Showing posts with label Appointments. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Appointments. Show all posts

Sunday, October 1, 2017

Memorial of Lieutenant James Babbidge, 78th Regiment of Foot

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The Memorial of James Babbidge, a reduced lieutenant of the late 78th regiment, stating his services at Louisbourg &c. and praying for employment. [Undated.]

To The Right Honourable The Earl of Dartmouth &c. &c.
The Memorial of James Babbidge a Reduced Lieutenant in the late 78th Regiment of Foot
                                                                                                                                  Shewith

"That he had the Honour of Serving in the 15th Regiment of Foot as Lieutenant and Quartermaster and was at the Reduction of Louisbourg Quebec Montreal & Martinico &c. where he was sevearly wounded & otherwise suffer'd very much in the Service, which brought upon him a Complication of Disorders. That on the Commencement of the Race He was in such a State of Health that it was the advice of the Physicians that returning to His native air was the only chance he had to save His Life, which laid Him under the disagreeable necessity of exchanging into a young Regiment that was Returning to Britain and embracing the only alternative that offer'd. That after languishing several years of the above Disorders, He is now thank God perfectly recovered. That with His health his desire of serving is return'd therefore prays His Lordship will bepleased to recommend Him to some employment either Civil or Military in America."

Background
James Babbidge: (c1730-c1791) - Began his military career as an English NCO and experienced QM of the 15th Regiment of Foot, who exchanged officership with John Macdonell of the 78th Regiment, as of November 14, 1763, so that the latter could serve in an older regiment and continue his military career. Babbidge went on half-pay with most other 78th officers the following month and returned to England. He returned briefly to full pay as a lieutenant in the Plymouth Invalid Company on December 30, 1789.

Military Assignments
Date:  
Regiment:  15th Regiment of Foot
Company:  Jeffrey Amherst's Company
Grade:  Sergeant

Date: 1758-12-21
Regiment:  15th Regiment of Foot
Grade:  Quartermaster

Date:  1762-09-10
Regiment:  15th Regiment of Foot
Grade:  Lieutenant

Date:  1763-11-14
Regiment:  78th Regiment of Foot
Grade:  Lieutenant
Date:  1763-12-24

Date:  1789-12-30
Regiment:  Captain John Hatfield's Invalid Company - Plymouth
Grade:  Lieutenant
Date:  1794-04-20

Sources:
Earl of Dartmouth, William Legge, "Memorial of James Babbidge." LAC, MG23, A1, vol. 2.

Marie Fraser, “Officers of the 78th Regiment.” Clan Fraser Society, 2001.

Plains of Abraham, "Military Assignments of James Babbidge." The National Battlefields Commission, Government of Canada. July, 2017. Web.

©  Jeffrey Campbell, Fraser's 78th Regiment of Foot, 2017. 

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Thursday, July 27, 2017

Extract of Letter from Lord Breadalbane to John Campbell of Barcaldine, Feb. 1757

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London, 19 Feby. 1757

Sir, 

 I have now before me your letters of the 30th past and the 6th and 10th inst. I hope the Major is with you before now. I'm glad to hear his Company is in such forwardness. I wrote long ago to Achalader to help him what he could, and I wrote the same two posts ago to Carwhin. I have heard (and also believ it is true) that the D. of Ar. had insisted that no men should be raised in his countrey. I was also told that I had declared the same as to Breadalbane: I did indeed say that I believed few men would be got in Breadalbane because I had discouraged idle people, and most men there are employed; and indeed I would not chuse to have the country stript of men, so as to be defenceless in case of any future troubles, which I hope will never happen, but I cannot forget the year 1745.

I heard it said a fortnight ago that Major Clephane had raised 70 men in four days: and that Capt. Campbell (brother of Capt. Dougal) had got 70 men in Glasgow. I am curious to know if it is true.

The significance of this [extract] letter cannot be overstated; this is the first instance where we've identified the possibility of recruiting efforts taking place in the Glasgow area. The possibility of local surrounding townsmen being sent to Glasgow waiting for the remaining companies of the regiment to arrive from the north must also be considered.

 Major James Clephane was appointed senior Major in Fraser's Highlanders, commission dated 5th January 1757: he was probably recruiting in anticipation of that regiment being raised 1400 strong. The Hon. Simon Fraser of Lovat raised 800 men in a few weeks; and others, including the officers of the regiment, added more than 700, so that they actually landed at Halifax in America in August 1757.

The Capt. Campbell, brother of Capt. Dougal, mentioned may be Capt. John C. of Ballimore, appointed to the same regiment on the same date. Archibald Campbell, son of Glenlyon, was one of the Lieutenants. He was wounded at The Battle on the Plains of Abraham, 1759.
 
