from Thetford Vermont to Canada @ Revolutionary War

Question

My Tory ancestor Thomas Sumner left Thetford Vermont for Canada, where his wife Rebecca Downer Sumner died @ St Johns, New Brunswick circa 1783.  Thomas Sumner died 'near Toronto' in 1820.    

Anybody have any information on these people?  

Rebecca Downer Sumner was described as 'highly educated' and 'an authoress.'  Thomas Sumner was the son of 'a prominent physician and became a judge under the British rule.'

Answer 1

Hi

Family Search has Church of England pastoral records (about 150 pages) for several dozen people who moved to Nova Scotia just after the American Revolution.  

It's tricky.  you have to "click" from page to page, and the pastor, Rev. Ranna Cossit, had cramped handwriting -- but I found my ancestors there, among the births, deaths, and marriages at the small chapel in Sydney, Nova Scotia.  Rev. Cossit, born in Connecticut, was a confirmed Loyalist.  He had taken an oath upon his ordination, to pray for King George and the Parliament.  

 

In Family Search, open “Search” & select “Record” from the pop-up screen. Move your cursor to “Research by Location” & click on the map of Canada; then chose "Nova Scotia" from the locations offered.

Scroll to “Nova Scotia Image Only Historical Records” and select “Nova Scotia Church Records 1720-2001.”

Click on “View Images in this Collection” and select “Cape Breton”.

Next:, “City or Town” is your  selection – choose “Sydney”.

Under “Denominations and Parish”, select “Church of England in Canada St. George”.

Choose “Baptisms, Marriages, Burials, 1785-1824”.  You will view page “1 of 145”.

Type in “11” to view the record of John and Lydia (Tisdale) Paine’s baptism of sons William (28 July 1786) and George (19 January 1789).

I hope this is helpful, Janine

 

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Comments

Thank you -- yes, was helpful.  I didn't find what I was looking for but your suggestion opened up a whole new world.  (I'm new at this!)  I appreciate your clear instructions. Wouldn't have gotten into the site without them.

Jen

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Thanks for getting back to me.  That database is hard to reach and the 145 pages or so, in Rev. Cosssit's own handwriting, can be a challenge.

I am glad it helps.

Answer 2

You may be having some issues finding info because you have Canadian places mixed up.

Saint John is in New Brunswick and you are likely meaning this place as lots of Loyalists went there including mine. In the present day Saint John is ALWAYS Saint John not St. John. St. John is the river that runs through Saint John.

St. John's is in Newfoundland.

Hope this helps.

Comments

Can't see where I've thanked you ...so here's a 'thanks' if I hadn't already!  Helps to know how to write correctly about places....  Jen

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no problem, good luck

Answer 3

Not: These older texts should be confirmed with vital records and other sources, within the noted towns for accuracy.

See: Appleton, William S. Record of the Descendants of William Sumner, of Dorchester, Mass., 1636, David  Clapp & Son, 1879 p. 18
https://books.google.com/books?id=t4xQAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA42&dq=Thomas+Sumner:Thetford,+vT&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjQ8Y2Rp57XAhVq9IMKHcrODX4Q6AEIRjAG#v=onepage&q=Thomas%20Sumner%3AThetford%2C%20vT&f=false

And

Downer, David  R. The Downers of America: With Genealogical Record, Newark, New Jersey,  1900  p. 36
https://books.google.com/books?id=lexBAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA36&dq=Thomas+Sumner:Thetford,+vT&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjQ8Y2Rp57XAhVq9IMKHcrODX4Q6AEIMTAC#v=onepage&q=Thomas%20Sumner%3AThetford%2C%20vT&f=false

Comments

Thank you.  Got some decent information from these books & have been working on verification.  I appreciate your assistance!  Am just getting into this whole treasure hunt....