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After the United States celebrated its independence in 1776, tens of thousands of families from the New England states, though now American citizens, continued to pledge their allegiance to the monarchy. They were British in ancestry and wished to maintain their ties.
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Whether they were fleeing from persecution, or seeking new opportunities, over 130,000 Loyalists arrived in Canada before the war of 1812.
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The majority headed east to Ontario or west to the Maritimes, however about 10,000 chose the Eastern Townships as their new home. And in fact, some of the founders of most communities in our Brome County (such as Knowlton, Sutton, Potton and many others) were Loyalists; often referred to as United Empire Loyalists.
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To date, many Loyalists in Canada continue to maintain close ties with relatives in the United States and vice versa.
Many generations and many, many children later, it is estimated that up to 1 in 5 Canadians are descendants from these Loyalist immigrants.
The migration of Loyalists into Eastern Canada has had a profound impact on the population of Canada.
The Lac-Brome Museum is an ideal place to start, or continue, your search into your family’s history.
Our exhibits contain extensive displays of artefacts and our archives centre stores countless documents dating from when the first Loyalist families settled in Brome County and across the Eastern Townships. We have one of the most comprehensive and well-researched American Loyalist collections in Quebec, as these original families and their descendants donated family heirlooms and history to our historical society.
Restored to its original 1815 structure, the Paul Holland Knowlton House on the Lac-Brome Museum grounds houses the display on local Loyalist families and other communities who influenced the founding of the area.
The British Home Children immigration program also had a significant impact on the population of Canada and the Eastern Townships
From the late 1860s to the beginning of the Great Depression, the British government encouraged the migration of impoverished, unwanted and/or orphan children to Commonwealth countries – where they could be ‘adopted’ to work on farms or other enterprises. Canada received about 105,000 of these children, ranging from 5 to 15 years of age. Almost 100 years since the end of the program, it is estimated that 10% of Canadians are related to a British Home Child who moved to Canada.
Lac-Brome Museum has a large British Home Children collection and exhibit!
The Knowlton Distributing House, located 1 block from the museum, received and processed the placements of over 5,200 children in Brome County and surrounding regions. We have presented 2 exhibitions and have published several articles/journals on this topic. Most of the artefacts and items on display were donated by families who wanted build awareness and to share the stories about these poor young people who were displaced from everything and everyone that they knew.
Exhibition: Through the eyes of Children: finding Home in Brome County. Visit this exhibition page.
Plan your Visit
Whether you are interested in Loyalist and/or British Home Children history, or perhaps other history-related topics, we encourage you to visit Lac-Brome Museum this year.
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We are open 7 days/week from mid-May to early October
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In addition to the museum, including several historical buildings, you can also consult with our archives centre to further Discover Your Roots (appointment only)