ISEENOTHINGBUTTHEHORRORSOFACIVILWAR:

MCALPINSCORPSOF
AMERICANVOLUNTEERS

AlexanderR.Cain

Title:

ISeeNothingButtheHorrorsofaCivil
War

ID:

15041599

Category:

History

CopyrightYear:

2016

ISBN:

9781312398726

ToMyChildren,JohnandAbigail.
ThankYouforAlltheLaughsandWonderfulTimes!

OurCountryislostindissipation,luxuryandfaction.ThereisnopublickSpiritorvirtueleft
eithertorewardmerritorpunishoffences.RemoveallSuchwretchesfrompowerandleaveither
Executionofaffairstothebrave,zealousLoyalists,whohavelosttheirfortunesandRisk'dtheir
livesindefenceoftheirKingandCountrysucharethemenwhowillsavetheirCountryfrom
Ruinanddistruction...

~JohnHamilton

TABLEOFCONTENTS

I.

II.

III.

IV.

V.

VI.

VII.

VIII.

IX.

X.

Introduction

ThePurestPrinciplesofLoyalty:
WhyLoyalistsRemainedFaithful

10

TheConflictIgnites

16

TheHampshireLandGrants

30

TheRiseofMcAlpinsCorps
OfAmericanVolunteers

35

WithoutFire,Table,ChairsorAny
OtherConvenience:ThePlightofthe
FemaleLoyalist.

48

ComeGentlemenTories,Firm,
LoyalandTrue:TheArrivalof
GeneralBurgoyne

63

ChosenMen:McAlpinsRacetoCanada

77

TheAftermath:LoyalistsinGreatDistress
TheyHaveSacrificedAllTheyHad
forTheirLoyalty

83
90

XI.
AnOpportunityforRevenge:TheRaidonJohnstown

XII. TheOctoberRaids

XIII. Ernesttown

AppendixA

AppendixB
5

95
101
108
113
115


AppendixC

AppendixD

AppendixE

AppendixF

Index

117
119
123
125
128


~1~

Introduction

Itiscommonlystatedhistoryiswrittenbythevictor.TheAmericanRevolutionisno
exception.AsaresultoftheAmericantriumphintheWarforIndependence,loyalists
historicallyhavebeenplacedinanegativelight.Incountlessworksandpopularculture,
loyalistshavebeenportrayedascorrupt,inept,greedypeoplewhoseblindfaithtotheBritish
crownledtotheirdownfall.1However,suchablindanderroneousstereotypeonlyundermines
andtrivializesthestrugglesoftheAmericanloyalist.
BytheconclusionoftheAmericanRevolution,between80,000and100,000loyalistshad
fledtheAmericancolonies.AlmosthalfofthemescapedtoCanada.Ofthose,45,000refugees
settledintheCanadianMaritimeregion.Anadditional9,500refugeesfledtotheQuebec
province.FromQuebec,7,500loyalistsultimatelysettledinUpperCanada.Thesemen,women
andchildrenthatfledtheAmericancoloniesleftbehindmorethantheirhomes.Theyleftbehind
theirexperiences,personalbelongings,communities,friendsandrelatives.2
ManycolonistswhoultimatelybecameTorieswerenotdistinguishablefromtheir
neighborswhoembracedindependence.Manyloyalistswererespectedmembersoftheirtowns
oftenwelleducatedHarvardgraduateswhoworkedasmerchants,doctors,lawyers,distillersor
ministers.IndividualssuchasSirJohnJohnson,RichardSaltonstall,JonathanSewelland

Amodernexampleisthefilm
ThePatriot.I
nthatfilm,loyalistsoldiersareportrayedaspowerhungryindividuals
whohavenoreservationincommittingwarcrimesagainsttheAmericanpopulace.
2

BruceWilson,
AsSheBegan:AnIllustratedIntroductiontoLoyalistOntario
,(Toronto:DundurnGroup,1981),
13.
1

AdmiraltyJudgeSamuelCurwen,whowouldlaterenlistintheloyalistcause,wereseenpriorto
theAmericanRevolutionasleadingandinfluentialmemberstheirrespectivecolonies.
However,mostcolonistsfromNewYorkandNewEnglandwhoremainedfaithfultothe
crownhailedfromthemiddleandlowerclassesoftheAmericancolonies.Theseloyalists
enjoyedneitherwealthnorprivilege.Ofthefourhundredeightyeightloyalistswhoeventually
settledintheOntarioregionofUpperCanadaandsubmittedclaimstotheBritishgovernmentfor
lossessustainedduringtheAmericanRevolution,onlyfiveheldpublicoffice.Threewere
consideredmodestpoliticalposts.Onlyoneclaimant,aphysician,wouldbeconsidereda
professionalbymodernstandards.Asmallnumberownedshops,rantavernsorwereconsidered
artisans.NinetypercentofthoseloyalistswhosettledintheOntarioregionsimplyidentified
themselvesasfarmers.3
TheaverageloyalistfarmerwhoultimatelytookrefugeinUpperCanadaleasedorowned
lessthantwohundredacresoflandpriortotheAmericanRevolution.Fortytwopercentofthe
Ontariosettlersadmittedtheyhadclearedlessthantenacresoflandpriortotheirflight.4
FiftyfourpercentofthefarmershailedfromTyronCounty,NewYork.Anadditional
twentyfivepercenthadtiestoAlbanyCounty.FourteenpercentclaimedCharlotteCountyas
theirpriorresidence.5
OverhalfoftherefugeeswhosettledinUpperCanadawereforeignborn.Overfifty
percentofOntarioloyalistswereScotHighlandRomanCatholics.Secondinnumberwere

Ibid
.

Ibid
.
5

Ibid
.
4

GermanandIrishimmigrants.AnadditionaleightpercentclaimedEnglandastheirplaceof
birth.ManydidnotspeakEnglish.ManyloyalistScotimmigrantshadonlyresidedinthe
AmericancoloniesforfouryearsatthestartoftheAmericanRevolution.Englishimmigrants
hadresidedinAmericaonaverageforeightyears.Bycomparison,manyIrishandGerman
immigrantshadlivedinthecoloniesbetweenelevenandeighteenyears.6
JoiningtheseloyalistswereAfricanAmericanloyalists.Almosttenpercentofloyalists
thatfledtoCanadawereofAfricanAmericandescent.Whetherslaveorfreeman,many
AfricanAmericanscasttheirlotwiththecrowninanattempttosecureabetterlifefor
themselvesandtheirfamilies.Likewise,manyNativeAmericanalliesofthecrownalso
retreatedtoCanadaafterthewar.OvertwothousandIroquoisfromtheSixNations,Mohicans,
NanticokesandSquakishadsettledintheOntarioregionby1785.7
Regardlessoftheireconomicorsocialbackground,nativebornwhites,immigrants,
slaves,freemenandNativeAmericansbandedtogetherinsupportofKingGeorgeandthe
Britishgovernment.Regardlessofthelackofsupplies,politicalsupportorfinancialbacking,the
campaigntodefendtheBritishcrownwasenthusiasticallyandadmirablywagedbyloyalists
fromtheprintoflocalnewspaperstothesiegelinesofYorktown.Granted,theirdefenseof
Britishpolicyoftenfellondeafearsandtheirmilitaryendeavorswereofteninsufficienttoturn
thetideofwar,theirwillingnesstoundertakesuchendeavorsisnoteworthy.

Ibid
.

Ibid
,10.

Thisisthestoryofthemen,womenandchildrenfromNewYorkandtheHampshire
GrantswhochosetoremainfaithfultotheCrownandfoughtaspartofMcAlpinsCorpsof
AmericanVolunteers.

~2~

ThePurestPrinciplesofLoyalty:
WhyLoyalistsRemainedFaithful

Despitepopularbeliefmostloyalistsdidnotsupportthecrownoutofblindloyaltyora
misguidedsenseofpatriotism.Instead,mostchosetoremainloyalduetoavarietyofpersonal,
societalandreligiousprinciples.Forsome,religiousteachingsdemandedloyaltytotheCrown.
Forothers,economicopportunityguidedfealtytoKingGeorge.Formorethanafew,cultural
beliefsdictatedsupportoftheBritishgovernment.Yetregardlessoftheirrespective
motivations,theAmericanloyalistsfoundthemselvesquicklyatoddswiththeirpatriot
counterparts.
OneguidingprinciplewhichinfluencedToriestoremainloyaltotheCrownwas
religiousbeliefs.Regardlessofreligiousaffiliation,manyloyalistsfollowedinterpretationsof
thebibleandreligiousteachingsthatrequiredsolemnallegiancetotheCrown.ForAnglicans,
manyministersfirmlybelievedtheywereboundbyoathtobeloyaltotheking.TheReverend
BenjaminPickmaninsistedhehadtoremainloyaloutofthepurestPrinciplesofLoyaltytomy

10

lateSovereign.8FellowministerJohnAmoryrefusedtosupporttheAmericancausebecause:
Icouldnotwithaquietconscience...takeanOaththatIwouldbearArmsagainsttheKingof
GreatBritaintowhomIhadalreadyswornAllegiance.9
Likewise,notallCongregationalistssupportedtherevolutionaryrhetoricthatwas
frequentlyespousedfromthepulpitinNewEngland.IsaacSmithjustifiedhisloyaltytothe
crownuponreligiousprinciples.HearguedhispositionatHarvardandhisprofessionas
CongregationalministerforbadehimtobedisobedienttohiskingorParliament,becausethey
obligedhimtoliberalenquiry.10
Sandemanians,apacifistsectofCongregationalists,believedthatthebiblecommanded
absoluteloyaltytotheCrown.SamuelPike,aprominentSandemanian,personifiedthisbelief
whenhedeclaredin1766thateveryChristianmustbealoyalsubjecttocivilauthority,evenif
thatrulerwastyrannical.Inturn,manySandemaniansbecameoutspokencriticsoftheAmerican
causeandquicklybecameembroiledinthepoliticalcrisisofthe1760sandearly1770s.The
SandemanianswerethefirsttobrandtheSonsofLibertyandotherpoliticalorganizationsas
traitorstotheCrown.SandemanianministerColburnBarrelldeclaredthattheBostonMassacre
wasthedirectresultoftreasonousCongregationalistministerswhodefiedthelawsoftheland.
RomanCatholics,oftenseenasthescourgeoftheBritishEmpire,quicklyfound
themselvesbeingforcedtosidewiththeCrown.FollowingtheaftermathoftheFrenchand
IndianWars,manyCatholicpriestswhoresidedintheupperregionsofNewYorkColony

BenjaminPickman.
BenjaminPickmantohiswife
,
February20,1783
.Letter.
JohnArmory.
JohnAmorytoJamesLovell,Providence
,
February12,1778
.Letter.
10
IsaacSmith.
IsaacSmithJr.toMarySmithCranch,Cambridge
,
October20,1774
.Letter

8
9

11

openlywelcomedblackslavesandlocalMohawksintotheirparishesandchurches.Withthe
passageoftheQuebecActof1774,thepracticeoftheCatholicfaithwasnolongersubjectto
restrictionsincertainregionsofNorthAmerica.TheconceptofRomanCatholicsopenly
practicingtheirreligiousbeliefsinNewYork,letalonewithslavesandsavages,deeply
concernedtheirCongregationalistandAnglicanneighbors.MembersoftheNewYork
ProvincialCongressquicklywarned,theindulgenceandestablishmentofPoperyallalongthe
interiorconfinesoftheProtestantColoniestendsnotonlytoobstructtheirgrowth,buttoweaken
theirsecurity.11
Yetreligiousprincipleswerenottheonlymotivatingfactortoremainloyaltothecrown.
Often,economicdependencyandpatronagedictatedonesloyalty.PoliticalappointeesWilliam
Woolton,ThomasHutchinsonandAndrewOlivernaturallysidedwiththeBritishgovernment
becausetheirrespectivecolonialpostsensuredpotentialprofit.Formanymerchants,sidingwith
therebelmobsalmostguaranteedfinancialruin.JosephHooper,alsoknownasKingHooper,
ofMarbleheadwasheavilydependentontradewithEngland.JohnAmoryfearedeconomic
lossesifheendedhisbusinessrelationshipswithEngland.Amorywasamongthemerchants
whoprotestedagainsttheSolemnLeagueandCovenantof1774,suspendingallcommercial
businesswithGreatBritain.AbusinesstriptoEngland,whichhecoincidentallymadeduringthe
BattleofLexington,brandedhimaToryintheeyesofhiscountrymen.

11

MotionbyMr.MelanctonSmith,foranadditiontotheReportforsecuringthelibertyofconscience,read,
amended,andadopted,MotionbyMr.McDougall,thatthePlanofAccommodationbenottransmittedtothe
Congressuntilcalledforbythem,orbyourDelegatesthere.NewYorkCongress,June24,1775.From
American
Archives
Series4,Volume2,Page1317
.

12

However,loyaltytotheCrownsoastopreserveeconomicprofitwasnotlimitedto
wealthybusinessmen.ManytenantfarmersofAlbany,UlsterandTryonCounties,NewYork
wereheavilydependentupontheirloyalistlandlordsforcontinuedeconomicsuccess.Inshort,
ifrebelpoliciesandpracticesdrovetheirmasterstofinancialruin,economicdestructionwould
surelyfollowforthetenantsaswell.
Likewise,economicopportunityintheformofrecruitmentbountiesattractedmanytothe
loyalistcause.Bountieswereofferedtoprospectiverecruitshowever,moreimportantwasthe
promiseoffreeholdland.Asearlyas1775recruitersfortheRoyalHighlandEmigrants,acorps
ofloyalistScotHighlanders,promised200acresoflandtoprospectivesoldiers.InMarch1777
thegovernorofQuebecpromisedloyalistswhoshallcontinuetoserveHisMajestyuntilthe
rebellionissuppressedandpeacerestored...HisMajesty'sbountyof200acresofland.InMay
1781,whenrecruitingwasmoredifficult,recruitswerepromisedthesamelandafteronlythree
yearsofserviceandweregivensixguineasforenlisting.RecruitersinBergenCounty,New
Jersey,wereevenmoregenerous,promising200acresoflandforeachadultmale,100acresfor
hiswife,andfiftyacresforeachchild.Promisesoflandwerealsomadebyloyalistofficers.
EbenezerJessup,lieutenantcoloneloftheKing'sLoyalAmericansandalargelandowner,
pledged24,000acresofhislandtothosewhowouldservefaithfullyduringtheWar...and
20,000moretosuchofmyofficersasshuldmeritthesamebytheirgoodconduct.12
Adesireforpublicsafetyandorderalsoinfluencedmanycolonistswhoremainedloyal
totheCrown.LookingbackattheoriginsoftheAmericanRevolution,keyplayerssuchas

AlexanderMcDonell.
AlexanderMcDonelltoGeneralHowe
,
October30,1775
.LetterLordGeorgeGermain.
GermaintoCarleton
,
March26,1777
.LetterGuyCarleton.
CarletontoButler
,
May18,1777
.LetterEbenezer
Jessup.
EbenezerJessuptoBurgoyne
,
July17,1778
.Letter.
12

13

JonathanSewallviewedtheoriginalconflictnotwiththeStampActCrisisortheattemptbythe
BritishgovernmenttocollectonitsdebtfromtheFrenchWars.Instead,manyloyalistssawthe
WritofAssistancecaseastheignitionofconflict.TomanyloyaltotheCrown,theWritof
Assistancecasewasviewedasanattemptbyambitiouspoliticianstooverthrowthepolitical
establishmentandreplaceitwithalawlessorpopulistmob.
MostloyalistsdetestedthemobrulethatspreadfromBostonandNewYorkCitytothe
countrysideandabhorredthelackoforder.Astensionsgrewbetweenthecoloniesand
England,manycolonistsattemptedtoremainneutral.However,asradicalsseizedpower,
neutralitybecameimpossible.Dr.WilliamPainegaveuphisneutralityanddeclaredhimselfa
loyalistafterheexperienced"toomanyabuses"and"insults"fromPatriots.SamuelCurwen,
JudgeofAdmiralty,complainedWhigtempersgetmoreandmoresouredandmalevolent
againstallmoderatemen,whomtheyseefittoreproachasenemiesoftheircountrybythename
ofTories,amongwhomIamunhappily(althoughunjustly)ranked.13 TheReverendSamuel
SeaburyofWestchester,NewYork,lashedoutatthepatriotmobswhoroutinelyandillegally
enteredandsearchedloyalisthomes:
Doasyouplease:Ifyoulikeitbetter,chooseyourCommittee,orsufferittobe
ChosenbyhalfadozenFoolsinyourneighborhoodopenyourdoorstothem
letthemexamineyourteacanisters,andmolassesjugs,andyourwivesand
daughterspettycoatsbowandcringeandtrembleandquakefalldownand
worshipoursovereignLordtheMob...andshallmyhousebeenteredinto

SamuelCurwen.
JournalandLettersoftheLateSamuelCurwen,JudgeofAdmiralty,etc.,anAmericanrefugee
inEnglandfrom17751784,ComprisingRemarksontheProminentMenandMeasuresofthatPeriod:ToWhich
areAddedBiographicalNoticesofManyAmericanLoyalists,andOtherEminentPersons,May4,1775
.Journal.
FromCaliforniaDigitalLibrary.https://archive.org/details/curwensamuelj00curwrich.
13

14

andmymodeoflivingenquiredinto,byadomineeringCommitteeman?Before
IsubmitIwilldie,liveyouandbeslaves.14

FormanyloyalistsintheNewYorkregion,especiallythoseofScottishdescent,loyalty
totheCrownwasdeterminedbyculturalbeliefs.FollowingtheconclusionoftheFrenchand
nd
th
th
IndianWar,manyScottishveteransfromthe42
,77
,and78
RegimentssettledintheAlbany

area.Almostimmediately,thesenewcomersclashedwiththeirDutchneighborswhosidedwith
therebels.Inasocietywhereclantieswereoftenparamount,manyScottishresidentsinthe
AlbanyareaviewedKingGeorgeIIIastheirLairdorclanchieftain.15 Asaresult,mostrefused
tosignassociationdocumentsorloyaltyoathsputforthbytheToryCommitteeduetothefact
suchdocumentswereviewedasbreakinganoathofallegiancetotheKing.16AsCaptain
th
AlexanderMcDonald,formerlyofthe77
Regiment,warnedIamdeterminedtobetruetothe

trustreposedinmeanddischargemydutywithhonour...aslongasIlive.17
Finally,forthosecolonistswhoattemptedtoremainneutralorinitiallysidedwiththe
patriotcause,theDeclarationofIndependenceinsteaddrovemanyindividualsovertotheside
oftheCrown.Seenaseitheraradicaldocumentoranextremereactiontothedisputewiththe
Crown,mensuchasJustusSherwood,renouncedtheiraffiliationwiththeAmericancauseand
tookuparmsfortheKing.

Seabury,Samuel.
FreeThoughtsontheProceedingsoftheContinentalCongress,1774
.Pamphlet.FromProject
Canterbury.http://anglicanhistory.org/usa/seabury/farmer/.
15

J.Fraser,
SkulkingfortheKing
,(Ontario:BostonMillsPress,1985),1213.
16

Ibid
,13.
17

Ibid
,11.
14

15

~3~

TheConflictIgnites

FollowingitsconquestofCanada,Englandbegantorecognizetheharshrealitiesofits
victory.InthemonthsaftertheTreatyofParis,GreatBritainwasforcednotjusttoadminister
itsnewlyacquiredterritories,butalsotodefendthem.Thisnecessitatedmaintainingaten
thousandmanarmytoprotectNorthAmericafromfutureFrenchoperationsandNative
Americanattacks,suchasPontiacsRebellion,whichignitedaftertheconclusionofthewar.By
January5,1763,Britainsfundeddebtwasastaggering

122,603,336withanannualinterestof

4,409,797.Ayearlater,thedebtwasalmost

7,000,000largerandbyJanuaryof1767,ithad
increasedyetanother

7,000,000.18

RobertMiddlekauf,
TheGloriousCause:TheAmericanRevolution,17631789
,(NewYork:OxfordUniversity
Press,1982),57.
18

16

Inanattempttocurbthisfinancialburden,theBritishgovernmentimplementedaseries
ofeconomicprogramsaimedathavingthoseitconsideredtohavebenefitedmostbythe
successfulconclusionofthewar,theAmericancolonies,shareintheburdenofdebt.After
reviewingthestateofBritainsfinances,ChancellorofExchequer,GeorgeGrenville,concluded
thattheAmericancolonieshadbenefitedgreatlyfromtheprotectionoftheCrownwhile
contributingverylittleintaxes.Atthesametime,Grenvillepointedout,anactivesmuggling
tradecoupledwithmassivecolonialcustomsmismanagement,particularlyintheNewEngland
region,hadledtoanannual

6,000deficitincustomdutiescollectedinAmericanports.
Accordingly,hesuggestedthatadirecttaxbeleviedontheAmericancoloniesinorderto
generateadditionalrevenue.19
ThefirsttworevenueraisingmeasuresthatGreatBritainimposedonherAmerican
coloniesweretheSugarActof1764andtheStampActof1765.TheSugarActestablished
tariffsoncolonialtradingandalsoattemptedtocurbtheAmericanpracticeofsmugglingsugar
andmolassesfromtheWestIndiesbyplacingathreepencepergallontaxonforeignmolasses.
TheactestablishedalistofenumeratedgoodsthatcouldbeshippedonlytoEngland,
includinglumber,andsetforthproceduresfortheaccounting,loadingandunloadingofcargoin
port.Violationsoftheactwereprosecutedinaviceadmiraltycourt,wheredefendantswouldbe
deniedtherighttoajurytrialandwherethepresumptionwasofguiltratherthaninnocence.The
secondrevenueraisingmeasurewastheStampAct,whichleviedanunprecedenteddirecttaxon
almosteverypieceofpublicpaperinthecolonies.Newspapers,almanacs,deeds,wills,custom
documents,evenplayingcardswereamongthemanypaperssubjectedtothetax.TheStamp

19

Grenvillealsoestablishedreformsinthewaycustomdutieswerecollectedandaccounted.

17

Actwentsofarastoimposeataxupon
taxreceipts
.
TheSugarandStampactsbroughtonanexplosionofriots,boycottsandprotests
throughoutthecolonies,particularlyinMassachusettsandNewYork.Atfirst,Massachusetts
responsewaspeaceful,withtheinhabitantsmerelyboycottingcertaingoods.However,
resistancetothetaxessoonbecamemoreviolent.UndertheguidanceofSamuelAdams,
BostoniansbeganacampaignofterrordirectedagainstthosewhosupportedtheStampAct.It
beganonAugust14,1765withaneffigyofAndrewOliver,theappointedstampdistributorfor
Massachusetts,beinghungfromalibertytreeinplainviewbythesonsofliberty.That
evening,theluxuriousOliverhomewasburnedtotheground.AchastenedOliverquickly
resignedhiscommission.Thefollowingevening,incitedbyarumorthathesupportedthe
StampAct,thehomeofThomasHutchinson,LieutenantGovernorofthecolony,was
surroundedbyanunrulymob.WhenHutchinsonrefusedtoaccedetothedemandthathecome
outandexplainhisposition,themobbrokeseveralwindowsandthendispersed.Twoweeks
later,onAugust28,1765,anevenlargermobassembledanddescendeduponthehomesof
severalindividualssuspectedoffavoringtheStampAct,includingagainthatoftheLieutenant
Governor.Hutchinsonmanagedtoevacuatehisfamilytosafetybeforethemobarrived.Then,
asHutchinsonlaterdescribedit,thehellishcrewfelluponmyhousewiththerageofdivelsand
inamomentwithaxessplitdownthedoorandentered.Mysonheardthemcrydamnhimheis
upstairswellhavehim.Someranimmediatelyashighasthetopofthehouse,othersfilledthe
roomsbelowandcellarsandothersremainedwithoutthehousetobeemployedthere.Iwas
obligedtoretirethroyardsandgardenstoahousemoreremotewhereIremaineduntil4oclock
bywhichtimeoneofthebestfinishedhousesintheProvincehadnothingremainingbutthebare

18

wallsandfloors.20

Themobsshowofforcehadthedesiredeffect.WithOliversresignation,thestamps
couldnotbeproperlydistributed.Additionally,nootherstampofficerwaswillingtostep
forwardtoassumeOliverslegalrole.Inshort,Bostonwascrippledandcouldnotenforcethe
act.ThetownstandoffbetweenBostonandtheCrowncontinuedthroughthefallandwinterof
1765.
Meanwhile,inNewYorkCityameetingofthemerchantsofthecitywascalledat
Burns'sCoffeeHouseonBroadwaytoaddresspassageoftheStampAct.Asaresultofthe
gathering,anonimportationagreementwassigned.Thefollowingday,November1,1765,two
companiesoftheSonsofLibertyappearedonthestreets.AccordingtoJohnHolt

ThomasHutchinson.
HutchinsontoRichardJackson,August30,1765.
Letter.FromHutchinson
Correspondence,MassachusettsArchives(microfilm),vol.26,146147.
20

19

Thematterwasintendedtobedoneprivately,butitgotwind,andbytenOClockI
suppose2000peopleattendedattheCoffeeHouse,amongthemmostoftheprincipal
menintown...TwomenweredispatchedtotheCollectorfortheStampedBondsof
whichhehad30inall,hedesiredLibertytoconferwiththeGovernor,whichwas
granted.TheGovernorsentWord,iftheStampsweredeliveredtohim,hewouldgivehis
wordandhonortheyshouldnotbeusedbutifpeoplewerenotsatisfiedwiththis,they
mightdoastheypleasedwiththemThemessagebeingreturnedtothegathering
multitude,theywouldnotagreetotheGovernorsproposal,butinsistupontheStamps
beingdeliveredandburned,oneortwomenattendedbyaboutathousandotherswere
thensentfortheStamps,whichwerebroughttotheCoffeeHouse,andtheMerchantwho
hadusedthemwasorderedhimselftokindlethefireandconsumethem,thosefiledin
andall,thiswasaccordinglydoneamidsttheHuzzasofthepeoplewhowerebythis
timeswelledtotheNumberonesupposesofabout5000,andinanotherhourIsuppose
wouldhavebeen10,000ThepeopleprettyquietlydispersedsoonAfter,buttheir
Resentmentwasnotallayed...21

OnecompanymarchedtotheCommonswheretheyhangedineffigy
LieutenantGovernorCadwaladerColdentheothercompanybrokeintoColden'sstableandtook
outhischariot,inwhichtheyplacedacopyoftheobnoxiousactandaneffigyofthe
lieutenantgovernor.BothcompaniesthenunitedandmarchedinsilencetotheBowlingGreen,
wheretheyfoundsoldiersdrawnupontherampartsofanearbyfortificationreadytoreceive
them.GeneralGage,theBritishcommander,thoughtitprudentnottofireupontheriotersand,
astheywererefusedadmissiontothefort,theyturnedtheirattentiontothewoodenrailing
whichsurroundedthelittlepark.Thistheytoredownforfueland,havingburntrailing,carriage,
act,andeffigy,theydispersedtotheirhomes.22

JohnHolt.
JohnHolttoMrs.DeborahFranklin,February15,1766
.Letter.

Ibid
.TowardtheEvening...tho'theSonsofLibertyexertedthemselvestotheutmost,theycouldnotprevent
thegatheringoftheMultitude,whowenttoMr.Williams'shouse,brokeopentheDooranddestroyedsomeofthe
Furniture...ThepeopleweregenerallysatisfiedandsoondispersedbutmanyofthoseofinferiorSort,who
delightinmischiefmerelyforitsownsake,orforplunder,seemyettobeinsuchaturbulentDispositionthatthe
twomortifiedGentlemenarestillinsomeDanger,buttheSonsofLibertyintendtoExertthemselvesintheir
Defense.
21
22

20


WiththeriotsreceivingwidespreadcoverageinLondonnewspaperscoupledwiththe
successfulboycottprogramundertakenbyNewYork,PhiladelphiaandBoston,Englandfinally
yielded.RealizingtheStampandSugarActscouldneverbeenforcedinAmerica,theactswere
repealedonMarch4,1766.However,beforestrikingthelaws,Parliamentannouncedthe
DeclaratoryActof1766,whichemphasizeditsauthoritytolegislateforthecoloniesinallcases
whatsoever.
ItwasnotlongbeforethemembersoftheParliamentmadeuseoftheprincipleexpressed
intheDeclaratoryAct.1767facedEnglandwithaprojectedannualcostofalmost400,000to

21

maintainherarmyinAmerica.CharlesTownshend,theimpetuousChancelloroftheExchequer,
ofwhomitwassaid,hismouthoftenoutranhismind,suddenlyannouncedthatheknewhow
totaxtheAmericancolonies.ThissopleasedtheHouseofCommonsthattheypromptlyvoted
tolowerEnglishlandtaxesfromfourshillingsonthepoundtothree,resultingina500,000loss
ofrevenueandthreateningfiscalchaos.Tomeetthiscrisis,Townshendsuggested,and
Parliamentenacted,aseriesoflawsdirectedatraisingrevenuefromtheAmericancolonies.The
TownshendActs,astheybecameknown,providedforanAmericanimporttaxonpaper,
painterslead,glassandtea.Theactsalsotightenedcustompoliciesandrevivedthe
viceadmiraltycourts.AlthoughaminoritywithintheHouseofCommonsopposedsucha
measure,themajorityrationalizeditwouldraisecolonialrevenue,punishthecolonistsfortheir
illbehavioraftertherepealoftheStampAct,andexercisetherightstowhichParliamentlaid
claimintheDeclaratoryAct.
Onceagain,Bostonstoodattheforefrontofoppositionandby1768,Bostonwasonce
againresortingtoviolencetoindicateitsoppositiontoBritishpolicy.InMarch,rioterswentto
CommissionerBurchshomeandwithclubsassembledbeforehisdooragreatpartofthe
evening,andhewasobligedtosendawayhiswifeandchildrenbyabackdoor.23Inspector
WilliamWooltonreturnedhomeoneeveningtofind4menpassinghim,onewithastickor
bludgeoninhishandaccostedhimsaying,DamnyourBloodwewillbeatyoutoMorrow
night.24ThevictimsofthemobbeggedGovernorBernardtoapplyformilitaryprotectionso
theTownshendActscouldbeenforced.Thegovernorstruggledwiththedecision,butultimately
appliedtothekingfortroops.Atthesametime,however,Britishmerchantspleadedwith

FrancisBernard.
BernardtoEarlofShelburne,March19,1768.
Letter.FromBernardPapers,v.11,191193.
DepositionofWilliamWoolton,March18,1768.

23
24

22

ParliamentandtheKingtorepealtheactbeforetheywerebroughttofinancialruin.Yettheir
pleaswentunanswered.In1768,GovernorBernardwasorderedtodissolvetheMassachusetts
legislature,andtwofullregimentsofBritishregularsweredispatchedtoBostontoprotectthe
customofficialsandhelptoenforcetheTownsendActs.
NewYorktookamorecautiousapproachtotheTownshendActsandimplementeda
widespreadboycottofgoods.Specifically,onSeptember5,1768,NewYorkCitymerchants
andtradesmenresolved
Reflectingonthesalutary[beneficial/curative]MeasuresenteredintobythePeopleof
Boston
andthisCitytorestricttheImportationofGoodsfromGreatBritainuntiltheActs
ofParliamentlayingDutiesonPaper,Glass,&c.wererepealedandbeinganimatedwith
aSpiritofLibertyandthinkingitourDutytoexertourselvesbyalllawfulMeansto
maintainandobtainourjustRightsandPrivileges,whichweclaimunderourmost
excellentConstitutionasEnglishmen,nottobetaxedbutbyourownConsentorthatof
ourRepresentativesandinordertosupportandstrengthenourNeighbors,theMerchants
ofthisCity,wetheSubscribers[signers],unitinginthecommonCause,doagreetoand
witheachother,asfollows:

First,ThatwewillnotourselvespurchaseortakeanyGoodsorMerchandiseimported
fromEuropebyanyMerchantdirectlyorindirectly,contrarytothetrueIntentand
MeaningofanAgreementoftheMerchantsofthisCity,onthetwentyseventhofAugust
last.

