Petitions of Lieutenant John Fraser, 78th Regiment

Petition of John Fraser, tenant in Easter Bunchegavie, and John Fraser, his eldest son, joint possessors of said farm. The Petitioner, now in his 76^th year, has possessed the lands on a Tack of the late Lord Lovat for a yearly rent of £5, 17s, 11d. for 46 years, and continued loyal to his sovereign notwithstanding the temptation he was under of joining in the rebellion of 1745. John, the son, had served seven years in his Majesty’s 78^th Regt. of Foot, Simon Fraser, Colonel, when, on account of the Regiment being reduced, he obtained his discharge, which is enclosed, of date at Glasgow 14 Decr. 1763. Also a certificate in favour of the old man John, from the Kirk session of Boleskin. Fear that they were to be dispossessed to let in Donald Fraser in Easter Borlum, brother-in-law of Mr. Fraser of Gortuleg, had brought them to Edinr. At that severe season to lay their case before the Board. Read Feb. 1769.

Petition of Lieut. John Fraser, late of the 78^th Regt., praying to be put in possession of Bunchegavie and for a lease. William Fraser of Belloan is dead, and is succeeded by his brother Donald, late in Borlum, whom the Board ordered formerly to be put in possession of Bunchegavie. The Petitioner is a nephew of Donald, who is willing to cede possession of the farm to the Lieut. Read 26 June 1769

Petition of Lieut. John Fraser, late of Col. Fraser’s Regt. Late Wm. Fraser of Balloan, was the Petitioner’s uncle, relative to a competition as to parties who should get possession of a farm. Read 3 July 1769, - Memorial for Elizabeth Fraser, widow of deceased Wm. Fraser of Balloan, and others, read 3 July 1769. Memorial of Lieut. Alexr. Fraser of Col. Fraser’s Regt. who was preferred to the farm (Ruthven). Read 3 July 1769.

Source:

Millar, A. H. A Selection of Scottish Fortified Estate Papers, 1715; 1745. Edinburgh, Scottish Historical Society, 1909, p. 130; 142. Print.

©  Jeffrey Campbell, Fraser's 78th Regiment of Foot, 2019.

Taking Title of Mount Murray

Title.-- "Grant of the 27th of April, 1762, by the Honourable James Murray, Esq. Governor of Quebec, to Lieutenant Malcolm Fraser, of His Majesty's 78th Regiment of Foot, of all that extent of land lying on the North Shore of the St. Lawrence, from the North side of the River of Malbay to the River Noire, and for three leagues back, to be known hereafter, at the special request of the said Lieutenant Malcolm Fraser, by the name of Mount Murray, together with the woods and rivers or other appurtenances within the said extent, right of fishing or fowling, within the same, included. All kinds of traffic with the Indians of the back country hereby specially excepted."

History of Mount Murray
MOUNT MURRAY, is a British grant en fief et seigneurie, in the co. of Saguenay; it reaches from the north side of the R. Malbay, along the bank of the St. Lawrence, as far as the River Noire or Black River, and is three leagues in depth. Granted Apr. 27, 1762, to Lieut. Malcolm Fraser, Esq, this seigniory is separated from Murray Bay by Malbay River, and contains only a small proportion of cultivated land in comparison to its size. The general surface is mountainous, but in some places the soil is moderately good: timber of all kinds is plentiful and very fine, particularly pine. The lands under the best state of improvement are those along R. Malbay for about six miles. A tolerable good road passes through these settlements, on which are many farm houses and dwellings. The manor-house, belonging to Colonel Fraser, called Mount Murray, is well situated at the entrance of the bay on the east side, and is surrounded by a large tract of well-cultivated lands. This grant is watered by several streams, whose waters are not more than sufficient to work the mills. From the River Noire, along the borders of the St. Lawrence, and as far into the interior as the country has been explored, are only mountains of stone almost without the slightest vegetation. Limestone is abundant in this S. The chief articles of trade are deals, boards, fire-wood and some wheat: the salmon caught between the River Noire and Malbay are sold at Quebec.

Source:

Bouchette, Joseph. "A Topographical Dictionary of the Province of Lower Canada." Longman & Company, Quebec, 1832.

©  Jeffrey Campbell, Fraser's 78th Regiment of Foot, 2019.

Arms Issued to the Highland Regiments, 1757

War Office, 13 January 1757

Sir,

His Majesty having thought fit to order two Highland Battalions of Foot to be forthwith raised each Battalion to consist of Forty Serjeants Forty Corporals Twenty Drummers and One thousand Effective Private Men besides Commission Officers, I have the Honour to acquaint you herewith that you may be pleased to receive His Majesty's Commands thereupon and Signify the same to the Master Gen'l of the Ordnance that the Arms &c mentioned in the Annexed List for the said two Battalions may be delivered out of His Majesty's Stores & the Expence thereof charged to the Estimate of Ordnance for Parliament.

Iron Ramrods:

First Battalion: 1040

Second Battalion: 1040
Total: 2080

Firelocks & Bayonets:

First Battalion: 1040

Second Battalion: 1040
Total: 2080

Side Pistols:

First Battalion: 1080

Second Battalion: 1080
Total: 2160

Halberts:

First Battalion: 40

Second Battalion: 40
Total: 80

Drums:

First Battalion: 40

Second Battalion: 40
Total: 80

I am

Sir &c

Barrington

Rt. Honble Wm. Pitt His Majesty's

Principal Secry of State

Note: A list of accoutrements issued to soldiers of the 78th Regiment can be found here.

