July 1
1867 The British North America Act proclaimed that The Provinces of Canada (Ontario and
Quebec), Nova Scotia and New Brunswick were formed into one Dominion under the name of Canada.
Dominion Day celebrated the BNA Act until 1982 when the name was changed on Oct. 27, 1982 to Canada Day to commemorate the patriation of Canada's Constitution.
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Friday, June 15, 2012
James Allen & Hannah Parlee - my Great Grandparents
================================================
Name: James C. Allen
Sex: M
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Individual Information
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Birth: Dec 24, 1832 - Millstream, Kings Co., NB, Can
Christening:
Death: Mar 10, 1899 - Baysville, Mclean Twp., Muskoka, ON, Can
Burial: in Baysville, Ridout Twp., Muskoka, ON, Can
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Parents
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Father: Isaac Allen (1794-1837)
Mother: Rebecca Crouse (1794-1886)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Spouses and Children
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Hannah Catherine Parlee (Jul 31, 1841 - Jun 24, 1931)
Marriage: Jul 17, 1856 - Burford, Brock District, Canada West
Children:
1. Joseph Elijah Allen (1857-1924)
2. Emerson James Allen (1860-1941)
3. Albert William Allen (1862-1941)
4. Elizabeth Allen (1864-1864)
5. Elton Wilmot Allen (1866-1866)
6. James Oren Allen (1867-1883)
7. Charles Elmer Allen (1869-1951)
8. John Frederick Allen (1871-1945)
9. Ada Drusilla Allen (1876-1961)
10. Anna Louisa Allen (1878-1927)
11. Margaret Evelyn Allen (1880-1914)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------General:
Born York Co., NB, Can. Since he was listed on the 1851 Census for
Middlesex Co., Canada West, he must have moved to Ontario from New Brunswick
before or about 1851.
After marriage they moved to Adelaide Twp., Middlesex Co., near London,
Ontario where 8 of their children were born.
They then moved to Baysville, McLean Twp., Lot 3 Con. 7, Muskoka District in
1872. They were some of the earliest settlers in the area. Religion:
Disciple of Christ.
Township Papers, Archives of Ontario. McLean Township. James Allen signed
declarations dated Sept. 6, 1872 in the District of Muskoka, saying he had
not received other free grants of land. The document makes his date of
location on Con. 8 Lot 2 of McLean Township as Sept. 26, 1872.
Sources:
Crouse Family History. The Descendants of Philip and Sarah Crouse. 2nd ed.,
by Roguer Crouse. 2000 and 2007.
Guide Book & Atlas of Muskoka and Parry Sound District, H.R Page & Co.,
Toronto, ON: 1879. Jas. Allen lot 2 conc 8 McLean Twp.
Archives of Ontario. Registrations of Deaths, 1869-1932. MS935. Muskoka
District, 1899, Reg. # 017280. Epileptic Fit.
1851 Canadian Census: Canada West, Middlesex Co. (23), Dorchester North
(220),
p. 81. LAC mf C-11738.
John Minhenich 27 England WM Blacksmith
Rody 25 New Brunswick Bapt
Lorenzo C 2 Canada Bapt
James Allen 20 New Brunswick Bapt Laborer
Jane Johnston 13 Canada Bapt
1861 Canadian Census: Canada West, Middlesex Co., Adelaide Twp., St. George
Ward, p. 21. LAC mf C-1049.
James Allen 29 NB No Religion Blacksmith
Hannah 20 NB
Joseph E 4 CW
Emerson J 2 CW
1871 Canadian Census: Ontario, North Middlesex Co., Dist. 8, Adelaide Twp.,
Sub-dist. A-2, p. 1. LAC mf C-9902.
James Allen 38 NB Prebyt Germany Blacksmith
Hannah 30 NB
Joseph 13 Ont
Emerson 11 Ont
Albert 9 Ont
James 4 Ont
Charles 2 Ont
1881 Canadian Census: Ontario, Muskoka (131), Ridout & McLean (K), p.
15/16.
LAC mf C-13243.
James Allen 49 NB Dutch Baptist Farmer
Hannah 40 NB French
Joseph 23 Ont. Dutch
Emerson 21
Albert 19
James 14
Charles 12
John 9
Ada 4
Anna 2
Margaret 5/12 Nov.
Rebecca 87 N.B. Widow
1891 Canadian Census: Ontario, Ontario North 100 (Muskoka), Twp. of McLean
(g), p. 20. LAC mf T-6357.
James Allen 58 NB Disciple Farmer
Hannah 50 NB
Charles E 22 Ont
John F 19 Ont
Ada D 15 Ont
Annie L 13 Ont
Margarett 10 Ont
Baysville Public Cemetery, Baysville, McLean Twp, Muskoka District.
Apparently there was a wooden cross marker which had disintigrated by 1985.
The tin name plaque for J. Allen is posted on a marquee in the cemetery.
Plots for Jos. Allen GPS N 45.14627 W -79.11439.
================================================
Name: Hannah Catherine Parlee
Sex: F
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Individual Information
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Birth: Jul 31, 1841 - Studholm, Kings Co., NB, Can
Christening: May 8, 1849 - Kings Co., NB, Can
Death: Jun 24, 1931 - Tomstown, Temiskaming, ON, Can
Burial: in Englehart, Temiskaming, ON, Can
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Parents
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Father: John Casey Parlee (1816-1888)
Mother: Margaret Folkins (1823-1904)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Spouses and Children
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. James C. Allen (Dec 24, 1832 - Mar 10, 1899)
Marriage: Jul 17, 1856 - Burford, Brock District, Canada West
Children:
1. Joseph Elijah Allen (1857-1924)
2. Emerson James Allen (1860-1941)
3. Albert William Allen (1862-1941)
4. Elizabeth Allen (1864-1864)
5. Elton Wilmot Allen (1866-1866)
6. James Oren Allen (1867-1883)
7. Charles Elmer Allen (1869-1951)
8. John Frederick Allen (1871-1945)
9. Ada Drusilla Allen (1876-1961)
10. Anna Louisa Allen (1878-1927)
11. Margaret Evelyn Allen (1880-1914)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
General:
At age 12 she moved to Burford, Ontario with her family (1852). After
marriage they moved to London, Ontario, and then Baysville, Muskoka in 1872,
where James died in 1899. In March 1903, at age 63, she homesteaded in
Saskatchewan with her two sons John Frederick and Emerson Jones but sold out
in July 1910 and returned to Ontario in 1911. She went to live in Gelert,
Ontario with her invalid daughter Mrs. J.B. Sedgwick. After her daughters
death she lived with her son Charles at Tomstown.
Sources:
Dusty Trails, Abandoned Rails, Storthoaks/Fertile Historical Society, 1988.
Archives of Ontario. Registrations of Deaths, 1869-1932. MS935. Timiskaming
District, 1931, Reg. # 032905. Senilty, Arterio sclerosis.
1851 Canadian Census Kings Co., New Brunswick, Kings Co. (2), Parish of
Studholm (40), p. 51. LAC mf C-995.
John C. Parlee 35 NB French desc. Farmer
Margaret 37
Hannah C 10
Isaac 7
Georgiana 3
1901 Canadian Census: Ontario, 97 North Ontario, McLean Twp. G-1, p. 10.
LAC mf T-6486
Charles Allen 31 Ont 19 April 1869 Dutch Canadian Disciple
Alice 22 Ont 6 Jan 1879 English Canadian Methodist
Stanley 1 Ont 14 Sept 1899 Dutch Canadian Methodist
Hannah Allen 59 NB 31 July 1841 French Canadian Disciple
Margaret Parlee 78 NB 12 Jan 1823 French Canadian Methodist
1906 Canadian Census: Saskatchewan, Assiniboia East 11 , p. 22.
LAC mf T-18358.
