The Murder and Scalping of Miss Jane McCrae
The Innocent Loyalist Life Lost Won Patriot Hearts Against Burgoyne
Aug 17, 2009
The murder and scalping of Jane McCrae spelled slow destruction of General John Burgoyne’s army in the American Revolution. The violent act of this innocent woman inadvertently rallied colonists to the patriot cause who sought an end to the vile British who allowed such a travesty to occur.
Jane McCrae’s Family: Rebels and Loyalists
Jane McCrae (also spelled McCrea) was born in 1752 to a family whose offspring would split ideologically and politically when the American colonies declared independence from Great Britain. Her brothers John, Samuel and Stephen were patriots, serving in various capacities with the Continental armies. Her other brothers, Creighton and Robert were Tories, or Loyalists, like Jane.
When she was twenty-six years old, Jane became engaged to Lieutenant David Jones, a Tory in the service of General John Burgoyne. Despite her opposition to his views, Jane lived on the farm of her brother John, a Colonel in the Continental army, at Fort Edward. From this location, Jane kept close to her beloved Lt. Jones.
Jane McCrae’s Kidnapping and Murder
After Burgoyne’s forces recaptured Fort Ticonderoga on July 6, 1777. His forces were headed to Fort Edward, but Jane did not leave. She felt that she was safe from danger, knowing that her fiancé was among the officers. She was no doubt looking forward to the rendezvous as she had recently received a letter from Lt. Jones in which he wrote of his anticipation in seeing her. In fact, there is a possibility that Jane and David were married when the British army arrived at Fort Edward.
On the fateful morning of July 27, 1777, Jane visited her friend, Mrs. Sarah McNeil as the latter packed to leave the area, when a scouting party of Indians under the commission of General Burgoyne burst into the home and kidnapped both women. Jane and Sarah were taken by separate raiding parties. The party which had kidnapped Mrs. McNeil arrived at Burgoyne’s camp before the other. When the second party arrived, Sarah looked for her friend, but found the Indians had returned only with the girl’s scalp. Jane’s death was the settling of an argument among the Indians.
Impact of Jane’s Murder on the British and Colonial Armies
General Burgoyne was in a difficult position as he was unable to level any sort of discipline against the Indians. While he surely did not condone their actions, Burgoyne desperately needed their help and numbers in the approaching conflicts and so, said nothing.
Jane’s death was felt on both sides of the Atlantic. Edmund Burke called for an end to hiring natives in Parliament. Those colonists who had previously refused to take a side in the conflict joined the Patriot cause in droves. The fact that Jane had been a Loyalist meant nothing compared to the fact that the British General Burgoyne had employed bloody savages who had taken the life of a white woman and had done nothing to stop the action. Enlistment in the Continental army soared in the region, bringing larger numbers to face Burgoyne’s already dwindling forces.
Jane McCrae was buried outside Fort Edward, near her brother John’s home, her last residence. Her body was later moved twice, first to the Union Cemetery at Fort Edward and then to the New Union Cemetery between Fort Edward and Sandy Hill.
Sources:
Emmerson, Kassidy. "Female Heroes of the American Revoltuion: Jane McCrea" from Associated Content, 2006.
Mintz, Max M. The Generals of Saratoga: John Burgoyne and Horatio Gates. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1990.
Wood, W. J. Battles of the Revolutionary War: 1775-1781. Chapel Hill: Da Capo Press, 1990.
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