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To find the origin of the
Scotch-Irish Presbyterian settlements in Virginia and North Carolina, we
must go back to Scotland and Ireland in the times of Elizabeth and her
successor, James. Elizabeth found Ireland a source of perpetual trouble.
The complaints from the ill-fated island were numerous, and met little
sympathy at the court of England; right or wrong, Ireland must submit to
English laws, and English governors, and English ministers of religion;
and last, though not least in the estimation of the Irish, the English
language was, under sanction of law, about to supplant the native
tongue, and the last work of subjugation inflicted on that devoted
people.
The Reformation in
England had been accomplished partly by the piety and knowledge of the
people at large under the guidance of the ministers of religion, and
partly by the authority of the despotic Henry and his no less despotic
daughter. The tyranny of the crown for once harmonized with the desires
of that great body of the people so commonly overlooked, and even in
this case entirely unconsulted; it pleased Henry to will what the people
desired. In Ireland the Reformation was commenced by royal authority,
and carried on as a state concern; the majority of the nobility and
common people, as well as the ministers of religion, being entirely
opposed to the designs of the sovereign, their wishes were as little
consulted as the desires of the people of England. The chief agent
employed in this work was George Brown, consecrated Archbishop of
Dublin, March 19th, 1535. Immediately after his consecration be
proceeded to Ireland, and in conference with the principal nobility and
clergy, required them to acknowledge the king's supremacy. They stoutly
refused, withdrew from the metropolis, and sent messengers to Rome to
apprise the Pope of the proceedings. In May, 1536, a parliament was
assembled for the purpose of taking measures for acknowledging the
king's supremacy in religion, he being considered head of the church in
England and Ireland instead of the Pope of Rome. The principal argument
of the archbishop was, "He that will not pass this act as I do, is no
true subject to his majesty:" this prevailed, and the king was
proclaimed head of the church, and all appeals to Rome forbidden.
Commotions and bloodshed followed the order for the removal of the
images, which was made in 1538; and as the people and clergy were
strongly in their favor, the order was evaded.
The first book printed in
Ireland was the Liturgy, in 1551, by Humphrey Powell. In 1556 John Dale
imported the Bible from England, and in less than two years sold seven
thousand, being excited to make trial of the sale of Bibles by the
avidity of the people to read the present sent over by the Archbishop of
York, a Bible to each of the two cathedrals, to be kept in the centre of
the choirs, open for public perusal.
Henry found the Irish a
source of vexation, and delivered to his children the inheritance of a
restless, dissatisfied people. Elizabeth pursued the policy of her
father, with his vigor, and subdued Ireland to the laws, and ostensibly
to the religious rites of England, and delivered it. to James I., in
1603, pacified as she hoped, and as James fondly yet vainly imagined.
The few privileges that were left to the Catholics were used by the
priests and nobility to promote rebellion, and aggravate James, who had
opposed the Catholic forms more from political interest than religious
scruples. A conspiracy formed by the Earls of Tyrconnell and Tyrone, of
the province of Ulster, against the government of James, in the second
year of his reign, in expectation of aid from the courts of France and
Spain, was discovered in time to prevent its execution. The earls fled,
and left their estates to the mercy of the king. Soon after, another
rebellion or insurrection raised by O'Dogherty was crushed, its leader
slain, and another large portion of the province reverted to the crown.
In consequence of these and other forfeitures, nearly the whole of six
counties in the province of Ulster, embracing about half a million of
acres, were placed at the disposal of James. This province had been the
chief seat of disturbances during the time of Elizabeth, and was Iast
becoming desolate or barbarous. With the hopes of securing the peace of
this hitherto the most turbulent part of his kingdom, James determined
to introduce colonies from England and Scotland, that by disseminating
the Reformed faith he might promote the loyalty of Ireland. In the
fulfilment of this design he planted those colonies from which, more
than century afterwards, those emigrations sprung, by which western
Virginia and the Carolinas were in a great measure peopled. The frequent
attempts made, in the reign of Elizabeth, to plant colonies of English
and Scotch in Ireland, in the hope that those doctrines of the
Reformation, as odious to the crown as the people that professed them,
might mould the Irish mind and heart to greater attachment to the
English crown, had been conducted on a small scale, and attended with
little success. The project of James was grand and attractive, and in
its progress to complete success formed a race of men, law-loving,
law-abiding, loyal, enterprising freemen, whose thoughts and principles
have had no less influence in moulding the American mind, than their
children in making the wilderness to blossom as the rose.