Secondly,Thatwewillnotourselves,orbyanyotherMeans,buyanyKindofGoods
fromanyMerchant,Storekeeper,orRetailer(ifanysuchtherebe)whoshallrefuseto
joinwiththeirBrethreninsigningthesaidAgreementbutthatwewilluseeverylawful
MeansinourPowertopreventourAcquaintancefromdealingwiththem.

Thirdly,ThatifanyMerchant,inorfromEurope,shouldimportanyGoodsinorderto
selltheminthisProvincecontrarytotheaboveAgreement,thatweourselveswillbyno
MeansdealwithsuchImportersandasfaraswecan,byalllawfulMeans,endeavorto
discouragetheSaleofsuchGoods.

Fourthly,ThatwewillendeavortofalluponsomeExpedienttomakeknownsuch
ImportersorRetailersasshallrefusetouniteinmaintainingandobtainingtheLiberties
oftheirCountry.

23

Fifthly,Thatwe,hisMajestysmostdutifulandloyalSubjects,InhabitantsoftheCityof
NewYork,beingfilledwithLoveandGratitudetoourpresentmostgraciousSovereign,
andthehighestVenerationfortheBritishConstitution,whichweunitetopleadasour
BirthRightandarealwayswillingtounitetosupportandmaintain,giveitasour
Opinion,andaredeterminedtodeemthatPersonswhoshallrefusetouniteinthe
CommonCause,asactingthePartofanEnemytothetrueInterestofGreatBritainand
herColonies,andconsequentlynotdeservingthePatronageofMerchantsorMechanics.
25

However,by1769,thecolonyenteredintoadepressionasadirectresultoftheboycottand
tensionscontinuedtorisebetweenNewYorkcolonistsandtheBritishgovernment.
Insteadofreestablishinglawandorder,theTownsendActsonlyprovokedfurther
violence.OnJanuary19,1770,NewYorkmerchant
IsaacSears
andothersattemptedtostopa
groupofBritishsoldiersfrompassingouthandbillscriticizinglocalcitizens.Thepamphlets
chastisedthelocalcitizenryoverafailedattemptbyregularstodestroyalibertypoleerectedon
GoldenHill,NewYorkCity.Searsdetainedsomeofthesoldiersandmarchedhiscaptives
towardsthemayor'soffice,whiletherestoftheBritishregularsretreatedtotheirbarracksto
soundanalarm.
Acrowdoftownsfolksoonarrivedalongwithascoreofsoldiers.
InthemeanTime,a
considerableNumberofPeoplecollectedoppositetotheMayors.Shortlyafter,abouttwenty
SoldierswithCutlassesandBayonetsfromthelowerBarracksmadetheirAppearance26
The
soldiers,whoweregreatlyoutnumbered,werequicklysurrounded.Nevertheless,thesoldiers
attemptedtorescuetheirfellowsoldiersheldcaptiveinthemayorsoffice.
WhentheSoldiers
cameoppositetohisHouse,theyhalted.ManyofthemdrewtheirSwordsandBayonetssome

25

TradesmensResolves,September5,1768.FromNationalHumanitiesCenter.
http://nationalhumanitiescenter.org/pds/makingrev/crisis/text4/townshendactsresponse1767.pdf
26

TheNewYorkGazette
,February5,1770.FromNationalHumanitiesCenter.
http://nationalhumanitiescenter.org/pds/makingrev/crisis/text5/goldenhillseidermassacre.pdf

24

saytheyalldrew.Butallthatwerepresentagreethatmanydid,andfacedabouttotheDoorand
demandedtheSoldiersinCustody.SomeofthemattemptedtogetintotheHousetorescuethem.
Capt.RichardsonandothersattheDoorpreventedthem,anddesiredthemtoputuptheirArms
andgototheirBarracks,thattheSoldierswerebeforetheMayorwhowoulddothemJustice.
TheSoldierswithinlikewisedesiredthemtogoawaytotheirBarracksandleavethemtothe
DeterminationoftheMayor.27
Uponseeingthesoldiersdrawtheirweaponsthetownsmenquicklyretreatedandarmed
themselves.Despiteattemptsbylocalofficialsandofficerstodefusethesituation,afullscale
brawl,latercalledtheBattleofGoldenHill,erupted.
Bytheendofthefight,severalofthe
soldierswerebadlybruisedwhileone
soldierreceivedabadcutontheshoulder.28
One
CitizenwaswoundedintheFaceandhadtwoofhisTeethbrokebyaStrokeofaBayonet.
Anotherwasstabbedandlaterdiedofhiswounds.29
OnMarch5,1770,anangrymobbegantobadgerandtauntaloneBritishsentryon
guarddutyinfrontoftheBostonCustomHouse.Whenthecrowdbegantopelthimwith
snowballs,iceandotherobjects,hecalledforhelpandwasreinforcedbyasquadofsoldiers
th
fromthe29
RegimentofFoot.Thecrowdpressedcloser,andthenervousregularsopenedfire.

Fivemeninthecrowdwerekilledandanumberofotherswerewounded.Thesoldierswere
arrested,triedandallbuttwowereacquitted.30 TheBostonMassacre,astheincidentbecame
known,sparkedwidespreadoutrageandpushedthecoloniesdangerouslyclosetorebellion.To
forestallanuprising,Parliamentagainretreated,repealingalltheTownsendActs,excepta

27

Ibid
.

Ibid
.
29

Ibid
.
30
Twosoldierswerefoundguiltyofmanslaughter,brandedontheirthumbsandthenreleased.
28

25

symbolictaxonteaofwhichnoimmediateattemptwasmadetocollect.31
However,in1773,ParliamentpassedtheTeaActinanefforttofinallycollectthetaxon
tea,andtorefinancetheshakyeconomicbaseoftheBritishEastIndiaCompany.Establishedin
1709,theEastIndiaCompanyderivedoverninetypercentofitsprofitsfromthesaleoftea.By
1772,duetoseveremismanagement,thecompanywasindesperateneedofabailout.The
companydirectorslookedtoParliamentforrelief.ParliamentsresponsewastheTeaAct,
throughwhichtheEastIndiaCompanywasgivenexclusiverightstoshipteatoAmericawithout
payingimportdutiesandtosellitthroughtheiragentstoAmericanretailers.American
merchantswhohadforyearspurchasedteafromnonBritishsources(Dutchteawasaparticular
favoriteofNewEnglanders)facedtheprospectoffinancialruin.
Massachusettsimmediatelyopposedtheactandbegantoorganizeresistance.On
November29,1773,theteaship
Dartmouth
arrivedatGriffinsWharfinBoston.Threedays
later,the
Beaver
andthe
Eleanor
arrivedatthesamewharf.Bostoniansdemandedthat
GovernorHutchinsonorderthethreeshipsbacktoEngland.OnDecember16,1773,theowner
ofthe
Dartmouth
apparentlyagreedandwenttoHutchinsontobeghimtolettheshipsreturnto
England.Hutchinsonrefused,andatapproximatelysixoclockthatevening,some150menand
boysdisguisedasIndiansmarchedtothethreeships,boardedthemanddumped340chestsof
teaintoBostonHarbor.
TheactionsoftheBostonTeaPartyreflectedthegeneralpoliticalmoodthroughoutthe
Americancoloniesontheeveoftherevolution.Manycolonistsbelievedasetofcorruptand

31

Forthenexttwoyears,tensionsseemedtolesseninthecolonies,particularlyMassachusetts.However,when
Parliamentattemptedtocontrolprovincialjudgesin1772bydirectlycontrollingtheirsalaries,Massachusetts
quicklyrespondedinoppositionandprotest.

26

mysteriousmenhadbeenabletoassertcontroloverGeorgetheThird,hisministersandhis
favoritesthroughbriberyanddeceit.MostAmericanswerecertainthatpowerfulmenwere
plottingtomakethecolonistsslavesbycurtailingtheirlibertiesasEnglishmen.
ThecommonbeliefemergedthatanimmoralBritishgovernment,havingexhausted
opportunitiesforplunderandprofitinEnglandandIreland,wasnowseekingadisputewiththe
Americancoloniesasanexcusetoenslaveanddeprivethemoftheirwealthandliberties.
Parliamenthadhopedtoaccomplishthisgoalquietly,butthefurorarousedinthecoloniesby
Englandseconomicpolicieshadgiventhegovernmentatemporarysetback.Now,these
mysteriousmen,whocontrolledParliamentandthekingsministers,wereundertakingtoopenly
inciteawar,declareAmericanstoberebelsandenslavethem.
Thecolonistsconcernsandfearssoevidentinletters,journals,anddiariesoftheperiod
increasedfollowingtheBostonTeaParty.ThatactionwasviewedinEnglandassorebellious
anactofdefiancethatitcouldnotbeignored.Asaresult,theEnglishParliamentadopted
severalharshandrestrictivemeasuresaimedatpunishingMassachusetts,butparticularly
Boston.OnMarch31,1774,KingGeorgetheThirdsignedtheBostonPortBill,intendedto
severelyreprimandrebelliousBoston.Theportwasclosedtoallseagoingtrafficuntildamages
forthedestroyedteawerepaidinfull.TheMassachusettsProvincialCharterof1691,which
residentsviewedasasacredguaranteeoftheirliberties,wasrevoked.Additionalregimentsof
regularsweredispatchedtoBostonandMajorGeneralThomasGagereplacedThomas
Hutchinsonasgovernor.GagemovedtheseatofgovernmentfromBostontoSalemandthe
customsofficefromBostontoPlymouth.TheGovernorsCouncilwasreplacedwitha
nonelectiveMandamusCouncil,townmeetingswereprohibitedwithouttheconsentofthe
27

governorandjurytrialswereabolished.
Anyhopeofavoidingacivilwarnowseemeddashed.InBoston,HughEarlPercy
correctlysurmisedthestateofaffairsinthecoloniesontheeveoftheAmericanRevolution.
Thingsherearenowdrawingtoacrisiseveryday.ThepeoplehereopenlyopposetheNew
Acts.Theyhavetakenuparms...&havedroveintheGovt&mostoftheCouncil...In
short,thiscountryisnowinanopenstateofrebellion.32
By1775,theseedsofrebellionhadseepedintoNewYorksAlbanyCounty.Although
initiallyslowtorespond,manyAlbanyCountyresidentsultimatelyturnedagainsttheirTory
neighbors.33 ArmednightwatchesroamedthestreetsofAlbany,thecountyseat,inanattemptto
intimidatethoseloyaltotheKingandBritishgovernment.34Organizedcommitteesdisrupted
meetingsheldinAlbanystownhallbetweentheToryleaningmayorandhisaldermen.Local
businessmenwithquestionableloyalties,includingtheprominentRichardCartwright,were

HughEarlPercy.
PercytotheDukeofNorthumberland,September12,1774
.Letter.
Ina1774letterfromThomasYoungtoJohnLamb,YounglamentedtheslowresponseoftheColonyofNew
YorkascomparedtoMassachusetts.
34

Resolved.ThatMessAbrahamCuylerandHendrickWendellbeaCommitteetoapplytoMrDirckTenBroeck
fortwohundredStandofsmallArmsoftheParcelheisPossessedof,andwhentheyareprocuredtoputsuchof
themasrequireitinproperHandstobepreparedandmadefitforimmediateService.Fromthepresentstateand
TurbulanceoftheCountyfromtheAlarmarisenbySuspicionoftheNegroesFromtheinformationofCol.
JohnsonrespectingtheCanadiansandonAccountofthegreatuneasinessoftheInhabitants,ontheseOccasionsWe
conceiveitprudentandadvisabletohaveaStrictandStrongWatchwellArmedandunderproperDiscipline,and
theCorporationdecliningtoundertakethesame,whichwehadrecommendedtothemastheCommitteeappointed
towaitontheMayorReportThereforeforthepeace,goodorder.SafetyandProtectionofthisCityorderedthat
Copy'softhefollowingAdvertisementbefixedupTintheproperPlacesinthedifferentWards.Noticeishereby
giventotheInhabitantsoftheCityofAlbany,thatitistheOpinionoftheirCommitteethattheyAssembleandmeet
togetherinthedifferentWardsofthisCity,atusualPlacesofElectiontoMorrowatOneOClockintheafternoonto
formthemselvesintoCompaniesfromtheAgeofSixteentoSixtyeachCompanytoconsistofaCaptainTwoLieu
tenants,oneEnsign,fourSerjeants,fourCorporalsoneDrumandfiftyonePrivates.ByorderoftheCommittee
Dated3rdMayI775.AbrahamYatesChairman.ProceedingsMay3,1775.
MinutesoftheAlbanyCommittee
ofCorrespondence
.FromInternetArchive,
MinutesoftheAlbanyCommitteeofCorrespondence,17751778,Vol.
1.
https://archive.org/stream/MinutesOfTheAlbanyCommitteeOfCorrespondence17751778Vol1/MinutesOfTheAlbany
CommitteeOfCorrespondence17751778Vol1_djvu.txt
.
32
33

28

brutallyassaultedandimprisoned.Torieswhoopenlycriticizedorchallengedtherebels
motiveswerequicklyarrestedandsentofftoprison.35 Newspapersandprintshopsadvocating
loyaltytotheKingwereimmediatelysuppressedandshutdown.
CoordinatingtherebelseffortswereagroupofmenknownlocallyastheTory
Committee.TheToryCommitteesprimarychargewastokeepincheckthoseloyaltothe
crown.OfparticularinteresttothecommitteewastheScottishpopulationthatresided
throughoutAlbanyCounty.TheScottishsettlerswereknownfortheirunquestionableloyaltyto
theCrown.ButdevotiontotheKingwasnotthesolereasonforhostilitytowardstheScotsby
theToryCommitteeanditssupporters.ManyScottishsettlerswereofeitherPresbyterianor
Catholicfaiths.FollowingtheaftermathoftheFrenchandIndianWars,theconceptofRoman
CatholicsandPresbyteriansopenlypracticingtheirreligiousbeliefsdeeplyconcernedtheir
CongregationalistandAnglicanneighbors.Worseyet,manyScottishministersandpriests
openlywelcomedblackslavesandlocalMohawksintotheirparishesandchurches.36This
alarmedmanylocalresidents,especiallythosewhoeitherownedslavesthemselvesorlived
withinstrikingrangeoftheMohawkandOneidatribes.Tothem,therecruitmentofthesetwo
classeswouldmostlikelyleadtoeitheraslaverevoltorIndianuprising.Asmembersofthe
NewYorkProvincialCongresswarnedearlyintheAmericanRevolution,theindulgenceand
establishmentofPoperyallalongtheinteriorconfinesoftheProtestantColoniestendsnotonly
toobstructtheirgrowth,buttoweakentheirsecurity.37

LincolnMacveagh,
JournalofNicholasCresswell,17741777
,(NewYork:TheDialPress,1924),147.
OnesuchministerwastheReverendHarryMunro.Accordingtohisclaim,hewasoftensubjecttofrequent
insultsashissentimentsinfavourofGreatBritainwerenotorious.PROAO,r.B1160.
37
ProceedingsJune27,1775.
JournaloftheNewYorkProvincialCongress.
FromUniversityof
WisconsinMadisonLibrary,
JournaloftheProvincialCongress,May22,1775July10,1776.
http://search.library.wisc.edu/catalog/ocm02291294.
35
36

29

EconomiccompetitionalsomotivatedtheactionsoftheToryCommittee.AstheFrench
andIndianWardrewtoaclose,ScottishsutlerswhofollowedandsuppliedtheHighland
regimentsestablishedtheirownbusinessesthroughoutAlbanyCounty.Withareadilyaccessible
customerbaseandnetwork,manyScottishbusinessmeneasilyoutpacedtheirpatriot
counterparts.WiththeriseintensionsbetweenthoseloyaltoCrownpolicyandthosewhowere
not,theToryCommitteeseizeduponanopportunitytocrushtheireconomiccompetitors.
MerchantssuchasJamesandAlexanderRobertsonwereallbuthelplessasmobsincitedbythe
ToryCommitteefirstshutdowntheirprintshop,thentheirnewspaper,the
AlbanyGazette
.38
ManyothermerchantswerephysicallyjailedmerelyforsuspicionofbeingaTory.39
Asthewarprogressed,manymembersofthepatriotfactionbelievedthoseloyaltothe
Crownwereinternalfoeswhoneededtobecarefullycontained.Inanefforttolimitloyalist
militaryandpoliticalinfluence,earlyinMarchof1776,NewYorksCommitteeofSafety
perceivedloyalistoppositiontobesostrongincertaincounties,thattheyadvisedthat,in
additiontodisarmingthem[theLoyalists],theirchildrenshouldbetakenashostages.40
BytheFallof1776,conditionsinAlbanyCountyhaddeterioratedtothepointthatmany
ToriesstartedtofleenorthwardtowardsCanadasoastoavoidcontinuedpersecution.Those
whoremainedbehindweresubjectedtoincreasedscrutinyandrepeatedinterrogationbefore
committeeschargedwithidentifyingandincarceratingthoseloyaltotheKing.41 AsWilliam

Fraser,
Skulking
,2130.

Ibid
.
40

NewYorkHistoricalSocietyCollections,LeePapers
Volume5,

(NewYork:PrintedfortheSociety,18681924),
vol.1,213215.
41
Forexample,seetheMinutesoftheSchenectadyCommittee17751779.OnMay10,1777,underintense
questioning,asuspectedTorydeniedbeingaTorysoastoavoidincarceration.Unfortunately,hisfatewassealed
whenrefusedtorenouncehisallegiancetotheKing(Asone[man]protestedhewasnoTory,butwasamanforthe
King).
38
39

30

Boltsaccuratelypredicted,historyaboundswithinstancesofnationsdrivenintomadnessbythe
crueltyofoppressionitisthesingularsituationofusatpresentthatwehavebeenmademadby
animpatienceofalllegalrestraintandwantonabuseofpower.42
ForthoseloyaltotheKing,alleffortstoremainneutralhadfailed.Asaresult,many
recognizeditwastimetoprepareforwar.

~4~
TheHampshireLandGrants
ComplicatingtensionsbetweenloyalistandpatriotfactionsinNewYorkandNew
EnglandwasanongoingdisputeoverlandgrantslocatedinmoderndaywesternVermont.From
1690until1815,thiscorridorofland,knownastheHampshireGrantswasthesceneof
continuouswarfareandcivilunrest.FollowingFrancesdefeatintheFrenchandIndianWar,
theHampshireGrantswasfloodedwithNewEnglanders,ScottishandIrishimmigrants,New
YorkersandveteransoldiersoftheFrenchwarsallseekingneweconomicopportunities.
Prominentloyalists,includingDanielMcAlpinandEbenezerJessup,acquiredlargetractsofland
withintheterritory.However,when
settlersarrivedwithlandtitlesinhand,manyfound
conflictingtitlestothesamelandheldbyothersettlers.Violencequicklyfollowed.
ThesourceofthelanddisputescouldbetracedbacktotheaftermathofKingGeorges
War.In1749
,Governor
BenningWentworth
oftheColonyof
NewHampshire
assertedthat
NewHampshiressouthwesternboundarylinemetatthejunctureoftheHudsonandMohawk

WilliamBolts,
ConsiderationonIndianAffairs
,(London:BrothertonandSewellinCornhill,1772),viii.

42

31

Rivers.
Inturn,thegovernorinitiatedthesaleoflandgrantsinterritorieswestofthe
Connecticut
River
.Manyofthesegrantsweresoldtolandspeculatorsat20pergrant.
UnfortunatelyforWentworth,theColonyofNewYorkalsolaidclaimtothesame
region.NewYorkasserteditssouthernborderwithConnecticutexistedtwentymileseastofthe
Hudson,whileitsborderwithNewHampshirewasplacedattheConnecticutRiver.Aswith
NewHampshire,theColonyofNewYorkalsoinitiatedthesaleoflandpatentstospeculators
andwealthycolonists.
Settlersquicklyarrivedinthedisputedterritories.NewYorkcolonistswerealarmed
whentheydiscoveredNewHampshiresettlerscreatingtownshipsfurtherandfurtherwestward,
whileNewHampshirecolonistsobjectedtoencroachmentsbyNewYorkers.
BySeptember
1762,tensionsbetweenthetwocoloniesrosewhenNewYorksettlersapprehendedNew
HampshiresurveyorsexaminingpotentiallandgrantsontheeasternshoreofLakeChamplain.
Inresponse,GovernorWentworthissuedaproclamationreestablishinghiscolonysclaimtothe
HampshireGrants.43NewYorkimmediatelyappealedtothe
BoardofTrade
,requestinga
confirmationoftheiroriginallandgrant.Ultimately,theBoardofTraderesolvedthedisputein
favorofNewYork.AroyalorderofJuly26,1764establishedtheHampshireGrantsaspartof
NewYork.
ByMarch,1772,theHampshireGrantswasincorporatedintothecountyof
Charlotte.44
Uponreceiptoftheorder,NewHampshireceasedissuinglandgrants.However,thisdid
littletoalleviatetensionsonthelocalleveloftheHampshireGrants.NewHampshiresettlers

43

Insupportofhisposition,WenworthreliedupontheNewHampshireLettersPatentof1741.
CharlotteCountywascreatedonMarch12,1772fromNorthernAlbanyCounty.ThecountyincludedallofLakes
GeorgeandChamplain,theeasternAdirondackMountains,theheadwatersoftheHudsonRiver,andpresentday
westernVermont.ThecountyseatwasFortEdward.
44

32

refusedtorecognizetheauthorityofNewYorkcolony.NewYorksettlersquicklyremoved
illegaloccupiersoftheirlandholdings.AsCaptainJohnMontresorobservedwithsome
frustrationtheydeclarethatpossessionisElevenpointsintheLawandthattheywilltake
advantageoftheseDisturbancesandasnolawprevailsatpresentwillsupportthemselves.45
ViolenceeruptedandbecamesoprevalentthatBritishsoldiersstationedatCrownPointwere
orderedintotheHampshireGrantstosubduebothfactions.

1777MapofCharlotteCountyandIncorporatedHampshireGrants

By1771,thepopulationoftheHampshireGrantsexpandedsignificantlyasmoreEnglish
andIrishveteransoftheFrenchandIndianWar,aswellasScottishimmigrantsandConnecticut
andNewJerseycolonists,floodedintotheterritory.Thegrowingpopulationonlyrekindled
disputesoverlandtitlesandsparkedfurtherconfrontations.OnJune11,1771,overadozen
armedmen,ledbyRobertCochranandsupportedbyNewHampshiregrantees,forciblyremoved

JohnMontresor,andJamesGabrielMontresor,
TheMontresorJournals,Volume14
ed.G.D.Skull(NewYork:
PrintedfortheNewYorkHistoricalSociety,1881),367.
45

33

aNewYorkgranteefromhis350acresofland,attackedseveralofhisneighborsandburned
theirhomes.GovernorWilliamTryonofNewYorkwarnedauthoritiesthatunlesstheproblem
ofconflictinglandtitleswasresolved,thedaringinsultsofthesepeoplewillinashorttimelead
toseriousconsequences.46
Almosttwoyearslater,onApril21,1773,BritishsoldiersstationedatCrownPointunder
thecommandofaCaptainAnstrutheraccidentallysetfiretoabarrackschimneywhilemaking
soap.Thefirequicklyspreadandignitedthegarrisonsmagazine.Aftertheresultingexplosion,
localNewEnglandersseizedtheopportunity,descendeduponthefortandplunderedit.Shortly
thereafter,NewHampshireRiotersledbyEthanAllenembarkedonacampaignofterrorto
driveoutsettlerswithtiestoNewYork.Thestabilityoftheregiondeterioratedtothepointthat
manyNewYorksettlersabandonedplanstoresideondesignatedlandgrants,NewEnglanders
builtblockhousesontheeasternshoreofLakeChamplain,andBritishauthoritiesdeliberatedas
towhetherornotamilitaryexpeditionshouldbedispatchedintotheHampshireGrantstoquell
theviolence.
However,beforestabilitycouldberestoredtotheregion,theRevolutionaryWarbegan
andtheHampshireGrantswasthrownintoevengreaterturmoil.Communitiesbecamesharply
divided,competingmilitiaandparamilitaryorganizationswereraised,bloodyskirmishesflared
upandamassevacuationofCharlotteCountyloyaliststoCanadaoccurred.By1777,muchof
theHampshireGrantsnearFortEdwardandalongtheshoresofLakeChamplainweremarked
withDevastation,andofthemanypleasanthabitations...,somewereburnt,otherstorntoPieces

EugeneR.Fingerhut,
TheOtherNewYork,theAmericanRevolutionBeyondNewYorkCity,17631787
,(Albany:
StateUniversityofNewYorkPress,2005),185
.
46

34

andrenderedunfitforUse,andbutafewofthemeanestoccupied:theInhabitantsingeneral
havingbeenforcedtoleavetheironcepeacefulDwellingstoescapetheRageofWar.Thusthis
onceagreeableanddelightfulPartoftheCountrynowdisplayedamostshockingPictureof
HavockandwildDesolation.47
UnlikeloyalistsandpatriotsinotherpartsofNewYorkandNewEngland,allegiancesto
thecrownorcongressintheHampshireGrantswasoftendictatedbylandclaimsandeconomic
opportunityratherthansocial,culturalorreligiousprinciples.AccordingtoPaulR.Huey,
contributingauthorof
TheOtherNewYork:TheAmericanRevolutionBeyondNewYorkCity
17631787
,attheoutsetofthewar,manyinhabitantsoftheHampshireGrantsweremore
concernedwiththeirrespectivelandgrantsthantherevolutionarycrisis.48Propertyownersin
theHampshireGrants
hadastrongdesiretoprotecttheirpropertyinterests.Inturn,these
propertyinterestsguidedwhetherornotonewouldmaintainloyaltytotheBritishgovernmentor
supporttherevolutionarymovement.

RichardCartwrightJr.
AJourneytoCanada,c.1777
.Journal.From
http://www.62ndregiment.org/A_Journey_to_Canada_by_Cartwright.pdf
48

Fingerhut,
TheOtherNewYork
,198.
47

35

~5~
TheRiseofMcAlpinsCorpsofAmericanVolunteers
AttheoutsetoftheAmericanRevolution,twoveteranofficersoftheFrenchandIndian
WarrecognizedthedeterioratingsituationinNewYorkandNewEnglandandattemptedto
organizeanappropriateresponse.CaptainAlexanderMcDonaldandMajorWilliamEdmeston
quicklyapproachedtheirfellowveteranofficersandsoldiersandstartedtorecruitmenwho
wouldassistGeneralHoweinhismilitaryoperations.49Unfortunately,theworkofbothmen
wasquicklydiscovered.McDonaldwasforcedtofleenorthtoCanadawhileEdmestonwas

49

GeneralHoweauthorizedMajorEdmestontoraisesoldierswithinstructionstoengagetheMentakingcarenot
toappointmorethanoneCaptain,twoSubalterns,threesergeants,threeCorporalsandoneDrummerforeveryfifty
men.

36

quicklyarrested.50Asaresult,theresponsibilityofraisingandcreatingaloyalistcorpsinthe
AlbanyCountyareafelluponCaptainDanielMcAlpin.51
AfterfortyyearsofserviceintheBritishArmy,CaptainDanielMcAlpinretiredfromthe
militaryandsettledintheTownofStillwater,NewYorkwithhiswifeMaryandthreechildren
(James,IsabellaandMary).InMayof1774hepurchasedapproximatelyonethousandacresof
landlocatedonthewestsideofSaratogaLake(inthepresentTownofMalta)andimmediately
proceededtoimproveuponit.Hisfirsthousewasbuiltin1775,whileasecondhousewasbuilt
in1776.52
Initially,rebelauthoritiesactivelycourtedMcAlpintoenlistintheircause.Totherebels,
McAlpinwasarespectedauthoritywhohadthepotentialtorecruitcountlessmenonbehalfof
50

MajorEdmestonwasaresidentofGermanFlatts,NewYork.OnMay28,1777,theTyronCommitteeresolved
thatthishalfpayofficeroftheKingofG.BritainbearrestedandtakentoAlbanywhereGeneralSchuylercould
determinehisdisposition.SchuylerkeptEdmestoninAlbanyuntilmidOctoberandthenorderedhimsentto
BerkshireCounty,MassachusettswithanumberofotherToryprisoners.Bytheendof1777,MajorEdmestonhad
returnedtoEngland.
51
ToHisExcellencyFrederickHaldimand,Esq.GovernorGeneralofCanadaandTerritoriesthereondepending
GeneralandCommanderinChiefofallHisMajestysForcestherein,etc.TheMemorialofCaptainDaniel
McAlpinofthe60th

RegimenthumblyshewethYourExcellencysMemorialisthavinginconcertwithLieutenant
ColonelWilliamEdmonstonofthe48th

RegimentproposedaplanforraisingabattalionofhisMajestysloyal
subjectsinAlbanyandintheneighboringcounties.SuchplanwaslaidbeforeGeneralSirWilliamHoweandHis
Excellencywaspleasedtoapproveofthesameandhegavethisinstructionstoengagethemen,takingcarenotto
appointmorethanonecaptain,twosubalterns,threesergeants,threecorporals,andonedrummertoevery50men.
InconsequenceofGeneralHowesinstructionsyourExcellencysMemorialistemployedproperpeopleata
considerableexpensetoengagevolunteersforthisserviceandhewassosuccessfulthatinsixmonthstimefive
hundredandseventytwomenwereengaged,twohundredofwhichnumberjoinedGeneralBurgoynesarmyaswill
appearbyacertificatesignedbytheDeputyCommissaryofMusters.YourExcellencysMemorialistdidappoint
Mr.PeterDrumondtobecaptainofacompanyandseveralothergoodmentobesubalterns.CaptainDrummond
hadthemisfortunetobetakenprisonerinthefieldofbattleonthe19th

September1777whenhewasexerting
himselfintheexecutionofhisdutyandhehassincesufferedmuch,beingalongtimeconfinedinironsina
dungeon.AsyourExcellency'Memorialistdidnotappointbutonecaptain,fivelieutenants,fiveensigns,andone
quartermastertotheabovenumberofmenhehumblyhopesthatyourExcellencywillbegoodenoughtosupport
theminthosedifferentstationsastheyhavesacrificedalltheyhadfortheirloyalty.Quebec,18November,1778
(Signed)DanielMcAlpin,Captain60th

Regiment.MemorialofDanielMcAlpin,November18,1778,Public
ArchivesofCanada,BSeries,Volume214,84.
52
Bothhousesweretimberlogplankedandfloored.Thehouseswerevaluedat100and200respectively.Avalue
of1Sterlingperacreunimprovedand2.10Sterlingimprovedwasplacedontheland.Bythesummerof1777
therewereatleast170acresinhighcultivation.CaptainMcAlpinhad2025servantsinconstantemployonhis
farm.

37

theAmericancauseforindependence.However,ontheeveoftheAmericanRevolution,
McAlpinwasembroiledinabitterdisputeoveranadditionalsixthousandacresoflandthathe
hadacquiredalongtheConnecticutRiverintheHampshireGrants.Specifically,Yankeesfrom
NewEnglandengagedinanoutrightlandgrabandseizedhisproperty.McAlpinappealedtothe
ColonyofNewYorkandrequestedcrownauthoritiestointerveneanddeclarehimtherightful
owner.
TheKingscontinuedjurisdictionovertheHampshireGrantswasessentialifCaptain
McAlpinwastoevertakepossessionofhisdisputedproperty.McAlpinhadavested,economic
interestinupholdingtheauthorityoftheKinganddeclaringhisloyaltytotheBritish
government.53 Unfortunately,by1775,thedecisionwasstillpending.Recognizingtheinherent
riskoflosinghissixthousandacres,McAlpinattemptedtodelayjoiningtherebelcausefor
almostayear.However,byJune1776,McAlpinsdelaywascalledonbylocalpatriot
leaders.Hewasforcedtorejectattemptstorecruithim.McAlpinwaspromptlyarrestedand
senttoajailinAlbany.
OnJuly26,1776,theToryCommitteedeclaredthatMcAlpinwastobesenttoRedhook,
NewYorkfortransfertoaprisoninConnecticut.54However,thisorderwasrevokeddueto
McAlpinsdeterioratinghealth.InAugust,1776,GeneralSchuylerintervenedonbehalfof

Fraser,
Skulking
,3132.
Bothhousesweretimberlogplankedandfloored.Thehouseswerevaluedat100and200respectively.Avalue
of1Sterlingperacreunimprovedand2.10Sterlingimprovedwasplacedontheland.Bythesummerof1777
therewereatleast170acresinhighcultivation.CaptainMcAlpinhad2025servantsinconstantemployonhis
farm.

