CLAIM OF ALEXANDER McDONALD AS A RESULT OF THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR, 1776-1783
Moores Creek Bridge. In North Carolina the Tories were slow in amassing the men and supplies needed for an attempt to restore British rule. Royal Governor Josiah Martin had been forced to take refuge in a vessel stationed off the coast and from that inconvenient position he endeavored to coordinate the counterrevolutionary uprising. By late February 1776, both sides were marching toward Wilmington but before either could reach it they met at Moores Creek Bridge, where on 27 February, patriots overwhelmingly defeated loyalists in a particularly bloody battle. Source: Pg. 377 North Carolina Research & Genealogy and Local History, Second Edition, by Helen F.M.Leary, C.G., F.A.S.G. Editor Josiah Martin, Governor, took oaths of office August 1771 [Abdicated and took refuge on board the Cruizer sloop of War in Cape Fear River, Aug. 1775. Source: Raleigh Standard & Fayetteville Observer Wed., Feb. 14, 1838
CLAIM OF ALLEN McDONALD
Source: 'Miscellaneous Ancient Records of Moore County, North Carolina' by Rassie Wicker - 1971
McDonald, Allen To the Honorables, the Commissioners appointed by act of Parliament to enquire into the losses and services of all such persons who have suffered in their rights, properties, and possessions during the late unhappy dissentions in America in consequence of their loyalty to His Majesty and attachment to the British Government &c.,&c.,&c., The Memorial of Allen McDonald of Kingsborough, Captain in His Majesty's late 84th Regiment of Foot, Humbly Sheweth That he is a native of North Britain, and in the Autumn of the year 1774, embarked from there for the Province of North Carolina, in America, and soon after his arrival there he purchased two several plantations and remained in the province until the late rebellion in the colonies had so generally spread in that part of the country where he dwelt, as to oblige everyone to join or oppose it. In this situation, it was judges best to raise and arm the Highlanders, who were numerous and well affected to his Majesty's Government, and to endeavour to check the progress of the Rebel there. In this enterprise your memorialist zealously engaged, with his family and dependents, but soon after, in March, 1776, in the unfortunate affair at Moore's Creek, when the Highlanders were defeated by General Caswell, taken prisoner, stript of his whole property, including the clothes he then word, and marched from gaol to gaol through the country until he was at last lodged in the new prison at Philadelphia. In August, 1777 he was exchanged and sent to New York, having a company given him in the 84th, or Royal Highland Emigrants. He had also the honour to command an hundred men, Gentlemen Volunteers, of good property from North Carolina, who were then in new York, in which command he continued, with the approbation of the commander in chief until he, this memorialist was ordered to join his regiment in Nova Scotia in October, 1778, with which he did duty until its reduction in October last. This memorialist begs leave further to represent that the annexed schedule of account of losses sustained by him in consequence of the part he took in the late rebellion, is as exact as he is now able to make it. That his sufferings and services are well known to officers and others of the Kings servants and subjects, and that the value of the estates and property which have been taken from him by the rebels, and the various experiences he was put to in North Carolina for His Majesty's service will, he trusts, be satisfactorily proved. He therefore humbly prays that the Honorable Commissioners would be pleased to take the same into consideration, and so report thereon, as that he may be deemed adequate to his losses, sufferings and service. And as duty bound, will ever pray Allen McDonald Halifax, January 3, 1784
The memorial and schedule annexed are laid before the Honorable Commissioners by the memorialist's
agent, in order to obtain a hearing, against the arrival of the memorialist from Nova Scotia, who
will be able to produce such evidence and deeds to support his claim, as will give every satisfaction
to them. Alexander McDonald
No. 1369
Capt. Allen McDonald Memorial late of the 84th Reg't.
Received 12, March, 1784
Mr. Alexander McDonald, his Attorney,
No. 48 Lombard St.
An estimate of the losses sustained by Capt. Allen McDonald of the late 84th Regiment of
Foot, in North Carolina, for his loyalty and Attachment to his King and the British Nation
during the late Rebellion.
No. 1.