Sir Arthur Chichester, on
whom the king had conferred a considerable estate in Antrim, was
appointed Lord deputy of the kingdom, in February, 1603; and by his
sound judgment, sense of religion, and experience in the affairs of men,
contributed not a little to the success of the royal enterprise. He had
six counties in Ulster carefully surveyed, and the lands divided into
sections of different magnitudes, some of two thousand acres, some of
fifteen hundred, and some of a thousand. These he allotted to different
kinds of persons: first, British undertakers, who voluntarily engaged in
the enterprise; second, Servitors of the crown, consisting of civil and
military officers; third, Natives whom he hoped to render loyal
subjects. The occupants of the largest portions of land were bound,
within four years, to build a castle and bawn, that is, a walled
enclosure, with towers at the angles, within which was placed the
cattle,—and to plant on their estates forty-eight able-bodied men,
eighteen years old or upwards, of English or Scottish descent. Those who
occupied the second class were obliged, within two years, to build a
strong stone or brick house, and bawn; and both were required to plant
a. proportionable number of English or Scottish families on their
possessions, and to have their houses furnished with a sufficiency of
arms.
Under these and various
other regulations, the escheated lands were disposed of to one hundred
and four English and Scottish Undertakers, fifty-six servitors, and two
hundred and eighty-six natives; these gave bonds to the State for the
fulfilment of their covenants, and were required to render an annual
account of their progress. Nearly the whole of the county of Coleraine
was allotted to the corporation of the city of London, on condition of
their building and fortifying the cities of Londonderry and Coleraine,
and otherwise expending twenty thousand pounds on the plantations; and
the county is now called Londonderry, in allusion to that circumstance.
In 1610, the lands began to be generally occupied. The northeastern
parts of the province were occupied principally by emigrants from
Scotland, on account of the proximity of the places, and the hardy
enterprise of the people the southern and western parts were settled by
the English. Great difficulties attended the settlement, arising
principally from the plundering incursions of the irreclaimable natives.
A contemporary writer says: "Sir Toby Canfield's people are driven every
night to lay up all his cattle, as it were, in ward; and do he and his
what they can, the Wolfe and wood-kerne, within culiver shot of his
fort, have often times a share. Sir, John King and Sir Henry Harrington,
within half a mile of Dublin, do the like, for those forenamed enemies
do every night survey the fields to the very walls of Dublin." The
country had grown wild during the troubles of the past reign, and was
covered with woods and marshes that affected the healthiness of the
climate; this, together with the difficulties arising from the
opposition of the native Irish, and the wild beasts that abounded in the
desolations, greatly retarded the emigrations, and gave a peculiar cast
to the emigrants.
The Reverend Andrew
Stewart, minister of Donabhadee from 1645 to 1671, son of Rev. Andrew
Stewart, who was settled minister of Donegore in the year 1647, wrote "A
short account of the Church of Christ as it was amongst the Irish at
first:—among and after the English entered:—and after the entry of the
Scots." He says, "of the English not many came over, for it is to be
observed that, being a great deal more tenderly bred at home in England,
and entertained in better quarters than they could find in Ireland, they
were unwilling to flock thither, except to good land, such as they had
before at home, or to good cities where they might trade; both of which,
in those days, were scarce enough here. Besides that the marshiness and
fogginess of this island were still found unwholesome to English
bodies." He also adds: "the king had a natural love to have Ireland
planted with Scots, as being, besides their loyalty, of a middle temper,
between the English tender and the Irish rude breeding, and a great deal
more likely to adventure to plant Ulster."
He thus describes the
progress of the plantation:—"The Londoners have in the Lagan a great
interest, and built a city called Londonderry, planted with English.
Coleraine also is builded by them; both of them seaports, though Derry
be both the more commodious and famous. Sir Hugh Clotworthy obtains the
lands of Antrim, both fruitful and good, and invites thither several of
the English, very good men, the Ellises, Leslies, Langfords, and others.
Chichester, a worthy man, has an estate given him in the county of
Antrim, where he improves his interest, builds the prospering mart of
Belfast, and confirms his interest in Carrickfergus, and builds a
stately palace there. Conway has an estate given him in the county of
Antrim, and builds a town afterwards called Lisnegarvay, and this was
planted with a colony of the English also. Moses Hill had woodlands
given him, which being thereafter demolished, left a fair and beautiful
country, when a late heir of the Hills built Hillsborough. All these
lands and more were given to the English gentlemen, worthy persons, who
afterwards increased, and made noble and loyal families in places where
had been nothing but robbing, treason and rebellion."
Of the Scots nation there
was a family of the Balfours, of the Fortresses, of the Graliamcs, two
of the Stewarts, and not a few of the Hamiltons. The Macdonnells founded
the earldom of Antrim by King James's gift,--the Hamiltons the earldom
of Strabane and Clanbrassil, and there were besides several knights of
that name, Sir Frederick, Sir George, Sir Francis, Sir Charles his son,
and Sir Hans, all Hamiltons; for they prospered above all others in this
country, after the first admittance of the Scots into it."
