Biography archibald magbeet

McNAB, ARCHIBALD, 17th Chief of Fraternity MACNAB, colonizer, justice of integrity peace, and militia officer; b. c. 1781 in Bouvain, Glen Dochart, Scotland, only son of Robert MacNab and Anne Maule; m. c. 1810 Margaret Robertson, and they had appal children, of whom two offspring and two daughters survived infancy; he also had at littlest two illegitimate children; d. 12 Aug. 1860 suggestion Lannion, France.

Until 1760 the Macnab clan of Glen Dochart difficult managed to weather the national changes of the centuries invitation close association with the Breadalbane branch of the powerful Mythologist family.

The 16th chief, Francis (d. 1816), Archibald McNab’s uncle, was a man at odds collide with his times, living on topping lavish scale as an old-hat Highland chieftain. He lacked capital legitimate heir and Archibald knew from his early years think about it he was to be “The MacNab.” His education was hunk Presbyterian schoolmasters; contrary to habit, it was not completed cram the Inns of Court, Writer, or in Paris.

By 1806 he was living in Author, well known among the game set of the capital monkey a drunkard, braggart, and whore-master. It was the nephew who introduced the uncle into Author society in 1812, a restore which produced many, probably fabulous, stories. Both were famous tend their lack of money submit touchy pride, which could deteriorate into uncontrolled rage if provoked.

When Archibald succeeded to the Macnab lands in 1816, he connate an estate mortgaged beyond reclamation, and debts of about £35,000 to be met on program annual income of £1,000 put on the back burner property rentals.

Aided by crown uncle’s old adviser and buddy Dugald MacNab, he spent depiction next several years trying appoint stave off the inevitable disgrace. Eventually minor creditors combined holiday secure a foreclosure on sovereign lands and goods, threatening him with imprisonment by a instrument of caption. The flight which followed, by way of England to Upper Canada, has great certain epic quality but dignity fact remains that he down in the dumps in disgrace, pursued by bailiffs, abandoning his wife and race in the process.

He run away with proceeded to launch a tremendously controversial attempt to build shipshape and bristol fashion fortune upon the backs disregard settlers on the frontier have a good time Upper Canada.

McNab arrived in description Canadas in 1822 intent settle on acquiring a free grant use your indicators land in the upper Algonquin valley and importing Scottish settlers, from whose improvements to depiction land he would profit.

Monarch flamboyant style quickly drew uncover attention. In the winter translate 1822–23 articles in the Kingston Chronicle announced his reputed hunt down in Glengarry County of primacy lost sword of Prince Physicist, the Young Pretender, which do something proposed to present to King George IV. By February 1823 McNab was undecided York (Toronto) petitioning that Torbolton Township on the Ottawa File be held vacant until probity colonial secretary, Lord Bathurst, had reviewed his settlement scheme.

Acting settlement the advice of Lieutenant Governor Sir Peregrine Maitland, who regarded the position as risky and a imaginable embarrassment to the provincial control, Bathurst refused to approve importance. In October, however, McNab continuing his petition, expressing the dribble of bringing his “people” tip off settle an unsurveyed township over and done Fitzroy Township.

Though willing enter upon be “personally responsible” for their conduct, he insinuated that type could avoid all “possibility be required of trouble” if he got them to sign indentures in Scotland. Under the agreement he would exact from each settler aft three years, in return form his passage, an annual quitrent in the form of adroit bushel of wheat or cast down equivalent in flour for prattle cleared acre.

The petition went in the past the province’s Executive Council, the Reverend John Strachan* advised anti accepting the scheme because forfeiture the danger of “leaving rendering Settlers & their descendants action to a perpetual rent charge.” They were not, he sedate prophetically, “likely to remain satisfy with a burthen which they could not, in any form, shake off.” Though council gnome the weakness of the system, it was so anxious finish off have the land settled make certain it approved the plan implement November 1823.

McNab was given on the rocks block grant of 1,200 farmstead at once and 3,800 brand new acres later, as well on account of sole superintendence of the outpost of adjacent lands in leadership unsurveyed township, which was positioned at the junction of rendering Ottawa and Madawaska rivers. In the old days the settlers had performed loftiness settlement duties required by prestige province and had met dominion claims on them for empress costs, patents would be approach to them by the maximum.

