Scots in Early New England, 1620–1692 - 120 Biographical Entries | Searchable PDF

Discover the Forgotten Scottish Founders of 17th-Century New England

Explore the lives, hardships, and family legacies of the earliest Scottish settlers in colonial America with Scots in Early New England, 1620–1692, published by Fairbairn's Crest. This compiled reference brings together 120 biographical entries documenting the Highland and Lowland Scots who carved out permanent homes across Massachusetts Bay, Plymouth Colony, Maine, New Hampshire, Connecticut, and Rhode Island prior to 1692.

While seventeenth-century New England is widely remembered for its English Puritan migration, a distinct and resilient Scottish community took root alongside them. Many of these men arrived in chains as prisoners of war following Oliver Cromwell’s victories at the Battle of Dunbar in 1650 and the Battle of Worcester in 1651. Shipped across the Atlantic aboard the Unity and the John and Sara, they were sold into five- to eight-year indentures at the Saugus Iron Works in Lynn and the white-pine sawmills along the Piscataqua and Exeter rivers. Once their terms of servitude ended, these veterans acquired frontier land grants, married into neighboring colonial families, defended garrison houses during King Philip’s and King William’s Wars, and joined free Scottish sea captains, merchants, and clergy to establish the Scots' Charitable Society of Boston in 1657.

For generations, their personal histories remained scattered across four massive volumes of nineteenth-century genealogical shorthand and disguised beneath phonetic spellings invented by colonial town clerks—turning MacLachlan into Mackclothlan and Claflin, Forbes into Farrabas and Furbush, MacPherson into Mackfassy and Fassett, and MacGowen into Gowen alias Smith. From Lexington patriarch William Monro (Munroe) and Bridgewater minister Rev. James Keith to Berwick frontier lumberman Peter Grant and Boston bookseller Duncan Campbell, this compilation restores their clan identities and reconstructs their colonial lives.

What the Biographies Reveal

• Scottish Origins & Wartime Capture: Known home shires, clan affiliations, capture at Dunbar or Worcester, and transport aboard the Unity (1650) or the John and Sara (1651/52).
• Indentures, Trades & Frontier Settlement: Labor at the Hammersmith (Saugus) and Taunton ironworks, Piscataqua timber mills, coastal shipyards, and merchant counting houses.
• Marriages, Children & Allied Families: Documented spouses, recorded children, and family networks connecting Scottish exiles with early New England households.
• Civic, Mutual-Aid & Military Service: Founding subscriptions to the Scots' Charitable Society (1657 and 1684), town offices, probate estates, and militia service or captivity in the colonial frontier wars.
• Evidence-Based Detail: Entries follow a structured Three-Tier model—ranging from concise record stubs (50–85 words) for single-manifest appearances to standard service sketches (125–175 words) and rich multi-paragraph narratives (220–300 words) where fuller primary records survive.

What's Included in Your Download

• 120 Alphabetical Biographical Entries (A–Z): Synthesized from James Savage’s Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England, Suffolk Deeds, Essex and York County court files, and Scots' Charitable Society rolls.
• Historical Introduction & Source Key: Context on the 1650–1652 penal transports, phonetic surname mutations, and abbreviated primary source citations.
• Three Supporting Back-of-Book Indexes: Cross-referenced indexes of Primary, Variant & Allied Surnames; Scottish Shires & Colonial Settlements; and Ships, Ironworks & Military Units.
• Fully Searchable PDF Format: Designed for instant desktop or tablet reading.

How to Use This Biographical Collection

Entries are arranged alphabetically by standardized primary surname, with documented seventeenth-century spelling variants listed immediately beneath each heading. Because this is a verified searchable PDF, you can press Ctrl+F (Windows) or Cmd+F (Mac) to jump directly to any surname, phonetic variant, spouse's family name, town, or vessel. Every entry concludes with exact volume and page citations so you can follow the paper trail into the underlying colonial archives. Researchers should always confirm final genealogical conclusions against original vital, land, and probate records.

What You Are Purchasing

You are purchasing the standalone digital biographical compilation Scots in Early New England, 1620–1692 in searchable PDF format, published by Fairbairn's Crest. Original source books are not included. Digital download only. No physical book will be shipped.

