Gilbert Hearns was born 1760 in Philipse Patent, Dutchess County, New York, the oldest son of eight children born to Thomas Hearns and Deborah Campbell. His father Thomas bundled up the growing family left the homestead some time after 1766 and moved eastward.

The National Archives of Canada, Microfilm Reel B-2867 (MG 11, W.O. 28/10) p. 143 Records: Returns of Detachments and Companies of the Kings Rangers and Loyal Rangers stationed in Lower Canada indicates that Gilbert shows his birth as ‘from Dutchess.’

Thomas’ sympathies were with the British, as was Gilbert’s and several other of the boys, as they joined the Revolutionary army. In 1780 Thomas was in Charlotte County answering charges of conspiracy. We know that shortly after his father was released in February, 1781, Gilbert and his brothers were located with the Kings Rangers under the command of Capt. Henry Ruiter. An brief version of the record from the payroll book, which is a simple debit and credit record of their pay vs. expenses, was supplied by Albert Smith, Adjutant, Kings Rangers, H.Ruiter's Co. as:

"Balance due from you at sattlement & 7 sch.9 pence. By your rations commencing the 25 aug. 1781 and ending the 24 Dec. being 122 days at 2 1/2 per day is in Halifax currence (sic), to the doctor’s and bakers bill for 18 weeks 3 sch." and so forth. Since none of the boys could write their name is recorded as Harns. Mr. Smith also states that clothing and drink are also mentioned. He further goes on to mention muster rolls. The Hearns boys were first mentioned at St. John’s on July 27, 1781 (reference War Office 28/4/96). The next list is dated January 1, 1782 and mentions Gilbert as being 21. He is also on the final list as being qualified for Bounty lands, this having no date (War Office 28/2/10 f. 100-101)

Also listed in a published muster roll taken 21 January 1783 on "Rolls of the Provinical Corps, Canadian Command, American Revolutionary Period" by Mary B. Fryer, 1981, p. 101-102. Additionally in E. Keith Fitzerald’s "Loyalist Lists" (1984) he gives a final muster roll of the Kings Rangers taken likely in 1784 before being disbanded, wherein Josiah is listed on folio 156 of the "Haldimand Papers."

It should also be mentioned that Mr. Smith states that the list of settlers to Fredericksburg township is in error, as it places them in the K.R.R.N.Y. as this township was given to the Kings Rangers for settlement, and not the Ruiter’s Company.

On August 25, 1788, Gilbert is baptised with his siblings by Reverend John Langhorn in Fredericksburg.

On the Crown Deeds dated August 17, 1804 Gilbert is shown as Gilbert Harnes. Shown on Concession 4, Lot 14 E 1/2, 100 acres. Ontario Registers Volume III, 1808 Assessment Rolls indicate Gilbert had 380 acres, 20 cleared, 2 horses, 4 cows (may also show as Gilbert Hernes). His assessment being 121.--
While in the land registery office in Napanee we obtained a photocopy of the record on Lot 14, Concession 4 of Fredericksburgh. It recorded that the West 1/2 (100 acres) was granted to Josiah Heins by the Crown on December 31, 1798; and the East 1/2 (100 acres) was granted to Gilbert Haines by the Crown on August 17, 1804.On this particular page there was no further action on the East 1/2 until December 5, 1827 when Gilbert Heins et ux sold 20 acres to Chris Thompson for the consideration of 25.0.0. This transaction was not registered until December 17, 1838. On May 2, 1853 (registered May 18, 1853) Chris Thompson transferred the land to Rynard Quackenbush, however the compensation is not recorded.

The United Empire Loyalist Association of Canada show Josiah Yards, yeoman; Gilbert Yards, yeoman; and Johnson Yards, yeoman having their Charlotte County, Kingsbury possessions confiscated.

Gilbert and Catharine Bartley were married about 1786 in Fredericksburgh, Ontario. Catharine was the daughter of Josiah Bartley and Eleanor Campbell, born in 1765 in New York. Catharine died August 9, 1788 in Fredericksburgh. Catharine and Gilbert had two children, a girl named Margaret Deborah (called Peggy or Deborah) and a boy named Gilbert who died in 1788 as an infant. Gilbert was baptised August 25, 1788. Cause of death is unknown, but it appears that Catherine died in childbirth and Gilbert Jr. shortly after. In the records of Reverend John Langhorn, Fredericksburg, Gilbert’s burial is recorded as September 7, 1788.

Gilbert then marries again in Fredericksburgh on May 31, 1791 to Mary McDougall. Mary was born about 1770 in Fredericksburgh, the daughter of Peter McDougall. Gilbert and Mary have the following children:
Esther born about 1790 in Fredericksburgh;
Deborah Abigail born June 29, 1791 in Fredericksburgh; dies 1857 Massassauga Point, Ontario
Thomas Fraser born March 30, 1800 in Fredericksburgh; and
Dougald McDougall born about 1802; dies 1857.

Gilbert is recorded has having died August 8, 1831 in York County, Toronto.