To two plantations containing four hundred seventy-five acres of which fifty acres were
cleared and in cultivation, and two houses on them 400
To a grist mill on a good run of water, and in excellent condition 150
To horses and cattle upon the plantation 250
To a variety of articles plundered out of his house 150
To the services of five men servants under indenture for three years each 100
To services of three women under indenture for three years each 36
1086
To the Honorable
The Commissioners appointed by Act of Parliament for enquiring into the losses
and sufferings of the American Loyalists.The Memorial of Allen McDonald, late
of the Province of North Carolina Humbly sheweth That the memorialist, with his
family, went from Highlands of Scotland in 1773, for North Carolina where he
purchased two plantations in Anson County, on which he lived comfortably 'till
March, 1776, when the Rebellion was visibly making its appearance, and as your
memorialist's principles from his infancy were always adherent to his King and
country (he having in 1745, served as a Lieutenant of an Independent Company of
Highlanders under the Duke of Cumberland and Lord Loudon, without benefit of half
pay when reduced) he and a few more, by powers and commissions from the Governor,
Josiah Martin, Esq., raised the Highlanders Etc. of North Carolina to the number
of 1500 fighting men, the one half of them not being armed, were unfortunately,
by an accident, discomfited at Moore's Creek by General Caswell at the head of
2000 riflemen, when many of the Highlanders, with some officers were killed and
wounded, and a great number taken prisoners, among then later was your memorialist,
who had the honour of commanding that day, the unfortunate; he was thereafter sent
from gaol to gaol, until at last confined in Philadelphia goal, being seventeen
months and twelve days in the hands of his enemies, with his son, Lieut. Alexander
McDonald, who was afterwards lost in his passage going to England for the benefit
of his health, being very much reduced by active service under Sir Henry Clinton.
His other son, James, made his escape from Moore's Creek, and served a lieutenant
in the legion under Col. Tarleton to the end of the war.
And to add to your memorialist's misery and misfortune, his third son Captain Ronald
McDonald of the Marines, was lost in the Laveil de Paris, having served under Lords
Rodney and Hood all the time of their Glorious Victory. On the whole, your memorialist
expects that the Honorable Board of Commissioners will look to and commiserate the
misfortunes of old (sic) Gentleman, worn out with fatigue and service and who lost
the strength of his family in the cause of King and Country, and his estates, the
only means of supporting himself and old wife and daughter in his latter days.
And, as looking after some recompenses for his losses on Government Service in America,
the only inducement which brought him over, he wishes as soon as possible to return and
cultivate and cut down on his Regimental Grant of lands, where he has already built a
little, neat hutt, and cleared a few acres of ground, but was obliged to give up his
improvements for want of cash, which hurt him much, as he has no other place of residence
or abode.
That the losses, actually sustained by your memorialist in consequence of the premises,
are stated in the annexed schedule, property of which he is totally deprived of, by
several confiscation laws now in force in the State of North Carolina.
To the value of my large plantation, containing four hundred seventy-
five acres of which seventy were cleared and in cultivation, which
three good orchards of peach and apple and other fruits, the grants
extant 300.
To the value of dwelling house, with barn, keeping house, kitchen,
stable and crib for holding Indian corn. 80.
To a grist mill in a good run of water, by permission of assembly, the
yearly income of which keeped the whole family in bread. 120.
To the value of my little plantation of fifty acres, of which thirty
were cleared land and in cultivation, with a good orchard of peaches,
apples, and other fruits, including a farm house, barn and crib. 110.
To the value of horses robbed and taken of both plantations 96.
To the service of five indented men servants, three years of
their time being unexpired. 150.
To the services of three women servants, three years of their
time being unexpired 45.
To the amount of the value of books, plate and furniture plundered
by the enemy. 500.
By amount of sundrie articles saved by Mrs. McDonald of above effects 40 460.
1341.
