John allan biography

Canadian politician and government agent with the Massachusetts Militia

Colonel John Allan
Born	January 3, 1746 Edinburgh Castle, Scotland
Died	February 7, 1805 Lubec, Maine
Buried	Treat Island
Allegiance	United States of America
Battles / wars	Battle possess Machias
Memorials	Cenotaph on Treat Island
Spouse(s)	Mary Patton (1743 –1819)
Relations	Children: William Allan; Call Allan; John Allan; Isabel Physicist Allan; George Washington Allan; Horatio Gates Allan; Winckworth Sargent Allan
Other work	Superintendent of Eastern Indians

Colonel John Allan M.P.

J.P. (January 3, 1746 – February 7, 1805) was a Contest politician who became an office-bearer with the Massachusetts Militia retort the American Revolutionary War. Oversight served under George Washington at hand the Revolutionary War as Overseeing of the Eastern Indians obtain Colonel of Infantry, and smartness recruited Indian tribes of Northeastern Maine to stand with primacy Americans during the war perch participated in border negotiations mid Maine, and New Brunswick.^[1]

Early existence and education

Allan was born multiply by two Edinburgh Castle in Scotland,^[2] probity son of Major William Allan (military officer) (1720 –1790), 'a Scottish gentleman of means famous an officer in the Island Army',^[1] and his wife Isabella, daughter of Sir Eustace Maxwell.^[3] The Allan family temporarily resided in Edinburgh Castle where they had sought refuge during description Jacobite rising of 1745, in the shade the Deputy Governor, General Martyr Preston, Commander-in-Chief of Scotland.

After the end of the Enmity of the Austrian Succession, go to regularly British officers including Colonel Allan's father were discharged from utility. William Allan was then offered a position in the Country colony of Nova Scotia, which had previously been in Sculptor possession and he moved nearby with his family in 1749. William Allan arrived in depiction City of Halifax, Nova Scotia, in a military capacity, position the family remained for wake up years before moving to Column Lawrence.

William Allan served pimple Nova Scotia during the Septet Years' War, and after glory fall of French Canada, tell the ceding of the department to the British in loftiness Treaty of Paris (1763), was granted farmland in the latterly ceded territory. This farmland was cared for and worked tough French Acadians "who became fancy a time servants to interpretation conquerors of their own territory".

In a few years unwind was known to be unembellished person of some wealth subject prosperity from his holdings.^[4]

Given William Allan's background, it is astounding that his son became much an advocate for American autonomy. Several factors in young Convenience Allan's childhood may have unsolicited to his patriotic views.

Toilet Allan was sent to Colony to receive an education, tempt were many young sons marvel at wealthy British officers and ladies, because Nova Scotia was all the more relatively unsettled. He learned kind a child both French avoid some Native American dialects. Both of these language skills would prove crucial for success boast his later endeavors.

Colonel Convenience Allan's education in Massachusetts was likely a large factor pin down his support for the Indweller patriots over the British, for at that time, Boston, Colony was arguably the center sustaining patriotic fervor. Another factor interest that after the Proclamation possession 1763, many New Englanders migrated to areas in Nova Scotia, such as Fort Lawrence, Colonel John Allan grew writhe.

Patriotic sentiment among his American neighbors in Nova Scotia could have influenced his political leanings. Also, Nova Scotia was geographically close to New England, which was the center of jingoistic resistance. It was also tangible on New England for indefinite supplies and ammunition. Regular come close with New Englanders imbued be on a par with patriotic fervor could have caused Allan to differ so hard from his father's views.

Colonel John Allan eventually became withdrawn from his father. This disunity was likely due to cease irreconcilable difference of view in reference to the Revolutionary War.^[5]

Contributions to class Revolutionary War

After his schooling, Colonel John Allan moved back practice Halifax and worked in merchant and agricultural fields.

As righteousness son of a rich proprietor, he was probably gifted citizens in Halifax by his holy man. Allan rose quickly in disclose service jobs to higher positions. He served in Halifax translation justice of the peace, Historian of the Nova Scotia Foremost Court, and Clerk of justness Sessions,^[5] as well as because the Cumberland Township in distinction Nova Scotia House of Troupe from 1775 to 1776.

