The Kawartha Branch History

It was a pleasure for Kawartha Branch to celebrate it's
25th ANNIVERSARY
 by hosting the
2004 UELAC ANNUAL CONFERENCE
in Peterborough ON.

During the year 1999 Kawartha Branch Celebrated  it's
20th ANNIVERSARY

Our first President , Guy Thompson presenting to Paul Clark, our current President, a photo of the Charter Presentation 20 years ago.

On this occasion of our 20th anniversary, we take pleasure in reviewing our Past and Look forward to the future. Take a moment and join with us in remembering a few of the highlights of the previous 20 years.

It all began in 1979, two hundred years after the American Revolution, when a small group of United Empire Loyalists (UEL) descendants met with Mr. John Chard, a representative of the United Empire Loyalists' Association of Canada (U.E.L.A.C.), to examine the feasibility of forming a branch in the Peterborough / Lindsay / Port Hope area of Ontario. As a result of that meeting, a charter was applied for and granted on the 23rd of June 1979 to Kawartha Branch, at the Annual Meeting of the U.E.L.A.C.

Interim officers were Chairperson; Guy Thompson, Treasurer; Jack Brownscombe, Genealogist; Stuart Hagerman and Secretary; Elizabeth Richardson. On the 14th of Oct.1979, an organizational meeting was held, attended by 44 interested parties. The first order of business was to Officially form a branch, which was carried by a unanimous vote. Order of business included the establishment of the Branch membership fees at $8.00 per year and the presenting of certificates for "Regular Membership" to Mrs. Mary Scott, Mrs. Grace Caddy, and Mrs. Jean Roper. Mr. Ken Armstrong had the pleasure of being the branches' first guest speaker.

At the second meeting, on the 24th of Feb 1980, an executive was named with Mr Guy Thompson as President, and an additional four "Regular Membership" certificates were presented to Mr. Wellington Borland, Mr. Keith Borland, Mr. George Stevens and Mrs. Joan Lucas. Also in May 1980, a Loyalist Encampment was held on Armour Hill, Peterborough. On the 4th of Oct 1980, the first Annual Banquet took place during which Mr. John Eamon, President of the U.E.L.A.C, officially presented Kawartha Branch with its charter. Kawartha now had 19 members and Mr John P. Creighton, father of Joan Lucas, was presented with his certificate.

By 1981 Kawartha had grown to 30 members with another 20 working on their family histories. All were encouraged and assisted by Mr. Stu Hagerman, Branch Genealogist. One of those gaining her certificate was Mrs. Isabel Wessell. In June of that year Mr. Guy Thompson left on a teacher exchange to England and Vice President Joan Lucas became Acting President for the remainder of his term of office. It resulted in a very eventful term of office for our young officer!

In June, Wellington Borland arranged a bus trip down the Mohawk River Valley of New York. An area of several American Revolutionary conflicts and a region of ancestral family homesteads' for several branch members. Mr. Ken Armstrong drew up the program for site seeing and off went a busload of Kawartha members one Friday night to return Sunday night. It was a wonderful trip for those fortunate enough to go, filled with many fond memories. The next three months included a hectic schedule to prepare for the visit of the Lt. Gov. of Ontario, His Honour John Black Aird, who attended our second annual banquet where he presented Kawartha Branch with the Union Flag under which our Loyalist ancestors fought during the American Revolutionary War. He also brought greetings to the Branch from Her Majesty the Queen. The guest speaker was Sheriff Stanley McBride of Peterborough.

In 1982 Joan Lucas was installed as President and Kawartha Branch became a member of the Ontario Historical Society with all its rights and privileges, including insurance. Wellington Borland arranged our second trip, this time to Niagara-On-The-Lake where we toured Ft. George, Laura Secord House, attended the Shaw Festival Theatre and stayed in the Prince of Wales Hotel. Branch members participated in the 125th Anniversary of Lindsay by putting a float in the "Homecoming Parade". The float consisted of log cabin, trees, flags and Loyalist settlers in costume, all drawn by beautiful Belgian horses.

In early 1983 Frank Rogers received his certificate and gave a short history of his Rogers ancestors who had originally settled in Woodstock, New Brunswick. That year Prof. Russ Waller was guest speaker at our banquet and portrayed "Life as a Loyalist Settler". All members were encouraged to submit histories of their earliest Ontario ancestor.

Elizabeth Richardson was installed Branch President in 1984, and the Branch went on a picnic to the Lang Century Village Interpretation Centre. The Branch, under the leadership of Jack Brownscombe, Stu Hagerman, Jean Lake and Joan Lucas, built a display with storyboards and a continuous slide presentation, which we took to the AGM in Kingston for the 200th year of Loyalist settlement in Ontario. The Branch put in a beautiful flowerbed display in the Peterborough Cenotaph Park across from City Hall depicting the 200th Anniversary of the coming of the United Empire Loyalists, the founders of the Province of Ontario. Larry Turner was one of our guest speakers.

In 1985 Kawartha entertained 30 members of Governor Simcoe Branch.