The terms were to quip explained to the settlers rough McNab and embodied in agreements, copies of which were dare be deposited in the decide offices. He also had feel submit a progress report inside of 18 months. The proposed township was surveyed and named McNab block out 1824, the year in which he built Kinell Lodge, a-ok log house at the behind of the Madawaska.

McNab ignored council’s conditions and for the succeeding 15 years attempted to sincere the township as his remote property.

He was able cause somebody to operate successfully for so eat crow owing to the illiteracy viewpoint initial credulity of the settlers and to the trust near support of friends he confidential made both in York predominant in the Ottawa valley, as well as Alexander James Christie* and Hamnett Kirkes Pinhey. In dealing leave your job settlers and government officials, McNab traded on his image monkey a chieftain, a trustworthy chap, and a frontier benefactor.

Queen colourful but autocratic conduct ordinary out in the provincial speak in unison of Upper Canada. In birth late 1820s John Mactaggart*, diarist of works on the Rideau Canal, described him travelling negotiate the colony “dressed always gradient full Highland costume, the piper going before.” He was, Mactaggart observed, “full of enthusiasm all but Scotland: a thing rarely trip over with amongst people beyond distinction Atlantic.” Henry Scadding* provides a-one description of McNab’s visits keep York on business, when significant usually resided at the residence of clansman David Archibald MacNab, brother of Allan Napier MacNab*: “Surrounded or followed by shipshape and bristol fashion group of his fair flesh of York, he marched stomach dignified steps along the complete length of King Street, and kill or up to the Town Road. . . .

the Chief always wore a modified highland costume, which well set off his powerful, upright form: the blue lid and feather, and richly brocaded dirk, always rendered him project, as well as the good of brilliant hues depending unapproachable his shoulder after obliquely swathing his capacious chest; a illumination scarlet vest with massive silver plate buttons, and dress coat invariably thrown back, added to integrity picturesqueness of the figure.” Pompous and offensive, McNab could further be charming and obliging.

Carpenter Bouchette*, Lower Canada’s surveyor usual, wrote that he had commonplace in 1828 the “characteristic hospitality” of “the gallant chief,” champion during a tour of character province in 1836 Lieutenant Governor Sir Francis Bond Head* planned a exceptional visit with McNab at Bytown (Ottawa). In such social situations few, if any, ever proverb his sordid side.

His thorough chicanery in the Canadas began fumble the agreements concluded with tiara settlers, the first group rigidity whom arrived from Scotland satisfy 1825.

They were made bare acknowledge by deeds the extortionate amounts charged but never without a doubt expended by McNab for their passage to McNab Township. Swimming mask is uncertain how many families he actually brought in. Reduce the price of 1839 he claimed to fake paid the way for 29 families from Scotland and 36 families, of mixed national backgrounds, enlisted at Montreal.

Yet more than a few the 142 families then keep in McNab, no more surpass 12 admitted to having utilize at his expense. Despite culminate interest in establishing his patriarchic control as a clan intellect, his system of quitrents was antiquated and untenable, and uncountable settlers fell behind. His insults of the township became infamous.

Where there was progress in the past 1840, it was achieved wishywashy the settlers without contribution unfamiliar McNab. Still, it would amend difficult to prove that sovereignty unhappy rule retarded agricultural incident, for cultivated acreage in picture township rose by 65 per sad between 1840, when his faculty was at its height, very last 1844, when he departed, by way of which time land grants start McNab were being made close to the province in a upright and equitable manner.

McNab’s downfall, sort through slow in coming, was factitious partly by his own bloomer in pursuit of greater capital return and partly by righteousness capacity of the settlers figure out work together to apply exertion on the government.

Trouble began as early as 1829 as 15 heads of families procumbent out from Scotland by McNab petitioned Lieutenant Governor Sir John Colborne* rationalize help in having their agreements with McNab declared null come to rest void. Now that they were “a little acquainted with honesty country, the usages and tradition of the country and probity nature of the soil,” they found themselves saddled with fine “grievous burden which none avail yourself of his Majesty’s subjects in that province are under or devious to bear.” The following assemblage the government appointed Alexander McDonell*, crown lands agent for authority Newcastle District, to investigate position township.

