GENEALOGICAL HOTSPOTS IN ESSEX COUNTY
by Cathy Knight
This is merely a quick overview of some of the sources for genealogical and local history buffs in Essex County. It is not meant to be all-inclusive, but to be an overview of the main sites, from a personal perspective – the ones I use, the ones I know about, and what they hold. One of the advantages of living in an area settled so very early is that it has a long and fascinating history. As we near the Detroit Tercentennial in 2001, we start to really appreciate not only how much history attaches to our area, but how many descendants of those first settlers – some dating back to the 1710s – still live on either side of the international border.
For those interested in looking at their roots in Essex County, I suggest you consider the following locations:
1. Essex County Branch – Ontario Genealogical Society
The Essex Branch OGS has an extensive genealogy and local history collection, accumulated over twenty years. It holds all the books of its own extensive publication list, and books and binders of information families with a local connection and family records of many members. Amongst the highlights are copies of the pages of the Botsford Collection (pedigrees of early families, especially of the Anderdon, Malden and Amherstburg area collected by William Botsford, while he was at Fort Malden; typed copies of many Obits from local newspapers dating back into the late 1800s and Obit clippings from the Windsor Star (1974 – 1980); pedigree charts submitted by Essex Branch Members; pedigree charts submitted by participants in the Windsor Centennial Ancestor programme; a huge Queries collection; and a very large collection of histories of both the area and of local families. There is a card catalogue, indexing many of the documents by family surname. Besides information of specific local interest, the Branch also maintains an extensive collection of newsletters from other OGS branches, and of many Genealogy Societies in Canada and in the Unites States.
The Essex Branch Collection is now co-located at the Windsor Public Library, Main Branch. . The books are held on open shelf reserve on the second floor, and are available during the Library’s general hours. (See Below)
Members of Essex Branch OGS receive a quarterly newsletter, Trails. This journal focuses on genealogical issues specific to Essex County research., including a “Queries” section.
Membership in the Essex Branch OGS “piggy-banks” on membership in the Ontario Genealogical Association. On the Web, OGS is found at URL: http://www.ogs.on.ca/ .
Website:
2. Windsor Public Library – Central Branch
The Central Resource Library opened in 1973 with 101,467 square feet on 3 floors - 60,000 square feet of public areas. Space, in the lower level, is utilized by the Municipal Archives (see below). The Local History Collection is held on the Second Floor, as is the Genealogical Reference section. In addition to an extensive collection of local books, scrapbooks, and files, the Library maintains a large collection of records on microfilm and microfiche. Included amongst the newspapers are the Amherstburg Echo, from November 1874, The Windsor Star (and its precursors) from 1893, The Kingsville Reporter from mid-1893, The Leamington Post and News from 1907. It has the complete list of Kent County tombstone transcripts on fiche. It has all the Quebec and Ontario Censuses released to date, and it has Loiselle’s Marriage Index on microfilm. All the City Directories for Windsor from the 1890s are available in hard copy, or on microfilm. The Library holds the Ontario Vital Records Index for Births/Marriages/Deaths released to date. In the Genealogical Reference Section, the Library maintains a set of Tanguay, and the “Red” Drouins, and many, many other provincial, national and international genealogical reference books.
The hours are : Monday – Wednesday - 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.; Thursday - 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.; Friday & Saturday: - 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Sunday (Jan. 10 to Apr. 25) - 1 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Central Resource Library, 850 Ouellette Avenue, Windsor, Ontario N9A 4M9
Phone: (519) 255-6770, Fax: (519) 255-7207
The Library has photocopy machines ($.25/ page), three microfilm reader/printers, two with microfiche read/print capacity also ($0.15/page), and several other microfilm and microfiche
Website:
http://www.city.windsor.on.ca/wpl
3. Windsor Municipal Archives
The Municipal Archives acquires, preserves and makes available for research historic records of the City of Windsor, its boards and commissions. These records date from 1854, the year Windsor was incorporated as a village, and include documentation on communities that became part of Windsor (Ford City/East Windsor, Ojibway, Riverside, Sandwich, Walkerville and the Townships of Sandwich East, West and South). The Archives has a multi-media collection including paper documents (journals, letters, diaries), posters, photographs, architectural drawings, maps, plans, audio tapes and ephemera. The Archives also holds a number of private collections such as the W. F. Herman Papers, Windsor Local Council of Women, and Papers of Green Shield Prepaid Services Incorporated. Everyone is welcome to research the Archives' holdings - Windsor's records are the people's records. There are guides and indexes to lead you through the collections and helpful staff waiting to assist with your questions. Some access restrictions may apply to certain records in order to protect privacy. Photocopying is available for most documents. Charges apply for reprographic services. Archival material cannot be loaned, but may be used in the Archives' Reading Room. To make the most of your visit, they ask that you come with paper and a pencil.
Open Hours : Tuesdays & Wednesday - 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Saturdays - 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Appointments can be made for Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays by calling (519) 255-6770 Ext. 4414. It is co-located at the Central Library Branch of the Windsor Public Library, Lower Level.
4. Windsor’s Community Museum
Windsor's Community Museum is located in the François Baby House, an historic house built in 1812 by François Baby, a prominent French-Canadian. Windsor's Community Museum has a wide array of collections, which document the rich history of this community. Amongst them are:
· The Artifact Collection
Over 15,000 artifacts are carefully stored in the Museum's underground storage facility (under the patio next to the Museum). The oldest artifacts, archaeological material, date from as early as 3000 B.C. with the most recent being examples of local contemporary culture.
