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Archiver > UNITED-EMPIRE-LOYALIST > 1999-11 > 0943797872


From: Brandt Zätterberg <>
Subject: Re: Loyalist Spirit
Date: Sun, 28 Nov 1999 09:04:32 -0500


>From your hall monitor:

I just wanted to 'head this of at the pass' or the border. Debate on this
list is fine. I just do not want anyone sensing that they are not welcome.

The American government does not look kindly at their citizens taking oaths
of allegiance to foreign powers. I have been an Associate Member of the Bay
of Quinte Branch for a year. In that time I have participated in many events
and have been made to feel entirely welcome. The rules of the game preclude
me from voting or holding office but the enjoyment of the fellowship
transcends that.

Of course I have Ernesttown Township blood. The Anglican fathers of Upper
Canada were always suspicious of this area's American sentiments (read
Methodism).

Loren, I am sure that any Branch will be honoured to have you as a member.

Calvin, you are right. I am sure that we cannot accurately reflect the
losses of the time. I am also equally sure that I probably have the blood of
claimants who were simply interested in the prospect of free acreage. It is
not against human nature to embellish a story to gain priviledges.

Remember that your designation as 'U.E.' is a birthright and does not
require the sanctioning of any committee. Many first generation and second
generation Upper Canadians left for the U.S. in waves. Economics has a way
of equalizing the working folk.

Loyally,
Brandt

----- Original Message -----
From: <>
To: <>
Sent: Sunday, November 28, 1999 3:07 AM
Subject: Re: Loyalist Spirit


> Calvin:
>
> Sounds like you want to pick a fight. But the fighting was over a long
time
> ago.
> As I recall Canada & the U. S. are now allies; are they not? By-the-way,
I
> am just as proud to be an American as you are to be a Canadian. American
has
> not always been right and neither has Canada.
>
> Suffice it to say, that my father was first generation American (We all
have
> to originate from somewhere). Two generations of my Kelly-Line, prior to
> that, are Irish- Canadian! My Grandfather, Nathan Tompkins Kelly, was
born
> in 1867 in Blenheim, Ontario & I have traced my loyalist ties
> {Well-documented} through his maternal-line to Israel Tompkins who was
> originally from Stillwater, New York. Israel Tompkins was my blood
relative
> & it does not matter that I am currently an American. I am his descendant
&
> proud of him and the principles for which he fought. I have numerous
> citations proving that Israel Tompkins was a U. E. Loyalist (To numerous
to
> mention here). I have also been invited to join the United Empire Loyalist
> Association as an associate member.
>
> I did not come out of the woodwork. I have as much right by ancestral
ties
> as you do to claim my Loyalist ancestors! That being said, why are you
> displaying so much animosity towards Americans who have Loyalist
ancestors?
> I am as proud of my Canadian heritage as I am of my Irish & American
> heritage. Is that not what Family History is all about? My Great Great
> Great Grandfather, Israel Tompkins, was one of the original settlers of
Upper
> Canada & he was from America.
>
> I am fully aware that the American Revolution was our first Civil War!
> Entire families were ripped asunder; cousin fought against cousin; &
> atrocities occurred on both sides. Such is the nature of war. My
> Great-Great-Great-Grandfather, Israel Tompkins, had his land confiscated;
was
> imprisoned; & became a refugee in exile after the British returned to
their
> country.
>
> Israel Tompkins served as a private in Jessups Corps of Loyal Rangers {He
> served throughout all of the war} and was captured by the Patriots &
> imprisoned while carrying dispatches to General Burgoyne during the Battle
of
> Saratoga. He, with five other men, escaped and made their way to
Burgoyne's
> Army at Fort Edward. Israel Tompkins, a native of America, who was of
> English extraction, served five years and three months in service to the
> Royal Standard before the Treaty of Separation in the year 1783. He
adhered
> to the great principle of "The Unity of the Empire." He was a United
Empire
> Loyalist.
>
> You seem to infer that because I am an American I have no right to claim
my
> Loyalist ties. You are wrong. Israel Tompkins, a well-known U. E.
Loyalist,
> was my ancestral blood & nothing, not even "so-called" titles or
> associations, will ever change that fact!
>
> With all the respect that is due to you,
> Loren G. Kelly,
> A proud Irish-Canadian American, Living In Texas!
>
>

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