Ibid
.
54
ProceedingsJuly26,1776.
MinutesoftheAlbanyCommitteeofCorrespondence
.FromInternetArchive,
MinutesoftheAlbanyCommitteeofCorrespondence,17751778,Vol.1.
https://archive.org/stream/MinutesOfTheAlbanyCommitteeOfCorrespondence17751778Vol1/MinutesOfTheAlbany
CommitteeOfCorrespondence17751778Vol1_djvu.txt.ItwasmostlikelytheprisonwasthenotoriousSimsbury
MinesofSimsbury,Connecticut.
53

38

McAlpinandorderedhimreleased.Insupportofthisorder,Schuylerdeclaredlittleornoharm
mightbeexpectedfromhim.55
A. JessupsMen
Followinghisrelease,McAlpinreturnedtohishomesteadandinitiatedacampaignto
recruitacorpsofsoldierswhowouldaidtheCrowninitsgoalofsuppressingtheAmerican
rebellion.HisfirstventurebeganinSeptember1776whenhebegantorecruitmenforthe
BritishArmystationedinCanada.BymidOctober1776,McAlpinhadsuccessfullyrecruited
fiftysixmen.56 Thesemenwerequietlydispatchednorthwardandatsomepoint,whether
intentionallyorunintentionally,joinedEdwardandEbenezerJessup,apairoflocalTories
brotherswhowerealsorecruitingandsmugglingmentoCanadatofightforthecrown.57
TheJessupbrotherswereborninStamford,Connecticut.In1743thefamilyrelocated
withtheirfathertoDutchessCounty,NewYork.OntheeveoftheAmericanRevolution,the
JessupBrotherswerecountedamongthewealthiestmenintheHudsonRiverValley.The
brothersownedaferryservice,severalsawandgristmillsandalargetractoflandsituated
wheretheSchroonandSacandagaRiversjoinedtheHudsoninCharlotteCounty.58Politicians

55

Proceedings,August24,1776.FromInternetArchive,
MinutesoftheAlbanyCommitteeofCorrespondence,
17751778,Vol.1.
https://archive.org/stream/MinutesOfTheAlbanyCommitteeOfCorrespondence17751778Vol1/MinutesOfTheAlbany
CommitteeOfCorrespondence17751778Vol1_djvu.txt.
56
PeterDrummond,
DrummondtoHaldimand,November13,1780
.Letter.FromHaldimandPapers,AddMss
21827,Part1,f.218.SeeAppendixAforarosterofthosemenwhowerewithJessupin1776.
57
WhetherMcAlpinsrecruitswillinglyjoinedtheJessupsorwereultimatelyplacedundertheJessupscommand
byCarletonuponarrivalatCrownPointisunknown.TheauthorspeculatesthatMcAlpinsenttherecruitstothe
JessupstobesmugglednorthtoCanadawiththeirownrecruits,whileGavinWatt,aprominentloyalisthistorian,
subscribestothetheorythatCarletonplacedthemenrecruitedbyMcAlpinunderthecommandofJessupupontheir
arrivalatCrownPoint.Insupportofhistheory,Mr.Wattasserts,quitelogically,thatMcAlpinandtheJessups
werecompetitorsfortherecruitmentofmenandMcAlpinneverwouldhaveallowedmenraisedbyhimtobeturned
overtotheJessups.
58
KnownasJessupsLanding,thehomesteadswerelocatedinpresentdayCorinth,NewYork.

39

andgovernmentofficials,includingGovernorWilliamTyron,courtedthemenwhileland
speculatorsactivelysoughttheirservicesandexpertise.
WiththepassageoftheDeclarationofIndependenceandwitnessingloyalistresidentsof
CharlotteCountybeingsubjectedtoconsiderableabuseatthehandsofpatriotneighbors,
EbenezerJessupquicklyobtainedGovernorTyronsassenttoraisemeninsupportofHis
Majestysgovernment.InadditiontothefiftysixmenraisedbyMcAlpin,theJessupsrecruited
anadditionaltwentyfourmen.Oftheninetymen,twentyfivewerelandownersandfarmers,
twoweremerchants,59threewereformerprofessionalsoldiers,60 twoweredoctors61andtwo
werestilldependentupontheirfathers.62
Onceassembled,alloftherecruitsbeganathirtysixmilejourneytoGeneralCarletons
armystationedatCrownPoint.Uponarrival,theJessupbrothersboardedCarletons
headquartersonthevessel
Maria
andinformedthegeneralthattherecruitshadfledtoCanada
withtheintentofjoiningHisMajestysforcesandconquerourenemiesandreestablishcivil
governmentforthehonouroftheCrownandthetrueinterestoftheColonies.63Carletonwas
lessthanreceptiveandworse,unimpressed.Fromhisperspective,theToryrefugeesposeda
drainoncriticalsuppliesandfinancesslatedforhistroops.Moreimportantly,hebelievedthese
menshouldhaveremainedathomewaitingforthearrivalofaBritisharmyofliberation.64

59

GershomFrenchandJamesRogers.
st
LieutenantDavidMcFallofthe26th

Regiment,AdjutantMathewThompsonofthe31
Regimentand
th
QuartermasterJohnFergusonofthe29
Regiment.
61
GeorgeSmythandSolomonJones.SmythwouldlaterbecomealoyalistspyintheAlbanyarea.
62
WilliamLamsonandHenryYoung.
63
EbenezerJessup,
MemorialofEbenezerJessup,February1,1778
.From
GreatBritain,BritishLibrary,
AdditionalManuscripts,No.21827,folio145146.http://www.royalprovincial.com/military/rhist/kla/klamem1.htm
64

SirGuyCarletontoMaj.Gen.Phillips.HeadQuartersatQuebec...Sir:TheplanapprovedbyGov.Tyronas
Mr.JessopreportsseemstomeveryjudiciousitistobewishedthisGentlemanandhisfollowershadremainedat
theirownhomestillitremainedpracticableitcannotnowtakeplacebeforenextsummerinthemeantimeIshould
60

40

Nevertheless,theseeightyoddmenwerenowatCrownPointandCarletonhadtodeal
withthem.JessupandhisrecruitsweretemporarilydispatchedtoChateauguaytobebilleted.
Withsomereservations,CarletonacceptedtherefugeesintotheBritishArmy,placedthemon
theappropriatepayrolls65andorderedtherefugeestojointheKingsRoyalRegimentinPoint
Claire,66 Canada.67However,acceptanceintotheestablishmentcamewithconditions.Carleton
warnedJessupthatthearrangementsweremerelyanasylumandforthesakeof
convenience.68
JessupsrecruitswereinitiallyslatedforserviceinKingsRoyalRegimentofNewYork.
69

However,therecruitsobjected.70 AccordingtoCarleton,IinformedyourLordshipthatthis

ArmyhadbeenjoinedatCrownPointbypartiesoftheloyalinhabitantsoftheadjacent
Provinces,whohadfledfromthepersecutiontheyweresufferingintheplacesoftheirresidence
duringthewintertheirnumbershaveincreasedconsiderablyabodyofnearahundredcame
hereundertheconductofaMr.JessupoftheprovinceofNewYork,hisbrotherandseveral

recommendittothemtojoinSirJohnJohnson'sregimentandenclosedisanorderforMajorGreytotakethem
underhiscommand.
LieutenantJamesN.,RoyalArtilleryHadden,
JournalandOrderlyBooks
,(Albany:1884),
69.
65

SirGuyCarletontoMr.Jessup.HeadQuartersatQuebec...Sir:IamcommandedtoacquaintyouthatSirGuy
Carletonhasreceivedyourletterofthe5thInstantandwillinafewdaysansweritfullyinthemeantimeHis
Excellencydesiresyouwillsendhimalistofthepersonswhoaccompanyyou,andtheparticularsofthe
informationwhichyoumentiontohavegivenrelativetotheoperationsofGeneralHowe'sarmy&c..General
Phillipsnothavingtransmittedthem.
Ibid
.Eachrefugeewasentitledto6dperday,Halifaxcurrency,lessrations,
clothingandhospitalexpenses.Halifaxcurrencywasworthlessthanthesterlingusedtopayregulartroops.It
wasalsoorderedthatboysof15oryoungerandoldmenalsobeclothed,fedandhoused.
TheodoreCorbett,
No
TurningPoint:TheSaratogaCampaigninPerspective
,(Oklahoma:UniversityofOklahomaPress,2012),91.
See
note39whichreferences,amongotherprimarysources,GraytoJessup,August10,1785.
66
ByJanuary12,1777,manyoftherecruitshadnotarrivedatPointeClaireandlingeredbehindatChateauguay
becauseofsmallpox.JamesGray,
GraytoCarleton,Jan.12,1777
.Letter.FromHaldimandPapers,B158,9.
67
OnDecember1,1776,CarletonorderedAdjutantGeneralFoythattheJessuppartybeprovidedforbyGeneral
Phillips.
68

Hadden,
JournalandOrderlyBooks
,69.
69
AlsoknownasSirJohnJohnsonsCorps.
70
FromtheperspectiveoftheJessupbrothers,therecruitstheybroughtwiththemformedthenucleusofanew
provincialregiment.

41

othermenofsomenoteintheneighbourhoodofAlbany.TheyhaveallbeensenttoSirJohn
JohnsonsCorps,butbeingofadifferentpartofthecountry,theydesirednottobedraftedinto
thatRegiment.71
Instead,Jessupsmendemanded,inthetraditionofthelocalmilitia,theyserveunder
officersoftheirownchoosing.CarletonimmediatelyrejectedthedemandandonJanuary14,
1777,orderedMajorGraytoadministeroathsofallegiancetotherefugeesandarrestthosewho
refused.72 Allmensubsequentlyagreedtosigntheoaths.
AtsomepointinlateJanuary,1777themenbegantorefertothemselvesasJessups
Corps.FollowingseverallettersofcomplaintfromMajorGray,Carletonquicklydiscovered
thatthecorpshad,withoutauthorization,organizeditselfintothreecompaniescommandedby
EdwardJessup,JonathanJonesandEbenezerJessup.73 Exasperated,CarletoncomplainedI
knowofnosuchthingasJessupsCorps,mentionedbyMajorGray.Worseyet,theGeneral
washorrifiedtodiscovertheJessupbrothersweretravellingthecountrysideattemptingtorecruit
menfromotherprovincialunits. 74Ultimately,CarletonrelentedandpermittedtheJessupsto
formtheirprovincialregiment,entitledEbenezerJessupsCorpsoftheKingsLoyalAmericans.
JessupsCorpsprovedtobeaconstantsourceoffrustrationfortheBritishcommanders.
InMarch,1777,MajorGraycomplainedthosemenjoindJessupsCoregivesmemoretruble
thenIeverhad.75Thenextmonth,themajorbitterlyassertedIhavebeenthirtyYearsa

SirGuyCarleton,
CarletontoGermain,May27,1777
.Letter.From
ErestA.Cruikshank,andGavinK.
Watt,
TheKing'sRoyalRegimentofNewYork
,(Toronto:1984),15.
72
SirGuyCarleton,
CarletontoGray,January14,1777
.Letter
73
GeneralSirFrederickHaldimand,
MusterRolloftheKing'sLoyalAmericansfromtheProvinceofNewYork,at
PointClair,January24,1777.
FromHaldimandPapers,B167,5.
ByAugust,1777JessupsCorpswascomprised
ofatleastfourcompanies.
74

Hadden,
JournalandOrderlyBooks
,71.
75
JamesGray,
GraytoFoy,March24,1777.
Letter.FromHaldimandPapers,B158,642.
71

42

soldier,butneverhadsomuchtroubleaswiththosefellowsIhavetrydeveryMethodtoplease
them,&toshowthemtheGeneralsgoodintentionstowardsthem.76Itispossiblethatthese
complaintswouldcontributetoDanielMcAlpinspoliticaladvantageovertheJessupbrothersin
theyearstocome.
Fromitsinception,itwasclearthatJessupsCorpswasindesperateneedofclothingand
equipment.Asaresult,GeneralCarletonorderedMajorJamesGrayoftheKingsRoyal
RegimentofNewYorktoacquireclothingforJessupsmenandencouragedthemajortolocate
somecheapuniformclothingtokeepthemfromtheseverityoftheweather.77ByJanuary11,
1777,MajorGrayhadpurchasedonbehalfofMessrJessupandhisfollowersregimentalcoats.
AsGraywouldlatercomplain,thecoatswerethecheapestthatcouldbegot,atMontreal,very
CommonredstuffturndupwithGreenasRedseemedtobetheirfavoritecolour,andbeinggot
ratherthananyotherIgratifiedtheirtaste.78 IfMajorGrayscommentsareinterpreted
correctly,thecoatspurchasedweresufficienttoclothalloftherecruitsthenpresentinCanada
underJessup,includingthemendraftedbyMcAlpin.79
InApril1777,asadditionalrecruitspouredintoCanada,Graymadeasecondattemptto
procurecoatsformenaffiliatedwithJessupsCorps.AswiththeJanuarypurchase,hewas
forcedtopurchasethesamecheapcoatsfromsuppliersinMontreal.Nevertheless,Graywas
76

Ibid
,643.
MajorGraymayeithercloaththem[Jessupspeople]astheRoyalRegtofNewYork,orbuythem
somecheapuniformcloathingtokeepthemfromtheseverityoftheweatherasyoushallbepleasedto
direct.
Hadden,
JournalandOrderlyBooks
,69.
78
JamesGray,
GraytoHaldimand,January11,1777.
Letter.
79
ThefulltextofGraysreporttoCarletonstatesSometimeagoIreceivedyourExcellencysordersanddirections
concerningtheMessrsJessupsandfollowers,accordingtothose,&MajorGeneralPhillipssIhaveacted
Bought
themanuniform
thecheapestthatcouldbegotatMontreal,verycommonRedStuffturndupwithGreenasRed
seemedtobetheirfavouritecolourandbeinggotrathercheaperthananyotherIgratifiedtheirtaste.Graydoesnot
qualifyhisstatementthathepurchasedcoatsforsomeorpartofJessupsmen.Instead,heassertsheboughtthem
coats.IfonelooksatthisstatementinconjunctionwithCarletonsNovember29,1776order,onecouldcorrectly
assertthatGrayclothedallofJessupsrecruitspresentinCanadain1776.
77

43

abletosuccessfullyclotheallbuteightadditionalrecruits.80However,despitehisefforts,Gray
complainedtoFrederickHaldimandthatJessupsCorpswasnotuniformlyclothedanduntil
ordered,hewouldnotpurchaseadditionalcoatsforthecorps.81
ClothingwasnottheonlyissuewiththemenforwardedbyMcAlpintoJessup.Manyof
therecruitsarrivedinCanadaunarmed.Asaresult,theBritishgovernmentwasforcedtosecure
weaponsandequipmentforJessupsmen.Duetoasignificantshortageofmuskets,itispossible
CarletonorderedrecruitsofJessupsCorpswholackedarmstobeequippedwithModel1728
FrenchinfantrymusketsleftoverfromthepreviouswarratherthanSecondModelinfantry

80

YoullfindbytheMerchantsaccountssentyouforCloathing,thattheMessrsJessupsparty&the
TwentySevenMenthatPetitiondtheGeneralwereallprovidedfor,buttherewasAdams&hisEightMen
whoarestillunprovidedfor,astheyatthattimewoudnotacceptoftheCloathing,thoAdamshasnowagreedto
joinasaLieutinJessupsCorp,YettheresEightSuitsofCloathswantedtocompleattheRoyalistsundermy
Command,theyarenowwillingtotaketheCloathing,whichIhavenottogivetillIamorderedtobuyforthem.
JamesGray,
JamesGrayto?,April20,1777.
Letter.
81

Ibid
.

44

muskets.82 ItappearsthatMcAlpinsmenenrolledinJessupsalsoreceivedpartialstandsof
armsintheformofbellyboxesandbelting.

Sorel26thJuly1779.Sir,Iamfavouredwithyourletterofthe20thInstant.IamhappyIfIwasabletodomy
dutytomeritHisExcellencysApprobation.WhenIgottheCommandoftheCorpsofLoyaliststhemostofthem
werethen&arestillEmployedintheworks,SundaysnotExcepted,andIhadnooppertunitytoseethemunder
arms,ExceptCapt.LeakesDetachmentwhosearmsIfoundinverybadorder,SirJohnJonsonandCapt.Leake
undertooktoreportthistoHisExcellencyTheCommanderinChief.UponExaminingthearmsoftheremainderof
theCorpslefthereIfoundthemmuchinthesameCondition.IhavelatelyreceivedaLetterfromCaptainLeake
whereinhewishesmuchtohavethearmsofhisDetachmentExchangedhereportsthemallunfitforService.The
mostpartofallthosearmswerenotgoodwhenwereceivedthem,beingoldfrenchmusketswithoutBaynetsno
Douttheywereneglectedbythosepeoplewhoassumetherankofofficerswhichmakesthemstillworse.Atthe
sametimeIfitbeconvenienttoHisExcellencytoorderCompleatgoodarmstobeDeliveredtothewholeofour
Effectives.IShallwhileIhavethehonortoCommandthem,usemybestendeaveurstohavethearmsalwayskeept
ingoodandServiceableorder.IneednotExplaintoHisExcellencythefigureanoldGreyheadedfellowwillmake
attheheadofaparcelundisciplinedpeoplewithbadarmsintheirhands.MyoldwitheredfaceBlushesatthe
thoughtofit.IhopetheGeneralwillbeGoodEnoughtopreventmeappearinginthismortifyingSituationby
orderinggoodarmstobeDeliveredtous.IShallEsteemitaparticularfavourifHisExcellencywillbegood
Enoughtograntmeleavetobethebearerofmynextmonthlyreturnmyself.IhavebusinessatQuebecthatrequires
mygoingtheresoon.IamwithgreatregardandEsteemSirYourmostobedientHumbleServantDanl.McAlpin
Capt.60thRegt.,CommandingtheLoyalistsRobertMathewsEsqr.Secty.toHisExcellencytheCommanderin
ChiefatQuebecDanielMcAlpin,M
cAlpintoHaldimand,July26,1779.
Letter.FromGreatBritain,British
Library,AdditionalManuscripts,No.21821,folios2930.
82

AccordingtoresearchconductedbyJimKochan,BurgoyneandCarletonnearlyexhaustedthesupplyoffirelocks
storedatQuebecinthesummer,1776byarmingprovincialsunderthecommandofJohnson,Canadianmilitiaand
recruitsfromtheRoyalHighlandEmigrants.Althoughitappearsthesupplywasreplenishedatsomepointin1777,
BurgoynenearlydepleteditagaininSeptember,1777whenhereceivedalmostonethousandstandsofBritishand
Frencharmsslatedforunarmedprovincialsunderhiscommand.

45


ColonelEdwardJessupsCartridgeBox

However,bayonetswereinshortsupply.AsMcAlpinwouldlaterassert,manyfromthe

CorpsofAmericanVolunteersduringtheBurgoyneCampaignwereequippedwithOldFrench
musketswithoutbaynets.83 ItisunknownwhatadditionalequipmentJessupsmenreceived.
However,byMay,1777,GeneralCarletonwassatisfiedthatthecorpswassufficientlyequipped.
84

B. DanielMcAlpinsRecruits
WhileMcAlpinsfirstsetofrecruitswereinCanadaunderthecommandofColonel

Jessup,CaptainMcAlpinwasstillatworkinAlbanyCountydraftingadditionalmenforthe
King.Despitebeingforcedtofleefromhishomebyrebelmobsandhideinnearbywoodsfor
overtwoweeksinFebruary,1777,theToryleaderwasstillabletosuccessfullyrecruitover570
men.Unfortunately,localrebelsquicklylearnedoftheplot.Abountyof$100wassetforthe

83

Ibid
.
OnMay27,1777,SirGuyCarletonwrotetoGermaintoconfirmthemenofPeterandJessupsCorpswere
clothedandarmedbytheBritishArmyundertheguidanceofMajorGray.Hefurtherdetailedthatpayscalesforthe
Corpswereestablishedforenlistedmen,noncommissionedofficersandofficers.
84

46

captureofMcAlpinandfourofhisringleaders.85CaptainTyrannisCollinsoftheAlbany
CountyMilitiawasorderedtoarrestMcAlpinandcarry[those]whoweresupposedtobe
disaffectedtothecountry,asprisonerstoAlbany.86
Realizinghehadbeenexposed,McAlpinwasforcedtofleetothesafetyofCanadawith
lessthanthirtyofhis570recruits.ThebandofmenretreatedwesttowardstheAdirondack
MountainsandthesafetyoftheJessupslandshotinpursuitwereacombinedforceofAlbany
CountymilitiaandaregimentofGreenMountainBoys.87
Itappearsthisbandofrecruitswasarmedandequipped,foraskirmisheruptedwhenthe
pursuersfinallycaughtupwithDanielMcAlpin.Therewasabattlefoughtby...some
loyalistsagainstrebelsfromSchenectadyandsomeYankeesinwhichwelostoneman,five
woundedandeleventakenprisonerswhichwereconfindinAlbany.88Intheconfusion,
McAlpinandtwelveofhisfollowersmanagedtoescape.Thesmallbandofloyalistshidinthe
woodssomewherebetweenJessupsPatentandCrownPointforaweekbeforelocatinga
suitablecavetotakerefugein.89 Afterwards,McAlpinmadeanattempttofreetheeleven
prisoners,butwasunsuccessful.90Asaresult,McAlpinandhismenwereforcedtoremainin
hidinguntilBurgoynesarmyarrivedatFortEdwardinAugust,1777.

ProceedingsApril17,1777.
MinutesoftheAlbanyCommitteeofCorrespondence
.FromInternetArchive,
MinutesoftheAlbanyCommitteeofCorrespondence,17751778,Vol.1.
From
https://archive.org/stream/MinutesOfTheAlbanyCommitteeOfCorrespondence17751778Vol1/MinutesOfTheAlbany
CommitteeOfCorrespondence17751778Vol1_djvu.txt.
86
Fraser,
Skulking,
35.
87

Ibid
.
88
HaldimandPapers,AdditionalManuscriptsNo.21875,folio218.
89
AO,Volume131,reelnumberB2189ProceedingsApril17,1777.
MinutesoftheAlbanyCommitteeof
Correspondence
.FromInternetArchive,
MinutesoftheAlbanyCommitteeofCorrespondence,17751778,Vol.1.
https://archive.org/stream/MinutesOfTheAlbanyCommitteeOfCorrespondence17751778Vol1/MinutesOfTheAlbany
CommitteeOfCorrespondence17751778Vol1_djvu.txt.
90
Wesentapetitionforthereleaseoftheprisonerswiththreateningtofetchthem.TheCommitteerefusedusand
keptthemenwesentwiththe...prisoners.HaldimandPapers,AdditionalManuscriptsNo.21875,folio218.
85

47


C. WilliamFrasersRecruits
WhenCaptainMcAlpinwasforcedtoflee,heturnedtoWilliamFrasertocontinuethe
recruitmentofloyalists.AprosperousfarmerfromBallsTown,Fraserquietlyrecruitedforty
menonbehalfofMcAlpin.However,arebelspylearnedoftherecruitmentschemeand
reportedittoColonelJamesGordon,commanderofanUlsterCountymilitiaregiment.Gordon,
inturn,mobilizedhisregimenttoarrestFraserandhisrecruits.
Fraserimmediatelyrecognizedthedangerheandhismenwerein.Themenfledto
woodsnorthofBallsTownwheretheywaitedalmosttendaysforaguidefromBurgoyne.
Whenthegrouprealizedtheguidewouldnotbecoming,theybegantotreknorth,following
infrequentedandimpassableways.91 TwentymilesnorthofBallsTown,ColonelGordonand
hispartyambushedWilliamFraserandhismen.AttemptingtoevadeGordon,Fraserledhis
partytoJessupsLittleFalls.Accordingtoperiodaccounts,theupperHudsonRiverwasforced
intoanarrowcorridorofblacklimestoneandledtoawaterfallwithasixtyfootdrop.Acrossthe
waterfallwasathirteenfootsingleplankwhichservedasafootbridge.92 Regrettably,Frasers
attempttocrossthefallsfailedandallbutonemanwascaptured.Theirarmsandequipment
wereseizedandlatersoldforprofitinAlbany.93

91

AO,Volume29,reelnumberB1162.
Fraser,
Skulking
,39.
93
MemorialofAlexanderLaughlen,July12,1789.PublicArchivesofCanada.
http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/b/r/u/JudithDBruderMO/WEBSITE0001/UHP1090.html.
The
MemorialofAlexanderLaughlenhumblysheweththatwhereasintheyearonethousandsevenhundredand
seventyfourheleftStirlingshireinScotlandandcametoAmerica,thathesettledinBallstown,StateofNewYork
andthatintheyearonethousandsevenhundredandseventysevenhavingvoluntarilyjoinedapartyofloyalists,
wasenlistedunderCaptainMcAlpinandwasputunderthedirectionofCaptainWilliamFraserandLieutenant
ThomasFraserwhohadthecommandofsaidpartyontheirwaytoCanada.Thataftertendays'marchthepartywas
surprisedbytheRebells,takenprisonersandconductedtoAlbany.StatementofWilliamandThomasFraserin
92

48

ThegroupwasmarchedbacktoAlbanyandpromptlythrownintoajailbelowtownhall.
AccordingtoFraser,Theywerenottreatedasprisonersofwar,buthandcuffedlikeordinary
criminals...therebelsdidnotundertaketofeedtheirprisonersanditwascustomfor[Tory
families]tocomeeverydaytothegaolwithprovisions.94 Onebyone,Frasersrecruitswere
broughtbeforetheToryCommittee,triedandfoundguilty.AllbutWilliamFraserwereordered
toremainjaileduntilpaymentofafineoffifteendollarswasreceivedandanoathtotheStateof
NewYorkwasgiven.Fraserwassentencedtooneyearinjail.95
Shortlyafterthesetrials,Fraserswifearrivedatthejailwithherhusbandsdaily
provisions.Insidealoafofbreadwasafileandcoilofrope.Aftersomeeffort,Fraserand
twentyofhismenwereabletobreakfreeoftheirshackles,removeatleastoneoftheironbars
onthejailswindowandescape.96Unarmedandwithoutprovisions,themenfledfromAlbany
towardsFortEdward.LikeMcAlpinandhismen,Fraserscompanywasforcedtoremainin
hidinguntilthearrivalofGeneralBurgoyne.

SupportofAlexanderLaughlensLandPetition,February9,1798.IherebyCertifythatthebearerAlexLaughlen
hasbeentakenprisonerwithuswhenendeavoredtocometocanadainthespring1777andcarriedprisonerto
AlbanyandfromthencetoNewEnglandwherehesufferedmutchforhisloyaltyandattachmenttotheBritish
government.
94
AO,Volume29,reelnumberB1162.
95

Ibid
.
96

Ibid
.NotallofFrasersmenweresuccessfulintheprisonbreak.
ThisistoCertifyallGentlemenWhomItmay
ConcernThatAlexanderLaughlenWasagoodfaithfulSubjectToKingGeorgeduringtheLastRebellionand
SuferedDomstickVilencebythehandsoftheUserpeisWastakingPrisonerGoingtotheBritishAndWaskeep
threeyearsInCloseConfinementWhichwasaVeryhardfateAndNowmeanstomaakehisResidenceunder
protectionofKingGeorge.StatementofJamesDearininSupportofAlexanderLaughlensLandPetition.
February,1798.
Aftertheescape,thoseprisonerswhowereleftbehindweretransferredtojailsinNewYork,
Connecticut,Massachusetts,NewHampshireandPennsylvania.

49

~6~

WithoutFire,Table,ChairsorAnyOtherConvenience:
ThePlightoftheFemaleLoyalist

Priortothewar,mostwomenwereboundbythelegalandmoralcodesoftheir
respectivecommunities.Lifewasnoteasyforwomen.Fromtheperspectiveofsociety,women
50

wereassumedtobehelplessbecausetheywerelikechildrenwhocouldnotprovidethebasic
necessitiesforthemselves,buthadtorelyonmenforfood,shelter,andclothing.Buttheywere
alsohelpless,itwasthought,becausetheywereinferior.Theycouldnottakecareofthemselves
becausetheywerelessrational,capable,andcompetentthanmen.Notonlywerewomentreated
ashelplessinferiors,theywerealsoexpectedtospeakofthemselvesintheseterms. 97Womenin
manyofthecoloniescouldnotattendpublicschools,wereoftenpregnantontheirweddingdays
andreceivedlittleprotectionfromdomesticviolence.98Womenwereoftenheavilydependent
uponthecompanionshipoftheirsistersandotherfemalerelatives.Siblingsoftenspent
countlesshoursspinning,preparingfood,makingsoapandworkinginthefield.Femalesalso
assistedeachotherinthebirthingandraisingofchildren.99
th
Oftenthemajordecisioninawomanslifewasthechoiceofamate.Although18

centurywomenhadsomesayintheselectionofaspouse,parentsstillplayedasignificantrolein
thedecisionandtheirconsentwasrequired.100 Colonialerawomenwereexpectedtoobeytheir
husbands,rearthechildren,cookandpreparemeals,makeandlaunderclothesandundertake

JanicePotterMcKinnon,
WhiletheWomenOnlyWept
,(Montreal:1993),8.
Thehusbandalso(bytheoldlaw)mightgivehiswifemoderatecorrection.For,asheistoanswerforher
misbehaviour,thelawthoughtitreasonabletointrusthimwiththispowerofrestrainingher,bydomestic
chastisement,inthesamemoderationthatamanisallowedtocorrecthisservantsorchildrenforwhomthemaster
orparentisalsoliableinsomecasestoanswer.Butthispowerofcorrectionwasconfinedwithinreasonablebounds
andthehusbandwasprohibitedtouseanyviolencetohiswife,"[heretranslated:]otherthanaslicitlyand
reasonablypertainstothehusbandfortheruleandcorrectionofhiswife."Thecivillawgavethehusbandthesame,
oralarger,authorityoverhiswifeallowinghim,forsomemisdemesnors,"[heretranslated:]withflailsandcudgels
tobeatthewifeenergetically"forothers,only"[heretranslated:]toapplylimitedpunishment."But,withus,inthe
politerreignofCharlesthesecond,thispowerofcorrectionbegantobedoubted:andawifemaynowhavesecurity
ofthepeaceagainstherhusbandor,inreturn,ahusbandagainsthiswife.Yetthelowerrankofpeople,whowere
alwaysfondoftheoldcommonlaw,stillclaimandexerttheirancientprivilege:andthecourtsoflawwillstill
permitahusbandtorestrainawifeofherliberty,incaseofanygrossmisbehaviour.
William
Blackstone,
CommentariesontheLawsofEngland
,(London:1765),442445.
99
McKinnon,
WhiletheWomen
,6.
100

Ibid
,5.
97
98

51

minorhouseholdrepairs.101Amarriedwomanwasseenassubordinatetoherhusband.Basicto
themarriagecontractwasthenotionthatthemanhadthepowertomaketheimportantdecisions
forthefamilyunit,buthealsohadtheresponsibilitytoensureitswellbeingbyprovidingthe
essentialsfood,clothing,andhousing.102 Colonialerawomenwereexpectedtoobeytheir
husbands,rearthechildren,cookandpreparemeals,makeandlaunderclothesandundertake
minorhouseholdrepairs.103Undertheeyesofthelaw,amarriedwomancouldnotvote,collect
wages,makecontracts,testifyincourt,serveasajuror,buyorsellpropertynorexecuteawillon
herown.AseighteenthcenturylegalscholarSirWilliamBlackstonesurmised:
Bymarriage,thehusbandandwifeareonepersoninlaw:thatis,theverybeingorlegal
existenceofthewomanissuspendedduringthemarriage,oratleastisincorporatedand
consolidatedintothatofthehusband:underwhosewing,protection,and
cover
she
performseverythingandisthereforecalledinourlawFrencha
femecovert
issaidto
be
covertbaron
,orundertheprotectionandinfluenceofherhusband,her
baron
,orlord
...[Though]ourlawingeneralconsidersmanandwifeasoneperson,yettherearesome
instancesinwhichsheis...consideredasinferiortohim,andactingbyhiscompulsion.
Andthereforealldeedsexecuted,andactsdone,byher...arevoid,oratleastvoidable
exceptitbeafine,orthelikematterofrecord,inwhichcaseshemustbesolelyand
secretlyexamined,tolearnifheractbevoluntary.Shecannotbywilldeviselandstoher
husband,unlessunderspecialcircumstancesforatthetimeofmakingitsheissupposed
tobeunderhiscoercion.Andinsomefelonies,andotherinferiorcrimes,committedby
her,thoughconstraintofherhusband,thelawexcusesher:butthisextendsnottotreason
ormurder.104
Historicalevidencesuggestsmarriedcolonialwomen,appearedtoaccepttheir
subordinatepositionwithinthefamily.Ratherthancomplainingorcontemplatingtheunfairness
oftheirsituation,marriedwomenknewthattheirrolewastoaccepttheirlotinlifeanddotheir

101

Bycomparison,afemalecampfollowerinan18th

CenturyBritishregimentwasconsideredanintegralpartofthe
organization.Mostweregainfullyemployedassutlers,nursesandlaundresses,receivedfinancialcompensationfor
theircontributionsandoftenhadtheirownlodgings.
102

Ibid
,7.
103
Bycomparison,afemalecampfollowerinan18th

CenturyBritishregimentwasconsideredanintegralpartofthe
organization.Mostweregainfullyemployedassutlers,nursesandlaundresses,receivedfinancialcompensationfor
theircontributionsandoftenhadtheirownlodgings.
104
Blackstone,
Commentaries
,442445.

