Mythology, traditions and history - The Clan Macfie Society

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It is not. our intention to follow the events from 1775-83 except to indicate the position of our
clan in this struggle. In general the Scotch-Irish supported the colonies. Most authorities agree
that the Highlanders were uncertain as to their position but they generally supported the King,
and did not want to start or continue a war. The MacDonalds and the McLeods supported
recruitment on behalf of the British. When Widow Moore's Bridge fell to the colonies, as
Angus W. McLean 1 points out, for four years no effort was made to organize a stand in North
Carolina; it was on June 30, 1780 that the Tories (on behalf of Britain) were defeated by the
Whigs (on behalf of the colonies) at Harbour's Mills. In a letter from Robert Rowan to Ashe he
claims "'The Scotch have refused taking the oath (to the colonies) almost to a man.
Glenn McDuffie, in his usual succinct fashion reports as follows. "It appears to me, in the case
of the McDuffies, that positions were taken to hedge all bets, as there was much transferring of
property with the evident intent of avoiding seizure. Daniel, of the 1782 will, took the oath of
allegiance to the rebel cause very early in the conflict. John, of the 1782 will, Duncan of the
1806 estate, and an Archibald, evidently their brother, were penalized and taxed either for
having fled and not made a tax return, or for not having taken the oath as required by law. John
McDuffee of Bladen Co. served with the British in Charleston in 1782 (Rev. de Mood,
"Loyalists in North Carolina"). Daniel Mcfee, a refugee from North Carolina, also served with
the British in Charleston in 1781, Daniel and Archibald served in the same company of the
rebel North Carolina militia, as did another Duncan and Neill". 2
Dr. Esther Clark Wright reports that two persons named McDuffee, namely, Augustus and
Dudley and one Samuel Duffy, a schoolmaster came to New Brunswick, then a part of Nova
Scotia. They probably came from New York, had no military connections, and may have
returned there. A few persons from North and South Carolina were reported in the lists
prepared by Dr. Wright but I found no member of the clan Involved. 3 I have published a few
lists of names of those of our clan who came to Ontario.
Lands had been given to Highlanders in North Carolina after a declaration of loyalty to the
King. The rebels thought that this was worthwhile and demanded that another loyalty clause be
substituted. If one hesitated in the emotional scenes caused by the revolution, one could be
suspected of being a Tory or a Loyalist. If one wanted to hold his property he might stay at
home and be very quiet. He might move to New York, to Nova Scotia, to Upper or Lower
Canada or to the British West Indies or to England.
1 McLean , Angus, W.; A History of the Scotch in North Carolina. Vol. I. p. 272
2 McDuffie Glenn. Private correspondence
3 Wright, Dr. Esther C.; The Loyalists of New Brunswick. Fredericton. 1955. pp. 253-345