Notes for Garret SIXBY

Notes for Garret SIXBY

Gerret was a United Empire Loyalist. He served with Butler's Rangers.
Gerret was known to be in Albany for the christening of Gerret, the son of his
sister on April 23, 1780, so the time frame of his departure to Canada is
narrowed down to a date after April of 1780.

Reecords of the Dutch Reformed Church, Albany, NY
1751, May 19, Gerrit, of Evert Siksberry and Elsje Egmond. Wit.: Gerrit and Ariaantje Lansing.

FACTS:

On April 23, 1780, Gerrit sponsored the christening of Gerrit Van Valkenburg, a son of his sister Catharina:
1780, Apr. 23. bo. Mar. 9. Gerrit of Jacobus V. Valkenburg and Catharina Siksby. Wit. Gerrit Siksby, Marritje Olfer.

Gerret was a United Empire Loyalist. He reportedly served with Butler'sRangers, although no records of this service have been uncovered.

The New Loyalist Index, Paul J. Bunnell AG, UE
Sigsby, Gerrit
Was a yeoman. Judgement: 14 July 1783
From West District; Manor of Rensselaer, NY to Canada
CL: Land taken, Albany Co., NY

Immigration; 1784; District of Bedford, St. Armand West (Philipsburg),
Missisquoi Co, Quebec, Canada. 5 History of the Eastern Townships by C. M.
Day Page 313

"The first permanent settlement made in St. Armand was in the
autumn of 1784."

"The names of the first party of settlers were, John Ruiter, Alexander Taylor, Christjohn Wehr, Harmonas Best, Adam Deal, Lewis Streit, Christjohn Hayner, Conrad Best, Alexander Hyatt, Gilbert Hyatt, John Saxe, Jacob Barr, John Mock, Philip Luke, Joseph Smith, Garret Sixby, James Anderson, Frederick Hayner, and Peter Mills." (Miller)

"Several of these men afterwards removed to other sections of the townships, becoming agents or associates."

Contrary to assertions made in "Romance of the Palatine Millers", it appears that Garret Sixby left the Albany area of New York at about 1782

The following is a folk story. Some of the story doesn't match up with facts, Garret died in 1835:
The Montreal Daily Witness, Tuesday, October 28, 1890
CANADIAN STORIES
The Battle of Moore’s Corners and Those Who Fought It.
A Sharp Day’s Work In The Eastern Townships During the Rebellion of 1837
St. Armand station, formerly known as Moore’s Corners, is situated on the Montreal and Vermont Junction Railway, in the Parish of St. Armand West. It originally belonged to the Seigniory of St. Armand, and, after several changes, a large part of it passed into the hands of Nicholas Moore, a United Empire Loyalist, who left home in Duchess County, New York, after the Revolutionary War, and settled here; hence the old name.
Its first settlers were Garret Sixby, Joseph Smith, Frederick Hayner and Peter Miller. Mr. Sixby and Mr. Smith were also United Empire Loyalists from New York State.
During the war, finding that it would be necessary to leave their old homes if they did not wish to take up arms against the mother country, they chose the former and came to Canada. They both afterwards served in this war, but under the British flag. Even now St. Armand is a small place, hardly worthy of the name village, and at the time of which I write merely consisted of a few houses.
Early on the morning of the 6th of December 1837, during the French Rebellion, a band of rebels, led by a man named Julien Gagnon, passed through Missiquoi Bay, the Phillipsburgh of today. Here they were confronted by Ralph Taylor, who ordered them to stop. Their only notice of his summons was to knock Mr. Taylor down and take from him his gun which he carried at the time.
Late in the afternoon the rebels returned and their loud talk could be heard while they were yet some distance off. Since morning their numbers and munitions had been considerably increased, and they had been drinking very freely as well; so it will be thought no wonder that they were extremely boisterous. When they came to Captain Sixby’s after re-crossing the Province line, the forcibly carried away with them a man by the name of Michael McGrath and some colts.