52

duty.AsloyalistDotheStonerecalledIwasobligedanddidaffectcheerfulnessinmybehavior
...Iansweredwithasmilewhenmyheartwasreadytobreak...[I]mustsubmitwhenitcomes
toopenthings.105
However,notallwomenweresubjecttothestrictrigorsofsociety.Anunmarried
womanwasconsidereda
femesole
.A
femesole
couldsigncontracts,ownabusiness,control
herownwages,buyand/orsellproperty,anddistributepersonalpropertyandchattelinherwill.
A
femesole
couldalsosueorbesuedinherownnameinacourtoflaw.Some
femesole
loyalist
womenwereabletoestablishemploymentasmidwives,newspaperowners,successful
seamstresses,tavernkeepers,andshopkeepers.Suchpositionsenabledwomentoworkwithin
theacceptedsphereofgenderedsociety(and/orsometimesinconjunctionwithfamilymembers,
husbands,orbusinesspartners)andearnincomesthatplacedtheminthemiddlingranks.For
example,aMrs.CummingofCharlestown,SouthCarolinawasasuccessfulloyalistmidwife
whopetitionedtheBritishgovernmentforfinancialassistancefollowingthelossofherbusiness.
106

AMrs.Griffiths,aConnecticutmilliner,supportedherselfandhersonpriortothewar.107

Unfortunately,thestatusof
femesole
affordedwomenthemostfreedombutwaspubliclyand
sociallydiscouraged,sincewomenwereviewedas"unproductive"iftheywerenotweddedand
havingbabies.108

DotheStone,
DotheStoneDiary,October22,1783
,Journal.FromtheArchivesofOntario,MS519,reel1
Ibid
,
October24,1783.http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:http://joelstone.ca/diary.html
106

AmericanLoyalists,TranscriptsoftheManuscriptBooksandPapersoftheCommissionofEnquiryintothe
LossesandServicesoftheAmericanLoyalist
,IV,284.FromR
obertWoodwardBarnwell,Jr.,GeorgeHarland
Hartle'ysClaimforLossesasaLoyalist,
TheSouthCarolinaHistoricalandGenealogicalMagazine,
51,no.1
(1950):4550.
107

Ibid
,
108

Ifayoungwomandidnotmarry,shewasexpectedtolivewithherbrother,orsomeothermarriedmalerelative,
andhelpcareforhisfamily.Themalerelativewouldassumetheresponsibilityofcaretakerandproviderforthe
singlewoman.

105

53

Onelimitedwaywomenestablishedtheirrightsduringmarriageandcontrolledtheirown
businesseswastobecome
femesoletraders
.Mostoften,marriedwomenneededtoobtaintheir
husband'spermissiontodothis.Thisstatusmeantthatmarriedwomencouldconductbusiness
andwereresponsiblefortheirownactions.Ifthewomenweresued,itwouldnotaffecttheir
husbands'estates.Marriedwomencouldevendevisethepropertyacquiredthroughtheirown
endeavors.Desertedwomenandsailors'wivescouldpetitiontheircoloniallegislaturestoacquire
suchstatus.Althoughnotstated,itiseasytoseethatthelegislaturesgrantingsuchstatusactedin
anefforttokeepwomenandtheirdependentchildrenoffpoorrelief.Thusitwasmotivatedby
economic,ratherthanliberal,concerns.Warwouldcausemanywomentosupportthemselves
becausetheirhusbandshaddiedorwerecrippledasaresultoftheirservice.Duringmostwars,
womenremainedathometorunfarms,plantations,andtheirfamiliesbusinessesuntilthemen
returnedfrombattle.
Womenintheeighteenthcenturyalsoactedindependentlyasdeputyhusbands,aterm
coinedbyLaurelThatcherUlrich.Asadeputyhusband,thewifecouldtakeoverherhusbands
joborbusinessinhisabsence.Thisusuallyoccurredinfamilybusinessessuchasstores,taverns,
mills,andthelike.Womenwerefamiliarwiththebusinessandkeptitrunningsmoothlywhile
theirhusbandswereincapacitatedoraway.Thisrolewascommonandwomencopedadequately
withtheirnewpositions.

Theroleofdeputyhusbandallowedmarriedwomentopurchase
supplies,paybills,bank,andperformallotheraspectsofrunningtheirbusinesses.Duringtimes
ofwar,womenrantheirplantations,businesses,farms,families,andmanagedtheservants,
whiletheirhusbandsservedinthemilitary.SuchwasthecaseduringtheAmericanRevolution
andwomen,whetherToryorWhig,didwhateverwasnecessarytokeepthehomefrontrunning.

54

Manycolonialwomen,whetherLoyalistorPatriot,wereforcedduringtheRevolutionto
actinwaysinconsistentwiththeirsubordinatestatuswithinpatriarchalhouseholdsandtotake
theirfirsttentativestepsintothetraditionallymaledominatedworldsofpoliticsandwarfare.
LoyalistwomenwereactiveparticipantsintheRevolution.Theytooktheirfirststepsintothe
politicalrealmbypetitioningandwritingpamphlets.Inonesuchpieceofliterature,
ADialogue
BetweenaSouthernDelegateandHisSpouse
,aloyalistwomanberatedherhusband,adelegate
totheFirstContinentalCongress,andwarnedofthedireconsequencesoftheCongress's
actions:
ToyourmightyCongress,yourmembersweresent
TolayourcomplaintsbeforeParliament,
UsurpationreareditsheadfromthatfatalHour
Youresolved,youenactedlikeaSovereignPower.
Yournonimports,andExportsarefullfraughtwithRuin,
Ofthousandsandthousandstheutterundoing,
IfPhiladelphiaorNewYorkproposedsomewisePlan
Fromthatmomentonyoubrandedtheman...
InsteadofimploringtheirJusticeorPity,
YoutreatParliamentlikeaPackofBanditti.
InsteadofAddressesfram'donTruthoronReason,
Youbreathenothingbutinsult,rebellionand
Treason.
InalltheRecordsofthemostslavish
Nation,
You'llnotfindaninstanceof
suchusurpation,
Ifspiritsinfernalfor
direvengeancedesign'd,
Hadbeen
namedDelegatestoafflicthumankind,
Andin
GrandContinentalCongresshadresolved,
Letthe
bondsofsocialblissbehenceforthdissolved.
Oh!MyCountry!Rememberthatawomanunknown
Cry'daloudlikeCassandrainOracularTone,

Repent!Oryouareforever,foreverundone.109

MaryV.
ADialogueBetweenaSouthernDelegateandHisSpouse
,(NewYork:1774).Pamphlet.From
https://archive.org/details/southerndele00maryrich.
109

55

LoyalistwomenevenplayedamilitaryroleintheRevolution.AnnNovil,aPennsylvania
loyalist,actedasaguideduringthe1777BurgoyneexpeditionfromCanada.Anotherwoman,
FrancesChild,helpedBritishandloyalistprisonersbeingheldinsouthernNewYorkescape,
whileHannahTomlinsonaidedandassistedupwardsof100PrisonersofWarinmakingtheir
escapeintotheBritishlines.110 Mostloyalistwomen,however,stayedwithintheircommunities
behindenemylines,wheretheywereavaluablemilitaryassetoftheBritishandathorninthe
sideofthePatriots.Womenoftenmadebetterspiesthanmensincetheiractionswereless
carefullyscrutinized.Becausetheydidnothavetoserveinthemilitiaorsignoaths,women
founditeasiertoescapebeingbrandedasdissidents.
AsloyalistmenfledtothesafetyofBritishlines,therewasatheoreticalbeliefheldby
menregardingthetreatmentofTorywomenandchildrenasinnocentbystanders.AsCaptain
AlexanderMcDonaldopinedsurelythepeople[thePatriots]hasnotgotsobarberouslymadas
toMollestorhurtapoorinnocentwomanandstillmoreInnocentpoorChildren.111 Fromthe
maleloyalistperspective,theirwivesweremereappendageswithnoindependentwillsor
politicalrolesoftheirown.Likewise,manymaleloyalistsassumed,underthetheoriesof
feme
soletrader
anddeputyhusbands,thatiftheirspouseswereleftbehind,personalandreal
propertywouldbecarefullyprotectedfromseizureordestruction.

PetitionofAnnNovil,FrancesChild,HannahTomlinson.B
ritishHeadquarterPapers,documentnumber
unavailable.FromMcKinnon,
WhiletheWomen
,45.
111

AlexanderMcDonald,
LettersExtractedfromtheLetterBookofCapt.AlexanderMcDonelloftheRoyal
HighlandEmigrantswrittenfromHalifax,WindsorandCornwallisbetweentheyears1775and1779
,263.Journal.
FromMcKinnon,
WhiletheWomen
,52.
110

56


18
CenturyWoodcutImage

Unfortunately,bothviewswererejectedbytheenemy.Patriotcommitteesandcolonial
th

governmentsconcludedthatunlesstherewasevidencetothecontrary,thefamiliesoffleeing
maleloyalistssharedintheguilt.Fromthepatriotperspective,womencouldnotact
independentlyfromthemenintheirlives.Thepoliticaldecisionsofthemenalsoincriminated
thewomen.Byjoiningtheenemyandparticipatingintheoftenviciousraidsonfrontier
communities,themenhadtaintednotonlythemselvesbutalsotheirfamilies.ThePatriotsfelt
justifiedinstrikingbackandpunishingthoseraidingtheirfrontiersandparticipatingintreason.
Themen,however,wereinCanada,beyondthePatriots'reach.Loyalistwomenleftbehindwere
seenasviperslivingintheirmidst.Thus,itwasthewomenandtheirfamilieswhoborethe
bruntofthePatriots'rage.

57

Womenwhohadeitherparticipatedinthewarthemselvesorweremarriedtomenwho
hadweresubjectedtovariousformsofpunishment,themostcommonanddevastatingbeingthe
confiscationoftheirproperty.Lootinganddestructofloyalistpropertywerealsoconventional.
Likewise,manywomenalsofacedimprisonmentandviolenceatthehandoflocalmobs.
LoyalistSarahMcginnisofNewYorkenjoyedacloserelationshipwithneighboring
Mohawks.AttheoutbreakofthewarshewasofferedtwelveshillingsYorkcurrencyperday
andaguardoffifteenmenifshewouldtrytoinfluencetheMohawkontheirbehalf.Instead,she
providedintelligencetoBritishauthoritiesandassistedloyalistrefugeeswiththeirflightnorth.
Inretaliation,localpatriotofficialsarrestedhersoninlawandplunderedherproperty.Sarah,
herdaughter,andhergranddaughterwatchedasthePatriotssoldalloftheirpossessions,except
whatwouldscantilysupporttheminvictualsandclothes,atpublicauction.Afterthis,the
womenwereimprisonedinalocalfortandsobadlytreatedthatSarah'sgranddaughterlaterdied.
Sarahandherdaughter"escapedatnightwithonlywhattheycouldcarryontheirbacks.Sarah
wasforcedtoleavebehindasonwhowasoutofhissensesandboundinchains...andwho
sometimeafterwardwasburntalive.112
InthecaseoftheloyalistEmpyfamily,Philip,husbandandfatherofelevenchildren,
wassubjectedtomanyinsultsandabusesfromrebels.WhenPhilipandhisthreesonsescaped
fromprison,thelocalPatriotsturnedtheireyestohiswifeandsevenotherchildren.MrsEmpty
andherchildrenwereimprisonedandalloftheirrealandpersonalpropertywasconfiscated.Mrs
Empyandherfamilywereeventuallyreleased.Butwhenshereturnedtoherhome,shewas

GreatBritainAuditOfficeRecordsVolume27.McKinnon,
WhiletheWomen
,68.

112

58

beatandabusedby4menwholeftherontheroad.Althoughshewasrescuedbyfriendsand
takentoSchenectady,shelaterdied.113
ElizabethCaryWilstee,aresidentoftheNewHamphshiregrantswhosefamilyhadbeen
victimizedbytheGreenMountainboysinthe1760s,watchedhelplesslyasaPatriotband
ransackedherhomein1776.Inthemiddleofwinter,theoutlawsbrokeintoherhomeand
orderedherandherchildrentoleaveforherfather'splace.Althoughitwassnowyandcold,she
hadnochoice.Lookingbackwhileonherway,shesawtheoutlawsmovingherfurnitureand
provisionsfromthehouseandloadingthemintoawagon.Nextshewitnessedthemopenher
featherbedsandshakethefeathersfromtheticksoutofthewindowsandputtheticksandbed
clothesintothewagon.Finally,shewatchedthemprythelogsofthesidesofthehouseoutat
thecornersuntiltherooffellin.HavingfinishedwiththeWiltseehome,thebandmovedonto
thehomesofothertenantsintheneighborhood.114
Shortlyafterhisescape,DanielMcAlpinspropertywasseizedandhiswifeandfamily
werearrested.MaryMcAlpindescribedherfamilystreatmentatthehandsoftherebelsinvivid
language.FromthedayherhusbandlefttothedayshewasforcedfromherhometheCaptain's
housewasneverwithoutpartiesoftheRebelspresent.Theylivedattheirdiscretionand
sometimesinverylargenumbers.Theydestroyedwhattheycouldnotconsume.Shortlyafter
thecaptureofthefleeingloyalistsagroupofarmedRebelswithblackenedfacesbrokeintothe
McAlpin'sdwellinghouse.TheythreatenedMaryandherchildrenwithviolenceandmenaceof
instantdeath.Theyconfinedthemtothekitchenwhiletheystrippedeveryvaluablefromthe

113

PhilipEmpyPetition,March1,1780.
FromHaldimandPapers,AdditionalManuscriptsNo.21874,folioA776
McKinnon,
WhiletheWomen
,58.
114
McKinnon,
WhiletheWomen,
56.

59

home.Afewdaysafterthis,byanorderoftheAlbanyCommittee,adetachmentofRebelForces
cameandseizedupontheremainderofMcAlpin'sestatebothrealandpersonal.115Mary
McAlpinandherchildrenweretakentoanunheatedhutlocatedinStillwaterandlockedinside
withoutfire,table,chairsoranyotherconvenience.116
HopingthatthehardshipwouldeventuallybreakMrs.McAlpinandinducehertobegher
husbandtohonorablysurrender,therebelskeptMaryandherchildrenincaptivityforseveral
weeks.MaryMcAlpinrefusedtocomplyandinsteadrespondedherhusbandhadalready
establishedhishonourbyafaithfulservicetohisKingandcountry.117Enraged,rebelsseized
MaryandheroldestdaughterandcartedbothofthemthroughAlbany.Accordingtothe
ReverendMunro,Mrs.McAlpinwasbroughtdowntoAlbanyinaveryscandalousmannerso
muchthattheAmericansthemselvescriedoutaboutit.118 AsecondaccountstatedwhenMrs.
McAlpinwasbroughtfromthehuttoAlbanyasaprisonerwithherdaughter...theyneitherof
themhadaragofcloathstoshiftthemselves.119
Asviolence,imprisonmentandlootingcontinuedtomount,manyloyalistwomen
recognizedtheirsituationwasbecomingdesperate.InalettertoherhusbandJohn,MaryMunro
describedjusthowdangeroushersituationwas.Forheavenssake,mydearMr.Munro,send
mesomereliefbythefirstsafehand.Istherenopossibilityofyoursendingforus?Ifthereisno
methodfallenuponweshallperish,foryoucanhavenoideaofoursufferingshereLetmeonce
moreintreatyoutotryeverymethodtosaveyourfamilymyheartissofullitisreadytobreak

AmericanLoyalists,
4347,54,5162

Ibid
.OnMay27,1777GeneralGatescondemnedtheactionsoflocalmilitiamenwhoraidedtheMcAlpinhome.
However,GatesdidlittletopreventMcAlpinspropertyfrombeingsoldtosupporttheAmericanwareffort.
117
WilliamSmith,
MemoirsofWilliamSmith,May12,1777.J
ournal.
118
GreatBritainAuditOfficeRecords,Volume21,reelnumberB1159.
119

Ibid
.Eventually,MaryandherchildrenfledtoCanadaandwerereunitedwithDaniel.
115
116

60

adieumyDearestJohn,mayGodAlmightyblesspreserveandprotectyou,thatwemayliveto
seeeachotheristheconstantprayerofyouraffectionatetho'afflictedwife...P.S.TheChilder's
kindlovetoyou.120
Withthethreatoffinancialandphysicalruin,manyloyalistwomenpetitionedlocal
patriotauthoritiesregardingtheirdiresituation.121 Ultimately,manyloyalistwomenconcluded
theyandtheirfamilieswouldbesaferbywithdrawingtoBritishheldterritorynorthinCanadaor
southinNewYorkCity.Inasecondletter,Maryconfirmedthisconclusionwhenshedeclared
MydearJohnIhopewhenyoureceivethesefewlinestheymayfindyouingoodhealth.Your
DearChildrenareallwell.Asformyself,Iaminapoorstateofhealthandverymuchdistresst.I
mustleavemyhouseinaveryshorttimeandGodknowswhereIshallgetaplacetoputmy
headin,formyownrelationsaremygreatestenemies,themillstheyhavehadalongtimein
theirpossessionlikewisealltheirtenants'housesandlands.Theyhavedistresstmebeyond
expression.Ihavescarcelyamouthfulofbreadformyselforchildren.122
Despitepopularmisconception,loyalistwomenandtheirfamiliesgenerallydidnot
gathertheirbelongingsandfleeintothenight.Instead,manyappearedbeforelocalCommittees
ofSafetyandothersimilarorganizationsandrequestedpermissiontoleavethecommunityto
jointheirhusbands.Atfirst,manycommitteeswerereluctanttoreleaseloyalistfamiliesasthey
servedausefulpurposeashostages.Fromthepatriotperspective,thecontinuedpresenceof
loyalistfamiliesundertheircarefulguardcoulddeterfutureattacks,stemtheflowofpotential
youngmalerecruitsintoCanadaandencouragethereleaseofAmericanprisonersheldbyBritish
MaryMunro,
MaryMunrotoJohnMunro,undatedletter
.Letter.FromHaldimandPapers,AddMssA748
McKinnon,
WhiletheWomen
,63.
121
McKinnon,
WhiletheWomen,
7576.
122
MaryMunro,
MaryMunrotoJohnMunro,undatedletter
,FromHaldimandPapers,AddMss21,875.
McKinnon,
WhiletheWomen
,74.
120

61

authorities.123However,followingBurgoynesinvasionof1777,manylocalcommittees
recognizedthathostageswouldnotpreventBritishraidsandagreedtoreleasewomenandtheir
families.
Officialscarefullyscrutinizedpetitionsofloyalistwomenandsetforththetermsoftheir
departure.Oftenthedecisiontoallowwomentoleavewaspromptedbyconcernaboutthe
financialcostinvolvedinpermittingthemtostay.AstheAlbanyCountyCommissionersfor
DetectingandDefeatingConspiraciesdeclaredin1778,ithavingappearedtousthatthose
WomenarebecomechargeabletotheDistrictsinwhichtheyseverallyresideandthatthey
togetherwiththeirFamiliesaresubsistedatpublicExpence.124 Thus,patriotofficialsdidnot
wantcommunitiestotakeontheburdenofcaringforindigentloyalistfamiliesandwere
frequentlyquitewillingtograntpermissiontosuchfamiliestoleave.
Likewise,asthewarprogressed,manystatespassedlawsorderingthe
expulsion
of
loyalistfamiliesfromtheirterritories.AsBurgoyneadvancedsouthintoNewYork,the
VermontCouncilofSafetybecamealarmedatthemilitaryrolesloyalistwomenwereassuming.
Inresponse,itdeclaredallsuchpersonsashavejoinedormayhereafterjointheBritishTroops
(&leftormayhereafterleave)theirwivesandfamilieswithinthisState,Havetheirwivesand
familiessenttoGeneralJohnBurgoins[sic]HeadQuarters,orsomeotherBranchofthe
MinisterialArmy,assoonasmaybe.125 TheAlbanyCountyCommissionerswrotetothe
governorofNewYorkinJuly1780askingthatWomenwhoseHusbandsarewiththeEnemy

McKinnon,
WhiletheWomen
,83.

VictorHugoPalsitis,
MinutesfortheCommissionersforDetectingandDefeatingConspiraciesintheStateof
NewYork,AlbanyCountySessions,17781781.
,(Albany:J.B.Lyon,1909),
September21,1778.
125
ProceedingsSeptember12,1777.
RecordsoftheCouncilofSafety,
166.McKinnon,
WhiletheWomen
,74.
123
124

62

maybesenttotheEnemiesLinesandagain,inSeptember1779,requestingtheremovalofa
MrsTuttlewhosehusband,Stephen,"hasgoneofftotheEnemysometimeago.126
Onceitwasdecidedthatthewomenweretobeexpelledorpermittedtoleave,theterms
fortheirdeparturewerealsooutlined.In1780inNewYork,allwomenwhosehusbandswere
withtheenemywereorderedtoleavethecolonyforBritishbaseswithintwentydays.Patriot
committeesdrewuplistsofthewomentoberemovedandofficialsweredesignatedtoinform
thewomenoftheirfateandoftheconsequencesofignoringtheorder.127 Womenwerealso
subjecttosevererestrictionsonwhattheywereallowedtotakewhentheydepartedfromtheir
community.InVermont,MrsJeremiahFrenchwasescortedtotheeastsideofLakeChamplain
followingherexpulsionfromthestate.Thenoticeorderingherremovalspecifiedthatshecould
takewithheronlytwofeatherbedsandbeddingnotexceedingEightSheets,sixCoverlidsor
blankets,5plates,twoplatters,twobasons,oneQuartCup,&knives&forksifshehassuch
things,herown&herchildrensWearingapparril...[therestofthe]...moveablesbelongingto
sd.Estate...[weretobesoldto]DefraythechargeofTransportation.128 loyalistAlidaVan
AlstinewasonlypermittedtotakewithherwhenshefledforNewYorkCitybedding,2
Chests,iTrunk,2bbls.flour,wearingapparelandsomehouseholdfurniture.129
WhenloyalistslefttheircommunitiesandtravelednorthtoCanada,theyusually
followedoneoftworoutes.LoyalistsfromNewYorktypicallyfollowedanoverlandroute
throughNativeAmericanterritorytoLakeOntario.Becausemuchofthetravelwasalongforest
trails,Indianguideswereessential.130Unfortunatelyformanyrefugees,therouteincluded
Palsitis,
MinutesfortheCommissioner
September15,1779.
McKinnon,
WhiletheWomen
,86.
128
VermontGovernorandCouncil,28May1778.
129
McKinnon,
WhiletheWomen
,86.
130

Ibid
,89.
126
127

63

passagethroughterritoryheldbyAmericanalliestheOneidas.Likewise,refugeeshadtoavoid
Continentalandmilitiadetachmentsthatactivelypatrolledtheregion.Onceclearofenemy
territory,refugeescrossedLakeOntarioatOswegoorfollowedthesouthernshoreofthelaketo
theNiagaraRiver.131ThetripalongtheNiagarawasoftendifficult,especiallyintimeofspring
floods.
ThoserefugeesfromtheHampshireGrantsusuallyfollowedacombinedlandandwater
routealongLakeChamplainandtheRichelieuRivertoMontreal.132 Theroadsfollowedwere
oftenmuddyandinpoorcondition.Refugeescouldonlyusepackhorses,ponies,orhandand
horsecartsfortheirbelongingsandprovisions.Securingwatertransportationwascriticaltothe
flightnorth.133 Whiletravellingonwater,refugeeswereoftenforcedtoseekshelteroninsect
infestedorlowlyingislandsinthemiddleofLakeChamplain.Becauseofthedifficultiesofthis
combinedlandwaterpassage,loyalistswereforcedtotravelingroupswhosememberscould
sharetheburdenofcarryingboatsandprovisions.134
Someloyalistsmightbeluckyenoughtomakethetripinthirteendays,butmosttook
muchlonger.Anexpeditionofwomenandchildrenthathadtomoveslowly,wasnotlucky
enoughtomakegoodconnectionswithboats,andexperiencedbadweathercouldtakefromtwo
tothreemonthstoreachtheQuebecProvince.135 Thedelayintravel,combinedwiththerugged

131

Ibid
,87.

Ibid
,88.
133
ThoseloyalistswhofailedtosecureboatsoftenfoundthemselvestrappedintheHampshireGrants.
134
ItwasnotuncommonforloyaliststravellingfromtheHampshireGrantstopassthroughvillagesandtowns
devastatedbywarandbattlefieldslitteredwiththedecomposingbodiesofBritishandAmericandead.
135

Ibid
,89.
132

64

countrytookitstollontheclothingofloyalistwomenandchildren.136Likewise,itwasnot
uncommonforrefugeestoexhausttheirsuppliesandbeforcedtosurviveonnuts,rootsand
leaves.137
TheexperienceofloyalistMaryMunrohighlightsthehardshipsloyalistwomen
encounteredduringtheRevolutionaryWar.MaryMunrohadbeenforcedtofleefromherhome
inShaftsburytoCanadafollowingthedefeatofBurgoyne.AstheytraveledtowardsLake
GeorgetojoinothersenroutetoCanada,theylightenedtheirloadbydiscardingfoodandmost
oftheirwearingApparel...Aftermuchdifficulty,[they]arrivedatLakeGeorgeand...layin
thewoodsSixdaysalmostperishedwithColdandHunger...untilthreeotherfamiliesarrived..
.[afterwardsthey]prevailedonthecommandingofficeratFortEdwardtogivethemaboatand
aflag,theysetoffacrossLakeGeorge.138 UnfortunatelyforMary,theywerediscoveredbya
partyofIndiansfromCanadawhichpursuedthem...asaresultoftheexcessivehardshipsthey
underwent,MaryandherchildrenwereverysicklythewholeWinterafterarrivingin
Canada.ThetollthejourneytookonMarywassadlyannouncedbyherhusbandwhenhe
declared"thechildrenrecovered[fromtheirillnesses]butMrs.Munroneverwill.139

HenryWatsonPowell,
PowelltoHaldimand,July10,1779.
Letter.FromHaldimandPapers,AddMss21,793.
AccordingtoCartwright,thewetWeather,theBadnessoftheRoads,andthevariousDifficultiesofsolonga
Journey,atthislateseasonoftheYearwhichseemedatoncetoencounterme,weresufficienttodiscourageone
whohadscarceeverbeenfromHomebefore.ButtheProspectbeforemeofpursuingmyoriginalPlanofLife,and
enjoyingPeacewithallitsattendantBlessingsmademelookupontheFatiguesoftheWayasTrifles.When
travellingthroughtheWetandDirt,IwouldsaytomyselfbywayofcomfortthiswillmakeafairDayandgood
Roadsthemoreagreeable.AndindeedweshouldnotknowtheValueofgoodThingsdidwenotsometimes
experiencetheircontraryEvils.RichardCartwrightJr.
AJourneytoCanada,c.1777
.Journal.From
http://www.62ndregiment.org/A_Journey_to_Canada_by_Cartwright.pdf
137
McKinnon,
WhiletheWomen
8990.
138
JohnMunro,
MemorialofCaptainJohnMunro
,JohnMunroPapers,AO.McKinnon,
WhiletheWomen
,92.
139

Ibid
136

65

~7~

ComeGentlemenTories,Firm,LoyalandTrue:
TheArrivalofGeneralBurgoyne140

WhenJohnBurgoyneandhisarmydepartedCanadafortheinvasionoftheAmerican
Colonies,JessupsCorpsadvancedsouthfromPointeClairetoFortSt.Johnstojointhe
expedition.EvidencesuggestsJessupsservedwithGeneralFrasersAdvancedCorps.
AccordingtoanorderofbattlesetforthbyBurgoyne,EdwardJessupsmenwereassignedasan
advancepartyontheleftflank.141 Itislikelythecorpswasintendedtoserveasscoutsand
foragers,tobringinfood,horses,wagonsandcattlefromthesurroundingcountryside.
Likewise,asBurgoyneadvancedfurthersouth,elementsofJessupsCorpswereutilizedinearly
operationsagainstAmericanforcesstationedinandaroundTiconderoga.
OnJuly2,1777,alargeforce,includingJessups,underthecommandofCaptain
AlexanderFraseroftheSelectMarksmensuccessfullysecuredMountHope,ariselocatednorth
oftheAmericanlines.Thatsameday,Fraserdispatchedhismarksmen,NativeAmericansand
JessupsCorpstocutoffAmericanforcesattemptingtoretirefromMountHopetoTiconderoga.

140

ComegentlemenTories,firmloyalandtrue.Hereareaxesandshovelsandsomethingtodo!FrankMoore,
SongsandBalladsoftheAmericanRevolution
(NewYork,1856),259.
141
BrigadierFraserhadalreadymovedaheadwithhisbrigadeandtheCanadianCompaniesofMoninand
Boucherville,aswellaswiththedetachmentof[Captain]FraserandaconsiderablecorpsofSavages.The
ProvincialcorpsofPetersandJessuphadalsogoneon.JohannFriedrichSpecht,
TheSpechtJournal,
June18,
1777.JournalInSeptemberSpechtwouldstateUnlikethecorpsofSavagesandtheCanadianCompaniesof
BouchervilleandMonin,theProvincialcorpsofPetersandJessup,aswellasthecorpsofCaptainFraseradvanced
fathertogivetheleftwingofthearmygreatersecurity.
Ibid
,September14,1777.

66

Unfortunately,asBurgoynedescribedTheIndians...attackedtoosoon...andtheEnemy
weretherebyabletoretirewiththelossofoneofficerandafewmenkilledandoneofficer
wounded.142Nevertheless,Burgoynecorrectlyobservedtheoperationsuccessfullycutthe
enemyofffromcommunicationwithLakeGeorge.143

AViewofTiconderogafromaPointontheNorthShoreofLakeChamplain,1777
Artist:JamesHunter
KingGeorgeIIITopographicalCollection,BritishLibrary

Thenextday,BurgoynedispatchedJessupscorps,aswellasacontingentofBritish

142

BurgoynePapers,July2,1777Anburey,
TravelsAmerica
,1:318Stone,
MemoirsRiedesel
,1:110112S.
SydneyBradford.ed.,"LordFrancisNapier'sJournaloftheBurgoyneCampaign."
MaylandHistoricalMagazine
Volume57
,Baltimore(#4Dec.1962)p.298.NapierstatesthatthecasualtiessufferedbyCaptainFraser'spursuit
partywereasfollows:LieutenantHoughton,2privatesoftheMarksmen(bothfromthe62ndRegiment),1private
ofJessup'sunitand3Indianswounded.Inaddition1Indianwaskilledanda1privateoftheMarksmen(fromthe
47thRegiment)takenprisonerStevens,
FacsimiliesofManuscripts
.
Document#1571pp.78LetterfromBrigadier
GeneralSimonFrasertoJohnRobinsonJuly13th1777forconfirmationofCaptainFraser'smovementsand
casualtiesonJuly2ndForanAmericannotationofactionseeWilliamB.Weeden,ed.,"DiaryofEnosHitchcock,"
in
RhodeIslandHistorical

SocietyPublicationsVolume
7.
(Providence(1899)),116.
143
BurgoynePapers,July2,1777.

