ULSTER - SCOTS & U.E. LOYALISTS

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As a young boy I was familiar with the story told by my mom of our ancestor James Humphrey who served as a Private with Jessup's Rangers in the American Revolution. However, that was in the distant past.  My dad's parents and his relatives in Canada came from Ireland and they were people I had met.   Consequently, this had a greater impact on me and how I thought of myself.  

I learned I had grandparents called Ulster - Scots.  This referred to the fact they were born in Ulster, one of the four provinces of Ireland, along with Connacht, Leinster, and Munster, and were descended from persons who originally lived in Scotland.   
 
My second book which I authored, entitled  Canada's Ulster - Scots  , includes a chapter on well known United Empire Loyalist, Bishop  Charles Inglis  (1734 - 1816).   He was born in County Donegal in Ulster and an Ulster - Scot.  As explained by James Barclay Woodburn in his authoritative book The Ulster Scot , first published in 1914,  in Ireland there are three main divisions of the people, - the Irish, the Aglo - Irish, and the Scoto - Irish.  who are often called the Ulster - Scots.  


My second book Canada's Ulster - Scots


The Loyalist Directory, published online by the United Empire Loyalists' Association of Canada, contains information about several thousand United Empire Loyalists, including  Chambers Blakely (1749 - 1810), originally from County Down.  He left in 1767 from Belfast with other family members aboard the vessel Earl of Donegal to take up lands in South Carolina. During the American Revolution he served in a loyalist militia until the defeat of the British. Then he was evacuated from Charleston aboard the troop ship Argo and arrived in Halifax on November 21, 1782. He settled on a 100 acre land grant in Ship Harbour, Nova Scotia. 

In the graveyard beside Trinity Anglican Church in Digby,  Nova Scotia is the headstone of a female Ulster - Scots United Empire Loyalist,  Jane Hill . She and her husband Richard Hill arrived in Digby in 1783 from New York.  Her headstone mentions having come originally from Ireland and descended from two prominent families in Scotland,  Stuart and Bruce.


Headstone of Jane Hill


Some other United Empire Loyalists who were also Ulster - Scots include:

Captain Samuel Anderson (1736 - 1836), son of Benjamin Anderson, born in County Antrim. He received a commission in the King's Royal Regiment of New York. His family were among the founders of Cornwall, Ontario;

William Caldwell (1750 - 1822) , born in County Fermanagh. He served as an officer with Butler's Rangers. After the conflict ended he eventually settled at Amherstberg, Ontario. 

Sergeant Ephraim Curry , son of John McCurry of County Antrim who served in Jessup's Rangers and  took up land at Edwardsburgh, Ontario;

Henry Magee (1741 - 1806) from County Armagh, settled in Kings County, Nova Scotia:

Captain Joseph Marshall (1755 - 1847) born in Glenkeen, County Londonderry, served as captain in Carolina King's Rangers. He went to Guysborough, Nova Scotia;

Samuel Meek, father of  Samuel Meek, Jr.  , who immigrated in 1768 to South Carolina from County Antrim. He served with loyalist milita and fought at Siege of Ninety - Six (1781) in South Carolina.  Following the American Revolution he was granted land in Rawdon, Hants County, Nova Scotia. 

Major Robert Timpany (1742 - 1844) from Newtownards, County Down, son of Elizabeth Eaton and husband Robert Timpany. He served in the New Jersey Volunteers as a Major and settled at Rossway, Digby County, Nova Scotia.

Another reknowned Ulster - Scots Loyalist was Captain  Alexander Chesney  (1755 - 1843) who settled in South Carolina before the beginning of the American Revolution.   He was born in Dunclug, County Antrim and emigrated with his father and family in 1772. 

Chesney served as a Captain at the Battle of King's Mountain (1780) and Battle of Cowpens (1781).  At end of conflict, having lost his property,  he returned to Ireland and petitioned for compensation.

The man I called Grandpa was an Ulster - Scot from County Monaghan in Ireland. During WWI he served with the Royal Irish Fusiliers in the Ulster Division.  In 2022, I authored a book about him called To Join the Ulster Division .



Further Reference:

Journal of Alexander Chesney , accessed September 21, 2026

Chambers Blakely, South Carolina Loyalist , as appears in Loyalist Directory (UELAC), accessed September 21, 2026

17 U.E. Loyalists of Ireland and Northern Ireland , by Brian McConnell,  U.E. , published in 2018 by UELAC 

Canada's Ulster - Scots , by Brian McConnell,  published 2000

Ulster - Scots and the Making of Modern Canada , accessed on September 21, 2026

To Join the Ulster Division , by Brian McConnell, published 2022




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