People Featured in This Biographical Collection

James Adams (fl. 1650-1668, Prisoner of War & Ironworks Laborer, Lynn & Concord, MA, Variants: Addams, Adam), John Aldburgh (fl. 1651-1652, Royalist Soldier, Boston & Charlestown, MA, Variants: Aldburg, Alcock, Auld), George Alexander (d. 1703, Scottish Planter, Windsor, CT & Northfield, MA, Variants: Allexander, MacAlister), Robert Alexander (fl. 1657-1684, Founder of Scots' Charitable Society, Boston, MA, Variant: Allexander), William Allan (fl. 1651-1657, Prisoner of War & Society Founder, Boston & Salisbury, MA, Variants: Allen, Allin, Allane), Daniel Alster (fl. 1651-1652, Royalist Prisoner, Boston, MA, Variants: Allester, MacAlister, Alastair), Archibald Anderson (fl. 1650-1661, Ironworks Laborer, Lynn, MA, Variants: Andrewson, Andreson), David Anderson (d. 1677, Mariner & Merchant, Charlestown, MA, Variant: Andreson), Captain John Anderson (d. 1677, Shipwright & Sea Captain, Boston & Salem, MA, Variant: Andreson), William Anderson (fl. 1651-1684, Royalist Prisoner & Planter, Watertown & Boston, MA, Variants: Wm. Anderson, Andreson), William Arbuckle (fl. 1684-1690, Scottish Merchant, Boston, MA, Variants: Arbukle, Arbuckell), John Archibald (fl. 1650-1662, Dunbar Prisoner & Ironworker, Lynn, MA & Portsmouth, NH, Variants: Archbell, Ashbill), Captain John Ballantine (1653-1734, Merchant, Militia Captain & Society Officer, Boston, MA, Variants: Ballantyne, Bannatyne, Balantine), William Ballantine (d. 1689, Cooper & Society Founder, Boston, MA, Variants: Ballantyne, Bannatyne), John Banke (fl. 1650-1658, Dunbar Prisoner, Lynn, MA & York, ME, Variants: Bank, Banck, Banks), John Barber (fl. 1657, Society Founder & Tailor, Boston, MA, Variants: Barbour, Barbor), Peter Barron (fl. 1657, Society Founder, Boston, MA, Variants: Baron, Barren), John Bean (c. 1634-1718, Dunbar Prisoner & Frontier Patriarch, Exeter, NH, Variants: MacBean, Bane, Bayne), Daniel Black (c. 1628-1688, Prisoner of War & Planter, Boxford & Topsfield, MA, Variants: Blake, Blacke), William Black (fl. 1657, Society Founder, Boston, MA, Variants: Blacke, Blaik), John Bohannon (d. 1705, Worcester Prisoner & Boatman, Boston, MA, Variants: Buchanen, Buchanan, Bohanon, Buhannon), John Borland (1659-1727, Scottish Merchant & Society President, Boston, MA, Variant: Boreland), Alexander Bow (d. 1678, Prisoner of War & Cooper, Charlestown, MA & Middletown, CT, Variants: Bowe, Boe), Antipas Boyce (d. 1669, Merchant & Society Founder, Boston, MA, Variants: Bois, Boies, Boyes), Alexander Bravender (d. 1673, Dunbar Ironworker, Lynn & Wenham, MA, Variants: Braband, Brebner, Brabiner), John Brown (1631-1697, Worcester Prisoner & Frontier Proprietor, Cambridge, Marlborough & Falmouth, Variants: John Brow, Browne), George Bruce (c. 1633-1692, Prisoner of War & Planter, Woburn, MA, Variants: Brush, Bruse, Brus), John Burbeen (d. 1714, Tailor & Scottish Settler, Woburn, MA, Variants: Burbean, Berbeane), William Cahoon (d. 1675, Prisoner of War & King Philip's War Casualty, Block Island, RI & Swansea, MA, Variants: Colquhoun, Cahoone, Calhoon), Duncan Campbell (d. 1702, Bookseller, Postmaster & Society Officer, Boston, MA, Variants: Dunkan Cambell, Campbel), George Darling (c. 1620-1693, Dunbar Prisoner of War, Ironworker & Yeoman, Lynn, Salem & Marblehead, MA, Variants: Darlin, Dorling), John Davie (fl. 1651-1657, Worcester Prisoner & Society Founder, Boston, MA, Variants: Davy, David, Davison), Deacon