HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1984-07-04, Page 13Group hears Loyalist diary
The May meeting of the Huron County
Genealogical Society was held at the Seaforth
Public School and featured Russ Waller with
a reading performance on "A Loyalist
Diary".
Mr. Waller is a member of the United
Empire Loyalist Association of Canada,
Kingston Branch and an actor. His acting
career dates back to 1952 with the Canadian
Repertory Theatre in Ottawa and includes
summer stock, a season at Stratford, six years
at CBC Toronto and 13 years as Queen's
Professor of Drama,
He is also related to 10 different families of
United Empire Loyalists. The idea for this
presentation came to him during his own
U.E.L. research.
The diary was researched and fabricated
from the many first-hand accounts of the
conditions faced.by our Ontario ancestors in
the aftermath of the American Revolution. It
is presumed to be written by a 15-20 year old
girl and later found and read by her father
(oortrayed by Mr. Waller).
The diary begins in the vicinity of Albany,
New York. While the men of the family are
away, the home is attacked and the mother.
leaves with her younger children and what
belongings they can manage.
It traces the desperate journey of the girl's
family up the Hudson and Mohawk Valleys,
the unfortunate encounters they have with
farm families who steal their food and
belongings and their arrival at Cataraqui in
1873, finally meeting up with father. It then
chronicles the hardships and adventures
encountered in settling on virgin land in
Upper Canada.
Mr. Waller said in 1784 approximately
5,000 persons and their families arrived in
Kingston, all being military personnel. The
official definition of a United Empire Loyalist A highly contracted style of writing was
is one who has fought with Britain against developed which was easily understood by
Americans. the correspondents at the time but remained
Each U.E.L. was granted land by the King at most a mystery to the rest of the world as
as follows: 200 acres to the father, 50 acres to many abbreviations and contractions were
sons and daughters and 200 acres more when used to save spice, time and money (the first
they became of age. The U.E.L.'s drew Tots shorthand). As more transactions took place,
for the land grants and they were recorded at more common people wrote in their own
that time. hand.
Those above the rank of Private received The printing press greatly increased
grants larger than 200 acres, the amount reading and writing skills but it wasn't until
varying depending upon their rank. Although the latter half of the 16th century that an
the majority kept and worked their land. English writing book was published.
some bartered or sold their grants. Many of During the 17th century England was
the townships in that area were named atter troubled by a civil war and the spread of
children of King George 111, literacy was slow. Still, most grammar
The June meeting was held at its usual schools expected their pupils to be able to
place and time. Queries were read from wrote on arrival. Sometimes there Were small,
parsons searching for: Yqqungg/Spmule, provisions made for writing lessons .bttt only
Fraser (Usborne?), Keys (Brticefteld, Bay- after school hours and on hal holidays. A
Bay-
field), Jackman (E. Wawanosh), Dineen writing master would travel the countryside
(Goderich area), Baylor, McLaughlan (Mc- and offer services to schools and individuals.
Killop), McMillan/Aikenhead (Goderich), By the early 18th century the epnflict of
Gravelle (Gravel), (Goderich, St. Joseph's), different styles was almost over. 'the artistic
Fleming, Pollock (Blyth). flourishes of the leisured class gave way to a
Goderich Library now has on permanent practical approach, a good clear hated was
film the 1881 census. formed, speed and clarity became important.
Mystery prize of the evening (a two year In some cases, thick and thin strokes
planner) was won by Elaine McKinnon of appeared at the expense of legibility. The
Fordwich.steel pen slowly began to replace the quill.
Speaker
r at the June meeting was Elke Not until the end of the 19th century did
Schulz of Kincardine. Elke is a graphic artist people become concerned about bringing
and calligrapher and has been studying handwriting into the educational system.
calligraphy for eight years. She also teaches An easier way to perhaps understand alit
part-time to graphic art students at Georgian handwriting is to study calligraphy and to
College in Owen Sound. Her presentation simply use a flat edged tool and write quickly
was on "Deciphering the Old English in a fashion the document was written;
Alphabet". sometimes breaking down the individual
She gave a brief history of western letters or trying to copy shapes the letters
handwriting, pointing out that there were become more clear.
also other branches of calligraphy such as In trying to decipher old handwriting
Hebrew, Japanese and Islamic. it's very types, we have against us the fact that many
difficult to pinpoint styles and declare people simply did not know how to write and
accurate descriptions of a certain hand as made up shapes or elaborated from any
through the development of writing, man qxamplars that they could find.
copied from examplars that he had access to Also, the teachers at the time would
and regions or monasteries kept certain explain their art in their own technical terms,
'scripts individual to their area. leaving details obscure so that the transla-
Prior to the invention of the press in the tions are full of inaccuracies.
mid 15th century, recording was done in Many essays were also written in foreign
stone, clay, metal, wood or writing with a languages such as Latin, Italian and Spanish,
quill or brush. Very few people were able to explaining detail. These transcripts are still
read, the church being the isolated few. As not translated. Many copies were Roman
life grew more complicated, the need for inscriptional caps, scroll work, Arabic and
documents increased, especially in the legal Hebrew alphabets.
and medical fields
4-H club learns about
weed I.D. at third meeting
BY LINDA AXTMANN June 26.
The third meeting of the Walton "Good The discussion included weed identifica-
Luck Gardeners" was held at Dodds'. May 14 tion, flowers, garden care and tools.
at 8 p.m. Members shared helpful hints they've
Next meeting is at Lorrie's at 7:30 p.m. on collected through past experiences.
Happy 25 th
Wedding Anniversary
Mom & Dad
Love Brenda, Gerry, Carla and Karen
Mr. and Mrs.
James Knight
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Many of the models would have been
useful to illuminators, copyists. goldsmiths,
jewellers, etc. Eventually two main scripts
survived: a Roman cap and a cursive style.
Elke brought samples with her and
explained how to break down the letters.
The July meeting is being cancelled and in
its place will be a trip to the Perth County
Archives on Saturday, July 7. Please arrive at
the Archives by 1:30 p.m. If transportation is
required, 'contact Alison at 482-7167.
THE WAY WE WERE—Brussels, Morris
and Grey residents dressed for the occasion
on Monday at the bicentennial parade In
Brussels on Monday. Shown top left are Jim
and Leanne Armstrong. Cathy Workman, top
right, led the Workman Electric float,
"Ontario's First People". Bottom right Is
Barb Watts and grandson dressed In period
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the parade. (Wassink photos)
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