An Historical Account of the Settlements of Scotch Highlanders in America Part 6

[Footnote 19: "Darien Papers," p. 176.]

[Footnote 20: "Doc.u.ments Relating to Colonial History of New York," Vol.

IV, p. 711.]

CHAPTER V.

THE HIGHLANDERS IN NORTH CAROLINA.

The earliest, largest and most important settlement of Highlanders in America, prior to the Peace of 1783, was in North Carolina, along Cape Fear River, about one hundred miles from its mouth, and in what was then Bladen, but now c.u.mberland County. The time when the Highlanders began to occupy this territory is not definitely known; but some were located there in 1729, at the time of the separation of the province into North and South Carolina. It is not known what motive caused the first settlers to select that region. There was no leading clan in this movement, for various ones were well represented. At the headwaters of navigation these pioneers literally pitched their tent in the wilderness, for there were but few human abodes to offer them shelter.

The chief occupants of the soil were the wild deer, turkeys, wolves, racc.o.o.ns, opossums, with huge rattlesnakes to contest the intrusion.

Fortunately for the homeless immigrant the climate was genial, and the stately tree would afford him shelter while he constructed a house out of logs proffered by the forest. Soon they began to fell the primeval forest, grub, drain, and clear the rich alluvial lands bordering on the river, and plant such vegetables as were to give them subsistence.

In course of time a town was formed, called Campbellton, then Cross Creek, and after the Revolution, in honor of the great Frenchman, who was so truly loyal to Was.h.i.+ngton, it was permanently changed to Fayetteville.

The immigration to North Carolina was accelerated, not only by the accounts sent back to the Highlanders of Scotland by the first settlers, but particularly under the patronage of Gabriel Johnston, governor of the province from 1734 until his death in 1752. He was born in Scotland, educated at the University of St. Andrews, where he became professor of Oriental languages, and still later a political writer in London. He bears the reputation of having done more to promote the prosperity of North Carolina than all its other colonial governors combined. However, he was often arbitrary and unwise with his power, besides having the usual misfortune of colonial governors of being at variance with the legislature. He was very partial to the people of his native country, and sought to better their condition by inducing them to emigrate to North Carolina. Among the charges brought against him, in 1748, was his inordinate fondness for Scotchmen, and even Scotch rebels. So great, it was alleged, was his partiality for the latter that he showed no joy over the king's "glorious victory of Culloden;" and "that he had appointed one William McGregor, who had been in the Rebellion in the year 1715, a Justice of the Peace during the late Rebellion (1745) and was not himself without suspicion of disaffection to His Majesty's Government."[21]

The "Colonial Records of North Carolina" contain many distinctively Highland names, most of which refer to persons whose nativity was in the Scottish Highlands; but these furnish no certain criterion, for doubtless some of the parties, though of Highland parents, were born in the older provinces, while in later colonial history others belong to the Scotch-Irish, who came in that great wave of migration from Ulster, and found a lodgment upon the headwaters of the Cape Fear, Pee Dee and Neuse. Many of the early Highland emigrants were very prominent in the annals of the colony, among whom none were more so than Colonel James Innes, who was born about the year 1700 at Cannisbay, a town on the extreme northern point of the coast of Scotland. He was a personal friend of Governor Dinwiddie of Virginia, who in 1754 appointed him commander-in-chief of all the forces in the expedition to the Ohio,--George Was.h.i.+ngton being the colonel commanding the Virginia regiment. He had previously seen some service as a captain in the unsuccessful expedition against Carthagenia.

The real impetus of the Highland emigration to North Carolina was the arrival, in 1739, of a "s.h.i.+pload," under the guidance of Neil McNeill, of Kintyre, Scotland, who settled also on the Cape Fear, amongst those who had preceded him. Here he found Hector McNeill, called "Bluff Hector," from his residence near the bluffs above Cross Creek.

Neil McNeill, with his countrymen, landed on the Cape Fear during the month of September. They numbered three hundred and fifty souls, princ.i.p.ally from Argyles.h.i.+re. At the ensuing session of the legislature they made application for substantial encouragement, that they might thereby be able to induce the rest of their friends and acquaintances to settle in the country. While this pet.i.tion was pending, in order to encourage them and others and also to show his good will, the governor appointed, by the council of the province, a certain number of them justices of the peace, the commissions bearing date of February 28, 1740. The proceedings show that it was "ordered that a new commission of peace for Bladen directed to the following persons: Mathew Rowan, Wm.

