The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-10-02
St. John, City
of Loyalists
The naughty Tory gentry, and
their prophet, Mather Byles."
Z FRED L. VANDERBILT


IN New Brunswick, published by the
Canadian Government Railways, sets
the beginning of the settlements mere
in the year 1888. Generations before
this, in 1904, Champlain had come
and given the river, entering the bay
here, its name, St. John; and so, when
the English came, they took the same
name for their settlement. But, since,
IN that period, no English settlement
was started in dignity and good man
ners without the Church of England,
preparations were made for the 1nstl-
tuition of a parish here, and in 1883
this was supplied; the first priest on
the ground, Mather Byles, who, tradi-
ton says, was grand ard iordly In
his ways" and who has been charac-
terized by Eaton, a provincial poet and
historian, in the line:
TT, THE naughty Tory gentry gentry and
So when we came to ST. John, as
to Halifax, we hear much of the MS
tory and tradition of the Church OF
England in Canada, and the line,
above quoted, often is repeated In
sonorous tones by elderly gentlemen
wearing canes and old-fashioned dig
nifty and manners, handed down by
their Observation-Disclosures who founded
the city
The passing generation is very
English, and the community, through
and through, loyal to king and coun-
try The younger generation, going
and coming across the international
boundary SO often, staying long on the
American side, are more American
than their fathers in manners and
customs, but there is no doubt of
their loyalty to the British crown;
even if now many hesitate and hang
back, unheeding the call to arms for
the war oversee.
lat f0v--
get that "St. John, the City of Loyal
ists,' was founded by the United
Empire Loyalists." These were
naughty Tory gentry" who, refusing
to accept the turn of affairs caused
by the American Revolution in
grated: some settling in Halifax,
which already was an established
community; others setting sail for the
Bay of Fundy, to build new homes
in the forest. That they were re-
solved as we'll as defiant, and had
burned the bridges by bringing fam
lilies root and branch, is evident; for
epitaphS in a graveyard, now a part
of a. public park in the middle of the
town, bear dates inscribed early after
that historic hegira.
However, the lot of these peace
loving and law-abiding Tory gentry
was not happy one at the outset
of their new enterprise in the wilder
ness. For the British crown had not
extended its athority fully over Acadia,
following the treaty of Utrecht, and
there was no law. Fur-traders COM
ing from the surrounding forests and
from the shores of the st. Lawrence;
drunken and lawless mariners, coming
In ships seeking trade; soldiers of
fortune from all countries; wild In
dams trading pelts for whisky; these
T1f1 he i
dignity of the orderly Tories, who had
come to convert the wild camp into
a civilized community, was set at de-
fiance by the barbarous law of the
frontier, until. at last, they kept their
good manners only for themselves;
however, never forgetting that they
were naughty Tory gentry" although
no doubt they kept it behind a mask
in their Intercourse with the wild and
woOlly element
But English law and order finally
came, and, the American Tories COM
ing into authority, the transformation
OF an unruly camp into decent Eng
llsh community began. Many of the
tories, having come with comfortable
fortunes, built stately homes, and.
since they had brought as we'll the
manners and customs of polite society,
the pioneer period of the new city
was distinguished by much social
gayety, which, a local chronicler rec
oros, was greatly enliVened when his
royal highness, the Duke of Kent,
for a brief period, moved his court
from Halifax to ST. john This was
a horse on Halifax
The same historian also records that
Benedict Arnold, the American gen
eral, who, in moment of envy and
during the Revolutionary war in the
colonies, lived in st. John for a brief
period, but never at any time was
what might be called a popular resi-
dent: Continuing this criticism, the
chronicler says that Arnolds business
methods and general haughtiness Of
manner displeased the people, who
demonstrated their displeasure by
this performance, the Tory gentry also
had in mind the fate of the lamented
Andre and Arnold's share in it.
Other notables lent their presence in
the Loyalist City for brief periods;
possibly only to look in, possibly 20
remain a spell, but always welcome,
always enlivening, although no other
was given so lively a finale as that ac-
corded General Arnold. Even royalty
continued to come, famous soldiers
and sailors, statesmen and dignitaries
of-the church; in the midst of it all,
the prophet, Mather Byles, with his
grand and 1ordly ways" to open
Trinity church, Christmas day, 1883;
installing the first rector, the Rev.
George Bissett, NJ. A. The Rev. Byles
bore the degree of doctor of divinity,
and was "a New England Loyalist
refugee of a distinguished family"
Through it ali, the Tory gentry pos
sessed the old Royal Arms, which the
Boston Loyalists wrenched from its
place in the old state house there, and
brought with them; finally installing
1T in Trinity church, when that edifice
had been built. Royalty in the flesh
might come and go. but the gentry al
ways had with them this relic of roy
atty, brought from the colonies. In
1877, Old Trinity was destroyed by
fire, but the old Royal Arms was
saved, and now rests in New Trinity.
Another old relic of the pioneer