DRAPER & CRITTENDEN – family connection to a United Empire Loyalists ?
Joel DRAPER (1789 – 25 July 1856) was born in Boston, Suffolk, Massachussetts, USA. The Land Book G 1806 (Ontario) in Library and Archives Canada page 144 listed: “Joel Draper of East Gwillumbury, Yeoman – Praying for land as a settler. Not recommended.” He became a naturalized citizen about 30 June 1836 in North Gwillumbury, Ontario. He died 25 July 1856 in North Gwillumbury, York, Ontario. The Gwillumbury communities are North of Toronto and just South and East of Barrie, Ontario.
He married Mary CRITTENDEN (1793 – 25 July 1874).
Their children were:
- Pamela DRAPER (20 August 1804 – 10 August 1889) My ancestor.
- Susan DRAPER (07 July 1808 – 1852)
- Amanda DRAPER (02 June 1813 – 21-22 March 1888)
- Joel Draper (Junior) 09 April 1815 – 10-11 November 1897)
- Alice DRAPER (Born about 1817)
- Lemuel DRAPER (Born 1820)
- Sylinda DRAPER (1821 – 31 March 1886)
- Emily DRAPER (14 September 1825 – 92 August 1846)
- Lydia DRAPER (03 December 1828 – 31 August 1907)
- Mary Selby DRAPER (1831 – 26 April 1878)
- David DRAPER (1833 – 21 June 1909)
- Mary Ann DRAPER (01 January 1835 – After 1911)
A RECORD OF THE GARDNER FAMILY by Alice Lavinia Gardner 1953 p. 22 “Mother’s father James White was born Dec. 3rd, 1800, and died May [sic – should be August] 10, 1879. He married Pamela Draper, daughter of Joel Draper and his wife Mary Crittenden Draper at Roaches Point just across the bay from Barrie. I believe the Drapers came to Canada from the Eastern United States, and may have been U. E. Loyalists, I do not know. I understand the Crittendens came originally from Germany (other sources say Kent, England) to the U.S.A. grandfather Draper was English. Grandmother Draper lived to be well up in the nineties. The day before she died, she spun, what she called her stint, putting away the remaining rolls, took down and put away her spinning wheel and said she would not be needing them anymore. The next day she died. I understand that Hanse Milbee was born before grandmother Draper died and was held in her arms by grandmother so she probably died about 1870.” Note: She died in 1889 and Pamela’s death date was 10 Aug 1879 not 10 May as recorded by Alice Lavinia (or Lavina) Gardner. She confused the death date with James White’s death date.
A HISTORY OF SIMCOE COUNTY by Andrew F. Hunter 1909 (1998 reprint) Pp. 113 – 114 “James White, the first settler on lot 26, was a brother of Peter White on the opposite, or Vespra side, the two having been natives of Cornwall, England. James White’s wife, (Pamila [sic] Draper), was of U.E. Loyalist descent, being the daughter of Joel Draper, of North Gwillumbury. Like other people born in the country, and used to its hardships, she made a sturdy progressive pioneer’s wife. In the early days, the Indians travelled the Penetanguishene Road in considerable numbers, as it was the well-beaten highway between the two lakes. Once when a pack of half-drunken Indians called at their place and became troublesome, she chased them with a pair of tongs, which they feared more than a tomahawk, as they did not know what the tongs were, or what injury they might inflict greater than a tomahawk might do. James White was born, December 3, 1800, and died May 10th, 1879. His widow died August 10,1889, at the age of 85 years.” Also known as Pamly, Pamila, Pamly (?) “ COMMENT BY COLIN STEVENS = They lived at “White’s Corners” which has since unfortunately been renamed “Dalston”. This is North or Barrie, Ontario.
“WHO QUALIFIES AS A LOYALIST? Very simply, the general guidelines are as follows: Either male or female, as of 19 April 1775, a resident of the American colonies, and joined the Royal Standard prior to the Treaty of Separation of 1783, or otherwise demonstrated loyalty to the Crown, and settled in territory remaining under the rule of the Crown; or a soldier who served in an American Loyalist Regiment and was disbanded in Canada; or a member of the Six Nations of either the Grand River or the Bay of Quinte Reserve who is descended from one whose migration was similar to that of other Loyalists. As noted these are general guidelines. If you think you may have Loyalist ancestry, why not join and undertake the journey – at a minimum you will learn more about your family. Being a proved Loyalist descendant confers no special status in Canadian or other society, but many members use the post-nominal letters “UE” after their name, in consequence of Lord Dorchester’s Order in Council in 1789, conferring recognition of the service of the Loyalists in defense of “The Unity of Empire.” (ref: http://www.uelac.org/membership.php ) This is deemed to be an hereditary honour is my understanding that may pass to ALL descendants of a proven U.E.L.
It has been reported to me, but not confirmed, “Joel Draper came to Upper Canada with Frederick Sprague from Rome, Oneida, New York with a Quaker wagon train in 1805 They came as UEL.”