Thomas Dorland
Encyclopedia
Thomas Dorland was a farmer, soldier and political figure in Upper Canada
.
Born in Dutchess County, New York
, Dorland was a member of a family of Dutch Quaker
s; the family name was originally spelled "Dorlandt". During the American Revolution
, he broke with Quaker doctrines against violence and fought with the British
and became member of a company of soldiers led by Peter Van Alstine
. After the war, he settled in Adolphustown Township
in Upper Canada and later joined the Church of England
.
He was appointed justice of the peace in the Midland District in 1800 and also represented Lennox
and Addington
in the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada
from 1804 to 1812. He was a captain in the local militia and served during the War of 1812
. From 1802 to 1824, Dorland operated a ferry
between Adolphustown and Van Alstine's Mills (Glenora
) in Prince Edward County
.
He died at Adolpustown in 1832.
His brother Philip
had been elected to the 1st Parliament of Upper Canada
but was unseated because, as a practicing Quaker, he refused to take the oath of office.
Upper Canada
The Province of Upper Canada was a political division in British Canada established in 1791 by the British Empire to govern the central third of the lands in British North America and to accommodate Loyalist refugees from the United States of America after the American Revolution...
.
Born in Dutchess County, New York
Dutchess County, New York
Dutchess County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York, in the state's Mid-Hudson Region of the Hudson Valley. The 2010 census lists the population as 297,488...
, Dorland was a member of a family of Dutch Quaker
Religious Society of Friends
The Religious Society of Friends, or Friends Church, is a Christian movement which stresses the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers. Members are known as Friends, or popularly as Quakers. It is made of independent organisations, which have split from one another due to doctrinal differences...
s; the family name was originally spelled "Dorlandt". During the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
, he broke with Quaker doctrines against violence and fought with the British
Kingdom of Great Britain
The former Kingdom of Great Britain, sometimes described as the 'United Kingdom of Great Britain', That the Two Kingdoms of Scotland and England, shall upon the 1st May next ensuing the date hereof, and forever after, be United into One Kingdom by the Name of GREAT BRITAIN. was a sovereign...
and became member of a company of soldiers led by Peter Van Alstine
Peter Van Alstine
Peter Van Alstine was a farmer, soldier and political figure in Upper Canada.He was born in Kinderhook, New York in 1743. He served as a major in a Loyalist regiment during the American Revolution. He helped settle a group of Quakers and a number of former Loyalist soldiers in the Bay of Quinte...
. After the war, he settled in Adolphustown Township
Adolphustown, Ontario
Adolphustown is a geographic area located in Greater Napanee, Ontario, Canada, at on the Adolphus Reach of the Bay of Quinte in Lake Ontario. It was founded in 1784 by United Empire Loyalists. The original Loyalist Landing site is now the U.E.L...
in Upper Canada and later joined the Church of England
Anglican Church of Canada
The Anglican Church of Canada is the Province of the Anglican Communion in Canada. The official French name is l'Église Anglicane du Canada. The ACC is the third largest church in Canada after the Roman Catholic Church and the United Church of Canada, consisting of 800,000 registered members...
.
He was appointed justice of the peace in the Midland District in 1800 and also represented Lennox
Lennox County, Ontario
Lennox County is a historic county in what is now the Canadian province of Ontario.As an upper-tier municipality, the county of Lennox was created on paper in 1792, but has never existed as a discrete municipal entity. From 1792 until 1864, it was part of the United Counties of Frontenac, Lennox...
and Addington
Addington County, Ontario
Addington County is a historic county in what is now the Canadian province of Ontario.It was named after Henry Addington, 1st Viscount Sidmouth. As an upper-tier municipality, the county of Addington was created on paper in 1792, but has never existed as a discrete municipal entity. From 1792...
in the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada
Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada
The Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada was created by the Constitutional Act of 1791. It was the elected legislature for the province of Upper Canada and functioned as the province's lower house in the Parliament of Upper Canada...
from 1804 to 1812. He was a captain in the local militia and served during the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
. From 1802 to 1824, Dorland operated a ferry
Ferry
A ferry is a form of transportation, usually a boat, but sometimes a ship, used to carry primarily passengers, and sometimes vehicles and cargo as well, across a body of water. Most ferries operate on regular, frequent, return services...
between Adolphustown and Van Alstine's Mills (Glenora
Glenora, Ontario
Glenora is a community in the Canadian province of Ontario, on the north shore of the Bay of Quinte.The Bay of Quinte is a long narrow inlet on the north shore of Lake Ontario.A ferry connects the two shores between Glenora and Adolphustown....
) in Prince Edward County
Prince Edward County, Ontario
Prince Edward County is a single-tier municipality and a census division of the Canadian province of Ontario.-Geography:Prince Edward County is located in Southern Ontario on a large irregular headland or littoral at the eastern end of Lake Ontario, just west of the head of the St. Lawrence River...
.
He died at Adolpustown in 1832.
His brother Philip
Philip Dorland
Philip Dorland was a farmer and political figure in Upper Canada.He was born in 1755 in Dutchess County, New York and settled in Adolphustown Township in Upper Canada. He was elected to the 1st Parliament of Upper Canada representing Prince Edward and Adolphustown but refused to take the oath of...
had been elected to the 1st Parliament of Upper Canada
1st Parliament of Upper Canada
The 1st Parliament of Upper Canada was opened 17 September 1792. Elections in Upper Canada had been held in August 1792. All sessions were held at Navy Hall in Newark, later Niagara-on-the-Lake...
but was unseated because, as a practicing Quaker, he refused to take the oath of office.