In the early 1680s, several hundred Scots emigrated from Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Montrose to establish colonial settlement in New Jersey. This was backed at the highest level and sought to ensure that Scotland had a stake in the development of the American colonies. It brought together Quakers, Episcopalians and Presbyterians, a tense mix of religious affiliations. Many of the Presbyterians were transported Covenanters and the Quakers too had had their share of persecution.
This talk by Derrick Johnstone will set out the background to the venture and address the questions: Who were the immigrants? Why did they leave Scotland? What became of them?
Derrick will also introduce his website, East Jersey Bound, which hosts a genealogical database containing details of 600 emigrants and over 2,000 of their kin and associates.
Derrick is a Research Affiliate in the Department of History at the University of Glasgow in Scotland, having completed his dissertation on the Scots emigrants in 2025. He is Secretary of the Old Edinburgh Club.
