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 KIN 
 
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 ANP TIIK 
 
 Loyalists of 
 
 ^ / - O 
 
 BY 
 
 KINGSTON CHURCH. 
 
 With Appendix— The Diary of Sarah iTOSt. 
 
 EDITED WITH NOTES liV 
 RP2V. W. C). WA^'MONT). A., li,. 
 
 R-ctor tit. Mm-y'B L'/i itrrl. , Sttint John, V. R 
 
 SAINT JOHN, N. B.: 
 
 HAHNRS & CO., I'lUNTEllS, fvl PUINCIC WILMAM KrHltBT. 
 
j'r 
 
KINGSTON 
 
 AND TIIK 
 
 LOYALISTS OF THE "SPRING FLEET" 
 
 OK 
 
 A. D. 1783. 
 
 WITH REMINISCENSES OF 
 
 EARLY DAYS IN CONNECTICUT: 
 
 A NARRATIVE. 
 
 SY 
 
 Wa lt k r B at k s , Esq., 
 
 Sometime High Sheriff of the County of Kings. 
 
 i 
 
 TO WHICH IS APPENDED A DIAllY WRITTEN BY SARAH 
 
 FROST ON HER VOYAUE TO'ST. JOHN, N. B., 
 
 WITH THE LOYALISTS OF 1783. 
 
 i 
 
 EDITED WITH NOTES BY 
 W. O. RAYIVIOND, A. B. 
 
 Rector of St. Mnry^a Church, St. John, N. B. 
 
 SAINT JOHN, KB.: 
 BARNES AND COMPANY, 84 PRINCE WILLIAM STREET. 
 
 1889. 
 

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KINGSTON AND THE LOYALISTS OF 
 THE "SPRING FLEET" OF 1783. 
 
 INTRODUCTORY. 
 
 Year by year the task of follcoting reli- 
 able information rej^arding the early his- 
 tory of this provinee becomes increasingly 
 <li(}"icult. 
 
 Already throug.i indifleri-nce and neglect 
 much valuable information has been irre- 
 parably lost. It, therefore, becomes a 
 matter of some importance to preserve in a 
 mon.' permanent form such trustworthy 
 records as are yet in existence. 
 
 It is by no means improbable that nnicli 
 material of real value to the future historian 
 lies liidden from the light of dav in many 
 an old dwelling in this province. Old 
 family documents and letters — faded and 
 musty — consigned in numerous instances 
 to the attic or the lumber-room, are capable 
 of supplying here and there a missing link, 
 or throwing light on some obscure point 
 in our provincial history. 
 
 The publication of the following extreme- 
 ly interesting narrative of the late Walter 
 iiates, Esq., of Kingstoft, will be especially 
 -valuable if it should prove the means of 
 arousing a spirit of inipiiry and investiga- 
 tion amongst the ])osse88ors of old papers 
 And documents. 
 
 In the notes which I have append»Ml to 
 the narrative, occasional reference will be 
 made to the Hislorv of Neto York duriiif/ 
 ihc Hei'olutiona II War, by Thomas Jones, 
 justice of the supreme court of that province. 
 The work is a remarkable on* t is ably 
 edited by Edward Flovd de Lai»oey, a per- 
 sonal friend of Dr. C.'W. Weldon, M. P., 
 of this city, to whose kindiiess I am in- 
 |<lebted for its perusal. 
 
 The position taken by the Loyalists at 
 (the time of the American revolution has 
 been ^rgely misunderstood, and, as a con- 
 
 se(iuence, greatly misrepresented. Their 
 true position is admirably stated in the 
 preface to the work just mentioned, and 
 the following (ptotation is particularly valy* 
 able, as coming frojn a citi/cn of the L'nited 
 States : 
 
 " It is a common belief," says Mr. de 
 Lancey, "that the loval inhabitants of 
 America — the truly loyal, those who acti'd 
 from principle, were the unhesitating suj)- 
 porters of Mie liritish govcrnnjcnt in its 
 unjustifiable and tyrannic invasions of the 
 rights and liberties of its American people. 
 
 " United States writers have naturally, 
 perha[)s, so describe*! them, while the few 
 English historians who have treated Ameri- 
 can History, have either taken a similar 
 view, or have ignored them altogether, 
 
 '* The history of the course of the Loyal- 
 ists at the American Revolutionary epoch, 
 and of their plans for relief from the Brit- 
 ish tyranny which then oppressed America, 
 has never been written. There can be no 
 
 freater error than to suppose that the 
 loyalists as a whole were willing to sub- 
 mit (piietly to the exactions of the Mother 
 Country, and her invasion of their rights 
 and liberties as British subjects. As Ameri- 
 cans they felt those grievances, and were as 
 indignant at the treatment they were sub- 
 jt :;ted to as those of their countrymen who 
 took up arms. But they wished to fight 
 the battle for those rights and liberties and 
 .the redress of those grievances, with the 
 ))OwerfuI weapons whicli the constitution of 
 England gave to them as to other English- 
 men — weapons which had proved successful 
 before as they have proved successtul since 
 in similar emergencies — freedom of speech, 
 ireedom of the pen, freedom of the press. 
 
INTUODrCTOKY. 
 
 TIh'v (Icsirtnl, by political agitation, to 
 forcv tilt' hoiuu government to a change of 
 policy, or to drive it from power and place 
 in ollice the foes of the oppression of the 
 colonies. 
 
 * T/if.ir enemy was iJu' nnnlstrif of Lord 
 North, n«»t the King of Knghuifl, to whom 
 tliev owned and had sworn allegiance. 
 Thm object thoy were prevented Irom carry- 
 ing out. Uoyal f)lly in Kngland and 
 demagogic fanaticism in America eagerly 
 joined hands to crnsh hiicIi a constitutional 
 sclth-nu-nl of the dispnt«', brought about a 
 bloody civil war, and finally effected a ter- 
 mination of the «|uarrel unlooked for by 
 citlier party at its conmu-ncenient." 
 
 A brief biographical sk«^tch may hen; be 
 given ol the author of the old manuscript 
 wliicli now lor the first time aj»i)ears in 
 print. 
 
 W'alttr Hates was the fourth son of John 
 and Sarah (Ilostwick) Hates. llcwasbi)rii 
 March I 1, 17t)ti. in tlie eastern part of the 
 town uf .Stand()rd,( omiecticut — now known 
 i\^ D.irien. 'I"lu' story of his early man- 
 iiooil is given in a very entertaining form 
 in the narrative that follows. 
 
 Alter his arrival in Kingston, A. I). 178i), 
 he soon bcconu- (piile a proiiiinciil person- 
 age in the land of his adoption. Indeed 
 during the later yi-ars of his life the name 
 of ".Sheriff Mate.N'" was familiar in Kings 
 (.H)unty as a household word. 
 
 A man of strict integrity and good aliili- 
 ty, he naturally took a leading posit io?i in 
 civic afl'aits. for many years he filled the 
 position of slu'rifl" of Kings county with 
 much cflicic ncy ami fidelity. 
 
 lit! was ever a hnal Hritish subject, and 
 a faithful and devoted member ol the cimreh 
 of his fathers, in whose welfare he took the 
 liveliest interest. 
 
 As a writer, he was possessed of no 
 mean ability. Indeed, it is probal)k' that 
 in no other way will the name of Walter 
 Bates be more widely known or longer 
 remcinbtjred than as the author of that re- 
 markable and popular book, The Mysteri- 
 oxis Stranger, or Memoirs of the Noted 
 llenrij Mere Smith — a book first jjublished 
 by W. L. Avery, of this city, and which 
 
 has passed through many subsetjuent edi- 
 tions by (Jeorge \V. Day". 
 
 U'alti-r Hates died at Kingston, at the- 
 advanced age of H'2 years. 
 
 This very year old Trinity church, in 
 whose erection he greatly reioieed, com- 
 memorated the ceiiteiuiial of its existence. 
 It stands as a faithful sentinel amongst the 
 silent graves of its builders — those hardy 
 pioneers beneath whose a.xes the giant 
 trees of a j)rimi'val forest rang 100 year* 
 ago. And there, beneath the shade of the 
 old church he loved so well, tiie old Loyal- 
 ist rests from his labors. A s(|uare Iree- 
 stone column bttars the following inscrip- 
 tion : 
 
 In Mi'iimrv of 
 WAI/lKIt IJATKS, Es(i., 
 
 High Slii'iitr of this C'oiiiitv, 
 \Vh(. (li.Ml 
 \\-U. lllh. A.t). 1S42, , 
 
 Ajfod S'J >(ar!». 
 
 In Memory of 
 
 MltS. ABUiAlL HATES, 
 
 Wile of Wai.teu Uates, Es(j., 
 
 Wlio <iicd 
 
 July 6, IS'Jtt, ill tlie 5Hth year of her au^. 
 
 It seems undoubtedly to have been the 
 intention ol Mr. 15ates to publish the old 
 mamiscript, but increasing years and in- 
 firmities |)rcvented the consummalion of his 
 wishes, in lSf() he drew up the lollowing 
 
 PROSPECTUS. 
 
 Nearly reoily for the. jtvcftH — pubhshcd by sub- 
 scription — A briff liistoriciil skotch of flic 'seven 
 ministers who lirst, iit. the eoiniiieneemeiit of the 
 reliellion iii.Miii>r l\ili;;- (hiU'les the First, eiiibniccd 
 the doctrine of predestiiiiilion iiiid free will election, 
 uiid to escape Iroiii the kiiiir's ilispleasnrc Hed to 
 New Eii'.'liiihl, and there proclaimed themselves 
 Turitaiis. . . . With a brief extract ot their first 
 Hliie Laws; contrasted with thosts <'iiurch ministers 
 and loyal liritish subjects who wore persecuted in 
 the times of the late i-ebellion in New Eii);land, and- 
 wlio on the declaration of In(Ui)eudence fled from 
 jiersecution into tlie wilderness of Nova Scotia, 
 A.D. 178.'?, and estahlislied the Chiwch of England 
 in Iv illusion. 
 
 Tlie volume to contain more than 100 pages. 
 Price to subscribers, 23. Od. 
 
 Passing over for the present the former 
 part of Mr. Uates's manuscript, which is 
 in soine places incomplete, I proceed to 
 take up that portion which will be oi 
 special niterest. 
 
 W. O. IIaymonp, 
 
THE NftRRftTIVE OF WALTER BATES. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 EARLY DAYri OF THE UKVOLUTIOX. WITH SO.VIK ACCOUNT OF THE 
 
 SUFFEKINGS OF THE LOYALISTS. 
 
 IJaviiij; tlirouuli auo ami other iiiliniiiti»'S 
 'l)fCMi inui'h longiT with tlic loniuT jxirlioii 
 ofiny siibji'ct than I at first aiiticipatrd, I 
 must thfrt'fore ot m-ffssity be very briel" 
 Jn what follows, hopii)j^ that my inlirmitii^s 
 in so doing may not be viewed with sevi-rity. 
 
 It is now my desire to give a narrative 
 of events eonnected with the rise and pro- 
 gress of the Protestant Episcopal ( hnreh 
 jn Kingston, !New Brunswiek, recording 
 facts but not inventing anything, rescuing 
 juany valuable facts from oblivion. The 
 work in a few minor details may possibly 
 be not always correct, yet in the main it is 
 tmalfected — a body of iacts, many of which 
 in our day are entirel} new and the whole 
 is no where else to be found in so conveni- 
 ent a form. The work lias been prepared 
 at great expense of time, under tlie press- 
 ure ot many cares not unmingled with sick- 
 ness, pain and sorrow. 
 
 In the words of Bishop Brandiall : "No 
 man can justly blame me for loving my 
 spiriaial mother, the Church of England, 
 Jn whose womb I was conceived, at whose 
 breasts I was nourished, and in whose 
 bosom I hope to die." 
 
 I must only give a brief statement of 
 what took place after the return ot those 
 five gentlemen in Orders under the patron- 
 Age ot the society in old England for pro- 
 ■"luoting Christian Knowledge. Whereupon 
 the Episcopal church increased njightily in 
 Connecticut. Several of the Presbyterian 
 jnimsters went to England and obtained 
 Episcopal ordination and soon after their 
 ireturn churches' were built in almost every 
 town in Connecticut, to the great annoy- 
 Anee of the old Puritans who cherished 
 
 against the Church of 
 inherited from their ances- 
 
 great ji-ahnisy 
 
 England, 
 
 tors. 
 
 Tliey asserted that the Episcopal clergy 
 were guilty of writing hoHie amazing false- 
 hood anil that it wouhl seem to be an agree- 
 able ollice to distinguish tiie innocent from 
 the guilty. About this time mobs were as- 
 s(*mbled tor persecuting the loyal (dement 
 ia Connecticut. 
 
 Every town which did not subscribe for 
 sui)port of Boston was styled a Tory 
 town, which they spared not to insult. 
 
 As on one hand rebellion raised her crest 
 in Connecticut with more insolence than in 
 other parts, so loyalty has there exhibited 
 proofs of zeal and fortitude beyond exam])lo 
 to be found elsewhere. In particular the 
 clergy by their steady adherence to their 
 oaths and firmness under the assaults of 
 their enemies were a conspicuous examjdo 
 ot lidelity. Not one among them all in 
 their tit'ry trial have dishonoured the King 
 or the Church of England. The sulTering 
 of some of them witliin my memory I can-' 
 not wholly pass over in silence. 
 
 As a resolute antagonist of the Puritan 
 party, and a zealous supporter of the loyal 
 cause, the Rev. Mr. Peters stood conspi- 
 ctious. Many were the attempts to niin 
 him and his character. In carrying out 
 their systematic plan of persecution, the 
 doors of the prisons were opened, and 
 prisoners became the leaders of mobs, com- 
 posed largely of negroes, vagabonds, and 
 thieves. The governor and council finally 
 entered the lists, and anxious at all events 
 to get rid of so formidable an opponent, 
 accused him of being a spy of Lord North 
 
6 
 
 KINGSTON AND TlIK I.OYA LISTS 
 
 an 1 till' Ijisliops, and ])roclamati()n was 
 madi' to that ('H'cct in every IJeiuil)lieaii 
 pulpit in the colony on Sunday, the lour- 
 teenth day of Aujjust, 1771. This en- 
 couraf^ed an arnu'd mob of "]>atriots" to 
 surround h's house the same ni;;ht in a 
 tumultuous manner, orderinj^ gates und 
 doors to !)(! opened. 
 
 Mr. Peters, from his window, asked 
 if they had a warrant from a maj,'istrate 
 to enter his house, 'i'lvev replied, "We 
 have .loice's warrant, wlueli Charles the 
 traitor submitted to, and it is sutlieient fur 
 you.*' 
 
 Finally, it was agreed tliat a ooinmittee, 
 comjjosed ol the most resj)eetal)' men in 
 the party, should read all the [ '-rs be- 
 longinjj to Mr. J'eters. Aeeordin^dy, alter 
 inspecting all his ])apers as nuioh as they 
 pleased, they reported that they were satis- 
 lied Mr. I'eters was not guilty of any crime 
 laid to his charge. 
 
 On Sunday, the 4th Sej)tember, the 
 country was I'alsely alarmed by reason of 
 Colonel I'litnam's declaring Admiral (iraves 
 had burnt lioston, and that (ieneral (Jago 
 was nuu-derini: old and young, exce^)t 
 Tories and churchmen. 
 
 The governor si'ized this opportunity to 
 set the uiobs with redoubled fury upon Mr. 
 Peters ami the loyalists of Hebron, whom 
 they called •'I'eterites.'" On this occasion 
 intoxicated rnlHans spared neither houses, 
 goods nor |)ersous. Some had their bowels 
 crushed out ot their bodies Otlieis were 
 covered with filth and marked with the 
 sign -f the ci'oss, in token of loyalty to 
 bishops and kings, who, thi^y said, designed 
 to crucify all good j)eople. J^ven women 
 were huiig \ip. tarred and feathered. The 
 Kev. Mr. Peters, with his gown toin off, 
 was treated in the most insulting manner. 
 His mother, daughter, two brothers and 
 servants wounded, one ot his brothers so 
 badly that he died soon after, and these 
 fiends drajiged Mr. Peters almost Jiaked 
 ii'oni his dwelling, in spite of the cries and 
 tears of his mother and sisters, which might 
 have melted the heart of a savage, though 
 it ju'oduced nothing but peals of laughter 
 ■wnich rent to the skies. While they were 
 dragging him to their "Liberty Pole," with 
 intent of hoisting him up and down, as was 
 their manner of treatment, so extremely 
 cruel and barbarous was their usage that 
 the sheriff of Litchfield county could not 
 withhold his interference, by whose timely 
 assistance Mr. Peters was finally set at 
 
 lil)t ity aful his life pro\idenliaIly savetL 
 Halt naked and wounded, he fled to tlie 
 royal army at Boston, from wlu'iice h« 
 went to Kngland, by whi<'h means he pre- 
 servi'd his life, but not his property, from 
 the rapacity ami bloody hands of his cruel 
 countrymen. 
 
