Payroll Account of Serjeant Alexander Rose, 1758

Much like today, accounting books were used in the eighteenth century for documenting military pay and other related expenses accrued over periods of time. The payroll account of Serjeant Alexander Rose, 78th Regiment, covers the period of July 5, 1757, through April 24, 1758. 

Note: Category headers and bracketed script have been added for clarification and do not appear in the original document. Additionally, it would not be uncommon to discover accounting errors as these were gentlemen who created inaccuracies the same as you and I.

[Page 2 - Serjeant Alexander Rose]

Income

To 9 Weeks Pay w. arrears and 2 weeks arrears due from y'e. 5th July to
y'e. 5th Septr.

£ 3. 3. 2

To 6 Weeks arrears at Halifax from y'e. 5th Sept'r. to y'e. 17th Oct'r 1757

£ 0. 5. 10

To 6 Weeks pay & arrears due from y'e. 17th Oct'r. to y'e. 28th Nov'r. 1757

£ 2. 1. 0

To 21 Weeks arrears due from y'e. 28th Nov'r. 1757 to y'e. 24th Apr'l. 1758

£ 1. 1. 0

[Total]  £ 6. 11. 0

Expenses

To 1 Pair Shoes & 1 Nap sack

£ 0. 6. 6

To 1 Haversack & 1 Cocade

£ 0. 1. 8

To 1 Pair Garters & 1 Sett Buckles

£ 0. 1. 4

To 1 Kilt & Small Belt

£ 0. 1. 4

To Provision at Glasgow

£ 0. 4. 8

To Spruce Beer at Halifax

£ 0. 2. 8

To 2 Cheq'd. Shirts

£ 0. 7. 0

To Y'e. Proportion of a Cooks Frock

£ 0. 0. 8

To 10 months stops for y'e. Payment Serjt. @ 1½p Month

£ 0. 0. 15

To 7 months stoppge for y'e. barber @ 2p month

£ 0. 1. 2

To mend'g. y'e. Pistle at Fairf'd.

£ 0. 1. ½

To Cash given you at Fairf'd.

£ 0. 18. 8

[Total]  £ 2. 7. 11½

[Income minus Expenses equals Cash Paid] 

To Cash Paid him as Bala'ce of y'e. Above

       £ 4. 3. ½

Halifax 17th May 1758 Recd y'e. above ball'ce in full of all my Pay &  arrears of Pay from y'e. Date of my attestation to y'e. 24th Apr. Last as witneſs of my hand

                                                                                           [signed]  Alex'r. Rose Serjt.

Source:

Major James Clephane, "Payroll account of Serjeant Alexander Rose, 1758."  Military Account Book at Halifax. NAS, GD125-34-5, pp. 8-9.

©  Jeffrey Campbell, Fraser's 78th Regiment of Foot, 2018. 

78th Regiment Grenadier Company Return of Dec. 14, 1757

The military used monthly returns which reported on the strength of each regiment, 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.

Reporting from Stratford, Connecticut in the winter month of December, Colonel Simon Fraser's 78th Grenadier Company is garrisoned at the heart of regiment headquarters.

The Present Strength of the Companey
Capt'n: 1
Lieuts: 2
Sarjts: 4
Drums: 2
Rank & file: 95
Supernumeraries present: 12
Women Victualled with the Companey: 7
Lieut. Cuthbarts Servant belonging to Captn. Campbells Compy: 1
Alexr. McCerter Musishener: 1

Total: 116

Sick in Ospetelt, Not included in Rank and file
John Fraser
Doncon Camron
Allexr. Gray

[Signed] Charl: Baille Captn.

Note: Alexander McCerter is most likely McArthur, company piper.

Cover sheet:
Return of the Present Strength of 
Captn. Baillies Companey of Granaders 
Stratford December 14th 1757

Source:

Captain Charles Baillie, "Company Return of Captain Charles Baillie, Stratford, Connecticut, Dec. 14, 1757." NAS, GD125-22-17-16a.

©  Jeffrey Campbell, Fraser's 78th Regiment of Foot, 2018.

