This is the story of one Loyalist family, who came to Canada under the leadership of their Matriarch, Sarah Cory/Corey.
Griffin and Sarah Cory had made a life for themselves and their family at Cortland's Manor in Westchester Co. NY. Griffin's great grandfather, John Cory, had been in the America's and on Long Island since at less 1640. They were a family of surviving and prospering farmers who, like the children of other early immigrants, were proud to call New York home. Things were going very well for them as the year 1776 approached.
They had purchased plots of land until they were the onwers of 3 farms totaling 250 acres. The farms adjoined each other. Claim witness Solomon Dinquy (Dingee) stated it was a very good farm, 40 acres meadow, 160 tilage and the rest woodlands. He had been offered 1600 pounds York Cury for it but was asking 2000 pounds. In 1770 he paid Moses Travers 300 pounds for 99 acres and in 1774 he purchased 82 acres for 410 pounds from Peter Secord. There was a mortgage on the Moses Travers purchase. Their possessions included 17 cattle, 3 cows, 1 horse, furniture, 10 hogs, 30 sheep, farming utensils and corn in the chamber.
When it came time to decide whether to sign the Oath Griffin Cory's decision was "no". He wished to remain loyal to Britian and wouldn't side with the Patriots. His family was the only one of the NY Cory's to remain Tory. Two of his sons fought in the British Militia. Thomas served the whole time with the New Jersey Volunteers while his brother John is listed as being with The New York Volunteers Coffin's Coy. John died in South Carolina. Thomas was a co-claimant with Sarah for payment from the British.
Griffin Cory
After the death of her husband, Griffin Cory, and under the protection of the British forces on Long Island, Sarah and her children were put aboard the ship "Eagle" and sent to the wilds of Gagetown, New Brunswick. They arrived in September of 1783.
Note: The Lady in the background on this page is Matilda Catherine Corey Hall. She was the great grand-daughter of Loyalist, Sarah Corey. Matilda was born between 1831 and 1833 in Dumfries, Ontario. She is my great great grandmother.
Matilda Corey/Hall was a tiny, feisty, woman who ruled her home. The only person she deferred to was her husband, Capt. Wm. Hall who was a very quiet and gentle man yet at the same time a proud and vocal Protestant Irishman. When he died she was the grieving widow until her own death. They were a match and are buried together in St. Matthew's Church "On The Plains" in Aldershot (Burlington) Ontario.
The census of 1851 has Matilda Hall listed as head of household and Wm. Hall as spouse. They lived next door to her grandfather, Morris Corey, on the Beachstrip in Saltfleet Township. Morris had purchased land fronting on the bay and lake where he was a fisherman. Her sister, Eliza, wasn't married and in all the census is listed as "fisherman". The spirit of Sarah Cory lived in her children and grandchildren and the Corey men didn't seem to mind the strength and leadership that they had.
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