United Empire Loyalists

United Empire Loyalists is the name given to individuals who are descendants of British loyalists during the American War of Independence who left the 13 rebellious American colonies for the future Canada: the two British colonies of Quebec (including the Eastern Townships and modern-day Ontario) and Nova Scotia (including modern-day New Brunswick). The Jay Treaty promised the Loyalists compensation for their lost property although the American Congress essentially refused to "... restore seized property, redress grievances, and permit loyalists to return home to live under the new jurisdiction" (Christopher Moore, The Loyalists: Revolution, Exile, Settlement (1984), ISBN 0771060939, p. 148).

In the United Kingdom, a Commission for Claims and Losses was established to compensate loyalists if they would relinquish their claims to the British government -- but only about 2000 claims were made. The rest, an estimated 100,000 to 200,000 claims, remain unresolved to this day.

External Links

• The United Empire Loyalists of Canada - fraternal association for descendants of Loyalists
• Example of Loyalist claim from New York state