Margaret was born about 1786 in Fredericksburgh according to Loyalist Lineages of Canada, Volume II Par 1, page 67. She married William McCorquodale Bell III about 1806, son of William Bell II and Ann Carscallen. William was born July 18, 1787 and died November 8, 1864 in Tamworth, Sheffield Township, Lennox & Addington County. He is buried in the Tamworth United Church Cemetery.

In the Will of her grandfather, Thomas, she is referred to as Peggy.

Margaret and William have the following children:
Flora born December 27, 1807 in Fredericksburgh, Lennox & Addington County. She died at Tamworth, Sheffield Township, Lennox & Addington County; Catherine born September 11, 1809;
William Bell IV born April 21, 1811 at Newburgh, Lennox & Addington County. William married Esther Wheeler.
James Carscallen Bell born September 16, 1812, married Matilda Gonsolus;
Luke Bell born 1815 Sheffield Township, Lennox & Addington County, married Ann Clark;
Gilbert Bell born 1817 and died 1829 in Napanee, Ontario by drowning.
Andrew Bell born April 5, 1819, married Cloe Moore;
David Bell born July 10, 1821 married Caroline Clark.

Margaret received UEL by Order of Council May 25, 1825 according to William D. Reid’s Sons & Daughters of American Loyalists.

Margaret makes petition however, as follows:
  :   "To his Excellency The petition of Mgt. Bell alias Harns of Twp. of Fredericksburgh in the Midland Dist. Humbly Sheweth that your petitioners mother Catherine Harns alias Bartley, deceased was daughter to Isaiah Bartley, a U.E. Loyalist of said Frdsbgh and that the said Catherine never received --
Your petitioner only surviving child of said Catherine and now mother of a family so gran your petitioner proportion of land the Said Catherine --
Margaret X Bell
(mark) Darius Harns subs Witness dated 2/20/1811
RG1-L3, Vol. 68 --
B Bundle Misc
Pets 1-174 1788-1--"

In 1825 Margaret makes a further petition for land, this time it records Gilbert, her father, as swearing to her petition. Click here to view her petition.

Esther was born about 1790 in Fredericksburgh, Ontario. She married Abraham Stoneburg about 1813. Abraham was the son of Peter Stoneburg and Hannah Nix. He was born 1796 in Murray Township, Northumberland County and died 1873.
Esther was baptised August 2, 1812 in Fredericksburgh, Ontario by Reverend John Langhorn. UEL by Order of Council February 21, 1821 according to William D. Reid’s Sons & Daughters of American Loyalists. Esther and Abraham had the following children:
Peter McDougall Stoneburg, born March 8, 1820
Caroline Stoneburg, born 1821, died 1856
Esther A. Stoneburg, born July 3, 1824, died 1859. Esther married Lewis Terry on March 22, 1842.

Deborah was born June 29, 1791 in Fredericksburg, Ontario and died 1857 - Massassauga Point, Ontario. She married Richard Simmons in 1823 in Fredericksburg. Richard was born about 1791. Deborah married for a second time to John L. Wannamaker about 1830. John Wannamaker was the son of Andrew and Polly Wannamaker. John was born 1808 in New York, USA. UEL by order of Council February 6, 1823 according to William D. Reid’s Sons & Daughters of American Loyalists

Deborah and John had the following children:
John Christopher Wannamaker, born about 1830
Maria Wannamaker, born April 23, 1831
Mary Catherine Wannamaker born about 1833
Miranda Wannamaker born 1836
Andrew Wannamaker, born about 1842

Thomas was born on March 30, 1800 in Fredericksburg, Ontario. He married Drusilla Page about 1815. Drusilla was born about 1822. It might be noted here that Russ Waller also has Thomas Fraser born to Thomas and Deborah although this would be highly unlikely as Deborah would have been over 50 years old. UEL by order of Council on March 7, 1822 in Fredericksburgh according to Reid’s Sons & Daughters of American Loyalists.

The American Civil War Soldiers Index on Ancestry.com has a Thomas Herns who enlisted in Brooklyn N.Y. on 02/12/1863 giving his age as 43 in the Union Army. This is an unknown and may or may not have a connection.

Drusilla is recorded on the 1851 census, District 5 - Fredericksburgh, that has her listed as Druzella Page, age 23 and single. She would have been born according to this about 1828.

The children of Thomas and Drusilla are:
Sarah Jane Hearns, born about 1847
Georgiana Hearns, born about 1848. Georgiana married James Scott on July 24, 1865 in Fredericksburgh according to Fredericksburgh Marriages up to 1925. James was born about 1844.
Frances Hearns born about 1849. (The 1871 Census has a Frances Hearns aged about 19, therefore born about 1852 in Prince Edward County. It gives the religion as Episcopal Methodist, sex Female C-9965 RG31-Statistics Canada Page 37, Division 6, Subdistrict King (A) North York [043], however, she also denotes her origin as French)
James Wallace Hearns born about 1851 married Mary Ann Cornell on July 4, 1874 in Fredericksburgh, Ontario Fredericksburgh Marriages up to 1925. Mary Ann was born about 1855. Russ Waller has a son John recorded as the son of James and Mary, however since James was not born until 1851 it is highly unlikely that he is a son, but rather a sibling. The 1851 census shows James age 1 year and single.
John Hearns born about 1853