McLean, Donald
John M. McDonald interview — 1850
Donald McLean describes how James Stuart, a fellow Scottish immigrant, obtained his military commission by wearing full Highland dress and brandishing his ancestral sword that had been used at the Battle of Culloden. Stuart was a friend of New York Governor George Clinton, who visited him at his grocery store in Manhattan after the war. McLean recounts two anecdotes regarding Stuart. He concludes by referencing the Anti-Rent Rebellion of 1765, during which William Prendergast led a force that attempted to reinstate dispossessed tenants in Dutchess County.
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Transcription
- Hufeland Index Page 1007 -
Donald McLean, of 34th Street between 7th & 8th Avenues, 2nd house from 8th Avenue in the row. “I knew Captain James Stuart well about the years 1794, 5, 6, & 7, when I first lived in New York. At that time he kept a grocery store at Whitehall. The way he obtained his commission was this: He appeared before
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Congress (either Continental or State – I don’t know which) in full highland costume, and holding a broad sword in his hand, addressed that body as follows: “This sword was carried by my father and grandfather against the House of Hanover. I will carry it against the same house as long as I live!” The sword in question had engraved upon it the various battles in which it had been from in ’15, to Culloden in ’46. He always wore during the Revolutionary war the Highland dress. I saw him in Fredericksburgh during the war riding in full Gaelic costume on horseback towards Danbury. He was intimate with General and Governor Clinton who used to visit him and his grocery and sit and talk with him. Captain Stuart went once to Governor Clinton’s to introduce some of his Scottish friends just over. Governor Clinton among other refreshments produced some whiskey
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or brandy which he poured out and was about to add some water when Stuart interfered, saying “These, Governor, are all thorough going men; they like purity in all things, and do nothing by halves. Spirits they drink by itself, and water by itself. They and their friends were as great rebels in 1745 and you were in 1776.” A Presbyterian friend named McIntosh once persuaded him to attend the Wall Street church for the purpose of hearing old Dr. Rogers. In the course of his sermon the Reverend preacher attacked the Roman Catholics with great severity. Stuart was as a rigid Roman Catholic, but stood it in silence for some time. At last Dr. Rogers made some observations which were satirical and cutting to the last degree. On hearing his church assailed so bitterly Stuart at length lost patience and starting from
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his seat exclaimed aloud to McIntosh in Gaelic: “The Devil take the fellow! – Do you hear what he says?” When the Squatters rose against Robinson in Fredericksburgh, a few years before the Revolutionary war, they were led by an Irishman named Prengrast [X]. British troops went were sent from New York who put Robinson in possession. – Old Mr. Grey and some others had bought what they thought good and refused to copromise with Robinson.”
[X] Prendergast?