From the moment she spotted the leather case at
Fort Niagara about a decade ago, Diane Brown knew it was a piece of
this town's history that simply had to come back home.
"I said, 'Wow, this belongs in Prescott,'" recalled Brown of
her reaction when she first glimpsed the gun cartridge box, signed and
once owned by the town's founder, Col. Edward Jessup.
Sunday, after years of work by the Col. Edward Jessup Branch of
the United Empire Loyalists, another link to the town's earliest days
was finally restored.
"There are very, very few artifacts around that we can actually
prove were Loyalists'," noted Brown of the item's historical
significance beyond its obvious value to Prescott.
The authenticity of this particular gun cartridge box - which
dates to about 1773 when Jessup was a captain serving at Fort Niagara -
is backed up because it was signed by Jessup.
"It's in immaculate, beautiful condition and (the signature) verifies it. ... This is one of the true artifacts," said Brown.
The cartridge box is a brown leather and wood case about nine
inches long and six inches wide with a block of wood that's drilled out
with 18 slots for soldiers to carry their ammunition.
It has a leather strap and was worn over a soldier's shoulder.
The artifact is now on display at Fort Wellington and Brown
stressed it's a rare find because artifacts from the Loyalist period
are so remarkably difficult to find.
"Some people are still hoarding them and other people maybe
don't know the value of (the artifacts) they have in their home," she
said.
Pointing to next year's 200th anniversary of Prescott's founding, Brown said the timing of the repatriation was perfect.
She also praised Parks Canada for its co-operation
after the UEL branch formally requested to have the cartridge box
permanently displayed at Fort Wellington.
The federal agency had it in storage when the request was made
by the Jessup branch, which has members from across eastern Ontario.
"Everybody saw the value of it being here because it's
definitely a part of our Prescott history - Jessup founded Prescott,"
said Brown.
According to the UEL branch history, Jessup lost his property in New York when it was seized during the American Revolution.
Jessup remained loyal to the British government and in return
for fighting on behalf of the Crown during the Revolutionary War, he
was granted a parcel of land in the southwestern corner of Edwardsburgh
Township.
Jessup built his home there and founded Prescott in 1810, six years before his death.
Among those on hand for the repatriation ceremony at the fort
was Gary Jessup, a fifth generation direct descendent of the colonel.
"I was pretty proud to see it come back to Prescott into its rightful place," he said in an interview yesterday.
Jessup moved to Prescott from Ottawa two years ago after retiring.
"One of the things that drew us here was the history," he said,
noting his parents often brought him to Fort Town as a boy to talk
about the family's role in founding the community.
"They must have instilled something in me because here I am," he chuckled.
Jessup praised the UEL branch's efforts to secure a unique piece
of history, noting the artifact is another reason for people to visit
the community.
Further, he said reminding current Prescott residents about the
town's rich history could serve to boost their pride in the community.
"People sometimes get down on their town or themselves or both
and that's not a good thing," said Jessup. "Often we've got to say,
'Let's turn it around and get moving.'
She also praised Parks Canada for its co-operation
after the UEL branch formally requested to have the cartridge box
permanently displayed at Fort Wellington.
The federal agency had it in storage when the request was made
by the Jessup branch, which has members from across eastern Ontario.
"Everybody saw the value of it being here because it's
definitely a part of our Prescott history - Jessup founded Prescott,"
said Brown.
According to the UEL branch history, Jessup lost his property in New York when it was seized during the American Revolution.
Jessup remained loyal to the British government and in return
for fighting on behalf of the Crown during the Revolutionary War, he
was granted a parcel of land in the southwestern corner of Edwardsburgh
Township.
Jessup built his home there and founded Prescott in 1810, six years before his death.
Among those on hand for the repatriation ceremony at the fort
was Gary Jessup, a fifth generation direct descendent of the colonel.
"I was pretty proud to see it come back to Prescott into its rightful place," he said in an interview yesterday.
Jessup moved to Prescott from Ottawa two years ago after retiring.
"One of the things that drew us here was the history," he said,
noting his parents often brought him to Fort Town as a boy to talk
about the family's role in founding the community.
"They must have instilled something in me because here I am," he chuckled.
Jessup praised the UEL branch's efforts to secure a unique piece
of history, noting the artifact is another reason for people to visit
the community.
Further, he said reminding current Prescott residents about the
town's rich history could serve to boost their pride in the community.
"People sometimes get down on their town or themselves or both
and that's not a good thing," said Jessup. "Often we've got to say,
'Let's turn it around and get moving.'"