1986 saw several members attending the re-enactment of the Landing of the Mohawks at Deseronto in 1784 and Elizabeth Richardson was re-elected to a second term as President. Before her term ended Elizabeth unfortunately fractured her leg and Jean Lake, First Vice President, assumed the chair as Acting President, until, we are happy to say, Elizabeth made a full recovery, well in time for the Branch to host the U.E.L.A.C. Annual Convention at the Holiday Inn Peterborough in May 1987. Elizabeth began working on a "Guide to Holding U.E.L.A.C. Conventions" as the Branch had little prior information on the subject and it was felt that all branches might appreciate some guidance on hosting such an event. Stu Hagerman, in failing health, was made a Life Member, in recognition of his faithful service as Branch Genealogist for 8 years. Also during this time the Branch held its meetings at the Peterborough Lift Lock Interpretation Centre. Constance Crook was among those receiving their certificates that year, along with her husband, Albert, an Associate Member. The Branch Newsletter, the "Periodical" was begun with Mary Scott as editor.

In 1988, Jean Lake was elected President of Kawartha Branch. Joan Lucas became Branch Genealogist replacing Stu Hagerman who was ill. Kathleen Bowley and her daughter, Mary Frances Thornington, were presented with their certificates and membership had reached 66. By 1989 membership fell to 59.

In 1990 Jean Lake was re-elected President for a further 2 year term, and Elizabeth Richardson was elected Dominion Historian UELAC. The Branch met at the Riverview Zoo Orientation Centre, Peterborough. An essay contest was held, the subject being, "The Loyalists," and three prizes were awarded and presented by President Jean Lake, to three high school students. Two of our members received Honourary Service Awards, Kathleen Bowley and Stuart Hagerman. An "In Memoriam Book", donated by branch members Elizabeth Richardson, Mary Scott, Jean Lake and Joan Lucas, was presented to the U.E.L.A.C., in which to record the names of members who have died. Individuals and branches may send a monetary donation to the In Memoriam Fund, U.E.L.A.C., in memory of someone whose name will then be written into the "In Memoriam Book".

By 1991 Branch meetings were being held at St Paul's Presbyterian Church, Peterborough. Our member, Constance Crook, had authored her first book, "Flight", a historical novel telling the adventurous story of a United Empire Loyalist family through the eyes of the young son left to take care of the family farm. Connie donated 10 copies to the Branch, the first of several donations of her books.

Elizabeth Richardson was again re-elected for a third term as President of Kawartha Branch in 1992. Paul Clark, Dominion President, came to speak to the Branch and new member David Rumball arranged a bus trip to the Military Institute in Toronto. A joint Christmas party was held with the Monarchists League and Norma Ostrum, Bob McBride and Kim Rumball were presented with their certificates.

President Mary Scott was installed in 1994 and Kawartha and Toronto Branches held a joint Tea at the Carlyle Inn in Port Hope. The event was to say thank you to Mrs. Elizabeth Rawls, Louisiana, U.S.A., for the unveiling of a plaque at the Union Cemetery, Port Hope, in memory of her Loyalist ancestors, the James Allen Family. Marjorie Owen completed her proofs entitling her to "Regular Membership" status and her certificate. We were all saddened when long-time member, friend and Kawartha's only life member, Stuart Hagerman, passed away. The Branch again held a joint picnic at Lang Pioneer Village, a reunion of members of Kawartha and Governor Simcoe Branches. Mary Scott resigned half way through her second term of office, at the end of 1996.

Our February 1997 meeting, chaired by Stan McBride, saw Joan Lucas re-elected President of the Branch, as well as continuing as "Branch Genealogist". Bruce Embury found an elusive final proof after several years of searching and was, with much satisfaction to all, presented with his certificate along with the Buttimor and McMahon families. United Empire Loyalist Day was celebrated for the first time on 19 June 1997. Members of Kawartha Branch held Flag Raising ceremonies in Peterborough, Lindsay and Port Hope. In Peterborough, Branch members were joined by the Adam Scott grade 7 and 8 choir who sang and were presented with small Loyalist flags. Approximately sixty persons attended the flag raising at the flagpole at City Hall. The Branch plans to make the "Flag Raisings" an annual event, on U.E.L. Day, and have already repeated it in 1998 and 1999.


Pam Dickey and her nephew, Brian Dickey, were presented with their certificates in 1998. Brian, Kawartha' s youngest member, has constructed a model of a Loyalist farm for which he won first prize at his school in Orillia. Pam Dickey, Kawartha' s first membership chairperson and her husband David Kemlo, have completed a new display for the Branch which depicts the early settlement of United Empire Loyalists in what was to become Upper Canada / Ontario. This display will be used to bring awareness of the organization and encourage membership in the U.E.L.A.C. and in Kawartha Branch.


Kawartha Branch has been well served by all its members, both "Regular" and "Associate", over the last twenty years.

Today, in 1999/2000, our new President is Paul Clark, a Past President of the Dominion Council, U.E.L.A.C. and now a member of Kawartha Branch. Elected for a two-year term, President Paul will lead Kawartha Branch into the new Millennium.

Joan Lucas, U.E.      Nov. 4, 1999



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