by George P. Insh

We often hear of the 17th century exploits of early English, French, and Spanish adventurers to the coasts of North America. But what of another brand of intrepid settlers that ventured to the west during the same period – the Scots? Eager to colonize and gain a stonghold in New World locales, they too set forth and established themselves in areas as diverse as Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, New Galloway (Cape Breton Island), East New Jersey and Stuart’s Town, South Carolina. This is the story of those people and the events that motivated their activities - their successes, failures, and eventual legacy.

Based on a wealth of primary source material, this meticulous study was compiled by George Pratt Insh, the well-respected Scottish scholar and historian, in the early 1920’s. He treats each colonial venture in a separate chapter, providing details and commentary formed from a lifetime of study into the motivations and aspirations of those men and women who sailed across the ocean in search of riches, prestige, or a more secure life. Drawing frequently from obscure source material now lost or unobtainable, this work has often been quoted as a source within itself, given Insh’s obvious scholarship and attention to detail. His unique and warm style, as fresh now as when it was written, makes this book a delight to read for any historian, genealogist or general reader. In addition, the substantial appendices contain numerous transcriptions of governmental communication, and more interestingly, letters from settlers to their relatives back home. The reader will delight in discovering the universal themes expressed in these letters, and will perhaps realize the timelessness of human motivation and inspiration.

We are delighted to present this volume as addenda to any study of 17th century Scottish or American culture, in hope that it will once again be discovered as a vital source of information and reference. The contributions of the Scottish people were substantial and long lasting, and deserve to be recognized in the context in which they were formed. It is our hope that Insh’s work will once again become a standard reference for early Scottish ventures on the North American continent.