American Loyalists Migrations & Documents Guide. (Books Worth a Look).

Author: Paul J. Bunnell UE

Amesbury MA: The Whittier Press. 2001. 56 pages. Coilbound.

Reviewed by Peter W Johnson UE

Paul Bunnell is certainly prolific when it comes to issuing books, and this latest one serves as a quick source for checking the variety of documents available to assist one in researching a Loyalist. A sample of each document is included, as well as a detailed explanation of its usefulness, and availability. Often the examples feature Paul's own Bunnell ancestors, but other names do surface.

Some of the areas discussed include: Historical Maps, Indictment and Other Court Papers, Rebel Pay Stubbs, (keeping in mind that people often changed sides, so your ancestor may have spent some time on the other side), Muster Rolls, Loyalist newspapers, listings of Refugee ships, Land Grant Settlement Maps, Bad Land Grant Documents, Military Pay Statements, Land Petitions, War Losses Claims, Memorials, Wills, Deeds and Land Sales, Post-Revolutionary War newspapers, Probate Records and Other Related Documents, Census Records, and Migration Locations and Associated Name Places. The last topic covers locations named after Loyalists or places where Loyalists had lived. For example there is Merrickville ON after William Merrick UE, and Morrisdale NB after Morris County NJ. William Ketcheson UE is mentioned in connection with the Ketcheson Cemetery in Hastings County, ON. But as an aside, William UE is likely buried in Belleville, but his SUE son and numerous relatives are at the Ketcheson Cemetery. Clearly there is something in this book for anyone who is tracking down even the smallest scrap of information about a Loyalist ancestor. It's an "ideas" book that may get you going in a new direction.

The cost is $12, plus $2 postage US or $15 plus $2.50 postage CDN. Paul can be reached at 100 Whitehall Rd., #15, Amesbury MA 01913, U.S.A., or phone [phone] or email [e-mail], or last but not least, the Web Page http:// members.theglobe.com/Loyalists/index.htm. Don't forget that Paul is also the author of several other Loyalist-related books such as The New Loyalist Index Vols. 1-3, The Barnstable House of Barnstable MA. and, Thunder Over New England just to name a few.