 After such an exnisrience, it is not to l)e 
 wondered at that Sir. Peters had but a 
 poor opinion of liepublican liberty, or that 
 he should have penned the following recipe: 
 
 Take tlic lii'r)> of Hypocri^'y iiml root of I'riifo 
 tlircf liandsfull— two iiuncc!* ot .\iiil)ition iiml V'liiu- 
 L'ln;-y— i)oiiii(l tliciii in the inortir of Fiiition itml of 
 Disconi— Iciivt' over tlip I'lrf ol Sodition until you 
 li(>n'<'iv(> tlic Scum of Di'cpit iit tiio top— struin it 
 tliroujfli tlu' cloiii- of Itoltcllion— i)ut it in tlic l)ottli? 
 of Envy— »toj) it witli tin; cork of . Malice till Hcttlod 
 —then inuk(! it into pills of Conspiriicy — take nina 
 niicn you no to licil — say a lonir prayer that may he 
 hem'il'hi tin' nlreit — then >{o to sleep if you can, uii'l 
 it will lie sure to have the due ollccts. AH the next 
 ,".<iy you will tic well disposed to censure the church, 
 l)urn all the liUhops, murder the l\iu«, plunder the 
 nation and cut the throats of ail honest men. 
 
 After the escapi; of iSh*. Peters, 1775» 
 the Kev, Messrs. Mansfield and Viets were 
 cast into prison and tried for high treason 
 for giving food to loyalists flying from 
 tlninkeii mobs — fined and im[)risoned.* 
 
 Kveiything hut decency and order over- 
 ran the colony, and irerpient irruption was 
 made in which many loyalists were risarm- 
 ed, plundeird and made prisoners, amonj, 
 whom was the Rev. Dr. Seabury and tln.^ 
 mayor of the city of New York. CJovernor 
 
 * The oil r>;y of the Episcopal Church were par- 
 ticularly olmoxious in New England durini; tin- 
 Kevolutionary w»r. This (act wa^ in some nn-asure 
 due to tho old antujronism t-xistin^r hctween the 
 descendants of Puritan*^ anil the Church of Entrhmd. 
 
 Rev. Samuel I'ctcrs, relerred to in the narrative, 
 was a staunch supporter of the cause of "C'hurcli 
 and State" and a resolute opponent of the Puritans. 
 Alter his return to England, in 1775, lie wrote a 
 History of Coiniei'tiritt. 
 
 That tlie I'nritans entertained sentiments of dc- 
 citled hostility towards Mr. I'eters we have already 
 seen. Suhseipie'itlv he was eharced hy tliein with 
 maliciously fj.iffinfr the so-calleu "Blue Laws of 
 Connecticut." The origin ot the "Blue Laws" lias 
 Ijeeu the source of mueh controvers}- — some of it 
 of a recent date. It would seem most probahle that 
 the truth lies between the views of the extremist.-*, 
 viz. : that in the early days of Connecticut there ex- 
 isted laws similar to those recorded hy Rev. Samuel 
 I'eters, although not expressed in hiiiguage iden- 
 tical with that employed hy hiui. 
 
 In connection with the name of Mr. Mansfield, 
 mentioned above, the following is of interest as aa 
 illustration of the narrow-minded spirit of the times. 
 Whilst attending Harvard College, Cambridge, 
 young Richard Mansfield through relitrious conVic- 
 tion renounced the faith of his forefathers, and de- 
 cided to stud}' for the njini9*-ry in the Church of 
 England. So great v.-as the animosity e.vcited by 
 his conduct, that when he sailed for England to be 
 ordained by the Bishop of London, his own sister 
 prayed that he might be lost at sea. 
 
OF TlIK *'Hl'UrN«J I'LEI-rr " OF 1TH3. 
 
 y saved, 
 "tit the 
 
 I'lU'O Ii«^ 
 
 he j)n'- 
 ty, tVi)in 
 his cruel 
 
 lOt to bo 
 \ but a 
 , or tliat 
 ; ri'i'ipc : 
 
 t of I'rMo 
 iiihI \':iiu- 
 011 iinil of 
 until you 
 — striiin it 
 
 till' iMlttK- 
 
 till xcttlfii 
 -tiiki- nine 
 lit I II ay lif 
 
 I Clin," iiniJ 
 
 II tlic ni'Xt 
 llf cluin'lir 
 lumliT the 
 II' n. 
 
 rs, 1775» 
 lets were 
 1 treasou 
 ing trom 
 iR'd.' 
 JiT over- 
 [ition wa* 
 I' ci^iiirm- 
 s, anion;; 
 y anil th;.^ 
 Governor 
 
 wire piir- 
 
 urintr tin- 
 
 p mi'iisiin- 
 
 twcfii tlie 
 
 fKimlaml. 
 
 nairiitivc, 
 
 "( liuvcli 
 
 riiiitiuis'- 
 
 le wrotf IV 
 
 nts of (Ic- 
 ivc aireiulv 
 tlifin with 
 :> Laws of 
 Laws" has 
 
 SOUK' of if 
 
 obable that 
 extremists, 
 ut there ex- 
 t'v. Samuel 
 f^viiige ideii- 
 
 Mansfieltlr 
 
 terest as aa 
 
 if the times. 
 
 Canihridgc, 
 
 iou8 conVle- 
 
 ■rs, antl tl<?- 
 
 Chnreli of 
 
 excited by 
 
 gland to be 
 
 own sistct 
 
 Trvon and nth<'r8 lianpily «'Hcai»ed tlieir 
 fnry throufrh a bai-k win(h)w. 
 
 Mr. IJivington, the Kin;;*,M printer, was 
 oni' ot tl>e sulIerorM by lot-.s of j)roni'rty. 
 Tlicy i)lnnd(Tt'd his hou«e of all liiw printinjj 
 matiTials — since employed in llie service of 
 their congress. The Kinjf's statute main- 
 tained its ;iroMnd in New York tmtil 
 "A'a.tlunofton took possession of the city, 
 wlieii it was indicted (or hi};h treason 
 ajiainst Ameiira, lonnd guilty and received 
 sentence thill the lead (»l it should be run 
 into l)ullets for the destruction oi' thy 
 En^rlish. 
 
 Mr. Vv'ashinjitoii thought ])roj>er to 
 notice in liis (General Order next day he 
 was >orrv his soldiers should in a riotous 
 maiimr pull dowrt the statue ol the Kinjj;, 
 yet lie conhl not but commend them for 
 delainin;; every monument of Ib'itish 
 tyranny. 
 
 Meanwhile, in Connecticut organized 
 niol);! continued their acts ol vioh'uce and 
 outra^'e. Itreaking windows in the houses 
 itf loyalists and <Tying out, "No liishops. 
 Killers, l>ords or Tyrants!" The New 
 Kiiglanders lelt that the authority of the 
 jroveinmeiif of Kno;land and the Xutlonal 
 cliiircli must he crushed or their riirilamsm 
 be overthrown. It was this spirit largely 
 which originated the late rebellion in 
 Aiiieriea. 
 
 Throughout this unhappy war, the ICpis- 
 copal liiurch. in some places veiled in 
 ol)S(in'ity, still contimied to exist in Am- 
 erica, notwithstanding the utmost persecu- 
 tion evil men, could bring upon it, and at 
 length I have happily lived to see what so 
 long I vainly hoped for — Dr. Seabury, the 
 per«iecnted priest from the city ot New 
 Vork, return the first consecrated Diocesan 
 Bishop ot Connecticut — my native land.'" 
 
 * Dr. Saimicl Seabury was consecrated Bishop 
 ur AI)onlc<'n, Seotlaiid, Novcuihcr 14tli, 17S4, l»y 
 Bishops !• Ilgour, Petrie and Skiiiiicr. 
 
 As lonu ago as T710 the I{cv. .John Talhot had ex- 
 pressed the desire felt in America for a resident 
 Bishop in tlie following emphatic wonN : "Tiio pour 
 elnirch liere ni the wilderness, there i> none to /.'uide 
 her anjong all the sons she has brought forth. 
 When the apostles heard that Samaria liad received 
 the word of God, immeiliatcly they sent out two of 
 the chief, Peter and John, to lav hands on them, 
 and pray ^hat they might receive the Holy Ghost. 
 An(l wlien Paul did but dream tlnit a man of Mace- 
 donia called him, he sot sail all so fast, and went 
 over himself to help them. But we have been here 
 these twenty years calling till our heart-' ache, and 
 ye own 'tis the cause and call f»f (iod, and yet ve 
 have not heard, or have not answered, and that's iill 
 one." 
 
 More than thirty veurs later (A. D. 1748) Rev. 
 Dr. Johnson writes "twenty -five men have gone a 
 
 In July, 1770, Congress declnrecl Inde- 
 pendemy, and onh-red the Commonwealth 
 to l)e jtrayed for insteAd of the King and 
 Royal family. All the loyal churches were 
 thereupoti shut up. exeepl one at Newton, 
 Connecticut, of which the Uev. .lohn IJeach 
 was rect<»r. His gray hairs adorned with 
 loyal and Christian virtues overcame the 
 madness ot his enemies. This laithtul 
 disciple entered his church, saying : "If I 
 am to cn-dit the surmises kiiully whimpered 
 to me, that unless 1 lorliear trom praying 
 tor the King I shall never pray or preaeli 
 more. 1 can oidy say. wliilst no iniinuition 
 cotd«l well lie more «li''tressing. it adiiiits 
 not one moment's delay : with all due re- 
 spect for my onlinatioii oaths. I am firm in 
 my resolution while I pray at all to con- 
 form with the immutilateii liturgy of th(> 
 church, and jtray for the King and all in 
 autlujrity nnih'r him."' 
 
 rpon this till reliids seized him, resolved 
 to cut out his tongue. He said, "If my 
 blood must lie shed, ht it not be don«^ in 
 the house (d (iod." The pious mob then 
 dragged him out nf the chiMTh. "Now, 
 you old devil," said thev, "sav vour last 
 jirayerl" \Vhereu|»<>n he devoutly kneeled 
 down, .saying, "<) Lord and lather of 
 mercies, look upon these mine enemies and 
 forgive them. They know not what they 
 do; they are hlimlly misled; () tiod, in, 
 mercy open their vya^.''' 
 
 iJv the I'rovidence ol (iud, the council 
 ot Ins enemies was brought to naught and 
 his lite spar^L'd. f 
 
 In.Se{)tend)er, 1 77(>, Washington was com- 
 j)elled to evacuate New York, by lieneral 
 llowe, to the great relict ot loyalists in 
 New Y'ork. lie penetrated into tlie country 
 
 thousand leagues for Kpiscopal orders, of wliolii uo 
 less than live have lost their Hvesand several others 
 siittered the most dangerous sicknesses, and all at 
 the expense of more than we could well atlbrd." 
 
 t In his last letter to the Society for Propagation 
 of the (Jospel, written from Ncwtdii, (J(mn., Oct. 31, 
 1781, Mr. Beach, alter referring to the di/Hculties 
 of <;ouveyunce ol letters, savs : "A narrative of my 
 troubles I dare not now give Newton and i>art of 
 lleadintr are (I believe) tlie only parts of New Eng- 
 land that have i-efusecl to comply with the duinvs of 
 Congress, and for that reason have been tin- butt of 
 general hatred ; but (iod has delivered us from en- 
 tire destruction. I am now in the 
 year of my age, vet do constantly, alternately, per- 
 form service an J preach at Newton and Readme; 
 my congregation being cuminuuly about 'MO ut iteud- 
 ing and at Newton about WO. ' I have been sixty 
 years a public preacher, and afler conviction in the 
 Church of England fifty years." Six months later 
 Mr. Beach died, fairly worn out, but feeling assured 
 that he had conscientiously tried during his long 
 life to "Fear God; honor tfie king." 
 
KlX(»STOV .AND THE LOYALISTS 
 
 I' I 
 
 as lar as Wlilto Plains, abcuit twelve miles 
 troiii Stanitord. to the alarm of all the 
 eviiipathi/.ers with the British eaiise. In 
 till' (lay of battle we wen> collected by the 
 mobs ami conlined, under strong guards, 
 wlu-re we could hear the rei)ort ot guns, 
 iioping soon to be relieved. The liritish 
 returning shortly after the mobs all dis- 
 
 )er8ed and the "Tories" were set at 
 
 iberty. 
 
 The British fortihed Lloyd's Neck with a 
 gairison, opposite the islands and coves 
 lying bi'tween the churches otNorwalk and 
 Standord, whose inhabitants were wealthy 
 farmers — Churchmen and (Quakers — all 
 loyalists that atlorded a complete asylum 
 and safe passage, by which my three 
 brothers and hundreds of others passed 
 by night almost continually to the British 
 Garrison. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 PERSONAL ADVENTURES OF THE NARRATOR DURING THE WAR. 
 
 .\t length the thing 1 gnatly feared came 
 tipon me. A small boat was discovered 
 by the American guard, in one of these 
 coves, by night, in which they suspectecl 
 that one ot my brothers, with some others, 
 had come I'rom the British. They sup- 
 posed tliem corcealed in the neighi)or- 
 Iiood and that I must be actpiainted 
 ■with it. 
 
 At this ti.ne 1 had just entered my six- 
 teenth year. 1 was taken and confined in 
 the (iuard House; next day examiiied be- 
 fore a Connnittee and threatened with 
 sundry deaths if I did not confess what I 
 knew not of. They threatened among 
 other things to confine me at low water and 
 let the tide drown me if I did not expose 
 these honest farmers. At length I was sent 
 back to the (Juard House until ten o'clock 
 at night, when I was taken out by an armed 
 mob, conveyed through the field gate one 
 mile from the town to back Creek, then 
 having been stripped my body was exposed 
 to the mosquitoes, my hands anti feet being 
 confined to a tree near the Salt Marsh, in 
 which situation for two hours time every 
 drop of blood would be drawn from my 
 body ; when soon after two of the com- 
 mittee said that it I would tell them all I 
 knew, they would release me, if not they 
 would leave me to these men who, perhaps, 
 would kill me. 
 
 I told them that I knew nothing that 
 would save my life. 
 
 They left me, and the Guard came to me 
 and said they were c lered to give me, if I 
 did not confess, one hundred stripes, and 
 if that did not kill me 1 would be sentenced 
 to be hanged. Twenty stripes was then 
 executed with severity, after which they 
 
 sent me again to the Guard House. No 
 "Tory"' was allowed to speak to me, but I 
 was insulted and abused by all. 
 
 The next day the committee proposed 
 
 many means to 
 me, the most ' 't'y 
 ing me to a log oi» 
 mill and let tiie sa 
 not expose "'thoj 
 sentenced nie to a 
 
 a confession from 
 
 Iri' ; was that of confin- 
 
 carriage in the Saw 
 
 .ut me in two it 1 did 
 
 Torys." Finally they 
 
 ear before Col. Daven- 
 
 fiort, in order that tie should send me to 
 lead (|uarters, where all the Torys he sent 
 wei-e surely hanged. Acordingly next 
 day 1 was brought before Davenport — one 
 ot the descendants of the old ajiostate 
 Davenport, who fled from old England — 
 who, after he had examined me, said with 
 great severity ot countenance, •'! think 
 you could have exposed those Tories." 
 
 I said to him "You might rather think I 
 would have exposed my ow father sooner 
 than suller what I have 'red." Upon 
 
 which the old judge couL. -.ot help acknow- 
 ledging he never knew any one who had with- 
 stood more without exposing confederates, 
 and he finally discharged me the thiid day. 
 It was a grievous misfortune to be in such 
 a situation, but the fear of God animated 
 ine not to fear man. My resolution com- 
 pelled mine enemies to show their pity 
 that I. had been so causelesslv afflicted, and 
 my life was spared. I was, however, 
 obliged to seek refuge from the malice of 
 my persecutors in the mountains and forests 
 until their frenzv might be somewhat abated. 
 After two year's absence, on my return 
 home. I found my father down with the 
 small-pox, suspected to be given him by 
 design, consequently the family were all in 
 incoculation, which I also bad to endure. 
 
OF THE "SPUING FLKKT" OF 1783. 
 
 9 
 
 •k with a 
 
 1(1 COVINS 
 
 walk and 
 wealthy 
 crs — all 
 • asyluni 
 y three 
 s passed 
 i IJritish 
 
 WAR. 
 
 use 
 
 No 
 
 but I 
 
 icrlv 
 
 proposed 
 iion from 
 ot coutin- 
 1 the Saw 
 ^ if I (lid 
 laily they 
 )1. baven- 
 1(1 me to 
 'le sent 
 next 
 lort — one 
 apostate 
 ingland — 
 said with 
 1 think 
 ries/; 
 er think I 
 ler sooner 
 d." Upon 
 I aeknow- 
 had with- 
 ederates, 
 third day. 
 )e in sueh 
 animated 
 tion oom- 
 heir pity 
 ictcd, and 
 lowever, 
 iuali(.'e of 
 nd forests 
 lat abated, 
 my return 
 with the 
 3 him by 
 ,verc all in 
 endure, 
 
 after which I eould not by any means think 
 of h'aving my lather until 1 had assisted 
 him in his wheat harvest. 
 