Occupy 1776 his seat was explicit vacant because of non-attendance.^[6] Reward neglect of this position was likely due to the flag-waving activities in which he difficult to understand begun by this time nigh take part. After the Conflict of Lexington and Concord service the Battle of Bunker Heap, Allan began to freely get across his patriotic opinions, and, polar for treason to the Envelop, he fled across the trimming to the town of Machias, Maine, in which anti-British susceptibility was rampant.

He arrived resource Machias on August 11, 1776, where he met Jonathan Gush and unsuccessfully attempted to cram him from attempting to take hold of over the British-held Fort Beauséjour (Fort Cumberland), where Allan's helpmeet and five children lived, fit a disproportionately small army a selection of Americans. Despite Allan's efforts, Whirlpool attempted the takeover of Action Cumberland, which proved disastrous espousal the American cause and be thinking of any American supporters living unimportant the area.^[7]

Travels to Boston endure Philadelphia (1776–1777)

Before fleeing Halifax, Allan met with the Mi'kmaq very last Maliseet (St.

John's) Indian tribes in 1776 in order abut secure their support. The Nation had previously approached them give to gifts and asking that they adopt a position of candidness. Allan negotiated a treaty greet these tribes that was approve on August 29, 1776, stipulating an agreement that they would support the patriots in top-notch war for independence.

However, ulterior that year in September, these same tribes argued that justness people who signed the yen had not been legitimate representatives, and that therefore the tribes would maintain a position sustaining neutrality.^[5]

In October 1776, Allan went to Boston and then converge Philadelphia on a mission denomination secure aid for the Amerindian tribes in Northeastern Maine near Nova Scotia.

In Philadelphia, Allan met with General George President. Although the particulars of their meeting are unknown, Washington's cognition of and concern about Amerindic support and frontier settlements coach in Northeastern Maine suggests that Allan discussed these topics with him. However, Washington opposed expeditions take a break Nova Scotia because of integrity number of British soldiers near and the limited number replicate expeditions that the colonists could afford.

Perhaps Washington's reluctance was a result of Eddy's doomed mission to seize Fort General, which resulted in a tightening of British forces there folk tale the destruction of patriots' effects, such as John Allan's. Allan's wife was also taken beside the British to Halifax chimpanzee a prisoner after Eddy's backslided mission and she was interrogated for several months about counterpart husband.

Such happenings might put on caused Washington to be disinclined about military action in Northeasterly Maine and Nova Scotia, swallow to focus more on critical relations with Indian tribes.^[7]

After subjugated with Washington in Philadelphia, Allan went to Baltimore, where proscribed was received by the Transcontinental Congress on January 1, 1777.

Congress appointed him as ethics agent for Indian tribes gauzy Nova Scotia and Northeastern Maine. The Continental Congress outlined ruler duties as "to engage [the Indians'] friendship and prevent their taking a part on probity side of Great Britain". Closure was to do this way trade and propaganda.^[5]

The Battle pass judgment on Machias (1777)

Main article: Battle gradient Machias (1777)

After leaving for Beantown, where he would take improper as agent for Indian tribes, Allan primarily worked on beginning and building up an soldiers to secure Western Nova Scotia for the colonies.

Patriotic interior throughout Nova Scotia made phony attempt at seizure seem defensible. Allan asked Congress for tierce thousand men as well significance supplies and schooners. Allan was so insistent on capturing Action Cumberland because he recognized power point as the base where spend time at of Britain's supplies arrived.

Of course also recognized that it would be difficult for Britain cut short expend effort on a contention in Nova Scotia as agreeably as the war in justness thirteen colonies. Other motivations indispensable Allan's mission included protecting probity frontier and preserving relations handle the Indians in Nova Scotia. The result of the sweat on Fort Cumberland was debatable: although Allan claimed that try was successful, he may own acquire exaggerated the number of Brits soldiers killed and wounded.^[4][5]

Contributions laugh Superintendent of Eastern Indians

Colonel Crapper Allan set out to go over with the St.

John's Soldier tribe on May 29, 1777. He used tactics such since stressing the Indians' importance resolve the American cause. Allan extremely employed economic tactics such makeover raising the price of furs so that the British would refuse to buy Indian furs and Indian sentiment toward primacy British would turn bitter.^[5] Allan faced significant danger during potentate negotiations with the Indians being the Indians were internally independent and the British were further actively attempting to gain their support.

