On The Trail of Loyalists

During last three-year of exploring New Brunswick, I have stumbled upon locations of known Loyalist assembly. I initially noticed graveyards had bold signage, identifying United Empire Loyalist burial grounds. I didn’t quiet get the importance of it.

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The Loyalists, sounds like a long historical story that I am not getting into, except for this sound bite-After the American Revolution, more than 100,000 former residence of the 13 colonies, that remained loyal to Britain, where virtually homeless. Their property and possessions confiscated, they were bullied and persecuted by former friends and neighbors that sided wi,th the Rebels.

With the promise of land grants and safe passage, they took what they could carry, boarded on British ships and headed for safety within the British Territories.  Nova Scotia at the time, included all the land that is presently New Brunswick, received an influx of these eclectic refugees.  

It wasn’t until this summer, when I went to Hampton, to write about the anniversary of the bill of Human Rights. please read; Humanity Found in Hampton, NB , That I was handed a brochure called The Loyalist Route. A map identifying places of significant Loyalist influence and culture, along the Lower Saint John River Passage.

If its tourism related, I’m on it. The map identifies 24 locations; most are graveyards and churches but I have thrown in a few surprises, I found while following the trail. Here they are:

1. Fort Howe, Magazine Street. Saint John

Plaque states; Late 1777 Majour Gilfred Studholm hurriedly fortified this ridge over looking the mouth of the Saint John River. Throughout the remainder of the American Revolutionary war, the presence of Fort Howe, its guns and garrison guarded the settlement at the river mouth from Attack by American Privateers.

replica Canon protecting Saint John Harbour from fort Howe

Fort How Block House

Fort Howe New Brunswick National Historic Plaque

2. Loyalist House, 120 Union Street, Saint John.

This house built by Loyalist David Daniel Merritt is one of the oldest building in Saint John.  The Merritt family resided in it for more than 150 years. It luckily survived several devastating fires that destroyed much of old saint John.

3. Loyalist Burial Ground, corner of King and Sydney. Saint John, NB, The plaque below reads:

Saint John’s original burial ground was established on this site shortly after the landing of the United Empire Loyalists in 1783.  After its closure as a cemetery in 1848, the site became a memorial garden with tree-lined walkways and flower beds….

Old Burial ground Saint John

Old Burial Ground Saint John

4. Trinity Anglican Church, 115 Charlotte Street, Saint John

The parish church established by the Loyalists when they arrived.  The great Saint John fire of 1877, destroyed the original Trinity Church, and most of the city.  Housed inside is the original coat of arms. Edward Winslow removed it from Boston to prevent it from falling into Rebel hands.

5 Ketchum House.  Number 5 and 6 are included as historic places in my story Hampton, New Brunswick Part 2

6. St Paul’s Anglican Church and Graveyard. 486 route Kennebecasis river Road, Hampton. The land this church sits on was donated by two Loyalist families, the DeMilles and the Crawfords.

St Paul’s Anglican Church

St Pauls Anglican church and Graveyard United Empire Loyalist Burial Site, and sage Bud Pattern on quilt trail

7. Trinity Anglican Church 845 Kingston, New Brunswick

Plaque states:

The trinity Anglican Church , the oldest Anglican Church in New Brunswick, was built-in 1789 by newly settled United Empire Loyalists……

United Empire Loyalist Burial Site Trinity Anglican Church. Kingston, New Brunswick

National Historic Plaque Trinity Anglican Church, Kingston New Brunswick

Trinity Anglican Church Kingston, New Brunswick

8. Harding Point at Westfield Grand Bay Ferry landing.

There is a building at Hardening Point that is significant, located inside the campground. However,  when you turn the corner towards it, you land directly in the line up for the ferry crossing the Saint John River. The ferry has been loading each time I am here, so I chose to board rather than wait for the next one. I did stop at the cemetery, so I wouldn’t come away with just a road sign.

Hardening Point Landing Road

9. Mount Hope Farm National and Provincial Historic Site. One of my favourites.  To read more about this historic home, please check out  Westfield to Grand Bay, The Best Of

10. Major John Coffin Grave. St Peter’s Cemetery Route 102 Woodsmans Point It was hidden behind the tree trunk his son is resting beside him. There is a Royal Canadian Legion cross on the grave.