· Paintings, Drawings, Prints, Postcards & Photographs Collection
This collection depicts various scenes related to the history of Windsor & Essex County, such as archaeology, architecture, specific communities, industry, persons, transportation, etc.
· The Cartographic & Map Collection
This collection is a well-preserved series of maps dating from the mid-seventeenth century to the present. Many of the maps show patterns of land development, detailing such aspects as lot divisions, geographic features and proposed developments. The collection also includes Fire Insurance Plans, which detail site features and structure construction, dating from 1885.
· The Book Collection
The book collection is intended for reference use only. The collection encompasses a wide variety of subject matter including local history, biographies and museology. Dozens of the Museum's books pertaining to local history are quite rare: for example, they have the only extant copy of the Windsor City Directory for 1874.
· Archival Collection
The Museum has a large archival collection, which may be accessed either through microfilm or microfiche. It contains a wide variety of documentation and is quite comprehensive in its coverage of the history of Windsor, from the time of French settlement until the 1950s.
Newspaper Collection
· Please contact the Museum for a detailed list of holdings
They are located at the François Baby House, 254 Pitt Street West, Windsor, Ontario N9A 5L5
The Museum offers service to the public year round. On Mondays, the Museum is closed. From Tuesday through Saturday the hours are 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The Museum will be open Sunday 2:00 until 5:00 p.m. May 1 through September 30, and for Special Events held on Sundays throughout the year.
Phone: (519) 253-1812 Fax: (519) 253-0919
Email: wmuseum@city.windsor.on.ca
Website:
http://www.city.windsor.on.ca/wpl/museum
5. University of Windsor – Leddy Library
The University of Windsor has a large book collection, with their local history books mainly stored under Call Numbers FC------. In addition, the Library has a large collection of microfilms of considerable potential interest to genealogists. Included are:
Censuses
· the entire Canadian Census for 1871 and 1881
· the Ontario Census for 1861
· all local (Essex and Kent Counties) Census records released for 1851, 1891, 1901
· an assortment of early (pre-1860) Censuses for Nova Scotia and Manitoba
Newspapers on microfilm, from all over the world. Of particular local interest
· Leamington Post and News 1907 – 1995
· assorted Chatham papers 1853 – 1873
· Le Courriere 1884-86; 1908 –09
· Essex Free Press 1895 – 1968
· Essex Record 1871 – 1877
· Amherstburg Echo 1874 – 1981
· Amherstburg Courier 1849 – 1850
· Western District Advertiser 1841 – 1848, 1849 – 1850
· Assorted newspapers of Western Ontario and the Michigan frontier 1817 – 1854 (5 films) These are mostly the precursors of The Detroit News and The Detroit Free Press.
· Western Herald Jan 1833 – Oct 6 1842
· Walkerville News 1934 – 36
· Walkerville Mercury April 1890 – April 1891
· Voice of the Fugitive 1851 – 1852
· Western Chronicle (Centerville, St. Joseph’s Co., MI) Jan 1, 1857 – Mar 16, 1864
The circulating books in the local history collection are on the second floor, the reserve collection of local history books (including Windsor City Directories) are on the main floor, and the microfilms are in the lower level. There are microfilm and microfiche reader printers - $0.35/page.
The Leddy Library is on the Campus of the University of Windsor, 401 Sunset, Windsor, Ontario N9B 3P4.
Winter Semester hours are Monday – Thursday 8:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m., Friday 8:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m., Saturday and Sunday noon – 10:00 p.m.
Phone 519 – 253-3000, ext. 7023
Fax – 519 – 971-3638
Website:
http://www.uwindsor.ca/library/leddy/
6. Archives – University of Windsor Library
The Archives hold several collections, two of which may be of interest to genealogists. One is the collection contains the registers of baptism, marriage, confirmation and burial from St John's Anglican Church, Sandwich, Ontario, Canada.
· Register of Marriages, 1802-1913
· Register of Baptisms , 1802-1915
· Register of Confirmations, 1842-1845
· Register of Burials, 1802-1913
Written permission to use the records of St. John's Anglican Church must be obtained from the Secretary of the church:
3305 Sandwich Street , Windsor, Ontario Canada
N9C 1B2
Telephone Number (519) 253-4824
The Archives also holds the Province of Ontario, Land Registry Books for the Counties of Essex, Kent, and Lambton. These registers are on long term deposit/loan from the Public Archives of Ontario. Essex County has 1,135 volumes from approximately 1847-1955. Kent County has 709 volumes dating from approximately 1818 to 1956. Lambton County has 745 volumes dating from about 1843-1954. Each county's collection contains the following three series:
· Area Series, which provides details on land transfers;
· General Series, which provides details on wills and power of attorney relating to land;
· Miscellaneous Series which gives information about bankruptcies, deposits, and judgements.
A card index has been created which provides access by municipality, date, and type of series.
The Collection is can be seen in the Leddy Library, Room G100, Monday to Friday, 1:30 – 4:00 p.m., or by appointment. Call Special Collections – phone 519-253-3000, ext. 3186
Website:
http://www.uwindsor.ca/library/leddy/
7. Land Record Office Of Essex County
This office contains the land records of Windsor/Essex County and a microfilm collection of probated Wills, as well as Wills/Letters of Administration from the General Register dating back to 1795. The actual Wills were removed and are in the possession of APOLROD.
