An Historical Account of the Settlements of Scotch Highlanders in AmericaMacLean, J. P. (John Patterson)
History
An Historical Account of the Settlements of Scotch Highlanders in America
MacLean, J. P. (John Patterson)
Scots -- America; Scots -- United States
Finally he threw off the mask, or else had changed his views, and openly
espoused the cause of his country's enemies. He was seized at his own
house, while entertaining a party of royalists, and thrown into Halifax
gaol. A committee of the Provincial Congress, on April 20, 1776;
reported "that Farquhard Campbell disregarding the sacred Obligations he
had voluntarily entered into to support the Liberty of America against
all usurpations has Traitorously and insidiously endeavored to excite
the Inhabitants of this Colony to take arms and levy war in order to
assist the avowed enemies thereof. That when a prisoner on his parole of
honor he gave intelligence of the force and intention of the American
Army under Col. Caswell to the Enemy and advised them in what manner
they might elude them."[39]
He was sent, with other prisoners, to Baltimore, and thence, on parole,
to Fredericktown, where he behaved "with much resentment and
haughtiness." On March 3, 1777, he appealed to Governor Caswell to be
permitted to return home, offering to mortgage his estate for his good
behavior.[40] Several years after the Revolution he was a member of the
Senate of North Carolina.
The stormy days of discussion, excitement, and extensive preparations
for war, in 1775, did not deter the Highlanders in Scotland from seeking
a home in America. On October 21st, a body of one hundred and
seventy-two Highlanders, including men, women and children arrived in
the Cape Fear river, on board the George, and made application for lands
near those already located by their relatives. The governor took his
usual precautions with them, for in a letter to the earl of Dartmouth,
dated November 12th, he says:
"On the most solemn assurances of their firm and unalterable loyalty
and attachment to the King, and their readiness to lay down their
lives in the support and defence of his Majesty's Government, I was
induced to Grant their request on the Terms of their taking such
lands in the proportions allowed by his Majesty's Royal Instructions,
and subject to all the conditions prescribed by them whenever grants
may be passed in due form, thinking it were advisable to attach these
people to Government by granting as matter of favor and courtesy to
them what I had not power to prevent than to leave them to possess
themselves by violence of the King's lands, without owing or
acknowledging any obligation for them, as it was only the means of
securing these People against the seditions of the Rebels, but
gaining so much strength to Government that is equally important at
this time, without making any concessions injurious to the rights and
interests of the Crown, or that it has effectual power to
withhold."[41]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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