Assignment #9: Journal of Captain John Patrick Mason

- I am responding to assignment #9 on Mike's blog.

Journal of Captain John Patrick Mason

- The American Revolution had ended but unfortunately we, the British, lost. Even though we fought very hard, we were not able to conquer the Americans.

- During that War, I was a Loyalist and I served as Captain John Patrick Mason. I was very loyal to the Crown. I payed taxes and I shared the political views of the Queen even though I was in a different continent. I was the leader of many missions and most of them were successful. I was also included in missions with Major General Benedict Arnold which was a great honour to me because many of us in the army considered him as the best general. I was awarded many medals for my achievements, and I was considered a very important figure in the war. I was also very wealthy. I inherited all my money from my father.

- Life was already hard during the American Revolutionary War. I lost one of my sons in an explosion and I knew that we had to go somewhere safer but we couldn't. Fortunately, the rest of my family was safe until the end of the war. At this time, there was no use for staying in the United States of America. That is what the Americans called their country after they won the war. Many Loyalists decided to leave. They were called the United Empire Loyalists. Some of them went back to Great Britain. Others, specially blacks, went to the Bahamas but many wanted to go to British North America where people over there were still loyal to the Crown.

- Today, I decided that I should also take my family to British North America as many Loyalists did because it is more peaceful there. I discussed the matter with my family and they all thought that it was a splendid idea. We all agreed to go to a town in Nova Scotia called Shelburne. We heard it was a peaceful town and many of its residents are also loyal to the Crown. Therefore, tomorrow we set out to British North America.

- I am a little nervous of going to Nova Scotia because this is my first experience there. I don't know how life is going to be even though many of of friends who already left there told me how well they were treated. I am also nervous that my two younger kids might not like it there but I'm sure they will get used to it. I was also informed that if I go there I will receive 700 acres of land for my services as Captain which is good news because I can use that land as a starting point for my new life.

- Captain John Patrick Mason


- Sources:

- The Wikipedia article on Loyalists

- Wikipedia articled on Shelburne

- The United Empire Loyalists

- Another website on United Empire Loyalists


- I got the name John Patrick Mason from an awesome movie called The Rock that stars Sean Connery who plays a British Operative called Captain John Patrick Mason.

P.S. Unfortunately, it is hard to see the map of Nova Scotia clearly so just click on it and you'll get a bigger image.