On June 1, 2025, a plaque stating “United Empire Loyalist Burial Site” was placed at Mount Vernon Pioneer Cemetery in Burlington, Ontario, to commemorate First Generation Loyalist, Clement Lucas Jr. UEL.
In the photo above, Shirley Gray, a descendant of Clement Lucas Jr., is on the far left.
Centre is Paul Sharman, Deputy Mayor of Burlington and Ward 5 Councillor.
In period costume are Neil Switzer, Councillor of the UELAC Hamilton Branch, and Pat Blackburn, Past President.
The research for burial sites of first-generation loyalists and placing of the plaque designating the cemetery was a project across Canada of branches of The United Empire Loyalists’ Association of Canada beginning in 2009. As of 2025, fifteen cemeteries have received a plaque in the Hamilton area.
Here is the story of the First Generation Loyalist we commemorated that day.
The Story of First-Generation Loyalist, Clement Lucas Jr. UEL
Emigration From Ireland
Clement Lucas Sr. and his family, including Clement Jr., emigrated from Ireland to Philadelphia in Pennsylvania in 1773. Clement Lucas Jr. was nine years old (born 1764).
American Revolution
In two short years, the American Revolutionary War broke out. This War lasted eight years, 1775-1783. Clement Lucas Jr. would be 19 at the end of the War.
People serving in the War as loyal to King George III may have fought in regiments or had a job servicing a regiment such as, drove a delivery wagon, had a general store supplying the British or be a boat builder connected to a division of a regiment.
In the case of both Lucas men, Sr. and Jr., they were listed with the 2nd Battalion New Jersey Volunteers, Captain Joseph Clarke, Company #9.
| Clement Lucas Sr. | Mariner |
| Clement Lucas Jr. | Boatbuilder |
Clement Lucas Jr. may have been building boats for the “Armed Boatmen” division of the 2nd Battalion New Jersey Volunteers while his father, Clement Lucas Sr. was out on a boat as mariner. (This is an assumption because there was such a division in the New Jersey Volunteers.)
The British lost the American Revolutionary War and those loyal to the King were told by George Washington to leave the colonies to live somewhere the King was still King. Sir Guy Carleton was given eight months to evacuate all these people. Many ships were necessary, and all types were put into use to move people to Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Bermuda, Barbados, Islands in the Caribbean and some returned to England, home of their ancestors. The Lucases were in New York City at the end of the War along with thousands of others. New York had remained under British control all through the War.
Evacuation to Parrtown, New Brunswick
Groups of evacuees came to New York City as it was believed to be a haven, being British controlled. Large numbers of people were down at the harbour, signing lists indicating they needed transport somewhere! However, when it came time for people to be loaded onto a ship it was possible that the person or family had either made other arrangements to leave on another ship (if wealthy enough to pay), decided to remain in what was the new United States and take their chances or was not to be found. Question for anyone looking to prove that their ancestor evacuated on the ship he was listed became a problem — lists were unreliable.
Clement Lucas Jr. and his father, mother and another individual were assigned on List 1 to the “BRIDGEWATER”. They were under the care of Captain Joseph Clarke, Company #9 of the 2nd Battalion New Jersey Volunteers. They arrived in Parrtown (Saint John, New Brunswick) in late June of 1783.
Proving the Lucas Arrival in Parrtown
List 2 shows people arriving as evacuees to Parrtown and required food and supplies. Both Clement Lucas Sr. and Clement Lucas Jr. are listed on List 2 as having received food (victualing) and supplies from Fort Howe (Major Gilfred Studholme).
Very quickly after they left their ships, they were given town lots in Parrtown and Carleton (the opposite side of the harbor) while waiting for distribution of lots further up the river.
List 2 also shows lots received by each United Empire Loyalist.
| Clement Lucas Sr. | P319 | Old Parrtown |
| Clement Lucas Jr. | P318 | Old Parrtown |
Land Grants
From the Provincial Archives of New Brunswick RS686, Index to New Brunswick Land Grants 1784 —
Clement Lucas Jr. Grant No. 51 at Long Reach in the County of Sunbury
200 acres (Land was to be shared with an Isaac Warden. This was re-registering NS Grant of 1784/08/03) Dated 10/06/1785. Note: the number of people coming in to Nova Scotia caused the dividing of Nova Scotia and the becoming of a New Brunswick. Administering the area would be made easier.
