ADAM YOUNG UE: One of the first sixteen families to settle on the west bank of the Niagara River and then became one of the first eleven families to be expropriated by the government. Descendants have lived on the Young Tract, Haldimand County, for 235 years.

Adam Young UE (17 May 1717, Foxtown, Province of New York - 1790, Young Tract, Seneca Township, Haldimand County) was the eldest son of Johann Theobald Jung and Maria Catharine Jung. Adam married Catherine Elizabeth Schremling, (1) daughter of Henrich and Maria Elisabetha Schremling, (3) the founder of Canajoharie, Province of New York.

Henry Z. Jones, Jr., a foremost authority on the Palatine Emigrants of 1709, writes that the Palatinate was often the battleground for invading armies. As well, they were taxed unmercifully by the local Prince who had jurisdiction over their geographical region. "By 1709 many poor Palatines were bled dry financially by their local Lords.... Added to these factors was the intangible streak of character in certain of these poor Germans --a sense of daring and adventure--which motivated them to leave Europe and seek their fortunes elsewhere." (2)

Theobald Jung, father of Adam Young UE, arrived in New York with the large Palatine migration of 1710. "DeWalt (Theobald) Jung and Maria Catharine had lived in the Palatine settlements along the Hudson River, having been married there sometime after 1712. within a few years following the arrival of Dewalt with the Palantines [Palatines] in 1710." (3)

Theobald & Maria Jung moved to Foxtown on the Schoharie River where their first child, Adam Young UE, was born on 17 May 1717 and baptized (as "Johan Adam") by the Rev. Joshua Kockerthal. "...About 1722 these Youngs [Theobald & Maria Young] migrated from Schoharie into the Mohawk country settling in the vicinity of Canajoharie, and some time after 1752, when Theobald Young, his three sons and several others obtained a patent for 14,000 acres south of German Flats, these Youngs moved into that section, the land being south of the Mohawk River. The father's land was in the south end of the patent while that of Adam and his brother, Andreas, was located at the north end and was known as "The Kyle" or Youngsfield." (4) In 1732 the Young family purchased land in the Harrison Patent (Lots 15 and 18) in and near present-day St. Johnsville. (5)

In 1754, Adam Young sold his land on the north side of the Mohawk River and moved directly across the river to the south side where he purchased Lot 6, Third Allotment of the Van Home Patent. Adam Young purchased thousands of acres of land in the Mohawk Valley and its surroundings, including the Young's Patent (1752) around Young's Lake, near present-day Warren. Here he diversified his interests and became one of the wealthiest, as derived from the extant tax lists, and influential of local inhabitants. (6) "... by the time of the Revolutionary War, Adam Young owned 2,600 acres near the Mohawk River and 1,000 acres on the Susquehanna River. He also farmed and owned a saw mill and potash works, selling this commodity to the Mohawk Valley merchants. ... In addition, this ambitious man operated an Indian trading post." (7)

Adam Young, at the age of 42, was Captain of a company at the capture of Fort Niagara from the French in 1759. In 1763, he was in Captain Klock's militia company of Canajoharie, in 1767 was a Lieutenant, and in 1768, at the age of 51, Captain of the German Flats militia. (8)

On 17 August 1762, twin sons, Hendrick [Henry] and Abraham, were born to Adam and Catherine Elizabeth (nee Schremling) Young at "The Kyle" or Youngsfield and were baptized in the Dutch Reformed Church at Stone Arabia that same year. Unfortunately, Abraham died as an infant.

The names of Adam Young and his brothers are found frequently in the minutes of the Mohawk Valley Committee of Safety, established by the Rebels in 1775. That same year, Adam Young, now age 58, and Frederick Young, brother of Adam and a Justice of the Peace for Tryon County, were sent to jail in Connecticut. Both had refused to sign the "association" and were accused of engaging in seditious activities.

By 1777 Frederick found the situation intolerable and left for the Niagara frontier together with Adam Young's sons, John and Daniel, where they all enlisted in the Indian Department.

Adam Young, who had remained behind, was underconstant surveillance by the Rebels. The authorities reported that it was only out of fear of the consequences that Adam was left unmolested. Yet Adam continued to be harassed and, in 1777, was fined, but refused to pay, for not appearing before the Committee of Safety to answer charges. Finally, on 06 September 1777, he was compelled to attend the Tryon County Committee of Safety meeting. There he was examined and accused of supplying a party of 56 "absconding vagabonds" on their way to join Butler at Niagara. Adam was subsequently jailed in various places including Norwich, Connecticut.

