The bustling city of Boston, Massachusetts, in the late 18th century, bathed in the warm, golden hues of a setting sun. The cobblestone streets are lined with stately brick buildings, their tall, narrow windows reflecting the amber light. Horse-drawn carriages and pedestrians in colonial attire move through the streets, going about their evening business. The sky above is a canvas of deep blues and purples, with streaks of fiery oranges and pinks that illuminate the iconic church steeples that punctuate the skyline. (Jeffrey Campbell, Boston, Massachusetts, 2024. Artist's rendition created with Perchance AI Image Generator)
The Children of Colonel Fraser's Regiment, 1757-1763
Extant records indicate 119 women and 29 children accompanied Colonel Fraser to North America in the summer of 1757. These women held numerous unofficial roles in the battalion, performing such duties as cooks, wives, seamstresses, and laundresses. They also played significant roles in providing emotional support for the well-being of their husbands and, at the same time, as mothers raising their children.
Very little information has been discovered about the children in Colonel Fraser's Regiment. And trying to piece together their experiences as dependents is more than a daunting task simply because there are no family journals or written letters describing their personal experiences available to source from. What were their daily activities? How did they handle growing up during the war? How much of a physical toll did the miles of marching take on their bodies?
The following list represents known children in the 78th Regiment born between 1757 and 1763. And if you're aware of others, please let us know. We would love to publish their details.
Fraser
Boston, Massachusetts
Sent to the Alms House [Boston, Massachusetts] on the Province Accot. Jennet Fraser an Infant Child left by a soldier belonging to Colo. Frasers Regimt., at the House of John Adams Joiner. [A Report of the Record Commissioners of the City of Boston, Containing the Selectman's Minutes from 1754 Through 1763. Boston, 1887, Rockwell and Churchill, City Printers, p. 82. (Selectman's Minutes dated approx. April 1758)].
Gordon
Kingussie & Insh, Scotland
James son to James Gordon soldier in the Highland Regiment & Isobel Robertson his wife was born 9th Septr. & bapt'd 12th 1757. [Parish registers for Kingussie and Insh, 1724-1854. FHL, Microfilm 008075570, image 41a].
Note: The name Serjeant James Gordon appears with Captain Alexander McLeod of Colonel Fraser's regiment in 1763. Captain McLeod assumed command on 4 September 1759 from Captain Alexander Cameron, the original commander of Colonel Fraser's 12th company, established July 1757. Additional research should be performed to ensure both men are the same soldier.
Gunn
Stratford, Connecticut
In the Congressional Church records at Stratford, Connecticut, January 29, 1758, Reverend Izahiah Wetmore recorded a baptism of "bettee daughter of Daniel Gunn Drum major in Colonel Fraziers Regiment." Daniel was most likely Private Donald Gun [sic], recorded as a drummer in Captain Hugh Cameron's Company, and listed as an "invalid" soldier in 1762. Donald is carried on the final subsistence rolls taken in Aug. 1763. [First Congressional Church Records, 1688-1927 (Stratford, Connecticut). FHL, SLC, Utah, Microfilm 7833792].
Hamilton
Aberdeen, Scotland
July 1st, 1757
Thomas Hamilton Serjeant in Lovet's Highland Battalion, and Elisabeth Fraser, his spouse had a son born; baptised George by the rev'd Mr. Ogilvie, in Presence of Samuel Pillar, Stabler & George Leslie Wright. [Parish Registers for Aberdeen, 1560-1855 (Aberdeen, Scotland). FHL, SLC, Utah, Microfilm 7907672, image 559].
McDonald
Greyfriars Church, Glasgow, Scotland
April 25th, 1757
Donald McDonald Soldier in Collonel Frazers Battalion & Janet Cameron a L S [lawful son] Ranald born 24th Inst. Witts. Fergus McLean & Duncan McAllum Soldiers in same Battalion. [Church Records for Greyfriars Church, Glasgow, 1729-1965. FHL, SLC, Utah. Microfilm 007908717, p. 20].
McLean
Greyfriars Church, Glasgow, Scotland
August 8th, 1757
John McLean Surgeon in Collonel Frazers Regiment & Agnes Lang a L S [lawful son] John born 5 Witts. John Robertson Wright & Hugh McLean Writer William Lang Sponsor. [Church Records for Greyfriars Church, Glasgow, 1729-1965. FHL, SLC, Utah, Microfilm 007908717, p. 38].
