Yes! Of course, it depends on when and where your ancestor arrived in Canada. Some regions of Canada saw an influx of American immigrants in the mid to late 18th and early 19th century. You may hear the terms “New England Planter,” “United Empire Loyalist,” or “Late Loyalist.” Each of them arrived a different time and may qualify you for a different society.
“Late Loyalists” were called Loyalists because they had to swear a loyalty oath. However, most were economic migrants, taking advantage of land grants in what is now the Eastern Townships of Quebec. Many were related to American Revolution vets, and through them, may provide a qualifying line to the Daughters or Sons of the American Revolution. See my article on French-Canadian patriots in the summer 2019 issue of the National Genealogical Society Magazine for more details.
“United Empire Loyalists” fled to Canada during the American Revolution, either to escape the conflict or to support the British cause. There’s a Canadian lineage society recognizing them: https://uelac.ca/. Most loyalist families arrived in the United States in colonial period and may have been there for several generations prior to the War. As a result, their descendants likely qualify for a colonial society.
“New England planters” were brought from New England (largely CT, MA + RI) in the 1759 to 1764 period to Nova Scotia. (See https://archives.novascotia.ca/townships/planters/ for details.) The goal was to replace the Acadien population with English families. Many of these families had strong colonial roots. Their descendants likely qualify for a colonial society.
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