By early 1778, after 11 months of confinement, Adam had been released from jail. However, he did not remain inactive for long. On 18 July 1778, age 61, he joined Chief Joseph Brant and a party of Indians and Loyalists, to raid the Rebel town of Andrustown. In retaliation, the Rebels fell upon Youngsfield, burned all the buildings and stole the effects of the Young family. "With scarce sufficient clothes to cover him", Adam and his youngest sons, Henry and David, escaped to Niagara, to urge the portage contractor, John Stedman, and anyone else he could find, to cultivate land about the fort and so "lay the foundation of by degrees, supplying entirely the Post with Bread." (10)

Haldimand continued to monitor the situation throughout the spring of 1779 and then, on 07 June 1779, gave his approval to Bolton's proposal for settlement on the west bank, stipulating, however, that the venture be restricted to three or four families "who are good husbandmen and who discover Inclinations for improvement of Land only", exclusive of every other view or pursuit. (11)

As a 63 year-old man with considerable farming experience, Adam Young was given a discharge by Butler in 1780 so that he could establish a farm on the west side of the Niagara River and supply the garrison with food.

In June 1782, Butler wrote that "Seven or Eight Rangers had got their Families from the Frontiers last Fall, these with some others who had been here some time are desirous of being discharged and lieve [sic] to settle on land near this place, provided they can be supplyd with Provisions for 1 year & such smith-work as may be necessary, these People were bred Farmers & I am of the opinion will soon be useful to this Post, as well as to enable them to support their Families comfortable." (12)

Lieutenant-Colonel Ernest Cruikshank stated: "It is apparent that the wife of Adam Young remained behind when her husband and sons joined the British, but she and other wives and children of Loyalists came into Niagara at a later time. In 1782 there arrived at Fort Niagara in a starving condition, Mrs. Secord, Mrs. Young and Mrs. Bowman with thirty-one children whom the circumstances of the rebellion had driven away" (13 & 14)

At this time Adam Young would have been about 65 years of age; his wife about age 62.

Nick & Helma Mika indicate: "On August 25, 1782 Colonel Butler took the first census of the settlement at Niagara. Altogether sixteen families, a total of eighty-three persons, lived at Niagara at that time. Among them were: George Stuart, George Fields, John Depue, Daniel Rowe, Elijah Phelps, Philip Bender, Samuel Lutz, Michael Showers, Harmonious House, Thomas McMicking, Adam Young, McGregory Van Every, and Isaac Dolson." (15)

"Two of those named--Bender and McMicken--occupied land above the escarpment in what became Stamford, and three others--John Secord, Harmanus House and Adam Young --farmed lots near Lake Ontario west of the Ranger Barracks. All the others had lots along the Niagara River below the escarpment, though three of them set back some distance from the shoreline" (16)

This 25 August 1782 census lists Adam Young and his wife. Adam, now age 65, is recorded as having 2 horses, 2 cows, 12 acres of Indian corn, 15 acres of potatoes, and 4 acres of cleared land. McGregory Van Every is also listed with his wife, having 3 horses, 4 acres of Indian corn, 40 acres of potatoes and 8 acres of cleared land. There were a total of eighty-four people in the settlement and 236 acres of cleared land.

Thus Adam Young UE and McGregory Van Every UE were both among the first sixteen families in the first census of what is now the Province of Ontario, and two of the first sixteen white families to settle and farm in this province, as indicated by Lieutenant-Colonel Ernest Cruikshank who stated: "The settlement at Niagara actually preceded that at the Bay of Quinte by nearly four years. The only previous attempt to cultivate the soil on the western bank of the Niagara River by white men was that made by LaSalle in the summer of 1679, as recorded by Hennepin." (17)

Butler employed Allan McDonell to survey and mark the boundaries of the allotments already made to these farming settlers. The "Plan" is found at the end of Reel 85, Haldimand Papers, Add. Mss. 21829 and is undated.

This map, entitled "The River line from Niagara falls to the four mile pond on the west side of Lake Entario [sic] with its courses and windings", (18) shows three areas of settlement: a compact group of lots alongside the Rangers Barracks in the north, four rows of lots along the Niagara River and some scattered lots above the Niagara Escarpment in the south. Several lots contain the farmer's name and the acreage, others are marked vacant and others are left blank.

