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The Scot in New France (1535-1880)


A desire for revenge—such after the defeat of Culloden, was one of the motives stimulating the conduct of High-landers with regard to France. Trusting to their swords and well-tempered dirks, they sought their fortunes on American soil, readily entering into the scheme to dislodge the French from Louisbourg and Quebec; in this deadly encounter, the ardent Scot shewed himself as true in his allegiance to Britain, as he had been to France when his faith was plighted and his arm raised, to smite the then traditional enemy of France—England. We are not however


France. There are Guillaume Hay, Jacques Scrimgour, Helis de Guevremont (Kinrinmond) Andrien Stievart Guillebert, Sidrelant (Sutherland), Alexandre de Jervin (Girvin) Jehan de Miniez (Menzies), Nicholas Chambers, Sieur de Guerche, Coninglant (Cunningham), Jean de Hume, George de Ramesay, Gohory (Gowrie or Govrie) DeGlais (Douglas), D’Hendresson, Mauricon, Dromont (Drummond), Crafort (Crawford), Leviston (Livingston) Bercy, Locart, Tournebulle, Moncrif, Devillencon or D’Aillencon (Williamson) Maxuel, Herrison (Henryson), Doddes, DeLisle (Leslie), DeLauzun (Lawson), D’Espence (Spence), Sinson (Simpson), &c., &c. The Blackwoods play a distinguished part, and there are also Thomas de Houston, seigueur and Robert Pittcloch, a Dundee man, and many others. These exiles from their native land, in fact regenerated France, at a time when the national pulse beat so feebly as to forbode dissolution, the hardy sons of the north impregnated the veins of France with their own vigorous Scotch blood. Like the Normans of England centuries before, the Scot colony "was received as a sort of aristocracy by race or caste; and hence it became to be a common practice for those who were at a loss for a pedigree to find their way to some adventurous Scot, and stop there, just as, both in France and in England, it was sufficient to say that one’s ancestors came in with the Normans."—(The Scot Abroad, Vol. 1, Page 93.)

In all biographies of the great Colbert, he is said to be of Scottish descent. Moreri says that his ancestor’s tomb is at Rheims; Sully, whose family name was Bethune. Scottish enough of itself, though to trace relationship with the Beatons. Moliere, to disguise the vulgarity of his pantronymic which was Poquelin, suggested noble descent from a Scot. Mr. Burton mentions that some Scots, who were petty landed proprietors in later times, found it to their advantage to use the prefix "de" before the name of their petty holding. John Law, of Lauriston, is a case in point, and the most ludicrous was an invented title palmed off upon Richelieu. Monteith’s father was a fisherman upon the Forth, and when the Cardinal asked him to what branch of the Monteith’s he belonged, the candidate for patronage boldly replied "Monteith de Salmonet."—(RATTRAY’s Scot in British North American, page 213.)]


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