Hi All Some really great information here about a number of families from Glenna Jamieson. She sent this to me as an attachment today and I copied and pasted it here as a new message because Rootsweb lists do not accept attachments. Families mentioned are HART, *SLOOT, *SLOAT, *SHAVER, *DELL, *FRANK, *GRIEVE, *OLIVER, *ARMSTRONG, *SCRIBNER, *DE GROAT, *TIBBITS, *WILKINS, *COVEY, *SHENICK, *DUNCOMBE, *ELSWORTH, *SOPER, *SILVERTON, *SHELDON, *JARVIS, *NORTON, *HUNGERFORD, *BANNS, *MONTAGUE, *HEWETT, *ODELL, *MANNING, *BURGOYNE, *JESSUP, *MURRAY, *SUMNER, *BARNARD, *HATHAWAY, *THRALL, *GARNER, *BERRY, *MYRICK, *BOSTICK, *MC CLARY, *SIMMERMAN, *WATSON, The information is mostly centered around Universalists in Westminster Township of Middlesex co Ontario from 1818 and after. It describes how some of these families came from New Brunswick, Vermont, New York, New Jersey and even CT and MA. There is just a wealth of genealogical and history information here. So now the message and would appreciate any comments: "There was a James Hart, patent on land September 6, 1826 Concession 2 Lot 13-E1/2 100 acres. (Crinklaw, Westminster South-East of the Thames, p. 608). Also Abstract Index to Property in Westminster researched by my sister at the Ontario Archives. Lot 13 Con 2 East half; The Crown to James Hart 100 acres E1/2 Then he sold this property to John Grieve & wife April 1837. (We were interested in the Grieves so my sister copied down about the sale but didn't write the date of Crown grant. Might be a Loyalist one - he may not have even lived there however, There was also a John Hart of Westminster (obituary in Crinklaw 1887 no mention of age) but his wife not old enough to be Esther's mother since she was born c. 1825. There is about the 94th birthday for Mrs. John Hart in my Crinklaw's book on Westminster from the London paper 1919. It does mentions that Mrs. Hart came with her husband from Vermont State and travelled all the way with their horse and wagon over a corduroy road. That Hart - John Hart on 1851 census 17 -31 Hart, John farmer, Conc. 2, Lot 4, 100 acres - this in Crinklaw's book. No mention of a James then. SLOOT Abraham Sloot was one of the earliest settlers of Westminster. In 1822 when Robert Gourley travelled through that part of the country he left schedules to be filled in at Norwich and on the Talbot Road, and Abraham Sloot, at that time a carpenter and farmer, was one of Mr. Gourlay's statistics. Mr. Sloot had been born in Canada and was of a Loyalist family.and he had been granted his property free, as the son of a United Empire Loyalist. Crinklaw, Westminster, p. 535 from Gourlay, Robert, Statistical Account of Upper Canada Compiled With A View To the Grand System Of Emigration London, Simpson and Marshall, January 1, 1822, 2 V, V. 1, p. 302-307. Names Abraham Sloot, Carpenter and Farmer Native of Canada How Long in Canada, Lifetime, Wife and 3 children, father and mother, Date of commencing improvements February 1817; 1 cow 4 acres and 51/2 acres of crops; House 20 by 20 200 acres Free. being UE Loyalist. Have you checked for a land petition since a Loyalist? One would think on Upper Canada Land Petitions and might say where from. Unless he was the son of a Loyalist which is most likely. But likely under Upper Canada Land Petitions. Some of those ones in Westminster had been in New Brunswick and Lower Canada before coming to Upper Canada. I was wondering if Abraham a son of one of the Sloots who were granted land in New Brunswick. There was an A. Sloot and Jacob Sloot and an Ezekiel and James Sloot who all were granted land on Scotch Lake in Queensbury County, New Brunswick. I have a map showing the land grants. You can find them on the Land Indexes for New Brunswick in a surname index. They might say where they were from if Abraham did not on his petition for his grant in Upper Canada. I was researching my father's great grandfather John Oliver's property and he was granted 182 acres of land next to Ezekiel and James Sloot's much larger property. John Oliver left New Brunswick for Westminster Township in 1836. Oddly, enough he bought land next to land granted James Hart. He and Thomas Armstrong bought Lot 12 Concession 2. My great grandfather Adam Oliver married Elizabeth Grieve and her grandfather bought the property owned by James Hart. My mother's ancestors connected to those from United States. I have tried to figure out where her Scribner and De Groat ancestors from. Scribners married Tibbets. Lots of Scribners and Tibbets