Definition: The Loyalists were people living in the American colonies who supported the British during the American Revolution (1775-83) and fled the United States to avoid persecution.
Up to 30,000 Loyalists settled in the Maritime colonies, many arriving in 1783 and 1784. The two main settlements in the Maritimes were in the St. John River Valley of what is now New Brunswick and temporarily in Shelburne, Nova Scotia. About 2000 Loyalists also settled in what is now the province of Quebec, and another 7500 Loyalists came to what is now Ontario.
The influx of Loyalists resulted in the creation of the colonies of New Brunswick and Cape Breton in 1784 and Upper Canada in 1791.
Up to 30,000 Loyalists settled in the Maritime colonies, many arriving in 1783 and 1784. The two main settlements in the Maritimes were in the St. John River Valley of what is now New Brunswick and temporarily in Shelburne, Nova Scotia. About 2000 Loyalists also settled in what is now the province of Quebec, and another 7500 Loyalists came to what is now Ontario.
The influx of Loyalists resulted in the creation of the colonies of New Brunswick and Cape Breton in 1784 and Upper Canada in 1791.
