Sir James Macpherson Lemoine

*Photo credit: BanQ

Who was James Lemoine

To answer this question, let's go back to the beginning. James Lemoine was born on January 21, 1825, at Rue Saint-Georges, Quebec City to Daniel Lemoine and Julia Ann Macpherson. He was half Scottish¹and French; fluent in English and French. Lemoine was three years old when his mother, Julia Ann Macpherson died. He was under the care of his grandfather, Daniel MacPherson, until the age of 13. James adopted the surname Macpherson in honour of his grandfather. He remained in the care of his father and studied law for six years after which he articled under Joseph-Noël Bossé.

Accomplishments

Sir James Macpherson Lemoine was described as an illustrious lawyer being called to the Quebec bar in 1850. Lemoine studied law at Seminaire de Quebec and later taught law at Laval University. Additionally, he was an officeholder, ornithologist, folklorist, and historian.² He earned a Doctor of Civil laws degree and a Diploma, as "Délegue Regional" for Quebec, of the Institution Ethnographique de Paris.

The Department of Inland Revenue - Outside Service listed James McPherson Lemoine of Quebec as a District Inspector on 23 Sept. 1868. He was appointed District Inspector on 23 June 1847 and made an annual income of $2,2000.00, which was likely paid in British pounds.

However, Lemoine would not go on to become a distinguished lawyer such as his contemporary Justice Archibald Mclean. His obituary of February 5, 1912, described Lemoine in the following manner:

Death of Canadian Writer, QUEBEC, February 5. -- Sir James MacPherson Lemoine died here today at his residence Spencer Grange. He was born in 1825 in Quebec and was knighted in 1897 for his literary work. He was the author of several books dealing with Canadian history and ornithology. --Evening Star (Washington, District of Columbia) Monday, Feb 5, 1912, pg 12.

Lemoine was a member of the Numismatic and Antiquarian Society of Montreal and the Literary and Historical Society of Quebec. His love of Quebec history and folklore³led him to thoroughly research the Invasion of Canada 1775-1776. Additionally, Lemoine published an extensive bibliography of 71 sources supporting his research, which included the "Journals of Sergeant James Thompson 1758-1830, in possession of the Literary and Historical Society of Quebec".

In 1881, Lemoine published, "The Scots in New France (1535-1880)⁴ an Ethnological Study" by J.M. LeMoine 1881. On November 29, 1880, Lemoine did an Inaugural Address before the Literary and Historical Society of Quebec and read his findings:

It shall be our aim to point out to you the traces left by Scotchmen, in Canadian history, in and round Quebec, from the dawn of Canadian history to modern times.

Lemoine thoroughly dissected records, muster lists, soldier's journals, with a focus on the 78th Regiment of foot, otherwise known as the Frasers Highlanders. His works became renowned and in 1897 he was knighted. His achievements were extensive with many modern-day historians and authors using him as a reliable historical source. However, are all of his findings correct? Let's consider the following passage:

CLUNIE MACPHERSON

(See Page 22.)
Capt. John Macpherson, of Fraser’s Highlanders, wounded 25th July 1759, was brother to Duncan Macpherson, the head of the Clan, the Laird of Cluny, generally known by the name of Clunie Macpherson. The melancholy end of this brave chieftain places in a most favorable light, the fidelity of his followers towards their chiefs mixed up in the rebellion of 1715 and also in the rising of 1745. The battle of Culloden brought ruin on all the Clan. Clunie Macpherson⁶ was, however, appointed to a company in Lord Loudons Highlanders, and had taken the oath to the Government. His Clan was impatient to join the adventurous descendant of their ancient sovereign, when he came to claim what they supposed his right. While he hesitated between duty and inclination, his wife, a daughter of Lord Lovat, and a staunch jacobite, earnestly dissuaded him from breaking his oath, assuring him nothing could end well that began with perjury. His friends reproached her for interfering and hurried on the husband to his ruin."—Sketches of the Highlanders, Vol. 1, P. 60.

Lemoine identified Captain John Macpherson as the brother of Duncan Macpherson, laird of Cluny, son of the late Ewen McPherson of Cluny. His source was Sketches of the Highlanders, Vol. 1, P. 60. Was he properly referencing Colonel David Stewart? Let's consider the source information of Stewart, Lemonie was drawing from:

The late McPherson of Cluny, father of Colonel McPherson, chief of that clan, was engaged in the rebellion of 1745. His life was, of course, forfeited to the laws, and much diligence was exerted upon him to bring him to justice.

We see Stewart did not reference Captain John Macpherson in his passage. He does; however, mention Captain John Macpherson of the 78th Regiment prior to writing page 60. Lemoine, no doubt read what Stewart wrote about Captain John Macpherson and perhaps through interviews with elderly townsmen he learned about him.

So, why does it matter whether James Macpherson Lemoine erred in referring to Captain John Macpherson as the brother of Colonel Duncan Macpherson? Because once we learn how Lemoine erred, it will enable us to entangle the Macpherson of Three Rivers. Further blogs will reveal the identity of Captain John Macpherson, wounded on July 25, 1759.