Hannah Allen 65 Ont Audrey P.O. Sect 24 Twp 4 Rge 32 Mer 1,
Leslie 12 Ont g son
Anna 25 Ont dau
1911 Canadian Census: Saskatchewan, Assiniboia 207, Sub-Dist. 16 , p. 1.
LAC mf 20450.
Hannah C Allen 69 NB French Disciple
Leslie (g son) 17 Ont German Disciple Farm laborer
The Folkins Family: Some Descendants of Joseph Folkins and Anna Lydekker to
the Seventh Generation, by William H. Folkins, edited by Gail Louise
Folkins, 1994.
Name: James C. Allen
Sex: M
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Individual Information
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Birth: Dec 24, 1832 - Millstream, Kings Co., NB, Can
Christening:
Death: Mar 10, 1899 - Baysville, Mclean Twp., Muskoka, ON, Can
Burial: in Baysville, Ridout Twp., Muskoka, ON, Can
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Parents
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Father: Isaac Allen (1794-1837)
Mother: Rebecca Crouse (1794-1886)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Spouses and Children
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Hannah Catherine Parlee (Jul 31, 1841 - Jun 24, 1931)
Marriage: Jul 17, 1856 - Burford, Brock District, Canada West
Children:
1. Joseph Elijah Allen (1857-1924)
2. Emerson James Allen (1860-1941)
3. Albert William Allen (1862-1941)
4. Elizabeth Allen (1864-1864)
5. Elton Wilmot Allen (1866-1866)
6. James Oren Allen (1867-1883)
7. Charles Elmer Allen (1869-1951)
8. John Frederick Allen (1871-1945)
9. Ada Drusilla Allen (1876-1961)
10. Anna Louisa Allen (1878-1927)
11. Margaret Evelyn Allen (1880-1914)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------General:
Born York Co., NB, Can. Since he was listed on the 1851 Census for
Middlesex Co., Canada West, he must have moved to Ontario from New Brunswick
before or about 1851.
After marriage they moved to Adelaide Twp., Middlesex Co., near London,
Ontario where 8 of their children were born.
They then moved to Baysville, McLean Twp., Lot 3 Con. 7, Muskoka District in
1872. They were some of the earliest settlers in the area. Religion:
Disciple of Christ.
Township Papers, Archives of Ontario. McLean Township. James Allen signed
declarations dated Sept. 6, 1872 in the District of Muskoka, saying he had
not received other free grants of land. The document makes his date of
location on Con. 8 Lot 2 of McLean Township as Sept. 26, 1872.
Sources:
Crouse Family History. The Descendants of Philip and Sarah Crouse. 2nd ed.,
by Roguer Crouse. 2000 and 2007.
Guide Book & Atlas of Muskoka and Parry Sound District, H.R Page & Co.,
Toronto, ON: 1879. Jas. Allen lot 2 conc 8 McLean Twp.
Archives of Ontario. Registrations of Deaths, 1869-1932. MS935. Muskoka
District, 1899, Reg. # 017280. Epileptic Fit.
1851 Canadian Census: Canada West, Middlesex Co. (23), Dorchester North
(220),
p. 81. LAC mf C-11738.
John Minhenich 27 England WM Blacksmith
Rody 25 New Brunswick Bapt
Lorenzo C 2 Canada Bapt
James Allen 20 New Brunswick Bapt Laborer
Jane Johnston 13 Canada Bapt
1861 Canadian Census: Canada West, Middlesex Co., Adelaide Twp., St. George
Ward, p. 21. LAC mf C-1049.
James Allen 29 NB No Religion Blacksmith
Hannah 20 NB
Joseph E 4 CW
Emerson J 2 CW
1871 Canadian Census: Ontario, North Middlesex Co., Dist. 8, Adelaide Twp.,
Sub-dist. A-2, p. 1. LAC mf C-9902.
James Allen 38 NB Prebyt Germany Blacksmith
Hannah 30 NB
Joseph 13 Ont
Emerson 11 Ont
Albert 9 Ont
James 4 Ont
Charles 2 Ont
1881 Canadian Census: Ontario, Muskoka (131), Ridout & McLean (K), p.
15/16.
LAC mf C-13243.
James Allen 49 NB Dutch Baptist Farmer
Hannah 40 NB French
Joseph 23 Ont. Dutch
Emerson 21
Albert 19
James 14
Charles 12
John 9
Ada 4
Anna 2
Margaret 5/12 Nov.
Rebecca 87 N.B. Widow
1891 Canadian Census: Ontario, Ontario North 100 (Muskoka), Twp. of McLean
(g), p. 20. LAC mf T-6357.
James Allen 58 NB Disciple Farmer
Hannah 50 NB
Charles E 22 Ont
John F 19 Ont
Ada D 15 Ont
Annie L 13 Ont
Margarett 10 Ont
Baysville Public Cemetery, Baysville, McLean Twp, Muskoka District.
Apparently there was a wooden cross marker which had disintigrated by 1985.
The tin name plaque for J. Allen is posted on a marquee in the cemetery.
Plots for Jos. Allen GPS N 45.14627 W -79.11439.
================================================
Name: Hannah Catherine Parlee
Sex: F
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Individual Information
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Birth: Jul 31, 1841 - Studholm, Kings Co., NB, Can
Christening: May 8, 1849 - Kings Co., NB, Can
Death: Jun 24, 1931 - Tomstown, Temiskaming, ON, Can
Burial: in Englehart, Temiskaming, ON, Can
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Parents
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Father: John Casey Parlee (1816-1888)
Mother: Margaret Folkins (1823-1904)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Spouses and Children
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. James C. Allen (Dec 24, 1832 - Mar 10, 1899)
Marriage: Jul 17, 1856 - Burford, Brock District, Canada West
Children:
1. Joseph Elijah Allen (1857-1924)
2. Emerson James Allen (1860-1941)
3. Albert William Allen (1862-1941)
4. Elizabeth Allen (1864-1864)
5. Elton Wilmot Allen (1866-1866)
6. James Oren Allen (1867-1883)
7. Charles Elmer Allen (1869-1951)
8. John Frederick Allen (1871-1945)
9. Ada Drusilla Allen (1876-1961)
10. Anna Louisa Allen (1878-1927)
11. Margaret Evelyn Allen (1880-1914)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
General:
At age 12 she moved to Burford, Ontario with her family (1852). After
marriage they moved to London, Ontario, and then Baysville, Muskoka in 1872,
where James died in 1899. In March 1903, at age 63, she homesteaded in
Saskatchewan with her two sons John Frederick and Emerson Jones but sold out
in July 1910 and returned to Ontario in 1911. She went to live in Gelert,
Ontario with her invalid daughter Mrs. J.B. Sedgwick. After her daughters
death she lived with her son Charles at Tomstown.
Sources:
Dusty Trails, Abandoned Rails, Storthoaks/Fertile Historical Society, 1988.
Archives of Ontario. Registrations of Deaths, 1869-1932. MS935. Timiskaming
District, 1931, Reg. # 032905. Senilty, Arterio sclerosis.
1851 Canadian Census Kings Co., New Brunswick, Kings Co. (2), Parish of
Studholm (40), p. 51. LAC mf C-995.
John C. Parlee 35 NB French desc. Farmer
Margaret 37
Hannah C 10
Isaac 7
Georgiana 3
1901 Canadian Census: Ontario, 97 North Ontario, McLean Twp. G-1, p. 10.
LAC mf T-6486
Charles Allen 31 Ont 19 April 1869 Dutch Canadian Disciple
Alice 22 Ont 6 Jan 1879 English Canadian Methodist
Stanley 1 Ont 14 Sept 1899 Dutch Canadian Methodist
Hannah Allen 59 NB 31 July 1841 French Canadian Disciple
Margaret Parlee 78 NB 12 Jan 1823 French Canadian Methodist
1906 Canadian Census: Saskatchewan, Assiniboia East 11 , p. 22.
LAC mf T-18358.
