John Rapalje

Last updated

John Rapalje (1728-1802) of Brooklyn, New York, was an active loyalist and a member of the Committee of Correspondence in 1774 and of the House of Assembly in 1775. In 1779, his land was confiscated under the "Act of Attainer" and he left the country. He died in England in 1802.

Contents

Life before the War

Rapalje owned a large estate, which consisted primarily of land. [1] It is listed that he owned 3 male and 2 female slaves in April 1755. [2] There is evidence that he did have one son, also named John Rapalje. [3] Of the general classes of Loyalists in New York, Rapalje was considered to be of the many assemblymen of the royal officials. The royal official class was made up of the governor, lieutenant-governors, councilors, assemblymen, judges, military and naval officers, and other royal agents. The other classes of which Loyalists fell into were large land proprietors, professional classes, wealthy commercial classes, conservative farmers, colonial politicians, and the other conservative masses of no trade or all trade. [4]

Political views during the War

In 1775, Rapalje had a seat in the House of Assembly, and was one of the fourteen who, during the recess that year, addressed General Gage at Boston on the subject of the war. [1] In February 1775, a motion was made in the General Assembly of New York by Philip Schuyler, Esq. to adopt and approve the proceedings of the late Congress. This motion occasioned violent debates. Rapalje opposed and voted against the acts of Congress, alongside John Cruger, James DeLancey, Jacob Walton, James Jauncey, Daniel Kissam, William Nicoll, Benjamin Seaman, Christopher Billop, Isaac Wilins, Frederick Phillipse, Samuel Gale, and Leonard Van Kleck. [5] He was apprehended by order of George Washington and transported to Connecticut in August, 1776. He was allowed to return to Long Island on parole. [3]

Confiscation of land

On October 22, 1779, the "Act of Attainder," a new bill on confiscation, became law that declared that fifty-nine people were ipso facto guilty of felony; that they should be attained and their property forfeited to the state, and if found within the state, they were to be executed. Rapalje was one of the 24 esquires who were listed. [4] His estate was estimated at £40,000 in value. [3]

Life after the War

After his property was confiscated, he departed the country, [1] going either to England or Nova Scotia. In 1787, he sent two of his slaves, Eve and Suke, to George Leonard of Nova Scotia. [3] The "determination on claims" by the commissioners in America began December 5, 1785 and closed December 19, 1788, in which Loyalists were able to list their claims of loss during the war, including both personal loss and real estate. Rapalje listed that $106,000 was lost, and he was compensated $53,000. [4] He died in England in 1802 at the age of 74. [1]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sampson Salter Blowers</span> Loyalist American lawyer active in the late 1700s

Sampson Salter Blowers was a noted North American lawyer, Loyalist and jurist from Nova Scotia who, along with Chief Justice Thomas Andrew Lumisden Strange, waged "judicial war" in his efforts to free Black Nova Scotian slaves from their owners, leading to the decline of slavery in Nova Scotia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1783 in Canada</span>

Events from the year 1783 in Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1784 in Canada</span> Details of the events of the year 1784 in Canada

Events from the year 1784 in Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1785 in Canada</span>

Events from the year 1785 in Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Loyalist (American Revolution)</span> Colonists loyal to the British Crown during the American Revolution

Loyalists were colonists in the Thirteen Colonies who remained loyal to the British Crown during the American Revolutionary War, often referred to as Tories, Royalists or King's Men at the time. They were opposed by the Patriots, who supported the revolution, and called them "persons inimical to the liberties of America."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sir John Johnson, 2nd Baronet</span> American-born military officer, magistrate and landowner

Brigadier-General Sir John Johnson, 2nd Baronet was an American-born military officer, magistrate, landowner in the British Indian Department who fought as a Loyalist during the American Revolutionary War. He was the son of Sir William Johnson, 1st Baronet, who was the first British Superintendent of Indian Affairs. He inherited his father's baronetcy and estate in 1774.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black Loyalist</span> Slaves who sided with the Loyalists for freedom

Black Loyalists were people of African descent who sided with the Loyalists during the American Revolutionary War. In particular, the term refers to men who escaped enslavement by Patriot masters and served on the Loyalist side because of the Crown's guarantee of freedom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">84th Regiment of Foot (Royal Highland Emigrants)</span> Military unit

The 84th Regiment of Foot (Royal Highland Emigrants) was a British regiment in the American Revolutionary War that was raised to defend present day Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic Canada from the constant land and sea attacks by American Revolutionaries. The 84th Regiment was also involved in offensive action in the Thirteen Colonies; including North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Virginia and what is now Maine, as well as raids upon Lake Champlain and the Mohawk Valley. The regiment consisted of 2,000 men in twenty companies. The 84th Regiment was raised from Scottish soldiers who had served in the Seven Years' War and stayed in North America. As a result, the 84th Regiment had one of the oldest and most experienced officer corps of any regiment in North America. The Scottish Highland regiments were a key element of the British Army in the American Revolution. The 84th Regiment was clothed, armed and accoutred the same as the Black Watch, with Lieutenant Colonel Allan Maclean commanding the first battalion and Major General John Small of Strathardle commanding the second. The two Battalions operated independently of each other and saw little action together.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Old Burying Ground (Halifax, Nova Scotia)</span> Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

The Old Burying Ground is a historic cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. It is located at the intersection of Barrington Street and Spring Garden Road in Downtown Halifax.

