RHEA-L Archives

From: Norma Lewis <>
Subject: [RHEA] The Scots-Irish
Date: Thu, 24 May 2001 16:32:32 -0700

Dick Coyner is a retired school teacher in CA, his hobby is playing bag
pipes in local parades and such. This is only one battle the Scots were
involved in, there was an earlier one which ended in 1716 which brought
many of our Scots-Irish over in ships as prisoners of the British king
because they lost the battle for the Stuarts. Their indentures were set at
7 years (where before indentures for passage had been 4 years) and they
were only promised to be set free at the end of that time. Many of these
indentures were sold in Philadelphia (and in MD and VA) to men who
immediately set them free and they went right back to Ireland.

Somewhere in the area of Indianapolis there is a portrait of Martin Luther
Coyner and a swatch of Scot plaid saved by Elizabeth Rhea. I corresponded
with somebody back in the 1970s who sent me photos of these heirlooms and
it seems like it was green and black. They would be a Coyner descendant and
may not be named Coyner, if anyone in that area wants to pursue a hunt for
these heirlooms. The plaid may prove whether or not these Rheas fought in
this battle. I have since lost these photos and can't remember the name of
the family I was corresponding with. Most of my old records were saved
through several moves, but some of it was lost in storage where mice made
beds of it. So, enjoy Dick's treatise!
Norma

In 1739, the British Government established a regiment from Independent
Companies that had been raised from among the Whig clans, such as
Campbells, Grant, and Munroe. Because the companies had worn the belted
plaids (filleadh mor or great kilt) made of the tartan of its commanders
clan, it became necessary to develop a single tartan for this new regiment.
A dark tartan, combosed of blue, black, and green stripes, thought by many
to be derived fromthe Campbell tartan, was selected. Because of its dark
color, this unit became known as the Am Freiceadan Dudh, or the Black
Watch. This was the 43rd Highlanders.
After the Rising of 1745 (The Black Watch had been discreetly kept in the
Southeastern England) The Jacobites had gone into hiding, exile, or had
been transported. Estates had been forfeited. Many highlanders, saw this
as a means to recover their honor and fortunes. By volunteering for
military service, they hoped to receive either a pardon, or earn enough
money to by back their land.As an additional incentive, they would be
exempt from the hated Dress Act, which forbad the wearing of tartan plaids.
In 1750, Lord Gordon was given the task of raising a regiment from among
those lowland Scots, and from the Highland Clans that had not followed
Bonnie Prince Charlie in rebellion. From these men, Nine new regiments were
raised; including the famed Gordon Highlanders,the Sutherland Highlanders
(mostly from the south of Scotland), The Irish Guards,(from Ulster, often
called the Black and Tans for their tartan),The Cameron Highlanders (79th),
and the Kings Own Highlanders (42nd). Most of these units were deployed
overseas, i.e., North America to fight in the French and Indian War.
Many young Irishmen also joined regiments, which would be posted throgh out
the Empire. Again, they were looking for excitement, and the opportunity
to earn money enough to buy their own land.
The Irish and Scots in America, particuliarly in the South, were there
because of circumstance. Many had been transported as either indentured
servants or as convicts. (Political liabliities at home). They did not
like the British, and were more than happy to join under Gen. Marion, The
Swamp Fox. The battles of Kings Mountain and of Cowpens, proved they could
win. In the North, Scots and Irish joined Ethan Allen Vermont Rangers, and
proved to be a major thorn in the side of the British.
References on the regimental beginnings can be found in most standards.
For this I used mostly "Clans and Tartans of Scotland" by Iain Zaczek,
Collins and Brown Ltd, London 1998. In passing, the filleadh beg
(philabeg) "small kilt" or, is today what is known as the 'kilt'. the
filleadh mor (philamoor), the 'great kilt' often would have up to 15 yards
of plaid material, was carefully pleated, then belted into place, and the
remainder tossed over the shoulder. It served as clothing, blanket, and
finally, burial shroud. Also, true Scotch, (the whiskey), is made from
peat smoked,malt; in Gaelic is spelled uisge-breatha, pronounced
ooshka-breahhh (water of life).
Dick Coyner (in Gaelic, my first name is 'Ruiscart' pronounced 'Ricshardt'

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• [RHEA] The Scots-Irish by Norma Lewis <>