The following is a list of the officers and men of the 78th Regiment [Fraser's Highlanders] attached to Major John Campbell'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.
Additionally, it is strongly suggested then-Captain John Campbell enlisted at least 70 of his original recruits at Glasgow, Scotland. See Editorials page entry dated Saturday, February 26, 1757 (The Newcastle Weekly Courant.)
Major John Campbell's Company
Time of Entry: Aug. 16, 1763
Number of Days Victualled: 28
1. Lieutenant John McDonell
2. Lieutenant James Henderson
3. Chaplin Robert McPherson
4. Surgeon Lachlin McPherson
5. Sergeant John McAllum
6. Sergeant George Thomson
7. Sergeant William Fraser
8. Corporal John Campbell
9. Corporal Duncan McFarlane
10. Corporal Allan Cameron
11. Drummer Donald McDonald
12. Drummer Donald Black
13. Private Archibald Buchanan
14. Private Donald Campbell
15. Private Duncan Campbell
16. Private Collin Campbell
17. Private Keneth Cameron
18. Private Angus Cameron
19. Private Alexander Cameron
20. Private Evan Cameron
21. Private Donald Cameron
22. Private Donald Cameron
23. Private John Clarke
24. Private John Duffie
25. Private John Ferguson
26. Private Roderick Ferguson
27. Private Malcolm Ferguson
28. Private Andrew Ferguson
29. Private Duncan Ferguson
30. Private William Fraser
31. Private William Grubb
32. Private Duncan Gillis
33. Private John Gray
34. Private Colin Henderson
35. Private Donald Henderson
36. Private Peter Hill
37. Private John Kennedy
38. Private John Kennedy
39. Private James Lamb
40. Private John Livingston
41. Private Donald McDonald
42. Private John McMillan
43. Private Donald McMillan
44. Private John McKinin
45. Private John McArthur
46. Private Alexander McArthur
47. Private Donald McArthur
48. Private Allen McArthur
49. Private Allen McDougall
50. Private Donald McCulcan
51. Private John McKenzie
52. Private Keneth McKenzie
53. Private Lachlin McQuarry
54. Private Donald McIlnay
55. Private Robert Monro
56. Private John Monro
57. Private Donald Innes
58. Private Donald McIntyre
59. Private Duncan McIntyre
60. Private John McNicol
61. Private Malcolm McLeod
62. Private Keneth McLeod
63. Private Duncan McLachlin
64. Private Lachlin Sinclair
65. Private Donald Thompson
66. Private Donald Thompson
67. Margaret Gillis
68. Jennet McKenzie
69. Mary Campbell
Time of Entry: Aug. 23, 1763
Number of Days Victualled: 21
70. Private Thomas Campbell
© Jeffrey Campbell, Fraser's 78th Regiment of Foot, 2018.
Soldiers' notes.
-- A regimental court-martial scheduled for 6 September 1762 to try Donald Cameron, soldier in Major [John] Campbell's Company. No further information provided. [Captain John Nairne, "Order Books, 1762." LAC, R5991-0-3-E, MG23-GIII 23].
10. Ibid., Allan Cameron appointed corporal 17 May 1762 in room of Duncan McIntyre who "resigned of his own accord."
45. Ibid., John McArthur scheduled for court-martial 11 June 1762. "...Confin'd for Stealling a Shirt for John Douglas Merchant."
63. Ibid., Court of Inquiry to sit 18 October 1762 on Duncan McLachin of Major Campbell's Company.
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 11 November 2022.
