John Gorham (military officer)
Encyclopedia
John Gorham was a New England Ranger
and was the first significant British military presence on the frontier of Nova Scotia and Acadia to remain in the region for a substantial period of time after the Conquest of Acadia (1710)
. He established the famous "Gorham's Rangers". Gorham was commissioned a captain in the regular British Army in recognition of his outstanding service. He was the first of three prominent American rangers - himself, his younger brother Joseph Gorham and Robert Rogers
- to earn such commissions in the British Army. (Many others, such as George Washington
, were unsuccessful in their attempts to achieve a British rank.) John Gorham was active during King Georges War and Father Le Loutre’s War.
Gorham, Maine
and Gorham, New Hampshire
are named for John Gorham.
. John Gorham II also served with Church during the fourth Eastward Expedition into Acadia, which involved the Raid on Chignecto (1696)
during King William's War
. John Gorham III fought in the Siege of Louisbourg (1745)
. Finally, John Gorham IV, the subject of this article, and his brother Joseph served in Acadia as rangers.
from numerous attacks from the French, Acadians, and Mi’kmaq (1744, 1745). For example, on 4 October 1744, Gorham and his rangers massacred Mi'kmaq men along with five women and three children that were in two near-by wigwam
s. Governor Mascarene noted that the New England Rangers way of war was helpful on the frontier rather than the regimental fighting of the British regulars. On another occasion in October, Gorham returned with three scalps and a live native baby.
Governor Shirley wrote in February 1746 that “the great Service which Lieut. Colonel Gorham’s Company of Rangers has been to the Garrison at Annapolis Royal, is a demonstration of the Usefulness of such a Corps.”
. His father died in battle.
Gorham received a commission to defend Nova Scotia. During 1748, Gorham's Rangers continued to be with the British regulars at Annapolis Royal. In the autumn of 1748, Gorham destroyed the Acadian resistance at Minas and then sailed (October 19) over to the Saint John River to end the Acadian and Maliseet resistance.
, on July 14, 1749, Gorham was appointed to the Nova Scotia Council. In 1749, during Father Le Loutre's War
, Gorham built Fort Sackville at present-day Bedford, Nova Scotia
. He also participated in the Battle at St. Croix
and the Battle at Chignecto
.
Frontier warfare
was the standard practice of warfare in North America during the colonial wars
between New England
and New France
and their respective native allies. In Acadia and Nova Scotia, both the British and Mi'kmaq forces were engaged in frontier warfare or total war, that is, both sides of the conflict repeatedly killed combatants and non-combatants (i.e., women, children and babies). While the British paid the New England Rangers for Mi'kmaq scalps, the French paid the Mi'kmaq for British scalps.
Led by the efforts of Daniel N. Paul
, there has been much public attention in the twenty-first century on Gorham's use of frontier warfare, with little regard for the historical context and the Mi'kmaq leaders use of this type of warfare against the British.
Gorham held his position on the Council for two years and then in August 1751 Gorham left Nova Scotia for England. He died in London of smallpox in December 1751.
United States Army Rangers
United States Army Rangers are elite members of the United States Army. Rangers have served in recognized U.S. Army Ranger units or have graduated from the U.S. Army's Ranger School...
and was the first significant British military presence on the frontier of Nova Scotia and Acadia to remain in the region for a substantial period of time after the Conquest of Acadia (1710)
Siege of Port Royal (1710)
The Siege of Port Royal , also known as the Conquest of Acadia, was conducted by British regular and provincial forces under the command of Francis Nicholson against a French Acadian garrison under the command of Daniel d'Auger de Subercase, at the Acadian capital, Port Royal...
. He established the famous "Gorham's Rangers". Gorham was commissioned a captain in the regular British Army in recognition of his outstanding service. He was the first of three prominent American rangers - himself, his younger brother Joseph Gorham and Robert Rogers
Robert Rogers
Robert Rogers may refer to:*Robert Rogers , 18th century American colonial officer, explorer and playwright*Robert Rogers , Canadian politician...
