Little Forks Branch reports - for United Empire Loyalists

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Miss Mildred Waldron’s commentary centred on East Clifton, once a close-knit community of 118
families as opposed to the 12 families of today. High Forest shares with East Clifton an elevated area,
extremely isolated in early days, now staunchly dedicated to preserving their identity. Miss Waldron
related amusing anecdotes about the meanest man in town who would not allow his wife to wear shoes.
Once, accompanied by a friend, when she dared to venture to another town and bought some dishes, he
smashed every one of them when she returned. There was the story of an Irish wake when the corpse was
left in the custody of a lone mourner who removed the body from the coffin and propped it in the corner
of the room, at the same time administering strong drink, perhaps in an effort to restore life. Miss
Waldron stressed that although there were many hardships, the bitter cold winter predominating, there
were many compensations in happiness derived from shared experiences and the fellowship obtained from
helping each other.
Passengers showed their appreciation with hearty applause for an enjoyable and memorable trip.
Charles Sheppard, U.E., President of Little Forks Branch and Beverley Loomis, U.E., Branch Genealogist,
organized the trip. Lionel Hurd, U.E., a HONG KONG VETERAN, planned the route.
1991 Fall
T
his September, Glenn Taylor was a guest at the City Hall in Sherbrooke where he signed the Honour
Guest Book and was presented with a lovely book of photographs of the city of Sherbrooke. In
attendance were members of Little Forks Branch, several historical and genealogical societies, the Mayor
of Ascot, the Mayor of Lennoxville, members of Bishop’s University. CBC and local television were
there to film the event.
Members of our Branch were very happy to have had Glenn visit us and leave such a mark on our
community. Our newly-formed Branch certainly received great publicity!
Bev. Loomis, U.E., Genealogist
Gilbert Hyatt’s line
[Editor’s Note: The following article from September 13, 1991, appears courtesy of Dan Hawaleshka and The Record,
Sherbrooke, Québec]
Sherbrooke Finds Its Founder
By Dan Hawaleshka
LENNOXVILLE – Get the balloons and party hats out – Ascot has bicentennial to celebrate in 1992.
Until Thursday there had been some doubt whether Ascot’s 200 th birthday should be celebrated next year
or in 1996. The problem was conflicting historical documents.
But with the recent discovery of a direct descendant of Gilbert Hyatt, who first surveyed Ascot and
founded Sherbrooke, the controversy has been put to rest – and none too soon at that.
Glenn Taylor, 74, is a retired newspaperman from Phoenix, Arizona. But more important in the Eastern
Townships is Taylor’s relationship to Gilbert Hyatt. The founder of Sherbrooke was Taylor’s great-greatgreat
grandfather. Taylor is Hyatt’s first direct descendant to be traced in living memory.
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