What's a UEL?

In the post about Hannah Plato I said the answer to "What's a UEL?" was the subject of another post. This is it.

UEL stands for United Empire Loyalists, an honorific bestowed by Lord Dorchester upon American Loyalists who resettled in British North America (i.e. Canada) during or after the American Revolution. He was the governor of Quebec and Governor-General of British North America.

Lord Dorchester declared "that it was his Wish to put the mark of Honour upon the Families who had adhered to the Unity of the Empire". As a result of his statement, the printed militia rolls carried the notation:

"Those Loyalists who have adhered to the Unity of the Empire, and joined the Royal Standard before the Treaty of Separation in the year 1783, and all their Children and their Descendants by either sex, are to be distinguished by the following Capitals, affixed to their names: U.E. Alluding to their great principle The Unity of the Empire."

Besides the honor, men denoted as U.E.s received grants of land and their children were entitled to grants of 200 acres upon reaching majority.

My ancestor Christian Plato was a U.E., as was his son Peter. Both lost everything they owned in New York State when they served with Butler's Rangers. Peter was a bachelor during the War, but Christian's family had to flee to Niagara. His wife, Margareta May Plato, died during the journey. But their stories will be the subject of another post.