Memorial of Roderick McCloud, 78th Regiment

It is believed that the men of the 78th Regiment, who were a mix of farmers, tailors, blacksmiths, and weavers, would have gone back to their previous occupations to earn a livelihood after the war. However, some former soldiers struggled to survive and needed government assistance to make ends meet because of injuries they acquired during the numerous conflicts. (Jeffrey Campbell, The Workshop, 2024. Artist's rendition created with Perchance AI Image Generator)

Memorial of Roderick McCloud, 78th Regiment

Memorials are written as a statement of facts, events, and important information that summarizes tragic events, or key points in a case (when submitted by a lawyer to a court), or to honor soldiers who fought in battles of war. In the following case of Private Roderick McLeod, a Private soldier in Colonel Simon Fraser's 78th Foot, a memorial was presented as a legal document to outline specific details related to the petitioner's personal endeavors, and reads as follows:

MEMORIAL

To His Excellency Friderick Haldimand Esquire, Captain General, Governor, and Commander in Chief of the Province of Quebec, General & Commander in Chief of His Majesty's Forces in said Province and Territorys depending thereon &c. &c. &c.

The most humble Petition of Rodrique McClaud, formerly belonging to his Majesty's 78th or Colonel Frazer's Hig[h]land Regt.

    Shew'd

            That in 1759 at the Battle before Quebec the 13th of September he receiv'd such a terrible wound on the forehead, that eighteen pieces of bone we[re] taken out of his skull. That after the Reduction of said Regiment he obtain[e]d his lawful Discharge, besides a recommendation for Chelsea. But thinking himself than young and apt, he thought it better to stay in Canada, where he Married, and has at present a Wife and four Children; which he brought up with pains and labour, Industry and fatigue, to this Day. But comming now to a certain Age, where by every change of weather, his Wound causes him the most Languishing and Inexprimable pains, which hinders him very often to provide the Necessary for his poor Fameily.
            For which most humbly besuch's your Excellency, who is a real father to Veterans, a support of the Afflicted, and whose charity extens to all persons, which implore his Bounty, to grant to most humble Petitioner, a little Provision and wood for the support of his poor fameily; for which they shall ever pray -/

No.4
Memorial From
Roderick McCloud.
formerly of the 78th Regimt.
a Private Soldier
March 1782.

Note: In 1762, two men by the name of Roderick McLeod are recorded as serving in Captain Simon Fraser's Company (later to become Captain Hugh Montgomeries Company) of the 78th Foot.

Source:

British Library, Haldimand Papers, Memorials from the Provincial Corps and Loyalists, n.d,. 1777-1782, MG 21, ADD. Mss. 21874, (B-214). LAC, Microfilm H-1743, images 1203-1204.

©  Jeffrey Campbell, Fraser's 78th Regiment of Foot, 2023.

Petition of Mary Cameron, 1779

An 18th-century destitute woman, clad in tattered garments that are the testament to her dire circumstances, standing at the foot of an imposing stone staircase. The staircase leads to a grand, intricately-carved archway, which is adorned with the emblem of the British-ruled Quebec Government. Her eyes are cast downward, filled with a mix of desperation and hope, as she clutches a crumpled letter to her chest. (Jeffrey Campbell, Destitute, 2024. Artist's rendition created with Perchance AI Image Generator)

Petition of Mary Cameron, 1779

To His Excellency, Frederick Haldimand Esqr. Captain General and former in Chief in and over the Province of Quebec and the Territories depending thereon in America, Vice Admiral of the same, General and Commander in Chief of His Majesty's Forces in the said Province and the Frontiers thereof &c., &c.

The Petitions of Mary Cameron, Wife of Murdoch Cameron late of Quebec

Most Humbly Shewith that your Petitioner's Husband served His Majesty seven years in the Seventy Eighth Regiment commanded by the Hon[oura]ble Simon Fraser, and five years in the Royal Americans, also entered himself a Voluntier on Board one of His Majesty's Amer. Vessels that went up the country in the summer of one thousand seven hundred and seventy five, when he had the misfortune he [was] taken a prisoner by the Rebels, with whom he remained till the summer following. About twelve months ago he enlisted in the [84th] Emigrants and left her with two small helpless children without any other support than what her own Industry could produce for them; she has been in great deal of trouble ever since, but what adds still more to her distress in that a small house in St. Rochs upon Mr. Marselths ground as she was informed, which she bought some years ago, and for repairing the same purchased boards &c. and in summer seventy price to the amount of about Ten pounds all afterwards destroyed by the Rebels is now demanding of her for the use of the government which is the only favourable plan she has to go to after the first day of May next, the house she occupies at present being let to another.

That houses are so scarce at present and Rents so extravagantly high that she was afraid to engage any tract she should not be able to pay her rent at the time appointed; therefore chose rather to live in her own small one which she might make shif & some maintenance for herself and children than take any risque, altho she could have let the above mentioned for nine pounds currency pr. annum.

Your Petitioner therefore most Humbly prays as the time has so nearly elapsed that your Excellency would be pleased & front her much compensation for it as may enable her to obtain another. And your Petitioner as is Duty bound shall ever pray.

Mary Cameron

Quebec 27th April 1779 / D.S.

[Endorsed 27 April 1779]

Memorial from Mrs. Cameron, relative

to the Bastian-Guard House

27 April

Note: It's worth noting that nine pounds sterling currency in 1780 is the equivalent to approximately £775 (or $1020) in 2017 purchasing power.

Source:

British Library, Haldimand Papers, Memorial from Civilians, n.d., 1777-1785, MG 21, Add. Mss. 21877, (B-217), Folios 57-58, pp. 68-70.

©  Jeffrey Campbell, Fraser's 78th Regiment of Foot, 2022.