William Douglas (1610-1682, Cooper, Commissary, Deputy & Church Deacon, Gloucester, Boston & New London, CT, Variants: Douglass, Duglas), Macellum Downing (d. 1683, Dunbar Prisoner & Forgeman, Lynn, MA, Variants: Malcolm Downing, MacCallum, Mackallum, Duning), Peter Duncan (c. 1629-1716, Scottish Mariner & Merchant, Gloucester, MA, Variants: Dunkan, Dunkin), Patrick Erskine (fl. 1684-1690, Scottish Merchant & Factor, Boston, MA, Variants: Arskine, Erskin), Patrick Fassett (c. 1628-1713, Worcester Prisoner & Frontier Planter, Malden & Billerica, MA, Variants: MacPherson, Mackfasse, Mackfassy, Fasset), Daniel Ferguson (d. 1676, Scottish Prisoner & Timberman, Kittery/Eliot, ME, Variants: Farguson, Forgison), Daniel Forbes (c. 1620-1687, Dunbar Prisoner & Frontier Planter, Cambridge, Concord & Marlborough, MA, Variants: Farrabas, Farrowbush, Forbush, Furbush), William Forbes (c. 1630-1701, Scottish Prisoner & Yeoman, Dover, NH & Kittery, ME, Variants: Furbush, Furbish, Forbush), Colin Frazer (d. 1715, Scottish Weaver & Planter, Newbury & Rowley, MA, Variants: Frasier, Frazier, Frary), James Gilmour (fl. 1651-1652, Worcester Prisoner of War, Boston, MA, Variants: Guelmore, Gilmore, Gillmore), Alexander Gordon (c. 1635-1697, Worcester Prisoner & Sawmill Laborer, Watertown, MA & Exeter, NH, Variants: Gording, Gorden, Gourdon), Edmund Gordon (fl. 1651-1652, Worcester Prisoner of War, Boston, MA, Variants: Edm. Gourdon, Gorden), William Gowen (c. 1634-1686, Scottish Prisoner & Housewright, Kittery, ME, Variants: MacGowen, Gowan, Gowing, alias Smith), Robert Gowing (c. 1618-1698, Scottish Settler & Husbandman, Dedham, Wenham & Lynn, MA, Variants: Gowen, Going, McGowen), Alexander Grant (fl. 1651-1657, Worcester Prisoner & Society Founder, Boston, MA, Variants: Alister Grant, Graunt), Edward Grant (d. 1682, Shipwright & Mariner, Boston, MA, Variant: Graunt), James Grant (c. 1625-1693, Prisoner of War, Drummer & Planter, Dedham, MA & York, ME, Variant: Graunt), Peter Grant (c. 1631-1712, Worcester Prisoner & Frontier Patriarch, Berwick/Kittery, ME, Variants: Patrick Grant, Graunt), Robert Guthrie (d. 1692, Society Founder & Block Island Proprietor, Braintree, MA & Block Island, RI, Variants: Guthry, Gutterson, Guttery), David Hamilton (c. 1628-1691, Worcester Prisoner & Frontier Casualty, Dover, NH & Berwick, ME, Variants: Hamelton, Hambleton), William Hamilton (c. 1620-1710, Scottish Mariner, Whaler & Planter, Cape Cod, MA, Rhode Island & Danbury, CT, Variants: Hambleton, Hamelton), John Henderson (fl. 1651-1675, Worcester Prisoner & Soldier, Dover, NH & Springfield, MA, Variants: Hendrison, Henryson), John Hogg (fl. 1651-1657, Worcester Prisoner & Society Founder, Boston, MA, Variants: Hog, Hogue, Hoag), Robert Holmes (d. 1697, Border Scot & Yeoman, Cambridge & Newbury, MA, Variants: Home, Hume, Homes), George Inglis (fl. 1650-1665, Prisoner of War & Society Founder, Lynn & Boston, MA, Variants: Ingles, Inglish, English), Alexander Innes (fl. 1650-1679, Dunbar Ironworker & Block Island Planter, Lynn, Taunton & Block Island, RI, Variants: Ennis, Innis, Annis), Walter Jackson (d. 1698, Worcester Prisoner & Oyster River Planter, Dover/Durham, NH, Variants: Jacksone, Jakson), William Jameson (d. 1714, Worcester Prisoner, Tailor & Yeoman, Charlestown, MA, Variants: Jamison, Jemson, Gamson), Rev. James Keith (c. 1644-1719, Scottish Clergyman & Pioneer Minister, Bridgewater, MA, Variants: Keeth, Keyth), Roger Kelly (d. c. 1705, Fisherman, Tavernkeeper & Magistrate, Isles of Shoals & Newcastle, NH, Variants: Kelley, Kellie), David Kinkead (fl. 1684-1695, Scottish Merchant & Mariner, Boston, MA & Portsmouth, NH, Variants: Kincaid, Kinked), John Livingston (d. c. 1690, Scottish Merchant, Boston, MA, Variants: Levinston, Livingstone), Robert MacClaflin (c. 1630-1690, Dunbar Prisoner of War, Militia Soldier & Yeoman, Wenham, MA, Variants: Claflin, Mackclothlan, MacLachlan, Mackclaflin), John MacCurdy (fl. 1684-1692, Scottish Mariner & Factor, Boston, MA, Variants: McKirdy, McCurdy, Makirdy), John MacDanell (fl. 1651-1686, Worcester Prisoner & Cordwainer, Boston, MA, Variants: MacDonald, Mackdanell, MacDonnell, McDaniel), Allister MacDougall (fl. 1651-1665, Worcester Prisoner of War, Boston, MA & Dover, NH, Variants: Alister Mackdougal, MacDougal, Dougal), Major Patrick MacGregor (d. 1691, Scottish Military Officer & Colonial Frontier Leader, Boston, MA & New York, Variants: MacGregorie, Mackgregore, Gregory), John Macintosh (c. 1630-1691, Worcester Prisoner & Dedham Planter, Braintree & Dedham, MA, Variants: Mackintosh, Mackentosh, McIntosh), William Mackane (fl. 1651-1675, Worcester Prisoner & Yeoman, Boston & Wrentham, MA, Variants: MacIan, MacKean, Mackhane, McKean), Mordecai MacLeod (fl. 1650-1675, Dunbar Prisoner & Ironworker, Lynn & Lancaster, MA, Variants: Murdoch MacLeod, Murdo MacLeod, Mackleod, Cloud, McLoud), John MacNab (d. c. 1688, Dunbar Prisoner & Husbandman, Dedham & Dorchester, MA, Variants: McNab, Macknab, MacNabb, Nabb), James MacWithee (c. 1630-1706, Scottish Prisoner & Frontier Planter, Dedham & Wrentham, MA, Variants: MacRorie, MacQuoid, Mackwithee, McWithey, Withy), John Malcolm (fl. 1650-1675, Dunbar Prisoner & Mariner, Boston, MA & Casco Bay, ME, Variants: Malcolme, MacCallum), James Maxwell (d. 1720, Doorkeeper to the General Court & Society Officer, Boston, MA, Variants: Maxwel, Maxfield), David Melville (d. 1697, Scottish Merchant & Mariner, Boston & Eastham, MA, Variants: Melvil, Melvin), John Melvin (c. 1653-1726, Scottish Tailor, Militia Soldier & Patriarch, Charlestown & Concord, MA, Variants: Melville, Melvil, Melven), William Monro (1625-1718, Worcester Prisoner & Lexington Patriarch, Cambridge Farms/Lexington, MA, Variants: Munroe, Monroe, Munrow, Row), Hugh Montgomery (fl. 1657-1665, Scottish Mariner & Society Founder, Boston, MA, Variants: Montgomrie, Gumry), James Moore (d. 1675, Dunbar Prisoner & Ironworks Collier, Lynn, MA & Simsbury, CT, Variants: Muir, More, Moor), James Murray (fl. 1651-1662, Worcester Prisoner & Planter, Dover, NH, Variants: Morray, Murry), Andrew Neal (c. 1640-1709, Scottish Tavernkeeper & Planter, Boston, MA, Variants: MacNeill, Neale, McNeal), Matthew Nelson (c. 1658-1713, Scottish Cordwainer & Planter, Portsmouth, NH, Variants: Neilson, Nielson), George Pattillo (fl. 1650-1677, Dunbar Prisoner, Boatswain & Society Founder, Boston & Salem, MA, Variants: Patillo, Pattullo, Pittillo), John Pottinger (fl. 1652-1684, Housewright & Society Founder, Boston & Charlestown, MA, Variants: Potinger, Pottenger), Andrew Rankin (d. 1677, Scottish Mariner & King Philip's War Casualty, York & Kittery, ME, Variants: Rankine, Ranckin), Richard Ritchie (fl. 1651-1652, Worcester Prisoner of War, Boston, MA, Variants: Richie, Richey, Riche), James Ross (c. 1632-1690, Worcester Prisoner & Sudbury Planter, Sudbury, MA, Variants: Rosse, Rose), Thomas