Date Place Event & Source
8 July 2007update- additions12/8/2008 -5/18/2009
John McCord Lamoreaux was born in New York in 1779, in American Revolutionary days.
His father,Josué Lamoreaux, a Loyalist, fought and was captured by Patriotsin New Yorkand later released.
The family was exiled into Canada on the Spring Fleets of 1783.
In Canada he met and married Abigail Ann Losee and they moved to Upper Canada, Ontario in 1808.
The Lamoreaux family had the post office in Scarborough, now a part of Toronto.
John and Abigail listened to the Missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in 1836.
They, along with many of their family, joined the church and left for Kirtland, Ohio in 1837.
They later settled in Nauvoo, Illinois on the Mississippi River.
Abigail died about 1839, in Illinois. John died 1848, in Pottawattamie, Iowa.
THE LAMOREAUX FAMILIES WERE IN CANADA1783 TO 1837
"New York... 1783... 'The spirit of persecution and violence against the unhappy loyalists does not appear to abate to any degree since the cessation of hostilities. They are not suffered to go into the country even to take a last farewell of their relations." Less than Glory, Gelb, Norman, 1984 p 221
The Loyalists landed at Saint John angry, dispirited and vulnerable. They came not as heroic founders of a new nationality but as sufferers and exiles. They saw themselves as victims-... deserted by the government they had sacrificed their all for... Fleet after fleet was precipitated on shore without so much as a shelter to go under, with no one ready to show them their promised lands. Yet most remained and most survived.
"...startling reality when the Loyalist transports anchored off St John harbour. .. the prospect at the river's mouth was dank and depressing. ...the terrain, rocky and barren, the land fit only for pasture ... very broken, barren and but little cultivated. ...the soil poor, being covered with moss, ...for the first thirty miles, the borders of the river are high, rocky and barren. "
Early Loyalist Saint John, DG Bell, New Ireland Press, 1983, p 46.
[This book has a good description of St John 1783.]
Exile is the emptiness - for however much you brought
with you, there's far more you left behind.
Exile is the ego that shrinks, for how can you prove
what you were and what you did?
Exile is the erasure of pride.
Exile is the escape that is often worse than the prison.
Paul Tabori, The Anatomy of Exile
Events in New York
Date Place Event & Source
1739 Jan 9prob. Bedford?, John’s father Josué' Lamoureux is Born to Daniel Lamoreaux & Jeanne Masse
or Philipstown? “Jausue Lamoureux,"fils de Daniel Lamoureux et de JeanneMassee est... Presente Westchester Co au Baptisme par Francois Lent et Parain et maraine. [God parents/ witnesses]
New York[This record seems to be incomplete, not torn. Minister and/ or place of baptism is given
for other children. This one not given.] [This Josué' married Elizabeth Ogden.]
Daniel's hand made account book. [prob. Philipstown comes from ??? Isabelle.]
[Archive Record says, Philipstown, NY]
Apr1760 - Muster roll lists "Joshua Lumerix …5' 8;…Black hair & black eyes"
- age 21, born in Westchester Co [1760-21=1739]
Muster Roll, 13 May 1760 Capt. Haight Co
State of NY, Report of the State Historian 1897,
Colonial series v 2 [From Isabelle] Mesa FHC US, NY, H2, 3
1743 aboutDuchess Co, NYElizabeth Ogden is born, Duchess Co, NY [ also listed as 1738.]
Ancestral File.
1739-44Westchester Co, Jeanne Lamoureaux died between 1739 & 1744, age about 43- 48 buried in Westchester New York Co. Aaltie Storm's husband died in 1739 [Isabelle Cluff says it was in Phillipsburgh]
1757 aboutPhilipstown?Josué Lamoreaux married Elizabeth Ogden in NY, [Prob. Putnam Co, Philipstown
[? He was abt 18.] [He grew up early. Rented land at 16-17; married at 18.]
Family Records [son John McCord Lamoreaux said!]
1758 JulyDuchess Co, NY James Lamoreaux, Josué Lamoureux & Elizabeth Ogden's 1st child, is born
(later Putnam)Family Records
Philipstown, NYArchive Record [says B 1760 it has no Suzanna]
[James lived to be 111 years, 4 months. Died in Canada, 1869.]
[Sets Birth date at July 1758.] [Did he state his birthplace?]
Toronto Newspaper "...rol", on CountyNews page
Brougham, 25 Oct 1938
1759 Mar 5Long Island, Q Simon Losee married Margaret Brush ???
New York[Parents of Abigail Ann Losee]
1760Westchester Co, Susanna, Josué Lamoureux & Elizabeth Ogden 2nd child, is born.
