Fort Niagara New York Loyalist Serving, Moving outside area of Fort Erie

Diorama of Fort Niagara  created by Museum Artisan

Was Your Ancestor Here?



Fort Niagara,  New York  was your Loyalist stationed here? Mine was at Fort Niagara then moved with the rest of the Loyalist down over to the area of Fort Erie.

Fort Niagara was the Fort used by the United Empire Loyalist during the American Revolution War.  Butler's Rangers & members of Jonhson Militia.

Books like Early Ontario People by Crowder have list for the Loyalist that received had Land Grants for serving as United Empire Loyalist.  This book covers Provision list from a period of 3 years. Records for these men and their families are scarce.   By using this book and those of the same kind[ which seem to be to numerous for the three short years] your likely to at least find out if your Loyalist ancestor received a land grant.  Muster rolls for the Loyalist are scarce as well.

Then it appears if your Ancestor was from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut or else where that you can end up hard pressed for any other pieces of information.

These lists for the years of 1783 try 1786 are made up from the Provisions that were supplied to the Loyalist and their families.  Each of the  three years that they received provisions.  The provisions amount was reduced by amounts for the three years.  The reason they were given the provisions was to help out these families maintain them selves in the wilderness while they made a go of farming.  Since eastern lower Ontario was strictly wilderness.

The land of this area was seeming  to be unoccupied land therefore it was an easy give away for the British.  That was what I was led to believe.  But me the stickler for the real truth made me look further before accepting any of the romantic notions.

I found a website Niagara Falls Settlement History www.niagarafallsinf.com.  It explains it diffrently. With my simple synopsis read on:

www.niagarafallsinfo.com

Native Americans who had Settlements in Niagara Region

The earliest native people called themselves the "Onguiaahra".

Among the early settlers were an Iroquois group of Native Americans called "Atiquandaronk" (pronounced Attouanderonks). Their name was given to them by their enemies, the Huron & Iroquois.

French explorers coming to Niagara called this Native American group "Neutrals" since they had a long standing  position and status as peace keepers. They were what separated the Iroquois & Huron.  Huron & Iroquis were warring with each other.
The “ Neutrals” led ten tribes of the Iroquois Nation. Which included but there may have been more : Seneca, Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, Huron, Petun, Erie and the Susquehannock.

A woman leader know as "Queen of Peace" whos name was "Jikonsaseh".  Her village was called “Keinuka” it was east of the Niagara River.  She was known as the  preserver of peace.  She had a hard time of it to keeping peace between the Hurons to the west of them, & the Iroquois to the east of them.

Before the push of French expansion of 1626 was felt by the native peoples of this region the population of the Neutrals was between 20,000 - 40,000.  Neutrals had a very structured hierarchy.  It held both the political and economic areas of their life together. The Neutrals had many skills which included but not limited to farming, trading as well as business minded. As well as being able to hone their peace keeping. They still had a warrior system which provided their defensive.

The Seneca, one of the groups from the Iroquois, lived on the eastern bank of the Niagara River near Lake Ontario.  They were much feared by less threatening native groups.

From 1639 tru 1655 Niagara region was ripe with war.  Huron against their enemies.  The Iroquois against their enemy.  Which a few other Native nations were involved which included. The Erie & the Wenroe.  Erie Native Americans were massacred wiped out by these wars.  The Neutrals moved further east ward.  The Iroquois were able to breath better now their enemies were no more of a threat to them.

So the Iroquois expanded now possessing the land of their enemies.  There is no knowledge if the British Government provided compensation to the Iroquois for the lands they now possessed.  

                            

 Now with this new piece of knowledge in my brain I can see where some more further research is needed for myself.

I find it so amazing ever time I learn of another ancestor who struck it out on the frontier.  That took so much courage and fortitude to be the One who found a new path.  

In my Putman line I have where my 5-7th great granddad chose the side of the British.  While their brothers fought for the Revolutionist.  All though out my ancestral history of New York & Ontario.  My family was divided in these wars.  I have never felt such a feeling that I had to hate my brother for a Political cause.  

My Putman ancestral line survived these conflicts which who knows if they had not made that choice would I still be here today?  If your Ancestors had not choised the side they fought for would you still be here?