Draught Soldiers to the 15th Regiment

In the summer of 1763, having received King George's Instructions regarding the reduction of the British armies in North America, the acting generals put in motion their plan for augmenting the three regiments that would remain guarding Quebec. It was decided the 15th, 27th, and 2d Battalion, 60th Royal Americans would be assigned this task.

An analysis of the official Subsistence Rolls of the 78th Regiment reveals approximately 358 soldiers remained in North America for this duty; some were volunteers, and others were called upon because of the time remaining on their current enlistment contracts. And while the exact numbers of soldiers transferring to the 15th Regiment cannot be positively identified due to incomplete and ambiguous reporting on multiple levels, we can account for 167 draught soldiers, all most likely from Colonel Simon Fraser's 78th Highlanders, that would join them on 25 August 1763. This fully replenished regiment would be garrisoned at Quebec; Montreal; Laprairie; St. Ann's; Cedars; Lachine, and St. Johns over the course of the next five years, relieved by the 8th Regiment about 13 July 1768 and departing North America for Europe thereafter. They would arrive home in late August as depicted in the following contemporary newspaper account.

The British Chronicle Newspaper for 1768:

Aug. 26-29.

Tuesday part of the 15th regiment, late General Amherst's, was landed from the transports that brought them from Quebec, at Portsmouth, and marched through the town for Gloucestershire: and next morning there remainder of them disembarked there and took the same rout. They have been abroad eleven years. The Officers and men look healthy.

Draughts of the 78th Regiment
The following veterans of the 78th Regiment were most likely draughted to the 15th Regiment at Quebec. Also, this is the second occurrence of documented father/son family members to have served together in Fraser's Highlanders; the first appeared during Major Clephane's Company march from Kilravock to Glasgow in early 1757.

With the exception of General Amherst's Company, this muster is taken for 183 days, commencing 25 April 1763 and ending the 24th of October 1763, both days inclusive.

General Amherst's Company
Reporting at Quebec, 28 August 1764
1. Private William Bruce
2. Private Andrew McLoud
3. Private Alexander McLoud
4. Private John McIver
5. Private John McDonald

Lt.-Col. James Robertson's Company
Reporting at Quebec, 24 October 1763
6. Private John Beaton
7. Private Donald Cameron
8. Private Alexander Fraser
9. Private John Gillis
10. Private Donald McIntire
11. Private Donald McGilvery
12. Private John McDonald, Sr.
13. Private John McDonald, Jr.
14. Private Rory McLeland
15. Private John McLean
16. Private Dougal McLachlin
17. Private John McDonald
18. Private Archibald McDougall
19. Private John McTavish
20. Private Angus McDonald, Sr.
21. Private Angus McDonald, Jr.
22. Private Donald Smith
23. Private James Taylor
24. Private Donald McMullen

Major Irving's Company
Reporting at Quebec, 24 October 1763
25. Private Hugh Fraser
26. Private Coll Grant
27. Private William Grant
28. Private Angus McDonell, Sr.
29. Private Angus McDonell, Jr.
30. Private Alexander McDonell
31. Private Chs. McDonell
32. Private John McDonell
33. Private Donald McDonell
34. Private Colling McDonell
35. Private John McGillevray
36. Private James McIntosh, Sr.
37. Private James McIntosh, Jr.
38. Private Donald McKay
39. Private Robert McKay
40. Private Donald McKinven
41. Private Alexander McNabb
42. Private Alexander McLoud
43. Private James McKinsey
44. Private John Monroe

Captain Francis Mukins' Company
Reporting at Quebec, 24 October 1763
45. Private William Gowe
46. Private John Fisher
46a Private Dan'l Forbes
47. Private James Lawson
48. Private John McIntire
49. Private Alexander McCawley
50. Private Duncan McMullen
51. Private Andrew Kinnavin
52. Private Donald McDonald
53. Private Duncan Smyth
54. Private Angus McDonald

