as appears from his tombstone, in 1708. Subsequently the Rev. William
Dockwras people, coming now and settling, advance the province more than it hath advanced these ten years."
It is evident from these and similar testimonies which might be collected, that the emigrants from Scotland to East Jersey, were numerous and influential. In some places they united with the Dutch and puritan settlers in the formation of churches, in others they were sufficiently numerous to organize congregations by themselves. The church in Freehold, one of the largest in the state, was formed chiefly by them. It was organized about 1692. Their first pastor was the Rev. John Boyd, from Scotland; who died, as appears from his tombstone, in 1708. Subsequently the Rev. William Tennent became their minister and continued with them forty-four years.
It was, however, to Pennsylvania, that the largest emigrations of the Scotch and Irish, particularly of the latter, though at a somewhat later period, took place. Early in the last century they began to arrive in large numbers. Near six thousand Irish are reported as having come in 1729; and before the middle of the century near twelve thousand arrived annually for several years.4 Speaking of a later period, Proud says, "they have flowed in of late years from the north of Ireland in very large numbers." Cumberland county, he says, is settled by them, and they abound through the whole province. From Pennsylvania they spread themselves into Virginia, and thence into North Carolina. A thousand families arrived in that state from the northern colonies in the single year 1764. Their descendants occupy the western portion of the state, with a dense and homogeneous population, distinguished by the strict morals and rigid principles of their ancestors. In 1749, five or six hundred Scotch settled near Fayetteville; there was a second importation in 1754; and "there was an annual importation, from that time, of those hardy and industrious people."
A considerable number of Scotch also settled in Maryland. Col. Ninian Beall, a native of Fifeshire, having become implicated in the troubles