Samuel and Mary Humberstone


1. Samuel HUMBERSTONE was born about 1744 in England, possibly in Staffordshire.  He emigrated in 1776 to Philadelphia, Penn. In a petition dated 1807, his son Thomas, attempting to have his father's name "inserted on the List" of Loyalists, stated that Samuel "was an inhabitant of the United States of America previous to the breaking out of the American war, that he served as a second lieutenant in a company of militia in the City of New York, that when the war broke out he joined the Royal Stand." (petition signed by Thomas Humberstone "as agent for Samuel Humberstone," York, 21 Sep 1807, Upper Canada Land Petitions, RG1, L3, vol. 226, R 8/91, reel C-2046.)

When the American war of independence broke out he remained loyal to the British side, serving as a lieutenant in the New York Volunteers. In a petition dated 12 May 1797, he stated that he had served "during the War at New York as a Lieutenant of Militia by virtue of a Commission from General Robertson." (Upper Canada Land Petitions, RG 1, L 3, vol.224, R 3/86, microfilm reel C-2043)  Near the end of the war he joined the Port Roseway Associates, a group of Loyalists who had received grants of land from the Crown in Port Roseway (later renamed Shelburne), Nova Scotia. He appears as a lieutenant in the Royal Regiment of New York who intended to go on to the King's lands in the spring (National Archives of Canada, Loyalists Lists, MG21, vol.VB168, p.52, reel C-1475).

In 1783 Samuel and his family were evacuated from New York with other Loyalists and British forces.  He went by ship to Shelburne with his wife, two children, and four servants.  Conditions in Shelburne were not ideal, and Samuel joined many of the other original Associates in abandoning Nova Scotia.  He apparently went to Montréal, as his name appears on a roll of unincorporated Loyalists quartered in the city in 1784. On a list of "Return of Refugee Loyalists in the Province of Quebec" Samuel Humberstone is listed as having in his household one adult female and 2 male children between the ages of 6 and 12. (Loyalist Lists, MG21, vol.B166, page 206, reel C-1475; MG21, B168, p.52, reel C-1475). In a petition dated 12 May 1797, he states that he was appointed by Sir Guy Carleton as a "Lieutenant of a Company of embodied Loyalists that came to this Province having served during the war at New York." (Upper Canada Land Petitions, RC1, L3, vol. 224, R 3/86, reel C-2043).

He moved in 1795 to Augusta Township, Grenville County, Canada West (shortly thereafter renamed Upper Canada, now Ontario). He appeared on the census on 5 Apr 1796 in Augusta Township, Johnstown District, Canada West, listed as Samuel Humberton, living in a household that contained one adult male and one adult female, and two male children.(1) On 12 May 1797 he filed a petition establishing that he was a United Empire Loyalist and requesting 2000 acres of land. He was granted land in Augusta, on the southeast corner of lot 27, concession 1, just at the mouth of Mill Creek, and there established one of the first potteries in what later became Ontario (Upper Canada). 

He appeared on the census in 1813 in Augusta Township, Canada West,(2) listed as over the age of 60, living with a wife and one male child. The settlement of Augusta was 4½ miles east of Brockville and 6 miles west of Prescott on the St. Lawrence, near the village of Maitland on Highway 2, and "is long gone but can be recognized by earthworks made for a millpond." He died in Jan 1823.(5) (6)  He chose Samuel P. Thomas (his wife's son) and William Wells as executors, describing them as "trusty and well beloved Friends." His will, which he drew up on 10 Jan 1823, was proved 1 Apr 1823.

 The Blue Church Gravestone of Samuel and Mary Humberstone
Photos:  Left: The Blue Church near Prescott, Ontario
Right: the gravestone of Samuel and Mary Humberstone in the Blue Church graveyard

(Click on photos to see enlarged images)
For more photos of the graveyard at the blue church, click here.
He was buried in the Blue Church graveyard, Augusta (near Prescott), Grenville Co., Ontario. (3)(4)  His gravestone (located near the Barbara Heck mound and still legible in the summer of 1998) reads: "Sacred to the Memory of Mr. Samuel Humberstone who died January 1823 aged upward of 79 years. Also to the memory of Mary wife of Mr. Samuel Humberstone who died August 1828 at the advanced age of nearly 90 years."

Mary was born about 1740 in England.  Prior to her marriage to Samuel Humberstone she was married to someone with the surname THOMAS; her son, Samuel P. THOMAS was born about 1773, and was apparently with Mary and Samuel in New York, Nova Scotia, Montreal, and Augusta (the second male child listed in the various lists and censuses). She accompanied her husband to Philadelphia in 1776.  She died in Aug 1828 and was buried in Blue Church graveyard, Augusta, Grenville Co., Ontario.

Based on documents discovered by Doug Thomas, it seems likely that Samuel had been married prior to his marriage to Mary Thomas. The document also notes that Mary was not Thomas Humberstone's mother.

In addition, it appears that Samuel Humberstone was not Thomas's father. For more information see the page on Thomas Humberstone, linked below.

child+2 i. Thomas HUMBERSTONE.


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Last revised 6 Jan 2011