Captain William Prescott's Company
Reporting at Quebec, 24 October 1763
55. Private George Davidson
56. Private Donald Frazer
57. Private David Jackson
58. Private Donald Levoche
59. Private Donald Mcmasters
60. Private Allen McEacheron
61. Private John McDonald, Sr.
62. Private John Mclaughlin
63. Private John McKey
64. Private Robert McDonald
65. Private Farquhar McIntosh
66. Private Alexander McDonald
67. Private William McGillivie
68. Private John McDonald, Jr.
69. Private Hector McNell
70. Private Murdoch Morrison
71. Private Dunkan McKinnon
72. Private Donald McDonald
73. Private Angus McIntyre
74. Private Ewen McKay
75. Private Donald McMillen
76. Private Alexander Patterson
77. Private William Ritchey
78. Private John Robertson
79. Private Duncan Steward
80. Private Alexander Sutherland
81. Private John Turner

Captain John Maxwell's Company
Reporting at Quebec, 24 October 1763
82. Corporal Lachlin Irwin
83. Private Gregor McGregor
84. Private Norman Stewart
85. Private John Carr
86. Private Hugh Fraser
87. Private Angus Kennedy
88. Private Donald McCole
89. Private Alexander McKinsey
90. Private Donald McKinvan
91. Private Duncan McGregor
92. Private John McNear
93. Private John McDonald
94. Private George Miller
95. Private James Ross
96. Private Alexander Sutherland
97. Private Donald Sutherland

97a Private James Fraser

Captain James Cuthbert's Company
Reporting at Quebec, 24 October 1763
98. Private William Campbell
99. Private John Chisham
100. Private John Fraser
101. Private Angus Gillas
102. Private John Innes
103. Private James McDonald
104. Private John McLean
105. Private Roderick McKenzie, Sr.
106. Private Donald McMillan
107. Private Roderick McKinzie, Jr.

107a Private Ronald McDonald, Sr.

107b Private Ronald McDonald, Jr.
108. Private Angus McDonald, Sr.
109. Private Alexander McKay
110. Private John McDonald
111. Private Archibald McDonald
112. Private Angus McDonald, Jr.
113. Private William Ross
114. Private John Stewart

Captain Henry Hamilton's Company
Reporting at Quebec, 24 October 1763
115. Private William Brown
116. Private Alexander Cameron
117. Private Hugh Fraser
118. Private William Fraser
119. Private Martin Ferguson
120. Private James Glass
121. Private John Kennedy
122. Private Donald Kennedy
123. Private Roderick McLeod
124. Private John McLarren
125. Private David Mitchell
126. Private Angus McDonald
127. Private Alexander Martin
128. Private Alexander McDonald
129. Private Malcolm McPhie
130. Private Dugall McPherson
131. Private John McSwain
132. Private Alexander McLeod, Sr.
133. Private Alexander McLeod, Jr.
134. Private Angus Morrison
135. Private Hugh McCraw
136. Private Donald Ross
137. Private John Ross
138. Private John Ross
139. Private Andrew Rose
140. Private David Saunders
141. Private William Williamson

Captain Robert Strobo's Company
Reporting at Quebec, 24 October 1763
142. Private John Beaton
143. Private John Cameron
144. Private Alexander Frasier
145. Private David Gun
146. Private Archibald Henderson
147. Private Donald McLeod
148. Private Malcolm McLeod
149. Private John McDonald
150. Private Angus McDonald, Sr.
151. Private Angus McDonald, Jr.
152. Private Donald McDonald, Sr.
153. Private Donald McDonald, Jr.
154. Private Archibald McDonald
155. Private John McIntosh
156. Private Donald McIntire
157. Private Peter McNorton
158. Private Duncan Mckenzie
159. Private Donald McBean
160. Private James McPherson
161. Private Alexander Martin
162. Private Alexander Robertson
163. Private Robert Shaw
164. Private John Shaw

Soldiers' notes.

1. William Bruce first appears on the 78th's muster of discharged soldiers; he deserted 15 May 1764 at Quebec.
6. John Beaton was discharged on 4 September 1765 and recommended to Royal Chelsea Hospital, London.