The Land Record Office is located at 250 Windsor Avenue, 3rd Floor, Windsor, Ontario N9A 6V9 (519) 971-9980 Fax 519) 971-9937
8. Italian-Canadian Genealogy Society
The Society holds informational and instructional meetings at The Caboto Club, 2175 Parent Ave. (corner of Parent and Tecumseh Rd. East), Windsor, ON, N8X 4K2, The most recent meeting was March 8, 2000, after 7:00 p.m.. Call The Caboto Club to confirm the time and date of the next meeting (519-252-8383). They do not maintain a library per se, but are very pro-active in attempting to guide people in doing research on families originating in Italy.
9. Société franco-ontarienne d’histoire et de génélogie - updated!
This is far and away the best and most important Essex County repository of French Canadian records.
Amongst their holdings of over 5000 books are:
· “The Blue Drouins” – an alphabetized transcript of all Catholic marriages in Quebec (with a few entries from Michigan and Ontario) from 1760 to 1935. There are separate volumes, arranged by gender. This extensive collection is no longer available for purchase
· a massive collection of Marriage Register transcripts from Quebec, Ontario and New England.
· transcriptions of otherwise unpublished local Roman Catholic churches in Essex County, like St. Clement’s, McGregor.
· a complete photocopy (not a transcript) of the registers of: SS Simon and Jude (Belle River), St-Pierre-on-the-Thames (Tilbury East), and Immaculée-Conception, Paincourt (Kent Co.)
· Over 400 local French Canadian genealogies
In addition to books, the facility has:
· Online access to Ancestry.ca, which allows for full access the entire, unindexed, Drouin Canadian collection (all parish registers, regardless of denomination, in Quebec, and selected French Catholic Church registers in Ontario, including many Essex County registers to circa 1940.
· A card index of Essex County Obits and 90+ birthdays of local residents, from circa 1980
There is a photocopier on site, with a $0.20/page fee. The Blue Drouins may NOT be photocopied, but must be transcribed.
The collection is now located at Puce Sports and Leisure Centre, 962 Highway 22, Puce, Ontario. The telephone # is: 519-727-4273. They are open Tuesdays from 10:00 a.m. t o 8:00 p.m.; 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on the first Saturday of these months: April through June, and October through December . The library assistants are all fully bilingual, and will happily work with you in either French or English. Their email address is: windsoressex@francogenealogie.com
You may visit once a year for free, but the Société asks that, if
you visit more frequently than once a year, you join the
organization. The
annual fees are $25.00.
In additional $10.00, you may purchase an annual subscription to the
Société’s glossy magazine Le
Chaînon, published
quarterly, (in
French). If you, like
me, are not French-speaking, this is a wonderful opportunity to
expand on your understanding of
the French language.
Website:
http://www.francogenealogie.com
The website may be viewed in French or in English. This site will direct you to the Online Store, where all the Ontario publications of the Société, including those from outside Essex and Kent Counties, can be purchased.
10. Family History Centre
Family History Centres (FHC) are essentially branches of the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, and are located in Latter Day Saints Churches throughout the world. Each Centre has some records in common on microfiche and/or CD:
The Ancestral File
The International Genealogical Index
Scottish Church Records
Social Security Death Index
Military Index
The Catalogue
In addition, each Centre “specializes” in items they feel are of particular interest to patrons likely to go into that individual site. The Windsor FHC has a collection of British records built up over almost two decades. It includes an almost complete set in Birth/Marriage/Death Indexes for England to around 1910, and for Scotland to 1875. There are extensive Parish Registers and Census Records for England and Scotland on microfilm. There are a large number of Quebec Parish Registers on microfilm, and Loiselle’s Marriage Index, with a partial addendum. The Windsor FHC has a growing collection of local records, including all Essex County national Censuses released (to date); The Botsford Files ( pedigree charts amassed by a former Directoe of the Fort Malden [see below] Historicl Site); The Commemorative Biographical Records for Essex, Kent and Lambton Counties; the Index to and transcripts of the probated Wills of the Western Districy and (later) Essex County : Surrogate Court Records (1795 – 1903); and the Ontario Vital Records Index for Births/Marriages/Deaths released to date.
Please note, the actual microfilms of the Ontario Vital Records are held in the Chatham FHC, 19 Brian St., Chatham.
The Windsor FHC is open Tuesday and Thursday 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., and 6:30 – 9:00 p.m., Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., and is co-located in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 3550 Forest Glade Drive (corner of Forest Glade Drive and Lauzon Road), Windsor, Ontario N8R 1X9. Phone – 519-735-4433.
Website:
11. Harrow Early Immigrant Research Society - H.E.I.R.S
H.E.I.R.S. is an organization specializing in local and family history of the Harrow-Colchester area. They have an extensive library, and have a photocopier and a microfilm reader-printer.
Holdings of H.E.I.R.S
· Genealogical Materials, published and unpublished, clippings, birth-marriages-deaths. Census records. Thousands of local surnames and related families are being indexed. Cemetery index for the area.
· Historical Materials, published and unpublished; personal collections and files of clippings. Microfilm of The Amherstburg Echo, The Harrow News, and The Kingsville Reporter (to 1949), microfilm of Municipal, Church, Local, and Family information.