 The (irst night after I was sinnmoncd 
 with a draft for the Continental Service 
 with three day's notice, eonse(iiiently was 
 compelled to tlee for refuge, 1 knew not 
 where, but providentially found myself luxt 
 mornin'' in the immediate neiiihbourhood 
 of a l')iitish jxarrison. J fere I was inform- 
 ed I must go through the regidar process, 
 be rep(irted, and take the oath of alle- 
 giance. 
 
 I was provided with the n(>cessary pass 
 from the commanding officer to (ieneral 
 DeLancey* at .lamaica ( L(jng Island), who 
 furnished me with a pass directed to General 
 Smith at Brooklin, who furnished me with 
 a pass to Colonel AxtelH at Flat liiisli. who 
 administered the oath and also furnished me 
 me with a pass to (Jeneral DeLancey again 
 at Jamaica. Here not being ac(piainted 
 with customs of the army exposed me to 
 great inconvenience. 1 just only prudently 
 kuncked at the same door where 1 had re- 
 ceived my pass the day before. This I 
 was informed was considered an offence 
 and that the old (leneral was apt to be very 
 severe after drinking wine all night. 
 
 At length the old (ieneral came down 
 from his chamber, and surely his lace 
 looked to me as red as his coat. 
 
 "Where is that daniijed rascal who has 
 disturbed my quarters this morning P 
 
 ♦Oliver DfLancey upon the submission <>1 I^onir 
 Ishiml to {General llowc, in 1776, was eoinniissKHicd 
 ■\ Brijrn(liiT-(i(>npral, witli onlors to riiisf tlirci' 
 liutt:ili(>n<> of 600 men eacli for the (Ictcncc of the 
 I'^lnnd. To raisp this corps hirtre sums of money 
 were eoiifrihnteil by (ieneral DeLancey anil by the 
 inhabitants of every town on the island". 
 
 Sons of many reputable farmers and a number 
 of respectable freeholders enlisted. The third 
 battalion, eommamled by Cidonel Gabriel (r.Liidh)\v, 
 Xvas composed entirely of natives of Queens coimty, 
 Lone' Island. Colonel Gabriel i.udlow was afterwards 
 fnstmayorofSt. John.N.U. (A.D. i;8o),also Admin- 
 strator of the province for five years ailer the retire- 
 ment of Lieut, (tovernor Thomas Carleton. The 
 house in wtlich he residrd still stands, near St. 
 Georffc's church, Carleton, N. B. 
 
 Colonel Ludlow's battalion was stationed at Ilrook- 
 haven and Llov'ds Neck, on the ncnth shore of Lonj; 
 Island, till the close of the Revolutionary war, when 
 tlje tBree battalions were disbande<l in Nova Scotia. 
 A full and extremely interesting aiconnt of Dc- 
 Lancey's corps will be foimd in the lUMorxj <\f Nini 
 York During the liemUMauurxj W'nr, by Judge 
 Tliomas Jones, edited by Edwaril Floyil de Lancey. 
 
 t.Tadgc Jones gives an amnsinif accotmt of C'olonel 
 Axtell and his ai-liievenu-nts : "William Axtell, 
 
 Send him to the guard house !" roared he. 
 This sul)jected me to great difficulties, 
 too unpleasant to mention. 
 
 Yet kind providence seemed to prepare 
 ways and means, unforscen by me, for my 
 escape and preservation amidst all troubles, 
 atllietions and dangers by land and sea, 
 and (luring that unhap])y war there were 
 many instances of (iotfs mercy for which 1 
 can never be sullicienlly grateful. For 
 example in the case of my eldest brother's 
 sickness, on Long Island, with i!;c lever 
 that few survived at that time, 1 was provi- 
 dentially in a situation to render him every 
 comfort he could receive while in lib", and 
 alter his death to attend to his decent 
 burial in tlie town of Huntington, the 10th 
 day of Septeiui)er, 17<S1 ; ami soon after 1 
 was taken sick with the like lever on Lloyds 
 Neck, when; I must soon have died had 
 not I providentially been removed to a 
 fiiendly house in Huntington, wheru I 
 received the kind attention of the family. 
 It was feared that I could not survive until 
 morning, a doctor was called late at right 
 who administered medicine which, under 
 providence, gave immediate relief and I 
 was soon restored to my former health. 
 
 Shortly after this I commenced teachhig 
 a school on Eaton's Neck, where all the 
 people were Loyalists and most part with 
 myseb'. churchmen from Connecticut. 
 
 Here some of the Church clergymen 
 came occasionally to hold divine service 
 on Sundays. 
 
 There Inking none of other religion on 
 the "Neck" we were so united the church 
 
 E^i., of Kin^s county, I-onjr NIand, was com- 
 unssioucd by the ('oinman<l< r-inf;hief as ("ohniel 
 ot a rcvriinent to consist of 500 men, to be raised by 
 liiui on ihe Kinir's aci'omit, the otilcers to have the 
 same rank, and pay, as the other provincial corps, 
 with thi-i condition however, they were to be dis- 
 banded on the first day of the ensuing T)ccend)er. 
 Axtell's recruits amoiinted to about tltirUj. These 
 formed his reiriuient. It was in pay from the 1st of 
 May 17i'.t to the 1st of December following, seven 
 months. It was encamped in his courtyard. It 
 guaided his hou^c, his potdtry, hi" hoifs, his sheep 
 and his cows. ]S'o other service did the regiment 
 do. Vet he received full pay, clothing, arms, an(l 
 provisions for 500 men tlu^ whole time. . . . His 
 ex<'ellency, the (ieneral, uave orders that no person 
 whatever should pass Brookland (Brooklyn) ferry 
 fr>iin I.oii^' Inland to New Y'ork without a pass from 
 Colonel Axtell. Not les- than 20,000 peoph-, ex- 
 clusive of the military, at that time annually passed 
 tlie ferry. Ev(ry one, instead of the two pence 
 formerly paid, was obliged to pay the C'olonel eight 
 shillings, which vearly amounted to the tunc of some 
 thou"anils." 
 
10 
 
 KIXGSTOX AND THii LOYALISTS 
 
 at Eaton might be justly styled a church 
 of Eden* ^ 
 
 The Rev. John Sayre caino to attend 
 public worship here in April, 17.S.'5. and at 
 the same time to accpiaint us that the King 
 had granted td all J^oyalists who did not 
 incline to return to their homes, and would 
 go to Nova Scotia, two hundred acres of 
 land to each family, and two years pro- 
 visions : provide ships to convey them as 
 near as can be to a place lor settlement 
 where lands would be granted for support 
 of church and school. The next day I ob- 
 tained the articles for settlement (yet in my 
 possehsion) from Himtingtou. A general 
 meetmg was held on Katon's Neck to inves- 
 tigate die same together with our i)resent 
 and future prospects. 
 
 After we had discussed the matti-r it was 
 resolved by all present, and nuitually 
 agreed to n-move; with all their families into 
 the wilderness of Nova .S<'otia, and settli; 
 all together in such situation as we might 
 enjoy the comforts of a church and school 
 
 * Xevertli(>l('<>s, the position of tiip Loyalists at 
 Eaton's Neck was not free li-om its trials, as witness 
 the followinff, tlie oritrinal of wliicli is in jiossession 
 of Miss Pickett, Kingston, N. B.: 
 
 " To His Exc: 
 
 lency, James Robertson, Esquire, 
 (Jovernor and C<)inuiiniUer-in Cliiefof the J'rov- 
 inceofNew York and Lieutenant (iencral of 
 His Majesty's Forces, etc., oti .. etc. 
 
 Tlie Memorial of Jolin Fowler, Israel Iloyt and 
 
 David Pickett, most humbly sheweth : 
 
 That having left their properties in the countrv 
 and come within the Uoyiil I.ines for iirotectioii, 
 upon i pplication to (iovernment lor support tiiey 
 obtaintMl witli otliers a frrant of Eaton's Neck, the 
 property of Jolin Hloss Ilol)art,in Kcbollion, bur tlie 
 same be nj: applied for and oblaint^l by .James 
 Jauneey, Esquire, and others, wlio had a inortfj;a>re 
 on the same, your nu morialists liircii the same from 
 those gentleimen at a Rental ajri'ccd on. 
 
 'riiat being settled on said place upon the afore- 
 said terms, and endeavoring to support tluir lamilies 
 by honest industry, they found themselves disap- 
 pointed, and prevented eiijoying the fruits of their 
 abors by the crews of the armed vesselii stationed 
 in Huntington Bay for their protection, who have 
 taken their property from them without any license, 
 pay or satislaclion. 
 
 That they have made repeated application to the 
 commanders of said (iuaril Ships to prevent the 
 ravages of their crews and toobtain satisfaction, but 
 obtaining neither, they, with their associates, ap- 
 plied to Admiral Digby for redress, who kindly 
 wrote to said commanders on the subject, but with- 
 out producing the desired eflVct; tliat upon the de- 
 liverj- of Admiral Digby's letter to Captain Steel he 
 flew into a violent passion, threatening to tye the 
 complainants to a gun and flog them, ordering tluiu 
 out of the ship, and adding he would blow them to 
 
 I 
 
 in the wilderness, fully relying for futtu-e 
 support in the promises of God to His 
 people. 
 
 I here introduce the rliynies of a young 
 School master: 
 
 Come L<)yalists all come 
 
 And listen to my word ; 
 We left our country and our home' 
 
 x\ntl trusted in the Lord; 
 Let us not now forsake our trust 
 
 Uetui'mng bai'k with sorrow; 
 I fain would see the Rebels flee 
 
 Like Sodom and (iomorrow, 
 Yi't tliiiik these oflers very just 
 
 And thank the Kiuir sincerely — 
 Altho' the Rebels gain so inucli. 
 
 We see not yet quite clearly; 
 (iod IS too \vi<c to be unjust. 
 
 Too good to be uukiiKJ, 
 While sniiject to his sovereign will 
 
 Our heaits are well inclined. 
 God when Me gives supremely good. 
 
 Not less when lie denies; 
 Attiiciious Irom His Sovereign hand 
 
 .Are blessini."^ in disguise. 
 For in the wililerness,vve're told, 
 
 (iod's clinri'li will comfort yive, 
 And no good tliinir will He withhold 
 
 From those who justly live. 
 
 W. Bates. 
 
 llell if they came alongside again, telling them h(> 
 would give them no redress noi- protection, hut 
 would have his revenge before he left the station. 
 
 In this situation, being left remediless, they ap- 
 ply to your Kxcellency, a« (iovernor of the Province, 
 the I'atroii and Director of all Loyal subjects driven 
 from their huliitafiou, and humbly recpieit that your 
 Exeelleiicy woul^l be favorably i)lease(l to recom- 
 mend their distressed case to His Excellency Ad- 
 miral Digby, and to iiitei pose in their favor, so tiiat 
 they witii tiu^ others sulfering in a similar situation 
 may have etfcctiial redros and a stop be |)utto such 
 ravages for the futuie; and they as in duty boiiinl 
 will ever pray, etc. 
 
 New York, Sth January, 1782. 
 
 Nor were the Briri-*li soldiers more forbearing 
 than the seamen, as will be seen from the following 
 extract from Judge Jones' Loyulixt Iliitory of New 
 Y'ork. Speaking ol the conduct of the soldier- 
 quartered on Long Island, he says: "They robbed, 
 plundered and pillaged the inhabitants of everything 
 tiiey could lay their hands upon. It was no uncom 
 mon thing, <ii an .ifteruoon, to see a farmer driving 
 a flock of tiirkeya, geese, ducks or dunghill fowls 
 and lockiutr them up in his cellar for security dur 
 ing the niirht. The whole ilay it was necessary for 
 a person to attend in the fields where they feil to 
 protect them from the ravages of the militarv. 
 
 It was no uncommon thing for a farmer, liis wife 
 and children to sleep in one room, while his sheep 
 wore bleating in the room adjoining, his hogs grunt- 
 ing in the kitchen, and the cocks crowing, hens 
 cackling, ducks quacking and geese hissing in the 
 cellar. Iloriied cattle were for safety locked up 
 in barns, stables and outhruses. 
 
 This robbing was done by people sentrfo America 
 to protect Loyalists against the persecutions and 
 depredations jf Rebels ! To complain was needless. 
 The ofllcers shared in the plunder." 
 
OF THK "SPR1X(J fleet" OF 1783. 
 
 11 
 
 / 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 THE VOYAGE OF THE FIRST FLEET OF 1783 AND THE SETTLEMEMT OF 
 KINGSTON BY A BAND OF LOYALISTS. 
 
 It sconied as if li(>aven smiled upon our 
 undertaking, seli-ctiiig tl»e be«t ship in tlie 
 fleet for our conilbrt, and by far the best 
 captani. And so, with warm, loyal hearts, 
 we all embarked with one mind on board 
 the good ship Union, Captain Wilson, who 
 reeeived us all on board as fatiier of a 
 family. * 
 
 Nothing was wanting to make us comfor- 
 table on l)oard ship, whieh bl -ing seemed 
 providentially to att,t;nd us throughout. 
 
 From Eaton's Neck the ship sailed 
 through East Kiver to New York. 
 W.Bates. 9 Having a eouple on board wishing to he 
 married we called upon l?everend Mr. 
 Learning f who received us with nnich 
 kindness and alTection, most of us having 
 been formerly of his congregation ; who 
 after the marriage reveren*^^lv admonished us 
 with his blessing that in our new home we 
 ])ay due regard to church and school as 
 means to obtain the blessnig of (iod upon 
 our families and our industry. ^Ve re- 
 en\barked. Ne.xt day the shij) joined the 
 fleet and on tlie 2«)t!i day of Aj)ril, 178;], 
 upwards of twenty sail of ships under con- 
 voy left Sandy Hook for Nova Scotia — from 
 whence our good ship Union had the 
 honor of leading the whole fleet 'ourteen 
 days and arrived at Partridge Island before 
 the ileet was come within sight. 
 
 Next daj- our ship was safely moored by 
 Capt. Daniel Lsavett, the pilot, in the most 
 convenient situation for landing in the har- 
 bor of St. John all in good health. 
 
 We remained conjfortably on board ship 
 
 ♦Iluntinpton Bay, on the north side of Long Island, 
 
 is formed by Lloyds' Neck on tlie west and Eaton's 
 
 I Neck on the enst, both of which project ii concider- 
 
 I able distance into the Sound. The water is deep 
 
 j enough for the largest man-of-war; the anchorage 
 
 food, and tlie bay secure from almost every wind, 
 he bay is large enough to contain the whole navy 
 of England. 
 
 The embarkation began on Friday, April lltli, 
 
 and was completed five days later. The original 
 
 Manifest of the ship i'liioii is bow in the posses- 
 
 Ssion of William FylerDibblee, of Woodstock, N. B., 
 
 I a copy of which is set out on the following page. 
 
 t The Rev. Dr. J. Leaming of Norwalk, was 
 I elected by the clergy of Connecticut in 1783 to be 
 
 till we could explore for a place in the 
 wilderness suifal)le for our purpose of 
 settlement. Tliose who came in other 
 ships wen; in some cases sickly, or pre- 
 cipitated on shore. Here again we were 
 favored. 
 
 A boat was procured for the purpose of 
 exploration, and David I'ickett, Israel 
 llait, Silas Raymond and others proi-ceded 
 sixty miles up the River Saint John. On 
 their return they reported that the inhabi- 
 tants were settled on intervale land by the 
 river — that the high lands had generally 
 been burned by tlie Indians, and there was 
 no church or church minister in the 
 country. 
 
 They were informed of the existence of a. 
 tract of timber land that had not been 
 Viurned on Hellisle Lay, about thirty miles 
 from the harbor of Saint .John, whiih tliey 
 had visited. They viewed the situation 
 favorable lor our purpose of settlement. 
 Whereupon we all agreed to. disembark 
 from on board the good ship Union and 
 I)roceed thither. We departed with Cap- 
 tain Wilson's blessing, and embarked on- 
 board a small sloop all our baggage. 
 
 The next morning with all our effects,, 
 women and children, we set sail above the 
 Falls, and arrived at Bellisle Bay before 
 sunset. 
 
 Nothing but wilderness before our eyes ; 
 the women and children did not refrain 
 from tears ! 
 
 elohn ^Marvin, .John Lvon and invseU 
 went on shore and pitched a tent in the 
 
 their first Bishop. II(! however declined on the- 
 grou'id of his inlirmities and Dr. Seabury was thett 
 chosen. - 
 
 On July 11, 1779, Norwalk was l)uriied by General 
 Tryon. la the conflagration Mr. Learning's church 
 and house were destroyed. "I have lost every- 
 thing," he writes, "my furniture. Looks, and all my 
 Eapers, even all my apparel except what was on my 
 ack. My loss on that fatal day was not less thaa 
 twelve or thirteen hundreil pounds sterling." Ho 
 was soon after placed in jail as a Tory, and denied, 
 even the comfort of a bed. This brought on hip- 
 disease which made him a cripple for life. 
 
 Many of the early settlers of Kingston were 
 baptized and married by Rev. Dr. Learning. 
 
12 
 
 KING.STON AND THE LOYALISTS 
 
 
 Jidum nf Uie Famelies, efc Kniharked on Board tlw Union Tianspnri, Cuni^ett Wihon, 
 Mastev, Began JIuntinglon Bay April 11th, and Compleated April lOth, 17S3. 
 
