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£ Hfltn An Historical Account OF THE Settlements of Scotch Highlanders IN America Prior to the Peace of 1783 TOGETHER WITH NOTICES OF Highland Regiments AND Biographical Sketches BY J.° P. MacLean, Ph. D. Life Member Gaelic Society of Glasgow, and Clan MacLean Association of Glasgow; Corresponding Member Davenport Academy of Sciences, and Western Reserve Historical Society; Author of History of Clan MacLean, Antiquity of Man, The Mound Builders, Mastodon, Mammoth and Man, Norse Discovery of America, Fingal's Cave, Introduction Study St. John's Gospel, Jewish Nature Worship, etc. 523911 ILL USTRA TED. %0 k • 5f THE HELMAN-TAYLOR COMPANY. Cleveland. JOHN MACKAY, Glasgow. 1900. Highland Arms. To Colonel Sir Fitzroy Donald MacLean, Bart., C. B., President of The Highland Society of London, An hereditary Chief, honored by his Clansmen at home and abroad, on account of the kindly interest he takes in their welfare, as well as everything that relates to the Highlands, and though deprived of an ancient patrimony, his virtues and patriotism have done honor to the Gael, this Volume is Respectfully dedicated by the Author. " There's sighing and sobbing in yon Highland forest; There's weeping and wailing in yon Highland vale, And fitfully flashes a gleam from the ashes Of the tenantless hearth in the home of the Gael. There's a ship on the sea, and her white sails she's spreadin', A' ready to speed to a far distant shore; She may come hame again wi' the yellow gowd laden, But the sons of Glendarra shall come back no more. The gowan may spring by the clear-rinnin' burnie, The cushat may coo in the green woods again. The deer o' the mountain may drink at the fountain, Unfettered and free as the wave on the main; But the pibroch they played o'er the sweet blooming heather Is hushed in the sound of the ocean's wild roar; The song and the dance they hae vanish'd thegither, For the maids o' Glendarra shall come back no more." PREFACE. An attempt is here made to present a field that has not been preoccupied. The student of American history has noticed al- lusions to certain Scotch Highland settlements prior to the Revo- lution, without any attempt at either an account or origin of the same. In a measure the publication of certain state papers and colonial records, as well as an occasional memoir by an historical society have revived what had been overlooked. These settle- ments form a very important and interesting place in the early history of our country. While they may not have occupied a very prominent or pronounced position, yet their exertions in sub- duing the wilderness, their activity in the Revolution, and the wide influence exercised by the descendants of these hardy pio- neers, should, long since, have brought their history and achieve- ments into notice. The settlement in North Carolina, embracing a wide extent of territory, and the people numbered by the thousands, should, ere this, have found a competent exponent. But it exists more as a tradition than an actual colony. The Highlanders in Georgia more than acted their part against Spanish encroachments, yet survived all the vicissitudes of their exposed position. The stay of the Highlanders on the Mohawk was very brief, yet their flight into Canada and final settlement at Glengarry forms a very strange episode in the history of New York. The heartless treat- ment of the colony of Lachlan Campbell by the governor of the province of New York, and their long delayed recompense stands without a parallel, and is so strange and fanciful, that long since «t should have excited the poet or novelist. The settlements in Nova Scotia and Prince Edwards Island, although scarcely com- viii PREFA CM. menced at the breaking out of the Revolution, are more important in later events than those chronicled in this volume. The chapters on the Highlands, the Scotch-Irish, and the Darien scheme, have sufficient connection to warrant their in- sertion. It is a noticeable fact that notwithstanding the valuable ser- vices rendered by the Highland regiments in the French and In- dian war, but little account has been taken by writers, except in Scotland, although General David Stewart of Garth, as early as 1822, clearly paved the way. Unfortunately, his works, as well as those who have followed him, are comparatively unknown on this side the Atlantic. I was led to the searching out of this phase of our history, not only by the occasional allusions, but specially from reading works devoted to other nationalities engaged in the Revolution. Their achievements were fully set forth and their praises sung. Why should not the oppressed Gael, who sought the forests of the New World, struggled in the wilderness, and battled against foes, also be placed in his true light? If properly known, the artist