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CHAPTER III.

Connection Of The Church With The American War Of Independence—
Rev. John Bethune, The Founder Of The Scotch Congregation
In Montreal—The Old 84th Regiment Or "highland Emigrants"—
The U.E. Loyalists Mr. Bethune Settles At Williamstown, so
called after sir William johnston—his character and work
—Father Of The Late Dean And Of The Late Bishop Of Toronto.

We have seen how the commencement of Presbyterianism in Montreal is linked with the most romantic period of Scottish history, through the Murray and Fraser Highlanders, who formed the nucleus of the original congregation. The old Church had large a ssociations also with the most stirring events in American history. The Rev. John Bethune, who had the honour of first planting the blue banner of the covenant in this city, had taken part in the conflict betwixt Great Britain and her colonies, and had suffered in the cause of loyalty.

Born in the island of Skye, in 1751, and educated at King's College, Aberdeen, Mr. Bethune emigrated with some of his kindred to South Carolina, and, being a licentiate of the Church of Scotland, he obtained the chaplaincy of a regiment of the Royal Militia in the Carolinas, composed of Scottish settlers, on the breaking out of the revolutionary war. The royal cause did not succeed, as we know; and with many other loyalists, he was made a prisoner, and for a time had to endure great hardships at the hands of the rebels, victorious against the authority took place, and on regaining his liberty he made his way to the steadfast Province of Nova Scotia, and took up his

of George III.

In due season, an exchange of prisoners

residence in Halifax. He did not long remain idle there. He was largely instrumental in organizing "the Highland Emigrants," a corps made up in part of Gælic speaking settlers in Nova Scotia, and of the disbanded soldiers of the old 78th and 42nd Regiments, of whom an account has been already given, as having settled on the banks of the lower St. Lawrence. It embraced also some ex-members of the Montgomery Regiment, who remained in Canada when their term of service had expired. This fine body of men was mustered in 1775, and regimented in 1778 under the number of the 84th, but they went generally by the title of " Highland Emigrants." Mr. Bethune was appointed chaplain. These brave veterans gave a good account of themselves whenever an opportunity offered. They constituted the chief strength of the spirited defence of Quebec against the attack of the United States troops under Montgomery, when that gallant general fell on the 31st December, 1775. After the independence of the revolted colonies was acknowledged by Great Britain in the treaty of peace, the preliminaries of which were arranged on the 30th November, 1782, the "Highland Emigrants" were disbanded, and returned to their peaceful avocations as agriculturists and traders. Mr. Bethune took up his residence in this city. A man of a noble countenance, as the accompanying engraving shows; of dignified presence and engaging manners, as well as of a chivalrous spirit, he soon attracted to himself his fellowcountrymen resident in Montreal and vicinity. As a loyalist, who had suffered for his king and native land, he exercised great influence among the British portion of the citizens of all creeds. And he was not the only refugee from the United States who took up a residence in Montreal. A certain number of the New England people had come over to Canada as traders before the War of Independence had broken out. These remained

loyal to Great Britain; and a good many more from the same quarters, who sympathised with the mother country in the struggle, emigrated northwards, and some of them cast in their lot with their brethren already resident in this city. As they had rendered themselves obnoxious to the Republicans, among whom they formerly lived, by their devotion to the cause of the British Empire, for the unity of which they stood out, they were, therefore, distinguished by the title of United Empire Loyalists. They were a tried people, as a minority exposed to the active opposition of the majority always is; sturdy in their opinions, and stalwart in their character—the material of which political martyrs are made—for such they were. The U. E. Loyalists also naturally rallied around Mr. Bethune, as one of the most distinguished of their number. Such was the order of men that came to the front when the ex-chaplain of the 84th Regiment proposed to organise a Presbyterian congregation in Montreal. A good many of the Highlanders belonged to the Episcopal Church, and some of them were Roman Catholics; but when their high-spirited and patriotic fellowcountryman appealed to them for sympathy and help, their national sentiment was stronger than their denominational attachment, and they rallied around Mr. Bethune, first, and, afterwards, around Mr. Young and Mr. Somerville, his successors, almost everyone of them subscribing to the building fund of the St. Gabriel Street Church, and subsequently becoming the proprietor of a pew in it. These Highland gentlemen were as open-handed as they were brave and patient in enduring hardships. Ten guineas was a considerable sum for men to subscribe in those days, but that is the amount which stands opposite the name of each of the "Gentlemen of the North-west Company," as they are styled in the subscription list in

our possession.

Mr. Bethune continued preaching to his small but interesting congregation, from March 12th, 1786, till May 6th, 1787, when he removed to Upper Canada. Want of support was one of the grounds of his leaving Montreal, but the main reason probably was his wish to enter upon the possession of the land, assigned to him and other U. E. Loyalists, who had fought for their King. The same liberal provision was made for those who had served in the war with the revolted States, fighting for the Crown, that had been made at the conclusion of the conflict with the French in Canada, viz :—

To a field officer, a grant of 5,000 acres; to a captain, a grant of 3,000 acres; to a subaltern, a grant of 2,000 acres; to sergeants, other non-commissioned officers and privates, a grant of 200 acres each.* In pursuance of this policy, Governor Haldimand was instructed, in 1783, to grant patents of land, on applicants taking the usual oath of allegiance, and subscribing a declaration acknowledging the three Estates of Great Britain as the supreme legislature of the Province. The American loyalists settled along the banks of the St. Lawrence and around the Bay of Quinte. The 84th Regiment, after being on the list of His Majesty's army for five years, was disbanded, and, therefore, had not the remotest connection with the 84th of to-day, any more than the old 78th Fraser Highlanders had with the famous Mackenzie Regiment, now known by the same number, "The Ross-Shire Buffs." The retired officers and men of the "Highland Emigrants" that chose to accept land in Upper Canada, were also provided with lots along the St. Lawrence, which most of them took possession of in 1784. Mr. Bethune, as chaplain, ranking with a captain, was entitled to 3,000 acres. And besides what was thus voted to the

At the end of the French war, privates got only 50 acres.

U. E. Loyalists themselves, the further premium was put upon adherence to the royal cause, that "their children, as well those born thereafter as those already born, should, upon arriving at the age of twenty-one years, and females upon their marriage within that age, be entitled to grants of two hundred acres each, free from all expense." As Mr. Bethune had some children already, and afterwards had a numerous family, the amount of land falling to him and his offspring must have been large, although in those days such property in even splendid townships like Lancaster, Cornwall and Charlottenburg, did not count for much. He took up his residence in the latter township, at the place called Williamstown, after Sir William Johnston, one of the heroes of the war with France, whose influence with the Indians was so dominant and unfailing. He, too, had been assigned land in Glengary, and had built a mill on the "Riviere Raisin," at this point. But though Mr. Bethune went to reside upon his property, he did not forget his ministerial vows: he resumed professional work in the new sphere to which Providence had led him. He was a faithful and zealous missionary, and to this day the fruits of his vigour and efficiency remain, in the large and prosperous congregations organized by him, not only at Williamstown, but also at Martintown, Cornwall and Lancaster. He baptized, altogether, 2379 persons during his ministry in Glengary. In no part of Canada, perhaps, was the Protestant population kept so well consolidated, as in the district to which Mr. Bethune ministered: very few denominations have even yet acquired a foothold in it— thanks to the high influence, both intellectual and spiritual, which he exercised at the formative period of the history of Glengary.

He and his partner, Veronica Wadden, who was Swiss by birth, struggled bravely against poverty and the pri

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