- to earn such commissions in the British Army. (Many others, such as George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
, were unsuccessful in their attempts to achieve a British rank.) John Gorham was active during King Georges War and Father Le Loutre’s War.
Gorham, Maine
Gorham, Maine
Gorham is a town in Cumberland County, Maine, United States. The population was 16,381 at the 2010 census. In addition to an urban village center known as Gorham Village or simply "the Village," the town also encompasses a number of smaller, unincorporated villages and hamlets with distinct...
and Gorham, New Hampshire
Gorham, New Hampshire
Gorham is a town in Coos County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 2,848 at the 2010 census. Gorham is located in the White Mountains, and parts of the White Mountain National Forest are in the south and northwest. Moose Brook State Park is in the west. The town is crossed by the...
are named for John Gorham.
Family
The Gorham family had a long history of ranging which began under the father of American Ranging Benjamin Church. John Gorham I died while fighting alongside Church in the famous Great Swamp FightGreat Swamp Fight
The Great Swamp Fight, or the Great Swamp Massacre, was a crucial battle fought during King Philip's War between colonial militia of New England and the Narragansett tribe in December of 1675.-Battle:...
. John Gorham II also served with Church during the fourth Eastward Expedition into Acadia, which involved the Raid on Chignecto (1696)
Raid on Chignecto (1696)
The Raid on Chignecto occurred during King Williams War when New England forces from Boston attacked the Isthmus of Chignecto, Acadia in present-day Nova Scotia. The raid was in retaliation for the French and Indian Siege of Pemaquid at present day Bristol, Maine. In the English Province of...
during King William's War
King William's War
The first of the French and Indian Wars, King William's War was the name used in the English colonies in America to refer to the North American theater of the Nine Years' War...
. John Gorham III fought in the Siege of Louisbourg (1745)
Siege of Louisbourg (1745)
The Siege of Louisbourg took place in 1745 when a New England colonial force aided by a British fleet captured Louisbourg, the capital of the French province of Île-Royale during the War of the Austrian Succession, known as King George's War in the British colonies.Although the Fortress of...
. Finally, John Gorham IV, the subject of this article, and his brother Joseph served in Acadia as rangers.
Historical Context
Despite the Conquest of 1710 and the subsequent signing of the Treat of Utrecht in 1713 with France, the British were not able to establish control in Nova Scotia/Acadia for decades. John Gorham and his Rangers arrived in Nova Scotia to move the military and political influence of the British beyond a defensive posture at Annapolis Royal and the fishing village of Canso. Gorham moved the British operation on to the offensive during King Georges War.Siege of Annapolis Royal (1744)
During King Georges War, Gorham and his 70 natives from New England were involved in defending Fort AnneFort Anne
For a similarly named fort in New York City see: Fort AmsterdamFort Anne is a typical star fort built to protect the harbour of Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia. The fort repelled all French attacks during the early stages of King George's War....
from numerous attacks from the French, Acadians, and Mi’kmaq (1744, 1745). For example, on 4 October 1744, Gorham and his rangers massacred Mi'kmaq men along with five women and three children that were in two near-by wigwam
Wigwam
A wigwam or wickiup is a domed room dwelling used by certain Native American tribes. The term wickiup is generally used to label these kinds of dwellings in American Southwest and West. Wigwam is usually applied to these structures in the American Northeast...
s. Governor Mascarene noted that the New England Rangers way of war was helpful on the frontier rather than the regimental fighting of the British regulars. On another occasion in October, Gorham returned with three scalps and a live native baby.
Governor Shirley wrote in February 1746 that “the great Service which Lieut. Colonel Gorham’s Company of Rangers has been to the Garrison at Annapolis Royal, is a demonstration of the Usefulness of such a Corps.”
