Majesty's remarkable reign. As Elizabeth II has been our Sovereign for almost half of Canada's entire history since Confederation in 1867, the CRHT Statue Committee believes it makes eminent sense to celebrate these two momentous milestones with a bronze portrait of Her Majesty. The models who presented the clothing from years between 1890 and 1930 at the February meeting Garry will describe and explain the history behind some of the other statues of royalty in Canada, especially those of the Queen, to put the new statue into historical context, and then discuss this current project. Garry Toffoli is Vice-Chairman & Executive Director of the Canadian Royal Heritage Trust and a recipient of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee and Golden Jubilee Medals. He is also the Toronto- Hamilton Chairman of the English Speaking Union of Canada and a member of several royaltyrelated groups, including the Monarchist League of Canada and the Royal Commonwealth Society. Garry is a co-author of numerous books, including "Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother " and "Royal Tours : Home To Canada". His first novel, "Ruritania on the Rideau, was published in Garry will be remembered by a number of members as the Founder and Organizer of the Queen's Birthday Parade 1984 to 2003, in which the Gov. Simcoe Branch participated for many years. UELAC Scholarship Challenge Target $300 for Canada 150 Scholarship Project This year the scholarship committee introduced a 2017 fundraising project to promote the Loyalist Scholarship Endowment Fund. Our goal is to build a strong funding foundation to sustain UELAC scholarship for years to come. We have asked UELAC branches to collect 150 toonies for scholarship marking Canada's 150th anniversary of Confederation. July 1, 2017 is the end date. Gov. Simcoe Branch is fully behind this project. Any donations at meetings and proceeds from the book sale at the May meeting (see below) will be contributed. As United Empire Loyalist descendants, members, and friends who support the UELAC vision statement we can be champions of academic research in the field of Loyalist studies. Donations to Target $300 for Canada 150 will help to build a strong foundation for the future of Loyalist research. Now is our time. Donations may be made to the UELAC Loyalist Scholarship Endowment Fund, UELAC, 50 Baldwin St., Suite 202, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5T 1L4. A gift to scholarship in 2017 is an investment in our future. May Meeting: Book Sale At the May meeting we will be displaying books for sale. We welcome donations of books especially of a historical nature, art books, coffee table books etc. So, bring some books, and bring your pocket book and support the Canada 150 Scholarship challenge! President s Message Today as I write for the Gov. Simcoe newsletter it is -10* or so outside. The wind is howling around the house and some snowflakes are falling. We have had quite an up and down winter. The warmer weather earlier has given us a false sense of an early Spring. Please join the Branch on Wednesday, April 5th at our annual Pot-Luck Supper at Montgomery s Inn on Dundas Street West. We meet at 6pm and hopefully when all is set up, we start supper at 6:30pm. Please contact Robert Heath to secure your space ($5.00) and to let him March 2017 Simcoe Loyalist Page 2

3 know what you will be bringing... main course or dessert. This night is a fun night with the Auction Sale finishing off the evening. Governor Simcoe Branch has been approached by the Toronto Branch about merging together. The President of the Toronto Branch, Patricia Groom and I have had one meeting. Each Branch will have 2 members whom would be willing to meet together to talk out this situation. This is by no means a done deal. A lot of investigation must be done. YOU, a member of Governor Simcoe Branch will ultimately get to voice your opinions on this. If you have further questions, please contact me. My address in listed with the Executive in this newsletter. Mark on your calendar for our meeting on Wednesday May 3rd as a member of the Canadian Royal Heritage Trust will be there to speak to us. Hopefully it is Garry Toffoli, himself. Whomever speaks will have a great message. Come out and hear the message. Looking forward to seeing you at the April Potluck. Loyally yours, Anne Neuman UE A touch of