· Regional Historical and Genealogical information relating to the Detroit River area, Ontario counties of Essex, Kent, and Lambton, and the State of Michigan, USA
H.E.I.R.S has published Harrow and Colchester South, 1792 – 1992, which is a 200-page hardcover history, published in 1993. It is fully indexed and illustrated. Topics include: settlement, pioneers, wars, municipal government, transportation, agriculture, industry, commerce, communications, ethnic groups, schools, churches, societies, culture, and recreation. Cost: $35.00 (Canadian), plus postage and insurance, if mailed. H.E.I.R.S. has also created the only all-name Index to the Commemorative Biographical Record for the County of Essex, and has transcribed the tombstones for the 17 cemeteries in Harrow-Colchester (listed below in The Marsh Collection). Although these Cemeteries and the Index have not yet been published, H.E.I.R.S has made copies available to other local genealogical associations, and they can be accessed at the H.E.I.R.S Library.
H.E.I.R.S is located at 23 McAfee St., Harrow and Colchester South Community Centre, Arena Building, Harrow, Ontario. The mailing address is P.O. Box 53, Harrow, Ontario, N0R 1G0. The phone number is 519-738-3700. The Library is open Third Tuesday of the month or by appointment. It is often open on Tuesdays. Please phone to check.
Website:
http://www.heirs.ca
12. The Marsh Collection
The Marsh Collection is based on the extensive record and artifact collections of …… and …… Marsh. ….. Marsh was the owner editor of the Amherstburg Echo, and had a lifelong love for the Amherstburg area. The collection they amassed over a lifetime is the basis of the collection, which focuses on southwestern Essex County (Amherstburg, Anderdon, Malden), and also of local maritime/fishing/shipping history.
Some of the Holdings of The Marsh Collection:
Census Records on Microfilm for Essex County:
· 1851 + index, 1861, 1871 + index, 1881, 1891, 1901 (indexed for some areas)
Town and Township Records (microfilm)
· Amherstburg, Anderdon and Malden ( Council Minutes, Bylaws and Assessment/Collector's Rolls)
Directories and Voters' Lists: various years for Essex County :
· (selected townships), Amherstburg, Colchester North Township, Malden Township, Sandwich
Newspapers (microfilm):
· Amherstburg Echo 1874-Present
· Canadian Emigrant (Sandwich) 1832-1836
· Voice of the Fugitive (Sandwich) 1851-1852
· Western Herald (Sandwich) Jan. 1838 - Oct. 1842
· River Town Times (Amherstburg) 1995- present
Church Records (other than those listed above)
· St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Amherstburg
· St. John's Anglican Church, Sandwich (Windsor)
· Christ Church Amherstburg (Anglican)
Marriages:
· Marriage Register of the Western District 1796-1856
· Marriage Records of Essex County 1858-1864
· Early Marriage Records of Monroe County, Michigan
· Marriage Bonds of Ontario 1803-1834
· Marriage Notices of Ontario 1813-1854
· Ontario Marriage Notices 1830-1856
· More Notices from Methodist Papers 1830-1857
· Marriages in the Amherstburg Courier 1849-1850
· The Canada Evangelist July 1851-October 1858
· Index to Marriage Records in Ontario 1869-1873
Wills:
· Essex County Wills index (selected; early 1800s)
Cemeteries (other than those listed above):
· Baptist Cemetery on Given Road
· Harrow Baptist Cemetery
· Christ Church Colchester
· Clark Family Cemetery
· Colchester Memorial Cemetery
· St. Mark's Cemetery
· Gilgal Cemetery (Pollard Farm Cemetery)
· Quick Family Cemetery
· Ferriss Family Cemetery
· Hoffman/Huffman Family Cemetery
· Old Iler Settlement Cemetery
· New Iler Cemetery
· Hutchins Family Cemetery, County Rd. 50
· McCormick Family Cemetery, Dunn Rd.
· Central Grove AME Church Cemetery, Walker Rd.
· Erie Cemetery
· Methodist Cemetery behind Harrow Anglican Church
· St. Francis Xavier Cemetery, Ecorse, Michigan - stones
Births:
· More Notices from Methodist Papers 1830-1857
· Births in the Amherstburg Courier 1849-1850
Deaths:
· More Notices from the Methodist Papers 1830-1857
· Death Notices from the Christian Guardian 1836-1850
· Deaths in the Amherstburg Courier 1849-1850
· Death Notices from the Christian Guardian 1851-1860
· The Canada Evangelist July 1851-October 1858
· Obituaries from Ontario's Christian Guardian 1861-1870
The Marsh Collection has several publications, including the two volume set Amberstburg 1796 – 1996, and With The Tide.
The Marsh Collection is at 235 "A" Dalhousie Street in Amherstburg, Ontario offers local researcher a valuable free service. They ask that you first call (519) 736-9191.
13. Bicentennial Branch – United Empire Loyalists
Over two hundred years ago, the American Revolution shattered the British Empire in North America. The conflict was rooted in British attempts to assert economic control in her American colonies, after her costly victory over the French during the Seven Years War.
When protests and riots met the British attempts to impose taxes on the colonists, the British responded with political and military force.
Out of the struggle between the Thirteen Colonies and their mother country emerged two nations: the United States and what would later become Canada.
Not all of the inhabitants of the Thirteen Colonies opposed Britain. In fact, this is regarded by many descendants on the northern side of the Canada/USA border as the “First American Civil War.”