 Signers' Nnmes. 
 
 o 
 o 
 
 Fvler l)il)l.l(f 
 
 Wiilrcr Dilil)lpc 
 
 William Diblili-o 
 
 John Lyon 
 
 John Lyon, jr 
 
 .Keuln-n" Lyon 
 
 David Picket 
 
 •Joseph Oiiswcli 
 
 Kpliraiin Dclorest. 
 
 .Ehciu'zer Slokuui 
 
 William Hoon 
 
 ■Scth Siiuicrs 
 
 tsctli Sqilicrs, jr 
 
 ■Jolin baker 
 
 Al)rani Carriufrton 
 
 Williiini StraiK'lit 
 
 Si'th Scely 
 
 ttetli Sci'ly, .jr 
 
 John llciidrii'kxon 
 
 Israel Huif 
 
 Widow Mary Raymond. 
 
 Nathan Shippy. .." 
 
 Martin Irccarty 
 
 •Silas Raymond 
 
 Jaraniiali Ilnli-onili 
 
 <ieor(rt' Ilappic 
 
 Josopli Kotlihin-n 
 
 Jamff Picket 
 
 Lewis Picket 
 
 Joi)n Underwood 
 
 Widow Ruth Nichols.... 
 
 Johannes Chick 
 
 John Chick 
 
 Walter Bates 
 
 Jolin Gordon 
 
 Joseph Lyon 
 
 Simon Losee 
 
 Thomas Carle 
 
 Jacob Maybee 
 
 William Maybee 
 
 Widow Hester Burlock.. 
 
 Stephen Fountain 
 
 Thomas Burdin 
 
 •<ieorpe Sweet 
 
 Thomas Wade 
 
 Abram Dickcrmnn 
 
 Eleazor Slokum 
 
 Samuel Boon 
 
 Massey Harris 
 
 Georpre Lumsiien 
 
 Robert Comely 
 
 John Fowler 
 
 John IL.id 
 
 Elias Seribner 
 
 Hesekiah Scribner 
 
 Thaildens Scribner 
 
 Jo'ieph b'erris 
 
 ■Gideon Coree 
 
 Solomon Tucker 
 
 Daniel Smith 
 
 Andrew Jo.stliu 
 
 Abel Banisley 
 
 Epliraim Lane... 
 
 John Marvin 
 
 -John Seaman 
 
 M 
 
 |>3 fc3l 
 B g a a ^ 
 
 O .(J I Cfi 
 
 1 
 
 'i! 
 
 4 ; 1 
 
 3 
 
 ii 
 
 o 
 
 4 ' 
 3 
 
 I 
 
 65 36 i 59 
 
 48 
 
 Former Place of Al)ode. 
 
 Stanford, Connecticut. 
 
 do. 
 
 do. 
 Heading;, 
 
 do. 
 
 do. 
 Stanford, 
 
 do. 
 do. 
 do. 
 do. 
 (\u. 
 do. 
 
 Massachusetts. 
 
 Reading, Connecticut 
 
 Rhode Island 
 
 do 
 
 Stratford, Connecticut , 
 
 do. <lo. , 
 
 Massachnsetts 
 
 Milford, Connecticut 
 
 Kiliinfrsworth, tlo 
 
 Stanford, do 
 
 do. do 
 
 Duehes Connty 
 
 Norwalk, Connecticut 
 
 do. do. 
 
 Duthes County. 
 
 do. 
 
 Norwalk, Conufcticut 
 
 Hackingsack, Jersey 
 
 Duches County 
 
 Rhode Island 
 
 Norwalk, Connecticut 
 
 do. do. 
 
 Newport, Khoiie Island 
 
 do. do. 
 
 Ea'on's Neck, Lonj: IslaiiiL.. 
 do. do. 
 
 Stanford, Connecticut 
 
 Danbury, do. 
 
 Connecticut 
 
 Long Island 
 
 Duches County 
 
 do. 
 
 do 
 
 Norwalk, Connecticut 
 
 Staniord, do. 
 
 Massachusetts 
 
 Rhode I sland 
 
 do 
 
 New Haven, C\)nnecticut 
 
 Massachusetts 
 
 Rhode Island 
 
 do 
 
 New Haven, Connecticut . 
 
 Pennsylvania 
 
 Massachusetts 
 
 East New Jersey 
 
 Norwalk, Connecticut 
 
 do. do. 
 
 do. do. 
 
 Newtown, do. 
 
 Rhode Island 
 
 Stanford, Connecticut 
 
 New Milford, do 
 
 Rhode Island 
 
 Fairlield, Connecticut 
 
 do. do. 
 
 Norwalk, do. 
 
 Duches County 
 
 Occupation. 
 
 Attorney-at-Law. 
 
 Farmer. 
 
 FarmcM-. 
 
 Farmer. 
 
 Fanner. 
 
 Farmer. 
 
 Farmer. 
 
 IUa<-k^mitli. 
 
 Shoemaker. 
 
 Farmer. 
 
 Farmer, 
 
 Farmer. 
 
 Farmer. 
 
 Seaman. 
 
 P'armer. 
 
 Refiner of Iron. 
 
 Farmer. 
 
 Farmer. 
 
 Fariner. 
 
 Shoemaker. 
 
 Carpenter. 
 
 ('ari)enter. 
 
 Carpenter. 
 
 Farmer. 
 
 vShoemaker. 
 
 Fanner. 
 
 Carpenter. 
 
 (,"arpenter. 
 
 Farmer. 
 
 Farmer. 
 
 Farmer. 
 
 Farmer. 
 
 Farmer. 
 
 Farmer. 
 
 Shoemaker. 
 
 Farmer. 
 
 Farmer. 
 
 Farmer. 
 
 Blacksmith. 
 
 Farmer. 
 
 Wheelwright. 
 
 Farmer. 
 
 Shoemaker. 
 
 Seaman. 
 
 Farmer. 
 
 Slioenuvker. 
 
 Mason. 
 
 Fanner. 
 
 (Jarpenfer. 
 
 Shoemaker. 
 
 Farmer. 
 
 Shoemaker. 
 
 Joiner. 
 
 Cooper. 
 
 Weaver. 
 
 Farmer. 
 
 Farmer. 
 
 Farmer. 
 
 Farmer. 
 
 Farmer. 
 
 Farmer. 
 
 ■65 Signers; 36 Women; ftsi Clilldren over 10 years old; 48 Children under 10 years old; 2 Servants. 
 Total, 209. A True Return Test, (Signed) FYLER DIBBLEE, D. Agt. 
 
OF THE ** SPUING FLEET" OF 1783. 
 
 ly 
 
 bushes and slept in it all night. Next 
 morning every n>an came on shore and 
 clcart'd away and landed all our baggage, 
 wonun and the children, and the sloop left 
 us alone in the wilderness. 
 
 We had been informed the Indians were 
 uneasy at our coming, and that a consider- 
 able body had collected at the head of 
 Bellisle. Yet our hope and trust remained 
 firm that TJod wimld not forsake v*. S^a 
 set to work with such resolution ihat Itefore 
 night we had as many tents set as made the 
 women and children comfortable, 
 
 Next morning we dis.'overcd a (Icet of 
 ten Indian canoes slowly moving towards 
 us, wliicii caused considerable alarm with 
 the women. IJefore they came within gun- 
 shot one who could speak Knglish came to 
 let us know, "We all one brother!" They 
 were of tlie Micmac tribe and l)ecame cpiite 
 friendly, and furnislied us plentlhdly with 
 moose meat. 
 
 We soon discovered a situation at the 
 [head ot Bcllisle (.'reek suitable for our pur- 
 pose of settlement with Church and school. 
 Xo surveyor Avas ajjpointed until fJuly 
 I ■when Frederick llauser was commissioned 
 with directions to survey and allot our land 
 |acconiiiig to our wishes. 
 
 lie commenced where we had designed 
 [for our (huicli and school house in King- 
 jston with a road six rods wide and survey- 
 led twenty-two lots numbering on each side. 
 jlJi'fore the lots weie exposed for draft it 
 [was agreed that one acre off each adjoining 
 Icorner ol the tour first numbers should be 
 lUotted the place lor the Church and school 
 house and tliat lot mimber one on the west 
 Iside should be reserved lor the parsonage. 
 Triie water privilege to bi' reserved lor 
 hose who would en«ja<fe to built a grist 
 timll and saw boards enough for our Church 
 xnd school house. 
 
 Accord ino;ly the lots were drawn and the 
 numbers fell to the persons named in the 
 irrant. 
 
 Whereupon every man was jointly em- 
 iloyed clearing places for building, cutting 
 logs, carrying them together by strength of 
 hands anci laying up log houses, by which 
 Mieans seventeen log houses were laid up 
 ind covered with bark, so that by the 
 bnonth of November every man in the dis- 
 trict found himself and family covered under 
 liis own roof and a happier people never 
 jived upon this globe enjoying in unity the 
 blessings which God had provided for us 
 In the country into whose coves and wild 
 
 woods we were driven through ])eraecution. 
 Here with the |)rotection of a kind provi' 
 dence we were ])erfectly happv, contfuted 
 and comfortable in our dwtd lings th.ough' 
 the winter, and on Easter Monday met to- 
 gether, and as secondary means to j)roinote 
 religion, elected the following persons pre- 
 paratory for the church, namely : 
 
 WAIIDK.VS. 
 
 Davl'l Plcki'tt iiuil .Josppli l.yoii. 
 
 VESTWYJIES-. 
 
 John Lyon, 
 Isrnol Iloit, 
 Jonarlijiii KptcliiiTn, 
 Andrew I'atc'hiiijir, 
 EliiH Scriliner, 
 Jolin Fowler, 
 
 Jiiiups Ketehuin, 
 Siliix Riiymonil, 
 Ephraini Lane, 
 JurneH Moore, 
 Seth Sceley, 
 Thomas tSiinmer. 
 
 The Rev. John Sayre who ministired tO' 
 us at Eaton's Neck soon after his arrival in 
 the fall fleet removed to iMaugerville.* 
 
 The Rev. John IJeardsh^y f ofliciated 
 for us occasionally, and made some pre- 
 paration for buihling in Kingston. 
 
 On Thursday, tiie 7th day of Octol)er, 
 1784, I had the honor of the first marriage- 
 
 * The Rov. .lolin Sayre was missionary ?lt Fair- 
 field, Conn., where ho liad a trvintr ox[)erien<'e ilur- 
 injr the llevolntionary war. In a letter dated Nov, 
 8, 1779, he speaks of the hard«hips endured hy the 
 Loyalists at the hands of both the eontendini: parties. 
 In his chnrcli the hansjings were torn down, the 
 leads stcipped oil', bnllcts tired throiitfli the windows 
 and the entire buildings exposed to every sort of 
 wanton defilement. His oouffrefration were sub- 
 jeeted to every kind of oppression — lined and im- 
 prisoned on the nio^t frivolous pi-eteiu'es. Mr. 
 Sayre himself was oonlined to his house and ^fiirden 
 and |iroelainie<l as an enemy to his country, and all 
 l)ersens were forl)iil<ien (under threat of severe pen- 
 alty for disobedience) to have any nianner of (leal- 
 hilX with him. "This order was posted up in every 
 store, mill, mei'hanical shiip, and ])ubli(' house in 
 the county and was repeatedly publislie<l in the 
 newspapers. ****** Yet we wanted for 
 uothinjt; our people iimler cover of nifflit sup- 
 plying us with the comforts and necessaries of 
 life." 
 
 On Jidy 7, 1779, the British troops under fienenil 
 Tryon landed at Pan-field antl set fire to the town. 
 "The ungovernable flames," writes Mr. Havre "soott 
 extended on all sides and in a few minutes left me 
 with a family consisting of wife lUid eight childrea 
 aestitute of food, house ami raiment. * * * My 
 loss included my little all." 
 
 t Rev. John Beardslev, of Stratford, Conn., wa» 
 for some time stationed at Poughkeepsie, N. Y. 
 During the war he was Chaplain in Col, Beverly 
 Robinson's regiment, and with it cnme to New 
 Brunswick. ]Ie was the first clergyman to otticiat« 
 at St. John and Kingston, after the landing of the 
 Loyalists. From 1786 to 1802 he was stationed at 
 Maugerville. Retiring t'roni active work, he theo 
 resided at Kingston, where he died in 1810. 
 
 On June 24th, 180^, when at the age of 71 years, 
 Mr. Beardsley preaclied a sermon in Old Trinity 
 cluirch, at. John, to the Free Masons, met to cele- 
 brate the memory of St. John Baptist. A copy ol 
 this sermon, printed by Jacob S. Mott, Prince 
 William street, is in the possession of J. W. Law- 
 rence, Esq. 
 
14 
 
 KINGSTON AND THE LOYALISTS 
 
 by the first minister. On the death of the 
 Ilev, .lohn Sayre, in 1786, the Kev. John 
 Beardsley was removed to Maugerville 
 
 The vestry appointed to liold church at 
 the house of Elias Scribner, and Mr. 
 Frederick Dibblee to read the j)rayer8. 
 Public worship was thus attended regularly 
 ■on Sundays till July, 1787. when Rev. 
 James Scovil came Irom Connecticut, wiih 
 the view of removing to this province as a 
 missionary. As an encouragement we 
 voted him the lot reserved for the parson- 
 Age, and on the followmg summer he re- 
 moved with his family into Kingston, and 
 attended public worship on Sunday in the 
 house of felias Scribner, where he found, 
 and much to his comtort, a full congrega- 
 
 tion of church people in the wilderness 
 ready to do everythmg in God's name the 
 exigencies of the church required. 
 
 With the coming of the Rev. James 
 Scovil and the establi.shment of all the 
 ordinances of religion, our little commu- 
 nity was well content. 
 
 These liomcs for weary pilfrrims made, 
 liike liappy tents of |)(irt(re Miey atiiiul 
 
 Amid tlio (lark and •■•lent shade, 
 The Alliir cheeis our forest land. 
 
 No splendor clothes each humble dome. 
 No shingled roof or naintcd shrine, 
 
 Yet faith and hope find here a home — 
 The Christian feels the place divine. 
 
 "Yea, the sparrow hath found her an house and 
 the swallow a nest where she may lay her younfj, 
 even Thy altar, O Lord of Hosts, iny Kin;.' and my 
 God." 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 TRINITY CIIUBCII— ITS HISTOEY AND ITS RECTORS. 
 
 ! ! 
 I I 
 
 I 
 
 At the meeting held on the 5th day of 
 July, 1787, to arrange with the Kev. James 
 Scovil about his coming to reside with us, 
 Messrs. Silas Raymond, Elias Scribner and 
 John London did in the presence of said 
 meeting, give each of them, severally, one 
 acre of land off the adjoining corners of 
 th(!ir respective lots to the said tliurch free 
 and clear from all incuniberances for ever, 
 as a privilege to build a Church House 
 thereon. At the same meeting it was 
 voted to build a Church on the hill upon 
 the land given by Silas Raymond, Eluis 
 Scribner and John London. 
 
 Later in the season a subscription paper 
 was drawn up as follows : 
 
 Kingston, December 5th, 178^. 
 
 We, the subseribers, impressed with a full and 
 Tiporous sense of the importiinee of religion, and the 
 -strong obligation we as Chrititians are under to pav 
 •all due homage, adoration and obedience to Al- 
 mighty God the common Father and benevolent 
 Governor of the Universe, in whom we live and 
 move and have our being — and upon whom all our 
 liopes depend both for time and eternity; and being 
 firmly persuaded that a due performance of the 
 duties of religion in His house of prayer are the 
 most likely and cffeetual methods of cultivating and 
 keeping alive a proper sense of religion, according 
 to the la»|s of the Gospel among us, do for the best 
 good of oi^Melves and our children for ever, <;ovenant 
 und agree w> pay to theCliurc.h Wardens and Vestry 
 of the Parish of Kingston, in Kings County, or their 
 order, such sum or sums as shall be by us atlixcd to 
 our names, in labor, money, or other articles, as we 
 ghall sign — which sum or sums signed by us shall 
 (,e appropriated and applied in the most prudent 
 
 and effectual manner for the erection of a House to *■ 
 the Honor and for tlit? Public Worship of Almighty 
 (Jod according to the usage of the Church of 
 England, in tlie Parish of Kingston aforesaid upon 
 the square or plot of ground near the house of the 
 Kev. James Scovil. 
 
 The subscription paper was returned in 
 a few weeks with seventv-two signers — 
 total amount subscribed £l;)4, los. (Jd. 
 
 In February it was agreiul to build the 
 Church 60 feet in lengtli and .')8 in breadth 
 under the direction of the vestry, and it 
 was further agreed to allow fifteen shillings 
 a thousand for eighteen inch shingles and 
 three shillings a day for common labour. 
 
 On Saturday the 27th day of Jun(\ 1789, 
 the frame was raised in perfect harmony 
 and m good order, and by united eijertion 
 was so far advanced that on the ftth day of 
 November it wan dedicated to the service 
 of Almighty God by the Rev. James Si-ovil 
 by the name of Tuixity CiiUKCir. 
 