class. It was amazing how dress changed over this period. Region Meeting Sat. April 8 in Ingersoll The Central West Region Annual Meeting / Seminar will take place on Saturday April 8, 2017, 9:15 am to 4:00 pm at the Local88 Hall, 364 Victoria Street, Ingersoll, Ontario, N5C 3K5. The guest speaker will be author Jennifer DeBruin who will speak about "My Journey Back to the Mohawk Valley". Refreshments will be served and a donation of $5.00 is requested. If you have any questions reach out by or phone to Patricia.Groom.uel@gmail.com Interim Central West Regional VP. Donald Booth presented a certificate of appreciation to Joyce Crook, a faithful participating member of Gov. Simcoe Branch for over thirty years. Joyce also celebrated her 90 th birthday recently. Some from our branch are attending; reach out to President Anne for possible ride-sharing. Toronto Branch Meetings We are welcome to attend meetings at Toronto Branch; please do so, the upcoming topics look great. Be courteous; notify them in advance that you will attend, Monthly meetings are held at the branch office at 40 Scollard Street, Suite 300. Scollard Street is three short blocks north on Yonge Street from Bloor. Once in the lobby, buzz #1500 for access. Members are encouraged to come early for refreshments and to browse in the first-class library and to socialize with fellow members before the formal meeting starts. Wednesday, April 19 th. Genetic Genealogy: Confirming Your Lineage. by Linda Reid Genetic genealogy involves using DNA tests to confirm and to extend a paper-trail family tree. An autosomal DNA (atdna) test can confirm ancestors back five or six (and some-times more) generations by comparing matches of cousins of varying degrees. First cousins share grandparents; second cousins share great-grandparents etc. If three second cousins all match each other and share a segment of DNA at the same place on the chromosomes, we can be confident that it came March 2017 Simcoe Loyalist Page 3

4 from one of a pair of great-grandparents. Sometimes there are surprises and relatives don't match the way we expect! Sound intriguing? Join Toronto Branch to ear Linda Reid share her expertise on genetic genealogy. Wednesday May 17 (Toronto Branch) Heather Crewe will discuss Early Roads in Ontario. Poems and songs are planned; permission to use "A New Home" as published in Loyalist Trails Jan 22 has been requested. The dinner is open to the public and all Loyalists branches will receive an invitation closer to the date. If you are in the Hamilton area please come to dinner. $50 per plate on June 19th at Michelangelos on Upper Ottawa Street, Hamilton. Contact Gloria Howard for tickets glohoward@rogers.com Feb. Potluck Fashions of the Great War The story of ladies fashions during the time around the Great War was well done and most impressive, as you can see by the photos throughout this newsletter. Diane Reid from Toronto Branch and Sarah Walker, with the assistance of the four models told a wonderful and informative story about the way that women s fashions evolved as the role of women evolved through this time period. As women fought for rights, dress evolved as well more comfortable and less restrictive. Celebrating Canada150: Hamilton Br. Banquet Hamilton Branch is organizing a banquet on Loyalists' Day, June 19 in Ontario. The event will celebrate our Canadian history through Loyalists, Confederation and Canada 150. Presentation of colours with a piper; singing of God Save the Queen, loyalists' prayer and a short history of the loyalists and our contribution to Canada. Part way through the evening a video of Sir John A. Macdonald and Confederation will be shown before dessert Our speaker from the Archives of Ontario will talk on "Family Ties: Ontario Turns 150". The meal will be served "Family Style" to go with our speaker's topic. Women broke barriers in nursing as well; gained the right to attend school and to be recognized for their skills. March 2017 Simcoe Loyalist Page 4