Edward Winslow was a loyalist officer and New Brunswick judge and official.

Thomas Peters, born Thomas Potters, was a veteran of the Black Pioneers, fighting for the British in the American Revolutionary War. A Black Loyalist, he was resettled in Nova Scotia, where he became a politician and one of the "Founding Fathers" of the nation of Sierra Leone in West Africa. Peters was among a group of influential Black Canadians who pressed the Crown to fulfill its commitment for land grants in Nova Scotia. Later they recruited African-American settlers in Nova Scotia for the colonisation of Sierra Leone in the late eighteenth century.

David Mathews was an American born British lawyer and politician from New York City. He was a Loyalist during the American Revolutionary War and was the 43rd and last Colonial Mayor of New York City from 1776 until 1783. As New York City was the center of British control of the Colonies during the war, he was one of the highest ranking civilian authorities in the Colonies during this period. He was accused of supporting a plan led by Thomas Hickey to kill the Revolutionary General George Washington. He resettled in Nova Scotia after the war, and became a leading political figure in the Cape Breton colony that was created in 1786.

Stephanus Bayard or Stephen Bayard was the 39th Mayor of New York City from 1744 to 1747.

Thomas Henry Barclay was an American lawyer who became one of the United Empire Loyalists in Nova Scotia and served in the colony's government.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christopher Billop</span> Canadian politician

Christopher Billopp was a British loyalist during the American Revolution. His command of a Tory detachment during the war earned him the sobriquet, "Tory Colonel". After the American Revolution he emigrated to New Brunswick, Canada along with other Loyalists and became a politician. He represented Saint John in the 1st New Brunswick Legislative Assembly.

Benjamin DeWolf JP was a businessman and political figure in Nova Scotia. He represented Hants County in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1783 to 1798.

The Royal Nova Scotia Volunteer Regiment, also known as the Loyal Regiment of Nova Scotia Volunteers and Loyal Nova Scotia Volunteers, from 1775-1780, the Royal Regiment of Nova Scotia Volunteers, from 1780-1783, and the Royal Nova Scotia Volunteer Regiment and Nova Scotia Volunteers, was a British Loyalist provincial battalion, of infantry, raised in 1775, to defend British interests, in the colony of Nova Scotia. The unit was commanded by Col. Francis Legge, until replaced by Col. John Parr in 1782. The Royal NS Volunteers never saw combat, but did play an important role in the defense of the colony of Nova Scotia, in the later years, of the American Revolution.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">King's Orange Rangers</span> Military unit

The King's Orange Rangers, also known as the Corps of King's Orange Rangers, were a British Loyalist battalion, raised in 1776 to defend British interests in Orange County, Province of New York and generally in and around the New York colony, although they saw most of their service in the Province of Nova Scotia. The battalion's commander was Lieutenant Colonel John Bayard. The Rangers had an undistinguished military record, through most of its existence, and saw very limited combat, mostly against Patriot privateers, but did play an important role in the defence of the colony of Nova Scotia in the later years of the American Revolution. The King's Orange Rangers are especially remembered for their role in the defence of Liverpool, in the Nova Scotia colony.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nova Scotia in the American Revolution</span>

The Province of Nova Scotia was heavily involved in the American Revolutionary War (1776–1783). At that time, Nova Scotia also included present-day New Brunswick until that colony was created in 1784. The Revolution had a significant impact on shaping Nova Scotia, "almost the 14th American Colony". At the beginning, there was ambivalence in Nova Scotia over whether the colony should join the Americans in the war against Britain. Largely as a result of American privateer raids on Nova Scotia villages, as the war continued, the population of Nova Scotia solidified their support for the British. Nova Scotians were also influenced to remain loyal to Britain by the presence of British military units, judicial prosecution by the Nova Scotia Governors and the efforts of Reverend Henry Alline.

Jane Jackson Thompson was an enslaved person who lived with her common-law husband, Talbot Thompson, until he was able to purchase her freedom in 1769. Talbot was a successful sailmaker who provided Jane and their family with a comfortable life.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Sabine, Lorenzo (1864). Biographical Sketches of Loyalists of the American Revolution. Bedford: Applewood Books.
  2. O'Callaghan, E.B. (1850). The Documentary History of the State of New York. Weed Parsons and Co., Public Printers.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Winslow, Edward (1923). Raymond, W.O. (ed.). Winslow Papers, AD 1776-1826, Parts 1776-1826. St. John N.B.
  4. 1 2 3 Flick, Alexander (1970). Loyalism in New York During the American Revolution. New York: AMS Press.
  5. Jones, Thomas (1879). History of New York During the Revolutionary War. New York: New York Historical Society.