McNaughten
Greyfriars Church, Glasgow, Scotland
April 10th, 1757
John McNaughten Soldier in Collonele Simon Frazers Regiment & Christian McAllum a L S [lawful son] Archd. [Archibald] born 25th March. Witts. Donald McNaughten Weaver & Jno. Bell Workman. [Church Records for Greyfriars Church, Glasgow, 1729-1965. FHL, SLC, Utah, Microfilm 007908717, p. 16].
Nobles
Saint-François-de-Sales-de-la-Rivière-du-Sud, Quebec
December 30, 1762
Baptism of Louise Nobles, Scottish, daughter of the marriage of Georges Nobles and Catherine Fraser, Scottish. Godparents: Pierre Boleau and Marguerite Morin. [Eglise catholique. Registres paroissiaux, 1733-1876. FHL, SLC, Utah, Microfilm 005471880, image 379].
Note: George Noble and Catherine Noble both appear with Captain Archibald Campbell in 1763.
Ouiam Ecossais
[Campbell]
Eglise Saint-Joseph de Deschambault, Quebec, Canada
November 17, 1761
The Seventeenth day of the month of November in the year one thousand seven hundred sixty one, and in the church of Cap Lauzon, seigneurie d'Eschambault, parish of St. Joseph was baptized a girl named Marie Joseph, a baptism of the legitimate marriage of Ouiam Ecossais and of Marie Joseph Chartier, a Canadian. The godfather was Michel Frenet and the godmother was Madeliene Girou, who declared they could neither write nor sign for the following ceremony, the baptism was performed in faith by the undersigned priest, pastor of St. Joseph's and signed in the parish house Cap Lauzon the day and year noted above. [Paroisse De St. Joseph, Deschambault, Quebec, Canada, 1739-1768. Volume 5. FHL, SLC, Utah, Microfilm 004267731, image 262].
Note: Although the surname listed in the parish register margin reads Ouiam Ecossais (William the Scotsman), Marie Joseph was the daughter of Alexander William Campbell, recorded as William with Captain Archibald Campbell in 1763.
Ross
Saint-François-de-Sales-de-la-Rivière-du-Sud, Quebec
February 2, 1763
Baptism of Anne Ross, daughter of the marriage of [Corporal] Hector Ross and Catherine Macdonell, Scottish. Godparents: Thomas Bedard and Marie Joseph Alary. [Eglise catholique. Registres paroissiaux, 1733-1876. FHL, SLC, Utah, Microfilm 005471880].
Note: Corporal Hector Ross and Catherine Ross both appear with Captain Archibald Campbell in 1763.
Vass
Saint-François-de-Sales-de-la-Rivière-du-Sud, Quebec
March 18, 1762
Baptism of Anne Vass, Scottish, daughter of the marriage of [Wass] Nicolas Vass and Anne Grhame [sic, most likely Grahame]. Godparents: Jacques Beaudouin and Marie Josphe Alarie. [Eglise catholique. Registres paroissiaux, 1733-1876. FHL, SLC, Utah, Microfilm 005471880].
Note: Nicholas Wass and Agnes Wass both appear with Captain Hugh Montgomerie in 1763; While the name Agnes is found Latinised Agnetis and Agneta, it also appears as Annie, Annice, and Annes. [Donald Whyte. Scottish Forenames: Their Origins and History (Edinburgh, 1996)].
Ware
Boston, Massachusetts
On the 15th. Instant Sent to the Alms House [Boston, Massachusetts] on the Province Accot. by two Selectmen & one Overseer, Jannet Ware an Infant Child belonging to Daman Ware a Soldier in Colo. Frasers Regiment of Highlanders, whose wife being dead & no Person to take Care of the Child & not being able to maintain it himself Left it in the Town. A Report of the Record Commissioners of the City of Boston, Containing the Selectman's Minutes from 1754 Through 1763. Boston, 1887, Rockwell and Churchill, City Printers, p. 82-3. [Selectman's Minutes dated approx. April 1758].
Note: It is strongly advised to consult the original record as Daman Ware may be a transcription error for Duncan Weir, a serjeant with Captain Alexander Campbell.
A database entry for Jannet Ware appears in Children Bound Out, 1756-1806, a transcribed collection of records for children who were "bound out." According to the Children Bound Out database, "Binding Out" was a labor system that connected host families with poor boys and girls willing to serve their master and mistresses as apprentices or servants. In Boston, the majority of the children bound out were from the almshouse rather than from their family home, which filled a thriving market at the time for indentured children. Almshouse, workhouse, poorhouse, poor-farm, etc., all refer to the same thing: "indoor relief for the poor." https://bit.ly/3oA6WmC. [Acc: 30 January 2021].