 On examining the records in the clerk's 
 books, I found no mention of the conser- 
 eration of Trinity Church. 1 cannot omit 
 giving my statement of the same from my 
 own recollections and such statements as I 
 find in my possession, however impiirfect 
 they may be found by those who nuiy have 
 more and better information. 
 
 This, then, is a brief sketch from the 
 address delivered by the Rev. .James 
 Scovil on the occasion of the consecration 
 of Trinity Church in Kingston, N. B. 
 
 
OF THE "SPRING FLEET" OF 1783. 
 
 16 
 
 ildorness 
 lanie the 
 
 . James 
 
 ■ all the 
 
 conimu- 
 
 idc, 
 liiid 
 
 oine, 
 
 If, 
 e — 
 lie. 
 
 I lioUAc anil 
 ler young, 
 n' ami my 
 
 "My Chribtian Bkkthhen : We liavo now wit- 
 nc-'.cd II cercinoiiy wliicli in all proltaliility we as 
 a I'arich oliall never witiiei's af^aiii. Thin is but one 
 of tlip solemn oouHiilerarinnti which is brouglit into 
 view by an event like tins. 
 We nave now bejc"" a temple (leilieateil for the 
 
 I worsliip of Cjoil, III which temple by (iod's ^rrace 
 our tliildren and tliiir pustoritv are iniido meet par- 
 takers of a rich inhevitaiice. Wherein the precious 
 
 IlidinKs of Christ and His eross shall ever find saiic- 
 
 Ituiiry. Where wo trust the Divine presence shall 
 jibid'p after we are jiathero I unto our fathers. 
 But wiiy need there lie iiny relipioiis ceremony on 
 
 |tliis enterprise of our buihliiiK? 
 1 Because, 'exe>!pt the Lor(l build the house their 
 iabr)r is but lost thuf build it.' We thereftire now as 
 It were in a mystical sense baptize our church in its 
 infancy by the name of Trinity Church, and with 
 
 a House to 
 of Almighty 
 
 Churcn of 
 resaid upon 
 house of the 
 
 etiirnod in 
 signers — 
 IS. 0(1. 
 build the 
 n breadth 
 ry, and it 
 In' shillings 
 ngk's and 
 liibour. 
 me, 1789, 
 harmony 
 e>iertion 
 )th day of 
 |he service 
 lies Sfovil 
 
 the clerk's 
 
 le conser- 
 
 Innot omit 
 
 from my 
 
 Inents as I 
 
 imperfect 
 
 I may have 
 
 from the 
 James 
 isecration 
 [. B. 
 
 be applied on the church and one-third for 
 the parsonage, but afterwards fifty pounds 
 was appropriated to the use of the church 
 at Oak I'oint, in Long Reach, and it was 
 voted likewise that the inhabitants on the 
 Kanabeekatious should have an etpial 
 amount for tin building of a church on 
 that river, near fames IIoyt\s. 
 
 The seats aiid pews were rented in 1796 
 for twenty-one pounds twelve shillings, but 
 the amount diminished 'ear by year. 
 Objection was made that since there wa.s not 
 pews for all many did not like to intrude 
 
 KINGSTON CHURCH 
 
 sipn of the Cross in token hereafter it shall be a 
 ^nuiiient and a witness of the faith of Christ 
 leified. 
 
 fn the name of God we have erected it and we 
 lay ofler this token of our devotion to Ilim who is 
 
 way, the truth, and the life. 
 
 Icre we may believe tJiat Hod's promises will be 
 
 illed and blessings will be abundantly bestowed. 
 
 V the permanent blessing of heaveii rest upon 
 
 solemn transactions of this da}', and may this 
 
 k'ish of Kingston ever be the means of extending 
 
 re and undeaied religion. In this and all our 
 
 lertakiiigs may the Lord bless ns and keep us, 
 
 Lord make His face to shine upon us and be 
 
 Icious unto us, the Lord lift up the light of His 
 
 |ntenaiice upon us and give us peace both now 
 
 ever. Amen." 
 
 \t was decided to furnish the church with 
 irs and seats. In July following we re- 
 
 ked a lonation from government of four 
 idred pounds. Voted that two-thirds 
 
 into the seats of others. Others claimed 
 that all pews ought to be free. The vestry 
 then proposed a subscription, which suc- 
 ceeded, and the pews and seats all re- 
 mained free. 
 
 In 1803, the Rev. James Scovil being 
 infirm and unable to hold Divine service on 
 all occasions, it was proposed to employ 
 . his son. Pvlias. who was then ordained, to 
 assist his father, and to secure forty pounds 
 a year, to be paid half-yearly, lie to 
 officiate one-half of his time in Ki^ston, 
 one-fourth in Hampton and one-fourth in 
 Springfield. The former place to raise 
 twenty pounds and the others ten each. 
 , We continued to make improvements in 
 the church from time to time. In the 
 
.!ll 
 
 16 
 
 KI>OSTON A XI) THE LOYALISTS 
 
 spring of 1808 the sum of one hundred and 
 three pounds was* snbscribe*! by forty-nine 
 persons lor the jiurpose of erectinj; a 
 steeple with an tnd {gallery and conipli-t- 
 ing neeessary n-pairs on condition the sale 
 oi j)ews be revoKrd 
 
 chancel be built sqiiarc with a Venetian win- 
 dow at the end. ,n Stpteiuber, 181.'i, wa.s 
 received a bell weijrhinj; I'J'.l lbs. generously 
 presented by some gentlemen of Saint 
 .lohns as a gift to the ehurch. It was 
 
 and they be tree in voted that the sum of two pounds ten shil- 
 
 11 
 
 
 "^t^ij:^ 
 
 
 
 REV. CHARLES INGLIS. 
 
 the future. On June 1.5, the steeple was 
 framed and raised in good order without 
 anv accident happening to any one. 
 
 It was not until 1810 that a stove was 
 procured for the church when fourteen 
 pounds fourteen shillings was raised for 
 erecting a stove and completing the same 
 with pipe. 
 
 The following year it was voted that the 
 
 lings a year shall be allowed for tending! 
 the stove oi the church and ringing the bell. I 
 
 On December lyth, 1808, it pleased God 
 to take to himself our worthy and revered 
 rector, in the seventy-sixth year of his age, I 
 and fiftieth year of his ministry, of whicb| 
 twenty years he was rector of Ivingston. 
 
 In the last years of his life he sufieredl 
 with a long and painful disease, which con- 
 
 m 
 
 'i 1 
 
OF THE "srillNQ FLEKT" OF 1T83. 
 
 ir 
 
 tumod (lay by day to increase until ho 
 cnt^Jt"! hi^ i\-"<t 
 
 lie was cheerful in conuuon conversa- 
 tion, and instructive in the strength of liis 
 reasoning. As a niini.ster ].c was an orna- 
 ment to his profession — a worthy example 
 tor his congregation. The duties of re- 
 ligion he iucidcaterl by example as well as 
 precept. The life he reconnnended tr his 
 congregation he lived before them, ilia 
 friendly intercourse with his people con- 
 tnuied to the last utKiuenched by sickness, 
 pain and old ag<'. lie was gentle without 
 weakness, dignified without pride, strict 
 without severity. Good cause have his 
 children to reniendier the kind counsel and 
 
 1)l(asant comi)anionship oi such a father, 
 laupy, too, are we that his successor in 
 the church is of the same family. 
 
 On biinday, duly l^!), ISO!), the Right 
 Rev. Charles Inglis, Bishopof Nova Scotia,* 
 visited our church and confirmed 257 per- 
 
 S0!1S. 
 
 Having 'earned that the j>ews in the 
 church were all held free, the Bishop wrote 
 the following letter, expressing his dis- 
 ajjproval : 
 
 FuKUEUicTOK, .Jth Aiij;ust, 1809. 
 Geiit'emen,-- 
 
 Wlicii liitplyat Kiiiffs'tnn I rccfivpcl miicli ploasiire 
 
 j from seeing pi> hir^'e ii eongrojr^itioii on Suiidiiy, tlie 
 
 I rlei'i'iii'V of their Ix'liuvior (lurinjc ihviiie servioe, the 
 
 hirjfe munher of persons who presented themselves 
 
 for contirniiition. 
 
 I sincerely rejoice iit these eireiunstances, luid 
 j now eiiruestly priiy tlic (ireiit Sliepherd and Ke- 
 (k'enier of soids that lie wcuhi efFeetually bless botli 
 I the ordinances then administered in that duirch to 
 
 *Rev. Chiirles Inghs, D. D., was the hist Hector 
 I of New York under the Crown. 
 
 In a letter dated New York, Got. 31, 1776, be de- 
 I scribes at lentrtli the trials and difhculties ex- 
 perienced by liimself andjhis brethren in the ministry. 
 "Some," he writes, "have been carried prisoners by 
 armed mobs— detained in close confinment for several 
 weeks and mucli insulted. Some have been flung 
 into jails, by committees, for frivolous snspicions of 
 plots. Some have been pulled out of the reading 
 desk because they prayed for the Kinij. Others have 
 had their houses plundered and their desks broken 
 I open under pretence of containinfj treasonable papers. 
 Soon after Washington's arrival in New York, he 
 [attended our church, but on Sunday morning before 
 I divine service began, one of the rebel generals 
 ji'alled at my house and left word that General Wash- 
 lington would be at church and would be glad if the 
 I violent pniyers for the King and royal family were 
 lomittcd. This message, as you may suppose, I dis- 
 I regarded. The conduct of the messenger, I since 
 learned, was not authorized by Washington. . . . 
 I One Sunday when I was oJUciating and had ^ro- 
 jceeded some length in the service a company of 
 about 100 armed rebels marched into the church, 
 jwitli drums beating and fifes playing, their guns 
 I loaded and bayonets fixed. The congregation was 
 jthrown into the utmost terror and several women 
 Ifainted expecting a massacre was intended. It was 
 lexpected that when the prayers for the King and 
 [the royal family were read I should certainly be 
 3 
 
 the spiritual nourislimcnt and growth In griice of all 
 who dill or shall partake of them 
 
 lint it gave me no small concern to learn that tli<^ 
 pews in the chunli of Kingston were all held In 
 I'ommon, and that none were appronriated ti) indi- 
 viihials— as is the case in all other churches in our 
 communion. 
 
 I never knew an instance before this, in Kuropc 
 or America, where the pews were thus held in com- 
 mon, and where men — perhaiis of the worst charac- 
 ters — might conn- anil set tlu'insclves il(>wn by the 
 most rcliirioiis and respectabh^ characters in the 
 parish. This must ultimately tenil to produce dis- 
 order and confusion in the church, and check the 
 spirit (if true devotion and piety. 
 
 When a man has a pi'vv of his own, he can leave 
 his Hibh ■uid iirayer books in that pew when puMic 
 worship IS e;i(li'd on Sunday, and he will he sure ti> 
 tind them in his pew on the next Sahhath. 
 
 The intirmities (if aire aid bail health require at- 
 tentiim to the ."omfort of warmth, especially in the 
 winter. A man may procure that comfort by lining 
 his |)ew with somi kind of doth and covering the 
 floor. 
 
 It i< needless to say thut the mode of holding the 
 pews in common must necessarily preclude tlieso 
 with many other ".lenelits and conveuii'iiccs that 
 micht be named. 
 
 What could occasion such an innovation— such 
 a departure from the u^age ot the ( 'hurch of KuKlatid 
 I am unable to conceive ; the ttreattst disorder must 
 be the consequence, if this nuxle he continued, when 
 the country oecomes populous; in some places it 
 would at this day be ru'nous to the ('hurch. 
 • ♦ * ♦ Very earnestly wisliintr for the i)rosper- 
 ity of the Cliurch and Conjtregation at Kiiiirston, I 
 earnestly recommend to your considerntion, (ientle- 
 men, the removal of this strange arrangement. 
 
 Your prudence and good sense will point out the 
 mode of accomplishing this, which should be gentle 
 and conciliatory — and I (latter myself when the 
 matter is coolly and deliberately weighed that there- 
 will scarcely be an oltjection to it. 
 
 To obviate any dilliculty there should be in yours, 
 
 ■ as in most other churches, a pew or two set apart 
 
 for strangers, and the poor should not he neglected. 
 
 And as (iovnrnnient contributed to the building of 
 your Church, the same order should lie observed 
 in it as in all other regular established churches. 
 
 fired at, as menaces to that luirpose had been frequent- 
 ly flung out. The matter, however, i)asse(l over with- 
 out any accident, though I was afterwards assured 
 that something hostile and violent was intended, but 
 lie that stills the racing of the sea and the madness 
 of the people over ruled their purpose whatever 
 it was. 
 
 A fine equestrian statue of the King was pulled 
 down and totally demolished. All the King's arms, 
 even those on signs of taverns were destroyed. The 
 committee sent me a message which I esteemed a 
 favor to have the King's arms taken down in the 
 church or else the mob would do it. I immediately 
 co.mplied." 
 
 The royal arms here referred to were until re- 
 cently supposed to be the same now in Trinity 
 church, St. John, N. B., but this has lately been 
 shown by Mr. J. W. Lawrence to be a mistake. 
 
 In February, 1775, Dr. Inglis wrote an answer to 
 a pamphlet by Tom Paine, entitled "Common 
 Sense." The first imprt-ssion was seized by the 
 •'Sons of Liberty" and burnt. A second eifition 
 was printed at Philadelphia, and a copy is now ii> 
 possession of Mr. Jonas Howe, of this city. 
 
 For some time atter the publication of the reply 
 to "Common Sense" Dr. Inglis was exposed to- 
 great danger. 
 
 At the evacuation in 1783 he oame to Halifax. Oni 
 August 12, 1787, he was consecrated at Lambeth, 
 an(f became thereby the first Bishop in the colonics 
 of Great Britain. 
 
18 
 
 KINGSTON AND 'IHK LOYALISTS 
 
 Iloartily ooTntiiriKliiiK von and your conirrrtrutiDii 
 to tln^ Hpcflal blffiiiiiiK mill |irotecfioii of AliniKlity 
 Ctoil. I Hill ({I'litlcincn, 
 
 Your aflVctionufe frifiwl uikI Hervaiit in ClirUt,, 
 
 CuAKLEs Nova Scotia. 
 
 To tlie Rector, Cliiiroli WariicnSi i 
 
 liiid Vestry of Kiiit^ntoii. 
 
 The people beinj; ac(iuainted with the 
 HLshop's letter upon the (jiiestion of nelliiig 
 the pews being put to the meeting thirty- 
 
 I 
 
 In IHiy the Uev. James Cookson came 
 out aH missionary to the I'urish ot'IIampton, 
 much to the sati'ulaetion of the people ol 
 Hampton and to the reliet of the Keetor of 
 Kingston. 
 
 In IH'20 it was voted that the Church be 
 (Ires.sed in mourning for King George the 
 third who had deoea.sed. 
 
 July 2(i, lH2(i, the Kight Rev. John 
 
 
 THE RIGHT REV. JOHN MEDLEY, 
 (First Bishop of Fredericton.) 
 
 D. D. 
 
 three voted to comply with hij wishes and Inglis, Bishop of Nova Scotia, made his 
 seven only to the contrar} . Of course the first visit and confirmed 182 persons, 
 pews were sold, -and remained so ever In 1833 voted money in hand for the 
 
 emcfc.' 
 
 *The following extract from the Parish Records ol 
 1845 will be of int^reRt in this conntction. Bisliop 
 Inglis' views regarding paid sittings were rather 
 different from those of the first Bishop of the newly 
 created diocese : 
 
 " Tlie Right Rev. John Medley, (the first Bishop 
 " of this province) made his flri«t visit to Kingston 
 
 " and held confirmation, administering this holy rite 
 "to 63 persons, on tlie 27tli day of August, 1845. 
 " His Lordship atrain visited the Parish on the 30th 
 " of October, 1845, and consecrated the new chapel, 
 " (called St. James) on the Long Reach. Before the 
 " consecration his Lordship required the sittings 
 "should be made /»•««, and the pew holders signed 
 
-y^ 
 
 OF TIIK "SPRING FLKKT" OF 1783. 
 
 iU 
 
 purpoHc of adding to the Church the con- 
 •venieiwt' of a vestry room. 
 
 On Sunday the steond day ot August, 
 IHUo, the Right llev. .John ingli.s, Hishop 
 ot Nova Scotia, ordained in the Ciiurch at 
 King.ston, William Scovd, Deacon, to the 
 oflice of Priest. t After Divnie Service, 
 his Lordship addressed the Corporation in 
 the Vestry room where in his plt-asing 
 address he represented the Church in King- 
 ston as the root Irom which all other 
 churches in the county were sprouts. 
 
 Having brought my history thus far I 
 must now bring it to a conclusion hoping 
 tliat my readers may judge of my infirmities 
 without severity. 
 
 It may be mentioned that 0:1 Mr. Fred- 
 erick Dibhlee's removal from Kingston in 
 171H) to be ordained as the first clergyman 
 at Woodstock, it was voted that sjine fit 
 person be appointed to read prayers and a 
 sermon in the absence of the Kector. 
 Walter Bates was selected and by this 
 means the Church in Kingston has ever been 
 kept open upon the Lord's Day. 
 
 ilaving now with all fidelity treated of 
 my subject, I would fain hope it is some- 
 thing more than idle curiosity that prompts 
 me to wish it was possible to know the 
 lutnre destiny of this country. 
 