Con O'Neill, who
possessed great extent of lands in Down and Antrim, being engaged in a
rebellion, was apprehended and laid in the king's castle; the Deputy
intending to have him suffer capitally, expecting to gain a large
portion of his lands, which fell to the king. His wife, indignant that
her husband should be confined and appointed to an ignominious death,
goes over to Scotland and lays her claim before Hugh Montgomery of
Broadstone, promising him, if he would get her husband's pardon from the
king; to be content with a third part of their estate, and cheerfully to
yield two-thirds to him under the king's grant. Montgomery entered into
the scheme, and having a boat in readiness, and his wife carrying to
him, in his prison, ropes in two cheeses, O'Neill effected his escape to
Scotland. Montgomery then applied to Mr. James Hamilton, who had
relinquished his fellowship in Dublin College, and was in high favor at
the English court, to assist him in obtaining a pardon for O'Neill from
the king, promising him half of his two parts of the estates. The pardon
was obtained; and grants were issued from the king to each of these
gentlemen for a third part of O'Neill's estates. Both were made knights
but as Montgomery was an inheritor under the king in Scotland, and his
vassal, he obtained the precedency. Hamilton, however, so managed the
matter as to obtain the better share in the possessions.
Mr. Stewart says,—"These
two knights, having received their lands, were shortly after made
lords—Montgomery of Ards, and Hamilton of Claneboy. But land without
inhabitants is a burden without relief. The Irish were bone, the ground
was desolate, rent must be paid to the king, tenants were none to pay
them. Therefore the lords, having a good bargain themselves, make some
of their friends sharers, as freeholders under them. Thus came several
farmers under Mr. Montgomery, gentlemen from Scotland, and of the names
of the Shaws, Calderwoods, Boyds, and of the Keiths from the north. And
some foundations are laid for towns and incorporations, as Newton,
Donaghedee, Comber, Old and New Grey Abbey. Many Hamiltons also followed
Sir James, especially his own brethren, all of them worthy men; and
other farmers, as the Maxwells, Rosses, Barclays, Moores, Barleys, and
others, whose posterity hold good to this day. He also founded towns and
incorporations, viz., Bangor, Holywood, and Killileagh, where he built a
strong castle, and Ballywalter. 'These foundations being laid, the Scots
came hither apace, and became tenants willingly, and sub-tenants to
their countrymen (whose manner and way they knew), so that in a short
time the country began again to be inhabited."
The progress of the
plantation was slow; and by order of the Crown, frequent inquiries were
made into its advancement. The last was made in 1618; by that it
appeared that one hundred castles, with bawns, had been built; nineteen
castles without bawns, forty-two bawns without castles or houses; and
one thousand eight hundred and ninety-seven dwelling houses of stone and
timber; and about eight thousand men of English and Scottish birth, able
to bear arms, were settled in the country. The appointment of Sir Arthur
Chichester, as Deputy, was made in 1605; the survey was speedily
commenced: the lands began to be generally occupied, in 1610, by the
emigrants from Scotland and England; and by 1618, against all the
opposition of the native Irish, and the unfavorable circumstances of the
country, a population, with some eight thousand fighting; men, were
gathered upon the escheated lands.
The race of Scotchmen
that emigrated to Ireland, retaining the characteristic traits of their
native stock, borrowed some things from their neighbors, and were
fashioned, in some measure, by the moulding influences of the climate
and country. In contra-distinction from the native Irish, they called
themselves Scotch; and to distinguish them from natives of Scotland,
their descendants have received the name of Scotch-Irish. This name is
provincial, and more used in America than elsewhere, and is applied to
the Protestant emigrants from the north of Ireland, and their
descendants. The history of this people from this period, 1618, till the
emigration to America, which commenced with a discernible current about
a century after the immigration from Scotland, is found in the "History
of Religious Principles and Events in Ulster Province." Their religious
principles swayed their political opinions and in maintaining their
forms of -worship, and their creed, they learned the rudiments of
republicanism before they emigrated to America. They demanded, and
exercised, the privilege of choosing their ministers and spiritual
directors, in opposition to all efforts to make the choice and support
of the clergy a state, or governmental concern. In defence of this they
suffered fines and imprisonment and banishment, and took up arms at
last, and, victorious in the contest, they established the Prince of
Nassau upon the throne, and gave the Protestant succession to England.
Emigrating to America,
they maintained, in all the provinces where they settled, the right of
all men to choose their own religious teachers, and to support them in
the way each society of Christians might choose, irrespective of the
laws of England or the provinces,—and also to use what forms of worship
they might judge expedient and proper. From maintaining the rights of
conscience in both hemispheres, and claiming to be governed by the laws
under legitimate sovereigns in Europe, they came in America to demand
the same extended rights in politics as in conscience; that rulers
should be chosen by the people to be governed, and should exercise their
authority according to the laws the people approved. In Europe they
contended for a limited monarchy through all the troubles of the
seventeenth century; in America, their descendants defining what a
limited monarchy meant, found it to signify rulers chosen by the people
for a limited time, and with limited powers; and declared themselves
independent of the British crown. |
