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- Burial in Old German Reformed Cemetery Stephens City, Frederick Co., Va. Grave is not marked and is located near school--JET
Gene Taylor writes "To my McLeod Cousins---
"Some of you have already been advised that, with the help of a Virginia cousin (descendent of Nancy McLeod Smith, sister of our Lorenzo McLeod, 1804-1888), I have learned that William McLeod (1757-1825), my g(x2) g.f. PROBABLY arrived in America in 1776 as a captured British soldier, a Sergeant in Fraser's 71st Highlander Regiment. In June 1776, a company of this regiment was captured by Virginia naval forces, brought to Williamsburg, then paroled to 14 Virginia counties. Sergeant William McLeod was paroled to Winchester, Va. We do not have POSITIVE proof that Sergeant McLeod was one and the same as our ancestor who lived in Frederick Co., Va. over forty years, but I have learned nothing to challenge my belief that this is true.
"While in England in August I attempted to develop further info of the origin of our William McLeod, but without success. All I was able to learn was some further confirmation of info previously gathered from several sources. A company of Highlanders had been enlisted by Norman McLeod, Chief of Clan McLeod, who had been commissioned Captain of the Company. The soldiers had been brought to Sterling, then marched to Greenoch, on the Firth of Clyde, where they embarked 14 Apr. 1776 in transports (a fleet of 32 ships) with orders to sail to Boston to reinforce the British Army there under the command of General Howe.
"Two transports, the Oxford and the Crawford, became separated from the fleet during a storm and were later captured by Capt. Biddle of the American brig, Andrew Doria. All of the soldiers were placed aboard the Oxford under a prize crew, but became separated from the Andrew Doria during an attach by British naval forces.
"Subsequently the prize crew was overcome by the Scots who sailed the Oxford to waters off the Virginia coast hoping to join Loyalist Governor Dunmore of Virginia. However they were intercepted by the Virginia Navy and, after learning of the situation, Captain Barron brought the 217 Scot Highlander soldiers to Williamsburg...."
Gene Taylor notes his sources as follows:
I. Grant. "The McLeods." establishes that Norman MacLeod, Chief of Clan McLeod, in 1774-5 raised a company of recruits for Fraser's 71st Highlander Regiment.
II. MacLean, J. P. "An Historical Account...of Scotch Highlanders in America." describes the embarkation of two regiments in April 1776 and capture at sea of one company of Fraser's 71st Highlanders.
III. Allen, Gardner W. "Naval history of the American Revolution." Corroborates the incidents described in II and provides further details.
IV. Stewart, Robert Armstead. "The History of Virginia's Navy of the Revolution." likewise provides further details, and a footnote cites "Official Letters of the Governors of Virginia," Vol. I, p. 149 as source of information detailed in Ref V.
V. "Tyler's Quarterly." Vol. V, pp 59-63, "The Highland Prisoners." describes the disposition of the Highlanders by parole to 14 Virginia Counties and Winchester.
Dorothy Mercy, in the Virginia Calendar of State Papers -- dated June 24, 1776, found mention of William McLeod, being a Scot-Highland prisoner, and sent to Winchester, the county seat of Frederick Co. Vs. She notes that William would have been only 18 [almost 19]--rather young to have been a sergeant.
The 1782 tax list for Frederick County Va, compiled by Captain Elisha Williams includes a William McCloud (sic) with 5 whites and 0 blacks.
Dorothy Mercy also discovered in the Frederick Co Will book #6, 1795-1802, p. 81 Will of Mary Morrison (alias Mary Spinder) dated 18 Jan, 1808; proved 5 Apr. 1808:
"Home purchased of John Taylor, deeded to William Spinder I give to my brother, William McLeod." Executors: William McLeod and George Lynn. Witnesses: George Lynn and M. Bader.
In Frederick Co. Marriages Dorothy M. found a record: "Mary Spinder m. James Morrison 19 Aug 1800."
When did Mary come to this country? How did she end up in Frederick County too? Kay Long notes that Gardner W. Allen's Naval history of the American Revolution Vol 1, p 116 states: ..."These transports were the Crawford and Oxford. All the soldiers, two hundred and seventeen in number, with several women and children, were put in the Oxford." Could Mary have been among them?
From Frederick Co. Deed book:
3/3/1784 William McLeod from Robert Hite & wife, Sarah Deed Book 20, p. 114
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Taylor Family Genealogy
1757 - 1825 (67 years)