Source:

Lord Barrington, "Letter to William Pitt requesting arms." War Office Records: Out Letters: Secretary at War. General Letters, Dec. 1756-Apr. 1757. TNA, W.O. 4, vol. 53 (Selections).

©  Jeffrey Campbell, Fraser's 78th Regiment of Foot, 2019.

Major Clephane's Uniform Tailoring, Sep. 1757

Shortly after the regiment arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Major Clephane placed an order for the making of, what appears to be a regimental jacket. Eighteenth-century regimental clothing Tailor Henry Cooke described, that two and one-half yards of cloth would fit a man with a 42-inch chest, indicating the major was probably small in his bodily frame and overall stature. 

It would appear that Andrew Butler was Major Clephane’s personal tailor; perhaps even a local merchant. Additionally, it was quite common each company would also have a trained tailor to make and repair uniforms for the sergeants and other ranks in the field as required.  We discovered, from occupations listed while at Chelsea Hospital, the 78th Regiment had a number of men who were tailors in the civilian sector.

Halifax, 22d. Sep't. 1757

Major Clephanes

B.o.S of Alexander Mackenzie

2 ½ yards Superfine scarlet Cloth	@ 23	£2        17        6
3/16 yard Superfine white Cloth	@ 24	-           3          6
4 yards best white shalloon	@ 3/	-           12        -
¾ yard Buckram	@ 14	-           0          10 ½
3 skeins Twist, 4 ditto Silk	@ 6d each	-           3          6
3 ½ oz. Thread	@ 5d	-           1          5 ½
2 ½ yards Dimity	@ ¼	-           3          5 ¼
¾ linen	@ ⅛	-           1          3
del’d his own Taylor:	[Total]	£4        4          6 ¼
26th,     2 ½ yards Scarlet shag	@ 10	£1        5          -
¾ yard Superfine scarlet cloth	@ 23	-           17        6
3 yards Dimity	@ ¼	-           4          1 ½
4 Skeins Silk & Twist	@ 6d each	-           2          0
2 oz. Th’d, del’d And’w Butler	@ 5d	-           0          10
	[Total]	£2        9          5 ½
Oct 1st, 1 yard white shalloon, del’d his own Taylor		-           3          -
Oct 3d, 1 yard Dimity, del’d  And’w Butler		-           1          4 ½
½ yard Linen, del’d his own Taylor	@ ¼	-           0          8
	[Total]	£6        19        0 ¼

Fabric Notes:

- Superfine scarlet cloth:  a superior, finer cloth, used to make officers uniform jackets.

- Superfine white cloth:  used for the jacket’s facings (cuffs, lapels, etc).

- Shalloon:  a lightweight twilled fabric of wool or worsted used chiefly for coat linings.  

- Buckram:  a coarse material, linen or cotton, used for stiffening clothes. 

- Skein:  a unit of yarn.

- Silk:  used for sewing.  The “twist” was possibly the lace or piping used around buttonholes, cuffs, collars, lapels, etc.

- Dimity:  a strong cotton corded fabric.

Sources:

Major Clephane's Bill of Sale of Alexander Mackenzie, Sep. 1757. Elizabeth Rose Family Papers. NRS, GD125-22-17, p. 1.

Chapman, Earl J. "Bill of Sale." E-Mail letter to Jeffrey Campbell dated 26 July 2017. 

©  Jeffrey Campbell, Fraser's 78th Regiment of Foot, 2019.

Return of Bedding in Fort Stanwix, 1759

Albany, Nov. 22d 1759

Sir, 

I beg leave to inclose your Excellency a Return from Fort Stanwix, sent by Lieut. Col. Massey, of the Bedding there and to acquaint you that Last Fall Beding for 400 men was sent tho' not quite new still good and that upon a representation of Col. Frazier [78th Foot] to Brigr. Genl. Stanwix of its not being fit for his People he order'd that we should send up a New set which was accordingly done wherefore I beg to know your commands upon this head whether the demand must be comply'd with or not in the best manner we can not being provided for such after claps.

I am with with great respect

Your Excellencys

Most obedient

humble servant

Jno. Bradstreet

His Ex. Genl. Amherst

Return of the Bedding in Fort Stanwix

Nov. 14th 1759

Double Beds: 40

Single Beds: 12

Number of men will serve: 92

Double Ruggs: 89

Single Ruggs: 107

Number of men will serve: 285

Blankets good: 6

D'o bad: 40

Number of men will serve: 46

Bolsters Bad: 67

No. of men will serve: 67

Numr. of men wanting Beds: 301

D'o wanting Ruggs: 108

D'o wanting Blankets: 347

D'o wanting Bolsters: 326

Num'r of persons in the Garrison to be compleated in Bedding: 383

[signed]

J. Rogers

Lt. 46th Regt.

acting Qr. Master

In short all the Beding so bad, it is hard to expect Soldiers can lie on them, so that a new set is Wanting for the Provencials did everything nasty in them and on them.

Endorsed - Return of Bedding

Source: 

War Office Records: Amherst Papers. Letters from Colonel John Bradstreet, Deputy Quartermaster-General to the Commander-in-Chief, 1758-1763. LAC, WO 34, vol. 57.

©  Jeffrey Campbell, Fraser's 78th Regiment of Foot, 2019.