Your memorialist therefore prays that his case may be taken into consideration
in order that your memorialist may be enables, under your report, to receive
such compensation as his losses and sufferings may be found to deserve, and in
the meantime, having not wherewith to support himself here for any time, his
finance being very low, he begs and prays the Honorable Commissioners will look
with sympathy on his present distressed case by giving him a speedy hearing and
examination, so as to return to Nova Scotia as soon as possible. Allen McDonald1369
Memorial
Captain Allen McDonald late of the 84th Regiment
No. 70 Castle Street
Oxford Street
To the Honorable, the Treasury Board
The Memorial of Allen McDonald, of the Province of North Carolina Humbly Sheweth
That your Memorialist went to America in 1773 and purchased two plantations in
Anson County, on which he and his family lived comfortably till the summer of 1776,
when the Rebellion appeared in different parts of the Province. Your Memorialist,
whose principles were always steady to King and Country with the assistance of a
few more, appointed a meeting of the leading Highlanders, when it was determined
your Memorialist should wait on Josiah Martin, Esq. Governor, and inform him that
the Highlanders were ready and willing to obey his orders and command. This he
executed, 'tho with some danger, two partys being sent out from Wilmington to
intercept him on his way to Fort Johnson, on the mouth of the river Cape Fear,
where the Governor then was.
Having fixed the place of the rising of the Highlanders; different meetings were
held with the Regulators, Country Born Highlanders, when it was determined to rise
in arms and join the Governor. Twelve-hundred Highlanders, and about three hundred
Regulators met and marched from Cross Creek, the one half of the whole not being
armed, were (be accident) discomfited at Moore's Creek by General Caswell at the
head of two thousand riflemen, wherein a number of Highlanders were killed and
wounded, and many made prisoners. Your memorialist, who had the honour of commanding
that day, tho' unfortunate, was, with his son and three indentured servants were
among the prisoners, being deprived of their arms, baggage, horses, money, &c., &c.
Your memorialist, with Lieutenant Alexander McDonald, his son (who was afterward
lost on his passage to England for the benefit of his health which was much impaired
by constant Light Infantry service in New York &c.) were sent from gaol to gaol until
at last, closely continued in Philadelphia Gaol, having remained seventeen months
and twelve days in the hands of their enemies. His other son, James, made his escape,
and served as a Lieutenant in the Legion under Colonel Tarleton to the end of the
American War. Your Memorialist, being exchanged, on his arrival at New York, raised
a company of eighty six volunteer gentlemen from Virginia and Carolina, with whom he
did duty, without pay, for twelve months, and with General Robertson's approbation,
delivered the company to a young gentleman whom he appointed to their command; when
your memorialist joined his regiment of Royal Highland Emigrants in Nova Scotia.
This, General Robertson's letter of thanks will attest. But what added to the utter
misery of your memorialist was the loss of his third son, Capt Ronald McDonald, of
the Marines, in the Laville de Paris, having served all the time of the war under
Lords Rodney and Hood.
On the whole, your memorialist hopes the Right Honorable Board will consider the
contents of the annexed schedule, being money expended and value lost by an old,
worn out officer in the service of his King and Country, lost the comfort and
strength of his old age, his estate; his all, and an old wife, a daughter and
himself to support, with only a very small income, this money would contribute
to make his living easy in his old age, and now in reduced and infirm state he
is in, having neither dwelling place nor abode but Regimental Grant of lands on
the River Kennetcock, in Nova Scotia, where he has a little neat Hutt, and cleared
a few acres last summer, means soon to return, had the money to carry out his
improvements which he was obliged to give up last October for want of cash.
Schedule
To the value of 9 stands of arms purchased from Messrs Marshall and
George Milln, both merchants of Cross both @ 3.10.0. each 31.10. 0
To silver mounted riffle bought of Mr. George Milln 9. 9. 0
To Caleb Tulishstones's riffle 7. 0. 0
To cask of rum bo't of Mr. Gillis at Cross Creek for the use of the
Highlanders on the expedition. 7. 10. 0
To the value of five horses taken from me and two sons, when made
Prisoners after the engagement the Highlanders had with Gen'l Caswell
at Moore's creek, with two batt horses included 85. 10. 0
To my own family arms, including my three indentured servants' arms 42. 9. 6
To blankets, shoes and shirts purchased and given to the common Highlanders 18. 9. 4
To my own and two sons' baggage, with saddles &c., being robbed of
everything but barely as we stood 58. 0. 0
To expenses at different meetings with the Regulators and Highlanders &c.
and money given to different expresses. 11. 15. 1
299. 12. 1
Your memorialist therefore prays that his case may be taken into your consideration
and your memorialist as in duty bound, will every pray. Allen McDonald
London, 8 Jan., 1785Return to What's New in Richmond County