New YorkFamily Records - Josué will mentions Susanna
1760 Apr 23 Westchester CoJoshua Lamoreaux enlisted in the militia in 1760. Probably the French & Indian War
New York Muster roll lists "Joshua Lumerix"; …5' 8";…Black hair & black eyes"
"Inlisted 23 Apr[1760] - age 21, born in Westchester Co, cordwainer, Volunteer in Capt.
Phil.Verplanck's Co.""Men raised and passed in the Co of Westchester for Captain Jon'th Haight Company, May ye 13, 1760."
Muster Roll, 13 May 1760 Capt. Haight Co
State of NY, Report of the State Historian 1897,
Colonial series v 2 [From Isabelle] Mesa FHC US, NY, H2, 3
1762Philipstown, NY Jerusha (Rhoda), Josué Lamoureux & Elizabeth Ogden 3rd child, is born
now Putnam Co,Family Records
1763French & Indian War ends - The treaty of Paris was signed, ending the conflict between
English & French, giving the English control of North America east of the Mississippi.
The Iconography of ManhattanIsland 1498 * 1909, Stokes p 199
1764Duchess Co, NY Jemima Lamoureux, Josué Lamoureux & Elizabeth Ogden's 4th child, is born
Philipstown, Family Records
[As an 82 year old widow in Canada, Jemima is listed as a Presbyterian. Look here for more family records.]
1768Philipse Upper Josué Lamoreaux listed on rent rolls at property of B. Robinson B-in-law of Benedict
Patent, Duchess Arnold, officer for G Washington, head quartered at West Point just across the river.
New YorkArnold & Andre' met at Peekskill to exchange plans for West Point to give to British; for which Andre' was caught & hung in 1780. Washington, as commander of West Point, was staying on Robinson's property at the time. Arnold escaped and went to England.
"Robinson had left by this time."
Early Settlers of Putnam Co, F C Haacker 1946
1770 July 9Philipstown, NY Joshua Jr., Josué' & Elizabeth 5th child, is born Duchess Co, NY (later Putnam) Family Records
1775New York According to Memorials written later, by John McCord Lamoreaux, his father Joshua
Lamoreaux "joined the British Standard" in 1775. Family tradition states they were in the worst area of fighting. War started 1775 even before Declaration.
“The petition of John Lamoreaux of Pickering born in the State of New York and aged 33 years [1812-33=1779] humbly sheweth your petitioner is the son of A loilest [loyalist] [JosuéLamoreaux] who joined The British Standard in the year 1775 and remained in his Majesty’s dominions ever since…
“York November 23th 1812John Lamoreaux”
John McCord Lamoreaux memorial of 23 Nov 1812 [I have copy. akrc]
"Perhaps the hardest condition for both sides to bear during the years of the long fight in the (Hudson) valley was the bitter dissension among neighbors."
The Lordly Hudson, Carl Cramer
1770"sNY"Joshua's [Lamoreaux] land was in Newburgh, NY. and he left with or immediately
or 1780 after the 'Arnold Treachery'". Arnold was a Huguenot family. [Where is Newburgh?]
Duane LaMoreaux, Letter July 1991 states British records
were sold to U of Mich and are at Ann Arbor
1770'sDuchess Co, NYJosué Lamoreaux "Resided at Duchess Co, NY... was obliged to leave his property
to the value of two hundred pounds N York currency in land and movable estate ... Beside services as a vollintear at the outpost with Col Dellincar (Delancy) was taken prisoner and wounded and very badly treated while with them But got exchanged and remained till the treaty of peace"
Loyalist Petition #271 & 273 & cover
20 Mar 1786 Fredricton, NB, Dept of Nat'l Resources,
[I think this means he & family remained in New York City, Morrisania, Long Island or etc.]
[Morrisania was not evacuated till 1783] [Where are the records of DeLancy’s group?][Find DeLancy history]
1771A colonial census is taken; this is the last of the colonial census
History of Westchester Co, NY, From Early Settlement..., Shonnard & Spooner
1773 Sept 18N AmericaTotal eclipse of the sun“There were four total solar eclipses between 1773 and 1778
… on Sept. 18, 1773, March 1, 1775, July 5, 1777 and June 24, 1778. Of these, only the September 18, 1773 eclipse was likely to have been visible over North America.”
“Was anything happening in the sky between 1772 and 1776?” NASA,
1775New YorkAndrew Lamoreaux, Josué & Elizabeth Lamoreaux’s 6th child, is born.
