Hi again, Since the subject of Loyalists is being discussed, I'd like to mention a story I heard a few years ago. I lived in Billerica, MA (US) for many years, and had learned that it was named after a town in England, which is Billericay. In fact they were now "sister towns" and there is a group of people who visit each town. (We pronounce it as the man's name, Bill Ricka. They pronounce it as the man's name, Bill er Ricky.) I always thought that Billerica was a unique name, and that no other town in the US (or North America) had the same name. But, several years ago someone told me that back in the 1700's several families (Loyalists?) left Billerica and migrated to Canada. And, they named their little settlement, Billerica. But, some years later they decided to change the name of the village; I believe it was named after a resident of the village. I haven't thought about it for a long time, but I think it was initially in Upper Canada, and near the border with the US. Just an FYI for you. Betty (near Lowell, MA, USA) List Administrator FYI: I believe there are books, one which lists all the names of towns in New England which are named after towns in Great Britain, and another which lists all the towns in New England, which have Native American names. Are there similar books for Canada?
Billerica in Canada became Wyman, Quebec and is now part of the municipality of Pontiac, Quebec. See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pontiac,_Quebec<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pontiac,_Quebec> Dave ----- Original Message ----- From: Betty<mailto:[email protected]> To: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, September 23, 2008 6:22 AM Subject: [CAN-USA-MIG] Billerica in US and Canada (Billericay) Hi again, Since the subject of Loyalists is being discussed, I'd like to mention a story I heard a few years ago. I lived in Billerica, MA (US) for many years, and had learned that it was named after a town in England, which is Billericay. In fact they were now "sister towns" and there is a group of people who visit each town. (We pronounce it as the man's name, Bill Ricka. They pronounce it as the man's name, Bill er Ricky.) I always thought that Billerica was a unique name, and that no other town in the US (or North America) had the same name. But, several years ago someone told me that back in the 1700's several families (Loyalists?) left Billerica and migrated to Canada. And, they named their little settlement, Billerica. But, some years later they decided to change the name of the village; I believe it was named after a resident of the village. I haven't thought about it for a long time, but I think it was initially in Upper Canada, and near the border with the US. Just an FYI for you. Betty (near Lowell, MA, USA) List Administrator FYI: I believe there are books, one which lists all the names of towns in New England which are named after towns in Great Britain, and another which lists all the towns in New England, which have Native American names. Are there similar books for Canada? When you want to respond to a query or comment posted on this List, I find it MUCH easier to post a new message -- remembering to include the SUBJECT from the post you are responding to !! Please make sure there is a SURNAME or place-name in the Subject. To search the archives: http://archiver.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/search?path=CAN-USA-MIGRATION<http://archiver.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/search?path=CAN-USA-MIGRATION> The information page is: http://lists.rootsweb.com/index/other/Immigration/CAN-USA-MIGRATION.html<http://lists.rootsweb.com/index/other/Immigration/CAN-USA-MIGRATION.html> ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message