Source:
Gaelic Society. Transactions of the Gaelic Society of Inverness, 1898-99, Vol. XXIII [Inverness, 1902].

 ©  Jeffrey Campbell, Fraser's 78th Regiment of Foot, 2017.

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Saturday, July 8, 2017

British Officers of the 78th Regiment Serving in America

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Compiled from the official British Army Lists of the English Army for the period of the French and Indian War, by Worthington Chauncey Ford in 1894, the author was fortunate enough to find these annual rosters in the Astor Library, New York, and from the 'official' registers the following 89 names from the 78th Regiment of Foot have been extracted. Alphabetically arranged, this list includes name, rank, and date of commissioning.


Abercombie, James
     Rank:  Major
     Date:  25 July, 1760

Baille, Charles
     Rank:  Captain
     Date:  10 January, 1757

Baille, David
     Rank:  Lieutenant
     Date:  26 July, 1757

Burnet, Charles
     Rank:  Ensign
     Date:  8 May, 1760

Cameron, Alexander
     Rank:  Captain
     Date:  21 July, 1757

Cameron, Allan
     Rank:  Ensign
     Date:  23 June, 1762

Cameron, Donald
     Rank:  Lieutenant
     Date:  30 September, 1758

Cameron, Duncan
     Rank:  Ensign
     Date:  25 September, 1759

Cameron, Evan
     Rank:  Ensign
     Date:  5 January, 1757
     Rank:  Lieutenant
     Date:  9 June, 1758

Cameron, Hugh
     Rank:  Lieutenant
     Date:  12 January, 1757
     Rank:  Captain
     Date:  25 September, 1759

Campbell, Alexander
     Rank:  Lieutenant
     Date:  7 May, 1757

Campbell, Alexander
     Rank:  Ensign
     Date:  23 July, 1760

Campbell, Alexander
     Rank:  Captain
     Date:  5 October, 1760

Campbell, Archibald
     Rank:  Lieutenant
     Date:  23 January, 1757
     Rank:  Captain
     Date:  29 April, 1760

Campbell, John
     Rank:  Major
     Date:  6 January, 1757

Campbell, John
     Rank:  Captain
     Date:  9 January, 1757
     Rank:  Major
     Date:  5 October, 1760

Campbell, John
     Rank:  Ensign
     Date:  27 September, 1758
     Rank:  Lieutenant
     Date:  13 December, 1759

Campbell, -----
     Rank:  Ensign
     Date:  12 December, 1759

Chisholme: John
     Rank:  Ensign
     Date:  17 January, 1757
     Rank:  Captain
     Date:  4 September, 1759

Clephane, James
     Rank:  Major
     Date:  4 January, 1757

Douglas, John
     Rank:  Lieutenant
     Date:  18 June, 1757

Fraser, Alexander
     Rank:  Lieutenant
     Date:  12 February, 1757

Fraser, Alexander
     Rank:  Lieutenant
     Date:  22 July, 1757

Fraser, Alexander
     Rank:  Captain
     Date:  15 September, 1758

Fraser, Alexander
     Rank:  Ensign
     Date:  15 January, 1757
     Rank:  Lieutenant
     Date:  27 September, 1758

Fraser, Alexander
     Rank:  Ensign
     Date:  13 December, 1759

Fraser, Alexander
     Rank:  Ensign
     Date:  4 October, 1760

Fraser, Archibald
     Rank:  Ensign
     Date:  7 April, 1760
     Rank:  Lieutenant
     Date:  23 June, 1762

Fraser, George
     Rank:  Lieutenant
     Date:  24 April, 1761

Fraser, Hugh
     Rank:  Adj`t
     Date:  12 January, 1757

Fraser, Hugh
     Rank:  Ensign
     Date:  9 June, 1758
     Rank:  Qt. Mr.
     Date:  22 April, 1759
     Rank:  Lieutenant
     Date:  29 April, 1760

Fraser, Hugh*
     Rank:  Captain
     Date:  23 October, 1761

Fraser, James
     Rank:  Lieutenant
     Date:  4 January, 1757
     Rank:  Qt. Mr.
     Date:  12 January, 1757
     Rank:  Captain
     Date:  27 September, 1758

Fraser, John
     Rank:  Ensign
     Date:  19 January, 1757
     Rank:  Lieutenant
     Date:  22 April, 1759

Fraser, John
     Rank:  Lieutenant
     Date:  24 January, 1757
     Rank:  Captain
     Date:  15 April, 1760