67

troopsandNativeAmericanwarriors,overtotheeasternshoreofLakeChamplain.144 Forthe
nextfewdaysthecontingentlaunchedaseriesofraidsagainstAmericansettlementsonOtter
Creek,locatedeastnortheastofCrownPoint.Regrettably,theoperationhadlittleeffectonthe
AmericanpopulaceandnoinfluenceonthemilitaryoperationsagainstFortTiconderoga,Mount
IndependenceandHubbardton.145 ItappearsnolaterthanJuly10,1777,Jessupsrejoined
BurgoynesarmyatSkenesboro.
Aftermuchdelay,BurgoyneresumedhisadvancesouthtowardsFortAnneonJuly22,
th
1777.Thearmy,nowadvancingataconsiderablyslowerpace,arrivedatthefortonJuly24
.
th
OnJuly26
,thearmyadvancedtoKingsboro,twomilesnorthofFortEdward.Thenext
th
evening,AmericanforcesabandonedFortEdward.ByJuly30
,Jessupswasonceagainwith

CaptainFrasersdetachmentandwaslocatedonemilesouthofFortEdward.Accordingto
LoyalistJoshuaPellJr.,theunitconductedoperationsagainsttherebelforcesoverthenext
severaldays.
30thJulyweremov'dtotheheightonemileontheothersideFortEdwardneartheRoad
leadingtoAlbany,theRebelsadvanc'dpostonemileinourfront.Sameeveningthe
Indians,andJessop'sCorpsofAmericanVolunteers,attack'dtheiradvanc'dpost,and
drovethemontheothersideofHudson'sRiverwiththelossofoneManonly.Same
NightthewholeRebelArmyretreatedsuchisthenaturalbraveryofourIndians,for
theyknownothingoftheArtofWar,theyputtheirArmsintoaCanoe,andswimover
theRiver,pushingtheCanoebeforethem,andmanyofthemcarriedtheirFuzeesintheir
144

TheNativeAmericanswhowereaidingBurgoyneoccasionallyfailedtodistinguishLoyalistfromPatriot.On
July26,1777inabloodysurpriseattack,theyraidedtheHampshireGrantsfarmofJohnAllen,aloyalist
sympathizer,andbrutallykilledhim,hiswife,theirthreesmallchildren,hissisterinlaw,andtwoslaves.Their
houseafterwardpresentedahorridspectacle.Thenextday,nearFortEdward,Indianscaptured,killed,and
scalpedayoungwomannamedJaneMcCrea,whowasbetrothedtoaloyalistofficerinJessupsCorps.Thestoryof
JaneMcCrealaterbecamesymbolicofthechaosofBurgoyne'scampaigntheAllenfamilytragedy,ontheother
hand,haslargelybeenforgotten
.Seealso
TheSpechtJournal,
July3,1777

foradescriptionofoperationsaround
FortTiconderogaonJuly3rd
.
145
AlthoughsecondarysourcesassertJessupswaspresentattheBattleofHubbardton,noprimarysourceexists
confirmingthattheunitwaspresentatthisengagement.Instead,evidencesuggeststhatthecorpswasstillattached
toAlexanderFrasersSelectMarksmenandwasintheOtterCreekregionconductingraidswhentheBattleof
Hubbardtontookplace.

68

mouths,withtheirpowderhornsty'dupontheirHeads.

3rdAugustapartyofIndiansandAmericanVolunteers,wentonaScout,theyfellin
withanadvanc'dGuardoftheRebels,consistingofthreehundredMen(underthe
commandofaMajor),atsunriseonthe4ththeRebelsweredefeatedwiththelossoffour
kill'd(amongstwhomwastheMajor)andsevenPrisonerssameDayanotherpartyofour
IndiansdefeatedabodyoftheRebelsandkill'delevenofthem.146

Meanwhile,onJuly30,1777,GeneralFrasersAdvancedCorpsarrivedatFordEdward.
Immediately,theGeneraldispatchedapartyofNativeAmericanstolocateandescortDaniel
McAlpinandhisrecruitssafelyintocamp.Overthenextfewdays,otherTories,including
WilliamFraserandhismen,trickledintocampwishingtoserveeitherforthedurationofthe
campaignoruntiltheendofthewar.147 Asoneobservernotedtheycameastheycould,some
fromprisons,andsomefromcommittees...nakedandbarefoot,butwithgoodheartsno
moneybeinggiventoclothethem.148
Accordingtoperiodaccounts,onlyonethirdoftheloyalistsjoiningBurgoyneatFort
Edwardwerearmedandequipped.149AsBurgoynenoted[some]hundredsofmen,athirdpart
ofthemwitharms,havejoinedmesinceIhavepenetratedthisplace,professingthemselves
loyalists,andwishingtoserve,sometotheendofthewar,someforthecampaign.ThoughIam
withoutinstructionsuponthissubject,Ihavenothesitatedtoreceivethem,andasfastas

DiaryofJoshuaPellJr.,
July30,1777andAugust3,1777
JohnAustinStevens.DiaryofJoshuaPell,Junioran
OfficeroftheBritish
ArmyinAmerica17761777.
TheMagazineofAmericanHistorywithNotesandQueries
,
February1878.
147
JohnBurgoyne,
BurgoynetoGermaine,July11,1777.
LetterJohnBurgoyne,
AStateoftheExpeditionfrom
CanadaasLaidBeforetheHouseofCommons
,(London,1780),Appendixxxxvii.Between30and60daily
enteredheadquarterstotakeanotherloyaltyoathandquiteafewofthemdecidedtotakeuparmstogetherwithus
rd
forthegeneralgood.
TheSpechtJournal,
August21,1777.TheGermanofficerfurthernotedonAugust23

AlmostalltheSavageshavereturnedviaFortGeorgetoCanadabynowsothatBrigadierFraserdidnotretain
manymorethan50.HiscorpsofProvincials,ontheotherhand,increasesdaily.
Ibid
,August23,1777.
148
HaldimandtoColonelJohnPeters,October27,1780.
149

Hadden,
JournalandOrderlyBooks
,71.
146

69

companiescanbeformed,Ishallposttheofficerstilladecisioncanbemadeuponthemeasure
bymysuperiori.Imeantoemploythemparticularlyupondetachments,furkeepingthecountry
inawe,andprocuringcattle,theirrealuseIexpectwillbegreatinthepreservationofthe
nationaltroops:buttheimpressionwhichwillbecauseduponpublicopinion.150
Burgoynemovedtoarmandsupplythesevolunteersasquicklyaspossible.151 Because
thegeneraldidnotbringmilitaryweaponsforincomingLoyalistrecruits,itislikelythese
loyalistswerearmedwithcivilianmusketsseizedfromthelocalpopulace.OnSeptember7,
1777,sixteencivilianarmsweredeliveredtoMcAlpinsCorps.
DearSirSomedaysagothe
GeneraltoldmetherewereadozenfirelocksatHeadQuarters,whichwouldarmsomanyofthe
provincialsyouwillhavethegoodnesstogivedirectionsfordeliveringthemtothebearera
SerjeantofCaptainMacalpinsCorps.IamDr.SiryourmostobedienthumbleServantSm
Fraser...Sept.7th1777HeadQuarters.Recd.Sixteenfirelocks(thatwerebroughtinby
InhabitantstotheCommissioners)fortheuseofCapt.MacalpinsCorps.ThosFraserLieut.in
Captn.McAlpinCorps.
152
A. CaptainHughMunrosBateauxCompany
HughMunrowasaprosperoussawmillownerwhoownedpropertyontheUpper
Hudson.Whenwarbrokeout,Munroactivelyrecruitedoveradozenmenonbehalfofhis

JohnBurgoyne,
BurgoynetoLordGermain,July11,1777
.Letter.
Manyoftheloyalistswereimmediatelyassignedtofieldandlogisticaloperations.AccordingtoSpecht,Allthe
regimentsofthelinehadtoprovide1officerand25mentodaytorestoretheroadbetweenhereandFortGeorge.A
numberofwellaffectedProvincialsalsojoinedinthiswork.UnderthedirectionofGovernorSkene,anofficewas
establishedatheadquartersbyrepectableandloyalProvincialstoregulateallsuchmatterswhichconcernedthelocal
inhabitants,thedesertersoftheRebels,therecruitment,commerceandsaleofhorsesandcattlemoreover,allthose
thatwerelookingforprotection.
TheSpechtJournal
,August6,1777.
152
GLC4764.35,GilderLehrmanCollection,OnDepositattheNewYorkHistoricalSociety.
150
151

70

neighborEbenezerJessup.153 AsBurgoynesarmyadvancedtowardsAlbany,Munroinitially
servedunderJessupscommand.However,whenitwasdeemednecessarytotransportcritical
suppliesfromCanadaviawaterroutes,Munrowasawardedcommandofabateauxcompanyand
assignedtoserveunderJessup.MenweredrawnfromJessupsCorpsaswellasrecruitedfrom
thelocalTorypopulationtofilltheranksofthebateauxcompany.
TheboatmendidnotremainlonginJessupsCorps.WhiletheBritisharmyrestedat
FortEdward,GeneralFraserassistedMcAlpinwiththeorganizationofhiscorpsofvolunteers.154
RecognizingMcAlpinsCorpswassignificantlyshortofrecruits,GeneralFraserfirstordered
fortytwooftheoriginalfiftysixmenrecruitedbyMcAlpinandenrolledinJessupsCorpstobe
transferredbacktoMcAlpinscommand.ThesemenweredrawnfromCaptainsEdwardJessup,
JonathanJonesandJosephJessupsCompanies.155 Naturally,EbenezerJessupobjectedtothis
decision.156
OnAugust16,1777,GeneralFraserfurtherorderedthebateauxcompanycomposedof
MunroandhisfortymenreassignedtoMcAlpinsCorps.Fraseralsoestablishedapayscaleand
authorizedMcAlpintoutilizethemenashesawfit.157 EbenezerJessupbecameenragedand

153

PayrollofCaptainHughMunrosCompany,July13,1777toAugust8,1777.
ItappearsthatduringtheBurgoynecampaign,McAlpinsCorpswasalsoknownasVoluntiersunderthe
CommandofDanielMcAlpin.
155
SixteenmenweredrawnfromCaptainEdwardJessupsCompany.SixweredrawnfromCaptainJonathan
JonesCompany.TwentytwomenweredrawnfromCaptainJosephJessupsCompany.
156
SeeMemorialofEbenezerJessup
,
February1,1778.Overthenextfewyears,Jessupwouldrepeatedlycomplain
toHaldimandaboutthetransferofmenfromhiscorpstoMcAlpins.
157
SimonFraser,
ATrueCopy,oftheEstablishmentforaCompanyofBatteauMentobeformedfromtheMen
engagedbyCaptn.McALPIN,oftheR
oyalAmericans
August16,1777
.Order.
GreatBritain,BritishLibrary,
AdditionalManuscripts,No.21827,folio122
.
AsFraserordered,TheOfficerstohaveBritishPay,the
NoncommisionedOfficerstohavethreeShillingsHalifaxCurrencyandthePrivatestohaveTwoshillingsHalifax
perDay,Captn.McALPINwillfindfitMentobeemploy'donthisService,andisherebyauthorisedtoengagethem
accordingtotheConditionsabovespecefied.
154

71

repeatedlyprotestedtothetransfer.158 Likewise,CaptainMunroprotestedthereassignmentand
refusedtolethiscompanymusterwithMcAlpinsCorps.159 However,McAlpinquicklymoved
tolimitJessupandMunrosinfluenceoverhisnewlyacquiredbateauxcompany.Theloyalist
leaderappointedtwoofhisownmentoserveassubalternstoMunro.Moreimportantly,he
swelledthebateauxcompanysrankswithhisownmentoensuretheunitwouldremainloyalto
him.Intheend,McAlpinemergedvictoriousintheinternalconflict.
Jessupsobjectionshadlesstodowiththelossofmenthanthelossofcommissions.As
Burgoynereflected[JessupsandPeters]battalionsarenowinembryobutverypromising
theyhavefought,andwithspirit.SirGuyCarletonhasgivenmeblankcommissionsforthe
officers,tofillupoccasionally,andtheagreementwiththemis,thatthecommissionsarenotto
besoeffective,tilltwothirdsofthebattalionsareraised.160 Thus,ifJessupwasunableto
secureauthorizedcommissions,heandhisofficerswouldcontinuetoreceiveminimalpayand
wouldnotreceivethefullbenefitsestablishedformenoftheirrespectiveranks.
Overthenextfewweeks,Munrosbateauxcompany,undertheprotectionofMcAlpins
volunteers,transportedsuppliesfromFortEdwardtoBurgoynesarmy.Barrelsofporkand
flourcamedownLakesChamplainandGeorgeandarrivedatthefort.Inturn,Munrosmen
carriedthemaggotinfestedcaskstoFortMillerFallswherethesupplieswerethencarried
overlandbyotherpartiestoBurgoyne.ThetaskalongtheHudsonRiverwasexcessively
difficultanddangerous.AccordingtoCharlesCarroll,thecurrentisexceedinglyrapid.Some
placesthebateaumenwereobligedtosetupwithpolesanddragtheboatbythepainter...

EbenezerJessup,
EbenezerJessuptoLemaistre,February1,1778.
Letter.
HughMunro,
HughMunrotoHaldimand,September12,1780.
Letter.
160
Burgoyne,
BurgoynetoLordGermain,July11,1777.
158
159

72

sometimesforwholedaysuptothewaistinwaterormire.161 Complicatingmatters,rebel
patrolscontinuouslyattackedtheconvoyandseizeboatsinanattempttodisruptthesupplyline.
NolessthansevenofMcAlpinsmenwerecapturedduringthemonthofAugust.162
BythebeginningofSeptember,MunrosCompanyhaddeliveredamonthssupplyof
foodandprovisionsforthearmy.Inturn,Burgoynesforceresumeditsmarchsouthward.
MunrosbateauxcompanywasorderedtoshadowtheHessiansastheyadvanceddownaroad
adjacenttotheHudsonRiver.TheremainderofMcAlpinsCorpswasassignedtotheadvanced
corpsunderthecommandofGeneralFraser.163

OnSeptember10,1777McAlpinsCorpsofAmericanVolunteersandtheAdvance
CorpswerelocatedeastoftheTownofSaratogaandtheruinsofFortHardy.Burgoynesmain

Fraser,
Skulking
at48.

Ibid
at128132.SeealsoEbenezerJessup,
EbenezerJessuptoGeneralJohnBurgoyne,1778.
Letter.
163
EricSchnitzer,
OrganizationoftheArmyfromCanadacommandedbyLieutenantGeneralJohnBurgoyne,
September19toOctober7,1777
.ItshouldbenotedthatBurgoynereferredtoMcAlpinsCorpsasVoluntiers
undertheCommandofDanielMcAlpin.
Ibid
.
161
162

73

armywaslocatedtothesouthwestoftheadvancecorps.Overthenextseveraldaysthecorps
participatedinprobingandforagingactionsbetweenSwordandFreemansFarms.
ItappearsthatduringtheBattleofFreemansFarm,McAlpinsadvancedwithGeneral
FraserandhiscorpstowardsFreemansFarm.Uponengagingtheenemy,McAlpinsandthe
otherloyalistunitsunderFraserscommandweredeployedinreservesouthofthebattleline.
Atsomepointduringtheensuingengagement,McAlpinswasbroughtforwardtoengagethe
enemy.Asthebattleraged,LieutenantPeterDrummondwascaptured.164 Accordingtoa
memorialletterfromMcAlpintoGeneralHaldimand,Capt.DrummondhadtheMisfortuneto
betakenprisonerinthefieldofBattleonthe19thSeptr1777whenhewasexertinghimselfin
theExecutionofhisduty&hehasSinceSufferdmuchbeingalongtimeConfinedinIronsina
dungeon.165
Attheconclusionofthebattle,McAlpinsandtheotherloyalistunitsretreatedsouthwest
fromFreemansFarmtoaridgeoverlookingthebattlefield.Britishlightinfantryformeda

DanielMcAlpin,
MemorialofCaptainDanielMcAlpin,November18,1778.
MemorialLetter.Thefulltextof
theMemorialreadsasfollows:ToHisExcellencyFrederickHaldimand,Esq.GovernorGeneralofCanadaand
TerritoriesthereondependingGeneralandCommanderinChiefofallHisMajesty'sForcestherein,etc.The
MemorialofCaptainDanielMcAlpinofthe60thRegimenthumblyshewethYourExcellencysMemorialisthaving
inconcertwithLieutenantColonelWilliamEdmonstonofthe48thRegimentproposedaplanforraisingabattalion
ofhisMajesty'sloyalsubjectsinAlbanyandintheneighbouringcounties.SuchplanwaslaidbeforeGeneralSir
WilliamHoweandHisExcellencywaspleasedtoapproveofthesameandhegavethisinstructiontoengagethe
men,takingcarenottoappointmorethanonecaptain,twosubalterns,threesergeants,threecorporals,andone
drummertoevery50men.InconsequenceofGeneralHowe'sinstructionsyourExcellencysMemorialistemployed
properpeopleataconsiderableexpensetoengagevolunteersforthisserviceandhewassosuccessfulthatinsix
monthstimefivehundredandseventytwomenwereengaged,twohundredofwhichnumberjoinedGeneral
Burgoyne'sarmyaswillappearbyacertificatesignedbytheDeputyCommissaryofMusters.YourExcellencys
MemorialistdidappointMr.PeterDrumondtobecaptainofacompanyandseveralothergoodmentobe
subalterns.CaptainDrummondhadthemisfortunetobetakenprisonerinthefieldofbattleonthe19thSeptember
1777whenhewasexertinghimselfintheexecutionofhisdutyandhehassincesufferedmuch,beingalongtime
confinedinironsinadungeon.AsyourExcellencysMemorialistdidnotappointbutonecaptain,fivelieutenants,
fiveensigns,andonequartermastertotheabovenumberofmenhehumblyhopesthatyourExcellencywillbegood
enoughtosupporttheminthosedifferentstationsastheyhavesacrificedalltheyhadfortheirloyalty.
165
McAlpintoHaldimand,November18,1778.ItisunknownatthistimethenumberofcasualtiesMcAlpins
sustainedduringtheengagementatFreemansFarm.
164

74

protectivescreenbeforethemwhileCanadianvolunteerssetupapostalongtheloyalistsrigt
flank.
AsaresultofbattlefieldcasualtiessustainedattheFirstBattleofFreemansFarm,many
Britishregularregimentsexperiencedadecreaseincombatstrength.Torebuildhisregiments,
onSeptember21,1777GeneralBurgoyneorderedtheloyalistunitsunderhiscommandtodraft
apercentageofitsmenandturnthemovertothesedepletedunits.Specifically,
onehundred
andtwentybravemenofcourageandfidelity,fromtheprovincialcorpsofJessup,Peters,
M'AlpinandM'Kay,aretobeincorporated,forthiscampaignonly,intothesixBritish
regiments,intheproportionoftwentytoaregiment.Theywillhaveacertificatefromunderthe
handoftheLieutenantgeneral,toentitlethemtoadischargeonthe25thdayofDecembernext.
Theywillbesidesreceiveagratuityonbeingincorporated,andanotherattheexpirationoftheir
service:andthesewillbethewholenumberrequiredthiscampaign.Thosecorps,whose
establishmentistotakeplaceonacertainnumberofmenbeingraised,areallowedto
recommendthosefurnisheduponthisoccasionaspartofthatnumber.166
Overthecomingdays,
th
th
st
th
th
nd
manyofthemenfromMcAlpinsCorpsweredraftedinto9
,20
,21
,24
,47
and62

regiments.Althoughitispossibletheloyalistdraftswereissuedupdatedarmsandequipment,

JohnBurgoyne,
SupplementtotheStateoftheExpeditionfromCanada
,
(London,1780)

TheSpechtJournal
,
September21,1777.
166

75

theywereneverissuedregimentalclothing.167

Inthedaysthatfollowedthebattle,theweatherturnedcold.Recognizingthathisforces
wereexposedtoharsherelements,Burgoyneorderedwintergearbepreparedforhismen.On
September25,1777McAlpinsCorpswaspaid338forthepurchaseofmultipleitems,
including168blanketstomakecapotes,materialfor168clothleggings,thread,133pairsof
shoes,168headcoveringsand164pairsofmittens.168
nd
Ontheeveofthe2
BattleofFreemansFarm,manyofMcAlpinsmenremainedwith

Frasersadvancedcorpsandwererelegatedtofatigueduty.McAlpinsmostlikelyassistedin
theconstructionofBalcarresRedoubt.Uponitscompletion,thefortificationwasatleastone
hundredfiftychains[inlength].Thewallsinsomeplacesweresixfeethigh.Eightcannons...
167

InterviewwithEricSchnitzer,SaratogaNationalHistoricPark.
HaldimandPapers,manuscriptnumber21,874,footnote12Anbury,
TravelsThroughtheInterior.

168

76

weremountedinembrasures.169 Theunitwasalsochargedwiththeresponsibilityofprotecting
thebateauxandsupplylinealongtheHudsonRiver.170
However,aselectnumberofMcAlpinsmenwerechosenforamuchmoredangerous
mission.AccordingtoSergeantJosephBeaty,heandothermembersoftheAmerican
VolunteerswereorderedtoinfiltratetheAmericanlinesinordertoconnituretheworksand
knowwhatnumberofcannonandhowsuppliedwithprovisions.171 Themensuccessfully
enteredintotheAmericancampandsecuredvitalintelligencebyinterviewinganunsuspecting
Americanofficer.172Afterwards,BeatytravelledtoNewScotland,locatedtwelvemileswestof
Albany.Oncethere,thesergeantsuccessfullyrescuedoveradozenloyalistofficers,menand
civiliansandledthembacktoGeneralFraser.173
OnOctober4,1777,SergeantBeatywasorderedbyGeneralFrasertoconducta
reconnaissancemissionalongtheHudsonRivertodeterminewhetherBritishreinforcements
underClintonorPigotweremarchingorsailingnorthtoaidBurgoyne.Beatywasabletoavoid
rebelpatrolsandtravelledoversixtymilessouthtoCatskill,NewYork.Uponlearningnorelief
wasonitsway,BeatyreturnedtoGeneralBurgoyneandreportedhisfindingsonOctober16,
1777.174 Thatsameday,BeatywasorderedtodelivertoNewYorkCitycorrespondencefrom

CaptainPausch,
PauschtoBaurmeister,November26,1777.
Letter.
Fraser,
Skulking
at49.ItshouldbenotedSpechtstatesToprotectthetrainandthebaggage,theHesseHanau
Regt.remainedinitsformerposition,justasthe47th

Regt.didwiththeProvincialCorpsunderPetersandJessupat
theHudsontocoverthesuppliesandbateaux.TheSpechtJournal,September20,1777.FrancisClerekes
AView
oftheWestBankontheHudsonsRiver...(ShewingGeneralFrasersFuneral)
depictsMunrosboatsmoored
belowtheBritishcampalongthebanksoftheHudsonRiver.
171
JosephBeaty,
MemorialofEnsignJosephBeaty,October2,1781
.MemorialLetter.
172

Ibid
.
173

Ibid
.ThepartyarrivedbackattheBritishlinesonOctober3,1777.
174

Ibid
.
169
170

77

BurgoynetoGeneralClintonpleadingforassistance.BeatyreachedNewYorkCityonOctober
21,1777andpersonallydeliveredthecorrespondencetoClinton.175Bythen,itwastoolate.
TheBritisharmywasexhaustedandquicklydeteriorating.Thearmyhasbecomequite
fatiguedbecauseithadtomoveouteverymorningonehourbeforedawnandstandsolongto
armsuntilthefoghadcompletelylifted,whichrarelyhappenedbefore9oclockinthemorning.
..Thesickandwoundedofwhomthearmyhadmorethan700hadtomakedowithlivinginthe
tents...manyofthemdiedeveryday.176 Supplyshortagesandpriceincreasesbecame
commonplace.Everythingbecamemoreexpensivefromdaytoday,andmanysuchitemsas
sugar,coffee,teacouldnolongerbehadatall.Onequartofrumhadnowtobepaidwith8
shillings...asoldiercouldthereforenolongeraffordthisdrink.Itwasagreatreliefforthe
soldiersthateverydaysprucebeerwasbrewedforthem,towhichtheyhadalreadybecome
accustomed.177
ItislikelyMcAlpinsCorpsparticipatedintheOctober7,1777battleagainstGeneral
th
HoratioGatesforces.AccordingtoJoshuaPellJr.,avolunteerwiththe24
RegimentofFoot,

statesCanadianVolunteersandProvincialsjoinedFraserinaprobingexpeditionandformd
thecolumnoftheleftmarchingthrothewood,wheretheengagementof19Septemberwas
fought.178 Furthermore,JohnF.Luzader,authorof
Saratoga:AMilitaryHistoryoftheDecisive
CampaignoftheAmericanRevolution
,indirectlyimpliesthattheloyalistsassignedtoFrasers
advancedcorps,includingMcAlpins,accompaniedhimontheprobeandmayhaveengaged

175

Ibid
.BeatycontinuedhisservicetotheCrown,butwascapturedbyAmericanforcesin1779andcondemnedto
deathin1780.However,hewasrescuedanddeliveredtoCanadathatsameyear.Beatyimmediatelyenlistedin
RogersCorps.In1782,hewascapturedagainandsubsequentlyexecuted.Priortohisdeath,Beatygaveafull
confessiontohiscaptors.
176

TheSpechtJournal
,October1,1777.
177

Ibid
.
178
Stevens,
DiaryofJoshuaPell
,11011.

78

nd
elementsofPoorsNewHampshireBrigadeintheopeningshotsofthe2
BattleofFreemans

FarmthateruptedsouthwestoftheBalcarresRedoubt.179
Duringathirtyminuteengagementthatfollowed,Fraserwasmortallywoundedandhis
troopswereoverwhelmedbyacombinedforceofMorgansriflemenandPoorsBrigade.
Desperate,theBritishandprovincialtroopsretreatedbacktothesafetyofBalcarresand
BreymannsRedoubts.180Inastrokeofillfortune,theloyaliststookrefugeintheGerman
occupiedBreymannsRedoubt.Onceinsidetheperceivedsafetyofthefortification,McAlpins
andtheotherunitstookupapositiontotherightoftheGermanline.
DespiteseveraldirectassaultsbyContinentaltroopsandextensivehandtohandcombat,
theAmericansfailedtocapturetheBalcarresRedoubt.181 However,underthedirectionof
GeneralBenedictArnold,theAmericansturnedtheirattentiontowardsBreymannsRedoubt.
DespitestiffresistanceofferedbytheGermanandLoyalisttroops,thefortificationwasquickly
overwhelmed.ThemenofMcAlpinsevacuatedtheirpostandwithdrewsouthwardstowards
theHudsonRiver.
BreymannsRedoubtwouldultimatelyleadtoBurgoynesdefeatintheSecondBattleof
FreemansFarm.Asaresult,thegeneralfinallyconcludedhisexpeditionwouldnotbeableto
reachAlbanynorwouldreinforcementsarrivefromGeneralHowe.OntheeveningofOctober
th
8,1777,awithdrawalwasorderedbyBurgoyne.Asthearmywithdrew,the47
Regiment,

RoyalArtilleryandseveralloyalistunits,includingMcAlpinsCorps,heldtheearthworksofthe

JohnF.Luzader,
Saratoga:AMilitaryHistoryoftheDecisiveCampaignoftheAmericanRevolution
,(New
York,2008),281285.IamunsuretowhatextentMcAlpinsallegedlyparticipatedintheskirmishbetween
Morgan,PoorandFraser,especiallyinlightofthefactMcAlpinsCorpsdidnotsustainanycasualtiesnorarethere
anyclaimsforcompensationformilitarypropertylostordamagedasaresultoftheengagement.
180

Ibid
.TheProvincialsandCanadianstakingpartinthisaffairranalongintotheredoubtofFraserscorpsinstead
ofreoccupyingthepostassignedtothem.
TheSpechtJournal
,October7,1777.
181

Ibid
.
179

79

Britishcamp.182 BydawntheBritishhadrelocatedtonearbyhillslocatedalongtheHudson
River.TheretreattoCanadahadbegun.

FrancisClerekes
AViewoftheWestBankontheHudsonsRiver...(ShewingGeneralFrasersFuneral)

~8~
182

GavinWatt,
TheBritishCampaignof1777:VolumeTwoTheBurgoyneExpeditionBurgoyne'sNativeand
LoyalistAuxiliaries
,(Milton,Ontario,Canada:GlobalHeritagePress,2013),53.

80

ChosenMen:McAlpinsRacetoCanada
OnOctober8,1777,CaptainMunrowasorderedtocollectthearmysprovisionsand
followtheretreatingarmyviatheHudsonRiver.UnfortunatelyforMunro,thebateauxbecame
therebelsprimetarget.Theboatswereattackedandseveralwerecaptured.183 Accordingtoone
rebel,afewbateauxandscowswerepassingalongasIarrived...theywereloadedwith
militarystores,thebaggageoftheofficersandthewomenwhofollowed(theBritisharmy).A
fewwelldirectedshotsbroughtthemtothebank.Arushtookplacefortheprey.Everything
washauledoutandcarriedbackintoalowswampyplaceintherearandaguardplacedoverit..
.thepoorfemales,tremblinginfear,werereleasedandpermittedtogoinaboattotheBritish
army,ashortdistanceaboveontheothersideoftheriver...suchagroupoftannedandleather
visageswereneverseenbefore...poorlyclad...andtheirpersonswartornandweary.184
InresponsetotherepeatedattacksonMunroswatercraft,McAlpinandJessupsCorps
wereorderedonOctober9,1777toattackanAmericanpostlocatedatSaratogaCreek.
AccordingtoEbenezerJessup:
IhadthehonourtocommandthePartythatretookthe18Batteauxandscowsof
provisionsetc.fromtheenemynearSaratogaCrickandorderedMajor[Edward]
JessupwithapartofthecorpstofordtheRivertotheIslandunderwhosecoverthey
werebroughtuptheCrick,withtheremainderoftheCorpsIbroughtuptherearcovering
theWhole&wasorderedtotheBarracksfromwhencewewereorderedtotakeposton
theHighGround...CaptainMcAlpinleftthegroundbetweenusandtheGermansthat
th
afternoon&the47
Regtbeingrecalledthatnighttherewasnotamanbutourselves
abovetheGermanlinesWhichyouthoughtpropertoorderusintoCampassoonasit

OneAmericanofficerwhoparticipatedinoperationsagainstBurgoyneswatercraftwasMajorNathanGood,a
StockbridgeIndian.Amonumenttohisserviceasserts:
Tocommemoratetheserviceof
MajorNathanGoodale,
Oct.11,1777.HebravelycapturedBurgoynesstoreboatsinthefaceoftheenemyatthemouthoftheFishkill.
UnderordersofGeneralGateswith7scoutshecaptured129prisonersbeforeOctober7th.Distinguishedservices
alsoin1778.ErectedbyEmmaJoneshisgreatGrandDaughter.
184
JohnP.Backer,
SexagenaryorReminiscencesoftheAmericanRevolution
,(Albany,1833),102.
183

81

cametoyourknowledge.185

Despitethesuccessoftheraid,onOctober10,1777,thebateauxwereattackedonce
again.AstheconvoyapproachedanarrowstraightintheHudson,rebelslinedtheshoreand
firedupontheconvoy.Intheheatofthebattle,CaptainMunrowaswoundedandfiftybateaux
loadedwithprovisions,storesandmedicines,amongwhichwere1000barrelsofporkandbeef
werecaptured.186 Thenextday,theboatmenloadedtheremainingbarrelsofflourandporkinto
cartsanddeliveredthemtotheBurgoynesforcesinSaratoga.Again,theAmericanskeptupa
constantfireasMcAlpinsmentriedtosafeguardtheprovisions.Asthedayprogressed,the
rebelsbroughtupartilleryandopenedfireonthebateauxanditsmen.Theloyalistswereforced
toseekshelterfromAmericancannonfirebehindSchuylerIslandontheHudsonRiver.
ThingswerebecomingdesperatefortheloyalistmenandwomenattachedtoBurgoynes
army.JohannSpechtnotedlivingconditionsweresparse.Hereandthere,littlekitchensand
boardinghutswerebuilt.187 RefugeeElizabethMunroFischerrecalled
WeretreatedafterthelastbattletoSaratoga,whereweencampedasmalldistancefrom
theriver,topreventtheircannonhavinganycommandoverushavingnothingtodo,
waitingGeneralBurgoyne'sorders.Weweredeprivedofallcomfortsoflife,anddidnot
daretokindlefireforfearweshouldbeobservedfromtheothersideoftheriver,and
theymightfireonus,whichtheydidseveraltimes.BeingaboutthemiddleofOctober,
wesufferedcoldandhungermanyadayIhadnothingbutapieceofrawsaltpork,a
biscuit,andadrinkofwaterpoorlivingforanurse.AtthistimeIhadmychildatmy
breast,beingelevenmonthsold.Oneday,weariedoflivinginthismanner,Itoldsomeof
thesoldiers'wivesiftheywouldjoinme,Iwouldfindoutawaytogetsomeprovision
cookedsevenofthemjoinedme.Ispoketosomeofthesoldiersthatwereinvalid,and
toldthemiftheywouldmakeupafirebackinthewoods,andgetalargekettlehungon,
wewouldfillitwithprovision,andcookit,whichwouldlastussometime.They
185

EbenezerJessuptoGeneralBurgoyne,July17,1778.ThebarracksJessupisreferringtoispartofanunknown
AmericanfortificationlocatednearSaratogaCreek.
186
JamesThatcher,
MilitaryJournaloftheAmericanRevolution,
(Hartford:1862),104.Twodayslater,Ebenezer
JessupledadaringraidandrecapturedsomeofthebateauxnearthemouthofSaratogaCreek.
187

TheSpechtJournal,
October5,1777.

