Hooper, Thomas

From: An Island Refuge- Loyalists and Disbanded Troops on The Island of Saint John, The Abegweit Branch of UELAC, 1983

  • According to old records THOMAS HOOPER who lived near Windsor in Middlesex County, New Jersey owned 100 acres of land, and two smaller pieces of ten acres each which he bought from his father, Clement. The deed was dated October 8, 1769. Fourteen acres quite near the other property was dated January 25, 1775. With the death of his father in 1778 he received the home plantation as well as the ‘Meadow in Maidenhead’ in Hunterdon County which he shared with his brother, James. The home plantation consisted of a tavern as well as farming land.
  • At the end of the Revolutionary War Thomas, a Loyalist, was subjected to much harassment. Soldiers ransacked his house, smashed his furniture, and took his livestock. After conversing with his friend, Richard Robins, they decided to travel to Nova Scotia where they heard there was free land allotted to subjects loyal to the crown. They arrived in Nova Scotia in the spring carefully examining different places there, and in the Island of Saint John, too. Thomas was quite pleased with the Island and decided to settle there. Returning to Nova Scotia, he left from Shelburne on the 29 of July for New York.
  • Upon his arrival in New Jersey, he found his wife and two children sick with fever. He planned to move his family to the Island that fall, but had to change his plans. he left alone for the long treck back to Shelburne. He worked in the Port saving his money for his new home.
  • He returned to New Jersey, but again disaster had struck. It is said that the soldiers had returned, and not finding Thomas, they took their revenge. Again they ransacked his house, finding Thomas’ wife in bed recovering from the birth of a baby, they took the bed from under her, assaulted her and subjected her to cruel indignities. She was removed to an outhouse but died shortly after.
  • Thomas made preparations to sell his possessions in New Jersey and left the girls in charge. They had the care of the baby, Elisha. Major and Tommy accompanied their father to the Island. Upon their arrival in Charlotte Town they presented a memorial to Governor Patterson. They petitioned him for land which was being granted to refugees. A month later they heard from the Governor who granted Hooper, Robins and Schurman, land in Township No. 1 containing 1250 acres, which was the western division of the half of Lot No. 26. The following rates applied: first year 2 pence for each acre granted, second year 4 pence, third year 6 pence and the fourth year 8 pence and so on. Hooper and Schurman had six months to apply for the grants.