Unnatural Rebellion: Loyalists in New York City during the Revolution

318 Pages·2011·2.169 MB·English

by  Ruma Chopra

Unnatural Rebellion
Jeffersonian America
Jan Ellen Lewis, Peter S. Onuf, and
Andrew O’Shaughnessy, Editors
Unnatural
Rebellion
Loyalists in New York City
during the Revolution
Ruma Chopra
University of Virginia Press charlottesville & london
University of Virginia Press
© 2011 by the Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia
All rights reserved
Printed in the United States of America on acid-free paper
First published 2011
9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
library of congress cataloging-in-publication data
Chopra, Ruma.
Unnatural rebellion : loyalists in New York City during the
Revolution / Ruma Chopra.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
isbn 978-0-8139-3109-8 (cloth : alk. paper) — isbn 978-0-8139-3116-6
(e-book)
1. New York (N.Y.)—History—Revolution, 1775–1783. 2. American
loyalists—New York (State)—New York—History. I. Title.
e263.n6c56 2011
973.314—dc22
2010036114
To Prem and Hans, Kusum and Jia
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Contents
Acknowledgments ix
Introduction 1
1. Natural Rights and Natural Ties: Britons in New York City 7
2. “Uncommon Phrenzy”: Rebel Usurpation, 1774–1776 29
3. “Quicken Others by Our Example”: New Yorkers Welcome the
British 51
4. “Lord Pity This Poor Country”: Loyalist Resilience 80
5. “Diversity of Sentiments on the Future Conduct of the War”:
Loyalist Clamor 108
6. “A Certificate of Their Necessity”: A Mix of Refugees
and Rules 136
7. “The Die Had Been Cast”: Loyalist Divisions 160
8. “Look Yo Tory Crew, and See What George Your King
Can Do”: Loyalists Unprotected 188
Conclusion: Loyalist Patriotism Exceeds Loyalist Power 223
Notes 227
Bibliography 271
Index 293
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Acknowledgments
When I was a doctoral student at the University of California, Davis,
Clarence Walker, in passing, observed that African Americans who chose
enslavement over freedom in the antebellum period were neither irrational
nor fearful. The slaves’ attachment to their masters required an alternate
and deeper explanation. Alan Taylor emphasized the same with regard to
the Euro-American loyalists’ allegiance to Britain during the era of the
American Revolution. In a letter written from New York to her cousin in
Scotland in May of 1785, the loyalist Nancy Jean Cameron acknowledged
the compelling emotions that drove colonists to choose British patriotism
over rebellion: “Patriot or rebel we are what we see is right to each of us,
conscience may make cowards.” I am thankful to Clarence, Alan, Mrs.
Cameron, and to other voices that echo from the archives, all of which
have taught me to consider how people make sense of their lives.
Alan is brilliant. His deep commitment to scholarship and to his stu-
dents is unsurpassed. If mentors indeed lead by example, there is no
higher standard. Clarence attends to the entire world without missing a
single nuance. His friendship—his loyalty—has meant everything. From
the beginning, other members of my graduate committee, John Smo-
lenski and Caroline Cox, oVered their guidance. John showed a cultural
studies student how to read history, and Caroline taught that student how
to feel less intimidated writing it.
Other scholars provided friendship and also perspective. I am flattered
when I am asked to place my work in relation to Judith Van Buskirk’s Gen-
erous Enemies. Her warmth and goodness are, of course, legendary. Ronald
HoVman of the Omohundro Institute inspired much-needed confidence
with his kindness and sustained interest in the project. I could not have
begun learning about colonial New York without Edward Countryman’s