went to New Brunswick as Loyalists. But those in Westminster could have been from families of Scribners and Tibbets who were Patriots since came later. My great great grandfather James De Groat married Adelaide Wilkins and I have tried to trace both those surname. I have James De Groat's father Henry De Groat was married in Lower Canada. His father thought born New Brunswick but he was more likely born Lower Canada as his brother Peter said. Those in Wilkins family married Shavers. I thought they might be from New Jersey like the Dells but now I am wondering. I was checking the surnames of people buried recently in Saratoga District since cemeteries all transcribed on the internet. I also checked the lists of those who got land patents. I was sure surprised to see so many of those names of people still there that are the same as those in Lower Canada and Westminster area. (I didn't see Sloot but there is Sloat and I think I saw Hart). James De Groat's mother was Elizabeth Covey. Her grandfather Samuel Covey was from the area of Fort Ann and Whitehall in New York state now in Washington County when arrived as a refugee in Quebec 1777. He had moved back to Vermont by 1784 but still got rations. Vermont was not a state until later than the others. The Coveys lived in Alburgh Vermont just over Quebec border. Henry De Groat went from Lower Canada, to Franklin Co. New York and then to Dereham and then about 1860 went off with his family to Lapeer Co. Michigan. I have lots of ones I am tracing who went to Sanilac Co. Michigan. The 1837 is interesting that James Hart sold his property. That was the time of the Rebellion and those of American descent, particularly Universalists sided with the Reformers. Richard Shenick from Westminster went with Dr. Charles Duncombe when he escaped over the border dressed as a woman. It is written in the historic Sanilac County Album that in the year 1838, at the age of twelve that Richard arrived with six cents in his pocket. (There is all about this in Crinklaw's book on Westminster). I have wondered if the others followed Richard there. Richard worked on William Ellsworth's farm and married his daughter and stayed in Michigan. My ancestors the Sopers did not go to Sanilac County until much later. Others from Norwich Township went there too. There were Dells and Franks who went to Michigan too. The Sloots lived near the Wilkins family, who were related to the Dells, and since Abraham Sloot was well known to the Wilkins and Frank families as a neighbour and friend, although not as their minister, he seems to have agreed to marrying them and the fee they paid for his services probably helped him along in his decision to perform the ceremony for non-Baptists. Abraham Sloot performed marriage ceremonies for nearly all the members of the Elizabeth Dell and Robert Frank's family, although no one in the family was Baptist. Robert Frank was a Methodist, and his wife Elizabeth was a Universalist, as were most of her children. Married by Abraham Sloot: 1. 4 Nov. 1837 Henry Frank Mary Ann Silverton Westminster Witnesses Ebenizer Sheldon Samuel Jarvis By Banns (Henry was a Universalist) 2. 16th Sep. 1838 Francis Frank Westminster Silvania Scribner Westminster Witnesses John Frank; Henry Frank by Banns Westminster (Universalist - at times) 3. 17 Feb. 1839 James Frank Westminster Sarah Ann Norton Westminster Witnesses Nelson Norton ; Francis Frank by Banns 4. Sept. 16 1840 Adam Dell Adelaide Sarena Frank Westminster Witnesses Barnet Dell John Frank (Adam and Sarena were Universalists) 5. 28 February 1844 Samuel Hungerford Westminster Mary Frank Banns Witnesses Samuel Dell Solomon Dell (Mary Universalist) 6. 1846 - Mr. Sloot likely married John Frank and Celesta Dell, but I could not find the record of their marriage on a marriage register. (John was a Universalist and Free Thinker) 7. 