11. St Paul’s Anglican Church, Oak Point Branch Road, Oak Point. This church is surrounded by a grave yard. The ones on the left are very old and I couldn’t read the inscription.  The plaque on the door is a commemoration from 1967, stating the church haves been a house of worship in the community for over a hundred plus years.

12. St Stephen’s Anglican Church Route 102 Queenston, New Brunswick. Colonel Richard Hewitt and his family are buried here. He loved this area so much he was the spearhead for the formation of this church, his house was beside it.

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13 Elm Hill. Elm Hill Road North of Pleasant Villa, Route 102.

Many of the free black Loyalist arrived in New Brunswick and settled in Elm Hill.  Descendant of the original black Loyalists still reside here today.

Community of Elm Hill was settled by Black Loyalist. many Of the Black Loyalist descendants, call the community of Elm Hill home.

14 The Village of Gagetown 

Plaque states:

Gagetown takes its name from General Thomas Gage, the British Military commander in North America in 1765, who shared in a 20,000 acre land grand in the area. Settlement was slow until the arrival of the Loyalist refugees in 1783……

15 Jemseg Ferry ferry road, The ferry was taken out of service several years ago and I have gone to both sides of the river in search of some sort of plaque or landmark. I have found neither. But it is an excellent place to see Osprey, Ducks, and various birds and turtles.

16 Fanjoys Point Cemetery, Route 105,  I came across a Waterborough Baptist Cemetery.  I did find some FanJoy sir name on head stones. Then I found Fanjoy Point Road and followed it to a lovely piece of land with a beacon light and herring cloud patterned sky. I did not located a cemetery but it was picturesque.

Fan Joy Point light

Farewell to Mary Fanjoy in Baptist Cemetery route 105

cloud formation over FanJoy Point

17 Sheffield United Church My friend from My NewBrunswick covered this place well

18 Fort Hughes Hazen Park Oromocto. This replicate of the original blockhouse that was here shows two soldiers, the one on the left was a Royal Fencible American soldier in garrison during the American Revolutionary War. The other a French forces soldier.  Please follow my story titled 10 Things You Didn’t Know; Oromocto, NB. to know more.

19 Loyalist Encampment and Cemetery, Morrell Park Fredericton.  The Loyalist that came up river to claim their land grant close to Fredericton, were still in tents when the early winter settled in. Many suffered greatly some died of hunger and cold.  Follow the Salamanca trail for a short walk to find the St Anne Point Loyalist cemetery. For further reading on #19 #20, 21, and 22 and other Loyalist home around Fredericton, please see my story. My Fredericton, New Brunswick.

Loyalist Encampment and cemetery Morrell Park

Loyalist cemetery Morell Park

20 Odell House 808 Brunswick Street, Fredericton

This was the home of Hon. Jonathan Odell, the first Provincial Secretary and an accomplished minister, doctor and writer. This home is a designated Fredericton Heritage trust home, build around 1785.

21 Old Burial Ground Fredericton. Many of the prominent Loyalist citizens are buried here; Captain Saunders  and Lieutenant Samuel Denny Street to name two.

22 York-Sunbury Museum Officers Square Fredericton has an extensive collection of Loyalist artifacts. To see more please visit: Fredericton Regional Museum

23 Old Government House 51 Woodstock Road, Fredericton.This building replaces its predecessor, which was destroyed by fire in 1825. The Government house was the resident for the Lieutenant Governor of the new province of New Brunswick. Starting with Sir Thomas Carleton,upon the arrival of the Loyalist in 1784

24 Village of Kings Landing Historical Settlement, not an actual town but a replica of the daily life from the Loyalist times up to 1910. I had a lovely horse and buggy ride and got to gossip with the ” locals,” actors portraying real people who lived in the time period. Eight original Loyalist homes were moved here and restored. Historic buildings that would have been underwater with the damning of the saint John River.

With my Loyalist Route complete. I hope you enjoyed it. I wish you happy travels and Happy Holidays from Maritime Mac.

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