Dunbrack Family History - Person Sheet
Spouses
BurialPioneer Cemetery, Middle Muquodoboit Nova Scotia, Canada3
Misc. Notes
(1) Immigrated in 1775 and served in the 2nd Battalion, Royal Highland Regiment, under Colonel Small189. Received two grants, one at Little River (Elderbank) and one at Meagher’s Grant.
(2) In the National Archives of Canada: Microfilm Reel No. B-2867 (MG 11, W.O. 28/10), page 276 War Office Records: List of Soldiers of the 2nd Battalion of the King's Royal Regiment of New York Harbor where they were enlisted:
Alexander McDougall (Notice other spelling) Age 29 From North Britain Year of Record: 1783
(3) From Jennie Reid’s book:
Alexander MacDougall was discharged from the Second Battalion of the Royal Highland Regiment, commanded by Colonel Small. Alexander along with other members of this battalion who were settled in Halifax and Hants Counties, received two Grants; one at Meagher's Grant and one at Little River, now Elderbank. On the latter, he made a home for his parents whom he brought out from Scotland. Two brothers came as well but went on to Upper Canada. A sister Catherine, married John Dunbrack of Meagher's Grant. Alexander married Catherine MacDonald of Kennetcook.
(4) In Meacham's "History of Pictou County, Nova Scotia:, he states the following: (capitalized words that are important to Alexander's battalion)
"The arrival of another band of settlers must be briefly mentioned, who first occupied the upper settlements of East River. These belonged to the 84th regiment, known at that time as the Royal Highland Emigrants. It consisted of TWO battalions originally embodied in the year 1775, though not numbered as the 84th till the year 1778, when each battalion of men was raised to 1000 men. Their uniform was the full Highland garb, with purses made of raccoon instead of badgers' skins. The officers wore the broadsword and dirk, and the men a half-basket sword. The first battalion was raised among the discharged men of the 42d Frasers and Montgomerys - Highlanders who had settled in Canada or the old colonies at the peace of 1763. 1t was stationed at Quebec under the command of Colonel Allan McLean, where it did good service in defence of that post, and was thus the principal means of preserving the province to the British crown.
THE OTHER BATTALION (the 2nd) was raised principally among immigrants arriving in the United States or Nova Scotia (from 2 ships (see below)). At the time the war broke out, a large number were on their way from Scotland to settle in various parts of the old colonies. In some instances the vessels were boarded by a man of war before arrival. After arrival they were induced, partly by threats and partly by persuasion, to enlist for the war, which was expected to be of short duration. They were not only in poverty, but many were in debt for their passage, and they were now told that by enlisting they would have their debts paid, have plenty of food as well as full pay, and would receive for each head of a family 200 acres of land, and 50 more for each child, "as soon as the present unnatural rebellion is suppressed," while, in the event of refusal, there presented the alternative of going to jail to pay their debts. Under these circumstances, most of the able-bodied enlisted, in some instances fathers and sons serving together. Their wives and children were brought to Halifax, hearing the cannon of Bunker Hill on their passage.
This battalion was under the command of COLONEL SMALL."
(5) by Dr. William Mackay's Urquhart and Glenmoriston (1893)
Extract of a letter from Fort William, Sept. 14, 1775:
"We have no news in this country; only yesterday sailed, the ship Jupiter, from Dunstaffuage Bay with about 200 emigrants on board, for North Carolina, mostly from the country of Appin in Argyleshire. Though formerly among the first to take up arms against the reigning family, they now declare their readiness to support government in case they find it necessary on their arrival in America.- This day likewise will sail the ship Glasgow, with emigrants from the port of Fort-William, bound for New York.
Sep 4, 1775 -The ship Glasgow leaves Fort William, Scotland, with 251 emigrants aboard. In the meantime, the following order has been issued. "Royal Highland Emigrants - Orders to Raise a Corps" By His Excellency The Honorable Thomas GAGE General and Commander in Chief of all His Majesty's Forces in North America. To Lieutenant Colonel Allan MACLEAN You are hereby empowered with the Officers under your command by Beat of Drum or otherwise to enlist for His Majesty's Service, in any of His Provinces of North America, such Highlanders or such other Loyal Subjects, as you may be able to procure, to be formed into a Corps of TWO Battalions, to be paid as His Majesty'' other Regiments of Foot, and to receive Fifty Shillings Bounty.
Oct 31, 1775 - It is the beginning of the American War. The Ship "Glasgow" arrives off New York City harbour, is boarded and turned away by the ship HMS Asia under the command of Captain George Vandeput. After sitting in the harbour for 30 days, the ship is renamed "The Glasgow Packet" and is sent on to Boston by city officials acting on Admiral Graves's orders.
