On July 4, 1776, the colonies issued the Declaration of Independence, and the tensions between the Rebels and the Loyalists became increasingly bitter. Even those who had tried to remain neutral were forced to choose sides, and those who openly favored the British were persecuted. The treatment of Loyalists differed from colony to colony, but for the most part, events took a nasty turn. Neighbor informed on neighbor and families became divided.
While the Revolution was a war for freedom, some people favored the British rule and King. These were English, German, and Dutch people mainly, and they remained loyal to the King of England and so were called Loyalists. But they were considered traitors to revolutionary-minded people, and their property was taken from them or destroyed and many were …show more content…
Thus, when war broke out, many of the people living in the American colonies rejected the rebel stand and volunteered to help the British. Regiments of Loyalists were organized in New York, the British headquarters for most of the war.
During the Revolutionary War, the people in New York were not completely behind the Revolution. Some forty percent of her people openly opposed the revolution and many others did not take sides. New York was the military headquarters for the Loyalists. During these years Loyalists were also arriving at Niagara and Detroit (then in British hands) and some had begun to settle at Niagara towards the end of 1780.
The Stoddards moved from Connecticut to Canada along with upwards of twelve thousand men, women and children leaving America after the Revolutionary War, and settled in the Township of Bastard, District of Johnstown, County of Leeds, in Upper Canada (northeast of the present town of Brockville, located across the St. Lawrence River from New