The following is a list of the officers and men of the 78th Regiment [Fraser's Highlanders] attached to Captain John McDonell's Company when the regiment was discharged in 1763. Of the approximately 865 enlisted men and NCOs of the regiment, only 170 men are documented as discharged in America. The other soldiers that stayed were transferred to different regiments in the area.
It should be noted that in these subsistence rolls there are female names appearing in italicised script type. And the more interesting question of what part they played in the regiment can be found in the following notes:
1. In "Louisbourg, Key to a Continent" by Fairfax Downey, p. 160: "--- yet more draft had to be manpower, no animals being available, and it proved to be womanpower as well. Among the parties who tugged on the drag ropes, one thousand strong with frequent shift changes, were several hundred laundresses, a number being allowed to each British regiment by regulation, and carried as 'married and on the strength'. Heavy fire from [the guns of] Louisbourg disconcerted them no more than it did the men."
1. In "Louisbourg, Key to a Continent" by Fairfax Downey, p. 160: "--- yet more draft had to be manpower, no animals being available, and it proved to be womanpower as well. Among the parties who tugged on the drag ropes, one thousand strong with frequent shift changes, were several hundred laundresses, a number being allowed to each British regiment by regulation, and carried as 'married and on the strength'. Heavy fire from [the guns of] Louisbourg disconcerted them no more than it did the men."
2. In "The Great Fortress" by William Wood, p. 112: "The practice of assigning laundresses, usually the wives of NCOs to military units was frequently followed. In the U.S. Army, where four were allowed each company, it persisted through the Indian Wars."
3. In "The Fraser Highlanders" by J.R. Harper, p. 73, appears: Included in Wolfe's final orders for embarkation to Quebec from Louisbourg, May 17, 1759: "The regiments are to receive provisions for no more than three women per company of 70, and four per company of 100 men."
These rolls should prove to be of great historic value to those who claim ancestry to soldiers who fought at Louisbourg and Quebec with the 78th Regiment. Many of the soldiers who chose to enlist in Fraser’s Highlanders, did so for the money, and those who stayed when the regiment was discharged in 1763, likely felt that their chances of land ownership were better in the New World than they would have been had they returned to Scotland.
Captain John McDonell's Company
Time of Entry: Aug. 16, 1763
Number of Days Victualled: 28
1. Lieutenant Archibald McAllester
2. Lieutenant Alexander Fraser
3. Sergeant Daniel Campbell
4. Corporal Donald Fraser
5. Corporal John McMillan
6. Corporal William Porterfield
7. Drummer James Hamilton
8. Drummer Thomas Fraser
9. Private Alexander Baine
10. Private John Cameron
11. Private John Cameron
12. Private Duncan Cameron
13. Private Donald Cameron
14. Private Donald Cameron
15. Private David Campbell
16. Private Andrew Canvan
17. Private Andrew Calder
18. Private John Chisholm
19. Private Alexander Dunbar
20. Private John Fisher
21. Private Donald Forbes
22. Private John Fraser
23. Private John Fraser
24. Private John Fraser
25. Private Hugh Fraser
26. Private William Fraser
27. Private Alexander Ferguson
28. Private John Ferguson
29. Private William Gow
30. Private Lewis Grant
31. Private John Livingston
32. Private William Harley
33. Private Ranald Thomson
34. Private James Lawson
35. Private Alexander McCauley
36. Private Allen McArthur
37. Private John McKay
38. Private Phanis Knowles
39. Private Archibald McDougall
40. Private John McDonell
41. Private James McDonell
42. Private Donald McDonell
43. Private John McDonell
