[an error occurred while processing this directive]
P. C. is acting up..hope this is sent...G. Gordon Holmes wrote: > > Dear Laurel, > > I do not know if this will help, but my grandmother and many, many > Sinclairs were the beneficiaries of land in what is now Manitoba. This > land was offered to secure the Crowns claim and to discourage American > interests by populating the prairies with "Tough Scots" who would stay. > That land was taken by scottish settlers for their own reasons, chiefly > being (according to Gran and others and supported by documents) that it > was land and quarrels seemed useless from so far away from the British > Isles. Going back further....As you know, many traders rambled through > this territory , all owing their cash trade to London. Kind of a "One > Hand Washes the Other" relationship with the English. > I do not know how St. Clair rose so quickly through the ranks, but many > Scots did. They were fearless fighters and in the times and place there > was not a lot of choice but to take men and give the natural leaders > Rank. (doubtless others will help you here) Maybe, like Jame Sinclair, > he was a free-trader and more... :) > P.S. Imagine my Grandmothers fury when her eldest daughter announced her > intention to marry the man who would be my father. He had the gall to be > born in London! Love..Cousin Gord > > Spirit One Email wrote: > > > > I am assuming that this list is just of first Sinclair arrivals to USA but > > maybe Canada is there too? > > > > I am puzzled about 2 things concerning Gen. St. Clair (pronounced Sinclair) > > > > How was it that he became a General so quickly? Did he have previous > > military training or mercenary experience in Scotland? > > > > In the book "A Dance Called America" I was struck by the fact that the > > usual pattern of immigrant Scots was to join the British side many times > > because they had been offered a commission in the English army. It seemed > > to me that these Scots almost fresh from the defeat of Culloden would have > > stayed enemies longer. But now as I remember, they fought first with the > > English in the French and Indian war and were rewarded with lands in USA and > > Canada. So they would have been a bit more sympathtic, I suppose, with > > their benefactors at that point in history. > > > > It was the Scots coming through Ireland or that had been here a few > > generations that usually made up the patriots. I know this is a generality > > and the world abounds with exceptions but it seems like there might be more > > of a story about why he chose the American side. > > > > Laurel > > > > [ This is the Sinclair family discussion list, sinclair@mids.org > > [ To get off or on the list, see http://www.mids.org/sinclair/list.html > > -- > ----------------------------------------------------- > Click here for Free Video!! > http://www.gohip.com/freevideo/ > [ This is the Sinclair family discussion list, sinclair@mids.org > [ To get off or on the list, see http://www.mids.org/sinclair/list.html -- ----------------------------------------------------- Click here for Free Video!! http://www.gohip.com/freevideo/ [ This is the Sinclair family discussion list, sinclair@mids.org [ To get off or on the list, see http://www.mids.org/sinclair/list.html