[Later killed by a falling tree, died after 1797 Mar 6]
Family Records
1775Joshua Lamoreaux - According to Memorials written later, by John McCord Lamoreaux,
Joshua "joined the British Standard" in 1775. Family tradition states they were in the worst area of fighting. War started 1775 even before Declaration.
See later petitions
1776 July 4PhiladelphiaDeclaration of Independence signed
NOTE: The Loyalist families were forced to evacuate their Hudson River farms and go into New York City by 1779 through 1783. Housing was crowded and inadequate. Parts of the City had been burned. Food was rationed out by the British.]
1776New York CityNew York City is occupied by the British New York City is an English Stronghold
NY Area Key Chronology
1777Philipse Patent “Joshua & Elisha Lamoreaux (are listed) on the 1777 tax list of Philipse Patent
which was later called Philipstown.” [Isabelle] p 90
“The Lamoreaux were a French family who settled on the Post Road still further north, their tract embracing the northeast corner of the lot.”
“Historical & Genealogical Record of Dutchess and Putnam County, New York,” Haight, AV Co, 1912, from Isabelle
1777 Mar 6 New YorkIsaac Lamoreux, Josué & Elizabeth7th child, is born in New York
Family Bible of Isaac & Ann Lamoreaux
From Duane L"Amoureux, 19I9, have a copy
1777 May 1 Philipse Patent Josué Lamoreaux last listing on rent rolls at Philipse Upper Patent, Duchess
Co, NY. On Lot #4 owned by and next door to Beverly Robinson, B-in-law of Benedict Arnold, officer for George Washington. One of "…75 tenants most of them undershort leases; in general very good farms; ... in Peeks Kill Hollow & from 4 to 12 miles from Peeks Kill Landing on the Hudson River... good roads." This is just south from West Point.
"At the time of the Revolutionary War this patent was owned by Philip Philipse, and [Sisters] Mary and Susannah, wives of Colonel Roger Morris and Beverly Robinson, of the British Army. Morris and Robinson together with their wives, were attained, and their property was confiscated and sold by the Commissioners of Forfeiture. Most land was sold to Patriot tenants. [see 1756 entry on Washington & Robinson.]
[I think this is a list of rents paid. Josué would have been there still on 1 May 1777.]
Early Settlers of Putnam Co, F C Haacker1946
NY State Lib#A974.732, q H 111 SLC FHC #529,189
"Most women stayed home during the war, but they did things they hadn't done before. They had to do all the men's work as well as their own. They ran the farms and businesses… When battles were fought near their homes, women fed and cared for the wounded.
"Women who were loyalist had a terrible time of it. Usually they had to keep quiet or leave the country… Women whose husbands had gone off to war to fight were often alone when the invading army looted and destroyed, as armies often do. When it was necessary, women put guns to their shoulders… on the frontier… many had fought the Indians…""
From Colonies to Country, Joy Hakam, p 110
"Many women, Patriot and Loyalist alike, were forced to house the enemy, and those women whose husbands were away were forced to defend the family's property, earn a living, and protect their families as well. …Women on farms were constantly faced with the threat of losing animals and crops to the enemy. …some unscrupulous characters …turned to cattle rustling… Crops in the field were also fair game."
"When fighting armies approached, women had little choice but to flee with their children… moved in with friends and relatives.
Those Remarkable Women of the American Revolution, Karen Zeinert, p70-74
[Where was Elizabeth during the time Joshua was wounded? Where were her children born?]
1777 Aug 30Council of Safety for the State of New York were, "empowered to remove wives &
children of"Loyalists
War out of Niagara, H. Swiggett, 1933, MP Library 1996
1778 June 24 New YorkTotal eclipse of the sun – [see note 1773 Sept 18]
War out of Niagara, H. Swiggett1933
1778Westchester Co.,There was a small-pox epidemic "like a cordon to the south across Westchester Co.
New YorkConnecticut"
War out of Niagara, H. Swiggett1933
1778???New YorkAbigail Ann Losee is born to Simon Losee and Margaret Bush
They were married 1759, of Huntington, Long Island, Nassau, NY
Family Records & Isabelle L. Cluff
1700's late Duchess Co, NYJosué “Lamoraux” "Resided at Duchess Co, NY ... was obliged to leave his property to
the value of two hundred pounds New York currency in land and movable estate …. Beside services as a vollintear at the outpost with Col Dellincar (Delancy) was taken prisoner and wounded and very badly treated while with them But got exchanged and remained till the treaty of peace"
Loyalist Petition of Josué Lamoraux - 20 Mar 1786 #271 & 273 & cover
Josué said they lived "in the worst part of New York …very close and cannons fired over their land."
Petition #??