44. Private John McDonell
45. Private John McDonell
46. Private John McDonell
47. Private Even McDonell
48. Private Alexander McDonell
49. Private Alexander McDonell
50. Private Alexander McDonell
51. Private Samuel McDonell
52. Private Angus McIntosh
53. Private John McIntyre
54. Private Alexander McLeod
55. Private Evan McMillan
56. Private Duncan McMillan
57. Private Angus McNiel
58. Private Roderick McNiel
59. Private John McPherson
60. Private Even McGillvray
61. Private Alexander Monro
62. Private Robert Morris
63. Private William Mills
64. Private Donald Ross
65. Private Alexander Tolmie
66. Private Peter McGregor
67. Betty McMillan
Time of Entry: Aug. 23, 1763
Number of Days Victualled: 21
68. [Serjeant] James Thompson
69. Private Angus McDonell
70. Private Donald Cameron
71. Private Angus Cameron
72. Private Peter McKay
73. Private Niel McPhie
74. Private Peter Stuart
Six Companies at Quebec
The following additional victual reports for Captain John McDonell's Company have been become available for consultation. His was one of five additional companies garrisoned at Quebec during the latter part of the conflict, which also included the companies of Major John Campbell, Captain Alexander Campbell, Captain Hugh Cameron, Captain Hugh Montgomery, and Captain John Fraser.Captain John McDonell's Company
Time of Entry: July 19, 1763
Number of Days Victualled: 28
Time of Entry: July 19, 1763
Number of Days Victualled: 28
1. Lieutenant Archibold McAlester
2. Lieutenant Alexr. Fraser
3. Serjeant Danl. Campbell
4. Serjeant James Thompson
5. Corporal Donald Fraser
6. Corporal John McMillan
7. Corporal William Porterfield
8. Drummer James Hamilton
9. Drummer Thomas Fraser
10. Private Alexr. Baine
11. Private John Cameron
12. Private Duncan Cameron
13. Private Dond. Cameron
14. Private Dond. Cameron
15. Private David Campbell
16. Private Andw. Calder
17. Private Andw. Canvan
18. Private John Chissolm
19. Private John Fisher
20. Private Dond. Forbes
21. Private John Fraser
22. Private John Fraser
23. Private John Fraser
24. Private Hugh Fraser
25. Private William Fraser
26. Private Alexr. Ferguson
27. Private John Ferguson
28. Private William Hartley
29. Private William Gow
30. Private Lewis Grant
31. Private Rond. Johnston
32. Private John Livingston
33. Private James Lawson
34. Private Allan McArthur
35. Private Alexr. McAuley
36. Private John McKay
37. Private Phelex Knowles
38. Private Archd. McDougal
39. Private Donald McDonell
40. Private Alexr. Dunbar
41. Private James McDonell
42. Private Alexr. McDonell
43. Private Alexr. McDonell
44. Private Alexr. McDonell
45. Private Samuel McDonell
46. Private John McDonell
47. Private John McDonell
48. Private John McDonell
49. Private John McDonell
50. Private John McDonell
51. Private Evan McDonell
52. Private Evan McGilavrie
53. Private Peter McGregor
54. Private Angus McIntosh
55. Private John McIntyre
56. Private Alexr. McLeod
57. Private Evan McMillan
58. Private Duncan McMillan
59. Private Angus McNeal
60. Private Rodrick McNeal
61. Private John McPhersob
62. Private Alexr. Munro
63. Private Robt. Morris
64. Private Willm. Milles
65. Private Dond. Ross
66. Private Alexr. Tolmie
67. Mrs. Millan
Sources:
Treasury Board Papers, "Subsistence Rolls of Fraser's Highlanders (the 78th), 1763." LAC, T.1, vol. 422.
Ibid., "Subsistence Rolls of Fraser's Highlanders (the 78th), 1763." TNA, T.1, vol. 422.
Ibid., "Subsistence Rolls of Fraser's Highlanders (the 78th), 1763." TNA, T.1, vol. 422.
Marie Fraser, "Subsistence Rolls of Fraser's Highlanders (the 78th), 1763." Clan Fraser Society, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, 2001.
McIntosh, Walter H. 78th or Colonel Simon Fraser's Regiment [Topsfield, Massachusetts, n.d.].
© Jeffrey Campbell, Fraser's 78th Regiment of Foot, 2018.
Last updated 21 November 2022.