Name: Ware, Jannet
Gender: F
Master: Wyman, Johnathan
Trade: Housewifery
Town: Woburn
County: Middlesex
Date Bound: 4/3/1765
Date Free: 11/15/1775 [age 18]
Days: 3878
Years: 10.60
Jannet Ware's Indent to Mr. Jonathan Wyman, April 3d 1765
[Courtesy Boston Public Library, Boston, Massachuestts]
This Indenture Witnesseth, that John Barrett Esqr.; The Honble. Royall Tyler Esqr.; Benja. Dolbeare Gent.; Isacc Smith & Melath Bourn Esqrs.; Jona. Mason Gent.; Joseph Gardner Esqr.; William Whehoell; Hendn. Inches; Benja. Hammatt & Ebenr. Storer Gentm. & John Avery Esqrs.,
Overseers of the Poor of the Town of Boston in the County of Suffolk in New England, by and with the Consent of two of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace for said County, Have placed and by these Presents do place and bind out a poor Child names Jannet Ware unto Jonathan Wyman of Woburn in the County of Middlesex Yeoman and his wife Martha and their Heirs, and with them after the Manner of an Apprentice to Dwell and Serve, from the Day of the Date of these Presents, until the Fifteenth day of November which will be in the year of our Lord One Thousand seven hundred & seventy five at which time if the said Apprentice should be Living she will arrive at the age of Eighteen years ~
During all which said Time or Tern, the said Apprentice her said Master & Mistress well and faithfully shall Serve, their Secrets shall keep close, their Commandments lawful and honest every where she shall gladly obey; she shall do no Damage to her said Master or Mistress, not suffer it to be done by others, without letting or giving seasonable Notice thereof to her said Master or Mistress she shall not waste the Goods of her said Master & Mistress nor lend them unlawfully to any; At Cards, Dice, or any other unlawful Game or Games she shall not play; Fornication she shall not commit; Matrimony during the said term she shall not contract; Taverns, Ale-Houses, or places of Gaming she shall not haunt or frequent; From the Service of her said Master & Mistress by Day or Night she shall not absent herself; but in all Things and at all times, she shall carry and behave herself towards her said Master & Mistress and all theirs as a good and faithful Apprentice ought to do to the utmost of her ability during all the Time or Term aforesaid. And the said Master doth hereby Covenant and Agree, for himself his said Wife & Heirs to teach the said Apprentice or cause her to be taught to Knit Sew & Spin & all other Branches of good Housewifry ~ Also to Read & Write.
And also shall and will, well and truly find, allow unto, and provide for the said Apprentice, sufficient and wholsome [sic] Meat and Drink, with Washing, Lodging, Cloathing and other Necessaries, meet and convenient for such an Apprentice, during at the Time or Term aforesaid; And at the End and Expiration thereof shall Dismiss the said Apprentice with Two good Suits of Wearing Apparel fitting for all parts of her Body, the one for Lords Days and the other for Working Days suitable to her Degree ~
In Testimony Where the said Parties have to these Indentures interchangeably set their Hands and Seals, the Third Day of April In the 5th Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George 3d King of Great Britain - France &c. Annoque Domini, One Thousand Seven Hundred and Sixty five.
Signed, Sealed and Delivered in Presence of Us.
Nathan Wyman
Elijah Wyman
Jonathan Wyman
Suffolkss. Boston April 22d 1765
Assented to by Belcher Noyes; William Story
Justices of the Peace
While the events with Jannet Fraser and Jannet Ware occurred in Boston, Massachusetts, one can only wonder how many more events like these took place in other cities visited by the regiment in Connecticut and New York, including the different towns throughout Quebec, Canada.
Source:
Boston (Mass.). Overseers of the Poor. Document of indenture: Servant: Ware, Jannet. Master: Wyman, Jonathan. Town of Master: Woburn. Selectmen of the town of Woburn. Autograph document signed to the Overseers of the Poor of the town of Boston: Endorsement Certificate for Jonathan Wyman. 03 Apr 1765. Web. 25 Mar 2021 [https://ark.digitalcommonwealth.org/ark:/50959/4j03d6149].
© Jeffrey Campbell, Fraser's 78th Regiment of Foot, 2021.
Last updated 18 July 2024.