9 Aug. 1847 Hiram Frank Abigal Ann Montague Westminster Banns Witnesses: George Frank Solomon Dell (Hiram a Universalist) Philip Hewett wrote:"Among the settlers who moved up through Vermont into the Eastern Townships of Lower Canada early in the nineteenth century there were considerable number of Universalists, though at first there seems to have been little attempt at organizations or preaching." It was not until around 1830 were they able to establish loosely organized societies. Many of the Americans in Westminster had come by way of Lower Canada, among them the Odells, Nortons and Mannings etc. ( have information about the Universalists in London area if you are interested. I have done a great deal of research comparing names of Wilkins, Dells and Shavers on records for townships in what is now Welland County and land records for Westminster. The Shavers and Wilkins appear to have been related to the Dells and they likely followed Elizabeth Dell Frank to Westminster. I have been working on tracing the families in Lower Canada who came to Westminster, Dorchester and Dereham townships. When I got back about them in Lower Canada it seemed they had come from the disputed New Hampshire Grants. I can't remember where I saw Hart but I think it was in connection with that area. I found thesis at the University of B.C. Library all about Charlotte County that had been part of Albany County and now is Washington County. If they lived on the lands granted large landowners in that area either in what is now New York or Vermont they tended to by Loyalists. The freeholders on the New Hampshire grants that were granted land by New Hampshire were fighting those who received large land grants from New York called Yorkers. After Burgoyne's defeat some of those people went to Quebec. Some joined Jessups Corps or the Kings Royal Regiment of New York. Some went back to USA Marguerite Murray, Century Farms Westminster Township, Vol. II, p. 131. William Sumner a clergyman of the Church of England, born Sussex, England, worked in Keene, New Hampshire. Barnard could be an old Connecticut name. That means might be from Massachusetts first. Soper family history: Timothy Soper Jr. came with his Family & lived in the Barnard House on the top of the Hill, this House afterwards owned and occupied by Joel Soper; Timothy's son S who was a Wheelwright & Waggon Maker & who afterwards moved to New York State -This House was the Home of the Hathway family not many years afterwards & is now owned by Horace Thrall. Barnet Shaver's wife Elizabeth GARNER Elizabeth Shaver would be born c. 1773 if one on census 1851. I think she could be grandmother of Ezekial. She was the wife of Barnett Shaver who had died in 1849 6. Ezekiel born c. 1823 married Nancy A. (c. 1829 - ) XE "Shaver, Ezekial" 1851 Westminster Township Middlesex County, Part 1, p. 57 # 23 Ezekiel Shaver Farmer U.Canada E. Methodist age 28 Nancy A. born U.C. age 23 James R. age 6 Thomas E. age 3 Rodney A. age 1 Elizabeth Shaver born U.C. age 78 Widow Lily Hart age 17 Eliza A. Hart age 11 # 31 Amanda Berry born Dorchester age unknown 1 female Victoria Berry age unknown 1 female Eliza E. Berry age unknown Bell I Berry age unknown Male # 35 Sarah Shaver age unknown 1 female son of Elizabeth SHAVER 3. George SHAVER born c. 1812 married 11 April 1835 Rebecca HART (c. 1819 - ) XE "Shaver, George" XE "Hart, Rebecca" 1851 Westminster Census, p. 17 George Shaver age 40 Farmer born U.C. Rebecca born U.C.age 33 Almira ( F symbol) age 17 Martha A (F symbol) age 15 Lucinda (F) age 13 Shermin A (F) age 8 Ira (F) age 7 Harriet (F) age 2 Elizabeth (F) age 11 Westminster Universalists; Levi Myrick said he was a Universalist and his wife was a Bostick. Peter McClary and his wife Clarissa Myrick were Universalist. My great great great grandmother Elizabeth (Dell) Frank was a Universalist and most of her children were too, although her husband Robert Frank was a Methodist. I have done a genealogy of the Myricks and have about the Bosticks and McClarys. At the moment I believe that these people are Yankee descendants. I have been working on tracing my ancestors who came from England in the 1630s to Massachusetts. The went to Connecticut and spread west from there. Then sons went into New York east of where they lived in Connecticut then they moved north in New York along the east side of the Hudson River or came into the area of the Green Mountains from Connecticut. They were involved in the New Hampshire grants dispute. My ancestors who became Loyalists happened to be living on the Yorkers land and those not on that land were Patriots same families. They either went south during or at the end of the Revolution and came on the ships to New Brunswick or they escaped during the Revolution into Quebec. Many from their families returned to live in United States in Vermont, Maine and northern New York. Some in the families had gone further west to Herkimer, New York, Mohawk Valley area and Oneida County. Then during the time that Upper Canada was welcoming people from the 1790s until the War of 1812 the ones from New Brunswick and Lower Canada came to Norwich and Westminster townships in Upper