would have a subject for his pencil, the poet a picture for his praises, and the novelist a strong background for his romance. Cleveland, O., October, 1898. TABLE OF CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. The Highlanders of Scotland. Division of Scotland—People of the Highlands—Language—Clanship —Chiefs—Customs— Special Characteristics—Fiery-Cross— Slogan—Modt of Battle—Forays—Feasts— Position of Woman—Marriage—Religious Toleration—Superstitions—Poets—Pipers—Cave of Coir-nan-Uriskin—The Harp—Gaelic Music—Costume—Scotland's Wars—War with Romans- Battle of Largs—Bannockburn—Flodden—Pinkie—Wars of Montrose— Bonnie Dundee—Earl of Mar—Prince Charles Stuart—Atrocities in the Wake of Culloden—Uncertainty of Travelers' Observations—Kidnapping —Emigration .' 17 CHAPTER II. The Scotch-Irish in America. Origin of the name of Scotland—Scoto-Irish—Ulster—Clandonald— Protestant Colonies in Ireland—Corruption of Names—Percentage of in Revolution—Characteristics—Persecuted—Emigration from Ulster—First Scotch-Irish Clergyman in America—Struggle for Religious Liberty—Set- tlement at Worcester—History of the Potato—Pelham—Warren and Blandford—Colerain—Londonderry—Settlements in Maine—New York— New Jersey—Pennsylvania—The Revolution—Maryland—Virginia—Pat- rick Henry—Daniel Morgan—George Rogers Clark—North Carolina—Bat- tle of King's Mountain—South Carolina—Georgia—East Tennessee—Ken- tucky—Canada—Industrial Arts—Distinctive Characteristics 40 CHAPTER III. Causes that Led to Emigration. Results of Clanship—Opposed to Emigration—Emigration to Ulster— Expatriation of 7000—Changed Condition of Highlanders—Lands Rented —Dissatisfaction—Luxurious Landlords—Action of Chiefs in Skye—De- plorable State of Affairs—Sheep-Farming—Improvements—Buchanan's Description—Famine—Class of Emigrants—America—Hardships and Dis- appointments ^° CHAPTER IV. Darien Scheme. First Highlanders in America—Disastrous Speculation—Ruinous Leg- islation—Massacre of Glencoe—Darien Scheme Projected—William Pater- son—Fabulous Dreams—Company Chartered—Scotland Excited—Sub- x COM II N is. Bcriptions Lis1 of Subscribers Spanish Sovereignty ovei Darien Eno 1 1 1 1 [ealousj and Opposition Dutch Easl [ndia Company King Williams Duplicity English and Dutch Subscriptions Withdrawn (iicat I'n-para tions Purchase of Ships Sailing of First Expedition Settlement of St. and Andrews Great Sufferings St, Andrews Abandoned The Caledonia i in. «. in Arrive al New Yml; Recriminations The St. Andrews The Dolphin King Refuses Supplies Relief Senl Spaniards Aggressive Second Expedition Highlanders Disappointed Expectations Discordanl Vent Clergy How New. was Received in Scotland Give to Rage King William's Indifference Campbell of Fonab Escape Capitulation of Dai ien Colony Ships Destroyed Final End of Settlers 75 ( HAPTER V. Highlanders in North Carolina. On the ('ape Fear -Town Established Highlanders Patronized At rival of Neil McNeill Action of Legislature Lisl of Grantees Wave of Emigration Represented in Legislature (ninny Prosperous Stamp Act Genius oi Liberty Letter to Highlanders Emigrants from Jura Lands Allotted War of Regulators Campbelton Chartei Public Road Public clan Buildings al Campbelton Petition for Pardon Highland Costume Macdonald Emigration Allan Macdonald of Kingsbt gh American Revolution Sale of Public Offices Aliunde. if Patriots Provincial Con gress Highlanders Objects oi Consideration Reverend John McLeod Committee to Confei with Highlanders British Confidence Governoi Martin Provincial Congress of 177s Farquhard Campbell Arrival oi the George Othei Arrivals Oaths Administered Distressed Condition Pe tition to Virginia Convention War Party in the Ascendant American Views Highlanders Fail t<> Understand Conditions Reckless tndiffet ence of Leaders General Donald Macdonald British Campaign Govei nor Martin Manipulates a Revolt- -Macdonald's Manifesto Rutherford's Manifesto Highlanders in Rebellion Standard at Cross Creek March for Wilmington Country Alarmed Correspondence Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge Overthrow of Highlanders Prescribed Parole Prisoners < Allan Let Address ongress Action of Sir William Howe Macdonald's in On Parole Effects His Exchange Letter to Members of Congress Cornwallis to Clinton Military at Cross Creek Women Protected Relig inns Status 103 Oil A I'd I'M VI. I I [0HLANDER8 in GEORGIA. English Treatmenl of Poot [mprisonmenl for Debt Oglethorpe's Selects Philantnropj Asylum Projected Oglethorpe Sails £01 Georgia the Site of Savannah Fori Argyle ( olonisis of Different Nationalities Towns Established Why Highlanders were Selected Oglethorpe Returns hound to England Highland Emigrants I haracter of John Macleod ing of New Inverness Oglethorpe Sails fot Georgia Visits the Highland ers Fori St. Andrews Spaniards Aggressive Messengers Imprisoned Spanish Perfidy