Back in the early eighteenth century, when Dutch, German, or, French was clearly interspersed among the English speaking population, it was sometimes difficult to understand the broad burr of the Highland Scot. It is little wonder Duncan McArthur was also called, McCarty, McCarthy, McCarter, McCarder, even McArty.

Duncan McArthur, born 1746, in North America, 5' 7" tall, a farmer from Johnstown, New York, joined the military on 19 June 1776, fought at Oriskany in Stephen Watts Company, 1st Battalion, King's Royal Regiment of New York, then when Watts lost a leg in the battle in 1777, transferred to the Grenadiers where he was a Corporal from 1778-1782. In 1783 he was sent to Alexander McDonell's Company where he was made a Sergeant, and so remained until the company disbanded near Montreal, later that same year.

His wife Catherine and children had made their, way to New York where they were able to board a ship to take them Up the St. Lawrence, and eventually to his side and Glencarry County. His daughter Ann, a bonny, winsome lass of about 16, soon captured the heart of the battle-weary Joseph Fitchett, who by now was 21, and about 1786 they were wed. Ann died early in life, on 7 Apr 1812.

Ann Fitchett, daughter of Sgt. Duncan McArthur, KRRNY received her Order-in-Councill, dated Cornwall, 4 Sept 1798.

Sgt. in the King’s Royal Regiment of New York in 1786.25