The United Empire Loyalists were those colonists who remained faithful to the Crown and wished to continue living under the Crown in the New World.
Therefore, they left their homes to settle eventually in what remained of British North America.
The Loyalists came from every class and walk of life. Some depended on the Crown for their livelihood and status and had considerable wealth and property. Many were farmers and craftsmen. There were clerks and clergymen, lawyers and labourers, solders and slaves, Native Americans, college graduates, and people who could not write their own names. Recent immigrants from Europe also tended to support the Crown.
They had little in common but their opposition to the revolution.
Their reasons for becoming Loyalists were as varied as their backgrounds. Some had strong ties with Britain: others had simply supported what turned out to be the losing side. Local incidents, fear of change, self-interest, political principles, emotional bonds - one or any combination of these influenced their decision to remain loyal to the Crown. The common thread that linked these diverse groups was a distrust of too much democracy, which they believed resulted in mob rule, and an accompanying breakdown of law and order. Loyalists believed that the British connection guaranteed them a more secure and prosperous life than republicanism would.
Historians estimate that ten to fifteen per cent of the population of the Thirteen Colonies - some 250,000 people - opposed the revolution; some passively, others by speaking out, spying, or fighting against the rebels.
Because of their political convictions, Loyalists, who remained in the Thirteen Colonies during the revolution, were branded as traitors and hounded by their Patriot (rebel) neighbours. Patriot authorities punished Loyalists who spoke their views too loudly by stripping them of their property and goods and banishing them on pain of death should they ever return. They coerced others into silence with threats. Throughout the Thirteen Colonies that were under Patriot control, Loyalists could not vote, sell land, sue debtors, or work as lawyers, doctors, or schoolteachers. To be fair, in Loyalist-controlled areas, supporters of the Revolution met with similar treatment at the hands of British authorities. Approximately 70,000 Loyalists fled the Thirteen Colonies. Of these, roughly 50,000 went to the British North American Colonies of Quebec and Nova Scotia. For some, exile began as early as 1775 when "committees of safety" throughout the Thirteen Colonies began to harass British sympathizers. Other responded by forming Loyalist regiments: The King's Royal regiment of New York, Roger's Rangers and Jessup's Corps were the best known of some 50 Loyalist regiments that campaigned actively during the war. The signing of the Treaty of Paris (1783), which recognized the independence of the United States, was the final blow for the Loyalists. Faced with further mistreatment and the hostility of their countrymen, and wishing to live as British subjects, Loyalists who had remained in the Thirteen Colonies during the war now were faced with exile. Those who wished to remain in North America had two choices: Nova Scotia (Maritimes) or Quebec (Ontario-Quebec). Fleeing in panic and confusion, forced to leave behind most of their possessions and burdened with the prospect of building a new land, the Loyalists faced unpromising beginnings. The lands they were to settle were isolated, forbidding and wild. In addition to the anguish of defeat and the trauma of exile, Loyalists had to face isolation and feelings of helplessness. Shortages, harsh living conditions, and worry plagued the Loyalists in the hastily erected refugee camps. Many had to live in tents during their first winter. Many didn't live through the first winter; many left with the relief fleets when they set sail the next spring. Those who did survive had to deal with delays in completing land surveys and shortages of tools and provisions. But the Loyalists' determination and resourcefulness assured the ultimate success of many of the new settlements. In the spring of 1776 the first shipload of Loyalists left the Thirteen Colonies for Nova Scotia. The British government gave them free passage and permitted them to take necessary articles with them. By 1783 there were about 50,000 Loyalist leaders and refugees living in New York. Although the peace treaty signed that year promised them safety, the Loyalists heard that the Patriot victory had increased persecution. Therefore, up to 30,000 decided to leave for Nova Scotia. Many of the settlers were members of disbanded Loyalist regiments. Colonel Edward Winslow who came from New England, was an aristocrat. There were representatives of such minority groups as Dutch, Huguenots, and Quakers, and a number of Loyalists brought slaves with them. The Black Loyalists were members of an exclusively Black corps of the British army who had been promised their freedom if they would support the Crown. Among their numbers was Henry Washington who had run away from the service of George Washington. Assuming their equality with white soldiers, the Black Loyalists expected similar treatment. Sadly, this did not turn out to be the case since benefits in the form of subservience, if not actual slavery, about half of the Black Loyalists soon left for Sierra Leone. Approximately half of the refugees settled near the Saint John River with a concentration at the mouth of the river around an excellent harbour. This developed onto the city of Saint John. There were also settlements along the south coast of the peninsula at Shelburne, Digby, and Lunenburg. The Loyalists did not mix well with the older settlers and preferred to live, in groups, by themselves as far away from them as possible. They doubted the loyalty of these people who had called themselves "Neutral Yankees" during the war, and they resented their monopoly over government appointments. Consequently they began to petition the government to separate Loyalist settlements in the Saint John River valley, as well as smaller settlements on St. John's Island (Prince Edward Island) and Cape Breton Island, from the government in Halifax. The British government granted there requests in 1784. New Brunswick, whose population was 90% Loyalist became a separate colony with it's capital 90 miles upriver from Saint John. Governor Sir Guy Carlton, now titled Lord Dorchester as a reward for his loyalty to the Crown when he was governor of New York, named the settlement Fredericton in honour of Frederic, the Duke of York.
