Major James Abercrombie's Company

The following is a list of the officers and men of the 78th Regiment [Fraser's Highlanders] attached to Major James Abercrombie'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."

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.

Major James Abercrombie's Company
Time of Entry: Aug. 23, 1763

1. Sergeant John Campbell
2. Sergeant Duncan McPhie
3. Drummer John McDonell
4. Corporal Finley Fraser
5. Corporal Donald McKenzie
6. Corporal Allen Shaw
7. Private John Anderson
8. Private Niel Beaton
9. Private John Clarke
10. Private Donald Cameron
11. Private Donald Fraser
12. Private Donald Fraser
13. Private John Fraser
14. Private John Fraser
15. Private John Fraser
16. Private Alexander Fraser
17. Private Alexander Fraser
18. Private James Fraser
19. Private James Fraser
20. Private Hugh Fraser
21. Private Hugh Fraser
22. Private Duncan Fraser
23. Private William Fraser
24. Private David Fullerton
25. Private Archibald Henderson
26. Private Duncan Kennedy
27. Private John McDonald
28. Private John McDonald
29. Private Donald McDonald
30. Private Donald McDonald
31. Private Alexander McKay
32. Private Donald McPhie
33. Private John McLeod
34. Private Andrew McCulloch
35. Private Colin McCulloch
36. Private Evan McLachlin
37. Private Alexander Mckenzie
38. Private Duncan McKenzie
39. Private Chr. McKenzie
40. Private Gregor McGregor
41. Private John McMillan
42. Private Evan McMillan
43. Private Peter McIntyre
44. Private Alexander McPherson
45. Private Niel McArthur
46. Private William McGillivrae
47. Private James McCulloch
48. Private Thomas Ross
49. Private Donald Ross
50. Private Hugh Shaw
51. Private John Summer
52. Elizabeth McDonald
53. Chr. Fraser
54. Jean McCulloch
55. Major James Abercrombie
56. Lieutenant John Chisholm
57. Ensign Keneth McCulloch
58. Private George McAdam
59. Private Angus McPherson
60. Private Evan McBean
61. Private Archibald Henderon
62. Hugh Tulloch

An additional victual report dated 17 August 1762, while the major and his company were garrisoned, most likely at Berthier-sur-Mer, designated as regimental headquarters on the South Shore of the Saint-Lawrence River. The approximately 20 or so missing men from the report were sent on detachment for the month, which might have included general working party duties to repair roads, clean brush, etc. [TNA, T1/414].

1. Major James Abercrombie

2. Lieutenant John Chissolm

3. Serjeant John Campbell

4. Serjeant Duncan McPhie

5. Corporal Finley Fraser

6. Corporal Allen Shaw

7. Drummer John McDonald

8. Private Niel Beaton

9. Private John Clarke

10. Private John Clarke

11. Private Donald Cameron

12. Private John Fraser

13. Private Alex Fraser

14. Private James Fraser

15. Private James Fraser

16. Private Hugh Fraser

17. Private Hugh Fraser

18. Private Duncan Fraser

19. Private Willm. Fraser

20. Private David Fullerton

21. Private Archd. Henderson

22. Private Dond. McDonald

23. Private Dond. McDonald

24. Private Colin McCulloch

25. Private Evan McLachlin

26. Private Alex McKenzie

27. Private Duncan Mckenzie

28. Private [?] McKenzie

29. Private Gregor McGregor

30. Private John McMillan

31. Private Evan McMillan

32. Private Peter McIntyre

33. Private Alex McPherson

34. Private Angs. McPherson

35. Private Peter McNiel

36. Private Niel McArthur

37. Jane McCulloch

38. Eliz McDonald

39. Cath Fraser

40. Private James Fraser

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.

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 19 December 2022.