Monday, June 1, 2020

Weekly Army Returns of Four Companies at Connecticut, 1757

The army returns reported on the strength of each company or regiment, depending on reporting requirements, including total numbers of men present, absent, sick, or on extra daily duty, as well as giving a report of officers and some categories of enlisted men. They were a very useful and effective planning tool in eighteenth-century combat operations and are still in practical use throughout today's armed forces.

While garrisoned at Connecticut for 17 weeks, from 30 November 1757 to 30 March 1758, Colonel Fraser's Regiment was billeted in civilian homes across five towns, with the colonel and some of his officers occupying The Wetmore House, built by Reverend Izrahiah Wetmore, during his stay at Stratford.

Town expenses incurred for hosting the Regiment included house hire; hospital rent; supplying wood to the guardhouse; the making of some small cabins; and other incidentals such as candles, blankets, cider, and utensils. Approval for appropriations by the General Assembly occurred the following spring, in 1759. 

Stratford (head quarters):
Colonel Simon Fraser's Company; Captain Charles Baillie's Grenadier Company. 
Expenses: £472-5s-11d.

Fairfield: 
Major James Clephane's Company; Captain Simon Fraser's Company. 
Expenses: £491-15s-7d.

Norwalk: 
Major John Campbell's Company; Captain John Campbell's Company. 
Expenses: £487-5s-6d.

Milford: 
Captain John Macpherson's Company; Captain Donald McDonald's Company. 
Expenses: £491-10s-9d.

Stanford: 
Captain John McDonell's Company; Captain Thomas Fraser's Company. 
Expenses: £433-13s-11d.

Connecticut Army Returns: 

Captain John Macpherson; Captain Donald McDonald's Company
Cover sheet:
A Weekly Return of Capt. Macphersons & Capt. Donald McDonald Companys 
Milfort 12 Decemr. 1757. [NAS, GD125-22-17-00032].

A Weekly Return of Captain John Macpherson & Capt. Do. MacDonald Companys of the Honble. Coll. Fraser Highland Battalion. Milfort 12 Decemr. 1757. [NAS, GD125-22-17-00031].

Capt. Mcpherson's Company
Captains: Present: 1; Absent: 0
Lieuts.: Present: 2; Absent: 0
Ensigns: Present: 1; Absent: 0
Serjeants: Present: 4; Absent 0
Drummers: Present: 2; Absent: 0
Sick: In Quarters: 4; Hospital at Cork [Ireland]: 4; Hospital at Fairfield [Connecticut]: 3
In Rank & File: 98
Wanting to Compleat: 2
Supernumeraries: 8

Capt. Do. McDonald's Company
Captains: Present: 0; Absent: 1
Lieuts.: Present: 2; Absent: 0
Ensigns: Present: 1; Absent: 0
Serjeants: Present: 3; Absent 1
Drummers: Present: 2; Absent: 0
Sick: In Quarters: 5; Hospital at Cork [Ireland]: 1; Hospital at Fairfield [Connecticut]: 3
In Rank & File: 99
Wanting to Compleat: 1
Supernumeraries: 15

[signed] John Macpherson

Captain Charles Baillie's Company
Cover sheet:
Sir,
Inclosed are the Returns of Collos. Frasers Compy and mine, according to the note you sent by Doctor McLane; I beg your favour you would let me know if you had any further notice of our Marching from here; and in what manner the men are to be exercised; I beg you make my Compls. to your Gentlemen and I am your [very humble servant - abbreviated]. [NAS, GD125-22-17-00035].

[signed] Chars: Baillie

Return of the Present Strength of Captn. Baillies Companey of Granadiers Stratford December 14, 1757. [NAS, GD 12-remainder cropped off].

The Present Strength of the Companey:
Captn.: 1; Lieuts.: 2; Serjts.: 4; Drums: 2; Rank & File: 95
Supernumeraries present: 12
Women Victual with the Companey: 7
Lieut. Cuthbarts Servant belonging to Captn. Campbells Compy: 1
Alexr. McCertar Musishener: 1

Total:
Captns.: 1
Lieuts.: 2
Serjts.: 4
Drums: 2
Rank & File: 116

Sick in Ospitell [not included in the rank/file]
John Fraser
Doncom Comern
Allexr. Gray

[signed] Chars: Baillie Captn.

Notes: 
1. Ensigns not present 
2. Supernumeraries, women, servant, and musician were counted towards rank/file strength. 
3. While unconfirmed, the "musishener" may have been Alexander McEntyre or McArthur, the Company piper. By March 1761, pipers were no longer authorized to be carried on the Regiment's establishment by order of the King's Instructions dated 2 December 1760. [Amherst Papers: W.O. 34, vol. 4, p. 148].

Colonel Simon Fraser's Company
Return of the Present Strength of Colonel Fraser's Companey Stratford December 14th 1757. [NAS, GD125-22-17-00038].

The Present Strength of the Companey:
Captn.: 1; Lieuts.: 1; Ensigns: 1; Serjts.: 4; Drums: 3; Rank & File: 104
Supernumeraries present: 15
Women Victual: 6

Total:
Captns.: 1
Lieuts.: 1
Ensigns: 1
Serjts.: 4
Drums: 3
Rank & File: 125

[signed] Jn. Fraser Sjt.

Note: 
1. Supernumeraries and women were counted towards rank/file strength.
2. Colonel Fraser's piper may have counted as "drummer," but no firm evidence to corroborate. Typically two drummers per company were carried on the establishment.

It is said that it was Colonel Fraser's men who amused themselves at times in shooting at the old weathercock at the top of the Episcopal Church spire, piercing it several times. A letter from Captain Charles Baillie to Major Clephane might help explain away some of the jovial fracas among the troops. Baillie wrote to the major, at Fairfield: "Sir, enclosed are the returns of Colonel Fraser's Compy and mine, according to the note you sent by Doctor McLean, I beg the favour you would let me know if you had any further notice of our marching from here; and in what Manner the men are to be exercised..." [NAS, GD125-22-17-00035].

Source:
Wilcoxson, History of Stratford, Connecticut, 1639-1939.

©  Jeffrey Campbell, Fraser's 78th Regiment of Foot, 2020.

Last updated 21 September 2021.

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