Loyalists in the Revolution
It's estimated that in 1776, about one-third of the colonial population were Loyalists, also called Tories or kings men, by the Patriots. Defining exactly who a Loyalist was can be a bit tricky. Generally, anyone who thought that their situation would be better under the British than with an independent America remained loyal to the British crown. These people ranged from wealthy merchants to people who held government positions to backcountry farmers to slaves to Native Americans. In general, Loyalists belonged to the Church of England (Anglican), they were somewhat better educated, and they were often wealthier than Patriots. Of course, it makes sense that people who were not suffering under the British would not want to see a change in government. Africans and Native Americans also had a reason to support the British cause. One group wanted its freedom and the other group was fighting to protect its ancestral lands. Most of the Loyalists also came from New York and the Carolinas. The fewest number came from New England and Virginia.
While the Loyalists tended to agree with the Patriots that the British had gone too far with the Coercive Acts, they believed that a peaceful situation could be reached with the King and everything would soon go back to normal. Loyalists (like many Patriots) believed that acts like the Tea Party had gone too far and certain radicals were stirring up trouble.
Once war broke out, many Loyalists faced harassment, imprisonment, and torture (especially in New England) by the Patriots. Even before the Revolution, tax collectors, merchants, and government officials were attacked. The mob that started the Boston Massacre and the Boston Tea Party are some of the famous examples. After the Revolution, everyone was required to sign an oath of allegiance to their state. The British also required a similar oath from colonists. Failure to sign either oath made you a traitor to the other side. Loyalists who failed to sign the oath for the Patriot cause could be imprisoned, their property confiscated for the Patriot cause, or have their names published in local newspapers as traitors.
Special treatment was reserved for well-known traitors. Tarring and feathering involved stripping a person naked, pouring hot tar over their heads, covering them with feathers, and parading them through the streets to be subjected to insults by the townspeople. One story tells of a general who tried to stop a mob from tarring and feathering an unlucky victim. George Washington, who happened to be in town, was alerted of this event but refused to stop it because he didn't want to hurt the morale of the Patriots. Patriots also faced arrest as traitors by the British who now had declared them outlaws.
After the war ended in 1783 with the Treaty of Paris, 100,000 Loyalists fled the United States. Most went to Canada while some fled to either England or the Caribbean. Under the treaty, Loyalists were supposed to receive compensation for lost property. Those who were in New York or the Carolinas had the best chance of getting some cash. For those who owned land in New England, chances of receiving compensation were pretty slim.
"During these commission trials, my beloved wife Elizabeth Hunsinger died of grief. My sons Corporal John File and his brother Melchoir fled to Canada. The Patriot neighbours also harassed son Jacob so he and his family fled to Brant County after the War of 1812-1814. "In my opinion, we, Tories or Loyalists, were the most persecuted group of the American Revolution. You must try to walk in our shoes in order to understand the effect persecution had on our lives. Oil did gradually take off the tar and feathers from the skin of victims but the psychological effect of this cruel treatment lasted a lifetime. The experience of imprisonment in the Albany Jail will always remain with me."
The percentage of people staying loyal to the crown was estimated at between 25-50%. New York City had the highest density of any major city in the colonies. Many fled to Canada, the Caribbean, or England once war started.
Test Page