Fraser, John
     Rank:  Lieutenant
     Date:  30 January, 1757

Fraser, John
     Rank:  Qt. Mr.
     Date:  27 September, 1758

Fraser, Malcolm
     Rank:  Ensign
     Date:  18 July, 1757
     Rank:  Lieutenant
     Date:  25 September, 1759

Fraser, Malcolm
     Rank:  Ensign
     Date:  18 June, 1758

Fraser, Malcolm
     Rank:  Ensign
     Date:  9 July, 1760

Fraser, Malcolm
     Rank:  Adj`t
     Date:  24 July, 1761

Fraser, Simon
     Rank:  Lt. Col. Com.
     Date:  5 January, 1757

Fraser, Simon
     Rank:  Lieutenant
     Date:  5 January, 1757
     Rank:  Capt. Lt.
     Date:  27 September, 1758

Fraser, Simon
     Rank:  Ensign
     Date:  9 January, 1757
     Rank:  Lieutenant
     Date:  18 June, 1757

Fraser, Simon
     Rank:  Captain
     Date:  16 January, 1757

Fraser, Simon
     Rank:  Ensign
     Date:  21 January, 1757
     Rank:  Lieutenant
     Date:  25 September, 1759

Fraser, Simon
     Rank:  Lieutenant
     Date:  8 February, 1757

Gilchrist, Alexander
     Rank:  Ensign
     Date:  25 September, 1759
     Rank:  Lieutenant
     Date:  4 October, 1760

Gordon, Cosmo
     Rank:  Lieutenant
     Date:  24 July, 1757

Gordon, George
     Rank:  Qt. Mr.
     Date:  15 April, 1760

Gregorson, Alexander
     Rank:  Ensign
     Date:  10 June, 1758
     Rank:  Lieutenant
     Date:  29 April, 1760

Henderson, James
     Rank:  Ensign
     Date:  23 July, 1758
     Rank:  Lieutenant
     Date:  8 May, 1760

Mackenzie, James
     Rank:  Ensign
     Date:  7 May, 1757
     Rank:  Lieutenant
     Date:  25 September, 1759

McAlister, Archibald
     Rank:  Ensign
     Date:  13 January, 1757
     Rank: Lieutenant
     Date:  23 July, 1758

McBean, Daniel
     Rank:  Lieutenant
     Date:  28 January, 1757
     Rank:  Capt. Lt.
     Date:  29 April, 1760

M'Cullock, Kenneth
     Rank:  Ensign
     Date:  9 July, 1760

McDonald, Donald
     Rank:  Captain
     Date:  12 January, 1757

McDonald, Ronald
     Rank:  Lieutenant 
     Date:  14 January, 1757
     Rank:  Captain
     Date:  17 October, 1759

McDonell, Alexander
     Rank:  Lieutenant
     Date:  2 February, 1757

McDonell, Charles
     Rank:  Lieutenant
     Date:  19 January, 1757
     Rank:  Capt. Lt.
     Date:  17 October, 1759

McDonell, Hector
     Rank:  Lieutenant
     Date:  27 January, 1757

McDonell, John
     Rank:  Captain
     Date:  13 January, 1757

McDonell, John
     Rank:  Lieutenant
     Date:  23 July, 1757
     Rank:  Ensign, 15th Regiment
     Date:  14 November, 1763
     Rank:  Qt. Mr., 15th Regiment
     Date:  14 November, 1763

McDonnell, William
     Rank:  Lieutenant
     Date:  21 January, 1757

McLeod, Alexander
     Rank:  Lieutenant
     Date:  11 January, 1757
     Rank:  Captain
     Date:  4 September, 1759

McLeod, Norman
     Rank:  Ensign
     Date:  24 July, 1760

McNeill, Donald
     Rank:  Ensign
     Date:  20 July, 1757
     Rank:  Lieutenant
     Date:  17 October, 1759

McNeill, Rory
     Rank:  Lieutenant
     Date:  20 January, 1757

McPherson, John
     Rank:  Captain
     Date:  5 January, 1757

McPherson, John
     Rank:  Ensign
     Date:  5 October, 1760

McPherson, Lachlan
     Rank:  Ensign
     Date:  22 April, 1759
     Rank:  Lieutenant
     Date:  9 July, 1760

McPherson, Malcolm
     Rank:  Ensign
     Date:  4 September, 1759

McPherson, Robert
     Rank:  Chaplain
     Date:  12 January, 1757

McQueen, James
     Rank:  Ensign
     Date:  29 April, 1760

Menzies, Robert
     Rank:  Ensign
     Date:  15 September, 1758
     Rank:  Lieutenant
     Date:  23 August, 1760