Hannah Allen 65 Ont Audrey P.O. Sect 24 Twp 4 Rge 32 Mer 1,
Leslie 12 Ont g son
Anna 25 Ont dau
1911 Canadian Census: Saskatchewan, Assiniboia 207, Sub-Dist. 16 , p. 1.
LAC mf 20450.
Hannah C Allen 69 NB French Disciple
Leslie (g son) 17 Ont German Disciple Farm laborer
The Folkins Family: Some Descendants of Joseph Folkins and Anna Lydekker to
the Seventh Generation, by William H. Folkins, edited by Gail Louise
Folkins, 1994.
Sunday, June 10, 2012
Transcription of the Kip/Kipp Surname
If you wonder why you cannot find the Kip/Kipp surname in many online genealogical records have a look at the following list of erroneous transcriptions.
Kip, Kep, Kop, Kap, Rip, Rep, Rop, Rap, etc.
Kipp, Kiss, Kiff, Kipf, Hipp, Hepp, Hiss, etc.
These are the one I have found. There may be others!
Kip, Kep, Kop, Kap, Rip, Rep, Rop, Rap, etc.
Kipp, Kiss, Kiff, Kipf, Hipp, Hepp, Hiss, etc.
These are the one I have found. There may be others!
Saturday, June 9, 2012
Rebecca Crouse & Isaac Allen - my 2nd Great Grandparents
===============================================
Name: Rebecca Crouse
Sex: F
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Individual Information
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Birth: Jan 4, 1794 - Keswick, York Co., NB, Can
Christening:
Death: Sep 28, 1886 - Westminster, Middlesex Co., ON, Can
Burial: in Westminster, Middlesex Co., ON, Can
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Parents
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Father: Philip Crouse (1760-1857)
Mother: Sarah Burt (1771-1832)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Spouses and Children
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Isaac Allen (Jul 20, 1794 - Jun 13, 1837)
Marriage: Apr 8, 1816 - Keswick, York Co., NB, Can
Children:
1. Sophia Allen (1817-1856)
2. Richardson Allen (1818-1908)
3. Elizabeth Allen (1820-1851)
4. Peter Allen (1821-1903)
5. Matilda Allen (1823-1849)
6. Phillip Allen (1824-1913)
7. Rhoda Allen (1826-1875)
8. Anna Allen (1828- )
9. Hepzibah Allen (1829-1910)
10. Sarah Allen (1830-1912)
11. James C. Allen (1832-1899)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
General:
Marriage Bond between Isaac Allan and Rebecca Crouse, York County, NB,
1816.
Co-signer was John Crouse. Married by David McGibbon, Justice of the Peace.
Witnesses were Ann McGibbon and Susan McGibbon. The McGibbons lived at Mouth
of Keswick, York Co., NB. [1816 was the year without a summer!]
After her husband died, she moved back to Keswick. In October 1837 she paid
80 pounds for a farm near Smith's Corner. In 1847 she sold her farm for 250
pounds and moved to Baysville, Ontario to be near her children.
Sources:
Ancestry.com web site of Ronald Cox: roncox@cam.org.
Crouse Family History. The Descendants of Philip and Sarah Crouse. 2nd ed.,
by Roguer Crouse. 2000 and 2007.
New Brunswick Archives Index to Marriage Bonds, 1816-1932: Microfilm F-9089
Ref: 1816-04/04 archives.gnb.ca
Archives of Ontario. Registrations of Deaths, 1869-1932. MS935. Middlesex
Co., 1886, Reg. # 010986. Old age.
1851 Canadian Census
1861 Canadian Census
1871 Canadian Census: Ontario, Middlesex East (009), Dorchester North (B)
(2), p. 37. LAC mf C-9904.
Jeremiah Morhose 43 NB Farmer
Hephzibah 43 NB
Isaac 24 ON
Charles 14 ON
Martha 9 ON
Joshua 70 NB Farmer
Mary 9 NB
Joanne 73 NB
Rebecca Allen 77 NB C.C. Bapt.
1881 Canadian Cebsus: Ontario, Muskoka (131), Ridout & McLean (K), p.
15/16. LAC mf C-13243.
James Allen 49 NB Dutch Baptist Farmer
Hannah 40 NB French
Joseph 23 Ont. Dutch
Emerson 21
Albert 19
James 14
Charles 12
John 9
Ada 4
Anna 2
Margaret 5/12 Nov.
Rebecca 87 NB Widow
===============================================
Name: Isaac Allen
Sex: M
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Individual Information
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Birth: Jul 20, 1794 - Millstream, Kings Co., NB, Can
Christening:
Death: Jun 13, 1837 - Millstream, Kings Co., NB, Can
Burial: in Keswick, York Co., NB, Can
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Parents
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Father: Peter Allen (1761-1840)
Mother: Dorcas Gallup (1774- )
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Spouses and Children
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Rebecca Crouse (Jan 4, 1794 - Sep 28, 1886)
Marriage: Apr 8, 1816 - Keswick, York Co., NB, Can
Children:
1. Sophia Allen (1817-1856)
2. Richardson Allen (1818-1908)
3. Elizabeth Allen (1820-1851)
4. Peter Allen (1821-1903)
5. Matilda Allen (1823-1849)
6. Phillip Allen (1824-1913)
7. Rhoda Allen (1826-1875)
8. Anna Allen (1828- )
9. Hepzibah Allen (1829-1910)
10. Sarah Allen (1830-1912)
11. James C. Allen (1832-1899)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
General:
They moved to Millstream, NB.
Sources:
Crouse Family History. The Descendants of Philip and Sarah Crouse. 2nd ed.,
by Roguer Crouse. 2000 and 2007.
Name: Rebecca Crouse
Sex: F
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Individual Information
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Birth: Jan 4, 1794 - Keswick, York Co., NB, Can
Christening:
Death: Sep 28, 1886 - Westminster, Middlesex Co., ON, Can
Burial: in Westminster, Middlesex Co., ON, Can
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Parents
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Father: Philip Crouse (1760-1857)
Mother: Sarah Burt (1771-1832)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Spouses and Children
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Isaac Allen (Jul 20, 1794 - Jun 13, 1837)
Marriage: Apr 8, 1816 - Keswick, York Co., NB, Can
Children:
1. Sophia Allen (1817-1856)
2. Richardson Allen (1818-1908)
3. Elizabeth Allen (1820-1851)
4. Peter Allen (1821-1903)
5. Matilda Allen (1823-1849)
6. Phillip Allen (1824-1913)
7. Rhoda Allen (1826-1875)
8. Anna Allen (1828- )
9. Hepzibah Allen (1829-1910)
10. Sarah Allen (1830-1912)
11. James C. Allen (1832-1899)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
General:
Marriage Bond between Isaac Allan and Rebecca Crouse, York County, NB,
1816.
Co-signer was John Crouse. Married by David McGibbon, Justice of the Peace.
Witnesses were Ann McGibbon and Susan McGibbon. The McGibbons lived at Mouth
of Keswick, York Co., NB. [1816 was the year without a summer!]
After her husband died, she moved back to Keswick. In October 1837 she paid
80 pounds for a farm near Smith's Corner. In 1847 she sold her farm for 250
pounds and moved to Baysville, Ontario to be near her children.
Sources:
Ancestry.com web site of Ronald Cox: roncox@cam.org.
Crouse Family History. The Descendants of Philip and Sarah Crouse. 2nd ed.,
by Roguer Crouse. 2000 and 2007.
