Question about a loyalist ancestor

Question

I've been researching my loyalist ancestor, who isn't on the official lists, but who is in several loyalist sources, including The Loyalists of Ontario.  I thought that he might not be on the UEL list because he participated in the Makenzie Rebellion of 1837, was considered a traitor to the crown, and thus had to flee to the United States.  Any advice on how I could find out if this is why he isn't on the official UEL list?  I'm a novice at using categories, but would you put him in a particular category?

Comments

If he was born in New Jersey in 1799, was he really a Loyalist? Hadn't the Loyalists all left for Canada earlier than that?

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I know almost nothing about loyalists.  So far as I know, his father was a loyalist. I also know little about this ancestor.  This tree has more information on him:  http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=25618&id=I35536    I only add sources to his tree when I've looked at the original.

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Landon Wurts isn't on the UEL list because he's not a UEL. Based on his birth year, if he received a land grant, his father would be the UEL.

Land grants were given to loyalists and their adult (age 21+) children. You can look up information about Upper Canada land petitions and grants online. Fred Blair has a good set of instructions about how to find land petitions and grants on his website.

I've personally found the UEL website to be frustratingly incomplete, both in terms of their list and the information provided on why someone is on the list. For example, one of my ancestors has only the information "proven" on his entry in the list... I rather like the way the Daughters of the American Revolution include information about why the person is considered a patriot.

edit: Fixed link to Fred Blair.

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Thanks to everyone who replied.  

I agree with Leah that the UEL list doesn't seem too helpful.  Both sides of the family concur that of two brothers, one stayed in the U.S. and fought in the Revolution while the other was a loyalist.  A family researcher in Canada is the first person who told me the loyalist story, but now, of course, Wikitree is encouraging me to find sources, not just stories.  Landon's father-in-law Albert Williams is on the UEL list--maybe--I mean, it doesn't list any information beyond a name, so there's no way for me to know if it's my ancestor or not.  I'm not into hereditary organizations, although I could probably belong to quite a few, but just asking this question has given me useful information and perspectives about my probable loyalist and proven traitor ancestors. : )

Answer 1

There is a Loyalist category. You might try there for some answers.

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Category:United_Empire_Loyalists

Comments

The current Loyalist category is narrow in scope and defined by United Empire definitions. It does not include the vast majority of Loyalists that supported and fought for Britain, and were left to their own devices after the British army left.   A better, more inclusive Loyalist category would be one such that included 'any person documented having espoused the cause of Britain by civil or other service and or military action or support during the period covered by the 1776 Project'  There is a reason this current 'reserved' category only has 148 profiles listed.. It more properly should be a subcategory with the current definition.  My Loyalist ancestors ( as they described themselves) never left for Canada or elsewhere.

Answer 2

If Landon was born in 1799, he could not have been a Loyalist, and could only have claimed under his father IF his father was a Loyalist. The United Empire Loyalists' Association of Canada maintains a list of all Proven Loyalists. See this link for names beginning with "W": http://www.uelac.org/Loyalist-Info/loyalist_list.php?letter=w  "Wurt" does not appear on this list, so it seems that neither he nor his father was granted Loyalist status. He must be proven to be able to be awarded the UEL suffix.

Let me expand on my answer. It doesn't appear that any application was made for Landon Wurt. On the face of it, given his birth date, he doesn't appear to qualify. However, that RootsWeb post mentioned by Jude Crook in his post says that he was awarded land in 1819 by Order of Council. You need to track that down. That might provide your answer. Alas, I do not know how you might go about doing that.

Comments

Hi there folks , that surname sounds very much like that of a Hessian Soldier.  Now they came over in Regiments to fight in the 1776 affair, usually with their own Hessian officers but sometimes under English officers. Remember the Georges were Kings also of the state of Hesse in Germany.  Loyalist regiments were demobbed after the war in Nova Scotia,and what afterwards became New Brunswick.  Suggest a look at the regimental lists on line  for that surname Of course many went back home to Germany, but quite a few liked the new land, and got free. grants of land.. This would be Father of course. .  .