82

consentedtodoitforaguineatheywenttoworkandbuiltupthefire,hungonthe
kettle,andputwaterinit,thenwewomenputinwhatwepleasedwesoonfilleditwith
avarietyitbegantoboilweallkeptadistancefromthefireforfearofthecannonthat
wereplacedontheothersideoftheriveronahighhilltheysoondiscoveredourfire,
andsaluteduswithacannonballitstruckandbrokeourkettletopieces,andsentthe
provisionintheair.Wemetwithnohurtonlylosingourintendedfeast.Thesoldiers
demandedtheirpay,whichIpaidbutasthedisappointmentwassogreat,therest
declinedpayinganything,sayingtheyhadlostenoughbylosingtheirprovision,sofor
myfollyIhadtopayforall.188

th
OntheeveningofOctober10
,CaptainMunrowastoldbyarankingofficertoescape

whilehecould.TheboatcaptainpaidhismenanddepartedforthesafetyofCanada.189
FollowingMunrosflight,EnsignDanielFraserwasleftincommandofthebateauxcompany.

ElizabethMunroFischer,
MemoirsofMrs.ElizabethFischer
,(NewYork,1810),1319.Anexcellentaccountof
theplightofBurgoynesArmyontheeveofsurrenderisdescribedbytheBaronessvonRiedesel.
October10,1777Thewholearmyclamoredforaretreat,andmyhusbandpromisedtomakeitpossible,provided
onlythatnotimewaslostButGeneralBurgoyne,towhomanorderhadbeenpromisedifhebroughtabout&
junctionwiththearmyofGeneralHowe,couldnotdetermineuponthiscourse,andlosteverythingbyhisloitering.
Abouttwoo'clockintheafternoon,thefiringofcannonandsmallarmswasagainheard,andallwasalarmand
confusion.Myhusbandsentmeamessagetellingmetobetakemyselfforthwithintoahousewhichwasnotfar
fromthere.Iseatedmyselfinthecalashwithmychildren,andhadscarcelydrivenuptothehouse,whenIsawon
theoppositesideoftheHudsonriver,fiveorsixmenwithguns,whichwereaimedatus.AlmostinvoluntarilyI
threwthechildrenonthebottomofthecalashandmyselfoverthem.Atthesameinstantthechurlsfired,and
shatteredthearmofapoorEnglishsoldierbehindus.Whowasalreadywounded,andwasalsoofthepointof
retreatingintothehouse.

October13,1777
Ourcooksawtoourmeals,butwewereinwantofwaterandinordertoquenchthirst,Iwas
oftenobligedtodrinkwine,andgiveit,also,tothechildren.Itwas,moreover,theonlythingthatmyhusbandcould
take,whichfactsoworkeduponourfaithfulRockel,thathesaidtomeoneday,IfearthattheGeneraldrinksso
muchwine,becausehedreadsfallingintocaptivity,andisthereforewearyoflife."Thecontinualdangerinwhich
myhusbandwasencompassed,wasaconstantsourceofanxietytome.Iwastheonlyoneofallthewomen,whose
husbandhadnotbeenkilledorwounded,andIoftensaidtomyselfespeciallysincemyhusbandwasplacedin
suchgreatdangerdayandnightShallIbetheonlyfortunateone?Henevercameintothetentatnightbutlay
outsidebythewatchfires.Thisalonewassufficienttohavecausedhisdeath,asthenightsweredampandcold.
October15,1777Inthishorriblesituationweremainedsixdays.Finally,theyspokeofcapitulating,asby
temporizingforsolongatime,ourretreathadbeencutoff.Acessationofhostilitiestookplace,andmyhusband,
whowasthoroughlywornout,wasable,forthefirsttimeinalongwhile,toliedownuponabed.Inorderthathis
restmightnotbeintheleastdisturbed,IhadagoodbedmadeupforhiminalittleroomwhileI,withmychildren
andbothmymaids,laiddowninalittleparlorcloseby.Butaboutoneo'clockinthenight,someonecameandasked
tospeaktohim.ItwaswiththegreatestreluctancethatIfoundmyselfobligedtoawakenhim.Iobservedthatthe
messagedidnotpleasehim,asheimmediatelysentthemanbacktoheadquarters,andlaidhimselfdownagain
considerablyoutofhumor.Soonafterthis,GeneralBurgoynerequestedthepresenceofallthegeneralsandstaff
officersatacouncilofwar,whichwastobeheldearlythenextmorninginwhichheproposedtobreakthe
capitulationItwas,however,finallydecided,thatthiswasneitherpracticablenoradvisable.
189
HughMunro,
MunrotoHaldimand,January10,1778.
Letter.
188

83

OnOctober14,1777,withhisarmysurroundedatSaratoga,Burgoyneorderedallofhisloyalist
troops,includingthedrafts,todepartontheirownforCanada.Priortodeparting,EnsignFraser
paidhismen.190Afterwards,manyofhismendesertedratherthanriskcapturewithFraser.
Nevertheless,underthecoverofdarkness,Fraserledtheremainderofhismencautiouslyoutof
Burgoynescamp.Onceoutside,FrasersmenwerejoinedbyloyalistsfromPetersCorps.
Eachmancarriedonlytwodaysprovisions.191
OnOctober17,1777,asthetroopsmarchedsinglefilenorthtowardsLakeGeorge,
cannonfirecouldbeheardcomingfromthedirectionofSaratoga.Thefugitivesstoppedto
listen.TheyrealizedthattheendhadcomeforBurgoyneandhisarmy.Atthatmoment,the
wearyregulartroopsweremarchingoutinfrontofthevictoriousrebelstostacktheirarmsand
colors.ThecannonfireheardwerevictorysalutesfiredbyGatesartillery.Asoneloyalist
sadlystateditwenttomyhearttohearit,thoughIknewitwastobethecase.192
UnderthesurrendertermsBurgoyneaccepted,Article8oftheSaratogaConvention
stipulatedthatallcapturedpersonswereBritishsubjectsratherthansubjectsoftheContinental
Congress.Asaresult,capturedloyalistswererequiredtosignparolesagreeingnottoparticipate
infuturehostilitiesagainstAmericanforces.Inturn,theprisonerswerepermittedtoreturnto
Canada.AmusterofMcAlpinsmenonJanuary12,1778revealedthatthecorpshad1captain,

190

ListofMcAlpinsMenPaidbyEnsignDonaldFraser,October14,1777.NotethatDonaldwasaGaelic
nicknameforDaniel
191
Fraser,
Skulking
at55.
192
J
ohnPeters,"ANarrativeofJohnPeters,LieutenantColoneloftheQueen'sLoyalRangersinCanada,drawnbyhimselfina
LettertoaFriendinLondon"
TorontoGlobe
,July16,1877
.The31stintheMorningweproceededtoFortGeorge
whichwasentirelyreducedtoAsheswhereintheAfternoonwefortunatelymetwithaBoatwhichcarriedusto
DiamondIslandaboutfiveMilesuptheLakewherelayaDetachmentofBritishTroops.OnourArrivalhereitgave
meunexpressiblePleasuretothinkmyselfatahappyDistancefromthosescenesofoutrage,Tumult,and
oppression,andtofindmyselfsecure.RichardCartwrightJr.
AJourneytoCanada,c.1777
.Journal.From
http://www.62ndregiment.org/A_Journey_to_Canada_by_Cartwright.pdf.

84

193

2lieutenants,3sergeantsand26rankandfilefitforduty.However,anadditionallieutenant,

2ensigns,1surgeon,4sergeantsand38rankandfilewereundertheSaratogaConventionas
paroledprisonersofwar.194 IfsevenmenwerecapturedinthemonthofAugust,thenthe
remaining39menandofficerswerelikelycapturedduringtheFirstBattleofFreemansFarm,
duringsubsequentforagingandbateauxexpeditionsorafterBurgoynessurrender.195
YetthemostdifficulttaskontheeveofBurgoynessurrenderwasgiventoMcAlpin
himself.OnOctober11,1777,BurgoyneorderedtheremainingelementsofNativeAmericans
andMcAlpinsCorpstotakepossessionofthearmysmilitarychestandtransportitbackto
Canada.Thatevening,thecorpsslippedoutofcampandrushednorthtowardsFortTiconderoga
andthesafetyofitsgarrison.
AtthetimeofBurgoynesdefeat,TiconderogawasunderthecommandofBrigadier
HenryWatsonPowell.AsloyalistrefugeesfromSaratogaandreinforcementsunderBarrySt.
Legerstreamedintothefort,thetroopsunderthecommandofPowellswelledfromseven
hundredtoalmosttwothousandmen.Nevertheless,despitethisaugmentation,Powellelectedto
evacuateTiconderoga.

193

DanielMcAlpinwastheCaptain.
PresentStateoftheSeveralDetachmentsofRoyalistswhoReturnedfromLieutenantGeneralBurgoynesArmy
toCanadaaftertheConvention
,
May1,1778.
195
Foradetaileddescriptionof
British
prisonersandcampfollowerfollowingthesurrenderofBurgoyne,seethe
LetterofHannahWinthrop,November,1777.
LastThursday,whichwasaverystormyday,alargenumberof
BritishTroopscamesoftlythrotheTownviaWatertowntoProspecthill,onFridayweheardtheHessianswereto
makeaProcessioninthesameroutwethotweshouldhavenothingtodowiththem,butViewthemastheyPasst.
Tobesure,thesightwastrulyastonishing,IneverhadtheleastIdeathattheCreationproducedsuchasordidsetof
creaturesinhumanFigurepoor,dirty,emaciatedmen,greatnumbersofwomen,whoseemdtobethebeastsof
burthen,havingabushelbasketontheirback,bywhichtheywerebentdouble,thecontentsseemdtobePots&
kettles,varioussortsofFurniture,childrenpeepingthrothegridirons&otherutensils,SomeveryyoungInfants
whowerebornontheroadthewomenwithbarefeet,cloathdindirtyraggssuchEffluviafilldtheairwhilethey
werepassing,hadtheynotbeensmoakingallthetime,Ishouldhavebeenapprehensiveofbeingcontaminatedby
them.
194

85

OnNovember1,1777,Powellorderedtheloyalistsathispost,includingMcAlpins
Corps,tobeputtoworkdestroyingthefortification.196 AccordingtoloyalistRichardCartwright
Jr.itbeingdeterminedupontoabandonthisGarrison,theWorkofDestructionwasalready
beginning,inonePartwasseenHeapsofCarriagesinFlames,inanothertheHeavyArtillery
destroyed,andallinthegreatestHurrytogetwhatcouldberemovedwithoutmuchDifficulty
removedonboardtheVessels.Howeverthiswasbutthebeginningandwedidnotstaytoseen
theconclusionoftheScene,whichendedwith[illegiblecrossedoutword]settingtheFortsand
HousesinaBlaze,forhavingwithsomeDifficultyprocuredaBoatandgotourbaggageround
totheFort.197
OnNovember8,1777,FortTiconderogawasfinallyabandonedbyitsgarrison.198
CartwrightnotedwesetoutfromTiatDuskintheEvening,leavingbehindMr.Dowlandwho
didnotattend,andthatNightwentthreeorfourMilesuptheLake,landedontheWestSide,
madeaFirstandsleptverycomfortablenearitinourTent.199
Asthegarrisonretreatednorthward,McAlpinswascharged,notonlywithprotectingthe
paychest,butalsowithdrivingacattleherdtowardsCanada.200UponreachingtheBouquet
River,acompanyofrangersunderthecommandofCaptainEbenezerAllenintercepted
McAlpinssupplycolumnandalargeskirmisherupted.Whenthebattleended,fiftyof
McAlpinsmenwerecapturedorleftbehindascasualties.201Nevertheless,McAlpinwasableto
pushpasttheenemyandsuccessfullyreachCanadawiththemilitarychest.

196

WeeklyStateoftheFortification,November1,1777.
Cartwright,
AJourneytoCanada
.
198
Powell,tohiscredit,wasabletowithdrawwithmostofhissuppliesandlivestockintact.
199

Ibid
.
200
TheodoreCorbett,
NoTurningPoint:TheSaratogaCampaigninPerspective
,(Oklahoma,2012),251.
201

NewYorkGazetteandWeeklyMercury
,November17,1777.
197

86

~9~
TheAftermath:LoyalistsinGreatDistress
Inearly1778,McAlpinwaspromotedtomajorandwasgiventhearduoustaskof
overseeingthefloodofrefugeeswhopouredintoCanadafollowingBurgoynesdefeat.For
McAlpinthiswasamonumentaltask.BritishgovernmentcontrollingCanadawasillprepared
forthearrivalofthousandsofmen,womenandchildrenwhoHaldimandfittinglydescribedas
loyalistsingreatdistress.202 Theconstantstreamofincomingrefugeesshockedthe
sensibilitiesofeventhemosthardenedBritishofficer.AsSt.Legernoted,agroupofloyalists
arrivedatNiagaraalmostnaked...theyhadbeensolonghidinginthewoodsthattheywere
almostfamished...50moreareontheirwaybutsoweaktheycanscarcelycrawltheyarea
setofpoorforlornpeople...whocannothelpthemselves.203 Anothercontingentconsistedof
fivewomen,thirtyfivechildrenandonepairofshoesamongstthem.Theyhadtakenshelter
alongtheMohawkRiverandweregrowingpotatoesandcorntosurvive.204

FrederickHaldimand,
HaldimandtoGermain,October14,1778
.Letter.Estimatesplacethenumberof
nonmilitaryloyalistsinCanadafollowingthedefeatofBurgoyneatoveronethousandmen,womenandchildren.
By1780,thenumberofloyalistrefugeesinCanadahadgrowntofivethousand.By1784,thenumberwould
increasetoseventhousand.
203
BarrySt.Leger,
St.LegertoMatthews,September19,1781.
Letter.
204

ElizabethBowmanSpohn,
ElizabethBowmanSpohntoRev.EgertonRycrson,July23,1861
.Letter.
My
father,PeterBowman,theeldestsonathome,wasonlyelevenyearsold.Asthepillagewasatnight,hehadneither
coatnorshoeshehadtocutanddrawhisfirewoodhalfamileonahandsleightokeephissickmotherfrom
freezingthishedidbarefooted.ThewholefamilywouldhaveperishedhaditnotbeenforsomefriendlyIndians
202

87

TheBritishapproachtoprovidingassistancetoloyalistsinCanadawassimilarto
governmentalpoliciestowardsthepoorinEngland.Incomingloyalistswerequestionedto
determinewhattradeorprofessiontheypossessedandthenweredispatchedtospecificlocations
toseekemployment.Destituteloyalists,includingthesick,infirm,children,womenwithinfants
th
andcripples,wereplacedonpublicassistance.However,publicassistanceinthe18
century
th
differedgreatlyfrommodernpractices.Under18
centuryBritishpolicies,thoseonpublic

assistancereceivedonlybarenecessitiesatminimalcosts.Moreimportantly,thoseonassistance
wereexpectedtoworkinexchangefortheirassistance.Atmanyrefugeecamps,womenand
childrenwereexpectedtomakeblanketcoats,leggingsatcheaperratesthantheCanadians.205
Tokeepexpenseslow,loyalistwomenandchildrenweremusteredonceamonthsotheycould
beinspectedanddeterminewhetherornottheystillqualifiedforpublicassistance.206
Unfortunately,theeffortsoftheBritishgovernmenttoprovideasylumfortheloyalists
wereofteninvainandastheyearsprogressed,existingdifficultieswerecompoundedwithan
evergreaterinfluxofrefugees.Housingwasthegreatestproblem.OnSeptember14,1778,
Gugycomplainedaboutthelackofpinewoodtoconstructnecessaryhousingfortherefugees.207
ByDecemberandtheonsetoftheCanadianwinter,loyalisthousingwasnotcomplete.208On

thatbroughtthemprovisions.Onegavemyfatherablanket,coatandapairofmocassins.AkindSquawdoctored
mygrandmother,butshesufferedsomuchthroughwantandanxietythatitwasnotuntilspringthatshewasableto
doanything.ShethentookherchildrenandwenttotheMohawkriver,wheretheyplantedcornandpotatoesandin
thefallthecommanderoftheBritishforcesatNiagara,hearingoftheirdestitutesituation,sentapartywithsome
Indianstobringthemin.Theybroughtinfivefamilies:theNellises,Secords,Youngs,Bucks,andourownfamily
(Bowman),fivewomenandthirtyonechildren,andonlyonepairofshoesamongthemall.TheyarrivedatFort
Georgeonthe3rdofNovember,1776fromtheretheyweresentfirsttoMontreal,andthentoQuebec,wherethe
Governmenttookcareofthemthatis,gavethemsomethingtoeat,andbarrackstosleepin.Mygrandmotherwas
exposedtocoldanddampsomuchthatshetooktherheumatismandneverrecovered.
205

RegulationsastotheLodgingsandAllowancesforLoyalists
,March6,1782.
206

Ibid
.
207
ConradGugy,
GugytoHaldimand,September14,1778
.Letter.Constructionofthefirstsetofbarrackswasnot
completeduntilNovember8,1778.ConradGugy,
GugytoHaldimand,November8,1778.
Letter
208
ConradGugy,
GugytoHaldimand,December20,1778.
Letter

88

January7,1779,HaldimanddemandedtoknowwhyofficialsassignedtoMachichehadnotyet
builtasawmillnecessaryfortheconstructionofhousingandmilitarybarracks.209British
authoritiesevenexperienceddifficultiesestablishingaschoolhouseforrefugeechildren.210
Livingquartersforloyalistrefugeeswascrampedatbest.InDecember1778one
hundredandninetysixrefugeesatMachichewereassignedlivingquartersinoneoftwelve
buildings.Thefollowingyear,overfourhundredrefugeeswereplacedinoneofamere
twentyonebuildings.Historicaldocumentationsuggeststhesestructureswereonlyeighteenby
fortyfeetinsize.211
Throughoutthefallmonthsof1778,Britishofficialslikewisestruggledtosupplythe
loyalistswithrations,candlesandblankets.212By1783,overthreethousandloyalistswerein
needofbasicclothing,includingoverthreethousandpairsofstockingsandshoesandsixteen
thousandyardsoflinenandwool.213Thefollowingyear,Britishofficialswarnedthatseveral
refugeeshaddiedowingastheythinkforthewantofprovisionsandclothing.214
Foodsuppliesandcookingequipmentwereexceedinglydifficulttoprocureasmore
loyalistsarrivedinCanada.Freshmeatwascontinuouslyscarce215 andfullrationsoften

FrederickHaldimand,
HaldimandtoGugy,January7,1779.
Letter
.
ConradGugy,
GugytoHaldimand,March6,1779.
Letter
GugytoHaldimand,March14,1779.
211

ListofLoyalistsandTheirFamilieslodgedatMachicheatThisDate
,December2,1778ConradGugy,
Gugyto
Haldimand,November16,1778.
Letter.
212

GugytoHaldimand,October30,1778GugytoHaldimand,November8,1778GugytoHaldimand,November
16,1778.
213

EstimateofClothingRequiredtoClothetheAboveNumberedofRefugees,AgreeabletotheProportions
HeretoforeGranted
,1783.GreatBritain,BritishLibraryAdditionalManuscriptsNo.21826,folio103.Thatsame
yearloyalistsatSorelweresuppliedwith360yardsoflinencloth,149yardsofwollencloth,73blankets,110pairs
ofstockings,106pairsofshoesand10pairsofshortleggingsandmitts.Haldimandto(?),December,1783.It
shouldbenotedtherewereover600loyalistsinandaroundSorelatthetimeofthisissuance.
214
StephenDelancey,
StephenDelanceytoRobertMatthews,April26andMay4,1784.
Letters.
215
GugymadenolessthantworequestsinNovember,1778forprovisionsoffreshbeeffortheloyalistsat
Machiche.
GugytoHaldimandNovember8,1778andNovember16,1778
.
209
210

89

withheld.216 ConradGugycomplainedtoHaldimandthatthechildrenatMachichewereseverely
malnourishedandmanymothersweredeprivingthemselvesoftheirownfoodinaneffortto
keeptheirchildrenalive.217 Tocomplicatematters,in1778,therefugeesatMachichewereonly
issuedtwentyfourkettlesandeightfryingpans.218Toalleviatethisproblem,loyalistswere
encouragedtogroworsecuretheirownfood.Toassistinthisventure,Mr.Gugyestablisheda
pastureforfiftycowsandagardenforgrowingvegetablesatMachiche.219 Unfortunately,the
effortstoestablishselfsufficientloyalistsfailedmiserably.By1780,overtwohundredand
sixtytwomen,threehundredandeightwomenandsevenhundredandninetyeightchildrenat
variousrefugeecampsoutsideofMontrealalonewerereceivingpublicassistanceintheformof
foodsuppliesfromthegovernment.220
ThetreatmentofAfricanAmericanloyalistsduringtheAmericanRevolution,including
thoseinCanada,wasespeciallyproblematic.Britishauthoritiesencouragedslavestoprofess
theirloyaltytotheCrowninexchangeforfreedom.However,onceescapedslavesreached
Britishlines,AfricanAmericansfoundthatthepromiseswerenotalwaysfulfilled.Somewere
takenprisonerandeitherclaimedaspropertybytheircaptorsorsoldforprofit.Likewise,British
officialsconsistentlymaintainedthatformerslavesofloyalistshadtobereturnedtotheir
masters.Onlyafewwereallowedtoserveassoldiers.Manyloyalistofficersprotestedthe
treatmentofAfricanAmericanloyalistsandexpressedtheirsensiblefeelings[we]havefor[our

RobertMatthews,
RobertMatthewstoAbrahamCuyler,November18,1782.
Letter.
JohnRoss,
MajorRosstoSirJohnJohnson,September11,1780
.Letter.DanielMcAlpinwouldalsocomplain
aboutthestateofloyalistchildrenandfamiliesunderhiscare.Allareinastateofdistress...andareinurgent
needofhelp.
218

GugytoHaldimand,November16,1778
.
219

HaldimandtoGermain,October15,1778
.
220

McKinnon,
WhiletheWomen,
107110HP21,826.
216
217

90

fellowCreatures.221 Oneofficer,DanielClaus,assertedthatAfricanAmericansoldierswere
oftenofgreathelptoscoutingandraidingparties.Hethennotedsadlythatsixteenblackshehad
broughtinasrecruits"fortheirloyalty...nowarerenderedSlavesinMontreal.222

Fromtherefugeeperspective,mostwerehorrifiedattheirlivingconditionsandlackof
provisions.Asonegroupofloyalistsopined,weshallnotbeabletoovercometheSeveirand
approachinghardwinter[in]aStrangeandDisolateplacewhere[we]cangetnothingto
WorktoearneaPenneyfortheSupportofEachOther...muchmoretheBiggerpartofus

WilliamParker,
WilliamParkertoHaldimand,February16,1782
.LetterRobertMathews,
MathewstoSir
JohnJohnson,October6,1783.
LetterRobertMathews,
MathewstoCaptainLeake,December161781.
Letter.
222
DanielClaus,
ClaustoHaldimand,December9,1779.
Letter.
221

91

WithoutoneshillinginourpocketsandnotaShewonourfeet.223Anotherloyalistcomplained
thathisrefugeecampwasadrownedbogwithoutwater.224ManyrefugeesaccusedGershom
French,aloyalistinchargeofsuppliesatMachiche,ofabusingloyalistsanddivertingbasic
materialstohimself.225
TocontaintheimpactofrefugeesontheQuebecProvince,Britishauthoritiesrestricted
loyalistsandrefusedtoletthemtraveloutsideoftheirrespectivecamps.226 Asaresult,refugees
quicklydiscoveredthattheycouldnotsupplementtheirmeagersupplieswithtripsto
neighboringtownsandvillages.Services,includinglaundry,weresubjecttopricefixingunder
thethreatofbeingremovedfrompublicassistance.227 Likewise,requeststosellgoods,including
alcohol,tocomplementtheirmeagerlivingconditionsweresummarilydenied.228
Anevengreaterconcernamongstrefugeeswasthepresenceofcampfeverwhichwas
quicklyspreadingthroughtherefugeesites.Otherdeadlydiseasespresentatthecampsincluded
malaria,smallpoxandpneumonia.229Loyalistschaffedatthegovernmentsdownplayofthe
campconditionsandtheassertionthattheircomplaintswerefrivolous.230 Accordingtoaletter
fromGugytoStephenDeLancy,inspectoroftheloyalistcamps,hewaswellawareofthe
uniformdiscontentoftheLoyalistsatMachiche...thediscontent...isexcitedbyafew

223

PetitionbyHisMajestysFaithfulSubjectsEmigratedUndertheConductofCaptainMichaelGrassfromNew
YorktoThisPlace
,Sorel,September29,1783.
224

GugytoHaldimand,October2,1778

PetitiontoMr.Gugy,
November12,1778.
225

ComplaintbyJohnPeters
,January20,1780.
226

GugytoHaldimand,October30,1778.
227
Theloyalistwomenreceivingrationsaretowashforthenoncommissionedofficersandmenofthevolunteers
atfourcoppersashirtandinproportionforotherthings.FrederickHaldimand,
HaldimandtoLieutenantFrench,
July14,1780.
Letter.
228

GugytoHaldimand,November32,1778.
229

RosstoHaldimand,November25,1782.
230

GugytoHaldimand,October2,1778.

92

illdisposedpersons....thesicknesstheycomplainofhasbeencommonthroughoutthe
province,andshouldhavelessenedratherthanincreasedtheconsumptionofprovisions.231
Asyearspassedandloyalistscontinuedtobeconfinedinsiderefugeecamps,familiesand
individualscollapsedunderthepsychologicalburden.Longtermabsencesofloyalistmenon
militarymissionsonlyexacerbatedthesituation.Therewasonerecordedincidentofinfanticide
atCarletonIslandwhereamotherkilledhernewborn.232 Marriagescrumbled,alcoholismrose,
suicidesincreasedandemotionalbreakdownsbecamecommonplace.233 Inshort,deathand
tragedysurroundedtheloyalistsinCanada.
FromtheBritishperspective,Haldimandbecameexasperatedwiththerefugeesinhis
colonyanddescribedthemasanumberofuselessConsumersofProvisions.234 Hesummarized
thedistasteBritishauthoritieshadforthegrievancesfromunappreciativeloyalistswhenhetold
aprominentrefugeeHisExcellencyisanxioustodoeverythinginhispowerfortheLoyalists,
butifwhathecandodoesnotcomeuptotheexpectationofhimandthoseherepresents,His
Excellencygivesthefullestpermissiontothemtoseekredressinsuchmannerastheyshallthink
best.235 Inshort,Haldimandutilizedloyalistdependencytomaintaingovernmentcontrolover
therefugees.Theloyalistswereforcedtochoosebetweenacceptingtheircampconditionsor
fendforthemselves.

231

GugytoDeLancy,April29,1780.

Ibid
.
233
W.StewartWallace,
TheUnitedEmpireLoyalists:AChronicleoftheGreatMigration,Volume13.
(EBook,
2004),http://www.gutenberg.org/files/11977/11977.txt.Seealso
TuttletoMatthews,July11,1781MacLeanto
Matthews,November24,1779St.LegertoHaldimand,November16,1782ClaustoHaldimand,June14,1784.
ThereareperiodaccountsofseveralinsaneloyalistsbeingsentfromrefugeecampstohospitalsinQuebec.
234

HaldimandtoJohnson23May1780HaldimandtoPowell,15March1780.
235

http://www.canadiangenealogy.net/chronicles/loyalists_quebec.htm
232

93

~10~
TheyHaveSacrificedAllTheyHadforTheirLoyalty

WhenMcAlpinsCorpsofAmericanVolunteersreturnedtoCanada,theorganization
wasadecimatedshellofwhatithadbeenmonthsearlier.Worseyet,CaptainMunrowasonce
againmakingoverturestoremovehisbateauxcompanyfromtheCorps.YetMcAlpinwas
preparedfortheupstartMunro.WhenMunrorefusedforasecondtimetomusterhismenwith
McAlpinsCorps,hewasremovedfromhiscommand,takenoffthemilitarypayrolland
relegatedtothetaskofsupervisingthebuildingofabridgeinBerthier.236McAlpinreplaced
Munrowithoneofhisownmen.
Overthenexttwoandahalfyears,Munrowouldtryinvaintoregainhiscommandand
seekthereturnofhismentohim.HisfinalattemptoccurredonDecember7,1780,sixmonths

236

MunrotoHaldimand,January10,1778andSeptember12,1780.

