Greetings Lester, Some comments - My husbands Parker line also went to Quebec, Eastern Townships, in 1802. Charles Parker was from Charlestown, NH ..... and about as far from a Loyalist as one could get in the history books. It seems one of the earlier patterns of these NewEnglanders searching for lands was ... migrating north. Having several history books on the Province of Quebec (Lower Canada), I can offer you several quotes from the Early History and Settlement as described in The History of Stanstead County, PQ, written 1874: 1792 - Lower Canada was subdivided into districts, counties, circles or towns, and townships. Previous to that time, the territory had been hunting and fishing grounds for the St. Francis Indians. ... The surveys began in 1792, and completed mostly by the end of the century. ... County Richelieu - A few enterprising families from New England had found their way into the Eastern Townships before the close of the past century, but isolated as they were comparatively unknown to the administration, and, for a time, "every man did as seemed good in his own eyes." In the meantime there had been a liberal disposition manifested by the Crown and the provincial Goverments in behalf of the settlers of the Townships, and large grants of land were made to companies and individuals with the view of encouraging settlement. About the beginning of the present century, associations were formed for obtaining grants of wild lands. Two companies were started in Hatley --one by Capt. Ebenezer Hovey, and the other by Col. Henry Call. These two companies received together a grant of 23,943 acres, March 25, 1803. [continues with townships, grants sizes and names] ... The parties comprising the different companies of associates were generally poor. Only one or two in each company were able to sustain the expense of obtaining their charters. These men did as many would do at the present time. They reserved "the lion's share" for themselves, surrendering but one lot of 200 acres to each of the others. The land thus secured by [names], were sources of wealth to their owners. ......... As nothing had occurred to check the progress of the settlements up to 1812, they had attained to a good degree of strength and prosperity. The population had increased a hundred fold, and men of enterprise had laid the foundation for large fortunes by trade and otherwise. During the American War of 1812-1815, a check was given to emigration from the south, and some of the timid settlers sold out and left the country. ........ [end] A couple comments to your message ...... "Lester M Powers (by way of John Robertson )" wrote: > As a follow-on to my earlier post under the same > subject line -- > > What I think I understand is that the apparent > rush to Quebec had a profit motive at its roots, much > the same as the initial settlement of my folks' own > town in Vermont. <snip> Yip. > And yet, at least for the > Burch bunch, they go into "Loyalist" genealogy books and > that sort of thing when I *know* they weren't Loyalists. > Or, is the problem here simply that some influential > genealogists got confused? > > Lester Powers > UUABR Always a problem when no primary sources are offered for credability of the work. Hope this is of some help. Jan