New Brunswick Archives Index to Marriage Bonds, 1816-1932: Microfilm F-9089
Ref: 1816-04/04 archives.gnb.ca
Archives of Ontario. Registrations of Deaths, 1869-1932. MS935. Middlesex
Co., 1886, Reg. # 010986. Old age.
1851 Canadian Census
1861 Canadian Census
1871 Canadian Census: Ontario, Middlesex East (009), Dorchester North (B)
(2), p. 37. LAC mf C-9904.
Jeremiah Morhose 43 NB Farmer
Hephzibah 43 NB
Isaac 24 ON
Charles 14 ON
Martha 9 ON
Joshua 70 NB Farmer
Mary 9 NB
Joanne 73 NB
Rebecca Allen 77 NB C.C. Bapt.
1881 Canadian Cebsus: Ontario, Muskoka (131), Ridout & McLean (K), p.
15/16. LAC mf C-13243.
James Allen 49 NB Dutch Baptist Farmer
Hannah 40 NB French
Joseph 23 Ont. Dutch
Emerson 21
Albert 19
James 14
Charles 12
John 9
Ada 4
Anna 2
Margaret 5/12 Nov.
Rebecca 87 NB Widow
===============================================
Name: Isaac Allen
Sex: M
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Individual Information
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Birth: Jul 20, 1794 - Millstream, Kings Co., NB, Can
Christening:
Death: Jun 13, 1837 - Millstream, Kings Co., NB, Can
Burial: in Keswick, York Co., NB, Can
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Parents
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Father: Peter Allen (1761-1840)
Mother: Dorcas Gallup (1774- )
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Spouses and Children
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Rebecca Crouse (Jan 4, 1794 - Sep 28, 1886)
Marriage: Apr 8, 1816 - Keswick, York Co., NB, Can
Children:
1. Sophia Allen (1817-1856)
2. Richardson Allen (1818-1908)
3. Elizabeth Allen (1820-1851)
4. Peter Allen (1821-1903)
5. Matilda Allen (1823-1849)
6. Phillip Allen (1824-1913)
7. Rhoda Allen (1826-1875)
8. Anna Allen (1828- )
9. Hepzibah Allen (1829-1910)
10. Sarah Allen (1830-1912)
11. James C. Allen (1832-1899)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
General:
They moved to Millstream, NB.
Sources:
Crouse Family History. The Descendants of Philip and Sarah Crouse. 2nd ed.,
by Roguer Crouse. 2000 and 2007.
Saturday, June 2, 2012
Sarah Burt & Philip Crouse - my 3rd Great Grandparents
===============================================
Name: Sarah Burt Sex: F
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Individual Information
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Birth: Jan 1771 - Ridgefield, Fairfield, CT
Christening:
Death: Sep 23, 1832 - Keswick, York Co., NB, Can
Burial: in Keswick, York Co., NB, Can
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Parents
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Father: Benjamin Burt (1741-1785)
Mother: Rebecca [Burt] ( - )
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Spouses and Children
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Philip Crouse (1760 - Feb 21, 1857)
Marriage: Apr 8, 1791 - Queensbury, NB, Can
Children:
1. Sarah Crouse (1792-1876)
2. Rebecca Crouse (1794-1886)
3. John Crouse (1795-Between 1871/1881)
4. Darius Crouse (1796-1880)
5. Philip Crouse Jr. (1797-Between 1870/1882)
6. Elizabeth Crouse (1798-1882)
7. Peter Crouse (1800-Abt 1836)
8. Huldah Crouse (1801-1847)
9. Gould Crouse (1802-1894)
10. Thomas Crouse (1804-1879)
11. Amy Crouse (1805-1905)
12. Mary (Polly) Crouse (Abt 1807-Bef 1813)
13. Urial Crouse (1808-1904)
14. Jonas Crouse (Abt 1810-Bef 1823)
15. Richard Crouse (1811-1857/1861)
16. Mary Crouse (1813-1862)
17. James Crouse (1815-1898)
18. Benjamin Crouse (1817-Between 1890/1902)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------General:
Burtt
Sources:
Crouse Family History. The Descendants of Philip and Sarah Crouse. 2nd ed.,
by Roguer Crouse. 2000 and 2007.
The New Brunswick Royal Gazette, Oct. 7, 1823. P. 2. Death notice.
================================================================================
Name: Philip Crouse Sex: M
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Individual Information
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Birth: 1760 - Zeeland, The Netherlands
Christening:
Death: Feb 21, 1857 - Stoneridge, York Co., NB, Can
Burial: in Stoneridge, York Co., NB, Can
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Spouses and Children
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Sarah Burt (Jan 1771 - Sep 23, 1832)
Marriage: Apr 8, 1791 - Queensbury, NB, Can
Children:
1. Sarah Crouse (1792-1876)
2. Rebecca Crouse (1794-1886)
3. John Crouse (1795-Between 1871/1881)
4. Darius Crouse (1796-1880)
5. Philip Crouse Jr. (1797-Between 1870/1882)
6. Elizabeth Crouse (1798-1882)
7. Peter Crouse (1800-Abt 1836)
8. Huldah Crouse (1801-1847)
9. Gould Crouse (1802-1894)
10. Thomas Crouse (1804-1879)
11. Amy Crouse (1805-1905)
12. Mary (Polly) Crouse (Abt 1807-Bef 1813)
13. Urial Crouse (1808-1904)
14. Jonas Crouse (Abt 1810-Bef 1823)
15. Richard Crouse (1811-1857/1861)
16. Mary Crouse (1813-1862)
17. James Crouse (1815-1898)
18. Benjamin Crouse (1817-Between 1890/1902)
2. Mary [Crouse] (Abt 1790 - Jun 30, 1851)
Marriage: in Keswick, York Co., NB, Can
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
General:
Loyalist Philip was born, about 1760, in the Province of Zeeland in what is now known
as the Netherlands. Zeeland is a coastal province which can be found on
modern maps nestled in the southwest corner of the country, sharing its
southern border with Belgium. When Philip was young, presumably with his
parents, he emigrated from Rotterdam to Philadelphia around 1763 to 1768.
The northern colonies were becoming increasingly overcrowded and much of the
better land had been settled. To the south was a milder climate and cheaper
land, especially inland areas. There were only two ways to travel to the
southern colonies in those days, either sailing by ship or by traveling
overland on the Great Wagon Road from Philadelphia, through the Shenandoah
Valley, over the Blue Ridge and into North Carolina. Philip traveled over
this land route, which was more like what we today would call a trail than a
road. Philip ended up in Salisbury, North Carolina, as a young teenager. One
of the many Great Wagon Road branch trails, once used by buffalo and Indians
exclusively, directly passed by the area that is now Gaston County, North
Carolina. In Philip's day it was Tryon County in the British Colony of North
Carolina. Philip found himself living here on a family farm on Beaverdam
Creek just a few miles from present-day Crouse, North Carolina.
Philip as a teenager lived on this farm, probably with his parents. The farm
consisted of a house with several farm buildings. Family members were
provided their final resting place in the nearby cemetery.
The settlement of Crouse, North Carolina, was established later around 1840,
and was named after Dr. William L. Crouse, a physician. Dr. Crouse is not a
direct descendant of Philip. It is generally believed that Philip had at
least two brothers, John and Peter. John Crouse, the direct ancestor of Dr.
William L. Crouse, was a farmer in the Beaverdam Creek and Indian Creek
area. He married Sarah Mauney (pronounced moon-knee) and their descendants
for successive generations thrived in the Gaston-Lincoln County area. The
other brother, Peter Crouse, also lived in the same area and married Anna
Carpenter. Some evidence points to his occupation as being a gunsmith. By
this time Philip was firmly established as a British subject and he had a
second language English, after Dutch, of course.
