#52Ancestors Week 7, "Outcast"

 #52Ancestors ... Week 7 ...  "Outcast"

This week I introduce you to an "outcast" in my family.... one of my 4th Great Grand-Uncles, Reuben Lively.  He was exiled from our country, for pledging his allegiance to Britain.  Let's take a peek...

Reuben Lively was born in the backcountry of South Carolina around 1756. We believe his parents to be Mark and Martha (possible maiden name of Porter) Lively. I word it that way, because I don't think anyone has found 100% proof of the parents yet. There are theories... like Mark and Martha. At any rate, he WAS a brother to my 4th Great Grandfather, "Old John" Lively (who would later wind up settling the Illinois territory).

I imagine his childhood to be normal for the time... farm life and the occasional hostile Indians (the 96 District was considered Indian territory up to the mid to late 1760's). When the American Revolution came about, Reuben, his father and brothers found themselves on the side of the British. In a statement dated 1786, Reuben says the following... "My father was friendly to Britain. I, myself, avoided serving with the Americans by being under age and never took an oath to the Americans, nor took up arms with them, except for six months against the Indians." He joined the British in 1779 after the taking of "Charlestown", at 96 as a militiaman. His father was killed at the 96 fort in 1781, during a 28 day siege. At that time, Reuben says he owned 250 acres of land in District 96 (from his wife, Mary Liddell, whom he'd married in 1780). He had a house and 21 acres of cultivated land. He had owned 15 horses, 30 head of cattle, 30 hogs and 6 slaves. A friend, Thomas Parker, states those things mentioned were all taken "by the Americans."

At the end of the Revolution, Reuben's brother John (my 4th Great Grand) chose to take oath to America. Reuben, however, kept his allegiance to England, and in 1784 was given 500 acres of land in Nova Scotia. Rawdon Township (now Hants County, NS) was formed in 1784 by the government for the Loyalist refugees from the 96th District of South Carolina and St. Augustine, Florida.

Reuben and Mary thrived, and had 9 known children. Mary also had a daughter from her previous marriage. A portion of Reuben's original land is still in the family (however distant the relation may be). It's part of the Withrow Farm Market now, and Reuben's daughter Martha married a Withrow, as did his step-daughter, Ann.

Reuben died about Sept. 3, 1826, and is buried in St. Paul's Anglican Church Cemetery in Rawdon.