McDonell's map shows two key lines that later became part of the permanent survey grid of Niagara Township. The first is the Garrison Line, abutting the lot belonging to John McDonell at the northern limit of the block of concessions, and the second is the southern boundary of the township, between the Daniel Rose and Thomas McMicking lots above the Escarpment. (19)

"LIST OP SETTLERS AT NIAGARA IN 1784

Acres Cleared.
Adam Young           18
McGregor Van Every    4
(B.168.p.38.)" (18)

The need for land being acute, on 23 March 1784, Haldimand directed Butler, as Deputy Agent for Indian Affairs, to commence negotiations for the purchase of a vast territory, much larger than that originally proposed, extending all the way to the present-day London. (20) It would include a tract for the Six Nations Indians along the Grand River, the rest being reserved for Loyalists. The purchase was concluded on 22 May, at a cost of [pounds sterling]1180 7s 4d. By a contemporary estimate, the area was 2,842,840 acres, making the purchase price one tenth of a penny per acre, "a very trifling consideration" in Haldimand's own words. (21)

Haldimand also made arrangements for the land to be surveyed and, in May, gave orders for Lieutenant William Tinling to be dispatched to Niagara. (22) One of Tinling's responsibilities was to extend the land reserved for the Crown north of the Garrison Line westward to the Four Mile Creek, that would take in the small village of Butlersburg.

With the surveying of Niagara Township by Lieutenant William Tinling, the following individuals had their lots of land therein expropriated by the Government: Lot 26, Captain Hare; Lot 27, Adam Young; Lot 28, Anthony Slingerland; Lot 29, Hermanus House; Lot 30, Henry Mertise; Lot 31, Isaac Pollock; Lot 32, Samuel Vanhook; Lot 33, John Second; Lots 34, 35, vacant; Lots 36, Captain Bradtt; Lot 37, vacant; Lot 38, Lieutenant Jacob Ball; Lot 39, vacant; and Lot 40, John Second. (23)

Thus, from McDonell's map of the Niagara Settlement, 1783, and the second census taken at Niagara on 18 April 1784, one knows that Adam Young was one of the settlers who had the misfortune of losing his land when Lieutenant William Tinling was given instructions to extend the land reserved for the Crown north of the Garrison Line westward to the Four Mile Creek. In other words, Adam Young was one of the first in what is now the Province of Ontario to have his land expropriated by the government for their own purposes. Adam Young once again faced a drastic change in his life at the age of 67.

Fortunately, his friend, Chief Joseph Brant, came to his aid.

"In gratitude for the part their Iroquois allies had played [during the American Revolution], the British granted the Confederacy six miles of land on each bank of the Grand River, from its source to its mouth. In turn the natives leased land to their friends and allies, among them the Young family." (24)

Lieutenant John Young UE and his wife, Catherine, received approximately one square mile on the east side of the Grand River in 1783, and, shortly thereafter, he was joined by his parents: Adam Young UE & Catherine Elizabeth (nee Schremling) Young, and his siblings: Sergeant Daniel Young UE & Elizabeth (nee Windecker) Young, and Private Henry Young UE & Phoebe (nee Van Every) Young, their 999-year lease now being increased to approximately nine square miles.

"The first to arrive in 1783 was Lieutenant John Young who had served for seven years in the Indian Department. His father, Adam Young, a private with Butler's Rangers, together with John's brothers: Daniel, a sergeant, and Henry, a private, made their home on the shore of the river, southeast of York"

"In the following year Captain Hendrick Nelles, who had served for eight years in the Indian Department, arrived at the river with his family. The Young and Nelles properties were located in ivhat later became Seneca Township.'" (25)

Thus it was that the Young family, along with the family of Henry Nelles UE, became the first two white settlers of what is now known as Haldimand County.

During the summer of 1787, the Commissioners of Claims, Colonel Thomas Dundas and Jeremy Pemberton, arrived in Canada to hear the Loyalists' evidence for claims of losses sustained during the Revolution. In August, a considerable number of Loyalists residing near Niagara went to Montreal to appear before them.

Adam Young appeared before Commissioner Pemberton in Montreal on 06 September 1787.

His petition reads as follows:

"862. Claim of ADAM YOUNG, late of New York.

Claimt. Says

He is a native of America. Lived on the Mohawk, Tryon Co. When the Rebellion broke out joined Col. Butler at Oswego in 1778. He had been imprisoned for 11 months for refusing to take an oath to the States.

He was confined in different Gaols. At last sent to Norwich Gaol in Connect. Govert. As soon as he was released he went home. The rebels came & burnt his House & all his buildings & took away or destroyed all his Effects. The reason of this was because he had given Provisions to Loyalists who were coming to Canada. At one time he sent 74 over.

