I was interested in finding out if there was any truth to the rumor that the Langins went to Canada as Loyalists around the time of the Revolutionary War. The short answer is they seem to predate the Loyalists as you'll see in my research notes below.
None of this rules out that the Langins were originally French Huguenots. The Huguenots have a history of moving multiple times so it's perfectly possible that the Langins came from either France or Ireland or both.
I have positively been able to confirm Loyalist roots on my dad's side of the family though. Christian Knisley was given 200 acres of land adjacent to what would become the Welland Canal that parallels the Niagara River between Lake Ontario and Lake Erie. This land became enormously valuable and was held by various family members until the untimely death of an unmarried school teacher in the '60's who left the land to a combination of the local school district and hospital. This land would be worth 10's of millions of dollars today.
24 November 2014
Joe Leeak's notes on early Canadian Langins being Loyalists:
From the historical literature:
The greatest number of Loyalists[ about 14,000 ] went to Canada after the revolutionary war was over in 1783.
There was no immigration into Nova Scotia[the eastern half later to become New Brunswick in the early 1780's] between 1775, when the US Revolutionary War started, and when it was over in 1783.
Per “Planters and Pioneers” the Langins where in Nova Scotia before the Loyalists arrival starting in 1783[ ** Son Frances born in MA in 1797 ].
Per Lois' unattributed genealogical record:
All of Thomas Langin & Jane Mooers' children were born between 1782 and 1797 in Rowley, Essex, Massachusetts.
Thomas born between 1760 and 1769 and Jane Mooers in 1753[** 7 to 16 years before Thomas]. Assuming Thomas was at least 16 when his oldest son was born in 1782[ 29 YO mother] the latest Thomas Sr. could have been born would be 1766[ ** at least 13 years after his wife. ].
The last of 11 children, Frances, is shown as born in 1797. [**Making the mother 44 years old.]
[ http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/17933615/person/580512336/storyx/0ff5ba26-adc9-44a8-8c63-9fa839ac72d1?src=search ]
Excerpts from: Planters and Pioneers: Nova Scotia, 1749 to 1775, by Esther Wright, published by Justin Wentzell, Beaver Bank, N.S., 2007.
"Nova Scotia from 1749 to 1775 included the area north of the Bay of Fundy, which, in 1784, was made into the province of New Brunswick. The settlers who came to New Brunswick are therefore part of the story of the pre-Loyalist settlement of Nova Scotia. ...
...I found it necessary to separate the pre-Loyalist settlers from the Loyalists. ... there was a larger population in Nova Scotia (including what later was New Brunswick) when the Loyalists came than historians had realized. ... the whole story has not been put together. ...The settlers who came to Nova Scotia before the influx of loyalists have been relatively ignored, and the importance of their contriubtion to Nova Scotia, to the Loyalists who followed them, to Canada as a whole, and to North America and beyond, has not been adequately known or emphasized. Even in New Brunswick, where the number of Loyalists was in greater proportion to the number of older settlers than in the rest of Nova Scotia, the dominant factor in the cultural heritage came from the Massachusetts pioneers. St. John River families had taken it for granted that they were of Massachusetts origin, and it was a surprise to find that the Loyalists came mostly from New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey.
It was partly to emphasize the importance of these settlers in their own right, that I chose the title "Planters and Pioneers." Planters was an Elizabethan term for colonists. ...1749, the year of Cornwallis' arrival in Halifax, was taken as the beginning of the period, although there were a few earlier settlers ... 1775 makes a convenient end to the period, because the outbreak of hostilities in the rebellious colonies put an end to immigration to Nova Scotia, although there were one or two families who moved up the coast from Maine to New Brunswick after 1775, and a few Scotsmen who arrrived at the Miramichi. ... (and) about 2000 (Acadiams) in the area when the Loyalists came. ... (the above exerpts from pp. 1 to 3).
...Halifax.. .knew little and cared less about such a remote area as the St. John River and what was happening there. James Simonds from Newburyport, Massachusetts, who had been trading at Passamaquoddy, had found that area crowded, and had by 1762 established a trading post at the mouth of the St. John River. James White soon joined him, and William Hazen arrived in 1775. To carry on their various enterprises, they brought up many workmen from Massachusetts, most of whom became permanent settlers. In 1763, settlers from Essex County, whose scouts had previously come overland from Machias and chosen a site, began to arrive. Their settlement, at first known as Peabody's, ...later as Maugerville, because of help Joshua Mauger was supposed to have given in getting their grant, was one of the most successful in the whole of the old province of Nova Scotia. Nearly all the subscribers came, only a few returned to Massachusetts, and the Maugerville settlement was and continued to be a dominating influence up and down the St. John River.
