Local descendants remember United Empire Loyalists
Dressed in his 18th century garb, Robert McBride said he’s always been aware of his Loyalist blood.
“I have known I was a Loyalist all my life. I have seven Loyalist ancestors,” the 66-year-old retired educator said. “It’s just a lifelong passion.”
McBride, the past present of the United Empire Loyalists’ Association Canada and the local Kawartha branch of the organization, led a flag-raising ceremony at City Hall on Wednesday to mark Loyalist Day.
The original United Empire Loyalists were colonists living in British North America who left their home and fled to Canada in the aftermath of the American Revolution in the 18th century.
The Loyalists wished to remain faithful subjects of the Crown and they came to Canada so they could continue to live under those same institutions and to escape persecution by the American republicans. Others came to escape slavery.
Wednesday marked the anniversary of the Constitutional Act of June 19th, 1791, which created the province of Upper Canada, or Ontario as we know it today, and this law came into being as a direct result of Loyalist influence.
“It is important to recognize in this ceremonial manner the legacy of the United Empire Loyalists who sacrificed everything they had accomplished and built in the land that they left behind for the principle of loyalty to the Crown and freedom from the persecution,” McBride said during Wednesday’s event, attended by Mayor Daryl Bennett, Peterborough MPP Jeff Leal and Peterborough County Warden J. Murray Jones.
“They had to start all over again building their farms, mills and industry as well as new communities, towns and cities in what became known as Ontario.”
Bill Atkinson, the current president of the Kawartha branch of the United Empire Loyalists’ Association Canada, said it’s important to keep the history relevant today.
“We need to keep the history alive. It is our ancestry. They founded the country,” the 67-year-old retired Ministry of Natural Resources employee said.
Harry Danford, a former Hastings Peterborough MPP, himself of Loyalist ancestry, developed a private member’s bill to declare June 19 as United Empire Loyalist Day in Ontario. Danford’s bill passed into law in December 1997.
June 19 is now an official day formally established by the Ontario Government to commemorate and celebrate Loyalist heritage.
Through a newsletter, branch meetings in the Peterborough area, special events, displays and participation in heritage and genealogical events, the Kawartha Branch helps interested people and members network and share their interest in history and genealogy.