The Scots Come to North Carolina
Sailing to the American Colony.
Why did the Scots immigrate in large numbers to North Carolina and to Moore County?
The Scots were encouraged to settle in colonial North Carolina by royal governor Gabriel Johnston. Johnston, himself a native Scot and the colony’s governor from 1734 until 1752, granted the immigrants a ten-year exemption on paying public or county taxes. Most coming to the American colony were farmers who needed land, so this tax exemption offered a strong incentive. When they arrived, their priorities were to select land, have it surveyed, and then plant a crop.
Then in 1745, there was an epic battle in Scotland called, "The Battle of Culloden", when Prince Charles Edward Stuart attempted to reclaim the throne for his family from the English. It was a losing battle for the Scots. Upon hearing about this, Governor Johnson made additional offers to the Scots who had had experienced defeat and had difficulties paying the increasing land rents, or had lost land due to the war.
Later during the American Revolution, the war divided Scot neighbors. There were those who who wanted freedom from England (Patriots) and those who remained loyal to England (Loyalists). After nearing the end of the Revolution, immigration to North Carolina began again within months of the war ending and continued well into the 1800s.
In total, by 1790, there were almost 60,000 Scots and Irish who immigrated to North Carolina.
For more information about the Scots click this link to download a PDF about the history.
The Scots were encouraged to settle in colonial North Carolina by royal governor Gabriel Johnston. Johnston, himself a native Scot and the colony’s governor from 1734 until 1752, granted the immigrants a ten-year exemption on paying public or county taxes. Most coming to the American colony were farmers who needed land, so this tax exemption offered a strong incentive. When they arrived, their priorities were to select land, have it surveyed, and then plant a crop.
Then in 1745, there was an epic battle in Scotland called, "The Battle of Culloden", when Prince Charles Edward Stuart attempted to reclaim the throne for his family from the English. It was a losing battle for the Scots. Upon hearing about this, Governor Johnson made additional offers to the Scots who had had experienced defeat and had difficulties paying the increasing land rents, or had lost land due to the war.
Later during the American Revolution, the war divided Scot neighbors. There were those who who wanted freedom from England (Patriots) and those who remained loyal to England (Loyalists). After nearing the end of the Revolution, immigration to North Carolina began again within months of the war ending and continued well into the 1800s.
In total, by 1790, there were almost 60,000 Scots and Irish who immigrated to North Carolina.
For more information about the Scots click this link to download a PDF about the history.