If I Can: The Story of David Cowan, His Adventure from Scotland to the Colonies Into Upper Canada

Follows the path of David Cowan, a young man of 28 who came to America from Scotland in 1770, and settled in what is now Fredericksburg, Virginia. After working as a gardener for George Washington at his estate in Mt. Vernon, in 1773, he choose to be loyal to the King and obtained permission from Washington to travel freely to Lower Canada, where he signed on with the Royal Navy, earning a rank of Lieutenant. After the war, he settled on land in Upper Canada granted to him for his loyal service. He became Commodore of the navel vessels sailing on Lake Erie, and often transported Governor General and Lady Simcoe. The story is pieced together through various original documents.