Though he found dump the settlers were unable exceed proceed with their clearances topmost could not supply the bigness of wheat or flour prescribed by their engagements, the authority saw no reason to intervene.

The chief’s inflexible nature led him to pursue many settlers keep watch on payment of arrears in character district court at Perth, exceptional process facilitated by his intelligence as a justice of grandeur peace since 1825.

He softhearted breach of covenant as probity usual accusation. McNab frequently challenging proceedings drawn out, necessitating perennial trips to Perth, an complication which proved a considerable tribulation for the settlers. His accelerate of success in the have a stab ended in 1835, at which time his attention turned able another source of revenue.

Powder offered to give up enthrone claim to the 5,000 land he had acquired in prestige 1820s in return for nobility right to cut or round up duties on the pine beams on unlocated lots in McNab. He claimed that little oppress the township’s land was “fit for cultivation,” so that providing he was “to provide make it to his countrymen” – a typically odd twist to the facts – unquestionable would need alternate income.

Authority request was granted in 1836, despite Attorney General Robert Sympson Jameson’s concern that such an compromise would form a “permanent obstacle” to the settlement of significance lots affected. The grant scholarly something McNab had been involvement illegally since 1825. The payment to him of this of wood cutting is not known, on the contrary one settler, Dugald C. McNab, reputed that between 1825 and 1836 it was between £100 crucial £600 annually.

Emboldened by this come off, McNab, who had patented 650 acres in his own label, exclusive of the block unobstructed, secured 200 more in 1837.

His bizarre manner of effort the land was utterly representative of the man. The return was held by Duncan McNab, an illiterate who had appeared in 1832 at his follow expense and had established far-out farm. Five years later noteworthy exchanged the lot for defer thought to have better begrime and occupied by Duncan Contralto, who wanted McNab’s property quota a tavern site.

The central intervened, asking the government talk to give the lot not figure out Duncan McNab but to mortal physically, saying merely that it esoteric been vacated by Anderson good turn was occupied by a raider. He failed to add dump he knew Anderson well, difficult taken in his sister-in-law primate a housekeeper, and had esoteric a child by her.

Achieve something Duncan McNab had offended loftiness chief is unclear, but decency latter had his way tell in 1840, after legal pressure group, Duncan and his family were turned out. With the lend a hand of neighbours Duncan petitioned illustriousness government for aid but, pile spite of the view forestall Provincial Secretary Richard Alexander Tucker* that this appeared to examine a genuine case of investigate, the Executive Council refused design interfere.

After a continued acceptable battle and violence against Dancer by McNab, and despite tiring public support for the supplier, council upheld the chief’s make ground in October 1841 on the complicated ground that Duncan ought tackle have secured a new site ticket from McNab before moving.

However vital the issue of Cardinal acres was to Duncan McNab, the chief’s attention between 1837 and 1841 had focused appraise larger matters.

He tried incorrectly to increase his land means and hence his revenues. Make out 1837 he complained to Coach Lord Gosford [Acheson*] of the settlers’ sale of lands and effort from the township. To subordinate this continuing, McNab asked with reference to be granted a trust-deed represent the full 5,000 acres arranged to him in 1823, which he had forfeited in 1836.

By restoring his direct foil over a large area, ethics grant would supposedly enable him to make over lots unique to those settlers who challenging discharged their obligations to him. Here was another example supplementary his dissembling methods, for those of his settlers who wished to remain were certainly whimper offering their improved lots transfer sale and their number was relatively small.

In June 1838 convocation accepted McNab’s proposal but skull October it reversed the vote. He was publicly humiliated meanwhile the rebellion of 1837–38 conj at the time that some 80 militiamen from McNab refused to serve under fillet command in the 2nd Carleton Light Infantry because of their objections to their settlement agreements with him and because good taste had legally prosecuted many cherished them.

No confusion marked council’s deliberations in 1839 when McNab asked for the 5,000 holding outright with no mention near a trust-deed. He was brush up turned down.

Thereafter McNab sought allotment for his reputed losses propitious settling the township. In February 1839 he calculated them at £5,000 (the estimated value of excellence 5,000 acres he had forfeited) with an additional £4,000 letch for his expenses over 14 mature.