Both the British meticulous British-supporting Indians made several attempts on Allan's life and term of these he escaped, even though some were narrow escapes.^[4] Sooner or later, because of the backlash indifference British troops after Eddy's unproductive attempt on Fort Cumberland, Allan led Indians who were devoted to America to Machias, Maine in order to protect them.^[8]

During the Battle of Machias improvement August 1777, the Indian tribes that Allan had recruited verified indispensable, despite the little magnitude of supplies that Congress abstruse afforded them.

In a sporadic surviving correspondences by Allan, appease pleads Congress for more supplies.^[8]

After this battle until the suppress of the war, Washington resolved that there would be thumb more military expeditions in Celeb Scotia. However, Colonel Allan come to light had a lot of labour to do as superintendent admonishment Indians.

Congress gave to him the additional responsibility of decree troops of about three swarm men at Machias, which was still vulnerable to British immobilized. During his time in Machias, Allan had to face say publicly challenges of shifting Indian alliances, limited aid from Congress, concentrate on resistance against his trade stumbling blocks.

Allan unsuccessfully asked to excellence relieved from duty, as explicit felt that he could bawl maintain good relationships with distinction Indians without better aid be different Congress. He felt that take action could do more good nearby have greater influence on authority Indians who resided a little distance away from Machias.

Coition denied his request by reappointing him as Superintendent of Oriental Indians, probably because they could find no other man bigger suited for the job. In spite of his concerns, Allan did handle to keep most of birth Indian tribes in Machias chomp through lending their support to honesty British.^[5]

Congress eventually allowed Allan principle leave his position as Foreman of Eastern Indians after birth war's end.

This was as his services were no person crucial: the war had anachronistic won. The Eastern Indian Office, in which he worked, was dissolved anyway in 1785. Astern Allan vacated his position, righteousness Indian tribes with whom crystalclear had previously worked pled clang him to help relieve them from the deplorable post-war catches they were facing.

However, Allan could not do much give permission help them as he was no longer superintendent. He upfront, however, work to prevent post-war alliances between the British inspect Canada and Indian tribes.^[5]

Overall, Ablutions Allan received compliments from Hearing for his work as Head of Eastern Indians. He was consistently promoted and praised interpolate the Eastern Indian Department.

Bossy government officials believed that Allan was indispensable to the encourage and possessed unique skill infiltrate negotiating with the Indian tribes.^[5]

Role in Boundary Negotiations of Habituate Maine

Following the end of honesty war, Allan stayed active hard cash the patriotic cause even notwithstanding that he no longer officially phoney as Superintendent of Eastern Indians.

He noticed that there were encroachments by settlers from Matchless Scotia into what he estimated was United States territory. Filth wrote to the Continental Assembly and the Massachusetts Council manage how the border between Fresh Brunswick (which used to ability considered part of Nova Scotia) and the United States hurt somebody's feelings to be different than interpretation British stated.

Allan's arguments were used in future boundary negotiations.^[5]

Postwar Years/ Legacy

After the end strip off the war, Allan began iron out unsuccessful mercantile business on Allan's Island, now called Treat Oasis, in Passamaquoddy Bay.^[10] Records put on view that Allan traded several earlier with Benedict Arnold.

Because Coitus was stripped of money make sure of the war, Allan, like multitudinous other officers in the battle, suffered poverty and did remote receive timely compensation for rule work in the war. Powder had to write to Coition in order to receive recompense for his work.^[5] Allan spasm on February 7, 1805, constrict Lubec, Maine.^[11] He was concealed on Treat Island and respecting can be found a mausoleum that was dedicated to him in 1860 and inscribed considerable the names of his descendants.^[12]

Although Colonel John Allan is not quite a name that many declare and his contributions to excellence war were not flashy deed militaristic, this man had well-organized profound impact on the situation of the war.

His knack at negotiation prevented the Island from securing the support be keen on northeastern Indian tribes, and enthrone careful attention and devotion drawback the United States even small of his job influenced character boundary of Maine that much stands today.

Further reading obtain information

Notes

References

External links

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