After his House was burnt he & his 2 Sons went & joined Col. Butler. He served 6 or 7 years--He had four Sons who served. Now lives on the Grand River about 60 miles from Niagara.

He had 2,600 acres on Mohawk.

No. 1. 600 acres in Youngs Patent, taken out 30 yrs. Ago, there he lived, had cleared 100 acres, had 2 houses, 1 Barn, a Saw Mill, &c.

No. 2. Had 2,000 acres in another Patent, which was Called Fentie's Patent & Livingston's Patent. This was 10 miles from the other, taken up ten years before ye War. This was all unimproved.

He had a Saw Mill & a Pottash Work on No. 1. Values No. I at [pounds sterling]1,000 besides the buildings.

Values Saw Mill at [pounds sterling]140.

Values Potash Work at [pounds sterling]150.

Heard the land was sold. His name is in Anstey's List, [in the margin one finds: is told to get certificate of sale.]

His horned Cattle, 6 Horses & all his Moveables were taken by the Rebels.

13 Horses, 12 Cows, 6 Heifers, 12 Sheep, 20 Hoggs. All his furniture, Utensils, very good.

He kept a Shop of Dry Goods, he traded with Indians, Lost to amount of [pounds sterling]150. [in margin one finds: a very good man.]

HENRY W. NELLES, Wits.

Knew Claimt. He was always considered Loyal. Remembers him being sent to Prison for his Loyalty. Heard of his House being burnt, & all his effects taken or destroyed by the rebels. He lived at some distance from the Mohawk river in Tryon Co. Witness knew the place where he lived. It was a very fine place, well cleared. There was a Saw Mill & a Potash House upon it. He had Land also in other Patents.

Vals. the Clear Land in No. 1 at [pounds sterling]7 per acre York Cury. Vals. the Saw Mill at [pounds sterling]2000, Pot Ash House & Work [pounds sterling]150, Vals. the Woodland from 20 to 10 sh. per acre, according to its situation. Heard the Estate was sold.

JOHN YOUNG, Wits.

Says his Father suffered a long Imprisonment on acct. of his Loyalty. His House & Buildings were burnt & all his effects plundered & destroyed after which he went off with 2 of his sons. [Sergeant Daniel Young UE and Private Henry Young UE] He served in the Rangers. He had three Sons in the Rangers, one of whom died. [David Young UE] Witness himself served in the Indian Department. He had 600 or 700 acres in Young's Patent. Claimant was one of the original Patentees. It was an old Patent. There was a good farm clear. There was a Saw Mill & a Pot Ash Work on this Place.

Vals. Saw Mill at 200[pounds sterling], Clear Land at 6[pounds sterling] per acre. Woodland at 20sh. per acre.

He had other Lands in Patents. He had a good Stock & furniture, all was lost. He came away with scarce sufficient Cloathes to cover him.

He kept a Shop. He had always articles for the Indian Trade, thinks he saw an advertismt, for sale. There are strangers that live upon the Place.

Claims also for a 1,000 acres on the Susquehana, 30 miles from the Mohawk, bought by Claimt & Claimt's Brother of Sir John Johnson. It was purchased after the War began & Claimt's Bro. was now in Possession, but Claimt is lible [sic] to pay the whole Purchase Money to Sir John Johnson." (26)

The Petitions for Land Grants 1796-1799 provide the petition of Daniel and Henry Young, sons of Adam Young, dated "Niagara, 10 July 1797". Colonel John Butler stated therein: "These may certify that I was perfectly acquainted with Adam Young in the Province (now State) of New York and from his Steady perseverance and attachment to his Majesty was dragged to prison and his Buildings Burned; when an Opportunity Offered he came to Niagara with his Family and Four of his Sons, Viz., John, David, Daniel, and Henry all entered into actual service. Colonel John Butler [signature]" (27) "Most of the Young Tract is long gone, sold to others, all but one acre which is occupied by the descendant of one of John Young's brothers." (28) That brother was Henry Young UE, third-great grandfather of Daniel Young UE, who lives on the remaining one acre of the Young Tract, and third-great grandfather of Robert McBride UE, the author of this article.

ROBERT COLLINS MCBRIDE UE, B.SC., M.ED.

Editor's Note: Individuals wishing to obtain the endnotes and other sources of this article should consult the author, Robert Collins McBride UE.

Article Details

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Author:	McBride, Robert Collins
Publication:	The Loyalist Gazette
Date:	Sep 22, 2018
Words:	3257
Previous Article:	The First Honorary Fellow.
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Topics:	American loyalists Biography