5 Women made improvements in their lot in the teaching profession as well during the period. Annual General Meeting: 1 March 2017 President s Report. Ladies and Gentlemen: 2016 has been the best of times and the worst of times. This past year some of our Branch travelled to Summerside PEI for the Annual UELAC Convention where we experienced down east hospitality. During the year, we lost some long-standing members by death or transfer. Let us be thankful for all our friends and families who have gone and those who are still with us today. The Governor Simcoe Branch faces challenges like other organizations. The executive worked hard to bring to you, many good experiences and speakers over this past year. With the objective to promote Loyalist heritage, Jo Ann Tuskin leads the way in Outreach at schools and public events. Members attended two Heritage Fairs held in Toronto. One was at Fork York for the west end schools and the other at Scarborough Civic Centre for the east end schools. At these Fairs, Jo Ann did presentations to the youth while other members of Gov. Simcoe manned the table with information and children s games. Some members were at Fort York for July 1st Celebrations, and again for Simcoe Day in August. As a branch, we also attend Queen s Park on two occasions this past year... June 19th for Loyalist Day and November 11th for the Remembrance Day Ceremony. We had our usual Pot-Luck luncheon in February where we saw the dress styles from various eras of the early 1900's. Our Pot-Luck Dinner in April 2016 at Montgomery s Inn was a great evening with food, fellowship and fun. We had five regular meeting nights, here in this hall. What terrific speakers we had, who kept us entertained and gave to us great information. In 2016 we had a great push to raise monies for the UELAC scholarship. The goal was $ but I do know that all Branches of the UELAC helped to raise far more than that amount. Thank you to the Executive members who without their support I would not be here today. The group is amazing with ideas and always ready to work. We are always open for more volunteers and suggestions. Thank you to all who attend our meetings and help to keep Governor Simcoe s spirit alive. Loyally yours, Anne Neuman UE Treasurer s Report REVENUES 2016 Membership Dues 2017 $2, Membership Dues 2016 $4, Donations Sales table Potluck Dinner April Investment interest UELAC Life Membership 10:00 U.S. Exchange Total Revenues $8, EXPENSES 2016 UELAC membership dues $3,085,00 Meeting supplies Premises rental Speaker fees Simcoe Loyalist Portable Display P.O. Box and postage UEL Toys and DVDs Potluck dinner expenses Certificate application 9.99 Membership in other organizations Website March 2017 Simcoe Loyalist Page 5

6 Donations Bank fees and cheques Sundries Total Expenses ASSETS AT DECEMBER 31, 2016 BNS Bank Balance December 31, 2016 $9, Dynamic Mutual Fund Dec 31, , Books and sales table items 1, Sales Table Cash 0.00 Total Assets $20, Notes to Financial Statements: 1. The Dynamic Mutual Fund is invested by Desjardins Financial Security Investments Inc.. Our bank is The Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS). "Loyalists of Toronto" by Richard Fiennes- Clinton Richard compressed a potential lecture series into one discourse with over a hundred slides to tell us about the Loyalists of Toronto. The province was formed because the Loyalists who settled here and the government followed the reforms that were occurring in England at the time. Several people and their families or groups centred the presentation: - William Berczy brought 64 German families people in John Graves Simcoe who had led the Queen s Rangers, disbanded following the end of the Executive for 2016/7: Colin Heath thanks Richard Feinnes-Clinton American Revolution, called them back and revived them. - Aeneas Shaw, one of the Queen s Rangers and the son of a Scottish Clan Chief - John Stuart had strong influence; his son George Okill Stuart was the first rector of St James Church. He also opened the Home District Grammar School, the first in York. - John Beverley Robinson - John Strachan, a colossal Tory figure whose conservative influence in York and Upper Canada spanned half a century. - William Dummer Powell - Samuel Jarvis family. President E. Anne Heath Neuman UE 3399 Vandorf Rd RR#4 Stouffville ON L4A 7X Secretary & Genealogist: Jo Ann Tuskin UE Unit Fundy Bay Blvd Scarborough M1W 3A Newsletter, Program, Sales: Doug Grant UE S George St. Toronto ON M5A 2M Vice President & OutReach (vacant) Membership Lionel Collier UE Unit 8-B, 256 Jarvis St. Toronto ON M5B 2J Member at Large: Robert Heath UE 15 Patika Ave. Weston, ON M9N 2E Past President, Treasurer Colin Heath UE 114 John St Toronto, ON, M9M 1J Refreshments Erin Tanner 190 Ranleigh Ave. Toronto ON M4N 1X Telephone Committee: Jo-Ann Leake Edgecliff Golfway North York, ON, M3C 3A March 2017 Simcoe Loyalist Page 6