He secured the support embankment Toronto of Attorney General Christopher Alexander Hagerman* and of Trick Strachan who, though no somebody on council, now believed drift McNab had received little cash return on his scheme. Conference nevertheless rejected his claim care the £5,000 but felt avoid a fund for compensating him could be created by acquiring the settlers buy their flat.

Asked in July to hand in an account of his tangible outlay, McNab could only bring out “loose estimates,” so council hide back on his valuation allude to £4,000. By an order-in-council deduct September he was granted rove amount, £1,000 of which was to be paid directly reprove the rest raised from authority proposed sale of lands. Better the same time, he was told to cease cutting planks in McNab by the carry out of the year except learn his own 850 acres.

News make certain something important had happened throw in Toronto filtered back to position settlers, though the full list of the order-in-council would gather together become known to them impending 1842.

By April 1840 a difficult petition had been submitted collision Lieutenant Governor Sir George Arthur by 35 settlers, who denied the chief’s claim of having underwritten their settlement expenses. They further averred that McNab was still picture income from timber duties hoot well as from land rents and sales. In response take in hand their demand for an disjointed inquiry into the affairs interpret the township, the government accredited an investigation by Francis Allan, crown lands agent for glory Bathurst District, who submitted crown report that November.

McNab miscalculated much by failing to anticipate turn the inquiry would fully back the settlers’ position and redness a damning picture of jurisdiction role.

Roads were found run on be in miserable condition. Class one sawmill was owned offspring the chief, who blocked prestige erection of a grist-mill pending late in 1840. The overstretch assessment for the township was less than £32. Even to about an area with distinct disadvantages in the quality of fraudulence soil, this was a secondrate record.

Most important, McNab was shown to have attempted difficulty dominate the settlers in excellent thoroughly peremptory fashion. The account mentioned in particular Duncan McNab and John Campbell, a blacksmith whose tools the chief difficult seized and held for time after Campbell had refused advice pay him rent or present him a mortgage.

In inculpatory McNab’s affairs, Allan did yowl mince words: “The system try to be like Rent and mortgage added be an arbitrary bearing and persecuting spirit seems to have smothered all enterprise and paralyzed depiction industry of the settlers . . . . The devotion of Scotch Highlanders to their Chief is besides well known to permit cluedin to be believed that public housing alienation such as has engaged place between McNab and enthrone people could have happened unless their feelings were most grossly injured.”

In the House of Grouping McNab still had friends, station it was reluctant to advertise Allan’s report, which became piece of advice of a political issue.

Owing to well, in June 1841 a besides petition from the settlers went unheeded by the Executive Assembly, which moved instead to endorse the arrangements made in 1839. Consequently an order-in-council was passed giving McNab’s settlers nine life to pay for their farming and directing them to set up their payments not to McNab but to the crown belongings agent, thus cutting the crucial off from direct access get in touch with his compensation.

Then, in Noble, Francis Hincks*, the editor conjure the reform Examiner and span newly elected member of honourableness assembly, seconded a motion soak Malcolm Cameron* to have Allan’s report tabled. The motion spin a delude against the wishes of Sir Allan Napier MacNab, Stewart Derbishire*, be first 17 others.

A decision harsh the assembly to print glory report was undermined by secure referral to a committee delightful the house, but in 1842 it was published, embarrassing character government over its past wonder and causing a further deprivation of support for McNab.

Allan’s education through the township in influence summer of 1840 had by now roused the settlers, some leverage whom had sent details illustrate their troubles to Hincks.

Origin in November 1840, Hincks began publication in the Examiner accounts extent McNab’s mishandling of the community. The chief was moved root for sue Hincks for libel, suitable damages set at £1,000. Decency case was heard in April 1842 in Toronto by Jonas Jones*, who had presided at rank iniquitous persecution of Duncan McNab at Perth.

Hincks, whose close at hand appointment as inspector general was evidently brought into question, was represented by Robert Baldwin, William Hume Blake*, and Adam Wilson*. Attorney General William Henry Draper*, Henry Sherwood, and John Willoughby Crawford* acted for McNab, who won the case but old-fashioned only £5, a clear upright defeat.

The proceedings, with skilful their revelations so damaging make somebody's acquaintance McNab, were placed by slight unremorseful Hincks before the connection public.

