Edward Jessup

Edward Jessup, soldier, Loyalist, founder of Prescott (b at Stamford, Conn Dec 1735; d at Prescott, UC 29 June 1809). He supported the British cause throughout the American Revolution, raising the King's Loyal Americans and serving during the Burgoyne campaign of 1777.

Edward Jessup, soldier, Loyalist, founder of Prescott (b at Stamford, Conn Dec 1735; d at Prescott, UC 29 June 1809). He supported the British cause throughout the American Revolution, raising the King's Loyal Americans and serving during the Burgoyne campaign of 1777. His corps and others were reorganized to form the Loyal Rangers or Jessup's Corps in November 1781. After limited service on frontier raids, the rangers were disbanded in December 1783. In common with other Loyalist units, they were assigned lands in present-day Ontario. Jessup settled in Augusta Township, serving as justice of the peace and lieutenant-colonel of militia. He went to England seeking Loyalist compensation but eventually returned to the area of the upper St Lawrence and founded the town of Prescott.