America. The first attempt made was
to organize the Highland regiments in America. The MacDonald fiasco in
North Carolina and the Highlanders of Sir John Johnson have already been
noticed. But there were other Highlanders throughout the inhabited
districts of America, who had emigrated, or else had belonged to the
42nd, Fraser's or Montgomery's Highlanders. It was desired to collect
these, in so far as it was possible, and organize them into a distinct
regiment. The supervision of this work was given to Colonel Allan
MacLean of Torloisk, Mull, an experienced officer who had seen hard
service in previous wars. The secret instructions given by George III.
to William Tryon, governor of New York, is dated April 3, 1775:

"Whereas an humble application hath been made to us by Allen McLean
Eqre late Major to our 114th Regiment, and Lieut Col: in our Army
setting forth, that a considerable number of our subjects, who have,
at different times, emigrated from the North West parts of North
Britain, and have transported themselves, with their families, to New
York, have expressed a desire, to take up Lands within our said
Province, to be held of us, our heirs and successors, in fee simple;
and whereas it may be of public advantage to grant lands in manner
aforesaid to such of the said Emigrants now residing within our said
province as may be desirous of settling together upon some convenient
spot within the same. It is therefore our Will and pleasure, that
upon application to you by the said Allen McLean, and upon his
producing to you an Association of the said Emigrants to the effect
of the form hereunto annexed, subscribed by the heads of the several
families of which such Emigrants shall consist, you do cause a proper
spot to be located and surveyed in one contiguous Tract within our
said Province of New York, sufficient in quantity for the
accommodation of such Emigrants, allowing 100 acres to each head of a
family, and 500 acres for every other person of which the said family
shall consist; and it is our further will and pleasure that when the
said Lands shall have been located as aforesaid, you do grant the
same by letters patent under the seal of our said Province unto the
said Allen Maclean, in trust, and upon the conditions, to make
allotments thereof in Fee Simple to the heads of Families, whose
names, together with the number of persons in each fa