Frnm Swnrds fn PImiyhsharM; The Context for ŒgMW Soldier SfMlemfntiu MoY# SfoOa, 1710Ü775 Donald Brian Smith A Thesis submitted in partial fidBlhnent of the degree of Master of Arts (History) Saint Mary's University Halifax, Nova Scotia Copyright by Donald Brian Smith 2003 April 9th, 2003 Examining Committee Dr. Michael E. ^/ance Thesis Advisor , Dr. Jq|k G.jMd V Dr. Ron McDonald National Library Bibliothèque nationale of Canada du Canada Acquisitions and Acquisisitons et Bibliographic Services services bibliographiques 395 Wellington Street 395, rue Wellington Ottawa ON K1A0N4 Ottawa ON K1A0N4 Canada Canada Your file Votre référence ISBN: 0-612-83540-5 Our file Notre référence ISBN: 0-612-83540-5 The author has granted a non­ L'auteur a accordé une licence non exclusive licence allowing the exclusive permettant à la National Library of Canada to Bibliothèque nationale du Canada de reproduce, loan, distribute or sell reproduire, prêter, distribuer ou copies of this thesis in microform, vendre des copies de cette thèse sous paper or electronic formats. la forme de microfiche/film, de reproduction sur papier ou sur format électronique. The author retains ownership of theL'auteur conserve la propriété du copyright in this thesis. Neither thedroit d'auteur qui protège cette thèse. thesis nor substantial extracts from Niit la thèse ni des extraits substantiels may be printed or otherwise de celle-ci ne doivent être imprimés reproduced without the author's ou aturement reproduits sans son permission. autorisation. Canada Table of Contents Acknowledgements Page 4 Preface Page 5 Introduction Page 7 Chapter 1 : ^ Jo/aKftr f» /ik Page 14 Chapter 2: jBtÂitr/6 am/ ZVimz Page 46 Chapter 3: v4 CÙLT^ ^ Pagi^f.' T )f BtiAû/6, JFygm^ am/ ^ Alam jV»Aâ Page 65 Chapter 4: «Z Z%;6Zzm/ Jo/akrr /« ZVmz Jwz/a Page 85 Epilogue Page 118 Appendices Page 133 Bibliography Page 149 Abstract/Executive Summary Donald Brian Smith From Swords to Ploughshares: The Context for p igb W d Soldiçr.$çMlçm,snt Novïi .1710-1726 April 9th, 2003 This dissertation examines the circumstances whereby Scottish Hig^iland soldiers became settlers in Nova Scotia prior to the American Revolution. It details the process, commencing in the late seventeenth century, of the gradual integration of Hig^and regiments into the regular British Army and the deployment of these units to North America. It also demonstrates how the garrisoning of these soldiers in Nova Scotia was designed to both contain the French and deal with their allies, the indigenous Mi'kmaq. It argues that the policy to allow discharged soldiers to settlein the colonywas a product of these circumstances. While it has proven difGcult to locate individual soldiers, by either rank or nationality this thesis has uncovered enougb evidence to demonstrate that Highland sol­ diers were indeed settled in the colony prior to 1775 and that this aspect of Nova Scotian settlement history is worthy o f further investigation. Acknowledgements I would like to thank D r Michael Vance, my thesis supervisor at St. Mary's University for his flexibility and shared interest in many aspects o f Scottish history that Erst attracted me to St. Mary's to do my graduate program. It was Dr. Vance's extensive knowledge, guidance, Eiendship and padent leadership that kept me moving forward throu^ an extended study process. Without his support, encouragement and gentle persua­ sions, I could not have maintained the direction of my studies, and could easily have become a casuality along fhe road of academic pursuit. I would also like to thank Dr. John Reid of St. Mary's University for opening my eyes to the MlTCmaq of Nova Scotia and their long and difEcult series o f conflicts with the British throughout the greater part of the eigjiteenth century Thanks also to Dr. Ron McDonald, Manager of Cultural Affairs for the Hah&x Defence Complex, Department of Canadian Hedtage, for his leadership and insig^tfulness into the history of the British Army especially in Nova Scotia. I would be remiss if I did not also thank Dr. Ian Dowbiggin, Chair of the Department of History and Dr. Richard Kurial, Dean of Arts, at the University of Prince EdwardIsland for introducing me tothe study o f history and for their encouragement and their friendship. While not necessary I want to thank my wife Mary for her love, patience and understanding, and for doing much more than her share over the past ten years. And to my sons, Geoffrey with whom I shared three interesting years of undergraduate study Jonathan who has taught me patience through adversity and Jamieson who has shown me the importance o f sharing and having fun. As suggested by the late Jerry Garda, 'Svhat a long strange ride it's been..." Preface la the early Spnog of 1990 I was standing alone on CuHoden Moor, wind and rain blowing in my Eice. I recognized then I wanted to know more of the Highlanders who faced the Army of the Duke of Cumberland on April 16th, 1746, on this cold and damp piece of ground just east of Inverness. In the time diat has passed