94

afterMcAlpinsdeath.InalettertoRobertMatthews,Munrooutlinedhisgrievancesagainst
McAlpinanddemandedreinstatementasseniorcaptaininMcAlpinsCorps.Munrowent
furtherandproposedthatthecorpsbedividedandashareofmenbeassignedtohim.The
requestswereforwardedtoMajorNairne,superintendentofloyalistforcesinCanada,who
summarilydeniedtherequests.237
WhileMcAlpinwasfendingoffHughMunro,themajorstillfacedthedauntingtaskof
commandingseveralloyalistcorpsandrebuildinghisowncorpsofvolunteersstationedatSorel.
238

ComplicatingmattersweretheJessupbrothers.Stillreelingfromlosingaportionoftheir

recruitstoMcAlpininAugustof1777,bothbrothersrepeatedlycomplainedtoHaldimandand
otherauthoritiesthattheircorpswassignificantlyunderstaffedandrecruitsstolenbyMcAlpin
neededtobereturned.Inonesuchattempt,EbenezerJessupwrotetoBrigadierGeneralJohn
PowellanddemandedalmostseventymenrecruitedbytheJessupsbereturnedtohiscorps.239
Therequestwasquicklydenied.Almostamonthlater,NeilRobertsoncomplainedtoSirJohn
JohnsonabouttheJessupbrothersattempttopersuadehimtoreturnsixtyeightmencurrently
enlistedwithMcAlpinsCorps.Robertsonalsorebuffedthedemand,correctlypointingoutthe

237

MunrotoMatthews,December7,1780.
Quebec17thMay1779...Sir...AsIShallprobablyhaveOccasionthisSummertoEmployYou,&
Your
Regiment
,uponSomeactiveandimportantService,IamanxiousthatyouShouldnowbeemployed,inpreparing
themforthispurpose,andinordertopreventotherBusinessfrominterferingwiththisPrincipalObject,Ihave
thoughtpropertoappointCaptainMcALPINtohavetheCommandandDirectionoftheSeveralCorpsofLoyalists,
includingboththosewhoarepaid,andthosewhoarenot,andinafewDaysCaptainMcALPINwillWaituponyou
toReceiveallInstructions,Lists,oranyotherPapersinYourPossession,whichMayassisthiminarrangingthese
IrregularCorpsandIrequest,youwillgiveCaptainMcALPINeveryprivateInformationinYourPowerrelativeto
thispartoftheService.ItwillbenecessarythatyouSendOrderstotheHeadsofallCorps,andtotheIndividuals
whobelongstonoparticularBody,thattheyimmediatelyputthemselvesundertheCommandandDirectionof
CaptainMcALPIN.IamwithgreatRegardSir,YourmostObedienthumbleServantFred:HALDIMAND.
239
EbenezerJessup,
EbenezerJessuptoPowell,July26,1780.
Letter.
238

95

Jessupsignorancethatofthesixtyeightmenrequested,25ofwhomareamongtherebels,22
deadordeserted,theother21belongtoMajorDanielMcAlpinscorps.240
McAlpinrecognizedhisunitwasindangerandcouldbebrokenupanddispersed
amongsttheotherloyalistunitsstationedinCanada.McAlpinquicklypetitionedHaldimand,
arguingthatyourExcellencywillbegoodenoughtosupportthemintheirdifferentstations,as
theyhavesacrificedalltheyhadfortheirloyalty.241 Asaresultofhisefforts,McAlpinsCorps
remainedintact.However,McAlpin,liketheJessups,wouldspendtherestofhismilitarycareer
tryingtobringhisunitbackuptoitspreSaratogastrength.Unfortunately,itwouldbeagoal
thatwouldneverbereached.242

Throughout1778andmostof1779,McAlpinsCorpsremainedinSorel,atownlocated
insouthwesternQuebecProvince.Whennotengagedingarrisonduty,McAlpinsmenwere

NielRobertson,
RobertsontoJohnson,August6,1780.
Letter.

McAlpintoHaldimand,November18,1778.
242
ItappearsHaldimandattemptedtosupplementtheranksofMcAlpinsCorpswithregulartroops.Forexample,
onAugust30,1778,GeneralHaldimandorderedacompanyofthe34thRegimentofFootnotonlytojoin
McAlpin'sCorps,buttomixitselfintotheranksandassisttheCorpswithitsduties.Thecompanyremained
attachedtoMcAlpin'sCorpsuntilDecember18,1778.ByJanuary1,1779,the34thwasbackservingintheranks
ofMcAlpin'sCorps.ItappearstheunitremainedwithMcAlpin'suntilSeptember,1779.
240
241

96

employedintheconstructionandrepairofearthworksaroundthetown.243 ByJuly,1779,Sorel
hadbecomearefugeecampandactivemilitarybasethatwasoccupiedbyfiveprovincialunits.
TheroadsleadingtoandfromSorelwerefrequentlyinpoorcondition.CoupledwithCarletons
beliefthatmost,ifnotall,oftheprovincialforcesinCanadawouldbereassignedtothemain
Americantheater,resupplyandsoldierspaywasoftenintentionallywithheldandthusdifficult
toobtain.244
Asaresult,McAlpinstruggledtoensurehismenwereproperlyarmedandequipped.
RecognizingthattheywerearmedwithamixofoldFrenchmilitarymuskets,fowlersand
commercialtradeguns,McAlpinarguedIneednotexplaintoHisExcellencythefigureanold
greyheadedfellowwillmakeattheheadofaparcelofraw,undisciplinedpeoplewithbadarms
...IhopetheGeneralwillbegoodenoughtopreventmefromappearinginthismortifying
situationbyorderinggoodarmstobedeliveredtous.245 ItappearsMcAlpindidmakesome
progressanddidreceivesomegoodarmsin1778.Nevertheless,aslateasAugust3,1778,
McAlpinstillreportedareturnofarmsandaccoutermentswantingtocompleatCaptain
McAlpinsCorpsofVolunteers...35firelocks,35bayonets,35beltsandfrogs,35cartridge
boxes.246
MajorMcAlpinalsorepeatedlybeggedBritishauthoritiestoproperlyclothehistroops.
Despitehisbestefforts,hismenwouldnotreceivenewuniformsuntilNovember,1778.Worse,
thiswouldbetheonlyidentifiedclothingtheAmericanVolunteerswouldreceiveoverthenext

DanielMcAlpin,
McAlpintoMatthews,July29,1779.
Letter.
DanielMcAlpin,
AneffectivelistofallLoyalistsinCanadareceivingprovisions.ReportofCaptainDaniel
McAlpin,July1,1779

McAlpintoHaldimand,May4,1779
.
245
GreatBritain,BritishLibrary,AdditionalManuscripts,No.21821,folios2930.Seealso
McAlpintoMatthews,
July29,1779
.
246
GreatBritain,PublicRecordOffice,WarOffice,Class28,Volume10,folio44.
243
244

97

twoyears.247Itisunclearwhetherthesecoatswerelikelythehighlyunpopularbluecoatsfaced
whitethatJessupsCorpsreceivedinDecember,1778.248 Ifso,themenandofficersof
McAlpinsCorpsfollowedtheexampleofJessupsCorpsandelectedtowearblanketcoats
insteadofthecoatsoftenwornbytheirNewEnglandenemies.249
LifeatSorelwasoftendifficult.Besidesalackofsupplies,shelterwasalmost
nonexistent.AsSir.JohnJohnsoncorrectlynotedincorrespondencetoHaldimandregarding
McAlpinsandothercorps,
IhavenotmentionedTents,orCampEquipage,thothey[are]
wantingforthewholeRegimentbutshouldyourExcellencythinkthemNecessary,Ishall
immediatelyforwardthem.250
Worseyet,thevolunteersinMcAlpinsCorpsoftenfoundthemselvesatoddswiththeir
fellowrefugees.Competitionforlimitedsupplies,includingfreshfoodandclothing,provedto
beasourceofconstantirritation.Onmorethanoneoccasion,MajorMcAlpindescribed
incidentsoflargegroupsofloyalistrefugeesengagedinfightswithhissoldiers.251 Likewise,
intoxicationwasanongoingproblem.InoneinstanceduringavisittoSorelbythefamed

McAlpintoHaldimand,June8,1780
.
JimKochantheorizesthatthesebluefacedwhitecoatswereprizeclothingtakenfromseizedrebelstoresin
CanadaorTiconderogaorfromcapturedrebelsupplyships.
249
WithallRespectandduedifferencewethesubscribingOfficersoftheLoyalistsbegleavetorepresentto
YourExcellency,thattheCloathinginStoreatthisGarrisonbeingBluefacedwithWhite,thesameas
theUniformofmanyRegimentsofourEnemies,weareapprehensivethatshouldwebesentonservice
withthisCloathing,manyfatalaccidentsmighthappen,frommistakesofIndiansandourown
ScoutingParties,aswasactuallythecaseseveraltimeslastCampaign.Weareawarethattoexpectthis
Cloathingshouldbetotallylaidaside,forsuchreasons,afterthegreatexpensetheCrownhasbeenat,
mustbedeemedunreasonableourwishesonlyarethatYourExcellencywillOrderus,RedClothing,as
alongasanyremainsinStore,andthattheBluemaybemadeuseofthelast.LieutColonelSt.Legerhasbeen
pleasedatourrequesttosufferustodrawonlyhalfMounting,forthepresent,theBlanketCoatswehavepurchased
fortheMenbyhisdirections,supplyingtheplaceoftheCoats,untillYourExcellencywillbepleasedtodecidefor
usandwhateverthatdecisionmaybeweshallbeentirelysatisfiedTheTransportingtheCloathingatthisSeason,
wearesensiblewillbeattendedwithsomeExpensetoGovernment,whichwedonotwishtoburthenitwithbut
shouldYourExcellencyOrderustheRedClothingwewillchearfullydefraytheExpenseofCarriage.
Jessupetal
toHaldimand,December2,1778
.
GreatBritain,BritishLibrary,AdditionalManuscripts,No.21821,folio5.
250

JohnsontoHaldimand,May20,1779.
251
Foranexampleofasoldierciviliandispute,see
McAlpintoMatthews,January16,1780
.
247
248

98

RobertRogersandhisrecruiternamedPritchard,almostalloftheloyalisttroopsassignedto
Sorelgotdrunk,abandonedtheirpostsandabusedtheirofficers.Naturally,MajorMcAlpinwas
horrifiedatthePritchardAffairanddemandedthatRogersbeprohibitedfromreturningto
Sorel.252

~11~
AnOpportunityforRevenge:TheRaidonJohnstown
It1780,McAlpinsCorpsofAmericanVolunteersreturnedtoNewYork.Forthese
loyalists,participationinthe1780militaryraidsorderedbyCarletonagainstNewYorkwas
morethanopportunitytogetawayfromtheboredomofgarrisonduty.Instead,theseraids
representedanopportunityofrevengeforthefailuresofSaratoga.

DanielMcAlpin,
McAlpintoBrigadierPowell,December26,1779.
Letter.

252

99

InMarch,1780,EnsignWalterSutherlandoftheKingsRoyalRegimentofNewYork
returnedfromascouttoJohnstown,NewYork.InhisreporttoHaldimand,Sutherlanddisclosed
thatNewYorkrebelsintendedtoforceallmilitaryagemen,includingloyalists,intomilitary
unitsstationedalongtheCanadianborder.Thosewhorefusedwouldbearrested,theirhomes
destroyedandtheirpropertyconfiscated.Alarmed,HaldimandorderedSirJohnJohnsonto
organizeareliefforcewiththeintenttoevacuateallmilitaryageloyalistmenandtheirfamilies
fromtheJohnstownarea.253
Inpreparationfortheraid,Haldimandorderedthreeseparatedetachmentsconsistingof
th
th
rd
thirtyfourmenandtwoofficersfromthe29
,34
and53
regimentsandonedetachment

composedofanofficerandtwentymenfromtheHesseHanauJaegerstoassembleat
IleauxNoix.OnehundredandsixtyonemenfromtheKingsRoyalRegimentwerealso
recruitedforthemission,aswerefiftymenrecruitedfromMcAlpinsCorps,PetersQueens
LoyalRangersandtheKingsLoyalAmericans.OnApril13,1780,theloyalistdetachmentsof
theraidingpartywereorderedtoalsoassembleatIleauxNoix.Uponarrival,theentireraiding
party,overfivehundredandtwentyeightmenintotal,wereplacedunderthecommandofSir
rd
JohnJohnsonandCaptainThomasScottofthe53
Regiment.254

ThetroopsweretransportedbywaterfromIleauxNoixdownLakeChamplaintoCrown
Point.Onceonland,thesoldierstravelledtothesouthwest,skirtingaroundSchroonLake.On
May21,1780,theraidersattackedKingsboroughPatent,locatednorthofJohnstown,and
rescuedonehundredfortythreeloyalists,includingwomenandchildren,andthirtyslaves.255

GavinWatt,
TheBurningoftheValleys
,(Toronto,1997),75.

Ibid
at7778.
255

Ibid
.WithSirJohnJohnsonsblessing,severaloftheraidersbrokeawayfromthemainbody,soughtoutseveral
officersofThirdRegiment,TryonCountyMilitiaandkilledthem.
253
254

100

JohnsonthenledhistroopsintoJohnstown,burnedseveralbuildings,rescueddozensofloyalists
andcapturedtwentysevenrebels.Afterwards,theraidersburnedonehundredandtwentybarns,
millsandhouseslocatedinafourmilearcsouthofJohnstown.256
NewYorkauthoritiesrushedtostoptheraidsanddispatchedovereighthundred
ContinentaltroopsandmilitiatointerceptJohnsonandhismen.Asecondforceofninehundred
rebelswasraisedinNewHampshireandorderedwesttowardsJohnstown.Overthenextfour
days,theraiders,theirprisonersandloyalistrefugeesweredoggedlypursuedbytheAmericans
andforcedtocontinuouslychangedirectionastheywithdrewtowardsCrownPoint.However,
Johnsonsuccessfullyreachedtheruinedfortandescapedbywaterjustastwothousandrebel
troopsandmilitiaarrivedattheshorelineofLakeChamplain.257 Fortunately,therebelswere
unabletopursueandwereforcedtowatchhelplesslyastheirpreyescapednorthtoCanada.
IntheweeksfollowingtheRaidonJohnstown,DanielMcAlpinshealthdeteriorated
drastically.Despitetheeffortsofphysicians,themajorneverrecoveredfromthelongterm
exposuretotheelementswhenhehidfromrebelpatrolsin1777.OnJuly22,1780,McAlpin
succumbedtohisillnessandpassedaway.ThenewsofhisdeathtravelledquicklyandbyJuly
25,1780,Haldimandwasinformedofthelossofhismajor.
McAlpinspassingwasatremendousblow,emotionallyandfinancially,tohisfamily.
ForthenexttwoyearsMrs.McAlpinandherchildrenlingeredinCanada.OnMarch15,1781,
MaryMcAlpinpersonallyappealedtoHaldimandforaroyalbounty.Accordingtothegeneral,
Mrs.McAlpinpleadedthatasaresultofoutstandingdebtsaccruedbyMajorMcAlpinonlythe

256

Ibid
at79.

Ibid
.

257

101

sumof63317s3dremainsforthesupportofherselfandhertwodaughters.258Surprisingly,it
wastheJessupbrotherswhowereamongthefirsttostepforwardanddonatefundstosupport
theMcAlpinfamily.Unfortunately,themoniesraisedwereonlysufficientintheshorttermand
ascandalinvolvingheronlysonexacerbatedherfinancialsituation.259 By1782,theMcAlpins
wereforcedtosailforEngland.WhileinLondon,MaryMcAlpinsurvivedonasmallpension.
ShewouldrepeatedlypetitionBritishauthoritiesfor6000incompensationforpersonalandreal
propertylostatthehandsofNewYorkrebelsduringtheAmericanRevolution.By1788,her
petitionstillremainedunanswered.MaryMcAlpinneverreturnedtoAmerica.260
McAlpinsdeathalsohadasignificantimpactonhiscorps.Recognizingthattheir
protectorandsponsorcouldnolongershieldthemfromtheJessupBrothersorHughMunro,the
menoftheAmericanVolunteerswroteapetitiontoHaldimandonAugust24,1780.Intheir
letter,themeninformedthegovernorthattheyconsideredthemselvesfreedbyhisdeathand
requestedthatHaldimanddissolvetheunit.261 Haldimandquicklyrejectedthepetitionandthe
fateofMcAlpinsCorpsofAmericanVolunteerswasquicklysealed.Inlessthaneighteen
months,thecorpswouldceasetoexist.
st
th
MajorJohnNairneofthe1
Battalion,84
RoyalHighlandEmigrantswasgiven

commandoftheAmericanVolunteers,aswellastheotherloyalistcorpspreviouslysupervised
byMcAlpin.Recognizingtherelativeweaknessofnumbersofeachofthesecorps,themajor
orderedthevariousunitsmergedintoasinglecorpsthatwouldbecomeknownastheCorpsof

PetitiontoHaldimand,March15,1781
.Apartialsmudgeappearsbetweenthenumbers6and3.However,upon
closerexamination,itappearsMaryMcAlpinisclaimingshehasonly633remaining.
259
SeeAppendixF
260
Fraser,
Skulking
at61.
261

PetitiontoHaldimand,August24,1780
.
258

102

Royalists.262Eachprovincialunitcomposedasinglemilitarycompanywithinthecorps.By
November,1780,NairneturnedcommandoftheAmericanVolunteersovertoCaptainGideon
AdamsofConnecticut.

MajorJohnNairne

262

ByOctober10,1780,thenumericalstrengthoftheAmericanVolunteerswas8commissionedofficersand82
effectiverankandfiles.

103

AsJohnMunrocorrectlyobserved,manyoftheloyalistsoldiersinCanadawerestillin
greatwantofProvisionsandwasdistressedforeverythinghavingworeoutalltheirShoes,
Mockosins,Trowsers,Leggings,&c263 LikeMcAlpin,Nairnequicklyrecognizedthatthe
menunderhiscommandneededtobeproperlyclothedandequipped.AccordingtoEbenezer
JessupMajorNairntoldmethathehadsixtysuitsofclothingwhichheshoulddistributetothe
men[at]YemeskaPostandtotherecruitsfortheLateMcAlpinsCorps...theseverityofthe
weathermakesmeaskfor[additional]cloathing.264 SevendayslaterNairneorderedallthe
officersandMenbelongingTotheSeveralCorpsofRoyalistsQuarteredinthisParishto
assembleathisquartersonthirsday12thInstantWhateverarmsandaccutrmentstheofficers
andMenarePossessedofaretobeBroughtalongwiththemthatallDeficiencesMayappearand
ProperapplicationsShallbemadeforEveryNecessaryEquipmentforthosewhoareanciousto
ServeasSoldiersDuringthewar265
Followingtheinspectionofhismen,Nairnerushedtosecureproperclothingforhis
troops.OnJanuary4,1781,heinstructedMr.TitusSimons...tooverlooktheTaylors
belongingtotheCorpsofRoyalistsandTakePerticolarCarethatTheyShallonNoPretences
DoAnyOtherWorkTilltheClothing...isfinished.266 ByApril1,1781,Nairnehadnotonly
securedenoughclothingforallofhistroops,includinggreenuniformcoatsfacedred,buthad
accumulatedasurplusof100additionaluniformsandenoughmaterialfor30more,370leggings
and756stockings.267However,duetologisticalissuesthatoftenplaguedtheBritisharmy,not

JohnMunro,
CaptainJohnMunrotoCaptainRichardLernoult,November20,1780.
Letter.
EbenezerJessup,
EbenezerJessuptoCaptainMatthews,December1,1780.
Letter.
265
JessupsOrderlyBooks,RegimentalOrders,December9,1780.
266
JessupsOrderlyBooks,RegimentalOrders,January4,1781.
267
GeneralReturnofStoresandBatteauxintheQuarterMasterGeneralsDepartmentinCanadaHeadQuarters
Quebec,April1,1781.AreviewofthereturnssuggestthatthesoldiersunderNairnescommandshouldhavealso
beenissuedRussiandrillbreechesorgaitoredtrousers,linenshirts,shoes,blanketcoatsandrolers.
263
264

104

alloftheuniformswereissuedtotheCorpsofLoyalists.AslateasJanuary2,1782,Edward
JessupbeggedtheCommanderinChiefThatthemenintheCorpsofRoyalistsareingreat
wantofCloathingandthatIBegHisExcellancywillpleastogiveordersfortheirbeingissued.
268

~12~
TheOctoberRaids269
OnAugust24,1780,GovernorHaldimandproposedaseriesofcoordinatedraidsinto
NewYorktodestroytheenemyssuppliesfromthelateplentifulharvestandtogiveHis
Majestysloyalsubjectsanopportunityofretiringtothisprovince.270 Theprojectedraidsalso
hadasecondaryobjectiveofdemonstratingtotheresidentsofVermont,whohadbeenmaking
questionableoverturesofswitchingsidestoHaldimand,thetruestrengthoftheBritishforces
stationedinCanada.
TheraidsintoNewYorkwouldmoveinmultiplecolumnsdowntheMohawk,Lower
ChamplainandHudsonRiverValleysandwouldbecarriedoutbytroopsunderthecommandof
th
MajorChristopherCarletonofthe29
RegimentofFoot,SirJohnJohnsonandCaptainJohn

268

EdwardJessuptoCaptainMatthews,January2,1782.
ThefollowingsectiondescribesMcAlpinsCorpsroleinMajorChristopherCarletonsraidduringthemonthof
October1780.McAlpinsparticipationinthisraidisbaseduponaconfessionbyJamesVanDriesen.OnOctober
25,1780,VanDriesenassertedtohiscaptorsthatthatMcAlpinsCorpswaspartofCarletonsforces.Itshouldbe
notedGavinWattquestionsthecredibilityoftheclaimandbelievesthatVanDriesenwasenlistedwithKings
Rangers.
270

HaldimandtoJohnson,August24,1780.
269

105

rd
MunrooftheKingsRoyalRegimentofNewYorkandLieutenantRichardHoughtonofthe53

RegimentofFoot.
TheattackoftheLowerChamplainandHudsonRiverValleysfelltoMajorCarleton.
OnSeptember27,1780,CarletonsforcesassembledatSt.Johns.Over950menfromregular
andloyalistunitsassembledforthemission.AccordingtoJamesVanDriesen,McAlpinsCorps
th
wasoneoftheunitsdraftedforservicewithCarleton.271OnSeptember28
,thetroopssailedto
nd
IleauxNoix.ByOctober2
,theexpeditionhadreachedValcourIsland.Thenextday,
th
CarletonsmensetupcampatSplitRock,wheretheyremaineduntilOctober6
.

Underthecoverofdarkness,CarletonsmentravelledsouthpastCrownPointtoFort
th
Ticonderoga272.OnOctober8
,CarletondepartedfromTiconderogaandtravelledtowardsFort

Annviabateaux.Twodayslater,thesimplewoodenblockhousesurrenderedtoCarleton
withoutashotfired.Thefortwasimmediatelydestroyedandseventyfiveofficersandenlisted
menweretakenprisoner.273Thesameday,CarletoncontinuedsouthtowardsFortEdward.En
route,heburnedeveryfarmthatheencountered,withtheexceptionoftwoownedbyloyalist
yeomen.OnceattheNorthHudsonRiver,CarletonturnedwesttowardsFortGeorge.Upon
arrivalattheKingsburyDistrict,hetorchedthetown.
Thenextday,CarletonadvancedonFortGeorge.CaptainJohnChipman,commanderof
thefort,quicklylearnedofCarletonsapproach.Believingthattheenemywasasmallwar
party,SilldispatchedfiftysoldiersunderthecommandofCaptainThomasSilltointercept
Carleton.Inturn,CarletondispatchedalargeflankingpartyofIndians,KingsRangers,

271

VictorHugoPaltsits,
MinutesoftheCommissionersfordetectinganddefeatingConspiraciesintheStateofNew
York,AlbanyCountySessions,17781781,
(Albany,1909).
272
TiconderogawasabandonedbytheBritishinNovember,1777.
273
ItisunclearwhethertheprisonersweresentbacktoSouthBayortoFortTiconderoga.

106

th
McAlpinsCorpsandthe34
RegimentofFoot.274TheAmericanpartywasambushedat

BloodyPondandquicklysurrounded.Intheheavycombatthatfollowed,twentyseven
Americansoldierswerekilled,twowerewoundedandeightcaptured.Onlythirteenmen
escaped.Carletonsmensustainednocasualties.
CarletondisplayedmostofhistroopsonGagesHeight.FromhispositioninsideFort
George,CaptainChipmanorderedhisartillerypiecestoopenfireonhisopponent.Afterthree
ineffectiveshots,theCaptainquicklyrealizedhewasinanuntenablepositionandstarted
negotiationswithCarletonforthesurrender.Withinhoursthegarrisoncapitulated.OnOctober
th
12
,FortGeorgewasburnedtotheground.Carletonturnednorthandmarchedbacktowards
th
FortTiconderoga.ByOctober25
,Carletonandhismenwerewellontheirwaybackto

Canada.However,thatsamedaythemajorreceivedorderstoreturntoNewYorkandharassthe
th
rebelsonceagain.ByOctober30
,CarletonhadoccupiedMountIndependence.Forthenext

twoweeks,Carletonwouldengageinacatandmousegameagainstrebelforcesactiveinthe
Narrows,anareaofLakeChamplainbetweenMountIndependenceandFortTiconderoga.On
th
th
November12
,CarletonwithdrewhisforcesandsailedforCanada.ByNovember14
,he

arrivedatSt.Johns.
TheOctoberRaidswereacompletesuccess.NotonlyhadCarletondestroyedtwoforts,
captureddozensofenemysoldiers,burnedseveraltownsandkeptrebelforcesincheck,but
Carletonhaddonesowithminimalcasualties.AttheconclusionofCarletonsraid,onlytwo
menwerekilled,threewerewoundedandtwodeserted.JamesVanDriesenwastheonlyloss
attributabletoMcAlpinsCorpsofAmericanVolunteers.Shortlyaftertheengagementat

274

Ibid
.

107

BloodyPond,VanDriesendesertedandfledsoutheasttowardsBallstown.Uponarrival,he
alertedthelocalmilitiaofCarletonsactivities.Forhisinformation,VanDriesenwasrewarded
withimprisonment,trialandadeathsentence.However,GovernorClintonintervenedonVan
DriesensbehalfandonFebruary27,1781,hewasreleasedonbail.275
FollowingtheOctoberraids,McAlpinsCorpsreturnedtogarrisonlifeatSorel.For
mostof1781,thesoldierswatchedasanunendingstreamofloyalistrefugeespouredintothe
garrisontown.Inturn,manyloyalistscametotermswiththeircurrentstatusandconcludedthat
theywouldneverreturntoNewYorkorNewEngland.Asaresult,manyofthesemen
attemptedtocarveoutsomesemblanceofanewlifeatSorel.OnFebruary8,1781,Haldimand
reportedthatresidentsandsoldiersalikeclearedoutwoodlotsaroundSorelandstarted
constructionofawindmill.276 ByJuly,sawmillandbrickkilnswereconstructedandfully
operational.277 ThatNovember,bakerieswereapprovedbyHaldimand.278ByChristmas,the
firstChristmastreeappearedinNorthAmericaatSorel.
However,therealityofwarwaseverpresentandsoldiersfromthecorpswererecruited
forvariousmilitaryoperationsoutsideofgarrisonduty.Itispossiblethatsoldiersfrom
McAlpinsweredraftedforsecretservicemissionsintoVermontandNewYork.These
dangerousmissionsusuallyrequiredloyalists,travellingaloneorinsmallgroups,toconduct
operationsofobservation,establishcontactwithordelivercorrespondencetoloyalistsbehind
enemylines.279

275

Ibid
.
FrederickHaldimand,
HaldimandtoTwiss,February8,1781.
Letter.
277

HaldimandtoTwiss,July1,1781
.
278

HaldimandtoTwiss,November22,1781.
279
ForanaccuratedescriptionofsecretserviceoperationsintoVermont,see
StevenstoHaldimand,February6,
1782.
276

108

McAlpinslastofficialmilitaryoperationoutsideofSoreltookplaceinOctober,1781.
AstheRevolutionaryWarragedinVirginia,Haldimandbegantosecretlymakeoverturestothe
representativesofVermontrepublictoabandontherevolutionarycauseanddeclareloyaltyto
th
Britain.Asaresult,onOctober14
,HaldimandorderedBarrySt.Legertodelivera

proclamationtoVermontseekingreunificationwithEngland.Atthesametime,thegeneralwas
orderedtoconductadiversionaryactioninsupportofJohnRoss,whohadlaunchedaraidinto
theNewYorkinteriorviaFortOswego.PerHaldimand,St.Legerwasexpectedtoleadtroops
totheupperendofLakeChamplainandestablishabaseofoperationatCrownPoint.Although
St.LegerwasorderednottoengageinhostilitiesfromCrownPointunlessattacked,thegeneral
wasexpectedtodispatchraidingpartiestowardsLakeGeorge.Withinaweek,St.Legerhad
assembledover900regular,German,NativeAmericanandloyalisttroops.Amongthose
soldiersandunderthecommandofCaptainJessupwerethevolunteersofMcAlpinsCorps.
OnOctober17,1781,St.LegersforcesailedforIlelaMotte.Twodayslater,thesmall
th
armyarrivedatCrownPoint.OnOctober20
,St.LegerdepartedCrownPointandpressed

southwardtowardstheruinsofFortTiconderoga.Oncesecured,loyalistsandrangers
maneuveredtowardstheLakeGeorgelanding.Overthenexttwentyfourhours,provincial
soldiersmovedtheexpeditionsboatsoverlandfromLakeChamplaintoLakeGeorge.
OnOctober24,1781,twohundredandfiveloyalists,sixtylightinfantryandforty
JaegersunderthecommandofCaptainJessupassembledatthefortslandingwithfourteendays
rationsandfiftyroundseach.Atnineoclockintheevening,thedetachmentsailedmost
peaceablythreemiles,landedonasmallisland,builtmanyfiresandwithouttakingtheleast

109

precautionagainstsurprise,sleptundisturbedandpassedthenightthus.280 Aftertwonightson
theisland,Jessupsdetachmentsetsail.
Forunknownreasons,Jessupstoppedatthreeseparateislandsandlitlargesignalfireson
eachoftheislands.Thisaction,coupledwithabrieffirefightwitharebelpatrol,alarmedthe
countryside.Nevertheless,JessupsdetachmentcontinuedoperationsonLakeGeorge
unchecked.AccordingtoSt.Leger,theexpeditionprimarilyfocusedonintelligencegathering
st
betweenStillwaterandSaratogaandestablishingcontactwithlocalMohawks.ByNovember1
,
th
theexpeditionrejoinedSt.LegeratFortTiconderogaandbyNovember4
,theentireforce

withdrewtowardsCrownPoint.Duetosevereweather,theforcedidnotarriveatCrownPoint
th
th
untilNovember8
.ByNovember13
,theexpeditionpassedIleauxNoixandretiredinto

Canada.
WhilethemenofMcAlpinsCorpsweretravellingnorthtoCanada,Haldimandfinally
concludedthatthevariousloyalistunitsleftoverfromtheBurgoynecampaignandstillunderhis
commandhadutterlyfailedintheirrecruitingefforts.OnNovember12,1781,Haldimand
releasedhis
ProposalforFormingtheSeveralCorpsofLoyalists
.Inhisorder,Haldimand
instructedthatJessups,PetersandMcAlpinsCorpsbeamalgamatedintoasinglebattalion
designatedtheLoyalRangers.
Edward
Jessup,Ebenezersbrother,waspromotedtomajorand
placedincommandoftheunit.ThemenandofficersofMcAlpinsCorpsweredispersed
amongstthetencompanies.Insupportofhisdecision,HaldimandassertedHisExcellency...

280

GavinWatt,
ADirtyTriflingPieceofBusiness:Volume1TheRevolutionaryWarasWagedfromCanadain
1781,
(Toronto,2006),384.

110

robustconstitution,hispersonalactivity,meritandexperiencehavingservedlastwar,are
circumstanceswhichrenderhimafitpersontocommandtheabovementionedcorps.281

AswithNairneandMcAlpin,MajorJessupalsostruggledtoclothhistroops.Alittle
morethanamonthafterassumingcommand,JessupcomplainedthemenintheCorpsof
RoyalistsareingreatwantofCloathingandthatIBegHisExcellancywillpleastogiveorders
fortheirbeingissuedofthegreenCloathsasweunderstandthereisasufficientQuantityofthat
sorttoCloaththewholeCorps...CaptSherwoodtellsusthathisCoatisapprovedofasa
patternforouruniformwhichweshallImmetatebutshallneedsomegreenCloathforfacings
(asthePresentfacingsareRed)IthoughtitwouldbebutLittleExpenceifanyRateatenor
DamagedCoatsShouldbeintheStore.282 Tendayslater,JessuporderedTheCaptainsand
CommandingOfficersofCompanysaretoDeliverwithoutdelaytotheActingAdjutantanExact
ReturnoftheirnonCommissionedOfficersDrummersandPrivateMenintheirrespective
th
CompanyforwhosoeveritwillbeNecessaryatPresenttogiveCloathing.283ByFebruary14
,

themajorwasstillsubmittingrequestsforadditionalclothing.284OnFebruary21,1782,Jessup
wasabletoreportthatonlyonehundredandseventyfourgreenregimentalcoatsfacedredhad
beenissuedtohismen.
FollowingtheformationoftheLoyalRangers,thebattalionwastransferredfromSorelto
Verchere,YamaskaandDutchmansPoint.285 TheLoyalRangersdidnotparticipateinanyraids
intoNewYorkandspentmostofitstimegarrisoningtheblockhousesatthesethreeposts.

281

ProposalforFormingtheSeveralCorpsofLoyalists,November12,1781.

