• The young couple made the perilous journey by sea in 1740, bringing with them their son William, six weeks of age.1346, p 5

• Our first “official” document on the Martins is a marriage license, dated February 18, 1761. On that day William was betrothed to Phoebe Everett, a “spinster” (that is, not a “widow”), and William is listed as a “yeoman”; that is, a small farmer.1346, p 5

• William Martin appears on the Dutchess Co tax lists 1760-1763. It seems likely to me that he lived further north at the time of his move to Grenville Co in 1786.1426, p 1 & p 31

• Death was a ready companion in those days. William and Phoebe Martin lost their first two children: both sons named “James.”1346, p 5

• When young William grew up, he became a farmer like his father, and lived in New York. He married a lass named Phoebe Everett, fathered a son, James, and was on the “wrong” side when the American Revolutionary War broke out!
Not only were the Martins against the War, but they also left the country when the battles were over. They moved to southern Canada -- nearly starving along the way -- and met up with many others who had been against the War, also.1346, p 2

• William Martin, although he suffered losses and indignities during the war, didn’t leave the states until 1786 when grants of land were offered the Loyalist settlers in Canada. With a group of neighbors, William and Phoebe and their son James, then 20 years old, set out for Canada, probably beginning their trip along the Hudson River. They had as many of their personal belongings as they could carry. They had to cross part of the Adirondacks, and their party got lost in the forest for about three weeks.1333, pp 4-5

• …a UEL from the Hudson River who was granted lot 6, conc. 1, Augusta.1339, p 3

• On Town Plot Register, New Oswegatchie, 1787.1403, p 11

• William Martin settled on Lot No. 12, in the 4th Concession. Mr. Martin came to Canada at the close of the Revolutionary War. In making the journey to Canada through the woods, he and his companions lost their way, and wandered for nearly three weeks in the forest. Provisions becoming scarce, they were compelled to kill a cow which they were driving. Not having any salt, they found it difficult to eat the meat, but the hide was eagerly devoured and relished.1401, p 160,1402, p 9

• William Martin, residence Augusta. Says that he aided and assisted the King’s officers and subjects during the War -- only came in after peace, not U. E.1427, p 209

• Given a Crown grant of 107 acres on May 17th, 1802.1428, p 1,1429, p 4,1430, p 2

• Lot 6, E Side, 107 acres, Date of Patent: May 17th, 1802.1431,1401, p 161,1432, p 1

• William Martin was the original grantee of the East 1/2 of lot 6, concession 1, Augusta (107 acres), which is on the shore of the St. Lawrence, just west of Prescott. It seems likely that he bought the right to this from the loyalist who first drew it, as all of the front lots (for several concessions back from the river) had been assigned at the time the loyalists arrived in 1784.1339, p 2

• 1796 Census: Augusta, Grenville, Ontario, Canada. Living alone.1339, p 7,1340
• 1806 Census: Augusta, Grenville, Ontario, Canada. Believe listed as James Martin.1341

• Unaffected by the abuses which other colonies were experiencing, many of the people in New York remained loyal to King George, believing that if they did have any grievances against the British, those problems could be resolved properly and legally without resorting to armed conflict. On July 2, 1776, only the New York delegation suddenly abstained from signing the Declaration of Independence (they did later, reluctantly). At the Constitutional Convention of 1787, it was the New York delegation which offered the most opposition. New York finally ratified 30 to 27, only after ten other states had already ratified.1333, pp 2-3

• [excerpts] It has been estimated that forty percent of the colonial population of America did not approve of the rebellion against the Mother Country. Often Tories, as the patriots called them, paid for their loyalty to the Sovereign by being beaten, robbed, tarred and feathered, driven from their homes, and their properties confiscated. As early as 1775 and 1776 a few families from Massachusetts and the Mohawk Valley of New York sought refuge in the vast silent wilderness north of the border.
The Loyalist migration began in earnest after the Treaty of Paris was signed in 1783. It is commonly believed that most Loyalists settled in Canada. Actually, the majority of them went to England or the West Indies, where living conditions were easier than in the cold and wild northern territory. It is estimated that 50,000 Loyalists settled in Canada, of whom approximately 37,000 went to New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, 3,000 to Québec, and 10,000 to Ontario.1433, p 229

• “UE” loyalists, who were given some special privileges, were those who “joined the Royal Standard” and removed to British territory before the peace treaty in 1783.1339, p 1

• Augusta -- This important municipality, situated on the bank of the St. Lawrence, was one of the first settled in the United Counties, the first settlers coming up the river in the brigade of boats in the spring of 1784.1401, p 159