Although there was some Loyalist migration into what is today the Province of Quebec, by far the greatest numbers came to present-day Ontario. The disbanded Loyalist regiments provided the majority of settlers. Colonel John Butler, a powerful landowner in the Mohawk Valley of New York, organized Butler's Rangers and fought along with Native Loyalists. He led his followers to the west bank of Lake Erie, the Detroit River, and the Thames River. Colonel Butler continued his association with the Natives as Superintendent of Indian Affairs and head of their militia. Native Americans, and notably members of the Five Nations in New York, tended to side with the British because they believed the British were more likely than the Patriots to protect them. Approximately 2,000 followed Thayendanegea (Joseph Brant) into British North America after the war. The majority settled in the valley of the Grand River; smaller groups went to the head of Lake Ontario and to the shores of the Bay of Quinte.
Disbanded Loyalist Regiments also settled along the St. Lawrence River upstream from Montreal and along the North shore of Lake Ontario. At their request they were settled according to nationality and religion. The majority of the settlers had been frontier farmers before the revolution and they were used to wilderness conditions, but they had lost almost everything they owned when they fled from their homes. The government gave them a limited amount of support with the most extensive reward being in the form of free land. They granted land to the heads of households according to their military rank and extended grants to wives and children born and unborn.
The Loyalists who came to Quebec brought with them the tradition of freeholds land tenure, British laws and representative government. They did not want to give up these rights by living under the Quebec Act which guaranteed the seigneurial system of landholding and denied an elected assembly to the people of that colony. Shortly after their arrival, Loyalist representatives petitioned the government to alter the system of holding land in Quebec to freehold tenure similar to that of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.
In 1791 the British Parliament passed the Canada Act, usually known as the Constitutional Act, which provided for the division of Quebec into Upper and Lower Canada. Both colonies were granted an elected assembly and the freehold system of land tenure went into effect in Upper Canada (later Ontario). These laws clearly show the influence of the Loyalists.
Of less practical value than land and supplies, but of more lasting significance to the Loyalists and their descendants, was the government's recognition of the stand that they had taken. Realizing the importance of some type of consideration, on November 9, 1789, Lord Dorchester, the governor of Quebec, declared "that it was his Wish to put the mark of Honour upon the Families who had adhered to the Unity of the Empire..." As a result of Dorchester's statement, the printed militia rolls carried the notation: N.B. Those Loyalists who have adhered to the Unity of the Empire and joined the Royal Standard before the Treaty of Separation in the year 1783, and all their Children and their Descendants by either sex, are to be distinguished by the following Capitals, affixed to their names: U.E. Alluding to their great principle The Unity of the Empire.
The initials "U.E." are rarely seen today, but the influence of the Loyalists on the evolution of Canada remains. Their ties with Britain and their antipathy to the United States provided the strength needed to keep Canada independent and distinct in North America.
The Loyalists' basic distrust of republicanism and "mob rule" influenced Canada's gradual "paper-strewn" path to nationhood, in contrast to the abrupt and violent upheavals in other countries.
In the two centuries since the Loyalists' arrival, the myths and realities of their heritage have intertwined to have a powerful influence on how we, as Canadians, see ourselves. Truly, the arrival of the United Empire Loyalists not only changed the course of Canadian history by prompting the British government to establish the provinces of New Brunswick and Ontario, but is also gave them special characteristics which can be seen today. Perhaps the most striking of these is the motto on the Ontario coat of arms: Ut incepit sic permanet fidelis that is, "As she began, so she remains, Loyal"
The Bicentennial Branch of this national organization has no permanent library, but does meet five times per , at various locations in Essex County. They have an Email address for queries:
Website:
http://www.uelbicentennial.org
14. Essex County Library
The Essex County Library maintains a digital archive and image network is a collection of indexes relating to historical and current events in the County of Essex. The network is still in development and new records are being added on an ongoing basis. The archives include the indexing of various census returns, local newspapers and a picture index of many local sites and artifacts. Click on any one of the four indexes on the left to find more detailed information. Please note that materials formerly available through the LCCIA (Leamington Library) site are available online in the "Newspapers" index (under Heinz Database and Leamington Post) and in the "BMD" index (under Leamington Post). Please remember that the results of your search are simply a citation. If you would like a photocopy of an actual newspaper article or census, you may do so in one of two ways:
Send a SASE to Essex County Library, 360 Fairview Ave. West, Essex, Ontario N8M 1Y3, specifying exactly what you want photocopied. Photocopies are 25 cents per page and payment is required with your request.
If you wish to view the material in person, then please phone (519) 776-5241 ext 5. Arrangements can be made for you to visit the appropriate branch library to view any information from your search.
Website:
http://www.essexcountylibrary.ca
15. Fort Malden
The Resource Centre's library and archival collections focus on the history of Fort Malden, the War of 1812, the Upper Canada Rebellion, the British Indian Department, British military history to 1860 and Essex County history. Collection formats include books, periodicals, vertical files, audio/visual, photographs, slides, maps, plans, microfiche/film and archival documents. The Resource Centre is located at the Interpretive Centre. It is open Monday to Friday between 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
The Resource Centre is open to the public by appointment only and materials are available for use in the library. Books may be borrowed through inter-library loan. Staff are available to assist with the retrieval of information. They can guide in the use of the library/archives, recommend sources and make referrals when necessary. Resource Centre services are subject to fees.
