News and Reflections: "Monsters" from the Past -- October 26, 2023

"Monsters" from the Past:
"The story is far worse than you imagined !!!!"
October 26, 2023

The Fultz House Museum, in Lower Sackville, has published an engaging brochure, "Captain John Gorham: Hero or Monster."  Here, we may read a summary of the vile and murderous exploits of Captain John Gorham and his band of Rangers.  As we read the brochure, we learn that In return for a generous bounty offered by the British Governor Shirley and later by Governor Cornwallis, Captain Gorham and his Rangers engaged in the collection of human scalps. The brutal practice of collecting scalps for pay, exploited in full by John Gorham and his Rangers, continued from approximately 1744 through the early 1750s, and targeted Mi'kmaq warriors, civilians, and anyone living in settlements and villages that "stood in their way." 

What happened under the command of Captain John Gorham and his Rangers was far worse, as contemporary research reveals.  Brian D. Carroll, in his 2012 article,  “Savages” in the Service of Empire: Native American Soldiers in Gorham's Rangers, 1744–1762," gives insight into Gorham's Rangers, a primarily Indian company, and its role in subduing a hostile Acadian and Mi'kmaq population using a variety of techniques comprising collection of scalps from Mi'kmaq warriors, civilians, and Acadian guerillas, crop burning, amphibious raids, surprise attacks, terror -- including the taking, killing or selling of captives - deception, impersonation "stealth and subterfuge."

Reference: Carroll, Brian D. (2012). "Savages” in the Service of Empire: Native American Soldiers in Gorham’s Rangers, 1744-1762." The New England Quarterly Vol. 85, No. 9. p. 407. https://archive.org/details/2012-09-us-the-new-england-quarterly-vol.-85-no.-9/mode/2up

Articles in the Portland Press gives a local historian's point of view about Gorham's Rangers:

References:

• Humiston, F. (1968, January 4). "Boston Town to Thomas Town - 258: Cajuns Threat to British After Beausejour Victory." Portland Press Herald (Portland, Maine). Page 8. https://www.newspapers.com/image/848451808. Downloaded October 26, 2023
  

• Humiston, F. (1968, January 16). "Boston Town to Thomas Town: British Decide Actions Must be Taken Against Acadians. Portland Press Herald (Portland, Maine) · Tue, Jan 16, 1968 · Page 7. https://www.newspapers.com/image/848527966 Downloaded on Oct 26, 2023
  

Clippings are re-printed with the Permission of Newspapers.com.