Here's a potentially rich seam of research which, as far as I know, has never been looked at. The pre-1776 newspapers are gradually being digitised, and far away from the 'high politics' of Founding Fathers, Generals and Presidents, they tell a more grounded story of daily life. A few searches have revealed people from the north of Ireland who spoke "Scotch". Here are just two examples:
Pennsylvania, 1759: 18 year old Martha Steward, a runaway "Irish servant girl ... she came from Antrim, in the North of Ireland, and talks much in the Scotch manner".
She had run away from a plantation owned by Joseph Sims in Passyunk Township outside Philadelphia, with 20 shillings offered to anyone who could return her to her Master.
Pennsylvania, 1766:
RUN away from the Subscriber in Newport, an Irish Servant Man, named John Purday, and Mary, his Wife, the said John Purday is about 5 Feet 9 Inches high, and about 27 Years of Age, is pitted with the Small pox, has strait pale Hair commonly tied behind; had on, when he went away, a light coloured Coat, and Thickset Jacket and Breeches, Worsted Stockings, his Hat sharp cocked, and appears very neat in his Clothes, has been a Soldier in Flanders, speaks very good English, ***a little inclined to the Scotch Accent. His Wife is a little short thin woman, dark Complexion, dark frizled hair, speaks broad Scotch***. They are about 6 Weeks in from Ireland, and came in the Ship Marquis of Granby. Whoever takes up the said John Purday, so as his Master may have him again, shall have Twenty Shillings Reward, and reasonable Charges, paid by me ROBERT ALL, or by applying to Mr. JAMES ALEXANDER, Merchant in Water street, Philadelphia.
It seems that the ship, Marquis of Granby, operated from Londonderry.
Geographically Irish, linguistically "Scotch".
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