In the 1770's this area of North Carolina was populated with people who had
basically three political views. There were Loyalists, also known as Tories,
interested in maintaining British citizenship. There were Revolutionaries,
also known as Whigs, interested in forming an independent relationship with
Britain, possibly as a loose confederation of colonies. The third political
view was held by a large neutral group that really wanted nothing more than
to be left alone. They were much more interested in establishing homesteads
and raising families than the politics of a revolutionary war. Careful
checking of public records of the period show many pioneers' sympathies
shifted back and forth between Tory and Whig allegiance as new situations
confronted them. Often families were split with brother and brother, or
father and son, on opposite political sides. Apparently, this is the case
with Philip and his family, or maybe to be more fair, Philip was the
politically active one, while the others in the family were more neutral.
When the first shots were fired at Lexington and Concord, it was not at all
certain the Revolution would be a success, in fact, far from it. Many
Colonists eventually chose sides for varied reasons. Some, like coastal
merchants, had valuable economic ties to Britain to protect. Others wanted
to stay out of trouble and picked whichever side was perceived to be winning
or more popular in the particular area they lived. Many prominent Colonists
originally didn't want to be separate from Britain and wished to be treated
the same as British citizens living in the British Isles. They actually
protested to be treated more like British citizens. Some visionaries saw the
advantages of independence from Britain, especially when the Crown
established policies that slipped into disrespect and disregard for the
Colonists' well-being.
Philip chose to be politically active as a British Loyalist. What motivated
our young teenage Philip to be a Loyalist could have been a number of
things. Being devout Lutheran, his word was his bond. If at any time he took
an oath of loyalty to the British Crown, as often was required, it would be
no small event to break his word. Something certainly not to be taken
lightly. There was another interesting influence that swept into the life of
young and restless Philip: the tireless Loyalist promoters Major Nicholas
Welch and Philip's neighbor Colonel John Moore.
BATTLE OF RAMSOUR'S MILL
John Moore had joined the British army and was made lieutenant-colonel of
Hamilton's North Carolina Loyalist Regiment. He took an active part in
arousing and increasing the Loyalist element in Lincoln County (Lincoln
County was formed when Tryon County was split in 1779). Moses Moore, John's
father, made his home on Indian Creek, very near where Philip lived. On June
10, 1780, Colonel Moore called a meeting of the Loyalists at his father's
residence, where about 40 men gathered. Subsequent to this meeting, he
directed those in attendance to meet on June 13th at Derick Ramsour's Mill
(located about eight miles from his father's farm in what is now Lincolnton,
North Carolina) and to make ready for anticipated Revolutionary
confrontations. Emotions, whipped up, ran high in the people of the local
area where many had long been loyal to King George. By the time June 13th
rolled around over 200 Loyalist men had appeared at Ramsour's Mill, where
they commenced grinding grain in anticipation of joining forces with the
British in South Carolina. On June 14th they were joined by many more men
and by June 19th the number of Loyalists had grown to approximately 1,200.
Philip Crouse was, without much doubt, among them.
More than 300 of these 1,200 men did not have weapons. They encamped on a
hillside ridge about three hundred yards east of Ramsour's Mill. The ridge
had a gentle slope and was open, except for a few trees, for two hundred
yards. At the base of the hill, to the south and east, was a glade, the side
of which was covered by bushes.
The Revolutionary forces amounted to only about 400 men and were commanded
by Colonel Francis Locke. On June 19th, they gathered twelve miles from the
Loyalist stronghold. They calculated their best chance of success,
considering their lesser numbers, was to mount a surprise attack before
their own forces could be detected. So, it was decided they would march all
night and surprise the Loyalists at sunrise. It was determined that a
surprise attack, in a situation where the Loyalists would be unaware of the
Revolutionaries' inferior numbers, should be sufficient to rout them. With
about 100 men under Colonel Locke mounted, it was agreed that this force
would open the attack. The foot soldiers would follow. Late that evening
they marched for Ramsour's Mill.
About a mile from the mill Colonel Locke was met by Adam Reep and his small
company of about 20 men. Reep was a noted Revolutionary, although his
neighbors were generally loyal to King George. He gave Colonel Locke full
account of the Loyalist position. Armed with this knowledge and his men
spoiling for a fight, the stage for battle was set as dawn broke on Tuesday,
June 20, 1780.
The first contact between forces occurred when the Revolutionary Cavalry
came upon and surprised a Loyalist picket placed six hundred yards in an
advanced position. The picket fired and retreated to the main camp as the
battle escalated. A dense fog covered the area as the Revolutionary horsemen
came in from the east. They rode up within 30 steps and opened fire,
throwing the Loyalists into confusion. Those Loyalists without weapons
retreated to the rear and out of the battle scene. The remaining Loyalists,
gripping their senses and seeing only about 100 of the enemy attacking,
quickly regrouped and rallied, raining such hot fire that the Revolutionary
horsemen retreated back through their infantry. Some of the Revolutionary
infantry also retreated and never returned to the battle. The remaining
Revolutionary infantry advanced, firing their muskets, then stepping back a
few steps to reload. As they prepared for their next round of fire, others
stepped forward and spent their ammunition.
The six hundred yard charge toward the hilltop entrenched Loyalists had
greatly disorganized the Revolutionary line. Seeing an opening for victory
and anxious to take advantage of the Revolutionary forces' disarray, the
Loyalist infantry poured down from the hilltop. The Revolutionary forces
quickly filled their own gaps, spontaneously reorganized, and the fighting
remained fierce for about an hour. The fire was so deadly the Loyalists
gradually retreated back to the hilltop, and a little beyond, in an attempt
to protect themselves from the onslaught. From the advantage of the elevated
position the Loyalists were able to rain bullets on the pursuing
Revolutionaries driving them nearly back to the glade, and then once again
the Loyalists advanced partway down the hill.
Shielded by a fence the Revolutionaries were able to commence a galling fire
on the right flank of the Loyalists, again forcing a retreat back up the
hill and then further along the ridge toward the summit to their former
position. But now a part of the summit was occupied by the Revolutionaries,
and in two instances hand-to-hand battle ensued. Neither side had bayonets,
so they struck each other with the butts of their guns. Men often recognized
individuals they knew in the opposite camp and, as they battled even
instigated heated banter, at times.
There were no uniforms on either side of the conflict, so to tell friend
from foe the Loyalists wore green pine twigs in their hats. The
Revolutionaries didn't make the most intelligent choice for their
identification. They wore a white piece of paper or cloth in their hats so
many of their dead where found shot in the head, as the white badge of
allegiance provided an excellent long-range bull's-eye target. In some
cases, when things looked particularly dicey a combatant cagily took his
identification from his hat and slipped away undetected.
The Revolutionaries had the benefit of preplanning their attack and so when
the Loyalists were once again exposed on the hillside, they took advantage
of their preparedness. Their plan, as executed, was to simultaneously flank
the left and right of the Loyalists. With vicious fire from the flanks and
pressed from the front, the Loyalist resolve broke and they fled down the
backside of the hill toward the mill pond. Many were picked off as they
scattered. Preparing for another attack the Revolutionaries, now gathered on
the hilltop, could only muster a meager 110 men for further battle - but
they were not needed. Unaware of the Revolutionaries' inferior strength and,
effective command from Colonel Moore not forthcoming, the Loyalists
dispersed.
Seventy or more from both sides died in battle, their bodies strewn over the
hill. Of the seventy, about forty were Revolutionaries. Around one hundred
of the men on each side were wounded, some of whom later died.
Colonel Moore and about thirty men made their way to the headquarters of his
commander Lord Cornwallis. Cornwallis was not impressed by Colonel Moore's
actions. Moore was put under arrest and threatened with court-martial for
his disobedience of orders leading up to the Battle of Ramsour's Mill. He
was finally released.