Fort Malden National Historic , PO Box 38, 100 Laird Avenue, Amherstburg, Ontario, N9V 2Z2
Telephone: (519) 736-5416
Fax: (519) 736-6603
E-mail: ont_fort-malden@pch.gc.ca
Website:
http://www.pc.gc.ca/lhn-nhs/on/malden/index_e.asp
16. North American Black Historical Museum
A collection of material promoting Black heritage with a focus on the Underground Railroad Movement and Black Canadian settlement.
277 King St., Amherstburg, Ontario (519) 736-5433
Website:
http://www.blackhistoricalmuseum.com/history.htm
17. Leamington and Mersea Historical Society
This group had it’s collection housed in the old Albuna United Church, on Concession 9, Mersea Township, directly across the street from the Albuna Cemetery. They have a collection of books and documents of local historical interest, and are in the process of producing their own publications. They can be reached at phone 519-326-7252 (voice mail).
18. Kingsville-Gosfield Heritage Society - updated!
The Kingsville-Gosfield Heritage Society was formed in October 1975. The Society is dedicated to the study, teaching and preservation of the local history of the Kingsville-Gosfield area. Some family history material has been collected to document the history of the community, although it is not the primary focus of the organization.
The Society has a private archival collection, which is currently stored in the basement of a member’s home. Plans are underway to eventually create a professional archives open to the public. The collection includes vertical files, photographs and slides, books, and some manuscript material. Research questions can be directed to the Kingsville-Gosfield Heritage Society at kgheritage@yahoo.ca or to the mailing address: Box 36, Kingsville, Ontario, N9Y 2E8.
19. Museums
Essex County has several other wonderful museums relating to many different areas:
Park House Museum
An example of a French frame log house. Built in Detroit, it was dismantled about 1799 and floated down the river to Amherstburg.
214 Dalhousie St. Amherstburg,Ontario
(519) 736-2511
Gordon House
Built in 1798, was totally restored in 1996 - complete with 18th and 19th century antiques. This is a wonderful project and well worth the stop. Beautiful balconies overlook the Detroit River, and inside is a Tea Room, Gallery and gift shop. Gordon House is also the home of the H.M.S. Detroit Project.
268 Dalhousie Street, Amherstburg, Ontario
(519) 736-1133
Website:
http://www.x5ca.net/~hmsdet/gordon.html
Canadian Transportation Museum and Historical Village
The Canadian Transportation Museum is a state-of-the-art 25,000 sq. ft facility. It houses various modes of transportation, from the mid 1800s up to the 1992 Dodge Viper.
The Historic Village features over a dozen buildings of local significance. All buildings have been relocated to the village and display artifacts from a bygone era.
6155 Arner Townline
County Road 23, RR#2
Kingsville, Ontario, Canada
N9Y 2E5
Toll Free: (866) 776-6909
Phone: (519) 776-6909
Website:
http://www.ctmhv.com/index.htm
Comber and District Historical Society and Agricultural Museum
Location: 10405 Hwy. 77, Comber, Ontario
Mailing Address:
Comber and District Historical Society Museum
8840 Hwy. 77 S. R.R. #2
Comber, Ontario, Canada
NOP 1J0
Website:
http://members.tripod.com/swo_heritage/comber.htm
John Freeman Walls Historical Site and Underground Railway Museum
Highway 401 Exit #28 Puce Road, North 1 mile.
519-258-6253
Website:
http://www.undergroundrailroadmuseum.org
20. Heritage Groups Of Essex County
Heritage Essex
· 87 Station Street, Essex, Ontario N8M 2S6
Essex County Historical Society
· 515 Dalhousie Street, Amherstburg, Ontario N9V 3P3
Amherstburg Historic Sites Association
· 214 Dalhousie St., Amherstburg, Ontario N9V 1W4
In my discussion with Alvira Wigle, she indicated that there were a number of other Heritage Groups which are formed are being formed, in part as a response to the amalgamation into larger municipalities, including Sandwich South, Tecumseh, and Maidstone.
21. Kent Branch OGS
The holdings of our sister Branch Library include a number of family histories [ranging from a single page to large volumes] -- and they welcome donation of other family histories. They have exchange newsletters from the other branches of the O.G.S. and exchange of newsletters with some other places. In the collection there are considerable materials relating to Kent County and the various townships thereof. Also there are materials on several counties/districts of Ontario, and of several of the Provinces of CanadaThey have items from some of the States of the U.S.A. and from other countries [including considerable general materials relating to Scotland, England, and Ireland]. Also, in the holdings, the Library tries to maintain copies of Kent Branch's publications. The Library has a set of the indexes to Ontario Births, Marriages, and Deaths as originally released to the public through Ontario Archives on microfilms. In addition, the Chatham Public Library has an extensive genealogical collection, including all local newspapers (with a complete surname index).
Kent Branch OGS is located on the second floor of the Chatham- Kent Public Library, 120 Queen St., Chatham. It is open 1:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. Monday-Saturday except Holidays.
Website:
22. Detroit Society For Genealogical Research
The Detroit Society for Genealogical Research (DSGR) was established in 1936 to bring together persons interested in genealogy and to serve as a center for genealogical activities. The DSGR is a non-profit organization dedicated to aiding people in doing genealogical research. A genealogical workshop and a conference are held annually. Genealogical publications, Genealogy of the French Families of the Detroit River Region, 1701-1936, Denissen Revision, forms, family charts, back copies of the DSGR Magazine, and magazine indexes are available to anyone. I understand they are in the process of preparing the St. Anne’s, Detroit Parish Register’s for publication in time for the Detroit Tercentenary. The DSGR does not perform extensive research for members but will furnish names of genealogical researchers upon request. Monthly DSGR meetings include talks on genealogical topics given by authorities and by panel discussions. Members only may rent tapes of the meetings.
