Alexander Grant (1734 - 1810)

Born 13 Apr 1734 in Glenmoriston, Inverness-shire, Scotland

Husband of Margaret (Mitchell) Grant — married 1769 in Scotland

Descendants

Died 18 Apr 1810 at age 76 in Nine Mile River, Hants County, Nova Scotia

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Susan Lamond [send private message] and Amy Hubley-Morris [send private message]

Biography

This profile is part of the Grant Name Study.

Alexander Grant is a member of Clan Grant.

Alexander Grant migrated from Scotland, UK to British Colonial America.

Alexander Grant served with Loyalists during the American Revolution.

Alexander Grant was born in Glenmoriston, Scotland 1734.

Glenmoriston is a river glen in the Scottish Highlands. Urquhart and Glenmoriston are united parishes today. The parish is described as exquisitely beautiful, more varied in mountain, hill, dale, lake and stream than any other in the highlands.The population of Glenmoriston in 1811 was 1,944.

He married Margaret Mitchell about 1769. They had at least seven children.

In 1775 Alexander, Margaret and children sailed aboard the Glasgow with 251 souls; 65 men above age 20, 17 boys age 10-20 and the remainder were women and children. The people were reported as being "mostly from the northern parts of the shire of Strathglass on the land of Chisholm country. All paid for their own passage except about 20 indented with the owners of the vessell. They gave no proper cause for leaving their country except the racked rents exacted by the proprietors of lands, that they were themselves poor and determined to go abroad regardless of the rebellion in British Colonial America. They further did not think themselves in danger of being forced to serve either troops. This optimism proved unfounded.

When the ship approached New York October 3, 1775, she was prevented from entering and sent on to Boston. Alexander was pressed into service in the 84th Highland Regiment by Major John Small who although promised land grants in Nova Scotia at end of their service, gave no other option than incarceration.

In the transcriptions of fifteen early muster rolls for the period 1775-1778 of the 2nd Battalion Young Royal Highland Emmigrants, the 84th Regiment of Foot, Alex Grant, Private 13 shows inlisted by Major John Small 27th of November 1775. Private number 14 inlisted the same date was Peter Grant.

The Major recruited most of the emmigrants aboard. There was the promise of granted land in Nova Scotia for fighting with the British in the American Revolution. With this promise, and the alternative to be incarcerated, Major Small had great sucess in persuading many to join ranks. The families were eventually re-directed to Halifax, Nova Scotia.

They came to Nova Scotia and after the end of their service, eventually settled in the area of Douglas Township in Hants County, Nova Scotia. The land may not have been cleared, however, it was by the Nine Mile River and other lands in the area were granted to fellow members of the 84th Regiment.

Not all soldiers stayed and farmed, yet many names in that regiment continue to be represented in that area to this very day.

Alexander died April 18, 1810 at the age of 76 and is buried in the Nine Mile River Cemetery.

NOTE:

....researching Private Peter Grant who is listed directly below Alex on Muster Roll 27 November 1775. Brother?

...researching other children: Catherine(Katy)/Eleanor/John/Janet(Jenny/Margaret and others. ....researching their journey to Nova Scotia and ancestors...[1]

Sources

• Cemetery Stone Nine Mile River Cemetery, Hants County, Nova Scotia. Photo taken by Amy Hubley-Morris. 2013.

• Douglas Township Book 1784-1873 vol 25a

[2]

• Muster Rolls 1775-1778[3]

• Wikipedia [4]

• United Empire Loyalist Transcriptions of early Muster Rolls 1775-1778 of the 2nd Battalion Young Royal Highland Emigrants, the 84th Regiments of Foot.[5]

• Ward Chipman Fonds Library and Archives Canada MG23D-

1,Vol.27,Microfilm C9818.

• Family Search POB [6]

• FamilySearch. Christening.April 26, 1733 Petty, Inverness-shire, Scotland, Father John Grant.

https://www.familysearch.org/records/images/image-details?page=2&place=3050785&lifeEvent=102899&rmsId=TH-909-54310-152966-43&imageIndex=97&singleView=true. Nine Mile River cemetery record