Siege of Louisbourg (1745)
Gorham fought alongside his father in the Siege of Louisbourg (1745)Siege of Louisbourg (1745)
The Siege of Louisbourg took place in 1745 when a New England colonial force aided by a British fleet captured Louisbourg, the capital of the French province of Île-Royale during the War of the Austrian Succession, known as King George's War in the British colonies.Although the Fortress of...
. His father died in battle.
Gorham received a commission to defend Nova Scotia. During 1748, Gorham's Rangers continued to be with the British regulars at Annapolis Royal. In the autumn of 1748, Gorham destroyed the Acadian resistance at Minas and then sailed (October 19) over to the Saint John River to end the Acadian and Maliseet resistance.
Father Le Loutre's War
Soon after the arrival of Governor Edward CornwallisEdward Cornwallis
Lieutenant General Edward Cornwallis was a British military officer who founded Halifax, Nova Scotia with 2500 settlers and later served as the Governor of Gibraltar.-Early life:...
, on July 14, 1749, Gorham was appointed to the Nova Scotia Council. In 1749, during Father Le Loutre's War
Father Le Loutre's War
Father Le Loutre’s War , also known as the Indian War, the Micmac War and the Anglo-Micmac War, took place between King George's War and the French and Indian War in Acadia and Nova Scotia. On one side of the conflict, the British and New England colonists were led by British Officer Charles...
, Gorham built Fort Sackville at present-day Bedford, Nova Scotia
Bedford, Nova Scotia
Bedford is a community in the Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia, Canada. It was an independent town from 1980-1996. Bedford lies on the northwestern end of Bedford Basin, an extension of the Halifax Harbour...
. He also participated in the Battle at St. Croix
Battle at St. Croix
The Battle at St. Croix was fought during Father Le Loutre’s War between New England Rangers and Mi’kmaq at Battle Hill in the community of St. Croix, Nova Scotia. The battle lasted for three days in the spring of 1750.-Historical context:...
and the Battle at Chignecto
Battle at Chignecto
The Battle at Chignecto happened during Father Le Loutre’s War and was fought by 700 troops made up of British regulars led by Charles Lawrence, New England Rangers led by John Gorham and Captain John Rous led the navy. They fought against a militia made up of Mi’kmaq and Acadians led by...
.
Frontier warfare
Scalping
Scalping is the act of removing another person's scalp or a portion of their scalp, either from a dead body or from a living person. The initial purpose of scalping was to provide a trophy of battle or portable proof of a combatant's prowess in war...
was the standard practice of warfare in North America during the colonial wars
French and Indian Wars
The French and Indian Wars is a name used in the United States for a series of conflicts lasting 74 years in North America that represented colonial events related to the European dynastic wars...
between New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
and New France
New France
New France was the area colonized by France in North America during a period beginning with the exploration of the Saint Lawrence River by Jacques Cartier in 1534 and ending with the cession of New France to Spain and Great Britain in 1763...
and their respective native allies. In Acadia and Nova Scotia, both the British and Mi'kmaq forces were engaged in frontier warfare or total war, that is, both sides of the conflict repeatedly killed combatants and non-combatants (i.e., women, children and babies). While the British paid the New England Rangers for Mi'kmaq scalps, the French paid the Mi'kmaq for British scalps.
Led by the efforts of Daniel N. Paul
Daniel N. Paul
Dr. Daniel N. Paul, C.M., O.N.S., is a Mi'kmaq Elder, author, columnist, and human rights activist. Paul is perhaps best known as the author of the book We Were Not the Savages. Paul asserts that this book is the first such history ever written by a First Nation citizen. The book is seen as an...
, there has been much public attention in the twenty-first century on Gorham's use of frontier warfare, with little regard for the historical context and the Mi'kmaq leaders use of this type of warfare against the British.
Gorham held his position on the Council for two years and then in August 1751 Gorham left Nova Scotia for England. He died in London of smallpox in December 1751.