4218 miles apart two groups of remarkable men where fighting aristocracy and injustice.

At the same time in history they shared the same common problems and the same enemy, what's even more remarkable is that these men were brothers and of the same blood, Scots Irish blood.

The Steelboys of Ulster and the The Paxton Boys from western Pennsylvania who both between 1764 and 1775 left there mark in the history of Ulster and the USA.

The Steelboys (Hearts of Steel) and the Paxton Boys were formidable organization's. As you read the following you will see that fear played no part in the lives of these men. The Steelboys lead an attack on Belfast knowing full well how many Soldiers they might face, and the Paxton Boys marched to attack Philadelphia with the full knowledge that it contained a garrison of Royal troops, yet they never faltered in the pursuit of justice.

The Steelboys had their strongholds in the counties of Down and Antrim in Ulster. They were Scotch Irish Presbyterians. The Paxton Boys were also a group Scotch-Irish Presbyterians, frontier settlers who had their stronghold in western Pennsylvania. The Steelboys aimed at the abolition or reduction of tithes and the restriction of the system of consolidating farms for grazing purposes which had been imposed on them by the British. Across the Atlantic there brothers in arms where fighting against legislature which refused to authorize money, powder, lead, guns, men, or equipment to help them.

The Steelboys;

The Steelboys frequently appeared in arms, and moved with a certain degree of discipline, coming together from widely separated parts in obedience to the orders of a common center.

They came into being when English landlords finding the trade so profitable began to serve their tenants with notices to quit until all at once thousands were driven from their homes. The sturdy Scots Irish, who in five generations had reclaimed Antrim from the wilderness, saw the farms which they and their fathers had made valuable let by auction to the highest bidder; they refused to submit themselves to this robbery, which saw their land let to others, and let in many instances to Catholics. The Scotch Irish farmers and peasants combined to defend themselves. Where law was the servant of oppression, force was their one resource. They called themselves Hearts of Steel and were sometimes referred to as "Steelboys." Their object was to protect themselves from universal robbery.

Unjust laws provoke and compel resistance. Violence followed as the Hearts of Steel destroyed cattle and farmsteads of the intruding tenants. They attacked English gentlemen’s houses and lawyers’ offices chiefly in search of deeds and leases.

In the year 1772 six of their number were arrested and lodged in the town jail of Belfast. Their associates immediately mustered in thousands, and in open day light marched upon the city, made themselves masters thereof, they stormed the jail, and released their comrades.

Soldiers were soon sent out and several boys were arrested tried at Carrickfergus. Out of the numerous prisoners a batch were selected for trial, but whether as a result of intimidation or because of their sympathy with the prisoners it is difficult to tell, the jury in Belfast refused to convict. To ensure convictions the British moved the trials out of the offenders home turf but still the feelings were so strong that they were acquitted.

Eventually, however, as the insurrection subsided and after some fierce conflicts with the soldiers many Steelboys were taken, tried and executed.

Many a Ulstermans peasant corpse swung on the gibbet, and many a promising life was doomed to blight and decay in the foul confines of a British prison cell.

The Paxton Boys;

This single action is credited as being the first act in the American War of Independence. In 1764 The Paxton Boys, were group of Scotch-Irish frontier settlers from western Pennsylvania. At that time Philadelphia was the state capital, the legislature met there, and the government, pacifist and self-righteous, refused to help the Scotch Irish in any way. Despite their anguished pleas, the legislature refused to authorize money, powder, lead, guns, men, or equipment to help the settlers.

In a rage, some fifteen hundred of these Scotch Irish men known as the Paxton Boys set out to attack Philadelphia. Fifteen hundred very tough and very angry Scotch Irish men was not a force to be ignored.

While the Paxton Boys advanced on Philadelphia, a merchant traveled out to see where they were, he met a friend of his near Lancaster who advised him that "these angry men the Scotch-Irish, blood-thirsty Presbyterians, who cut off the head of King Charles I, they are nearby"

The Quaker panicked, raced out of town and back to Philadelphia to spread the awful news. His message caused hysteria, pandemonium, and a general uproar. All hell broke loose! Church bells pealed, messengers raced their horses hither and yon through the streets and endless meetings were held of the legislature and City Council.

Quakers had always proudly proclaimed their pacifism and were fond of lecturing the Scotch Irish to be kind to the Indians and to disavow fighting as a means of resolving their problems. Now, with a raging fighting force of Scotch Irish on its way to their city - and themselves as the target - they suddenly forgot the power of "love and kindness," developed an admiration for muskets, and showed up carrying guns and hastily organized themselves into military units.

(When this was reported to the invading Scotch Irish it brought forth howls laughter.) Meanwhile back in Philadelphia artillery was wheeled into place in public squares and aimed down the roads from which the Scotch Irish frontiersmen might approach. Crowds roamed the streets, searching for news and spreading rumors.

At the ungodly hour of 2 AM on Monday, February 6, 1764, the city was awakened to The clanging of fire-bells and the repeated roll of drums.

The dreaded moment had arrived!

As it happened he used his considerable diplomatic skills to quiet them, then arranged for a delegation to come into town to present their just complaints to the Governor and the General Assembly. The Paxton Boys obviously trusted Franklin and believing that he would keep his word they called of the attack and headed for home.

This threatened attack on Philadelphia by the Paxton Boys clearly demonstrates the audacity, defiance, and aggressiveness of Scotch Irish people. Just keep in mind that Philadelphia was the largest city in America at that time. It was the state capital and did have a large contingent of Royal troops stationed there.

It is outrageous to think that it would, or could, be attacked by a mere fifteen hundred men - but those men were Scotch Irish men, they dared to be different - and difficult.

This was in 1764. Four years later, in 1768, it would be these men who poured across the Allegheny Mountains into western Pennsylvania, and eleven years later, in 1775, it was again these men who partook of another revolt - the American Revolution.