since the reafhrmation of my awakening to the Scottish military tradition, I have completed my Bachelor's of Arts degree and my Honours degree in history at the University of Prince Edward Island. With the acceptance of this thesis, I wiH have completed my Master's of Arts degree in History at St. Mary's University in Halifax — all in an effort to gain knowledge of a people who were the forbears of my father, his father, and his father before him. It was not long before I was emersed in the military ethos o f the eighteenth centu­ ry; searching wildly for a speHEc theme and time on which to focus that part of my energy reserved for academic pursuits. The idea to undertake research on the settlement of Hig^aland soldiers in Nova Scotia came from my supervisor. Dr. Michael Vance, now Chairman of the Department of History at St. Mary's University. Recognizing my interest in military history, and my desire to undertake research in som e field of Scottish history, Dr. Vance suggested examining the context of soldier-settlement, with a Scottish twist. It seemed the perfect compromise that would allow a review of the history of Hig^iland soldiers in the British army during the eighteendi centur]^ the Seven Yeats Wiar, and the settlement o f disbanded soldiers in Nova Scotia, while avoiding the Loyalist immigrations that foEowed the defeat of the British in 1776 and the potential quagmire o f genaeology that often accompanies settlement research. The challenge for this project lay in a joint-decision by Dr. Vance and myself to limit my research to private soldiers and non-commissioned officers, avoiding where possi­ ble the settlement of commissioned officers, especially those of senior rank. Given that private soldiers and sergeants did not carry their rank with them upon disbandment as did many senior oEScers, especially those on halF-pay^ the search became an interesting chal­ lenge Occassional references to junior ofGcers (Subalterns, Ensigns, Lieutenants and Captains) do surface, while those related to senior ofhcers (Majors, Lieutenant-Colonels and Colonels) are a rare occurance While sources such as land grant documents are help­ ful, they do not give the whole story — only that warrants were issued and grants given. This is not a military history, but one which is built around a military framework as relates to soldier-settlement within the context of Nova Scotia. To achieve this objective it was necessary to take a '%uilding-block" approach, which required a look into the ranks of the British Army to End Highland soldiers in North America. This, in turn, necessitated examination of the concepto f imperialism and its application as policy during the first half of the eighteenth century. Thislead me to the relationship between the French and British and the Mi'kmag of Nova Scotia, the French and Indian (the Seven Years Wat), and finally the settlement of Highland soldiers in Nova Scotia through landgrants offered by the Royal ProdamaEon of 1763. The development of the thesis became very much likecreating “a doughnut”,in which the hole is defined by the surrounding walls. The Colonial Office records at the Public Archives of Nova Scotia provided the primarysource material. In particular, the LandPapers helped locate grants to Highlanders, private soldiers and non-commissioned officers. The land grants records, while numerous, were less helpful as there is seldom any identification of former soldiers, although the occasional record will identify a senior offi- cer as the grantee. This paper is not an extensive record of Highland soldier-setdement in Nova Scotia. It is, however, an introduction to an important aspect of the history of Nova Scotia and a topic that requires more study^ possibly at the doctorate level Introduction A^üch bas been written of the social and economic conditions that prompted thousands of Scots to leave their homes and sail for new lands in British North America during the 18th century^ Not all who did so, however, were intentional immigrants. Prominent among those who settled in the North American colonies were Highland soldiers who left the British army when discharged, or when their reg^ents were disband­ ed following service to the King during the Seven Years' War (1756-1763). The wat; actually a continuation o f eadier Bg^ting suspended by the Treaty of Aix- la-ChapeUe in 1748, was fought extensively in North America, where it was referred to as the 'Trench and Indian War". It was, in fact, a war for empire, with Britain determined to end France's role as a colonial power.^ As James Hunter points out, it was also a war fought in part by Highland regiments whose leaders “had now concluded that their future, if they were to have one, lay in putting lingering Jacobite sympathies Brmly behind them and getting on to better termswith the Hanoverian establishment.This the French and Indian War was to enable them to do".^ With the capture o f the French fortress at Louisbotug in 1758 and the fall of Quebec in 1759, the conflict in North America drew to 1.