Canada. As well relatives and friends came from across the border, particularly from Dutchess County, New York and north of that county and from Herkimer area. During the War of 1812 some of the families who had come earlier went back to the States. Then around 1818 they started coming again, particularly from the Mohawk Valley. Then in the 1820s a good many started coming from the Geneva area of New York to Westminster, mostly those from the Borders of Scotland from both sides of the border but of Scottish descent. In the 1820s and 1830s those from both along the St. Lawrence and Lower Canada and those who had gone back to the states into Vermont and New York came to Upper Canada to Dorchester, Dereham and Westminster. They kept on coming from the States to join friends and relatives. Then there was a depression in the 1850s and crop failures. By 1860 really lots of them had gone to Michigan. Then there was the Civil War and after that they went to not only Michigan but Wisconsin. They started going west after that to North Dakota and Manitoba and I won't carry on but they end up in Oregon and California, some having come back into Alberta etc. I have done a great many genealogies. I have been tracing the Yankees who moved into what became Vermont and east side of Hudson still in New York lately. However, they are not as well documented in that area as all the Scottish and Irish immigrants who settled on those large land patents and Fingerhut in his thesis that I read in the UBC Library had more on them. Eugne Fingerhut, Assimilation of Immigrants on the Frontier of New York 1764-1776, 1962 - this area includes part of what became Vermont as well as east side of Hudson River in New York). (You can check the NY web sites, Washington Co., Saratoga etc.) You can check Connecticut I didn't write down their surnames. They were more likely to become Loyalists. However, those old Yankee ones more likely to be Universalists. However, ones like Elizabeth Dell Frank became a Universalist and she was from a Quaker family in New Jersey. Hundreds of people came into the Niagara area from that northern part of New Jersey including my mother's Dell ancestors and my father's German Simmerman ones. Some of those people also went to Westminster at time of the War of 1812. But the Franks stayed away from Westminster even though got land there because worried about the sympathies of all those "Americans" living there already and a Westbrook squatted on their land and they had trouble getting it back but seemed to because Elizabeth daughter of a Loyalist. I thought the Shavers and Wilkins who married Dells in Niagara area from New Jersey. But lately have learned that many of those people moved from New Jersey into New York before coming to Canada and I think maybe they came from New York around 1804 or so if not directly from New Jersey. I have not noticed if Sloots and Harts in the Niagara area first. If A. Sloot was born in Canada (sometimes they said born in Canada because after War of 1812 not great to be an American) then he may have got land as son of Loyalist. Have you checked the land petitions? However, if his father got land in New Brunswick need to check those. I am rambling on. If you have questions I would be happy to answer them. Glenna Certificate of Marriages solemnized by Abraham Sloot Minister. I certify that the above is a correct list & returns of all the Marriages performed by me an ordained minister of the Regular or Calvinist Baptist Church in Westminster signed Abraham Sloot. London District Marriage Registers MS 248, RG 8 Series; Reel 3, No. 310 "Ontario Marriage Records 1801 - 1908" MS-248, Reel 3, London District 1833 -1855 Middlesex County, No. 344 Certificate of Marriages by Abraham Sloot Minister. London District Marriage Register, No. 344. London District Marriage Register, No. 403. RG 8 MS248 London District Marriage Registers, Reel 3, No. 467. Wit: Samuel and Solomon Dell. Marriage Record London District Marriages, No. 536. Phillip Hewett, Unitarians in Canada (Toronto: Fitzhenry & Whiteside, 1978), p. 72. The list of Watson settlers has all those who came from Lower Canada, although some might have come directly from United States but they could not get land if Americans so said from Lower Canada. 1852 Census record. Elizabeth lived with him although she would be quite old to have a son c. 1823 and he could be her grandson? History of the County of Middlesex, p. 56. Marriages. 11 April 1835 George Shaver to Rebecca Hart of Westminster.