Three Pounds a Man: Levy Money for Fraser’s Regiment
The process of raising Highland battalions during the mid-18th century was both politically sensitive and logistically complex. At a time when Britain’s military commitments stretched across continents, the recruitment of dependable, disciplined forces became a matter of urgent imperial priority. In this context, levy money—a cash payment offered to new recruits—played a pivotal role.
The sum itself—three pounds sterling per man—was not insignificant. For many Highlanders, especially those living in the economically fragile aftermath of the Jacobite rising, such an offer could represent several months’ worth of livelihood. Levy money functioned both as a personal incentive and a broader tool of statecraft: a way to channel martial tradition into imperial service while soothing the wounds of rebellion with coin rather than punishment.
In the case of Fraser’s Regiment, levy money served a dual function. It helped recruit men from clan networks already familiar with Simon Fraser of Lovat’s leadership, but it also allowed the British Army to frame Highland enlistment as voluntary, even aspirational. While some recruits may have been drawn by loyalty, patriotism, or even the promise of adventure, many others responded to the more tangible appeal of hard currency paid upfront.
For the Crown, the expense was justified. The Highland battalions brought not only combat prowess but also a symbolic unity between former rebels and their former enemies. In effect, levy money transformed political risk into military utility—one recruit at a time.
Raising the Regiment
In 1757, the British War Office authorized the formation of two Highland battalions, one of which would become known as Fraser’s 78th Regiment of Foot. Raised in Scotland, this battalion was unique among British levies. Unlike many military units recruited for domestic defense, the 2nd Highland Battalion was intended from the outset for transatlantic service in North America during the Seven Years’ War. The promise of three pounds sterling in levy money per man—a considerable sum for rural Highlanders—served as a critical incentive for enlistment. For many recruits, especially those emerging from generations of hardship, military service offered a rare opportunity for financial security, social mobility, and adventure.
The recruitment effort targeted both seasoned veterans and first-time enlistees. Some had served in earlier wars, including the War of the Austrian Succession, while others were young men eager for purpose or stability. While material reward was a factor, enlistment also reflected the evolving relationship between the Highlands and the Crown. In the wake of the Jacobite Rising of 1745, many Highland communities—once defined by resistance to British authority—had become integrated into imperial military structures. In raising the 78th Regiment, the Crown was not just enlisting soldiers; it was enlisting loyalty.
Traditions and Tactics of Fraser’s Highlanders
Unlike regular British line regiments, Highland battalions like Fraser’s maintained distinctive cultural traditions and adopted flexible battlefield tactics. They were outfitted in traditional garb—including kilts, bonnets, and belted plaids—and often deployed in flexible skirmishing formations. These tactical differences made them well-suited to the rugged terrain of North America, where formal European battle lines often gave way to ambush, forest warfare, and siege. Over time, Highland regiments gained a reputation for courage, reliability, and efficiency—attributes that helped reshape perceptions of Highlanders within the British military hierarchy.
The use of levy money wasn’t just a recruiting tool; it was a measure of how urgently the Crown sought to mobilize effective fighting forces. As the Seven Years’ War intensified, Britain expanded its global footprint, requiring regiments capable of enduring harsh conditions far from home. Scotland—and particularly the Highlands—became a favored recruiting ground, supplying disciplined soldiers steeped in martial tradition. This transformation, from perceived rebels to empire-builders, is one of the lesser-told narratives of 18th-century British military history.
Correspondence
The letter below, dated 13 January 1757, was issued by Lord Barrington, then Secretary at War, and addressed to Lord Viscount Duplin, Paymaster General. It formally authorizes the release of levy money to raise two Highland battalions, including what would become Fraser’s 78th Regiment. Behind its restrained official tone lies the administrative machinery that enabled Britain to extend its military reach into North America—by offering three pounds a man.
Barrington held office during a pivotal phase of the Seven Years’ War, where wartime bureaucracy had to move swiftly to match Britain’s global ambitions. This correspondence with Duplin reveals how military recruitment was initiated and financed from within Whitehall. As Secretary at War, Barrington managed not just personnel and payments, but the logistical framework of the British Army—making letters like this invaluable records of 18th-century military governance.
LORD BARRINGTON TO LORD VISCOUNT DUPLIN
War Office, 13 January 1757
My Lord & Sir. His Majesty Having been pleased to order two Highland Battalions of Foot to be forthwith raised and sent to North America each Battalion to consist of 40 Serjeants 40 Corporals 20 Drummers and 1000 Private Men besides Commission Officers (their Establishment to commence from the 23rd Dec`r last incl and to Allow three pounds per man Levy Money I have the Honour to Acquaint you therewith) that you may be pleased to lay a Memorial before the Rt. Humble the Lords Commissioners of his Maty`s Treasure for the Money wanting for this service.
I am
My Lord & Sir
Barrington
Lord Visc`t Dupplin
Paymaster Gen`l
& Tho`s Potter Esqr
Levy Money and the Formation of Fraser's Highlanders
Whether motivated by enlistment bounties, adventure, or the promise of land, the men of Fraser’s Highlanders joined a levy unlike any other—one formed not to defend their homeland, but to expand an empire abroad. Their journey from Scottish glens to the battlefields of North America illustrates the complex human reasons behind imperial warfare—and the unique legacy of levied regiments in British military history. The story of levy money and imperial expansion reflects more than just military bureaucracy—it reveals a strategic effort to reshape Highland identity.
Lord Barrington served as Secretary at War during a critical phase of the Seven Years’ War. His correspondence with Viscount Duplin sheds light on the administrative mechanics behind military recruitment. As a cabinet-level officer, Barrington oversaw everything from pay scales to organizational structure—making his letters valuable primary sources for historians studying British military logistics.
Learn more on how Fraser’s Highlanders appeared in early colonial newspapers—and how their recruitment was reported alongside discussions of levy money.
The administrative procedures referenced in Barrington’s letter are part of a larger body of War Office documentation. Many such records are preserved by The National Archives, UK, under the War Office collection (WO).
Discover firsthand accounts, battlefield reports, and colonial correspondence as printed in 18th-century newspapers during the Seven Years’ War. These curated excerpts offer rare insight into how the war was reported and remembered in its own time.
Works Consulted
- Brumwell, Stephen. Paths of Glory: The Life and Death of General James Wolfe. Hambledon Continuum, 2006.
- Chartrand, René. The French Navy and the Seven Years’ War in North America. Osprey Publishing, 2006.
- Duffy, Christopher. The Military Experience in the Age of Reason. Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1987.
- Dull, Jonathan R. The French Navy and the Seven Years’ War. University of Nebraska Press, 2005.
- Pittock, Murray. Culloden. Oxford University Press, 2016.
- Reid, Stuart. Highland Regiments in the French and Indian War, 1756–1763. Osprey Publishing, 2000.
- Journals of the House of Commons. Vol. 31, H.M. Stationery Office, 1803.
- Lord Barrington, "Letter to William Pitt, Secretary at War." LAC, War Office Records: Out Letters: Secretary at War. General Letters, Dec. 1756 - Apr. 1757. W.O. 4, vol. 53.