9. Alexander Fraser was discharged on 24 July 1768 at Quebec.
11. Donald McGilvery deserted on 4 June 1764 at Quebec.
12. John McDonell, Sr. died on 4 October 1766 at Montreal.
23. James Taylor deserted on 27 May 1765 at St. Ann's.
28. Angus McDonell, Sr. deserted on 30 May 1765 at Cedars.
34. Collin McDonell

38. Donald McKay was discharged on 6 September 1765 at Cedars or Montreal.

40. Most likely, Donald McKinnon.
41. Alexander McNabb discharged on 27 April 1765 at Cedars.
42. Alexander McLoud was discharged on 4 September 1765 and recommended to Royal Chelsea Hospital, London.
43. James McKinsey was discharged on 16 March 1765 at Cedars.
45. William Gow was discharged on 27 November 1765 at Montreal.
46a Recorded as Daniel Forbes, he later transferred to Major Irving's Company, where he was discharged as Donald Forbes on 27 Dec. 1765 at Cedars.
56. Donald Fraser was discharged 30 September 1765 at Montreal.
57. David Jackson deserted on 30 May 1765 at Montreal.
70. Murdoch Morrison appears on the 78th's muster dated 19 July 1763, but is absent from the muster taken in August, one month later; he was discharged 19 October 1765 at Montreal.
74. Evan McKay was discharged on 31 October 1765 at Montreal.
77. William Ritchey is recorded as Nitchey on the 78th's muster of September 1763.
78. Listed as John Robinson on subsequent yearly muster rolls through 1766.

90. Listed as McKinvan in 1763 and McKennavan in 1766 [both probably McKinnon], he was reported sick at Oswegatchie, New York, on 25 June 1766, and died a few months later, on 2 November in Montreal.
97. Donald Sutherland died 11 August 1765 at La Chine.

97a A thorough analysis of muster rolls through 1768 suggests James Fraser was erroneously omitted from this muster during the 1763 reporting period; He was discharged on 24 July 1768 at Quebec.
98. William Campbell [sp. Marie Josephte Chartier] discharged 24 June 1767 at Montreal.

145. David Gunn discharged 17 October 1766 at Montreal.

- Lieutenant John McDonell, 78th Foot, appointed quartermaster in the 15th Foot on 14 November 1763 in exchange for Lieutenant James Babbidge.

Interchangeable names
The following names were most likely used interchangeably:

Forenames
- Daniel & Donald are sometimes, but not always, interchangeable in Scotland, because Domhnall, the Gaelic version of Donald, may be Anglicised as Daniel.

Surnames
- McDonald/McDonell, Robertson/Robinson surnames were used interchangeably.

Sources:
War Office Records. Muster Books and Paylists: General, 15th Regiment, 1760-1767. LAC, W.O. 12, vol. 3228, Microfilm C-9202.

James Murray, "List of Disbanded Soldiers from His Majesty's 15th & 27th Regiments recommended to Royal Chelsea Hospital." Letters/copie de lettres, 1763-1771, LAC, RG 4, C 2, vol. 1.

Treasury Board Papers, "Subsistence Rolls of Fraser's Highlanders (the 78th), 1763." LAC, T.1, vol. 422.

Treasury Board Papers, "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 20 December 2023.

Generosity

Generosity increasingly came in the 17th century to signify a variety of traits of character and action historically associated [whether accurately or not] with the ideals of actual nobility: gallantry, courage, strength, richness, gentleness, and fairness.

Writing in his journal late in the month of November 1759, General Townshend unknowingly documented the empathy and personal character of each and every man of Fraser's Highlanders, regarding their collective generosity and monetary contributions to the British government.

JOURNAL ENTRY

GENERAL JAMES TOWNSHEND

Novr. 25, 1759

"Having Intelligence that the Merchants every greedy of gain to purchase Furs, had Transmitted a good deal of Cash to Montreal, where they were much in want of the Commodity, the Paper Money by Reason of the Ficklish Situation of the Colony being in utter disrepute, and their being by no means in the military Chest a Sufficency to Defray the Contingent expenses of the garrison, to procure what was wanted and Effectually to prevent a Commerce so destructive to us, I this day Published a kind of Proclamation, to encourage the Friends and well wishers of His Majesty to lend what they could afford, for which Col. Burton, the next officer in Command to me and I gave our Bills to be Repaid in Six Months with Intrest at 5 Per Cent. This in a short time procured us so considerable a sum at £8000 which without having recount to further Expedient, will enable us to await the Arrival of the ships and be it Remembered to the Honour of the Highland or 78th Regiment Commanded by Colonel Fraser, that the Non Commission Officers and Private Men of that Single Regiment contributed of that sum £2000."