The other townships on the river were less successful. ... Beamsley Glasier came to Nova Scotia in 1764 to select lands...and obtained grants of Gagetown, Burton, Sunbury, and Newtown. ... Glasier spent two years in an abortive attempt to get a milling venture established, but (many) sold their shares to British entrepreneurs, probably for debts they had incurred. Settlement lagged, as it always did under absentee proprietors. For those four townships, and Conway at the mouth of the river, the official enumerator of 1783 gave 500 inhabitants." (pp 15-16.)
Among the pre-Loyalist[ ** Thomas Langin's children were born in MA between 1882 and 1797] names listed in the book "Planters and Pioneers" are three men who are the direct ancestors of the Langin/Burpee lineage:
"BURPEE , JEREMIAH MAUGERVILLE, 1764. b. 21 May 1726, son of Jonathan and Hannah Platts Burpee, Rowley, Mass., d. 11 July 1767. m. 28 May 1751, Mary, dau. of Edward and Elizabeth Gage Saunders. Ch: David, Lydia, Edward, Hepzibah, Esther, Jeremiah, Thomas, Josepth or James." (p. 57)
"LANGIN, THOMAS (LANGDON) ST JOHN RIVER, 176-. d. 1811, Burton. m. Jane Ch: Edward, Jane, Rebecca, Huldah, Elizabeth, Margaret, Frances, Thomas, Hugh, Mary." (p. 163)
"MOOERS, PETER MAUGERVILLE, 1765. cordwainer, prob. from Haverhill, Mass. m. Mary . Ch: Huldah, Elizabeth,Sarah, Abigail, Rebecca, Samuel, David, Molly." (p. 188).
Note from Geneva Ensign-Langin. I have listed the above Pre-Loyalists exactly as quoted; however, some of the data is incomplete. According to my research, the maiden name of Thomas Langdon's wife, Jane, was Mooers. An additional daughter should be listed for them, that of Margery Langan, b. 1788, m. Asa Upton. Peter Mooers was was born 1726 in Newbury, Essex, Massachusetts. His wife's maiden name was Howes; they married in 1748. They also had a daughter who isn't listed in the book-- Jane--who married Thomas Langdon.
From the historical literature:
The greatest number of Loyalists[ about 14,000 ] went to Canada after the revolutionary war was over in 1783.
There was no immigration into Nova Scotia[the eastern half later to become New Brunswick in the early 1780's] between 1775, when the US Revolutionary War started, and when it was over in 1783.
Per “Planters and Pioneers” the Langins where in Nova Scotia before the Loyalists arrival starting in 1783[ ** Son Frances born in MA in 1797 ].
Per Lois' unattributed genealogical record:
All of Thomas Langin & Jane Mooers' children were born between 1782 and 1797 in Rowley, Essex, Massachusetts.
Thomas born between 1760 and 1769 and Jane Mooers in 1753[** 7 to 16 years before Thomas]. Assuming Thomas was at least 16 when his oldest son was born in 1782[ 29 YO mother] the latest Thomas Sr. could have been born would be 1766[ ** at least 13 years after his wife. ].
The last of 11 children, Frances, is shown as born in 1797. [**Making the mother 44 years old.]
[ http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/17933615/person/580512336/storyx/0ff5ba26-adc9-44a8-8c63-9fa839ac72d1?src=search ]
Excerpts from: Planters and Pioneers: Nova Scotia, 1749 to 1775, by Esther Wright, published by Justin Wentzell, Beaver Bank, N.S., 2007.
"Nova Scotia from 1749 to 1775 included the area north of the Bay of Fundy, which, in 1784, was made into the province of New Brunswick. The settlers who came to New Brunswick are therefore part of the story of the pre-Loyalist settlement of Nova Scotia. ...