Monro, Harry
     Rank:  Ensign
     Date:  23 July, 1757
     Rank:  Lieutenant
     Date:  12 December, 1759

Montgomery, Hugh
     Rank:  Captain
     Date:  2 June, 1762

Murray, James
     Rank:  Lieutenant
     Date:  15 September, 1758

Murray, John
     Rank:  Lieutenant
     Date:  6 February, 1757

Nairne, John
     Rank:  Lieutenant
     Date:  16 July, 1757
     Rank:  Captain
     Date:  24 April, 1761

Robertson, William
     Rank:  Ensign
     Date:  17 October, 1759
     Rank:  Lieutenant
     Date:  5 October, 1760

Rose, Arthur
     Rank:  Lieutenant
     Date:  17 July 1757

Ross, Thomas
     Rank:  Captain
     Date:  23 July, 1757

Seton, Sir Henry, Bt.
     Rank:  Captain
     Date:  17 July, 1757
     Rank:  Captain, 17th Regiment
     Date:  22 April 1759

Sinclair, Charles
     Rank:  Ensign
     Date:  23 July, 1760

Stuart, Allan
     Rank:  Ensign
     Date:  7 January, 1757
     Rank:  Lieutenant
     Date:  10 June, 1758

Stuart, Charles
     Rank:  Ensign
     Date:  25 September, 1759
     Rank:  Lieutenant
     Date:  23 July, 1760

Stuart, Kenneth
     Rank:  Ensign
     Date:  29 April, 1760

Walkenshaw, J. Crauford
     Rank:  Capt. Lt.
     Date:  5 January, 1757
     Rank:  Captain
     Date:  9 June, 1758

* Some of these Frasers may be identical

Source:
Ford, Worthington Chauncey. British Officers Serving in America, 1754-1774 [Boston, 1894].

©  Jeffrey Campbell, Fraser's 78th Regiment of Foot, 2017.

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Saturday, June 17, 2017

Leaves of Absence, Aug. 1761

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Albany, 11th August 1761

 Dear Sir, 

I give you Joy of the Reduction of Belleisle the Packet that was supposed taken being at last arrived Safe at New York, having waited at Falmouth for the June Mail. The Letters Arrived here last Night, and I have Directed that those for the Several Governments in Canada shall be sorted that I may Dispatch them immediately. I Don't doubt but you will receive in your Letters all the News which the Packet brings but least your Correspondents Letters may not be so lately as when the Gazette came out, I send you a Copy of the Capitulation of Belleisle.

The Secretary at War has acquainted me of the King's Intentions in regard to the Contingent Men, on which I write to the Commanding Officers of Corps, and I leave those of your Government open for your perusal. I have also received a List of promotions from the War Office a Copy of which I Enclose to you.

Major Abercromby in a Letter to my Brother, has Desired the Adjutancy of Fraser's may be granted to Lieut. Malcolm Fraser instead of another Lieut. Fraser who Chuses to Resign, Which Commission I have signed and now transmit to you. There are several leaves of Absence, which the Major requests for Officers in the Regimt, viz. Capt. John McDonnell being in a bad State of Health desires leave to go home in the fall. Lieut John McTavish to go home as it would be an Act of Charity to him & his family; Lieut. Baille to get rid of Some Difficulties in money Matters. Mr. Mclean the Surgeon has pressing business too, that calls him home, and the Major will take Care the Regiment shall not Suffer by the Absence of the Surgeon. To all which you have to answer if you think it really requisite for the above Gentlemens affairs to go to Europe. You have my Leave to permit any of the Whole to go, as you think proper.

Dispositions for carrying on the War, are continued in England as Earnestly as tho' Mo. de Brissy was not in London, or Mr. Stanley in Paris, and that the Congress which must now be assembled at Augsbourg had never been thought of.

                                                                   I am, with great Truth & Esteem

                                                                   Dear Sir, Jeff Amherst


P.S. I am to Acknowledge the Receipt of your Letter of 
7th June by Mr. Wilkins the Surgeon of Otways, you 
may be Assured I shall be glad to convince him
of my Regard to your Recommendation.

                                                                    J.A.

Hon.ble Br. General Murray

Source:
Jeffery Amherst, "Officers Requesting Leaves of Absence." LAC, War Office Records: Amherst Papers. Letters from the Commander-in-Chief, New York, to the Governor of Quebec, 1760-1763. W.O. 34, vol. 3, p. 105.

©  Jeffrey Campbell, Fraser's 78th Regiment of Foot, 2017.  

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