Colonel Joseph Ryerson's Obituary

" Died, at his residence, near Vittoria, county of Norfolk, on "Wednesday, the 9th of August, 1854, after a short illness of three days, Colonel Joseph Ryerson (father of the Rev. Messrs. George, William, John, Egerton, and Edwy Ryerson), in the ninety-fourth year of his age."

" Colonel Ryerson was born near Paterson, New Jersey, about fourteen miles from the city of New York, the 28th of February, 1761. His ancestors were from Holland; he was the seventh son; he lost his father in childhood. At the breaking out of the American revolution, two of the brothers entered the British army."

"His [Colonel Joseph Ryerson's] funeral was attended by a large concourse of people — especially of the old inhabitants. Six of his old neighbours acted as pall-bearers — namely, Colonel Potts, F. Walsh, Aquilla Walsh, Abner Owen, Joseph Culver, and S. Ellis, Esquires — whose joint ages amounted to almost 400 years. The Scripture lesson was read, and prayers offered up at the house by the Rev. Mr. Clement, Wesleyan minister; and the service was read at the grave by the Rev. George Salmon (an old friend of the family), in the absence of the Rev. Mr. Evans, rector of Woodhouse, to the erection of the church of which rectory Colonel Ryerson had been the largest contributor. " Colonel Ryerson is probably the last of the old United Empire Loyalists in Canada who joined the British army in 1776 — a race of men remarkable for longevity and energy, and a noble enthusiasm for British institutions." Page 259 of The Loyalists Of America