RESETTLEMENT IN THE BRITISH COLONY OF NEW BRUNSWICK
By 1782 the area of North Carolina which Philip called home was controlled
by the Revolutionaries. He openly opposed the rebels that promoted the
independence of the American Colonies from Britain, and was recognized as a
Loyalist sympathizer. Philip and many others were asked to leave North
Carolina because of their views. It is important to remember that Loyalists
at this time were in political disfavor, but generally they were not bad
people, in fact, far from it. Loyalist families played a large part in the
early building of a strong foundation for the United States. The only real
difference they had was an alternate vision of the future. When they left
they took with them desperately needed skills and strong backs. In this
aspect they were greatly missed.
Philip saved his money and in 1789 traveled downriver to Charleston, South
Carolina, where he booked passage on a ship, and headed for British
controlled Saint John, New Brunswick. Undoubtedly, he stopped in New York
City before sailing to Saint John in the Bay of Fundy.
Upon arrival he immediately traveled up the St. John River looking for land
that he could homestead, attracted by the possibility of obtaining a land
grant from the British Crown. After stopping in Fredericton, the New
Brunswick capital, he continued upriver on the St. John until he reached the
Keswick River, where in early November 1789 he, along with Jacob Ham,
Christian Knai, Jacob Knai, and Philip Henry, applied in a formal petition
to the British Crown for approximately "200 acres each on unlocated lands on
the Madam Keswick above the N.Y. Volunteers." They stated, "That from
Loyalty to the best of Sovereigns and attachment to the British Constitution
- They left their Native Country North Carolina to seek an asylum in this
divining Province."
He had found his way to Keswick Valley, after only about a four week journey
from his North Carolina home. The original 1789 Land Grant Petition by
Philip and his four fellow North Carolinians was not approved. While Jacob
Ham, Christian Knai and Philip Henry, three of the other grant
co-applicants, moved on, Philip remained at the site of the original
petition, going about the hard work of clearing the land, building a cabin,
and establishing a farm. The fourth grant co-applicant, Jacob Knai, acquired
a small lot near present-day Burtts Corner, New Brunswick, but by April 1826
he had sold his lot to William Boone and had moved on as well.
Philip met Sarah Burt, the fourth child of a Connecticut Loyalist family,
and they married in 1791. Their first child was born in 1792, while their
eighteenth and last child was born in 1817, a span of 25 years. All but two
children lived to adulthood. All their children were born on the original
farmstead on the Keswick River, below Stone Ridge.
Philip brought to New Brunswick an old Dutch Bible. Many of his
grandchildren remembered him reading to them from his Bible. The names and
birth dates of sixteen of Philip's eighteen children were written in it.
Philip continued to develop his farmstead, and with the help of his
children, planted crops to feed the livestock and for family use. They had
cows, horses, sheep, hogs and chickens. Salmon was fished from the Keswick
River and cooked fresh or dried. Wild game was hunted, as well.
On the 26 of June, 1811, it was finally official. It had been almost 22
years since Philip first applied for his original 200 acre Crown Land Grant
and now legal title to his expanded 400 - acre homestead was finally granted
to him by the British Government. He had proven he was a deserving Loyalist,
who had homesteaded and improved the property. As with many British Crown
Land Grants, the homesteaders had to settle and improve the property before
legal title was conveyed by the Crown.
Sadly, in 1832 Philip's wife Sarah died after a short illness. She was laid
to rest in the family cemetery next to the farmhouse, on the bank of the
Keswick River. Here she rested next to her two children who predeceased her,
Polly and Jonas.
Eventually, Philip would marry again, to a woman named Mary, likely a widow
herself. Philip and Mary did not have children together.
In 1831 Philip and Sarah's son, Gould, purchased 200 acres of the original
British Crown Land Grant from Philip. Philip was about 70 years old at the
time. Sometime around 1840 Gould named the community that had grown up
around Philip's land grant, New Zealand, in honor of his father's birth
place in the Netherlands.
When Philip passed away at the home of his son Benjamin at the venerable age
of 96 years old, his obituary read, "He had 18 children, by his wife, and
lived to see 196 of his grand children, and 118 of his great grand children.
He was much esteemed by all who knew him." Philip was buried alongside his
wife Sarah in the Crouse family cemetery
He settled near Keswick Stream, Parish of Douglas, York County, New
Brunswick.
Sources:
Crouse Family History. The Descendants of Philip and Sarah Crouse. 2nd ed.,
by Roguer Crouse. 2000 and 2007.
The Fredericton Sentinel: "At Stone Ridge, Keswick, on the 21st ult., Mr.
Philip Crouse, aged 96 years. He had 18 children, by his wife, and lived to
see 196 of his grand children, and 118 of his great grand children. He was
much esteemed by all who knew him."
1851 Canadian Census: New Brunswick. York Co. Douglas Parish. p. 21. LAC mf
C-1717.
Benjamin Crouse 33 New Brunswick Farmer
Ann 30 New Brunswick
Huldah 4 New Brunswick
Philip Crouse 90 New Brunswick Father (Infirm)
Mary 60 New Brunswick
Name: Sarah Burt Sex: F
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Individual Information
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Birth: Jan 1771 - Ridgefield, Fairfield, CT
Christening:
Death: Sep 23, 1832 - Keswick, York Co., NB, Can
Burial: in Keswick, York Co., NB, Can
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Parents
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Father: Benjamin Burt (1741-1785)
Mother: Rebecca [Burt] ( - )
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Spouses and Children
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Philip Crouse (1760 - Feb 21, 1857)
Marriage: Apr 8, 1791 - Queensbury, NB, Can
Children:
1. Sarah Crouse (1792-1876)
2. Rebecca Crouse (1794-1886)
3. John Crouse (1795-Between 1871/1881)
4. Darius Crouse (1796-1880)
5. Philip Crouse Jr. (1797-Between 1870/1882)
6. Elizabeth Crouse (1798-1882)
7. Peter Crouse (1800-Abt 1836)
8. Huldah Crouse (1801-1847)
9. Gould Crouse (1802-1894)
10. Thomas Crouse (1804-1879)
11. Amy Crouse (1805-1905)
12. Mary (Polly) Crouse (Abt 1807-Bef 1813)
13. Urial Crouse (1808-1904)
14. Jonas Crouse (Abt 1810-Bef 1823)
15. Richard Crouse (1811-1857/1861)
16. Mary Crouse (1813-1862)
17. James Crouse (1815-1898)
18. Benjamin Crouse (1817-Between 1890/1902)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------General:
Burtt
Sources:
Crouse Family History. The Descendants of Philip and Sarah Crouse. 2nd ed.,
by Roguer Crouse. 2000 and 2007.
The New Brunswick Royal Gazette, Oct. 7, 1823. P. 2. Death notice.