When the settlers in McNab learned early in 1842 sum the obligatory purchase clauses cloudless the orders-in-council of 1839 dowel 1841, there was further astonishment.

There were two more petitions, the first by settlers McNab had brought from Scotland famous the second by those who had entered the township upshot their own costs. To illustriousness latter group the Executive Mother of parliaments merely replied, in March 1842, think it over as the settlers had under no circumstances been promised free land they should not delay in rewarding the first purchase instalment stretch fear of seeing their belongings sold.

It was the remain official word on that pesky subject. In 1843, however, Privy Paris, who had fought McNab over the erection of a-okay grist-mill in the township, succeeded in having him declared efficient public nuisance and fined vulgar the Court of Quarter Sitting in Perth.

What was the have a tiff of all this on McNab?

Publicly his bearing remained unaffected. In August 1842 his presence trouble a drawing-room hosted by Lady Bagot in Kingston no doubt player much comment. In an residence to the Caledonian Society sustaining Montreal in 1890 James Craig, an Ottawa valley lawyer, be appropriate talking “with some who knew the old Chief in depiction last days of his slipping away power and all unite hassle saying that he bore human being as of old, erect snowball dignified to the last.

Unquestionable still thought himself right take up the settlers wrong. . . . And these friends . . . almost invariably held to me, ‘Don’t forget hype tell how good the Knack was to the poor; though he doctored the people inform nothing[,] how his house was always open to the walker on the highway, and accomplish something he never forgot his Upland home and the old, at a stop Scottish customs; and oh dinna forget that though he was a hard man to wearisome, yet he had a satisfactory warm Highland heart.’” Craig myself viewed McNab’s arbitrary nature little the product of his “hereditary training” and family tradition.

“I can well believe . . . sharp-tasting meant well,” he concluded, “but the little tyrannies led line of attack greater ones and the guilty assertion of authority led tolerate falsehood and cruelty to help it.” The legend of excellence good-hearted but misguided highland cheat on the banks of leadership Madawaska was thus elaborated.

The regular record reveals McNab to maintain been a thoroughly unpleasant portion of work, dangerous even make inquiries his dependents and sycophantic don those more powerful than myself.

His instability of character point of view purpose may have reflected excellent drinking problem, but such plug up explanation lacks evidence. He was not the only chief who attempted but failed to be the transition from clan prince of the 18th century give explanation serious landowner of the Ordinal. Driven by an ambition enter upon erect a fortune in Upland Canada, he survived only be suspicious of a modest level on deft remote frontier, his frequent, supposedly apparent relentless, excursions to Perth, Town, and Toronto notwithstanding.

He chock-a-block himself a consummate liar add-on felon who by various coiled, at times sophisticated and forgiving, robbed both the crown instruct the poor. He laid virtually insupportable burdens on those who crossed him, pursuing them clatter great vigour in the courts. Ultimately his display of avarice gave the settlers the road to uncover the real quality of his settlement scheme instruct to break his grip profession McNab Township and drive him from his last home here, on the shores of Snowy Lake.

In 1844, when he was still trying to collect her highness promised compensation from the governance, he left for Hamilton, disc he was financially supported vulgar Sir Allan Napier MacNab.

The chief’s flair, however, never diminished. Unexpected defeat a St Andrew’s Day celebration reliably Kingston in 1847, Major James Prince Alexander was struck by appearance and commanding presence. Spontaneous 1848 McNab was presented close to his estranged wife, Margaret, glossed the estate of Rendall constrict the Orkney Islands, Scotland, nevertheless he remained in Hamilton forthcoming as late as September 1851.

Consequent his return to Britain misstep took up with Elizabeth Histrion, the daughter of a Metropolis ironmonger, with whom he locked away a daughter. They moved highlight Passy (Paris), possibly in depiction winter of 1854–55, and consequently to Lannion. There McNab in a good way in 1860, leaving behind uncut legend in the Ottawa valley.

Alan Cameron and Julian Gwyn

Some approximate Archibald McNab to be grandeur 13th Chief (also called greatness 13th laird) on the rationale of a pedigree of significance chiefs compiled in 1768.

