A war in the colonies in 1711?

Question

I'm looking at a geneology of my father's family and found that a relative in northern New York was given a substantial plot of land as a reward for being a "volunteer soldier in 1711on an epedition to Canada." The French and Indiand war did not take place until the 1750's/60's. What would this be about?

Answer 1

This was likely the European conflict known here in the Western Hemisphere as Queen Anne's War.

There were a number of European wars that involved the North American colonies, such as The War of Jenkins' Ear, King William's War,and King George's War. Some of these matters were over succession to the thrones of Austria and Spain.

The French and Indian War was known in Europe as The Seven Years' War, but it actually began in the Ohio Valley--the only one of these conflicts that actually began in North America.

Answer 2

A scheme of conquering Canada was conceived. Sir Hovendon Walker arrived at Boston with a fleet and an army, and these were augmented by the colonists at the bugle call of Governor Dudley of Massachusetts, until the fleet consisted of nine war vessels, sixty transports, and many smaller craft, bearing in all twelve thousand men. Nothing like it had ever before been seen in American waters. In August, 1711, this imposing fleet moved to the northward, and at the same time a land force of twenty-three hundred men under Colonel Nicholson started for Montreal by way of Lake Champlain.

More detail exists at the source link:

Answer 3

The only "war" that happend in the colonies at that time was the Tuscarora War down in North Carolina--there were a ton of rebellions at that time between settlers and American Indian nations. But, land was often given to people who were commissioned into the military at that time....an expedition into Canada is not unheard of for that time for military personell. And, just because a person is commissioned into the military, doesn't mean that they fought in a war of anykind. More than likely your family member may have been commissioned to go into Canada to help with protecting a fort or something at that time. Military were also used to protect missionaries.

Answer 4

The only instance of military action in the colonies in 1711 is that of Cray's Rebellion, but that was in South Carolina