 One conjecture, 1 presume, to offer on 
 the subject, that sometime or other there 
 will su.ely be a restoration of the colonies 
 of America — that after a long series of dis- 
 sensions and contests their dovntall will 
 come from the north, and by the like 
 means which hath been usual in the course 
 of history, and that at some future period 
 the vast and northern deserts of Acadia 
 And Canada will give laws to all North 
 America. But what will be the destiny of 
 the three portions of the globe where a few 
 
 *' an iifrrePniLnit to thiit effect, reserving the riuht of 
 " rt'sumiiiK their seats on tlie terms of tlie ori^nal 
 " mile, it wliile tliey live in this Parish it shouUl be 
 " deemed advisable, with consent of the Bishop, 
 " to have the pews again sold and appropriated 
 " to individuals." 
 
 (Signed) John Raymond, 
 
 Veitry Clerk. 
 
 tMr. G. Herbert Lee, in his " historical sketch of 
 the first fifty years ot the Church of England in the 
 Province of 5few Brunswick," writes, " It is note- 
 worthy that father, son, and grandson occupied 
 successively the position of Rector in the same 
 Parish. For one hundred and thirty years the three 
 Seovils were in the ministry, and for ninety years 
 they officiated at Kingston." Rev. Elias Scovil 
 dieci Feb. 10, 1841, in the 70th year of his age, and 
 the 40:h of ills ministry; and the Rev. William E. 
 Scovil on June 6, 1876, iu the S7th year of hi8 age and 
 43rd of his ministry. 
 
 have acted their part alone? I refer to 
 llritish North America, the Hritish settle- 
 ments in Hindostan and the vast but yet 
 infant colony of Botany Bay. What is to 
 hinder (in-at Britain from transporting her 
 empire to the Kaxt. where she might 
 possess in India a territory inferior only to 
 the kingdom of China, which for love ot 
 peace would be a good lu.'ighbor. 
 
 I am tempted to hazard the conjecture 
 that there will be eventually the appear- 
 ance of a great new power in the world 
 under one; great British monarch, which it 
 is no more within my province than it is 
 within the compass of my abilities to deli- 
 neate in detail. I cherish the idea of a 
 new, strong and durable wise confederacy 
 — a trii)le cord formed by the three hap- 
 piest countries in the three tjuarters of the 
 world. X 
 
 To the foregoing story of Walter Bates 
 a very few words only ne(Ml be added. 
 
 Soon after his return from a visit to his 
 old home (see foot note), he in all proba- 
 bility completed his narrative, of which the 
 reminiscences of the early days of Connec- 
 ticut which follow are by no means the 
 least interesting |)ortion. 
 
 The closing words, as given above, are 
 almost a dream of Imperial federation. 
 
 Kingston church was remodelled in 
 1857. but is yet, however, substantially 
 the same church, erected by the energies 
 of its Loyalist founders one hundred 
 years ago. The accompanying engraving 
 IS from a photograph takL-n about the time 
 of the centennial cominemcration, June, 
 1889. 
 
 X Rov. E. B. Ilunlincrtou, in his history of Stam- 
 ford, says : "In '83H Wiiltcr iinil Aujfustus Bales, 
 who were amoiiA,' the banixheil loyahsts returned to 
 the home of their childhood. Thouijh honored and 
 much er-teemed in the home of their adoption, they 
 still retained tli<ir youthful love for the one they liad 
 lost. The following extracts arc from a brief 
 'Jubilee,' which the former brother penned as ex- 
 pressive of their feelings. 
 
 'Our two oldest brothers being dead, the remain- 
 ing family, eight in number, were slnjiularly separ- 
 ated — two only remained in Stamfoni, two settled in 
 different towns within the United States, two iu the 
 province of New Brunswick and two in Upper 
 Canada whore we remained 1,200 miles from each 
 other, and 600 from our native place, until the eldest 
 had arrived at the age ot 80 and the youngest to the 
 62nd year of his age. After the full lerm of fifty 
 years, guided and protected by a kind Providence, 
 we are permitted to visit our native home, the town 
 and place of our birth, here to celebrate this our 
 jubilee, . . . praising (Jod in communion with 
 our remaining relations and friends, in the same 
 church wherein we were in infancy first dedicated 
 to God by our parents.' " 
 
20 
 
 KINGSTON AND THE LOYALISTS 
 
 PART IT. 
 
 Ill 
 
 INCIDENTS CF THE EARLY DAYS OF CONNECTICUT. 
 
 The piirt of tlu; narnitivc now to be 
 taken up is ot a ratlier fraj^nicntary nature, 
 aevcral pages apparently liavinj; been loHt. 
 
 In j'cadini^ what follows wt; must bear in 
 mind that our author was a man of tleeided 
 character and pronounced views. He had 
 Bullered mueh for liis h)yalty tc kinfj and 
 country, and h(! writes from the stanclpoint 
 of his party and of liis times. 
 
 The relations exislinf; between the des- 
 cendants of tlu old Tur'tans of New Eng- 
 land and the Loyalists — never very cordial 
 at the best — were gn^atly embittered f)y 
 the l{(!volutionary war : So nujch so that 
 it is only of recent years that the burning 
 topics of that period have been temperately 
 considered by the descendants of either 
 party. Impartial American historians of 
 today, however, ailmit that the Loyalists of 
 New England received exceedingly harsh 
 treatment at the hands of iheir fellow 
 citizens during the early years of its history. 
 
 The llev. iTr. E. E. IJeardsley, of New 
 Haven, in a valuable historical work writes : 
 
 "Tlie HuH'criiiKs of the I'lirituiis wt-re tlit- fi\iit of 
 "th(! priiicii)li'.-i of tlie tiiiios. * * * Neal, in liU 
 "History ot Now Enj,'liin(l, says 'it must be allowed 
 "that when tlie Puritans wcre'in power, they carried 
 •' their resentinents too far'. Unwarrantable 
 "cruelty in one party is no .justifieat'-'i of it in 
 "iinother; yet when nu'n talk of tlu! si' . ugs and 
 "sacrifices and self-denial of the I'.ntan*, they 
 "should consider the spirit and principles of the 
 "age, and remember how those who were thus pcr- 
 "secuted turned persecutors, and practised the 
 "rigors froin whicli they thought to escape." 
 
 Preparations for the settlement of Con- 
 necticut were begun in 16.").') on the banks 
 of the river which gives name to the State, 
 but shortly before this the Dutch from 
 Manhattan had erected a fort at Hartford. 
 
 The name of the celebrated Joseph 
 Hooker is inseparably connected with the 
 early days of Hartford, and has been gen- 
 erally viewed in a different ligiii from that 
 in which he appears to our author, who 
 "Writes as follows : 
 
 When Hooker first established himself 
 at Hartford, he was received by the ruling 
 Indian chief with caution. The Sachem 
 
 did not like his new neighbors ; refused to 
 give or sell any land to them, but told 
 them, as they came to trade; with him anti 
 spread the; Christian religion among his 
 subjects, he had no objection to their 
 buihling wigwams, planti'ig corn and hunt- 
 ing on his lands. 
 
 riie wisdom and steady temj)er of the 
 Sachem made llaynes and Hooker cau- 
 tious of their conduct. 
 
 Many people of Massacrhusetts Bay, 
 hearing that Hooker had made good term* 
 with the Sachem, removed to the banks of 
 Connecticut, that they might share in the 
 work of spreading the g()S])el among the 
 l»oor benighted heathen. Kev. Mr. Hiiet, 
 with bis followers, fi.\(.'d themselves at 
 Windsor, eight miles north of Hartford, 
 and Kev. Mr. Smith at Wethcrsiield, four 
 miles south of it. So that in the space of 
 eighteen months the dominion of Hartford 
 contained several hundred inhabitants and 
 several volnntary independeri*^ churches. 
 Hooker, Huet, Smith and others hereby 
 found nxians to spread t'lC gospel inta 
 every Indian town, and to their eternal in- 
 famy with the gosj)el spread the small-pox. 
 This distemper raged in eveiy quarter ; it 
 swept away the great Sachem, and laid 
 waste his ancient kingdom. 
 
 Hereupon Haynes and his assembly pro- 
 claimed Joshua Sachem, who had been an 
 ambitious captain under the great Sachem, 
 and all such as did not acknowledge his 
 power were to be put to death or fly the 
 dominion. 
 
 These colonists having at last driven out 
 the heathen, and got po.ssession of a land 
 flowing with milk and honey, next expelled 
 the Dutch as a dangerous set of heretics. 
 
 Flooker having done so much for his new 
 Dominion expected the homage of every 
 independent church. This homage, how- 
 ever, he could not obtain, because each 
 minister had pretensions not much inferior 
 to his own. Hence disputes arose about 
 doctrine and discipline. Hooker is said to 
 have taught the existence of forty-two 
 varieties of Grace, though all of little value 
 
OF THE "SPRINO FLEKT " OK 17S3. 
 
 n 
 
 oxrrpt Havinfj (Iracc. An to (lisciiilitu', Ik- 
 lifld In* luid n-crivcd Wis initiistt'i-iul ordiiia- 
 tidii trorn tlw hands ol the l-iilv who wt-re 
 ill lull foinminiion. 
 
 'I'hrou.dioiM th«) controversy th«> majority 
 of th<' jK'o|»li' were on the sidi' ol" Mr. 
 Hooker, and tliey soon (let«'rinin«'d by vote 
 accordin;X '" iheir eo(U' ol laws in his 
 lavoiir. lint the other ministers and the 
 minority were not (;onvineed by this vote. 
 
 '!'(( avoid exconnnunieation they formed 
 themselves into separate irresponsible 
 bodies. Nuverthehiss they soon felt the 
 tlinndering anathemas of llo(»ker and the 
 lu'ate<l ven^eanee of tlie eivil power. 
 
 However, persecution by its certain con- 
 a.TpH'nces fixed the Separatists in their 
 schism wliich continues to the present time 
 in (.onnecticut. 
 
 Hooker may be said to have rei<;ned 
 twelve years as hi;^h priest over Hartford, 
 and then (Med, about GO years of a<;e, to 
 the {jroat joy ol the Separatists of well nijjh 
 as many sects as Hooker had taufi^ht kinds 
 off^race. 
 
 The death of Cromwell in 1G;)8 struck an 
 awe throu<j;hout all New Enj^land. Hart- 
 ford and New Haven appointed their days 
 of fasting and prayer. Uavenport pravcid 
 th(! Lord to take the New England vine 
 under His immediate care as He had re- 
 moved by death tiie one great protector of 
 the I'rotestant liberty. Nevertheless, 
 Davenport lived to see the time when 
 Charles the second obtained possession of 
 his father's crown. 
 
 However, in the midst of their sorrows 
 they were comforted by the pnisence of 
 many regicides and refugees who fled from 
 England, amongst whom tvere Whalley, 
 Colfe, and Dixwell, three of the judges 
 and murderers of Charles the first. 
 Davenport and Leet, the then Governor, 
 received them, with open arms, and blessed 
 GoCi they had escaped from the hands of 
 Herod, the son of Barrabas 
 
 They arrived about 'ie 27th of March, 
 and made Mr. Davenpo. I's house the place 
 ol their residence. For some time they 
 appeared t( think themselves out of danger, 
 but it was i tt long till the King's proclaaia- 
 tion against the regicides arrived, requiring 
 wherevei they might be foup'^ they should 
 he immediately apprehendet 
 
 They remained secreted most of the time 
 at Mr. Davenport's until about the last of 
 April. For a short time they made their 
 quarters in the woods and then fixed them- 
 
 solves in a oave in the side of a hill, which 
 they named I'rovidence hill, where Dixwell 
 died and lies buried willi the seeds of 
 rebellion in New Haven, and where his 
 gfttvtf is visited with vein-ration, even held 
 sacred as the t«>mb at Mecca. 
 
 New Haven dominion, being sudtlenty 
 filled with such inli;ibitaMts. saw itself cii- 
 aliled to support its iiidepi-iideiiiy, and paid 
 no attention to the king and parliament of 
 En<j;iand. 
 
 The people (d" Massachusetts, ever for- 
 ward in promoting their own consei|uence, 
 privately appointed Mr. Winthrop their 
 agent to lu'gotiate their business in Eng- 
 land, whi<'h he williiiglv nmlertock, and 
 procured from the incautious ( "harl(\s the 
 Second as amph- a charter as was ever 
 given. New Haven too late discovered 
 the intrigue, but after two vear.s' opposi- 
 tion, they submitted to the cliarter, jiurely 
 out ol' fear lest some of tlu'ir leaders shoiihl 
 l)e j)ut to ignominious death for aiding in 
 the murder of the king. 
 
 To the joy of the people of liostotf, 
 Winthrop was a])pointe(l by the charter 
 (lovei'iior of all Connecticut, and was an- 
 nually elected till his death, which hap- 
 pene(l in 1G7G. The laws enacted under 
 tlie charter are dc'c'nt compared with the 
 IJlue i^aws. One law is as follows: 
 "When any trespass is committed in the 
 night, the injured p. "son may recover 
 damage of any one he shall thinic proper 
 to accuse unless lie can jirove an alibi." 
 
 (^ueciu Ann repealed the (rruel laws re- 
 specting (Quakers and otlier denoniinations. 
 
 The idea of independence of (Jreat Bri- 
 tain was not, as might be imagined, de- 
 stroyed by the charter. Indeed, the char- 
 ter is as much in favor of Connecticut as if 
 it had been drawn up in JJoston or New 
 Haven. 
 
 The general assembly made a law, that 
 whosoev<!r should attempt to destroy the 
 constitution of this colony as by charter 
 established, should suller death, and de- 
 clared "Sober Dissent" to be the estab- 
 lished religion of the province. 
 
 They denied to the inhabitants the free 
 exercise ot conscience, arbitrarily fining 
 those who would not coine to their congre- 
 gational assemblies. Members of other 
 religious bodies inhabiting there could not 
 obtain justice in the courts of that colony, 
 and all men ot known lovalty were ex- 
 cluded from the government in order to 
 keep the law in the hands of the majority. 
 
22 
 
 KINGSTON AND THtt LOYALISTS 
 
 I 
 
 In consequence of his impeachment, King 
 ♦James the Second ordered quo icarranto 
 to be issued agaip"*^ the Charter of Con- 
 necticut. 
 
 The people at length perceived the King 
 was in earnest. The Assembly met as 
 usual in October acconling to charter. 
 Wliilfit they were sitting, Sir Edward 
 Andros, (jcneral of New England, de- 
 manded the Charter and declared the gov- 
 ermiH'nt und«'r it to be dissolved. Where- 
 unon the Assemblv resigned the ('barter 
 nito his hands at Hartford, October, 
 1()H7. 
 
 But the very night after its surrender, 
 Captain Samuel ^Vadsworth Avith the as- 
 sistance of a mob broke into the apartment 
 ot Sir Edmund, regained, carried oil" and 
 hid the Charter in thi; hollow of an elm and 
 Kobert Treat. M'ho had been elected in 
 1(!87, was dt!clared by the mob still to be 
 the governor ot Connecticut. The latter 
 daringly summoned his old Assembly, who 
 being asseml)le(i voted the Charter to be 
 valid in law, and that it could not be 
 vacated by any power without the General 
 Assembly, and \nU'{\ tliat Samuel Wads- 
 worth should bring lorth the Charter, which 
 he ditl in solemn procession attended by 
 the High Slurill", and delivered it to the 
 (jovernor. The (ieneral Assembly voted 
 their thanks to AVadsworth and twenty 
 shillings reward for stealing and hiding the 
 Charter. 
 
 The General Assembly though unsup- 
 ported either by law cr justice, now resolved 
 to settle tljeu- land west of the Sus(pie- 
 bannah Kiver. They modestly passed over 
 New York and the .lerseys and seized on 
 Pennsylvania claimed by tlie (Quakers who 
 fight not either for wile or daughter, and 
 as it to imitite the iriitiuity of their fathers, 
 destroyed the (,* 'ak rs and Indians, and 
 took possession ot their lands. They plead 
 that their Charter bound them west by the 
 South Sea. 
 
 The Sober Dissenters having been estab- 
 lished by the General Assembly, the Irue 
 Independents denied that the Assembly had 
 any power over Christians than thi-ir pro- 
 tection. Hence arose contention Ijetween 
 the Assembly and the Indejjendents, an<l 
 both parties having been brought up under 
 (Jromwell their battle was well iought. 
 
 The Independent ministers proclaimed 
 from their pulpits that the Assembly acted 
 more tor their own interest than for the 
 glory of God. These spiritual warriorf 
 
 proved formidable opponents. Indeed 
 none disputed their vote with impunity. 
 