Ross (c. 1630-1695, Prisoner of War & Billerica Planter, Cambridge & Billerica, MA, Variants: Rosse, Rose), Alexander Sanders (fl. 1650-1657, Prisoner of War & Society Founder, Boston, MA, Variants: Saunders, Sanderson), John Scougall (fl. 1684-1690, Scottish Merchant, Boston, MA, Variants: Scougal, Skougall), Thomas Shearer (d. c. 1664, Scottish Tailor & Society Founder, Boston, MA, Variants: Sharer, Sherar), Alexander Simpson (fl. 1651-1688, Worcester Prisoner, Brickmaker & Society Founder, Boston, MA, Variants: Simson, Sympson), John Sinclair (c. 1630-1700, Dunbar Prisoner & Exeter Patriarch, Exeter, NH, Variants: Sinkler, St. Clair, Senclair), James Smith (fl. 1651-1665, Prisoner of War & Society Founder, Boston, MA, Variants: Smyth, Smithe), William Spence (fl. 1684-1692, Scottish Mariner, Boston, MA, Variants: Spens, Spencer), Alexander Stewart (d. 1731, Scottish Prisoner, Shipwright & Planter, Charlestown & Marlborough, MA, Variants: Stuart, Steward), Daniel Stewart (c. 1632-1703, Scottish Planter & Seaman, Barnstable, Eastham & Martha's Vineyard, MA, Variants: Stuart, Steward), Duncan Stewart (c. 1623-1717, Dunbar Prisoner, Shipwright & Patriarch, Ipswich, Newbury & Rowley, MA, Variants: Stuart, Steward), Hugh Stewart (d. 1715, Scottish Soldier & Carpenter, Yarmouth & Chatham, MA, Variants: Stuart, Steward), James Stewart (d. c. 1704, Scottish Planter & Garrison Soldier, Weymouth & Boxford, MA, Variants: Stuart, Steward), John Stewart (d. 1690, Dunbar Prisoner & Blacksmith, Lynn & Springfield, MA, Variants: Stuart, Steward), Walter Stewart (fl. 1684-1692, Scottish Mariner & Factor, Boston, MA, Variant: Stuart), William Stirling (1637-1719, Scottish Shipbuilder, Mariner & Miller, Salem, Haverhill, MA & Lyme, CT, Variants: Sterling, Starling), James Strang (fl. 1684-1691, Scottish Mariner, Boston, MA, Variants: Strange, Strong), Matthew Sutherland (fl. 1675-1690, Scottish Soldier & Planter, Boston, MA & Rhode Island, Variants: Sotherland, Southerland), John Taylor (c. 1630-1690, Dunbar Prisoner & Sawmill Proprietor, Dover, NH & Berwick, ME, Variants: Tailor, Taylour), William Taylor (c. 1625-1696, Prisoner of War & Husbandman, Concord, MA, Variants: Tailor, Tayler), Alexander Thompson (d. 1695, Scottish Planter & Yeoman, Ipswich, MA, Variants: Thomson, Tompson), William Thompson (d. 1676, Scottish Planter, Dover, NH & Kittery, ME, Variants: Thomson, Tomson), John Tod (1621-1690, Tavernkeeper, Deputy & Selectman, Charlestown & Rowley, MA, Variants: Todd, Todde), William Tosh (d. 1685, Worcester Prisoner & Block Island Patriarch, Braintree, Taunton & Block Island, RI, Variants: MacIntosh, Mackintosh, Toshack, Toshe), Captain John Trail (fl. 1680-1695, Orkney Merchant & Sea Captain, Boston, MA, Variants: Traill, Trale), Ralph Wallace (fl. 1650-1665, Scottish Mariner & Society Founder, Boston, MA, Variants: Wallis, Wallice), James Warren (c. 1621-1702, Dunbar Prisoner, Selectman & Lumberman, Kittery/South Berwick, ME, Variants: Warrin, Waren), John Watson (fl. 1650-1684, Prisoner of War & Society Founder, Boston & Cambridge, MA, Variant: Watsone), Peter Weir (c. 1618-1692, Indian Trader, Magistrate & King William's War Casualty, York, ME, Variants: Weare, Wire, Wyer), Alexander Wilson (fl. 1651-1675, Worcester Prisoner of War, Boston & Charlestown, MA, Variants: Willson, Wilsone), Edward Wyer (c. 1622-1693, Scottish Tailor & Husbandman, Charlestown, MA, Variants: Weir, Wire, Wier).