The passengers were given the option of going to prison or joining the British Army (as a group).
After 4-6 weeks of sitting onboard the Glasgow, all the passengers agree to join the British Army for 'the duration' of the American conflict. The men were given full rations and promises of land (in America) after the war ended. The women received 1/2 rations and children under 16 received 1/4 rations. The were all garrisoned at Fort Edward, Windsor, Nova Scotia.
The war rages for 8 years and these unfortunate (or fortunate) highlanders have now spent 8 years in the service of the (2nd Battalion) 84th Royal Highland Emigrant Regiment.....
(The 1st Battalion remained in Canada notably in the defence of Quebec while detachments of the 2nd Battalion saw service in Virginia and South Carolina, taking part in the Battle of Eutaw Springs and the British surrender at Yorktown.)
The Order for the Day for October 7th, 1783, of Brigadier General Fox, Head of the Forces in Nova Scotia, announced that the 84th Regiment of Foot or Royal Highland Emigrants would be disbanded on the 10th of October 1783 at Windsor, Nova Scotia. On that date a muster was taken, a copy of which is now in the Public Record Office, London; reference number W.O.12-8806.
In the Crown Land Office. Halifax, Nova Scotia, is a " General List and Returns" of the different companies of the 2nd Battalion of His Majesty's 84th Regiment as they stood when disbanded in Windsor, Nova Scotia, in October 1783 specifying, among other things, those who meant to avail themselves of the offer of Crown Land in Nova Scotia. A blanket grant of some 105,000 acres of "Crown Land" (or wild, ungranted land owned and controlled by the government) in what, in 1968, is Hants County, Nova Scotia. and covering what are now the districts of Nine Mile River, Gore, and Kennetcook, was made to the COLONEL SMALL of the 84th Regiment in trust for himself and the officers and men under him."
(6) Alexander, Catherine, and their two brothers must have been on either the ships Jupiter or Glasgow. Jupiter was heading toward North Carolina on Sept. 3, 1775 from Dunstaffnage Bay, Scotland and all the passengers were from Appin or Argyleshire. If they were on the Glasgow, which seems more likely, the account above shows that on Oct. 7, 1783 a muster was taken, a copy of which is now in the Public Record Office, London; reference number W.O.12-8806. Either way, Alexander only received land after the Battalion disbanded, and that means that his parents must have come over after 1783 in order to live on the land he set aside for them.
Research by Miguel Labrego, 2005.188
(2) In the National Archives of Canada: Microfilm Reel No. B-2867 (MG 11, W.O. 28/10), page 276 War Office Records: List of Soldiers of the 2nd Battalion of the King's Royal Regiment of New York Harbor where they were enlisted:
Alexander McDougall (Notice other spelling) Age 29 From North Britain Year of Record: 1783
(3) From Jennie Reid’s book:
Alexander MacDougall was discharged from the Second Battalion of the Royal Highland Regiment, commanded by Colonel Small. Alexander along with other members of this battalion who were settled in Halifax and Hants Counties, received two Grants; one at Meagher's Grant and one at Little River, now Elderbank. On the latter, he made a home for his parents whom he brought out from Scotland. Two brothers came as well but went on to Upper Canada. A sister Catherine, married John Dunbrack of Meagher's Grant. Alexander married Catherine MacDonald of Kennetcook.
(4) In Meacham's "History of Pictou County, Nova Scotia:, he states the following: (capitalized words that are important to Alexander's battalion)
"The arrival of another band of settlers must be briefly mentioned, who first occupied the upper settlements of East River. These belonged to the 84th regiment, known at that time as the Royal Highland Emigrants. It consisted of TWO battalions originally embodied in the year 1775, though not numbered as the 84th till the year 1778, when each battalion of men was raised to 1000 men. Their uniform was the full Highland garb, with purses made of raccoon instead of badgers' skins. The officers wore the broadsword and dirk, and the men a half-basket sword. The first battalion was raised among the discharged men of the 42d Frasers and Montgomerys - Highlanders who had settled in Canada or the old colonies at the peace of 1763. 1t was stationed at Quebec under the command of Colonel Allan McLean, where it did good service in defence of that post, and was thus the principal means of preserving the province to the British crown.
