Fredericton's Loyalists

A respected historian of Loyalists, Mr. Robert L. Dallison is the author of the book Hope Restored: The American Revolution and the Founding of New Brunswick and the creator of the museum Loyalist exhibition Hope Restored. Mr. Dallison has now created the exhibition Fredericton's Loyalists, hosted by the York Sunbury Museum in Fredericton, New Brunswick in Her Majesty's Kingdom of Canada.

Mr. Dallison’s Fredericton Loyalists exhibit tells the story of the Loyalist experience from the American Revolution, their struggle to survive the conflict, defeat, exile and settlement in Fredericton, New Brunswick. About 100,000 people fled the United States and about 14,000 found themselves in New Brunswick.

Mr. Dallison took a closer look at two families in Fredericton. The first being the Ingraham family whose experiences were recorded in their teenage daughter’s personal diary and was the focus of a National Film Board film, “The World Turned Upside Down.” The second is the Robinson family whose Fredericton home was situated across the Saint John River from the Governor's House in Fredericton. Dallison's exhibit includes some of the archaeological findings from the Robinson home since it no longer exists.

The exhibit features a replica Loyalist New Jersey Volunteers uniform (courtesy of Marion Fleming, Shelburne NS) that guests can try on and have their picture taken next to two life sized soldier cut outs from the Maryland Loyalists (courtesy of re-enactors Robert and Brendon Dobyns).

Mr. Dallison also included a Union Flag. The Union Flag was carried by the British Army during the American Revolutionary War. This flag is easily confused with the Union Jack of the United Kingdom adopted in 1801 when the red cross of St. Patrick was incorporated.

Still in progress is the computer work station that is going to be in the centre of the room. It will include an interactive quiz game and a copy of the Atlantic Canada Virtual Archives Loyalist website.