Website:
23. French Canadian Heritage Society of Michigan
The French Canadian Heritage Society of Michigan (FCHSM) was founded in 1980 as an educational, historical, cultural, and genealogical non-profit organization. It seeks to make people aware of the rich culture and history of French Canadians in North America, with special emphasis on those who explored and settled in Michigan. The organizations goals are:
· to promote an awareness of and an appreciation for our French Canadian heritage in Michigan.
· To facilitate contact and interaction among people of French Canadian descent, for the purpose of researching family histories.
· To act as an educational and social group by sponsoring and participating in functions that further interest in and awareness of the French Canadian heritage in North America.
The FCHSM publishes transcriptions of original records, family histories, bibliographic, and methodological articles. The FCHSM's genealogical and historical collection of books, journals, and file folders are housed at the Mount Clemens Public Library. The address is:
phone (810) 469-6200
fax (810) 469-6668
Please contact the library and verify their hours of operation before making a visit. In general, the library does not have the staff to answer your written research questions. Although we try to answer specific research questions mailed to the FCHSM's headquarters, we do not provide a research service due to limited resources and volunteers. Some of the books are in storage and available for members of the FCHSM by appointment only. Mary Freer is the library chairperson and liaison. She can be reached at (810) 791-4126 for an appointment. Or call Neil McIsaac at (810) 264-9472 or Al Trudeau (810) 751-4284 to see if a Wednesday appointment is available.
Website:
http://www.habitant.org/fchsm/
24. BURTON HISTORICAL COLLECTION
Widely known and used by scholars and genealogists, the Burton Historical Collection is a large repository of historical and genealogical materials. The original collection was donated to the Detroit Public Library, in 1914, by Clarence Monroe Burton, a Detroit attorney. Mr. Burton worked for several firms before forming his own company, the Burton Abstract and Title Co., in 1891. He was active in civic affairs and wrote and edited many books and pamphlets concerning Detroit. Books and manuscript materials focus on the history of Detroit and Michigan from the 17th century to the present, encompassing the Great Lakes area, New England and New France. Other materials include a large map collection, pamphlets, newspapers, business records, newspaper clippings, broadsides and scrapbooks. Archives include papers of individuals, groups, businesses, churches and the records of the city of Detroit.
The genealogical collection, one of the finest in the country, includes: books; charts of individual families, federal census population schedules, records of births; marriages, baptisms and cemetery inscriptions; wills and probate records; church membership lists; military records; registers of deeds; newspaper obituaries; biographical encyclopedias; and county and town histories. The genealogical collection is not limited to the United States; it also includes a large collection of Canadian materials and early French records.
The Burton Historical Collection also houses the Edgar DeWitt Jones Lincoln Collection, featuring books and manuscripts on Abraham Lincoln, the Ernie Harwell Collection, featuring books, pamphlets, photographs and newspaper clippings on sports, and the Rare Book Collection. This Collection contains books in all fields of knowledge, many of them landmark works of western civilization. It features original works of authors and illustrators including Samuel Clemens, Walter Crane, Kate Greenaway, Aldous Huxley, D. H. Lawrence, T. E. Lawrence, Eugene O'Neill, Evaline Ness and Laura Ingalls Wilder. Some treasures are: President George Washington's handwritten diary for October 1789 to March 1790; De Honesta, the first cookbook to appear in print, authored by Platina in 1498; Cicero's De Officiis, printed in 1466 — the oldest printed book in the Rare Book Collection; a sequel to Huckleberry Finn, written in pencil by Samuel Clemens; and two original manuscripts from the Little House Series by Laura Ingalls Wilder.
Within the manuscript collections in Burton, items of particular interest include the Grace Bedell letter to Abraham Lincoln, French licenses to voyageurs, a handwritten letter by George Washington, and diaries and papers of local notables such as Anthony Wayne, Lewis Cass and Douglass Houghton.
Several genealogical groups have a close and long-time relationship with the Burton Historical Collection and meet regularly at the Main Library. The Fred Hart Williams Genealogical Society*, the Detroit Society for Genealogical Research and the French Canadian Heritage Society are some of these.
Published items available through the Burton Historical Collection include: French Families of the Detroit River Region, 2nd edition; Diary of Normnd McCleod, written in the 18th century; map of Detroit in 1760; Detroit in 1794, a reproduction of the earliest known watercolor painting of Detroit; Guide to Manuscripts in the Burton Historical Collection; and Genealogical Guide to the Burton Historical Collection.
Main Library
5201 Woodward (one block north of Warren), Detroit, MI
(313) 833-1000
Website:
25. Fred Hart Williams Genealogical Society
Dedicated to the research and preservation of African-American history.
Fred Hart Williams
Genealogical Society
Burton Historical Collection
Detroit Public Library
5201 Woodward Avenue
Detroit, MI 48202
Hotline Phone: (313) 438-3233
Website:
26. Essex County GenWeb Page
This is the local site for Rootsweb, and is a good starting off and jumping on site.
http://www.rootsweb.com/~onessex/index.htm