Forbes, Hugh Blaning, John Clayton, Robert Hamilton, Griffeth Jones, James Lyon, Duncan Campbel, Dugold McNeil, Dan McNeil, Wm. Bartram and Samuel Baker hereby const.i.tuting and appointing them Justices of the Peace for the said county."[22]

These were the first so appointed. The pet.i.tion was first heard in the upper house of the legislature, at Newbern, and on January 26, 1740, the following action was taken:

"Resolved, that the Persons mentioned in said Pet.i.tion, shall be free from payment of any Publick or County tax for Ten years next ensuing their Arrival.

"Resolved, that towards their subsistence the sum of one thousand pounds be paid out of the Publick money, by His Excellency's warrant to be lodged with Duncan Campbell, Dugald McNeal, Daniel McNeal.

Coll. McAlister and Neal McNeal Esqrs., to be by them distributed among the several families in the said Pet.i.tion mentioned.

"Resolved, that as an encouragement for Protestants to remove from Europe into this Province, to settle themselves in bodys or Towns.h.i.+ps, That all such as shall so remove into this Province.

Provided they exceed forty persons in one body or Company, they shall be exempted from payment of any Publick or County tax for the s.p.a.ce of Ten years, next ensuing their Arrival.

"Resolved, that an address be presented to his Excellency the Governor to desire him to use his Interest, in such manner, as he shall think most proper to obtain an Instruction for giveing encouragement to Protestants from foreign parts, to settle in Towns.h.i.+ps within this Province, to be set apart for that purpose after the manner, and with such priviledges and advantages, as is practised in South Carolina."[23]

The pet.i.tion was concurred in by the lower house on February 21st, and on the 26th, after reciting the action of the upper house in relation to the pet.i.tion, pa.s.sed the following:

"Resolved, That this House concurs with the several Resolves of the Upper House in the abovesd Message Except that relateing to the thousand pounds which this House refers till next Session of a.s.sembly for Consideration."[24]

At a meeting of the council held at Wilmington, June 4, 1740, there were presented pet.i.tions for patents of lands, by the following persons, giving acres and location, as granted:

Name. Acres. County.

Thos Clarks 320 N. Hanover James McLachlan 160 Bladen Hector McNeil 300 "

Duncan Campbell 150 "

James McAlister 640 "

James McDugald 640 "

Duncan Campbell 75 "

Hugh McCraine 500 "

Duncan Campbell 320 "

Gilbert Pattison 640 "

Rich Lovett 855 Tyrrel Rd Earl 108 N. Hanover Jno McFerson 320 Bladen Duncan Campbell 300 "

Neil McNeil 150 "

Duncan Campbell 140 "

Jno Clark 320 "

Malcolm McNeil 320 "

Neil McNeil 400 "

Arch Bug 320 "

Name. Acres. County.

Duncan Campbel 640 Bladen Jas McLachlen 320 "

Murdock McBraine 320 "

Jas Campbel 640 "

Patric Stewart 320 "

Arch Campley 320 "

Dan McNeil 105 (400) 400 "

Neil McNeil 400 "

Duncan Campbel 320 "

Jno Martileer 160 "

Daniel McNeil 320 "

Wm Stevens 300 "

Dan McNeil 400 "

Jas McLachlen 320 "

Wm Speir 160 Edgecombe Jno Clayton 100 Bladen Sam Portevint 640 N. Hanover Charles Harrison 320 "

Robt Walker 640 "

Jas Smalwood 640 "

Wm Faris 400 640 640 "

Richd Carlton 180 Craven Duncan Campbel 150 Bladen Neil McNeil 321 "

Alex McKey 320 "

Henry Skibley 320 "

Jno Owen 200 "

Duncan Campbel 400 "

Dougal Stewart 640 "

Arch Dougla.s.s 200 N. Hanover James Murray 320 "

Robt Clark 200 "

Duncan Campbel 148 Bladen James McLachlen 320 "

Arch McGill 500 "

Jno Speir 100 Edgecombe James Fergus 640 "

Rufus Marsden 640 "

Hugh Blaning 320 (surplus land) Bladen Robt Hardy 400 Beaufort Wm Jones 354 350 [25]

All the above names, by no means are Highland; but as they occur in the same list, in all probability, came on the same s.h.i.+p, and were probably connected by kindred ties with the Gaels.

The colony was destined soon to receive a great influx from the Highlands of Scotland, due to the frightful oppression and persecution which immediately followed the battle of Culloden. Not satisfied with the merciless harrying of the Highlands, the English army on its return into England carried with it a large number of prisoners, and after a hasty military trial many were publicly executed. Twenty-two suffered death in Yorks.h.i.+re; seventeen were put to death in c.u.mberland; and seventeen at Kennington Common, near London. When the king's vengeance had been fully glutted, he pardoned a large number, on condition of their leaving the British Isles and emigrating to the plantations, after having first taken the oath of allegiance.