Interesting tale. Family oral histories can be maintained for a very long time. In my family, the oldest story is the path my paternal 8GF took alone departing from his family home in Angus, Scotland to Wales to sail for James City, Virginia in 1695 at the age of 20, or middle age back then and as it turned out.
His grandson fought against those Hessians and came into land in NC thereafter thanks to a generous RW land grant as payment for service.
A friend who lives in Selmer, TN told me her ancestor came over as a teenager from Scotland sometime in the early 1700’s. His ship wrecked off Cape Hatteras and he rode the surf to the beach on a piece of furniture. He came to Tennessee from N.C. with a party of settlers and is listed as a founder.