According to numerous historical sources, one of the most important organization within the British colonial government during the Rebellion/War of 1812 was the Indian Department. This orginazation's main goal was to seek out then employ men who had close relationships with Natives in the Ohio Valley and Southern Canadian regions.

Matthew Elliott, Thomas McKee, Robert Dickson, and William Caldwell all served as officers of the Indian Department for the British government at various times. Elliott's ties were indeed particularly strong... Matthew was listed of reaching rank of Captain, but British and Canadian sources indicate that he was Lt. Colonel; he was stationed at Fort Amherstburg and at Fort Detroit. His 19 year old son another Matthew, that joned British Army in 1813 (present at battle of Frenchtown), also served with him. There was another Elliott a Colonel William Elliott that also was stationed at Fort Amherstburg. It is thought that this may have been Mattthew's Sr's brother. Sources also list the name as Elliot.

Canadian/British records indicate that Matthew Elliott served as Captain in Indian Dept., from 1777-84. Listed him officialy as: Superintendent, Lt. Colonel Matthew Elliott, Sr., Amherstburg. These records state also that he died near Burlington Heights, Upper Canada, 7 May 1814, at 75 years of age. Other sources state that he died about 1818. There was a Matthew Elliott that was elected three times to the Ontario Legislature for Essex South and documentation that shows that he amassed thousands of acres of property. Matthew Elliott (recorded after the War 1812 ended)married Sarah Donovan, daughter of Matthew Donovan, one of Detroit's early schoolmasters. It is not positive whether these records speak of Matthew Sr. or Jr.




Matthew Elliott

Matthew was a resident of Pittsburgh during the American Revolution and he originally sided with the Americans, but became disillusioned in the late 1770s with the American cause. The Continental Army and militia forces had been destroying Indian villages in the Ohio Country. These attacks were preventive and were done to minimise Indian attacks against white settlements in western Pennsylvania. Following the Squaw Campaign led by American Edward Hand in eastern Ohio, Elliott switched his allegiance to the British, it is not known what event actually lead to this change in allegiance ... Matthew eventually went to Fort Detroit, which was at that time one of England's most important strongholds in the West.

In 1763 Militia of Detroit and vicinity, which was then a part of Canada, was reorganized. And in 1788, 226 English and 721 French were enrolled into the British army from this region. After the transfer of Detroit to the United States in 1796 two Regiments of Essex Militia (Ontario, Canada) were organized under Command of Lieut.-Colonels J. B. Baby and Alexander McKee. During the war of 1812 Colonel Matthew Elliott and Colonel William Elliott commanded the First and Second Regiments of the Essex Militia. The Essex Militia were present at the capture of Fort Detroit, on August 13th, 1812. Detroit has the distinction of being the only American city to surrender to a foriegn country...



Lt.-Colonel Matthew Elliott(Superintendent of Indian Affairs)

According to tradition, Matthew Elliott was a native of Ireland. He came to America as a young man around 1761, and settled in Pennsylvania. He served in Bouquet's expedition for the relief of Fort Pitt in 1763. For many years thereafter he was engaged in the Indian trade or the government service, or both with headquarters at Pittsburgh. By the opening of the Revolution he was conducting rather extensive trading operations and had acquired much influence over the Indians of the Ohio Valley. Matthew came to the Detroit area with other well-known Loyalists like Alexander McKee and Simon Girty. He played a key role in rallying Indian support for the British against Americans in numerous battles along the border even before the War of 1812. There are numerous and conflicting historical accounts written about him, excerpts from some of these below:
    '..Capt. Matthew Elliott, an Irish Tory, who resided in that hot-bed of Toryism, Path Valley, Penn,, remained there until his views led himself with others of like opinions to fly to the West or to the British lines. He came to the Muskingum in 1776, about the time the less prominent enemy of the young Republic settled there. November 13, 1776, he, with his squaw, and it is thought John Leith, started out for the Scioto to trade, but was followed by six Indians, who confiscated his goods and threatened to take his life. He escaped, however, and, going to Detroit...'