EdwardJessuptoCaptainMatthews,January2,1782.
283
JessupsOrderlyBook,January12,1782.
284

JessuptoMatthews,February14,1782.
285
Threelieutenants,ninesergeantsandtwohundredandsixsoldierswerestationedatVerchere.Twoensigns,four
sergeantsandfiftysevensoldiersoccupiedDutchmansPoint.Onelieutenant,fivesergeants,onedrummerand
seventysevensoldiersgarrisonedYamaska.
282

111

However,asJessupcorrectlyreportedweareobligedtokeepupaConstantroundofScouts...
andthatIhavealreadybeenobligedtofurnishseveralofthemen...forSecretServiceand
mustfurnishSeveralMoreSoonornotgetanyScoutingfromthem.286

~13~
Ernestown
Whenpeacewasdeclaredin1783,themostpressingissueforHaldimandwaswhattodo
withthethousandsofloyalistrefugeeswhooccupiedtheQuebecProvince.Manywerewithout
286

Ibid
.

112

clothingandfewhadreceivedsufficientsupplies.287Haldimandcontemplatedaforcedremoval
oftherefugeestopartsunknown.Instead,byJuly1783manyloyalistofficers,including
EdwardJessup,proposedthesettlementoflandsouthwestoftheQuebecProvince.The
suggestionwasquicklyadoptedandlandgrantswereissuedtoloyalistsoldiersandrefugees
alike.
OnSeptember5,1783,Jessupreportedthatmanyofhisrangerswereinterestedin
settlingtractsoflandnorthofOttowa,knowninitiallyastheSecondTownandrenamedin
1784asErnestowninhonorofKingGeorgesfifthsonPrinceErnestAugustus.288 Sixdays
later,aplanofsettlementwasdraftedforJessup.289Surprisingly,theplancalledforsettlements
tobeestablishedforeachcompanyfromtheLoyalRangers.290OnDecember11,1783,the
LoyalRangersweredisbandedanditssoldiersandfamilieswerepermittedtodepartforthe
grantsoflandsissuedtothem.

287

JessuptoMatthews,April12,1783.

JessuptoMatthews,September5,1783.
ThesettlementareaofErnestownalsoincludedtheareaofmodernday
Bath,Ontario,Canada
289

Ibid
.
290

JessuptoMatthews,January29,1784.
288

113

LoyalistEncampmentatJohnson,Ontario1784

ByMay1784GovernorFrederickHaldimandorderedthoseremainingrefugeestovacate
fromtheircampsscatteredaroundQuebecandproceedtoSorel.Uponarrival,theloyalistswere
tobemusteredandprovisionedfortheirvoyagetothenewsettlementsontheCanadianfrontier.
Eachmanandboyovertenwasissuedacoat,waistcoat,breeches,hat,shirt,blanket,shoesand
shoesoles,leggings,andstockings.Womenandgirlsovertenreceivedtwoyardsofwoolen
cloth,fouryardsoflinen,onepairofstockings,ablanket,andshoesoles,whilesmallchildren
qualifiedforoneyardofwoolencloth,twoyardsoflinen,stockings,andshoesoles.Therewas
oneblanketforeverytwochildrenandfivepeopleweretoshareatentandonecookingkettle.291
Farmtools,includinggrainsickles,wereissuedissuedaswell.

SurvivingGrainSickleissuedtoLoyalistsbytheBritishGovernmentin1783.
(WallaceandAreaMuseum,Wallace,NovaScotia)

JohnBarnes,
CaptainJohnBarnestoHaldimand,September24,1784.
Letter.

291

114

FromSorelloyalistswereusheredtoLachinefortransportationtothewest.
Refugees
wereloadedontobatteauxspeciallyconstructedtotraversetherapidsofthewesternStLawrence
River.Theflatbottomedbateauxrangedinsizefromtwentyfivetofortyfeetlongand
accommodatedfourtofivefamiliesandtheirbelongings.Oncethebateauxwereloaded,they
assembledinsquadronsoftwelveandsetout,beingpoweredvariouslybyoars,poles,orsails.
Thetripwasslowandtrying.Rapidsalongthewayforcedthepassengersandtheirbelongings
outofthebatteaux,whichhadtobedraggedandpulledwithropesthroughthechurningwaters.
Winds,currents,andmosquitoesmadethetriplonganduncomfortable.Atnightthepassengers
hadtosleepinmakeshifttentsorbrushhutspitchedbyopenfiresusedforcooking.292
LifeontheCanadianfrontierwasdifficultatbest.Moneywasscarceandmarketsfor
supplieswerealmostnonexistent.ByJune1784,Jessupreportedthatdevelopmentofthe
settlementwasbehindschedule.293 Nevertheless,amonthlater,JustusSherwoodassertedthat
thepeoplehavegotontheirfarms,areuniversallypleased,areemulatingeachothersothat
everylotinthefrontofthethreetownshipsandmanyofthoseinthebacktownshipsare
improvedandthecountrybearsaverypromisingappearance.294 BySeptember,Jessup
informedofficialsthesettlementisgoingonmuchbetterthanheexpectedfromthelatenessof
theseasonandthereductionofprovisions.TheallowancemadebyHisExcellencymadeagreat
changeandthepeopleactwithresolutionandspirit,butittheallowanceisdiscontinuedthey
willbemuchdistressed.295

AnnePowell,
DescriptionofaJourneyfromMontrealtoDetroitin1789
,(1789).

JessuptoMatthews,June24,1784.
294
JustusSherwood,
SherwoodtoMatthews,July23,1784.
Letter.
295

JessuptoMatthews,September8,1784.
292
293

115

ByOctober1784,thedevelopmentofErnestownhadprogressedtothepointJessup
reportedthediscoveryofironoreandproposedtheconstructionofironworks,sawmillsand
cornmills.296 Sevenmonthslater,Jessupreportedthetownsofhissettlementhadgrownlarge
enoughtoincludeoveronethousandmen,womenandchildren.
DuringtheyearsbeforetheWarof1812Ernestowngrewrapidly,partlybecauseofits
locationatthemouthoftheBayofQuinteandpartlybecauseofitsroleasthesupplierof
foodstuffstoKingston.SeveraldecadeslaterthehistorianWilliamCanniffassertedthatinthe
prewarperiodErnestownrivaledevenKingstonitself,inrespecttorapidincreaseofinhabitants,
theestablishmentoftrade,buildingofships,andfromthepresenceofgentlemenofrefinement
andeducation.
IntheyearsfollowingtheAmericanRevolution,thethreatofasecondarmedconflict
withtheUnitedStatesloomed.FearfulthatAmericantroopswouldinvadeCanadaanddrive
loyalistsfromtheirhome,theresidentsofErnestownjoinedneighboringtownsindrafting
From
theInhabitantsofUpperCanadatothePeopleoftheAmericanStates
.Althoughmostofthe
documentdescribedthebrutalityandviolencetheaverageloyalistrefugeefacedduringthe
AmericanRevolutionandreaffirmedtheirloyaltytotheKing,thefinalsentencecorrectly
surmisedthechangedattitudeoftheloyaliststowardstheirAmericancounterpart.Gonewasthe
hopeofreturningtotheirlivesandhomesbeforetheRevolution.Instead,theresidentsof
Ernestownandothertownshipssimplydeclaredwewantnothingofyours.297

296

JessuptoMatthews,October5,1784.

KingstonGazette
,October31,1812.

297

116

AppendixA
MusterRollofJessupsCorpsatPointClair,January24,1777
CaptainEdwardJessup'sCompany
Lieut. PeterDrummond

Privates SamuelPerry

Ensigns

WilliamLamson

ChristopherBennett

WilliamSnyder

GeorgeTuttle

Sergt.
Corp.
Privates

JohnBuel
MartinKelly
James
AmesMore

ThomasLoveless
SilasHamblin
AlexanderMunro
DanielCamron

ThomasBarns

ArchibaldNicholson

JohnMcDonald
JohnSiley
DanielRobertson

SamuelCamron
JohnMaloy
GesporMore

117

JohnMcFarson
JohnPerrey
EbenezerKing
JohnStiles
RobertDickson

PeterMcGregor
AngusCanedy
PeterMcCallum
AbrahamCrozier
WilliamForbes

SimonSnider

ThomasBarton

ZachariahSnider

CaptainJonathanJones'Company
Lieut.
Ensign
Surg.Mate
Sergt.

Corp.
Privates

PeterMcLaren
Privates DanielRose
NeilRobertson

WilliamRogers
SolomonJones

JohnWilliams
FrancisScott

ArmstrongWilliams
JohnDickson

MatthiasRose
CarathBrisbon

PatrickCarrigan
JeremiahMyers

JohnSanders
NicholasAmey

JohnScott
MartinusStover

PeterMaybee
JonasAmey

DavidMiller
PeterLane

AdamEarhart
CaptainEbenezerJessup'sCompany

Lieut.

JosephJessup

DavidJones

Ensign
Sergt.
Corp.
Privates

GeorgeThomasBulsan
PeterCarrigan
JohnGerman
SimonEarhart
JohnMcDonie
RalphSpooner
AbrahamBrown
AdamWaggoner
PeterCarpenter
JeremiahStorms

118

AngusMcCornuch
JohnGamble(d.
30/11/1776)
JohnSea
DuncanCarrigan
SimonShereman
JamesSea
JeremiahSnider
RichardWood
JamesWilson
DuncanCampbell
HiramusLea

AppendixB
ListofLoyalistsRefugeesLivingatMachiche1779
Mrs.Holt
JohnHolt
Mrs.McLaren
Mrs.Naughton
Mrs.Munro
Mrs.Froom

nochildren
anableyoungman
nochildren
3children
1child
2children

Mrs.Shorey

3children

Mrs.Dixon
Mrs.Hamelin
Mrs.Perry
Mrs.Adams
Mrs.Lovelace

2children
2children
8children
4children
7children

Mrs.England

3children

PeterGilchrist

119

(husbandLieut)
(husbandEnsign)
(husbandEnsign)
(husbandartificer)
(husbandsoldierinR.H.
Emigrants)
(Jessup'sCorps)
(Jessup'sCorps)
(Lieut)
(husbandLieut)
(husbandEnsign)
(husbandCap'tMcAlpin's
Corps)
(Labourer)

WilliamFergueson
Mrs.Fergueson
Mrs.Johnson
Mrs.Lee
Mrs.Stover
Mrs.Beatts
Mrs.Amey
Mrs.N.Amey
Mrs.Snyder
Mrs.Hawley
Mr.Hawley
IsaacBriscow
Mrs.Seevot
Mrs.Henderson
Mrs.Grey
Mrs.Moshier
Mrs.French
Mrs.Hard(Hurd)
Mrs.Hard(Hurd)
Mrs.Reddenback
Mrs.Wragg
JosiahCass
Mrs.Cass
Mrs.Robertson

4children
3children
2children
2children
1child
2children
3children
4children

0children
3children
1child
1child
2children
1child
5children
2children
1child
4children
6children

6children
3children

Mrs.Strider

0children

Mrs.Defrige
Mrs.Benedict

6children
1child

Mrs.Hawley

5children

Mrs.Timy

4children

Mrs.Perry
Mrs.Sherman
JeremiahHilliker
Mrs.Hilliker
Mrs.Brown
Mrs.Beech
Mrs.Hopson

3children
5children

0children
2children
3children
0children

Mrs.Brooks

1child

(Labourer)
(Labourer)
(husbandinAdam'sCorps)
(husbandinJessup'sCorps)
(husbandinJessup'sCorps)
(husbandinAdam'sCorps)
(husbandinJessup'sCorps)
(husbandinJessup'sCorps)
(husbandEns.inJessup's)

(Cooper)
(Adam's)
(Peter'sCorps)
(Peter'sCorps)
(husbandinPeter's)
(husbandinPeter's)
(Lieut.inPeter'sCorps)
(husbandinPeter'sCorps)
(husbandinPeter'sCorps)
(Corp'linMcAlpin's)
(husbandprisonerwithrebels)
(Schoolmaster)

(husbandPrivateinAdam's)
(husbandsoldierinSirJohn's
Reg.)
(awidow)
(Adam'sHandmaid)
(husbandinAdam'sCorps
(Lieut)
(husbandinAdam'sCorps
(Lieut)
(husbandinPeter'sCorps)
(husbandinJessup'sCorps)
(nocorps)

(husbandinJessup'sCorps)
(husbandSgt.inPeter'sCorps)
(husbandEnsign)
(husbandCorporalinPeter's
Corps)
120

Mrs.Anderson

1child

Mrs.Lampson

2children

Mrs.Campbell

0children

(husbandCap'tInSirJohn's
Reg.)
(husbandanEnsign)
(husbandEnsigninCap't
McAlpin'sCorps)
(silversmith...nocorps)

Mr.&Mrs.NicholasBrown 0children

AppendixC

StatisticalBreakdownof411777RecruitsofMcAlpinsCorpsofAmericanVolunteersas
Drawnfroma1783MusterRolloftheLoyalRangers
EthnicMakeup
A.12MenfromScotland(30%)
B.6MenfromIreland(15%)
C.1ManfromGermany(2%)
D.1ManfromEngland(2%)
E.21MenfromAmerica(51%)

Ranksin1783
A.2Captains
B.1Lieutenant
C.5sergeants
D.1Corporal
E.32Privates

AgeDistribution
A.Oldest:2men61yearsofage
B.Youngest:1man19yearsofage
121

C.Average:35yearsofage
D.Breakdownofages:
a.Teens:1
b.20's:14
c.30's:14
d.40's:4
e.50's:2
f.60's:3
g.Unknown:3

HeightDistribution:
A.Tallest:twomenatsixfeet
B.Shortest:twomenatfivefeetfourinches
C.Average:5'7"
D.Breakdownofheight:
a.5'4":2
b.5'5":2
c.5'6":6
d.5'7":8
e.5'8":8
f.5'9":3
g.5'10":6
h.5'11:1
i.6':2
j.Unknown:3

CompanyDistributionintheLoyalRangers:
A.CaptainJonathanJones'Company:1Corporal,8privates
B.MajorEdwardJessup'sCompany:2Privates
C.CaptainJohnPeter'sCompany(Invalids):1Sergeant,6privates
D.CaptainWilliamFraser'sCompany:1Captain,1sergeant,5privates
E.CaptainJohnJones'Company:3Privates
F.CaptainPeterDrummond'sCompany:1Captain,1Sergeant,9privates
G.CaptainJustusSherwood'sCompany:1sergeant
H.CaptainThomasFraser'sCompany:1sergeant

122

AppendixD
ReturnoftheOfficersoftheCorpsofLoyalRangers
CommandedbyMajorE.Jessup298

NAME
ORIGIN

MajorEdwardJessupConnecticut

CaptainEbenezerJessupConnecticut

LENGTHOFSERVICE/REMARKS
7years
ServedthelastwaravolunteerintheMilitia,and
thecampaign1759,acompanyof
Provincials,whichheraisedathisownexpense
hasbeenforsomeyearsaJusticeof
thePeacefortheCountyofAlbany,
wherehepossessedaconsiderable
property,untildeprivedofitbythe
laterebellion.
7years
WasaJusticeofthePeacefortheCountyof
Albany,intheProvinceofNewYork,

298

J.F.Pringle,
LunenburghortheOldEasternDistrict
,(Cornwall,1890).

123

wherehepossessedaconsiderable
property,untilhewasdeprivedofit
bytherebellion.Hebegantoraisea
corpsandservedasLieut.Colonelin
thecampaignunderLieut.General
Burgoynein1777fromthatyearhe
receivedpayasacaptain,andowingto
infirmitieswhenthecorpswasagain
formedintheyear1781,hewas
continuedascaptainandthecommand
giventoMajorJessup.

CaptainJohnPetersConnecticut

CaptainJustusSherwoodConnecticut

CaptainJonathanJonesConnecticut

CaptainWilliamFraserScotland

CaptainJohnJonesConnecticut

7years
WasaJusticeofthePeacefortheCountyof
Gloucester,onConnecticutRiver,where
hepossessedproperty.Hebeganto
raiseacorps,andservedunderLieut.
GeneralBurgoyneinthecampaignof
1777asLieut.Colonel,butfromthat
yeartoNovember,1781,hewaspaidas
captain,andfromtheimpossibilityof
hisfillingacorpsandhisown
infirmitieshewascontinuedascaptain
inyeloyalRangers.
7years
Wasafarmerofpropertyinwhatisnow
calledtheNewVermontState,and
deprivedofitbythelaterebellion,
throughwhichhehasbeenbothactive
andzealousinopposingit.
7years
WasaJusticeofthePeacefortheCountyof
Albany,intheProvinceofNewYork,
wherehehadafarm,mills,andother
property,ofwhichhewasdeprivedby
thelaterebellion.
61/2yrs
AfarmerofpropertyintheProvinceof
NewYork,ofwhichhewasdeprivedby
thelaterebellion.
61/2yrs
124

AfarmerofpropertyintheProvinceof
NewYork,whichhewasdeprivedofby
thelaterebellion.

CaptainPeterDrummondScotland

CaptainJohnW.Meyers

NewYork
61/2yrs
AfarmerintheProvinceofNewYork,
ofwhichwithotherpropertytoa
considerableamountlostbythe
rebellion.

CaptainThomasFraserScotland

Lieut.GuisbertSharp

7years
AfarmerofpropertyintheProvinceof
NewYork,ofwhichhewasdeprivedby
thelaterebellion.

NewYork

Lieut.HenrySimmondsNewYork

Lieut.DavidJonesConnecticut

Lieut.JamesParrotBoston

Lieut.Alex'rCampbellNewYork

Lieut.DavidMcFallIreland

Lieut.JohnDulmageIreland

61/2yrs
AfarmerofpropertyintheProvinceof
NewYork,lostbytherebellion.
61/2yrs
AwealthyfarmerinthatProvince,lostby
therebellion.
61/2yrs
AfarmerofpropertyinthatProvince,lost
bytherebellion.
7years
AfarmerofpropertyintheProvinceof
NewYork,lostbytherebellion.
7years
AfarmerofpropertyintheProvinceof
NewYork,lostbytherebellion.
61/2yrs
Awealthyfarmerofsomeconsiderable
propertyinthatProvince,lostby
therebellion.
7years
Wasmanyyearsasergeantinthe26th
Regiment,whereheservedwithcredit.
7years
125

AfarmerofpropertyintheProvinceof
NewYork.

Lieut.GershomFrenchConnecticut

Lieut.GideonAdamsConnecticut

Lieut.JohnRitter

N.Yk.

Lieut.JamesRobinsOldEngland

Lieut.EdwardJessupN.Yk.

EnsignJohnDusenburyN.Yk.

EnsignJohnPetersConnecticut

EnsignElijahBottomConnecticut

61/2yrs
Ayoungmanofsomepropertywhohad
commencedbusinessasamerchantjust
atthebeginningofthetroublein
America.
7years
Ayoungfarmerofproperty.
61/2yrs
AfarmerofpropertyinthatProvince.
61/2yrs
AcountrymerchantintheProvinceof
NewYork.
61/4yrs
MajorJessup'sson,andentirelydependent
onhisfather.
61/2yrs
Awealthyfarmer'ssoninthatProvince.
61/2yrs
SonofCol.Peters,anddependentonhisfather.
61/2yrs
Afarmer'ssoninthatProvince.

EnsignThomasSherwoodConnecticut 41/2yrs
AfarmerintheProvinceofNewYork.

EnsignThomasMannN.Yk.
61/2yrs
SonofagentlemanfarmerinthatProvince.

EnsignHarmoniusBestN.Yk.
61/2yrs
AfarmerofpropertyinthatProvince.

EnsignWilliamLawsonConnecticut 7years
AfarmerintheProvinceofNewYork.

EnsignConradBestN.Yk.
6years
126

AfarmerinthatProvince.

Adjt.MatthewThompsonIreland

Quarter
MasterJohnFergnsonIreland

SurgeonGeorgeSmythIreland

MateSolomonJonesConnecticut

2years
Asergeantmajorinthe31stRegiment,where
HehadservedLinemanyyearsasa
noncommissionedofficerwithcredit.
1year
Asergeantmajorinthe29thRegiment,wherehe
hadservedmanyyearsasanoncommissioned
officerwithcredit.
21/2yrs
AphysicianintheProvinceofNewYork.
7years
StudentofhisprofessioninAlbany,inthe
Proy.ofNewYork.

AppendixE

OnRelationsBetweentheMenandRelatedRefugeesofMcAlpinsCorpsofAmerican
Volunteers,andtheSixNations
OnemysterythatshroudstheProvincialCorpsoftheBurgoyneExpeditionwasitsexact
relationshiptothatoftheNativeAmericansfromtheSixNations299.Itshouldbenotedthat
whenJessupsCorps(KingsLoyalAmericans)andMcAlpinsCorpswerecreated,neither
organizationwasassignedtotheIndianDepartment.Asaresult,onewouldassumethatthe
menandofficersofbothorganizationshadnocontactwithNativeAmericansduringthecourse
ofthewar.However,asoutlinedinthiswork,bothmilitaryunitsengagedinseveraljoint
operationswithwarriorsfromtheSixNations.Suchexamplesincludedthe1777operations

299

TheSixNationsconsistedoftheMohawk,Oneida,Onondaga,Cayuga,SenecaandTuscaroratribes.

127

againstFortTiconderoga,theescortofBurgoynespaychestbacktoFortTiconderogapriorto
hissurrenderandthe1780raidsintoNewYork.
Likewise,onemayassumethatbecausetherewerenoNativeAmericansettlementsinthe
vicinityoftheAlbanyStillwaterregionthatthemenofJessupsCorpsandMcAlpinsCorpshad
littlecontactwiththeSixNationspriortothecommencementoftheAmericanRevolution.
However,researchsuggeststhatontheeveofthewar,manyofthemenofMcAlpinsand
JessupsCorpshadsomeinteractionwiththeSixNations,specificallytheMohawks.Mostof
theseencounterswerelimitedtobusinessdealingswhereNativeAmericansorloyalistswould
traveltoeachothertoengageineconomictrades.LoyalistrecruiterAlexanderMcDonaldand
hisbrotheractivelytradedwiththeMohawkNationpriortotheirflighttoCanada.Daniel
McAlpinssecondincommand,WilliamFraser,apparentlywasfluentintheMohawklanguage
andalsotradedwiththeSixNations.TheJessupbrothersalsohadbusinessdealingwithNative
Americans.SecondarysourcessuggestthatDanielMcAlpinhimselfinteractedandhuntedwith
MohawksonhispropertynearSaratogaLake.
Ofcourse,onemustalsoaskwhetherornotmembertribesoftheSixNationsassisted
loyalistrefugeeswiththeirescapetoCanada.AccordingtoMohawkhistoriansDougGeorge
andDarrenBonaparte,theMohawksdidassistedloyalistsintheirflightnorthonatleastone
occasion.Specifically,orallegendoftheSixNationssuggestswhenrebelssoughttoarrestSir
JohnJohnson,MohawkguidesledhimacrosstheAdirondackMountainstothesettlementof
Akwesasne.Afterwards,MohawksandOnondagasledtheloyalistleadertoMontreal.Whether
Mohawksassistedotherloyalistsfleeingnorthisunknown,butishighlyplausible.

128

AppendixF
TheEnsignJamesMcAlpinAffair
JamesMcAlpinwastheonlysonofDanielandMaryMcAlpin.Bornin1765,hebecame
anensignintheAmericanVolunteersinOctober,1777atthemereageoftwelve.ByJuly,
1780,manyofficersquestionedhisabilityasanofficergivenhisage.Ultimately,thisissuewas
broughttotheattentionofHaldimand.AlthoughthegeneralconcededhowveryyoungaBoy

129

Mr.McAlpineis,300 heinsistedbythetimeheknowsalittleofhisdutyhewillsucceedtoa
lieutenancy.301
McAlpinremainedattherankofensignwiththeAmericanVolunteersuntilDecember1,
1780whenhewasappointedasasecondlieutenantwithDrummondsIndependentCompany.
However,hisperformancewassopoorthatMajorNairneadvisedLieutenantWilliamFraserthat
McAlpinwouldbetransferredtoaloyalistpostatVerechetobeemployedonsomeMilitary
Duty,andalsoinWritingandaccompting.302 Nairnefurthersuggestedthattheyoungofficer
wascompletelyoutofhiselement.[His]timeisquitelostwhilehestayshere&Ibegyoumay
contriveasmuchbusinessforhimaspossible,only(asheisyoung)thathemaynotbeexposed
tomuchfatigue,ortobelostinthe
woods.303
st
In1781,attheageofsixteen,JamesMcAlpinwascommissionedanensigninthe1

BattalionoftheKingsRoyalRegiment.Surprisingly,hewaspostedasthesoleofficeronthe
prisonislandofCoteauduLac.Hewasplacedincommandofthirtysoldiers,ablockhouseand
anunknownnumberofAmericanprisoners.304UnderMcAlpinscommandtheAmerican
prisonersweretreatedverypoorlyandsubjectedtoamultitudeofhumanrightsviolations.
AuthorJ.Fraser,inhiswork
SkulkingfortheKing
,suggestsMcAlpintorturedhisprisoners,
ignoreddeterioratinghealthconditionsanddeprivedthemofbasicnecessities,includingfood,
water,clothingandbedding.

300

HaldimandtoJohnson,Jul27,1780.

Ibid
.
302
NairnetoFraser,May26,1781.
303

Ibid
.
304
GraytoTwiss,October20,1781DeSpethtoHaldimand,October16,1781.
301

130

th
Intheearlysummerof1782,fiveprisonersescapedfromCoteauduLac.OnJune10
,

twooftheescapeeswereapprehendedbyGermansoldiers.Thepoorphysicalandmental
conditionoftheAmericanswasimmediatelyapparent.Thatsameday,theprisonersrecounted
toGermanofficerstheirtreatmentatthehandsofMcAlpin.Inresponse,BrigadierGeneral
ErnstLudwigWilhelmDeSpeth
immediatelyreportedtheincidenttoHaldimand.305Withina
week,theensignwasbroughtbeforeacourtmartial.
OnJuly1,1782,followingthepresentation
ofextensiveevidence,McAlpinwasfoundguiltyofthemostbarbarousandinhumane
treatmentofprisoners. 306Hewasimmediatelydismissedfromservice.Hismilitarycareer
endedattheageofseventeen.
WhyMcAlpinabusedtheprisonersunderhischargeissomewhatunknown.One
potentialmotivatingfactorwaslikelyhisfamilystreatmentatthehandsoftheAmericansback
inNewYork.Anotherpossiblecausewashisfathersfailinghealthandultimatedeath,bothof
whichwerelikelycausedbyDanielMcAlpinbeingforcedtohideincavesandwoodsfrom
patriotforces.Givenhisyoungage,McAlpinalsocouldhavebeeneasilyinfluencedbythe
soldiersunderhiscommand.Manyofthesesoldiershadbeenpreviouslyconvictedandbrutally
punishedforwidespreadcorruptionataMontrealprison.Finally,alackofpropertrainingand
guidancefromhissuperiorsmayhavecontributedtohisactions.
Shortlyafterhisconviction,JamesMcAlpin,aswellashisfoursistersandmother,sailed
forEngland.JamesneverreturnedtoAmerica.Whatbecameofthedisgracedofficerupon
arrivalinEnglandremainsamystery.

305

DeSpethtoHaldimand,June10,1782.
GeneralOrdersofHaldimand,Quebec,July15,1782.

306

131

Index
th
24
RegimentofFoot,62,68
th
29
RegimentofFoot,21,95
th
34
RegimentofFoot,85,96
AfricanAmericanloyalists,7,80

132

Albany,6,10,12,24,25,26,28,29,32,33,34,35,36,37,40,41,42,43,52,53,54,55,61,63,
65,67,69,71,95,112,113,115,116
AlexanderFraser,59,61
AlexanderMcDonald,12,32,49,116
AlidaVanAlstine,56
AmericanVolunteers.
See
McAlpin'sCorpsofAmericanVolunteers
AndrewOliver,10,14
Anglicans,8
BalcarresRedoubt,67,69
BattleofGoldenHill,21
BenjaminPickman,8
BenningWentworth
,27
Boston,9,11,12,16,17,18,19,21,22,23,114
BostonPortBill,23
BreymannsRedoubt,69
CadwaladerColden,16
CharlesTownshend,18
CommitteeofSafety,26
Congregationalists,8
ConradGugy,78,79
CorpsofLoyalists,39,84,93,100
CrownPoint
,28,29,34,35,36,41,60,90,96,98,99
DanielClaus,80
DanielFraser,74
DanielMcAlpin,27,32,38,39,40,41,52,61,63,65,75,79,85,86,88,90,116,119
DeclarationofIndependence,12,35
DotheStone,46
EastIndiaCompany,22
EbenezerJessup,11,27,34,35,37,63,64,65,71,72,85,93,107,112
EdwardJessup,34,37,40,59,61,63,71,93,94,100,102,106,111,112,114
ElizabethCaryWilstee,51
ElizabethMunroFischer,72,73
Ernestown,102,104,105
EthanAllen
,30
femesole
,46,47,49
FortEdward
,28,30,41,43,58,60,61,62,63,64,96
FrancesChild,48,49
FrederickHaldimand,32,37,39,65,77,78,82,97,103
GeorgeGrenville,13
GuyCarleton,11,34,35,36,37,38,39,40,64,82,86,89,95,96,97
HampshireGrants,7,27,28,29,30,33,56,57,60
HenryWatsonPowell,57,75
Housing,78
HughMunro,63,64,73,84,91
IlelaMotte,99
133

IleauxNoix,89,90,95
IsaacSmith,8
JamesandAlexanderRobertson,26
JamesGordon,42
JamesMcAlpin
,118,120
JamesVanDriesen,95,97
JeremiahFrench,55
JessupsCorps,37,38,39,40,59,60,63,87,106,116
JohannSpecht,72
JohnAmory,8,10
JohnBurgoyne
Burgoyne,59,62,65,66
JohnF.Luzader,69
JohnHolt,16,108
JohnMontresor
,28
JohnNairne,91,92
JohnPowell,85
JonathanJones,37,63,106,111,113
JonathanSewell,5
JosephBeaty,67
JosephHooper,10
JustusSherwood,12,104,111,113
KingGeorgeIII,12,60
KingsRangers,95,96
KingsRoyalRegiment,36,38,89,95,118
King'sLoyalAmericans,11,37,89
LaurelThatcherUlrich,47
LoyalRangers,74,100,101,102,110,111,112
Machiche,78,79,81,82,108
MajorGray,37,38,40
MaryMcAlpin,52,53,91,118
MaryMunro,53,54,57
McAlpinsCorpsofAmericanVolunteers
McAlpin'sCorps,7,32,84,89,91,97,110,116
Montreal,38,44,56,77,80,104,117,120
MountIndependence,61,97
MunrosCompany,63,65
NativeAmerican,7,13,56,60,98,116
NewYorkCity,11,16,19,20,29,30,54,56,68
Oneidas,56
OtterCreek,60,61
PaulR.Huey
,30
PeterDrummond,34,65,106,111,113
PetersQueensLoyalRangers,89
PontiacsRebellion,13
134

Quebec,5,9,10,32,36,39,57,77,82,83,84,86,93,102,103,119
QuebecActof1774,9
RichardCartwright,24,30,57,74,76
RichardSaltonstall,5
RobertCochran
,29
RobertMatthews,79,84
RobertRogers,88
RomanCatholics,6,9,25
RoyalHighlandEmigrants,10,39,49,91
SamuelAdams,14
SamuelCurwen,5,11
SamuelSeabury,11
Sandemanians,9
SarahMcginnis
,51
SaratogaCreek,71,72
SirJohnJohnson,5,36,37,79,80,85,89,90,95,117
Sorel,39,79,81,84,86,87,88,97,98,101,103
StampActof1765,13
StephenDeLancy,82
SugarActof1764,13
TeaAct,22
TheBostonMassacre,21
TheTownshendActs,18
ThomasAnbury,62,63
ThomasHutchinson,10,14,15,23
Ticonderoga,59,60,75,76,87,96,99,116
ToryCommittee,25
TyrannisCollins,41
WalterSutherland,89
WilliamBlackstone,44,45
WilliamBolts,26
WilliamEdmeston,32
WilliamFraser,42,43,62,111,113,116,118
WilliamTryon
,29
WilliamWoolton,10,18,19
WritofAssistancecase,11

135