128 Chronicles of the Cape Fear River

family expenses rather cramped our small income. So, after
making various domestic arrangements, one of which was to
settle our dear boy Johnnie under the care of a kind friend, Sir
Alexander McKenzie, of Devlin, near Dunkeld, until he was
of age for an India appointment, we took ship for North Amer-
ica. The others went with us, my youngest girl excepted,
whom I left with friends; she was only nine years old. Ann
was a fine young woman, and my sons as promising fellows as
ever a mother could desire. Believe me, dear Maggie, in pack-
ing the things, the Prince’s sheet was put up in lavender, so
determined was I to be laid in it whenever it might please my
Heavenly Father to command the end of my days. On reach-
ing North Carolina, Allan soon purchased and settled upon an
estate; but our tranquillity was ere long broken up by the dis-
turbed state of the country, and my husband took an active part
in that dreadful War of Independence. The Highlanders were
now as forward in evincing attachment to the British Govern-
ment as they had furiously opposed it in former years. My
poor husband, being loyally disposed, was treated harshly by the
opposite party, and was confined for some time in jail at Hali-
fax. After being liberated, he was officered in a royal corps—
the North Carolina Highlanders; and although America suited
me and the young people, yet my husband thought it advisable
to quit a country that had involved us in anxiety and trouble
almost from the first month of our landing on its shores. So,
at a favorable season for departure, we sailed for our native
country, all of us, excepting our sons, Charles and Ronald, who
were in New York expecting appointments, which they soon
after obtained; Alexander was already, dear boy, at sea. Thus
our family was reduced in number. On the voyage home all
went well until the vessel encountered a French ship of war, and
we were alarmed on finding that an action was likely to take
place. The captain gave orders for the ladies to remain below,
safe from the skirmish; but I could not rest quiet, knowing my
husband’s spirit and energy would carry him into the thick of
the fighting; therefore I rushed up the companion-ladder—I
think it was so called—and I insisted on remaining on deck to
share my husband’s fate, whatever that might be. Well, dear
Maggie, thinking the sailors were not as active as they ought to
have been—and they appeared crest-fallen, as if they expected a
defeat—I took courage and urged them on by asserting their
rights and the certainty of the victory. Alas! for my weak

The Revolution 129

endeavors to be of service; I was badly rewarded, being thrown
down in the noise and confusion on deck. I was fain to go
below, suffering excrutiating agony in my arm, which the doc-
tor, who was fortunately on board, pronounced to be broken.
It was well set, yet from that time to this it has been consider-
ably weaker than the other. So you see I have periled my life
for both the houses of Stuart and Brunswick, and gained noth-
ing from either side!”

NEW HANOVER COUNTY
PUBLIC LIBRARY