 At length a governor was appointed who 
 determined to reduce; them under the civil 
 power, and accordingly the Assembly sent 
 their sherilf to bring betore them certain, 
 leading men among the ministers of whom 
 they banished some, silenced others, and 
 fined many lor preaching sedition. The 
 ministers told the assembly that "curst 
 cows had short horns." However they 
 ostensibly subifiitted to the Assembly and 
 went home, liut when the day of the elec- 
 tion came they told the free men that the 
 Lord's cause reepiired a man ot Grace to 
 stand at the head ot the colony and with 
 confidence rei'ommended the moderator of 
 their association to be their governor, who 
 accordinjjlv was elected. 
 
 This event greatly inflamed the magis- 
 trates, who thereupon cried out, "This is 
 Presbyterian Pofjcdom !" 
 
 VV^hile the churches were thus divided, 
 alarm was caused by the appearing of the 
 Quakers, a number of whom arrived in 
 Boston, arid were conunitted to the com- 
 mon gaol. A number ot their books had 
 been seized with a view "of being burnt. 
 At the general court, in September, it 
 was recommended to the several general 
 courts that all (Quakers, Episco))alians, 
 Banters and heretics shotdd be prohibited 
 coming into the colony. 
 
 ^^'hile speaking ot the religious phrenzies 
 and persecutions in Comuicticut under the 
 sanction of tiieir charter, I must notice the 
 word of an eminent (Quaker, who was ban- 
 ished, and ui)on return sentenced to be 
 hanged : "Dost thee not think,"' saitl he 
 to his judge, "that the .Jews who crucified 
 the Saviour ot the world had a charter T'' 
 
 As late as the year 171(i, the Bev. Mr. 
 Gibbs, of Symsbury, refusing to i)ay the 
 rate for the salary of the Congregatioualist 
 minister in the same town, was by the 
 collector thrown across a horse, lashed 
 hand and toot under the creature's belly^ 
 
 Mr. 
 
 miles to 
 
 gaol. 
 
 and carrii'd several 
 
 (Jibbs was half dead when he got there, 
 and though he was released by his church 
 wardens, who, to save his life, paid the 
 assessment, yet having taken cold in addi- 
 tion to his bruises, he became delirious,^ 
 and riMuained in a state of insanity until 
 his death. 
 
 The Bev. Mr. Mozley, a missionary 
 from the Society for Propagation of the 
 Gospel at Lichfield, was prevented by the 
 
/ 
 
 OF THE ** SPRING FLEKT " OF 1783. 
 
 23 
 
 grand vary from niarrvirifr a couplf belong- 
 ing to ni^ parish, the banns havinjr been 
 duly published and consent of parents ob- 
 tained. The court niihlly fined him £20 
 because he could not show any other 
 license to officiate as clergyman tlian what 
 he had received from the Bishop of London. 
 One of the ju(Jges said : *It is high time to 
 put a stop to the usurpation of the liishop 
 of London, and if fines will not curb you, 
 imprisonment shall.'' 
 
 Hartford town is deemed the capital of 
 the province. The town is half a mile 
 wide. A grand court house and two very 
 elegant meeting houses, with steeples, bells 
 and clocks adorn it. 
 
 In 17<>r>, a foundation of quarry stone 
 •was laid for an Episcopal church in this 
 town, at an expense of £300. on which 
 occasion mortifying proof was afforded that 
 the present inhabitants inherited the spirit 
 of their ancestois. Samuel Talcott, Ksfj.. 
 one of the judges of the County court, with 
 the assistance of a mob. ,took away the 
 stones, and with them built a house for his 
 son. This action was justified by the (gen- 
 eral Assembly ot Connecticut. 
 
 In lfii)2, this town had the linnour of 
 executing Mrs. Greensmith, the first witch 
 ever heard of in America. She was 
 accused of practising evil things on the 
 body of Ann Cole, which did not prove to 
 be true, but the Rev. IVfr. Stone and other 
 ministers swore that (ireensmith had con- 
 fessed to them that she had had very inti- 
 mate relations with the Devil. The court 
 then ordered her to be hanged. 
 
 The same year, Springfield, not to be 
 outdone by Hartford, brought Hugh 
 Parsons to trial for witchcraft. Th(i jury 
 found him guilty, because he mach; females 
 love him and males hate him ; l)ut the 
 judge prevented his execution till tiie mat- 
 ter was laid before the general court of 
 Boston, which determined he was not 
 guilty of witchcraft. 
 
 The tomb of the famous Mr. Hooker, in 
 Hartford, is viewed by his followers with 
 much reverence. Here one of his grand- 
 sons is a minister, who inherits more than 
 all his ancestors, virtues without his fail- 
 ings. 
 
 According to Dr. Mather, New Haven 
 was, about 104(5. to have been made a citv, 
 the influence of the city with Cromwell's 
 party being then very great, but a wonder- 
 ful phenomenon prevented it. and as the 
 New Englanders to the present time be- 
 
 lieve his report, I will present my readers • 
 with the history of this miracle : 
 
 The people of New Haven fitted out a 
 ship and sent her richly laden to England, 
 to procure a patent for the colony and a 
 charter for the city. 
 
 After the ship had been at sea a few 
 weeks, there happened in New ihigland a 
 violent storm, which induced the' people of 
 Xew Haven to fast and l)ray, and to in- 
 quire of the Lord whetht'r their ship was in 
 that storm or not. This was a real fast, 
 for the people did neither eat nor drink 
 from sunrise till sunset. At five in the 
 afternocm they came out of meeting, walk- 
 in<; softlv and heavilv and sadlv homeward. 
 On a suddiai the air thunderiMl and the 
 lightning shone abroad. They looked up 
 towards the heavens and beheld their ship 
 under sail, and the sailors steering from 
 west to east. She came over the meeting 
 house where they had fasted and prayed, 
 and was then met by a violent wind, which 
 rent the sails and overset the ship. In a 
 few minutes she fell down near the weather 
 cock on the steeple, and instantly van- 
 ished. 
 
 The people all returned to the meeting 
 house, where the minister gave thanks to 
 (lod for answering the desires of his 
 servants by token of the loss of their ship 
 and charter. 
 
 This, and divers other miracles said to 
 have happened in New England, have 
 been and htill are useful to the clergy in 
 establishing the pi/ople in the belief that 
 there is a great familiarity between God 
 and their ministers. 
 
 If 1 were to give the character of the 
 people of New Haven, I should be inclined 
 to use the words of the famous George 
 Whitefield. in his farewell sermon to them 
 a short time before his decease, who then 
 said : "When I first preached in this mag- 
 nificent house, about twenty years ago, 1 
 told you you were part beast, ])art man 
 and jmrt devil, at wliich'you were offended. 
 I have since thought much about that ex- 
 pression, and confess that for once I was 
 mistaken. I, therefore, take this my last 
 opportunity to correct my error. Behold, 
 I now te I you that y;)U are not part man 
 and part beast, but wholly of tlie devil." 
 
 New Haven was settled with the most 
 violent Puritans, who claimed so much 
 liberty to themselves that they left none tor 
 others. They ever hated the idea of King, 
 Lords and Commons. They sent agents to 
 
 ii, 
 
 |., 
 
24 
 
 KIKGSTONT 
 
 ^ND 
 
 II 
 
 !1 
 
 fight against the King of England. Tliey 
 dimied the jurisdiction ol" the Bishop of 
 London. IJeligion and government prop- 
 erly sjjeaking tiiey have none — nor ever 
 had, but in impertinence tliey excel all the 
 world except lioston and Spain. It 1 could 
 repeat the names ol all the religious so- 
 cieties and voluntary associations which 
 have arisen through their strife and self 
 will it would display the prolific invention 
 of mankind. I shall mention a few of the 
 most considerable : Saybrook Presbyter- 
 ians, Congregationalists, IMethodistf, Bap- 
 tists, Scandinavians, Lutherans. Brownists, 
 Lulcpendents, Quakers, Old Lights, >Jew 
 Lights, Rogerism, Davisonism, t'nitarians, 
 L'^niversalists, Separatists, Hammonites, 
 Brooksites, Peterites. 
 
 Concerning New London it may be said 
 that the ports and harbours are the best 
 in the colony. The church, the meeting 
 hous(; and court house are not to be boastt^d 
 of— ihe fort is trifling. Tlie first English- 
 made Indian King resides with his party in 
 the town, to whom the people pay some 
 respect because they made him King. 
 
 The peoi)le of this town have the credit 
 of inventing tar and leathers as a proper 
 punishment for heresy. 
 
 'J'hey first infiicted it on Quaktu's atid 
 Baptists. 
 
 A very extraordinary circumstance hap- 
 pened here in 1740. The Rev. (ieorge 
 AVhitefield ])aid them a visit and preached 
 of righteousness, temperance and judgment 
 to come, which roused them to cry out 
 ♦'What shall we do to be saved ? " The 
 preacher from the pulpit answered them : 
 "Replant; do violence to no man; part 
 with your self-righteousncsti, your silk 
 gowns and laced petticoats ; burn your 
 ruflies, necklaces, tinselled waistcoats with 
 your morality and Bishop's books this very 
 night, or danmation may be your portion 
 before the morning dawn." 
 
 Some of them carried their enthusiasm 
 to such an extreme that they mad^i a large 
 fire to burn their books, clothes and orna- 
 ments, which they called idols. This 
 imaginary work of piety and self-denial 
 they undertook on the Lord's day and 
 brought their books, necklaces and jewels 
 together on the main street. 
 
 They began with burning their errone- 
 ous books, dropping them into the fire one 
 after another pronouncing the wovds, **If 
 the author ol this book die»l in the same 
 eentiment a>nd belief in which he wrote 
 
 THE LOYALISTS 
 
 it, as the smoke of this pile ascends so the 
 smoke ol his torments will ascend forever 
 and forever, llalleujah. Amen." 
 
 But they were prevented from burning 
 their fine clothes and jewels — their idols. 
 John ]-,ee, of Lyme, told them his idols 
 were his wife and children, and to burn 
 them was contraiy to the law of (iod and 
 man. 
 
 At this period America was overrun with 
 suj)crstuion and fanaticism. 
 
 Eternal damnation was preached to all 
 people who neglected to attend public 
 worship twice every Sabbath day, fasting • 
 and thanksgiving day, provided these last 
 are appointed by themselves and not by 
 the King and parliament of (Jreat Britain. 
 
 The steeples of their meeting houses at 
 New London stand at the east end, and the 
 inhabitants bury their dead with their feet 
 to the west bei-ause the Episcopalians bury 
 their dead with their feet to the east. A 
 traveller has observed, "They are so per- 
 verse and opposite as if they built to (iod 
 in spite." 
 
 Saybrook is greatly fallen from its 
 ancient grandeur, but is notv,ithstanding 
 resorted to with great veneration as the 
 ])arent town of the colony. h\ 17'^9, this 
 town was honored by a convention of con- 
 tending Independent divines, who were 
 pleased with no constitution in church or 
 state. This at'semblage, after long debate, 
 published a book called the Saybrook 
 Flat form, containing the doctrine and rules 
 of the church in Connecticut, 
 
 The proceedings of the Ecclesiastical 
 cdurts during the early history of Connecti- 
 cut were often marked with much severity. 
 In the course of 1(!0 years, they bored the 
 tongues with hot Jieedles, cut off the ears, 
 branded on the forehead, and banished, 
 imprisoned and hanged more (Quakers, 
 Adamites, Ranters, E]>iscopalians tor what 
 thev call heresy, bla8[)hemy and Avitchcraft 
 than there are instances of persecution in 
 Fox's Book of Martyrdom. 
 
 A curious event at Saybrook must be 
 mentioned. Tiuie not having destroyed 
 the wall of the fort at this town, Mr. 
 Whitefield in 1740 attempted to bring 
 down the walls as Joshua did those of 
 -.Jericho, hoping thereby to convince the 
 multitude of his divine mission. 
 
 lie walRed seven tin)es around the Fort 
 with prayer and ram-blowing ; he called on 
 the angel to do as he had done at the walls 
 of Jericho, but the angel was deaf to his 
 
OF THE ** SPRING FLEET" OF 1783. 
 
 95 
 
 call and therefore the wall remained. Hero- 
 opon George cried aloud, "This town is 
 accursed for nqt receiving the messenger of 
 the Lord, therefore tlie angel i.s departed 
 and the wall shall stand a^ a monument of 
 a sinful people." Having so said, he 
 shortly afterward went to Lyn-t^ 
 
 1 may here say of George Whitefield that 
 notwithstanding his eccentricities I ever 
 shall admire his general character — his 
 personal piety, his goodness of heart and 
 hatred of persecution. I ever viewed him 
 as an instrument of heaven, as the greatest 
 blessing America ever knew : he turned 
 the profligate to God and roused the luke- 
 
 warm Christian. It is true also he has 
 made wise men mad. 
 
 New England, before he came, was but 
 the slaughter house for heretics. He was 
 admired by the oppressed Episcopalians 
 and trembling Quakers. He was followed 
 by nearly all sects. He made peace where 
 there was no peace and even his enemies 
 praised him in the gate. 
 
 He is now landed where the wicked 
 cease from trouble and the weary are at 
 rest and where his works of faith, love and 
 charity cloathe him. May his virtues be 
 imitated — his imperfections forgiven. 
 
 I ^\ 
 
 k 
 
 , )' 
 
26 
 
 KINGSTON AND THE LOYALISTS 
 
 HE DIARY OF SARAH FROST. 
 
 I. 
 
 WRITTEN ON BOARD THE SHIP " TWO SISTERS " DURING HER VOYAGE 
 
 TO SAINT JOHN'S RIVER, NO A SCOTIA, IN THE 
 
 SPRING OF A. D. 1783. 
 
 INTRODUCTORY. 
 
 The narrative of Walter Bates has sup- 
 plied us with an accurate and reliable 
 account of the departure from New York 
 and subaecjuent arrival at St. John of the 
 first fleet of A. D. 178:]. 
 
 The following diary will be found to 
 throw additional light upon the nature 
 of the voyage with all its accompanying 
 discomforts. It Avill also enable the reader 
 in some measure to realize the trials ex- 
 perienoi'd by the Loyalists in parting with 
 near relatives and lii'e-long friends, and 
 give some idea of their first impressions on 
 landing upon our rugged shores. 
 
 Sarah (Scofield) Frost and her husband 
 were natives of Stamford, Connecticut, and 
 relatives of Walter Bates. After their 
 settlement on the banks of the Kennebec- 
 casis, at what is now Lower Norton, they 
 manifested much interest in the welfare of 
 the church at Kingston until the erection 
 of a church more conveniently situated. 
 The name of William Frost occurs as a 
 member of the second vestry, elected at 
 Kingston on Easter Monday, 1785. 
 
 During the closing years of the Revolu- 
 tion a systematic guerrilla warfare pre- 
 vailed between the Jyoyalists on Long 
 Island and .the • 'rebels'' of Connecticut. 
 It is ({uite amusing to read the widely 
 differing estimates entertained by the 
 opposing parlies regarding the merits of 
 certain individuals and their actions. For 
 example, DeLanccy's corps of Loyalists 
 was heartily commended by the commander- 
 in-chief of the British forces, who stated it 
 "had behaved with credit, reputation, 
 honour and courage." The "patriots'" of 
 Stamford, on the other hand, strongly pro- 
 tested against allowing any "unprmcipled 
 wretches who belonged to the most infa- 
 mous banditti, called DeLancey's corps," 
 to return to their homes in Connecticut. 
 
 During the war William Frost made him- 
 self exceedingly obnoxious to many of the 
 citizens of Stamford, by an exploit which 
 must now be briefly described : Having 
 been driven from home, on account of his- 
 sympathy with the cause of the mother 
 country. Mr. Frost found an asylum at 
 Lloyd's Neck, Long Island. Thence, on 
 the night of July 21st, 1781, he proceeded 
 at the head of an arnuid party, crossed the 
 Sound in seven boats, and with his party 
 lay stealthily secreted in the vicinity of 
 Stamford until the following afternoon, 
 when they surprised and captured Rev. 
 Dr. JNIather and his entire congregation. 
 The doctor having, in the earlier stages of 
 the (juarrel between (ireat Britain and her 
 colonies, been a pronounced advocate of 
 rebellion, was marched off in company with 
 forty-eight of his townsmen to the boats in 
 waiting, Avhence they were carried as pris- 
 oners to Lloyd's ^\'ck. Here they found 
 not congenial fr'ends, but many of their 
 life-long neighbours, whom tlie war had 
 transforjned into active opponents. 
 
 ^'roni the British point of view, Captain 
 Frost's expedition was no doubt a brilliant 
 achievement, but the Stamford local 
 historian records it as a "sacrilegious 
 foray." 
 
 On a subsequent occasion Captain Frost, 
 with considerable rashness, paid a secret 
 visit to his old home. His presence being 
 suspected he came very near falling into 
 the hands of foes from whom he would have 
 received little consideration. He was, 
 however, eventually smuggled on board a 
 schooner, concealed beneath some hay, and 
 returned in safety to the British lines. 
 
 The parents of Mrs. Wni. Frost espoused 
 the side of the Revolutionary party, and 
 her's was one of the many sad instance* 
 where families were divided by the event 
 
 > 
 
OF THE '* SPRING FLEKX" OF 1783. 
 
