Losee, William

  • DICTIONARY OF CANADIAN BIOGRAPHY ARTICLE: J. William Lamb, “LOSEE (Loosey, Lossee, Locie), WILLIAM,” in Dictionary of Canadian Biography, vol. 6, University of Toronto/Université Laval, 2003–. https://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/losee_william_6E.html
  • DCB profile:
    • Methodist minister; b. 30 June 1757, probably in Dutchess County, N.Y., son of John Losee and Elenor –; d. 16 Oct. 1832 in Hempstead, N.Y.
    • Descended from Dutch settlers, William Losee was a farmer in Beekmans Precinct, N.Y., at the outbreak of the American revolution. Though handicapped in one arm, variously described as “off close to the shoulder . . . short or withered,” he was a bold horseman and served during the war in James DeLancey’s Westchester Refugees, also known as DeLancey’s “Cowboys,” an unincorporated group of volunteers who foraged for the British garrison in New York City. Captured at some point by the rebels, Losee remained in prison until shortly before the end of the conflict.
    • Probably sailing for Nova Scotia with the June fleet, he settled with his unit on the Cobequid Road in Cumberland County, where two years later he received a grant of 250 acres.
    • That winter Losee crossed the border near New Johnstown (Cornwall) and preached among the people as far west as the Bay of Quinte. Soon after his arrival in the region he met John Stuart, the Anglican missionary in Kingston. An unimpressed Stuart told Bishop that Losee carried a questionable recommendation – namely that he was formerly “a Man of very bad moral Character. But his Conversion is therefore the greater Miracle and he will be the better able to preach experimental Doctrine.”
    • As it turned out, thanks largely to Stuart’s efforts, Losee was never able to gain a foothold in Kingston. Everywhere else, however, he enjoyed great success. He stayed in Dutchess County for a couple of years and then came back to Upper Canada in 1797 to claim the free lands offered to loyalists. His petitions of that year won him 300 acres in Murray Township and two town lots in Kingston – all this in addition to 200 acres in Ernestown he had obtained earlier.
    • Although he served in Upper Canada only about three years, Losee effectively laid the groundwork for what eventually became the largest Protestant denomination in Canada.
  • Proven United Empire Loyalist listed in Loyalist Directory: https://uelac.ca/loyalist-directory/detail/?wpda_search_column_id=4788
  • Find a Grave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/80969778/william-losee