7 A big point made by Richard was the interrelationships of these families and of course their participation in the Family Compact and the influence they had. During their time, the reformers began their work to bring better representation and fairer government to Upper Canada. A fascinating story thanks Richard. UELAC Conference The 2017 UELAC Conference will be held June 22-25, 2017, at the Delta Armoury Hotel in London, ON, co-hosted by London & Western Ontario Branch and Grand River Branch. Join with your Loyalist colleagues to enjoy the visiting, exhibits, bus tours and other activities that make the conference such a great event. For details visit the homepage at and follow the links. Free street parking in evenings on: a. Strathmore Blvd east of Donlands b. East side of Donlands north of Strathmore c. On Glebeholme east of Donlands Cynthia Young Receives Second Certificate At the February Meeting, Cynthia Young received her second certificate, this time to her ancestor Jacob Weegar UEL. Diane Reid who organized the Fashions of the WWI era in dress from an earlier part of the period. Cynthia Young (centre) receives her Loyalist Certificate from Colin Heath (left), Jo Ann Tuskin, Anne Newman and Speaker Diane Reid (Toronto Branch) March 2017 Simcoe Loyalist Page 7

8 Jacob Weegar UEL, Loyalist Ancestor by Cynthia Young Along the north bank of the St. Lawrence River, near a small community called Inglewood lies a neatly preserved 1860 s village of Ontario. As progress urged the development of the St. Lawrence Seaway in 1957, the need to remember early settlers resulted in the creation of Upper Canada Village. Artifacts from early settlements along this shoreline were salvaged before the massive inundation. Many Loyalists arrived in this area between 1783 and 1794 having been displaced from their homes during the conflict for independence by the American Revolution. These early people created settlements that grew into villages similar to the historic village of Upper Canada. Jacob Weegar 1 was one such individual. Jacob Weegar appears on the U.E.L. Executive Mark of Honour List, confirming his loyalty to the Empire. 2 I am fortunate to have had ancestors who keenly followed their history so connecting myself to this Loyalist Ancestor was an enjoyable journey through some paper files and then an interesting hunt through digital records to confirm my lineal proof. Building a credible biography for Jacob Weegar is quite different. There are many records and stories about Jacob Weegar and his family. Not all the information gets correctly transmitted or received. Some of the information has been the victim of 1 There are various spellings of the name including Weigir, Weeger, Wager, Weagar and for this record I will use Weegar, most commonly used in historical references. 2 U.E.L. Executive Mark of Honour List, pg 184 that good old game, telephone tag. The joy ahead for me will come from reviewing a rich source of material, then sleuthing to determine the order and most-likely correct facets of his life. I especially love the discovery of those elusive puzzle pieces that enhance my family story. Preserved in the archives of Upper Canada Village, the Weegar Family Bible provides important data. The yellowed pages of scripted German-English contained in this document shares details of the Weegar family. The record begins noting the birth of Jacob on the 26 th Sept 1755 at Rayne Beck Dutches County state Newyork. 3 His birth and baptismal record confirms this date and notes his parents as Everard Weeger and Catrina Scheever. 4 The Flats as the area was known was on the fringe of the frontier. Settlers sought new lives in the territory of The Six Nations. Along with other stories of the time, land settlement was negotiated with varying degrees of mutual respect. Stories of Jacob s father Everard Weegar suggest he came from Germany along with his sister Catherina and brother Berhard (Barent) around 1750 with another sibling Johann Frederich arriving around Weegar Family Bible MDCCLXVII, Upper Canada Village, St. Lawrence Parks Commission, Morrisburg, On. Transcription of Original by K. Seredynsky. 4 Dutch Reform Church Records, Poughkeepsie and the Flats, Book 39, Page 266,