1770's late “Josué, [Lamoreaux] ... having been forced to flee from his native state, New York,
where he, with others loyal to old King George of England, had been branded as Tories in their refusal to fight with American patriots in the Revolutionary War.”
"The Life Story of David Burlock Lamoreaux", by Edith Ivans Lamoreaux
NOTE: [Remained? Where? NYC? Are there records of prisoner exchanges? Some are listed in 1777, not Josué]
1779 July 19New YorkJohn McCord Lamoreaux, 8th child, born to Josue & ElizabethOgden Lamoreaux
NauvooTemple record[In Nauvoo he said he was born inNew York City]
[I cannot imagine Elizabeth in this condition. War, all around her; her husband taken prisoner, having to get her family to a safe place… having babies every other year! ...she eventually has eight children to take care of in these circumstances … who was there to help her? How did she get from the Hudson River near Peekskill to New York City and then to Canada?This may have been in Morrisania???, New York City??? Or Where? akrc]
“The petition of John Lamoreaux of Pickering born in the State of New York and aged 33 years [1812-33=1779] humbly sheweth your petitioner is the son of A loilest [sic - loyalist] [JosuéLamoreaux] who joined The British Standard in the year 1775 and remained in his Majesty’s dominions ever since…
“York November 23rd 1812John Lamoreaux”
John Mc Lamoreaux memorial of 23 Nov 1812 [I have copy. akrc]
1780 Sept West PointMajor John Andre met with Benedict Arnold
“Benedict Arnold began to correspond secretly with General Clinton about his plan to let West Point fall into British hands. Andre was adjutant general to General Sir Henry Clinton, Commander- in-Chief of the British forces in North America.
“1780 (September 16)Clinton sent Major Andre up the Hudson in the British Sloop-of-War, Vulture to meet with Benedict Arnold.
“1780 (September 20) -- Andre was rowed ashore at the long cove just south of Haverstraw, where the two men conferred until sunrise. Their plans for the handing over of West Point still not complete, Andre, Arnold, and Smith got on three horses; … They ascended a steep hillside to Smith's house, the two-story residence known as Belmont commanded a broad view of the Hudson at Haverstraw Bay. The home of Joshua Hett Smith stood on what is now known as Treason Hill. There it was agreed …”
“Hiking Old Tappan.” 5/25/2009.
1779-1780 New York Bay“The winter of 1779-80 was the severest ever known in this part of the country. Not only
the whole North (or Hudson) River, but much of New York Bay, was frozen solid,…” Washington could have captured NYC easily because they were in their most “deplorable plight” Patriots were encamped in two divisions,… Peekskill and in the highlands,” and “under Washington at Morristown.” P 460
“…Seventh British regiment …about 300… horse… came over from Long Island to Westchester on the ice."
History of Westchester Co, NY, From Early Settlement..., Shonnard & Spooner
Staten Island, NY “During the severe winter of 1779-80, while the Americans were encamped near Morristown, (N.J.,) …2500 men, crossed the sound on the ice from Deharts Point, …on the 15th of Jan.: but the movement was observed in time to prepare for defense. Contrary to expectation, the passage to New York was found to be free from ice, and during the day the British were reinforced from the city.”
French, J.H., GazetteerState of New York,
[John McCord Lamoreaux was about 6 months old at this extremely cold time. Where were his mother and brothers and sisters? Where was his dad, Josue? akrc]
1781 Oct 19Yorktown, VA The British Army formally surrendered
Cornwallis surrenders. British troops lay down their arms.
Victorious In Defeat, Wallace Brown, 1984 p 33.
"New York City had remained a British garrison and a Loyalist haven since it's capture in September, 1776. During 1782, as it became clear that the war was lost and that the rebels remained antagonistic, refugees flooded in to camps set up on Long Island, Staten Island, and the Jersey Shore. ... a total of perhaps thirty thousand."
Victorious In Defeat, Wallace Brown, 1984 p 33.
1783 New York"New York… 1783… 'The spirit of persecution and violence against the unhappy
loyalists does not appear to abate to any degree since the cessation of hostilities. They are not suffered to go into the country even to take a last farewell of their relations."
Less than Glory, Gelb, Norman, 1984 p 221
1783There is a great deal of small pox in New York in 1783
The Loyalist of New Brunswick, E.C. Wright
1783A Treaty is signed. War Ends. Loyalist must leave.
1783 EuropeWolfgang Amadeus Mozartwas composing music
1783 May 14 NY After a year of truce“…on 14th of May, when… Westchester Co was surrendered to the
State government by the withdrawal of the British garrrison from Morrisannia.” P 525
History of Westchester Co, NY, From Early Settlement..., Shonnard & Spooner