                                                                                                         [Gen. James Townshend]


Serjeant James Thompson of 78th Regiment further described the event of that cold winter day as follows:

"General Murray, being in want of funds to carry on his government during the winter, summoned all the officers and enquired if they had any money, and if their soldiers had any money that they could lend to the Governor until the supplies arrived from England in the spring. We were told of the wants of the Governor, and the next day we were paraded every man and told that we should receive our money back with interest, as soon as possible; and in order to prevent any mistake, every man received his receipt for his amount, and for fear he should lose it, the Adjutant went along the ranks, and entered in a book the name and sum opposite to every man; and, by the Lord Harry! When they came to count it up, they found that our regiment alone, Fraser’s Highlanders, had mustered six thousand guineas! It was not long after we had lent our money, that one morning a frigate was seen coming round Point Levi with supplies. We were soon afterwards mustered, and every man received back his money with twelve months interest, besides the thanks of the General.”

Source:

General James Townshend, "Journal Commencing From The Surrender Of Quebec, November 25, 1759." LAC, Northcliffe Collection: General Townshend Papers, vol. 15, Microfilm C-369.

Campbell, Jeffrey A. His Majesty's Courageous Highlanders [Createspace Publishing, 2014].

©  Jeffrey Campbell, Fraser's 78th Regiment of Foot, 2018.

Letter from Colonel Simon Fraser to General Forbes, Feb. 1758

The following letter, dated 10 February 1758, is from Lt.-Col. Simon Fraser, Second Highland Battalion [78th Regiment], to Colonel John Forbes, Adjutant General. The main body of the letter focuses on the pending litigation against Serjeant Fraser for his involvement in the death of Corporal Mackay [an indictment laid for murder] in Connecticut, both men of the regiment. The colonel appears to be wrestling with the idea of having to turn the serjeant over for civil trial.

Dear Sir

Capt. Crauford Surprized me greatly yesterday by saying you wanted the Monthly Return of our Regiment for the 24th January, that Return I sent as I did the one for the former Month in a sealed Cover to General Webb, & my Servant deliver'd it Sunday was tonight the 29th at the Genl's house to an Elderly Man who seem'd to be a Servant out of livery.

From what you wrote me some weeks ago I was in hopes to have had Orders for Serjeant Fraser's tryal here by a Court Martial or for sending him to New York for that purpose. I have had great difficulty to prevent him being claim'd hitherto, not that they are desirous of trying him, on the contrary they had rather avoid it but they are afraid if they don't claim him he will not be tryed at all & that his guilt will fall upon the land; they declare all they desire is that he shou'd have a fair tryal, & that they woud chuse it shoud be a Military rather than a Civil one, but unleſs some directions are given imediatly about his tryal by a Court Martial, it will be impossible for me to persuade them that it is intended to be done at all; they consider it as a great compliment taking my word for it for some weeks past, during which time they say they have avoided interfering in order to see if My Lord intended a Military trial, for God's sake My Dear Sir, put My Lord in mind to do something about this poor unhappy Man, whose 'twere pity shoud be in the hand of uncultivated creatures, for the King has not a better Soldier.

I find you heard of a Soldiers being given up for a peccadillo at Stanford, it was done without my knowledge & I have since got him released, I don't know how far My Lord will chuse to have Men given up for triffling Offences when the people are capricious enough to desire it, especialy as our united experience thro all the Cantonments proves, that the people of the Country are apt to grow rather insolent upon great indulgence, & that a mixture of the Soure with the Sweet if necessary to keep upon good terms with them.

                                I am with great regard
                                 
                                                               Dear Sir

                                                                        Your most Obedient & most humble
                                                                            Servant S. Fraser

Stratford Febry 10th 1758

Source:

Colonel Simon Fraser, "Letter of Col. Simon Fraser to Colonel Forbes, Adjutant General, at His House in the Broadway or at the Fort, New York." NAS, GD45-2-29, pp. 15-16. 

©  Jeffrey Campbell, Fraser's 78th Regiment of Foot, 2018.