================================================================================
Name: Philip Crouse Sex: M
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Individual Information
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Birth: 1760 - Zeeland, The Netherlands
Christening:
Death: Feb 21, 1857 - Stoneridge, York Co., NB, Can
Burial: in Stoneridge, York Co., NB, Can
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Spouses and Children
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Sarah Burt (Jan 1771 - Sep 23, 1832)
Marriage: Apr 8, 1791 - Queensbury, NB, Can
Children:
1. Sarah Crouse (1792-1876)
2. Rebecca Crouse (1794-1886)
3. John Crouse (1795-Between 1871/1881)
4. Darius Crouse (1796-1880)
5. Philip Crouse Jr. (1797-Between 1870/1882)
6. Elizabeth Crouse (1798-1882)
7. Peter Crouse (1800-Abt 1836)
8. Huldah Crouse (1801-1847)
9. Gould Crouse (1802-1894)
10. Thomas Crouse (1804-1879)
11. Amy Crouse (1805-1905)
12. Mary (Polly) Crouse (Abt 1807-Bef 1813)
13. Urial Crouse (1808-1904)
14. Jonas Crouse (Abt 1810-Bef 1823)
15. Richard Crouse (1811-1857/1861)
16. Mary Crouse (1813-1862)
17. James Crouse (1815-1898)
18. Benjamin Crouse (1817-Between 1890/1902)
2. Mary [Crouse] (Abt 1790 - Jun 30, 1851)
Marriage: in Keswick, York Co., NB, Can
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
General:
Loyalist Philip was born, about 1760, in the Province of Zeeland in what is now known
as the Netherlands. Zeeland is a coastal province which can be found on
modern maps nestled in the southwest corner of the country, sharing its
southern border with Belgium. When Philip was young, presumably with his
parents, he emigrated from Rotterdam to Philadelphia around 1763 to 1768.
The northern colonies were becoming increasingly overcrowded and much of the
better land had been settled. To the south was a milder climate and cheaper
land, especially inland areas. There were only two ways to travel to the
southern colonies in those days, either sailing by ship or by traveling
overland on the Great Wagon Road from Philadelphia, through the Shenandoah
Valley, over the Blue Ridge and into North Carolina. Philip traveled over
this land route, which was more like what we today would call a trail than a
road. Philip ended up in Salisbury, North Carolina, as a young teenager. One
of the many Great Wagon Road branch trails, once used by buffalo and Indians
exclusively, directly passed by the area that is now Gaston County, North
Carolina. In Philip's day it was Tryon County in the British Colony of North
Carolina. Philip found himself living here on a family farm on Beaverdam
Creek just a few miles from present-day Crouse, North Carolina.
Philip as a teenager lived on this farm, probably with his parents. The farm
consisted of a house with several farm buildings. Family members were
provided their final resting place in the nearby cemetery.
The settlement of Crouse, North Carolina, was established later around 1840,
and was named after Dr. William L. Crouse, a physician. Dr. Crouse is not a
direct descendant of Philip. It is generally believed that Philip had at
least two brothers, John and Peter. John Crouse, the direct ancestor of Dr.
William L. Crouse, was a farmer in the Beaverdam Creek and Indian Creek
area. He married Sarah Mauney (pronounced moon-knee) and their descendants
for successive generations thrived in the Gaston-Lincoln County area. The
other brother, Peter Crouse, also lived in the same area and married Anna
Carpenter. Some evidence points to his occupation as being a gunsmith. By
this time Philip was firmly established as a British subject and he had a
second language English, after Dutch, of course.
In the 1770's this area of North Carolina was populated with people who had
basically three political views. There were Loyalists, also known as Tories,
interested in maintaining British citizenship. There were Revolutionaries,
also known as Whigs, interested in forming an independent relationship with
Britain, possibly as a loose confederation of colonies. The third political
view was held by a large neutral group that really wanted nothing more than
to be left alone. They were much more interested in establishing homesteads
and raising families than the politics of a revolutionary war. Careful
checking of public records of the period show many pioneers' sympathies
shifted back and forth between Tory and Whig allegiance as new situations
confronted them. Often families were split with brother and brother, or
father and son, on opposite political sides. Apparently, this is the case
with Philip and his family, or maybe to be more fair, Philip was the
politically active one, while the others in the family were more neutral.
When the first shots were fired at Lexington and Concord, it was not at all
certain the Revolution would be a success, in fact, far from it. Many
Colonists eventually chose sides for varied reasons. Some, like coastal
merchants, had valuable economic ties to Britain to protect. Others wanted
to stay out of trouble and picked whichever side was perceived to be winning
or more popular in the particular area they lived. Many prominent Colonists
originally didn't want to be separate from Britain and wished to be treated
the same as British citizens living in the British Isles. They actually
protested to be treated more like British citizens. Some visionaries saw the
advantages of independence from Britain, especially when the Crown
established policies that slipped into disrespect and disregard for the
Colonists' well-being.
Philip chose to be politically active as a British Loyalist. What motivated
our young teenage Philip to be a Loyalist could have been a number of
things. Being devout Lutheran, his word was his bond. If at any time he took
an oath of loyalty to the British Crown, as often was required, it would be
no small event to break his word. Something certainly not to be taken
lightly. There was another interesting influence that swept into the life of
young and restless Philip: the tireless Loyalist promoters Major Nicholas
Welch and Philip's neighbor Colonel John Moore.
BATTLE OF RAMSOUR'S MILL
John Moore had joined the British army and was made lieutenant-colonel of
Hamilton's North Carolina Loyalist Regiment. He took an active part in
arousing and increasing the Loyalist element in Lincoln County (Lincoln
County was formed when Tryon County was split in 1779). Moses Moore, John's
father, made his home on Indian Creek, very near where Philip lived. On June
10, 1780, Colonel Moore called a meeting of the Loyalists at his father's
residence, where about 40 men gathered. Subsequent to this meeting, he
directed those in attendance to meet on June 13th at Derick Ramsour's Mill
(located about eight miles from his father's farm in what is now Lincolnton,
North Carolina) and to make ready for anticipated Revolutionary
confrontations. Emotions, whipped up, ran high in the people of the local
area where many had long been loyal to King George. By the time June 13th
rolled around over 200 Loyalist men had appeared at Ramsour's Mill, where
they commenced grinding grain in anticipation of joining forces with the
British in South Carolina. On June 14th they were joined by many more men
and by June 19th the number of Loyalists had grown to approximately 1,200.
Philip Crouse was, without much doubt, among them.
More than 300 of these 1,200 men did not have weapons. They encamped on a
hillside ridge about three hundred yards east of Ramsour's Mill. The ridge
had a gentle slope and was open, except for a few trees, for two hundred
yards. At the base of the hill, to the south and east, was a glade, the side
of which was covered by bushes.
The Revolutionary forces amounted to only about 400 men and were commanded
by Colonel Francis Locke. On June 19th, they gathered twelve miles from the
Loyalist stronghold. They calculated their best chance of success,
considering their lesser numbers, was to mount a surprise attack before
their own forces could be detected. So, it was decided they would march all
night and surprise the Loyalists at sunrise. It was determined that a
surprise attack, in a situation where the Loyalists would be unaware of the
Revolutionaries' inferior numbers, should be sufficient to rout them. With
about 100 men under Colonel Locke mounted, it was agreed that this force
would open the attack. The foot soldiers would follow. Late that evening
they marched for Ramsour's Mill.
About a mile from the mill Colonel Locke was met by Adam Reep and his small
company of about 20 men. Reep was a noted Revolutionary, although his
neighbors were generally loyal to King George. He gave Colonel Locke full
account of the Loyalist position. Armed with this knowledge and his men
spoiling for a fight, the stage for battle was set as dawn broke on Tuesday,
June 20, 1780.
The first contact between forces occurred when the Revolutionary Cavalry
came upon and surprised a Loyalist picket placed six hundred yards in an
advanced position. The picket fired and retreated to the main camp as the
battle escalated. A dense fog covered the area as the Revolutionary horsemen
came in from the east. They rode up within 30 steps and opened fire,
throwing the Loyalists into confusion. Those Loyalists without weapons
retreated to the rear and out of the battle scene. The remaining Loyalists,
gripping their senses and seeing only about 100 of the enemy attacking,
quickly regrouped and rallied, raining such hot fire that the Revolutionary
horsemen retreated back through their infantry. Some of the Revolutionary
infantry also retreated and never returned to the battle. The remaining
Revolutionary infantry advanced, firing their muskets, then stepping back a
few steps to reload. As they prepared for their next round of fire, others
stepped forward and spent their ammunition.
