Sussman-Laabs

A member of the Kings Royal Regiment of New York under command of Sir John Johnson.

Cornwall was first settled in 1784 by United Empire Loyalists consisting of the officers and families of the First Battalion King's Royal Regiment of New York and a contingent of the 84th Royal Highland Emigrants. This group of disbanded soldiers and Loyalist refugees, led by Lieutenant-Colonel Sir John Johnson, came to the scenic and fertile site, intent on building a new life. For years, these Loyalists had fought on behalf of Britain in Northern New York and Vermont during the American Revolutionary War. These people came to settle and prosper on the lands which the Crown had granted them in reward for their loyal service during the war. (www.cornwall.ca)

The Settlement of Cornwall On June 6, 1784, Lieutenant-Colonel Sir John Johnson led a group of United Empire Loyalists to the British army depot on the height of land on the north bank of the St. Lawrence River, near the present-day site of the Cornwall Community Museum in Lamoureux Park. Within four months, the group numbered 215 men, 87 women and 214 children, for a total population of 516. At first the settlement as simply called "New Town," and then was referred to as New Johnstown. Within a few years, the new town was increasingly referred to as Cornwall. (www.cornwall.ca)

Peter Fitzpatrick was born in Ireland in 1752. The story of his father is interesting, and quite a contrast to his own. (see biography of Patrick Fitzpatrick)

In contrast, Peter Fitzpatrick, after arriving in America, was indentured to the Johnson's - it is not known if this was Sir William Johnson, or his nephew Guy Johnson. However, he was living in Tryon, New York on the property of Guy Johnson, and laboring for Guy Johnson at Guy Park. Peter was called to alarm by Guy Johnson in April, 1775, accompanying Guy Johnson to Canada, and later returning to the Mohawk Valley in 1776.

According to events related in hi Loyalist papers. Peter Fitzpatrick served in the Kings Royal Regiment of New York under Sir John Johnson. Peter Fitzpatrick was serving as a spy, and was captured in 1781 and imprisoned in Albany sentenced to death. Somehow he was saved and released after the Peace.

He went to Montreal for a short time, and then moved his family to Cornwall, Ontario, Canada.

Peter was married to Catherine Warner about 1772, and had at least two sons: William Fitzpatrick - born in 1773, and Hugh Fitzpatrick. The only blot on his Loyalist record is a notation on Official UE listings that he had "deserted from the Royal Canadian Volunteers" reportedly in 1786, although this militia unit only existed in the years of 1796-1802. This seems to be an error in the records.

[From the "Old United Empire Loyalist List, Appendix B": Fitzpatrick, Peter.... East District, Ld.Bd [Land Board]., Royal Yorkers, (he deserted from Royal Canadian Volunteers), P.L.2d [Provision List East District], 1786, son William.]

(source: http://www.uelac.org/Loyalist-Info/extras/Fitzpatrick-Peter/Fitzpatrick-Peter-military-information.php)