THE OTHER BATTALION (the 2nd) was raised principally among immigrants arriving in the United States or Nova Scotia (from 2 ships (see below)). At the time the war broke out, a large number were on their way from Scotland to settle in various parts of the old colonies. In some instances the vessels were boarded by a man of war before arrival. After arrival they were induced, partly by threats and partly by persuasion, to enlist for the war, which was expected to be of short duration. They were not only in poverty, but many were in debt for their passage, and they were now told that by enlisting they would have their debts paid, have plenty of food as well as full pay, and would receive for each head of a family 200 acres of land, and 50 more for each child, "as soon as the present unnatural rebellion is suppressed," while, in the event of refusal, there presented the alternative of going to jail to pay their debts. Under these circumstances, most of the able-bodied enlisted, in some instances fathers and sons serving together. Their wives and children were brought to Halifax, hearing the cannon of Bunker Hill on their passage.
This battalion was under the command of COLONEL SMALL."
(5) by Dr. William Mackay's Urquhart and Glenmoriston (1893)
Extract of a letter from Fort William, Sept. 14, 1775:
"We have no news in this country; only yesterday sailed, the ship Jupiter, from Dunstaffuage Bay with about 200 emigrants on board, for North Carolina, mostly from the country of Appin in Argyleshire. Though formerly among the first to take up arms against the reigning family, they now declare their readiness to support government in case they find it necessary on their arrival in America.- This day likewise will sail the ship Glasgow, with emigrants from the port of Fort-William, bound for New York.
Sep 4, 1775 -The ship Glasgow leaves Fort William, Scotland, with 251 emigrants aboard. In the meantime, the following order has been issued. "Royal Highland Emigrants - Orders to Raise a Corps" By His Excellency The Honorable Thomas GAGE General and Commander in Chief of all His Majesty's Forces in North America. To Lieutenant Colonel Allan MACLEAN You are hereby empowered with the Officers under your command by Beat of Drum or otherwise to enlist for His Majesty's Service, in any of His Provinces of North America, such Highlanders or such other Loyal Subjects, as you may be able to procure, to be formed into a Corps of TWO Battalions, to be paid as His Majesty'' other Regiments of Foot, and to receive Fifty Shillings Bounty.
Oct 31, 1775 - It is the beginning of the American War. The Ship "Glasgow" arrives off New York City harbour, is boarded and turned away by the ship HMS Asia under the command of Captain George Vandeput. After sitting in the harbour for 30 days, the ship is renamed "The Glasgow Packet" and is sent on to Boston by city officials acting on Admiral Graves's orders.
The passengers were given the option of going to prison or joining the British Army (as a group).
After 4-6 weeks of sitting onboard the Glasgow, all the passengers agree to join the British Army for 'the duration' of the American conflict. The men were given full rations and promises of land (in America) after the war ended. The women received 1/2 rations and children under 16 received 1/4 rations. The were all garrisoned at Fort Edward, Windsor, Nova Scotia.
The war rages for 8 years and these unfortunate (or fortunate) highlanders have now spent 8 years in the service of the (2nd Battalion) 84th Royal Highland Emigrant Regiment.....
(The 1st Battalion remained in Canada notably in the defence of Quebec while detachments of the 2nd Battalion saw service in Virginia and South Carolina, taking part in the Battle of Eutaw Springs and the British surrender at Yorktown.)
The Order for the Day for October 7th, 1783, of Brigadier General Fox, Head of the Forces in Nova Scotia, announced that the 84th Regiment of Foot or Royal Highland Emigrants would be disbanded on the 10th of October 1783 at Windsor, Nova Scotia. On that date a muster was taken, a copy of which is now in the Public Record Office, London; reference number W.O.12-8806.
In the Crown Land Office. Halifax, Nova Scotia, is a " General List and Returns" of the different companies of the 2nd Battalion of His Majesty's 84th Regiment as they stood when disbanded in Windsor, Nova Scotia, in October 1783 specifying, among other things, those who meant to avail themselves of the offer of Crown Land in Nova Scotia. A blanket grant of some 105,000 acres of "Crown Land" (or wild, ungranted land owned and controlled by the government) in what, in 1968, is Hants County, Nova Scotia. and covering what are now the districts of Nine Mile River, Gore, and Kennetcook, was made to the COLONEL SMALL of the 84th Regiment in trust for himself and the officers and men under him."
(6) Alexander, Catherine, and their two brothers must have been on either the ships Jupiter or Glasgow. Jupiter was heading toward North Carolina on Sept. 3, 1775 from Dunstaffnage Bay, Scotland and all the passengers were from Appin or Argyleshire. If they were on the Glasgow, which seems more likely, the account above shows that on Oct. 7, 1783 a muster was taken, a copy of which is now in the Public Record Office, London; reference number W.O.12-8806. Either way, Alexander only received land after the Battalion disbanded, and that means that his parents must have come over after 1783 in order to live on the land he set aside for them.
Research by Miguel Labrego, 2005.188