    '...Matthew Elliott was a native of Ireland who came to America as a young man in 1761. He served in Bouquet's expedition for the relief of Fort Pitt in 1763. For many years thereafter he was engaged in the Indian trade or the government service, or both with headquarters at Pittsburg. By the opening of the Revolution he was conducting rather extensive trading operations and had acquired much influence over the Indians of the Ohio Valley. Probably by reason of his government employment, Elliott remained loyal to the King, and in the autumn of 1776 set out with two or three followers and a considerable train of goods for Detroit. En route his goods and slaves were seized by the Indians, but Elliott himself reached Detroit in safety. There, however, he incurred the suspicion of disloyalty and was arrested and sent down to Quebec by Gov. Hamilton. On being released he made his way back to Pittsburg, where he associated with other loyalists and became known as a dangerous character. On March 28, 1778, Elliott again sought refuge at Detroit in company with Alexander McKee and Simon Girty. This time he won the confidence of the British authorities and was soon employed in the Indian department. Throughout the remainder of the Revolution he was an active leader of Indians in the warfare in the West, participating in almost every important expedition in the Ohio region during the war. He led 300 Indians in the defeat of Col. Crawford's expedition, aided in the slaughter of the Kentuckians at the Blue Licks and served with Hamilton on the Vincennes campaign and with Bird on his invasion of Kentucky in 1780. He effectively served his country in the operations in Western Ohio from 1790 to 1794, and July, 1796, was promoted to superintendency of Indian Affairs. When war with the United States seemed again impending, the government found that no one else could control the western Indians, and Elliott was reappointed Superintendent of Indian Affairs. He was as much as any man responsible for the River Raisin Massacre...'
The John Askin Papers, I, 257-58



A Few Elliott/Elliot Loyalists in Canada

Elliot - Lieutenant-Colonel William, KB - Royal Canadian Rifles - died 17th December 1845. Memorial at St. Mark's Church, Niagara, Canada - "Sacred to the memory of Lieut. Col. Wm. Elliot, K.B., of the R.C. Rifle Regt. Colonel commanding Niagara frontier, who died at Niagara, Dec. 17th, 1845, aged 55 years. 39 years of his life were devoted to his country, he having served in most of the glorious victories of the Peninsular War. This tablet is erected by the officers of the Royal C. Rifle Regt., as a memorial of affection and of sincere regret for his lamented death."

Elliott - Major John - 4th Light Dragoons - died 5th July 1837.Grave at Simla. "Sacred to the memory of Major John Elliott. Captain in H.M.'s 4th Light Dragoons and Asst. Adjt Genl. King's Troops in India, who departed this life on the 5th July 1837."

Elliot - Cornet R. - King's Dragoon Guards - died 30th April 1860. Memorial in Holy Trinity Church, Bangalore. "Sacred to the memories of: Cornet R. Elliot, Kings Dragon Guards died at Madras 30 April 1860. Cornet J. Greatorex, KDG, died at Bangalore 19 March 1861. Cornet W.T. Jay, Lt. Caw. who died while on service with the Left Wing King's Dragoon Guards in China 4 December 1860. Cornet H.W. Cockerell, MLC, died while doing duty with the KDG at Bangalore 8 August 1860. Erected by the Officers King's Dragoon Guards and the Officers M.L. Cavalry attached."



Links - Scottish and Loyalists Histories in Canada

House of Loyalist Lt. Colonel Matthew Elliott near Amherstburg, Ontario
The Scottish Military Tradition in Canada -- Ian McCulloch
Fort Amherstburg in the War of 1812 -- Bob Garcia
INDIAN DEPARTMENT -- UPPER CANADA 1812
History of The Essex Scottish Regiments - THE ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION



Elliott Clan and Border Reivers DNA Project


There is currently a DNA Project underway that may be of some interest to those of you that are of Elliott and or Border Reiver descent. Not only can the results from this test help distinguish between one Scottish family and another, it can also be used to show how two different families may be related. This DNA test cannot tell you exactly how many generations back the common paternal ancestor may be, nor can it tell you who that ancestor was, but the results of this Y chromosome DNA test can be very helpful genealogically! Family Tree DNA will do the Y chromosome DNA tests at the group rate for anyone who is willing to join the Elliott DNA Project. Only a male with the Elliott surname would be eligible for the Elliott DNA Project. This Y chromosome DNA test can only be done on one ancestral line - the direct paternal ancestral line, which runs from father to son. Each man has only one direct paternal ancestral line, while he may have inherited many other ancestral lines from both his father and his mother, according to group administrator of this project.

If you would like more information just contact James V. Elliott, Group Administrator of the Elliott (And Border Reivers) DNA Project. His address is: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~gallgaedhil/elliott_border_reivers_dna.htm

You may order a Y chromosome DNA testing kit from Family Tree DNA at: http://www.familytreedna.com/surname_join.asp?code=K58255





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