...I found it necessary to separate the pre-Loyalist settlers from the Loyalists. ... there was a larger population in Nova Scotia (including what later was New Brunswick) when the Loyalists came than historians had realized. ... the whole story has not been put together. ...The settlers who came to Nova Scotia before the influx of loyalists have been relatively ignored, and the importance of their contriubtion to Nova Scotia, to the Loyalists who followed them, to Canada as a whole, and to North America and beyond, has not been adequately known or emphasized. Even in New Brunswick, where the number of Loyalists was in greater proportion to the number of older settlers than in the rest of Nova Scotia, the dominant factor in the cultural heritage came from the Massachusetts pioneers. St. John River families had taken it for granted that they were of Massachusetts origin, and it was a surprise to find that the Loyalists came mostly from New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey.
It was partly to emphasize the importance of these settlers in their own right, that I chose the title "Planters and Pioneers." Planters was an Elizabethan term for colonists. ...1749, the year of Cornwallis' arrival in Halifax, was taken as the beginning of the period, although there were a few earlier settlers ... 1775 makes a convenient end to the period, because the outbreak of hostilities in the rebellious colonies put an end to immigration to Nova Scotia, although there were one or two families who moved up the coast from Maine to New Brunswick after 1775, and a few Scotsmen who arrrived at the Miramichi. ... (and) about 2000 (Acadiams) in the area when the Loyalists came. ... (the above exerpts from pp. 1 to 3).
...Halifax.. .knew little and cared less about such a remote area as the St. John River and what was happening there. James Simonds from Newburyport, Massachusetts, who had been trading at Passamaquoddy, had found that area crowded, and had by 1762 established a trading post at the mouth of the St. John River. James White soon joined him, and William Hazen arrived in 1775. To carry on their various enterprises, they brought up many workmen from Massachusetts, most of whom became permanent settlers. In 1763, settlers from Essex County, whose scouts had previously come overland from Machias and chosen a site, began to arrive. Their settlement, at first known as Peabody's, ...later as Maugerville, because of help Joshua Mauger was supposed to have given in getting their grant, was one of the most successful in the whole of the old province of Nova Scotia. Nearly all the subscribers came, only a few returned to Massachusetts, and the Maugerville settlement was and continued to be a dominating influence up and down the St. John River.
The other townships on the river were less successful. ... Beamsley Glasier came to Nova Scotia in 1764 to select lands...and obtained grants of Gagetown, Burton, Sunbury, and Newtown. ... Glasier spent two years in an abortive attempt to get a milling venture established, but (many) sold their shares to British entrepreneurs, probably for debts they had incurred. Settlement lagged, as it always did under absentee proprietors. For those four townships, and Conway at the mouth of the river, the official enumerator of 1783 gave 500 inhabitants." (pp 15-16.)
Among the pre-Loyalist[ ** Thomas Langin's children were born in MA between 1882 and 1797] names listed in the book "Planters and Pioneers" are three men who are the direct ancestors of the Langin/Burpee lineage:
"BURPEE , JEREMIAH MAUGERVILLE, 1764. b. 21 May 1726, son of Jonathan and Hannah Platts Burpee, Rowley, Mass., d. 11 July 1767. m. 28 May 1751, Mary, dau. of Edward and Elizabeth Gage Saunders. Ch: David, Lydia, Edward, Hepzibah, Esther, Jeremiah, Thomas, Josepth or James." (p. 57)
"LANGIN, THOMAS (LANGDON) ST JOHN RIVER, 176-. d. 1811, Burton. m. Jane Ch: Edward, Jane, Rebecca, Huldah, Elizabeth, Margaret, Frances, Thomas, Hugh, Mary." (p. 163)
"MOOERS, PETER MAUGERVILLE, 1765. cordwainer, prob. from Haverhill, Mass. m. Mary . Ch: Huldah, Elizabeth,Sarah, Abigail, Rebecca, Samuel, David, Molly." (p. 188).
Note from Geneva Ensign-Langin. I have listed the above Pre-Loyalists exactly as quoted; however, some of the data is incomplete. According to my research, the maiden name of Thomas Langdon's wife, Jane, was Mooers. An additional daughter should be listed for them, that of Margery Langan, b. 1788, m. Asa Upton. Peter Mooers was was born 1726 in Newbury, Essex, Massachusetts. His wife's maiden name was Howes; they married in 1748. They also had a daughter who isn't listed in the book-- Jane--who married Thomas Langdon.
