Saturday 3 October 2015

Charles of Fishkill (abt 1741-1803)

As mentioned in the last blog, some Vincents were labelled 'Notorious Loyalists' by the Committee for Detecting Conspiracies so when when Charles of Fishkill went to appeal for his losses, I imagine his pleas were met with little sympathy.

Note the comment on the left - "Vals It too high" - in the end, he got 250 pounds sterling against 459 pounds NY currency (click on image for larger view)


In GR Vincent's booklet, "46 Acres, 5 Hoggs and a Family", pg 10, he outlines how he concluded that a Philip Vincent was Charles' father.  He based this on a Philip being named in Michael's will, and that Charles named Michael as his 'childless' Uncle.  He asserts that unlike the rest of the family who were well documented, Philip was perhaps a tradesman (blacksmith) who did not own land and that he died before the war which could explain the lack of records.

This fits in with a record for a blacksmith named Charles Vincent, 17 years old, 5 ft 8 who became a soldier in the NY Provincials in 1759 and years later receiving a parcel of land for his own small family from a his Uncle.  

In 1776, Charles joined the Queen's American Rangers - a hated unit given that they were mainly American-born Tories.  Once he recovered from an illness in PA, he joined DeLancey's Westchester Loyalists and remained with them until they disbanded in Cumberland.

In 1783, Charles with his wife and son in tow, were sent to Nova Scotia.

After a bit of fussing about as one would imagine in the chaos of relocation, Charles settled on lot 26N of the Cobequid Grant and started again.  

The Cobequid Grant area was in Cumberland, Westchester is below the word Cumberland on the 1898 NS map below.  


Ironically, this fertile land was gained by the British deporting the local Acadians around 1755; however, the order did not come from London

The Governor of Massachusetts, William Shirley, and Commander-in-Chief of the North American forces, in his grief for the loss of his son while fighting the Canadiens (the Seven Year War with the French & the Natives), he exacted his revenge.


One can imagine the struggles facing that the little family of three in establishing their new home.  

And, it's a wonder with only one son at 12 yrs of age that any of us are around to talk about it!



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