This historically inspired 18th-century painting captures Glasgow quartermaster John Robb writing a petition by candlelight, viewed from outside his dimly lit shop window. Surrounded by ledgers, scrolls, and documents, Robb bears the burden of months spent billeting regiments during the Seven Years’ War. The quiet scene conveys exhaustion and civic duty without the presence of soldiers, reflecting the invisible strain placed on civilians. Executed with meticulous period detail, a subdued color palette, and lifelike directional lighting, this 16:9 composition offers a rare civilian perspective on wartime logistics in mid-1700s Scotland. Ideal for historical blogs, museums, and military heritage content. (Jeffrey Campbell, 18th Century Quartermaster John Robb Writing Petition in Candlelight – Glasgow 1760s, 2025)
John Robb, Glasgow City Quartermaster, 1757
During the Seven Years’ War, logistics and supply operations were vital to maintaining British military effectiveness in North America. One lesser-known but essential figure in this infrastructure was John Robb, who served as Quartermaster to the Glasgow City Regiment and was later associated with Fraser’s Highlanders. The document featured here provides a rare glimpse into Robb’s financial and organizational role during the wartime period, helping to illuminate the machinery behind frontline success.
29 June 1757
Petition of John Robb, quartermaster
There was a petition given in by John Robb, stationer in Glasgow and quartermaster of the said city, representing that for upwards of these eight months by past he had been put to a considerable trouble and expence by not only billeting the two battalions of Young Buffs when quartered in the city, the two battalions of Highland regiments, three other regiments passing through the city, besides transient military and recruits, which rendered him unable all that time to prosecute and follow further his own private business, he having been constantly employed in billeting the said soldiers both upon public and private houses, but also by paying two men for writing billets clossly, and for furnishing pens, paper, ink and wax extraordinary, besides employing a man for working his own private work, which he could have done himself had he not been so much fatigued in the foresaid billeting, which was nottour, and as the yearly salary for acting as quartermaster was but small in comparison of the great fatigue and expence he hath undergone as before mentioned, craving therefore the council would in respect thereof allow a reasonable gratification to him for the foresaid trouble over and above his present salary as they should think proper. Which petition being read in presence of and considered by the magistrates and council they ordained [the treasurer to pay the quartermaster £15 sterling] over and beside his present years salary.
Though John Robb remains a peripheral figure in major regimental narratives, documents like this offer crucial insight into the unsung infrastructure that sustained British campaigns. His work at the city level serves as a reminder that imperial wars were as much about paper, planning, and provisioning as they were about combat.
Note: Glasgow City Quartermaster John Robb was responsible for billeting Colonels Montgomery and Fraser's 1st & 2nd Highland Highland Battalions in both public and private houses at Glasgow in the spring of 1757. Both were separately en route to Cork, Ireland, for their departure to North America.
For related insights into regimental logistics, visit Monies Paid to Captain Alexander Campbell and Return of 200 Acres of Land for Evan Cameron, both of which expand on economic and settlement issues tied to the Fraser’s Highlanders.
Last updated 30 June 2025.
Works Cited:
Renwick, Robert. Extracts from the Records of the Burgh of Glasgow: with Charters and Other Documents. Vol. VI, A.D. 1739-59. Scottish Burgh Records Society, 1911.
© Jeffrey Campbell, Fraser's 78th Regiment of Foot, 2019.