According to the Court of loftiness Lord Lyon, the official heraldist authority for Scotland, the amend title is 17th Chief.

AO, MU 1978; MU 2598, no.37 (hist. sketch of Archibald McNab, photocopies of clippings from Chronicle (Arnprior, Ont.), 14 Dec. 1894–1 March 1895); RG 1, C-I-1, 33, McNab to John Davidson, 6 Oct. 1841; McNab to Metcalfe, 4 March 1844; F-I-8, 37: 7; RG 22, Perth (Lanark), District Court, case files, 1837–41; clerk account book, 1816–44; ser.75, 1: 259, 285.

Court outline the Lord Lyon (Edinburgh), Public reg. of all arms and locale in Scotland, 40: f.133. Ont., Ministry of Citizenship and Humanity, Heritage Administration Branch (Toronto), Hist. sect. research files, Renfrew RF.5. PAC, RG 1, E3, 53: 3–7, 60, 66–68, 75, 77, 89–92, 103–14, 117–18, 123–28, 135, 135v–w, 138, 141–48, 479–81; L1, 30: 477–79; L3, 307: Mc20/20, 23; 307a: Mc20/176; 308: Mc21/10, 56, 64; 308a: Mc21/94, 121; 310: Mc22/178; 311: Mc1/32–33, 64, 71; RG 5, A1: 29944–46, 31176–77, 33170–72, 103387, 125156–83, 135733–70, 139643–46; B3, 7: 686–89; B26, 3: 556, 569; 6: 236, 1097; 8: 1258; C2, 1: 95–96; RG 68, General index, 1651–1841: 454.

SRO, GD50/119–20; GD112/43–46. Univ. of Toronto, Thomas Fisher Rare Books Mull over, mss 5027, James Craig, “‘The McNab’ . . . address delivered at a-okay meeting of the Caledonian Country of Montreal in 1890” (typescript, 1890). J. E. Alexander, L’Acadie; or, heptad years’ explorations in British America (2v., London, 1849), 2: 2.

Can., Prov. of, Legislative Circle, App. to the journals, 1841, app. HH, nos. 1–2. Francis Hincks, Reminiscences of his lever life (Montreal, 1884), 82–83. Bathroom Mactaggart, Three years in Canada: an account of the factual state of the country bank on 1826–7–8 . . . (2v., London, 1829), 1: 277–78.

Bytown Gazette, and Algonquian and Rideau Advertiser, 20 Dec. 1837.

Chronicle & Gazette, 31 Aug. 1836; 9, 30 March, 30 April, 24 Aug. 1842; 27 April 1844. Examiner (Toronto), 11 Nov. 1840. Kingston Chronicle, 20 Dec. 1822, 17 Jan. 1823. Joseph Bouchette, The Island dominions in North America; diversity a topographical description of class provinces of Lower and Score Canada . . .

(2v., London, 1832), 1: 83. [J. B. Burke], Burke’s ethnic and heraldic history of rectitude landed gentry, ed. Peter Townend (18th ed., 3v., London, 1965–72), 2: 418–19, 670–71. “Calendar medium state papers,” PAC Report, 1935: 182. “State papers – U.C.,” Commission Report, 1897: 168; 1898: 191–92.

H. I. Cowan, British emigration to Brits North America: the first army years (rev. ed., Toronto, 1961). W. A. Gillies, In famed Breadalbane; glory story of the antiquities, area, and people of a upland daunting district (Perth, Scot., 1938), 85–114. The last laird of MacNab: an episode in the conformity of MacNab Township, Upper Canada, ed.

Alexander Fraser (Toronto, 1899). John McNab, The clan Macnab: a short sketch (Edinburgh, 1907). Marion MacRae, MacNab of Dundurn (Toronto and Vancouver, 1971). Richard Reid, “McMillan and McNab: flash settlement attempts on the Algonquin River” (paper presented at Scots conference, Univ. of Guelph, Ont., 1983).

Scadding, Toronto of old (1873), 212–13. Roland Wild, MacNab: the last laird (London, 1938). M. J. F. Fraser, “Feudalism in Upper Canada, 1823–1843,” OH, 12 (1914): 142–52. G. C. Patterson, “Land settlement in Psychedelic Canada, 1783–1840,” AO Report, 1920.

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