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Lemoine's Sources for Scots in America

The First English Conquest of Canada, by Henry Kirke, M. A., B. C.L. Oxon, London, 1871
A bequest in his favor of a lot of land at Quebec on the 15th August, 1646, by Adrien Duchesne, surgeon on board of M. de Repentigny’s ship which lot of land of twenty arpents, (afterwards named the Plains of Abraham,) had been conceded by the Company of New France to Adrien Duchesne, on the 5th April, 1639
“Le 19 (janvier 1649) premiere execution de la main du bourreau sur vne creature de 15 ou 16 ans, laronesse. On accusait en meme temps M. Abraham de l’auoir violee ; il en fut en prison, et son proems differe a l’arrivee des vaisseaux.”—Jesuit Journal, p. 1
See Journal du Siege de Quebec, 1759; J. G. Panet: p. 15
BAnQ Digital
Extract from a Letter of a Volunteer in Wolfe’s army, presented to the Literary and Historical Society, by Captain Colin McKenzie, of H. M. 78th Ross-shire Buffs—Highlanders
Maple Leaves, 1873
The Scot Abroad, Vol. 1, Page 93
Rattray’s Scot in British North American, page 213
The Campaign of Louisbourg, 1750-58—Quebec, 1867
A Dialogue in Hades, a parallel of military errors, of which the French and English armies were guilty, during the campaign of 1759, in Canada— Quebec, 1866
The Campaign in 1760 in Canada—Quebec, 1866
Memoire du Sieur de Ramezay, Commandant d Quebec, ait svjet de la reddition de cette ville, le 18 septembre 1759, d'aprls un manuscrit aux archives dela marine a Paris; publie sous la direction de la Societe Litteraire et Historique de Quebec. Quebec—Des Presses de John Lovell, 1843
The Garb of old Gaul
List of officers of Fraser’s Highlanders, commissions dated, 5th January 1757
William Skene, F.S.A. Scot Dr. W. J. Anderson, P. L. & H. S., Dr. W. J. Anderson, P. L. & H. S.
Browne’s History of the Highland Clans, p. 183
Tome II, c. 7, from ZEiian. Yar. Hist. VII
Extract from MorningChoronicle. Report of Lecture, 1 Dec. 1880
Garneau's History of Canada
Maple leaves, 1864, p. 102
Lieutenant Fraser’s journal
Quebec Morning Chronicle, January 1868
Quebec Morning Chronicle, February 8, 1868
Brown’s History of the Highlands, vol. IV., p. 309
London Gazette, of 7th Dec. 1880
Rattray’s Scot in British North America, P. 313
Letters and Journals of James, Eighth Earl of Elgin, edited by Theodore Walrond, C. E., 1873, P. 160
Quebec Past and Present, p. 404
Canadian Review, published at Montreal, in 1826
Antiquarian for Oct. 1880, p. 67
Quebec Gazette, 12 March 1838
Interviews with oldtimers who witnessed historical events

List of Some of Lemoine's Works

Album du Touriste
Ethnographique des ments Qui Constituent la Population de la Province de Quebec
Historical and Sporting Notes on Quebec and its Environs
Legends of the St. Lawrence River
Le Courrier de Livre
Les Peheries du Canada
Le general Sir Frederick Haldimand a Quebec, 1778-84
Le massacre au Fort George; la memoir de Montcalm vengee, Documents historiques (1864)
Maple Leafs: Canadian History, Literature, Sports
Monographs and Sketch
Picturesque Quebec: A Sequel to Quebec Past And Present
Synoptic Table of Ornithology of Canada: Smithsonian Classification and Nomenclature
The Chronicles of the St. Lawerence
The Golden Dog
The last decade of French rule at Quebec, 1749-1759
The port of Quebec: its annals, 1535-1900
The Scots In New France (1535-1880): An Ethnological Study
The sketches of Château Bigot
The Streets of Quebec
Queen's Birth-Day, 1880: Quebec, Its Gates and Environs: Something About the Streets, Lanes and Early History of the Ancient Capital

To purchase a copy of one of Lemoine's works, you can visit the following websites. Alternatively, many of his works are available in e-book format on the open web or BanQ.

Lemoine Sir - AbeBooks
sir james macpherson lemoine in all shops | chapters.indigo.ca

Footnotes:

1 www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/sir-james-macpherson-lemoine^↩ 2 http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio.php?BioId=41652^↩ 3https://www.google.com/url?sa=j&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.morrin.org%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F03%2FHD_8_BIBLIOGRAPHY20OF20THE20INVASION20OF20CANADA.201775-76.pdf&uct=1647123820&usg=17WfrFxvQdunPPYY1GPVhfi6ybs.E^↩ 4 https://www.morrin.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/HD_8_BIBLIOGRAPHY20OF20THE20INVASION20OF20CANADA.201775-76.pdf^↩ 5https://www.electricscotland.com/history/articles/newfrance.htm^↩ >

Further Reading on the Macphersons of Three Rivers

I See Your Light: Memory & Fiction

The Macphersons of Three Rivers