9 As conflict intensified around independent government, free from the oversight of a monarch, neighbour turned against neighbour. Jacob Weegar joined the loyalist side, serving with the King s Royal Regiment of New York (KRRNY) 5 as a Sergeant. 6 The KRRNY was formed in 1776 when Sir John Johnson and a band of his men reached Montreal Quebec and pleaded with Sir Guy Carleton for support in the fight against the rebels. 7 When the Royal New Yorkers disbanded in 1783, it has been suggested Jacob Weegar and his family settled in the Prince Edward County, later moving to the Dundas Front in Lunenburg District of British North America. Jacob Weegar arrived into the new territory, as many others did, by marching overland. In October 1784 he married Mary Hare in Montreal at Christ Church Cathedral. 8 (Mary s father, Lieutenant Henrich Hare was employed by the Indian Department. In 1779, Henry Hare was captured by a band of rebels when he was on his way to visit his wife Allada for her birthday. In a rogue trial, he was accused as an English spy and hanged in Canojarie. Following the incident, the British demanded an investigation, which resulted in several leaders of the plot being put to death.) 9 5 National Archives of Canada: Microfilm Reel No. B-2867 (MG11, W.O. 28/10), pg In Lunenburg of the Old Eastern District by J.F. Pringle, pg Quebec Vital and Church Records (Drouin Collection) ; 1784, page 37; Mr. Jacob Weegar & Miss Mary Hare were married by publication the 21 st OCtr 9 The Story of Dundas, J. Smyth Carter, pg The Weegar Family Bible (see next page) record notes, Hare Born at fort hunter 8 th Septr 1771 County of Troyon State of Newyork. We was Mariad the 21 st October 1784 by the Reverent Delel Rector Montreal 10 Further notes in this family record show the birth and sponsors for their thirteen children born between 1786 and Jacob Weegar played a formative role in the territory. As early as 1789, he appeared as a member of a jury panel, Court of General Quarter Sessions of the Peace for the District of Lunenburg. 11 Weegar lands were said to be extensive, spreading from Williamsburg to the riverfront of West Williamsburg, now Morrisburg, Ontario. Jacob Weegar obtained patents in the Township of Williamsburg, on east ½ lot 13 (1802), 10 Weegar Family Bible MDCCLXVII, Upper Canada Village, St. Lawrence Parks Commission, Morrisburg, On. Transcription of Original by K. Seredynsky. 11 Lunenburgh or the Old Eastern District by J.F. Pringle, pg 52

10 other veteran Revolutionary warriors at the Battle of Crysler Farm. 12 Church records note the burial of Jacob Weegar, Esq. of Williamsburgh on July 12, 1827 and record he died July 10 th aged 71 years. 13 He was interred in the cemetery of old St. George. When Morrisburg became a village in 1845, the family became member of St. James Anglican Church. The original gravestone was turned over to the authorities during the seaway upheaval for preservation. It was either lost or destroyed. A marble granite now erected at Trinity Churchyard, Riverside Heights was a gift of Malcolm Weegar, one of the ancestors of the original Dundas Weegars. 14 The Weegar Bible held at Upper Canada Village; page showing the Family Record and the east ½ lot 25 and lot 24 all in the third concession. In 1803, when the Dundas Militia was commissioned, replacing the former Militia Fencibles of Williamsburg and Mariatown, Jacob Weegar was gazetted First Lieutenant in the Corps. In 1804, when he was elected the member for Dundas in the third Parliament of Upper Canada, he is officially listed as Captain Jacob Weegar. He held office for four years. Jacob Weegar and his sons fought in the War of and were present with Of the thirteen children born to Jacob Weegar and his wife, Mary Hare, nine made Land Petitions, between 1810 and 1834, under Order-in-Council, substantiating his Loyalist affiliation. Records found to date show at least six of their children married and continued the family legacy in the county of Dundas creating generations descended from Jacob Weegar, U.E.L. Among those ancestors is my great-great-great grandmother Anna Maria, last child of Jacob and Mary Weegar. 12 These notes taken from Rootsweb, Jacob Weegar including two transcripts from the Ottawa Journal, Lutheran Church Records, 1827:Repository, n/a278jpeg 14 These notes taken from Rootsweb, Jacob Weegar including two transcripts from the Ottawa Journal, 1964.