A similar entry was made for Isaac Warden on 10/06/1785 for re-registering NS Grant of 1784/08/03 200 acres of land shared with Clement Lucas Jr.
Clement Lucas Sr. also received Grants for Parrtown and Belleisle in 1785 for 200 acres.
Marriage of Clement Lucas Jr.
Clement Lucas Jr. married Phebe Land (daughter of Robert and Phoebe Land) around 1792. Register A shows this marriage as April 8 in Gagetown, King’s County, New Brunswick. Register A is 1786-1792.
Children
Clement Jr. and Phebe Lucas had eight children (6 boys and 2 girls). The time period would be from ca. 1786 to 1807. The Lucas family arrived at the Head of the Lake from New Brunswick in 1807 with their 8 children.
Death of Clement Lucas Sr.
The death of Clement Lucas Sr. is recorded as 1806.
New Brunswick’s Probate Records
LUCAS, Clement Sr.
Parish of Wickham, Queen’s County, Farmer. WILL dated 26 April 1804, proved 24 June 1806. Daughter Mary 5 shillings, Daughter Martha 5 shillings. Son, CLEMENT LUCAS all land and tenements.” Son Clement Lucas sole executor, Witnesses: Adam BOYLE of Hampstead, John DELONG.
Questions for Thought
In 1807, Clement Lucas Jr. would have his own acreage and according to the probate records from the death of his father, would also have all land and tenements of his father. Why would Clement Jr. leave all this working land in New Brunswick and move his wife and family to the Head of the Lake? Was it to be closer to his wife’s family, the Lands? Was Phebe ill? (Phebe died in 1808, a year after they arrived.) Did one of Phebe’s brothers offer Clement Jr. employment as a boat builder in his business? Clement Jr. and one of Phebe’s brothers did work, together, building boats at the Head of the Lake.
Petition for Land in Nelson Township
From the Burlington Public Library, a copy of the Petition to Francis Gore, Lieutenant Governor of the Province of Upper Canada from Clement Lucas (copy included herein) for 200 acres of waste lands of the Crown, under the Regulation of the 9th January, 1804 acted upon the 6th July, 1804. The Petition is dated at York, November 11, 1807.
On November 16, 1807, Clement Lucas Jr. was recommended to receive 200 acres. This land was on the west side of Walkers’ Line at the Lakeshore in Burlington, Ontario, Nelson Township. Lot 11 on the Lakeshore.
(Note of interest: On this Petition Clement Lucas signed to the fact that he never received any Land, or Order for Land from the Crown …)
From the Burlington Public Library, a copy of Petition of Clement Lucas of the Township of Nelson to obtain a Lease of the Clergy Reserve in Lot 12 in the broken front on the Lakeshore, and naming Robert Land as surety.
Clement is asking for this in reference to the Notice of … 1802. The Petition is dated April 23, 1808.
Participation in War of 1812
Clement and his older sons were called up. Clement became a Major, and son, Ensign Thomas was promoted to Lieutenant. Fourth son, John became a Captain in the local Militia after the War of 1812.
Granddaughter, Eliza C. Lucas Matthewman, noted in a sketch of Clement Lucas Jr. that he was devoted to the cause of the Methodist Church. Late in life, Clement lived with his son, John and family, until he passed away at ninety-one years and seven months in October of 1855.
Burial Site
Clement Lucas Jr. and his son, John and his wife, Elizabeth, are buried at the Mount Vernon Pioneer Cemetery across from the Appleby GO Station on Harvester Rd. in Burlington, Ontario.
The gravestone for Clement Lucas can be found approximately halfway between the cairn and the main gate in vicinity of the walnut tree and closer to the fence.
CLEMENT LUCAS JR. was a first-generation loyalist and fulfilled these particulars:
- He was living in the colonies at the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War.
- Involved with the New Jersey Volunteers supporting King George III, thus indicating him as a United Empire Loyalist.
- Lost home and possessions because of the War
- Evacuated New York City as a refugee of the War to somewhere where King George III remained King. (Parrtown, New Brunswick)
- Entitled, on proof of the above, to a Land Grant for his service and loss.
Pat Blackburn UE
Past President, Hamilton Branch UELAC