 37 
 
 of the war. It appears from the diary 
 which follows that the second spring Heet 
 of 1783 consisted of fourteen vessels with a 
 Irijjale as convoy, bringing probably some 
 L^(>00 Loyalists from ^'ew York and its 
 vicinity. It is quite possible some of the 
 vessels may have gone to Annapolis. At 
 least two vessels in this lleet, the Brid<je- 
 irnter and the Hope had already visited St. 
 John with the former fleet and must there- 
 lore have returned immediately to New 
 York for the second voyage. 
 
 At the time, of the arrival of the Two 
 Sisters, June 29, only two log huts had 
 been erected on the site of the future city, 
 and town lots sold at from two to twenty 
 dollars. It mav be mentioned that Hannah, 
 daughter of William and Sarah Frost, born 
 July 8()th, one month after the arrival of 
 the Two Sisters, was the second female 
 child born in St. John. The "little girl,'* 
 (seven years of age) mentioned in the diary, 
 was m-andmothcr of the wife of the writer 
 of this introduction. 
 
 THE DIARY. 
 
 Mai/ 2o, 17S3.—I left Lloyd's Neck 
 witii my family and went on board the Two 
 Sisters, commanded by C'apt. Brown, for a 
 voyage to Xova Scotia with the rest of the 
 Loyalist suflererg. This evening the cap- 
 tain drank tea with us. He ap])ears to be 
 a very clever gontloman We expect to 
 sail as soon as the wind shall favor. We 
 have very fair accomm Delation in tlie cabin, 
 although it contains six families, besides 
 our own. There are two hundred and 
 iifty passengers on board. 
 
 Monday, May 20. — Nothing happens 
 woith mentioning. We lie at anchor in 
 Ovstcr I5ay the whole dav, not having got 
 all our passengers on l)oard. 
 
 nesdny. May 27.— At 8 o'clock we 
 weighed anchor at Oyster Bay. Avith a fair 
 wind, for New York'. Half after eleven, 
 we are brought to by the guard ship at 
 City Island. Oureaptaiii was very angrv 
 that they should bring him to, but they did 
 not detain us long. We went on with a 
 laJr breeze through Hell Gate; but as we 
 got through, the wind and tide headed us, 
 and we had like to have gone ashore, which 
 imt us all in a great surprise. They tried 
 twice to go on, but at length were obliged 
 to anchor at the mouth of Harlem Creek, 
 where we lav that night. 
 
 Wednesday, May 2S. — We weighed an- 
 chor at Harlem Creek at a c[uarter after 
 !<i\ in the morning, with a fair breeze, but 
 the tide being low we struck a rock. We 
 soon got off, but in a few minutes struck 
 again- At half past seven we got off and 
 went clear, and at ten we anchored at the 
 lower end of the City of New York, the 
 
 tide not serving to go round into the North 
 River as we had intended. An hour later 
 I went on shore in C'apt. Judson's whale 
 boat and went to Mrs. IMacKee's, and 
 from there Mrs. Raymond and I went to 
 Mr. Partlow's, where we dined and sjient 
 the afternoon. We met iNlajor Hubble 
 there, who formerly commanded the Loyal- 
 ists at Lloyd's Neck. At evening we re- 
 turned on board ship, where I drank tea 
 and spent the evening with my little agree- 
 able family. 
 
 Thursday, May 20. — This afternoon 
 my husband went on shore with my little 
 son, nearlv nine vears old. 1 long to have 
 them (;oiue on board again to hear what 
 observations the child will make, for 
 for he has not been in town for some years 
 now. Later — He has come on board 
 again. He pleases me very much with 
 his discourse ab<Mit what Ik^ has seen. 
 
 Friday, May iiO. — Went on shore and 
 spent the day at Mrs. Partlow's. Mrs. 
 Mussels, Mrs. Scofield and Miss Lucretia 
 Bates came there towards evening and 
 gave an account of my pa.'ents' welfare and 
 my friends in the country. I am atraid I 
 shall not hear from them again before I 
 leave New York. I grow tired, so 1 think 
 to ([uit for the night. 
 
 Saturday, May iil. — T rose early, having 
 spent the nigiit at Mr. Partelow's ; waited 
 some time for break last and then went out 
 amongst the shops to trade. 
 In the evening came on board ship again 
 with my husl)and and children. 
 
 Monday, June 2nd. — We are still lying 
 at anchor in the North River, not having 
 
( 
 
 ■k'^iKiWA:'! 
 
 ^8 
 
 KINGSTON AND THE LOYALISTS 
 
 
 ■'fli' 
 
 any orders for sailing, and I donH know 
 ■wlicn we sliall sail but liope soon. 
 Nothing happens worth mentioning. 
 
 Wednesday , June 4. — 1 stai(> on board 
 all day. It hcinjr the King's birthday there 
 "was such a tiring ol" cannons and noise 
 amongst the ships it was enougli to astound 
 anyone. At nij^ht thev fired skv-rockets. 
 (Manuscript torn and part of the 
 narrative missing) . 
 
 Frida;/, June G. — We are still lying at 
 anchor waiting for otlier vessels of our licet. 
 My father will come on board in the morn- 
 ing if my husband can go and fctcli hitn. 
 ] do so long to hear from my dear mother 
 and my brothers and sisters. We have 
 had a very bad storm this evening. Our 
 ship tossed very much, and some of 
 the people are tpiite sick, but I am in 
 hopes the storm will soon abate. It grows 
 late as I conclude for the night, hoping to 
 see "Oaddy" in the morning. 
 
 Saturdaji, June 7. — My husband went 
 * on shore and brought father on board to 
 breakfast. Soon after breakfast he returned 
 on shore, for he expected to go home in 
 the same boat he came down in, but hearing 
 there was a vessel coming from Stamford 
 today, he concluded to stay and return in 
 it, so he came on board again to dine. 
 
 Sunday, June 8. — We are still lying at 
 anchor in the North River. We expected 
 to sail tomorrow for Nova Scotia, but I 
 believe we shall remain at Staten Island or 
 Sandy Ilook for some days, or until our 
 fleet is all got together. 
 
 Monday, June ,9. — Our women, with their 
 childien, all came on board today, and 
 there is great contusion in the cabin. We 
 bear with it pretty well through the day, 
 but as it grows towards night, one child 
 <;ries in one place and one in another, 
 •whilst we are getting them to bed. I think 
 sometimes 1 shall be crazv. There are so 
 many of them, if they were as still as com- 
 mon there would be a great noise amongst 
 them. I stay on deck tonight till nigh 
 eleven oV'lock, and now I think 
 down and retire tor the night if 
 a place to sleep. 
 
 Tuesday June 10. — 1 got up 
 being able to sleep the whole night for the 
 ■noise of the children. The wind blows 
 very high. My little girl has been very 
 •sick all day, but grows better towards 
 evening. 
 
 Wednesday, June 11. — We weighed 
 .anchor in the North River about six o'clock 
 
 this morning, and sailed as tar as Staten 
 
 1 will go 
 I can find 
 
 earlv, not 
 
 Island, where we came to anchor. I went 
 on shore witii Mr. (loreham and his wife, 
 and Mr. Raymond and his wife, and my 
 twr children. We jdi'kcd some goose- 
 berries. We staid but a short time. In 
 the afternoon I went ashore again with Mr. 
 Frost and several others. 
 
 Thurfida^, June 12. — Nothing seems to 
 b(^ wortii mentiom'uj; todav. We are so 
 thronged on board, I cannot set myself 
 about any work. It is comfqftable for 
 nobody. 
 
 Friday, June l!^. — It is now about half 
 after three in the morning. J have got up, 
 not being able to sleep for the heat, and 
 am sitting in the entry-way of the cabin to 
 write. It storms so 1 cannot go on deck. 
 ]My husband and children are still sleeping. 
 Through the day 1 am obliged to lie in my 
 berth, being (piite ill. 
 
 Saturday, June 14. — I am something 
 better this niorning. My husband brings 
 me my breakfast, which 1 relish. We are 
 still lying at Staten Island. We expected 
 to sail tliis morning. 
 
 Sunday, June 15. — Our people seem 
 cross an(i (juarrelsome todav, but I will 
 not differ with any one, if I can help it. 
 At half-past twelve our ship is getting 
 under way — I suppose for Nova Scotia. 1 
 hope for a good passage. About fivt- 
 o'clock we come to anchor within six miles 
 of the lighthouse at Sandy Hook. How 
 long we shall lie here I don't know, but I 
 hope not long. About six o'clock this even- 
 ing Ave had a terrible thimder storm, and 
 hail stones fell as big as ounce balls. 
 About sunset there came another shower, 
 and it hailed faster than before. INIr. 
 Frost went out and gathered up a nuigful 
 of hail stones. Such an instance I never 
 saw before on the loth day of June. 
 
 Monday, June 10. — Off at last! We 
 weighed anchor about halt after five in the 
 morning, with the wind north-nor'westi 
 and it blows very fn'sh. We passed the 
 lighthouse about half after seven. We 
 have twelve ships belonging to our fleet 
 besides our commodore's. ^\\o hours 
 later a signal was fired for the ships all to 
 lie to for the Bridyewater, which seems to 
 lag behind, I believe on account of some 
 misfortune which happened to her yester- 
 day. At 9 a. m. we have a signal fired to 
 crowd sail. Again we are ordered to lie 
 to. I don't know what it is for, as the 
 Bridgewater has come up. It is now two 
 
OF THE •* SPRING FLEET" OP 1783 
 
 2fr. 
 
 le seem 
 
 It I will 
 
 I help it. 
 
 "Cttiii}' 
 
 "- 1 
 
 st ! ^Ve 
 e in the 
 lorVestt 
 sed the 
 ^Ve 
 our ileet 
 hours 
 ps all to 
 icems to 
 jf some 
 yester- 
 fired to 
 L>.d to lie 
 as the 
 low two 
 
 o'l'lock, and we have again got under way. 
 The mate tells me they have been waiting 
 lor a ship to come from New York, and 
 slif has overhauled us. We have now got 
 all our fleet together: we have thirteen 
 siiij)s, two brigs, one frigate. The frigate 
 is our conmiodore's. The wind dies away. 
 It is now three o'clock, and the men are 
 fishing for mackerel. Mr. M'lWs has 
 caught the first one. I never saw a live 
 one before, it is the haiidgomcst fish I 
 ever beheld. 
 
 Tiiesdaii, June 17. — The wind began to 
 blow very fresh last night, about eleven 
 o'clock. About half after five we are sixty 
 miles from the lighthouse at Sandy Hook, 
 the wind southwest. They say that is a 
 iair wind for us. At half-past nine we are 
 out of sight of land. 
 
 Wednesday , June IS. — Feel very well 
 this morning and go to work, but soon the 
 wind blows fresh, and I have to go back to 
 m\ berth. At noon we are an hundred 
 and ten miles from Sandy Hook, with the 
 wind very fair, at southwest. At half after 
 five we saw sometiiing lh)ating on the 
 water. Some thought it a wreck ; others 
 said it was a dead whale. One of our 
 ships put about to see what it was. At 
 Muiset we are one hundred and fifty miles 
 on our wav. 
 
 Thursdaij, June 10. — We are still steer- 
 ini; east by south, with a fine breeze. We 
 sailed five mdes an hour through the night, 
 and today we sail seven miles an hour the 
 chief part of the time. It is now about 
 twelve o'clock. We have shifted our 
 course, and are now steering north by 
 east. At two o'clock, Captain Brown tells 
 me, we are two hundred and fifty miles 
 from Sandy Hook, on our passage to Nova 
 IScotia, with the wind west-nor'-west. At 
 six o'clock we saw a sail ahead. She 
 crowded sail and put oil" from us, but our 
 frigate knew how to speak to her, for at 
 half-past seven she gave the stranger a 
 .«hot, which caused her to shorten sad and 
 lie to for the frigate to come up. Our 
 captain looked out with his spy-glass. He 
 told me she was a rebel brig ; he saw her 
 tliirteen stripes. She was steering to the 
 westward. The wind blows so high this 
 evening I am afraid to go to bed for fear of 
 roiling out. 
 
 Friday, June 20. — At half after nine 
 tliis morning our frigate fired to shift our 
 course to north-north- east. We have still 
 fine weather and a fair wind. Mr. Emslie, 
 
 the mate, tells me ' we are at five iivthe 
 afternoon, five hundred miles from Sandy 
 Hook light. We now begin to see the 
 fog come on, for that is natural to this- 
 place. At six our comm jdore fired for 
 the ships ahead to He to till those behind 
 should come up with us. The fog comes 
 on very thick this evening. 
 
 Saturday, June 21. — 1 rose at eight 
 o'clock, and it was so foggy we could not 
 see one ship belonging to our fleet. They 
 rang their bells and fired guns all the 
 morning to keep company with one an- 
 other. About half after ten the fog went off, 
 so that we saw the chief part of our Heet 
 around u.!. At noon the fog came on 
 again, so that we lost sight of them, but 
 we couhl hear their bells all around us. 
 This evening the captain showed us the 
 map of the whole way we have come and 
 the way we have still to go. He told u» 
 we were two hundred and forty miles from 
 Nova Scotia at this time. It is so foggy 
 we have lost all oiu' company and are en- 
 tirely alone. 
 
 Sunday, June 22. — This morning the 
 fog is still dense. No ships in sight, nor 
 any bells to be heard. Towards noon Ave 
 heard some guns fired from our fleet, but 
 could not tell in what quarter. The log i» 
 so thick we cannot see ten rods, and the 
 wind so ahead wc have not made ten miles 
 since yesterday noon. 
 
 Monday, June 2H. — It grows brighter 
 towards noon, and the fog disappears 
 rapidly. This afternoon we can see several 
 of our fleet, and one of our ships came 
 close alongside of us. Mr. Emslie says 
 we are an hundred and forty miles from 
 land now The wind becomes more favor- 
 able, the fog seems to leave us and the 
 sun looks very pleasant. Mr. Whitney 
 and his wife, Mv. Frost and myself have 
 been, diverting ourselves with a few games 
 of crib. 
 
 Tuesday, June 24. — The sun ai)pears 
 very pleasant this morning. Ten ships are 
 in sight. The fog comes on, and they all 
 disappear. We have been nearly becalmed 
 for three days. A light breeze enables us 
 to sail this evening two miles and a half an 
 hour. 
 
 Wednesday, June 25. — Still foggy ; the 
 wind is fair, but we are obliged to lie to for 
 the rest of the fleet. The commodore fires 
 once an hour. The frigate is near us, and 
 judging by the bells, we are not far from 
 some of the other ships, but we can't see 
 
 / 
 
I I 
 
 i 
 
 30 
 
 KINGSTON AND THE LOYALISTS 
 
 / 
 
 ten rods for the fog. We have measles 
 very bad on board our ship. 
 
 Thursday, Jtme 26. — This morning the 
 sun appears very pleasant. The ibg is 
 gone to our great satisfaction. Ten of our 
 ships are in sight. We are now nigh the 
 banks of Cape Sable. At nine o'clock we 
 begin to see land, at which we all rejoice. 
 We have been nine days out of sight of land. 
 At half after six we have twelve ships in 
 ;8ight. Our captain told me just now we 
 should be in the Bay of Pundy before morn- 
 ing. He says it is about one day's sail 
 After we get into the bay to Saint John's 
 River. Oh, how I long to see that place, 
 though a strange land. I am tired of being 
 on board ship, though we have as kind a 
 ■captain as ever need to live. 
 
 Friday, June 27. — I got up this morn- 
 ing very early to look out. 1 can see land 
 •on both sides of us. About ten o'clock we 
 passed Annapolis ; alter that the wind all 
 •died away. Our people have got their lines 
 out to catch codfish, and about half alter 
 five John Waterbury caught the first one 
 for our ship. 
 
 Saturday, June 28. — Got up in the 
 morning and found ourselves nigh to land 
 on each side. It was up the river St. 
 .John's. At half after nine our captain 
 
 fired a gun for a pilot ; an hour later a pilot 
 came on board, and at a (luarter after one 
 our ship anchored off against Fort Howe 
 in St. John's Uiver. Our people went on 
 shore and brought on board spruce and 
 gooseberries, and grass and pea vines with 
 the blossoms on them, all of which grow 
 wild here. They say this is to be our city. 
 Our land is five and twenty miles up tfie 
 river. We are to have here only a build- 
 ing place of forty leet in the front and a 
 hundred feet back. Mr. Frost has now 
 gone on shore in his whale boat to see how 
 the place looks, and he says he will soon 
 come back and take me on shore. I long 
 to set my feet once more on land. He 
 soon came on board again and brought a 
 fine salmon. 
 
 Sunday, June 20. — This morning it looks 
 very pleasant on the shore. 1 aui just goinj,' 
 ashore with iny children to see how I like 
 it. Later — It is now afternoon and I have 
 been ashore. It is, 1 think, the roughest 
 land I ever saw. It beats Short Rocks, 
 indeed, I think, that is nothing in compari- 
 son ; but this is to be the city, they say! 
 We are to settle here, but are to have our 
 land sixty miles farther up the river. We 
 are all ordered to land to-morrow, and not 
 a shelter to no under. 
 
 ^■ 
 
 pi 
 
I- '