The six hundred yard charge toward the hilltop entrenched Loyalists had
greatly disorganized the Revolutionary line. Seeing an opening for victory
and anxious to take advantage of the Revolutionary forces' disarray, the
Loyalist infantry poured down from the hilltop. The Revolutionary forces
quickly filled their own gaps, spontaneously reorganized, and the fighting
remained fierce for about an hour. The fire was so deadly the Loyalists
gradually retreated back to the hilltop, and a little beyond, in an attempt
to protect themselves from the onslaught. From the advantage of the elevated
position the Loyalists were able to rain bullets on the pursuing
Revolutionaries driving them nearly back to the glade, and then once again
the Loyalists advanced partway down the hill.
Shielded by a fence the Revolutionaries were able to commence a galling fire
on the right flank of the Loyalists, again forcing a retreat back up the
hill and then further along the ridge toward the summit to their former
position. But now a part of the summit was occupied by the Revolutionaries,
and in two instances hand-to-hand battle ensued. Neither side had bayonets,
so they struck each other with the butts of their guns. Men often recognized
individuals they knew in the opposite camp and, as they battled even
instigated heated banter, at times.
There were no uniforms on either side of the conflict, so to tell friend
from foe the Loyalists wore green pine twigs in their hats. The
Revolutionaries didn't make the most intelligent choice for their
identification. They wore a white piece of paper or cloth in their hats so
many of their dead where found shot in the head, as the white badge of
allegiance provided an excellent long-range bull's-eye target. In some
cases, when things looked particularly dicey a combatant cagily took his
identification from his hat and slipped away undetected.
The Revolutionaries had the benefit of preplanning their attack and so when
the Loyalists were once again exposed on the hillside, they took advantage
of their preparedness. Their plan, as executed, was to simultaneously flank
the left and right of the Loyalists. With vicious fire from the flanks and
pressed from the front, the Loyalist resolve broke and they fled down the
backside of the hill toward the mill pond. Many were picked off as they
scattered. Preparing for another attack the Revolutionaries, now gathered on
the hilltop, could only muster a meager 110 men for further battle - but
they were not needed. Unaware of the Revolutionaries' inferior strength and,
effective command from Colonel Moore not forthcoming, the Loyalists
dispersed.
Seventy or more from both sides died in battle, their bodies strewn over the
hill. Of the seventy, about forty were Revolutionaries. Around one hundred
of the men on each side were wounded, some of whom later died.
Colonel Moore and about thirty men made their way to the headquarters of his
commander Lord Cornwallis. Cornwallis was not impressed by Colonel Moore's
actions. Moore was put under arrest and threatened with court-martial for
his disobedience of orders leading up to the Battle of Ramsour's Mill. He
was finally released.
RESETTLEMENT IN THE BRITISH COLONY OF NEW BRUNSWICK
By 1782 the area of North Carolina which Philip called home was controlled
by the Revolutionaries. He openly opposed the rebels that promoted the
independence of the American Colonies from Britain, and was recognized as a
Loyalist sympathizer. Philip and many others were asked to leave North
Carolina because of their views. It is important to remember that Loyalists
at this time were in political disfavor, but generally they were not bad
people, in fact, far from it. Loyalist families played a large part in the
early building of a strong foundation for the United States. The only real
difference they had was an alternate vision of the future. When they left
they took with them desperately needed skills and strong backs. In this
aspect they were greatly missed.
Philip saved his money and in 1789 traveled downriver to Charleston, South
Carolina, where he booked passage on a ship, and headed for British
controlled Saint John, New Brunswick. Undoubtedly, he stopped in New York
City before sailing to Saint John in the Bay of Fundy.
Upon arrival he immediately traveled up the St. John River looking for land
that he could homestead, attracted by the possibility of obtaining a land
grant from the British Crown. After stopping in Fredericton, the New
Brunswick capital, he continued upriver on the St. John until he reached the
Keswick River, where in early November 1789 he, along with Jacob Ham,
Christian Knai, Jacob Knai, and Philip Henry, applied in a formal petition
to the British Crown for approximately "200 acres each on unlocated lands on
the Madam Keswick above the N.Y. Volunteers." They stated, "That from
Loyalty to the best of Sovereigns and attachment to the British Constitution
- They left their Native Country North Carolina to seek an asylum in this
divining Province."
He had found his way to Keswick Valley, after only about a four week journey
from his North Carolina home. The original 1789 Land Grant Petition by
Philip and his four fellow North Carolinians was not approved. While Jacob
Ham, Christian Knai and Philip Henry, three of the other grant
co-applicants, moved on, Philip remained at the site of the original
petition, going about the hard work of clearing the land, building a cabin,
and establishing a farm. The fourth grant co-applicant, Jacob Knai, acquired
a small lot near present-day Burtts Corner, New Brunswick, but by April 1826
he had sold his lot to William Boone and had moved on as well.
Philip met Sarah Burt, the fourth child of a Connecticut Loyalist family,
and they married in 1791. Their first child was born in 1792, while their
eighteenth and last child was born in 1817, a span of 25 years. All but two
children lived to adulthood. All their children were born on the original
farmstead on the Keswick River, below Stone Ridge.
Philip brought to New Brunswick an old Dutch Bible. Many of his
grandchildren remembered him reading to them from his Bible. The names and
birth dates of sixteen of Philip's eighteen children were written in it.
Philip continued to develop his farmstead, and with the help of his
children, planted crops to feed the livestock and for family use. They had
cows, horses, sheep, hogs and chickens. Salmon was fished from the Keswick
River and cooked fresh or dried. Wild game was hunted, as well.
On the 26 of June, 1811, it was finally official. It had been almost 22
years since Philip first applied for his original 200 acre Crown Land Grant
and now legal title to his expanded 400 - acre homestead was finally granted
to him by the British Government. He had proven he was a deserving Loyalist,
who had homesteaded and improved the property. As with many British Crown
Land Grants, the homesteaders had to settle and improve the property before
legal title was conveyed by the Crown.
Sadly, in 1832 Philip's wife Sarah died after a short illness. She was laid
to rest in the family cemetery next to the farmhouse, on the bank of the
Keswick River. Here she rested next to her two children who predeceased her,
Polly and Jonas.
Eventually, Philip would marry again, to a woman named Mary, likely a widow
herself. Philip and Mary did not have children together.
In 1831 Philip and Sarah's son, Gould, purchased 200 acres of the original
British Crown Land Grant from Philip. Philip was about 70 years old at the
time. Sometime around 1840 Gould named the community that had grown up
around Philip's land grant, New Zealand, in honor of his father's birth
place in the Netherlands.
When Philip passed away at the home of his son Benjamin at the venerable age
of 96 years old, his obituary read, "He had 18 children, by his wife, and
lived to see 196 of his grand children, and 118 of his great grand children.
He was much esteemed by all who knew him." Philip was buried alongside his
wife Sarah in the Crouse family cemetery
He settled near Keswick Stream, Parish of Douglas, York County, New
Brunswick.
Sources:
Crouse Family History. The Descendants of Philip and Sarah Crouse. 2nd ed.,
by Roguer Crouse. 2000 and 2007.
The Fredericton Sentinel: "At Stone Ridge, Keswick, on the 21st ult., Mr.
Philip Crouse, aged 96 years. He had 18 children, by his wife, and lived to
see 196 of his grand children, and 118 of his great grand children. He was
much esteemed by all who knew him."
1851 Canadian Census: New Brunswick. York Co. Douglas Parish. p. 21. LAC mf
C-1717.
Benjamin Crouse 33 New Brunswick Farmer
Ann 30 New Brunswick
Huldah 4 New Brunswick
Philip Crouse 90 New Brunswick Father (Infirm)
Mary 60 New Brunswick
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