The  British  Government  then  appointed  commissioners  to  ascertain
the  losses  sustained  by  the  Loyalists.  The  commissioners  began  their
labors  in  1783,  and  from  time  to  time  made  reports  of  the  results  of
their  investigations.  The  twelfth  and  last  report  was  made  in  1790,
when  the  whole  matter  was  finally  disposed  of;  the  Government  paying,
in  liquidation  of  the  claims  satisfactorily  proved,  fifteen  and  a  half
millions  of  dollars.
The  "History  of  the  Loyalists,"  by  Lorenzo  Sabine,  gives  brief
sketches  of  some  of  the  men  who  came  from  New  Jersey,  New  York,
and  elsewhere  to  Shelburne,  and  thence  to  Tusket  and  Yarmouth  at  the
close  of  the  war.  Mr.  Sabine  visited  Yarmouth  in  1861,  to  collect
material  for  his  work ;  and  some  of  his  notices,  which  will  interest
Yarmouth  readers,  are  here  reproduced.
"  Tunis  Blauvelt  of  New  Jersey ;  in  the  war  an  active  partisan.
Lost  considerable  property  in  consequence  of  his  loyalty.  At  the  peace,
went  to  Shelburne,  N.S.,  with  a  family  of  six,  and  three  servants.
Settled  finally  at  Tusket,  where  he  kept  a  boarding-house.  Died  in
1830,  leaving  seven  children,  of  whom  two  are  now  (1861)  ship-masters.
His  second  wife  was  Hannah,  daughter  of  Gabriel  Van  Norden.
"  Gabriel  Van  Norden  of  New  Jersey.  At  the  beginning  of  the
war,  he  removed  to  New  York,  where  he  opened  a  house  of  entertain-
ment. At  the  peace,  accompanied  by  his  family  of  eleven  persons
and  three  servants,  he  went  from  New  York  to  Shelburne,  where  the
Government  granted  him  a  town-lot.     His  losses  in  consequence  of  his


THE  LOYALISTS,  241

loyalty  were  estimated  at  fifteen  hundred  pounds,  for  which  the  British
Government  made  provision.  He  settled  near  Yarmouth  (at  Arcadia) ,
and  died,  quite  old,  in  18 10.
