Friday, December 1, 2023

List of Prisoners Victualled at the Main Guard

While soldiers in the 78th Regiment were not all angels by any means, we have occasionally located a few records documenting rebellious and improper misconduct, which would land some men behind bars in the Quebec City guardhouse. (Jeffrey Campbell, Lockdown, 2024. Artist's rendition created with Perchance AI Image Generator)

List of Prisoners Victualled at the Main Guard

The following is a list of men who were held at the guardhouse on the North Shore of the Saint Lawrence River, Quebec, Canada, and received daily subsistence in the summer and fall seasons of 1761. This facility may have contained an orderly room, guard room, and detention cells, which could have been considered typical construction in the mid-eighteenth century.

The two columns represent the prisoner's name and the number of days victualled.

1 Augt. 1761:
William Thomas - 25 days [47th Regiment]
Patrick McGuire - 8 days [2d Battalion, 60th Royal American Regiment]
Miles Carmichael - 4 days [78th Regiment]

4 Augt. 1761:
Paul Wood - 3 days [2d Battalion, 60th Royal American Regiment]

19 Augt. 1761:
Willm. Powell - 5 days
Willm. Cooper - 4 days
Jos. Howe - 4 days
Fras. Coffield - 4 days

29 Augt 1761:  
Thos. Lee - 4 days

5 Sepr. 1761:
Robt. McGregor - 5 days

25 Sepr. 1761:
Angus McDonald [78th Regiment]
Jos. Dusel

27 Sepr. 1761:
John Browne

30 Sepr. 1761:
Nicholas Tryer [Tyer; Fryer; Fyer?]

16 Oct. 1761:
Francis Warren

Source: List of Prisoners Victualed at the Main Guard [1761]. Treasury: papers. TNA, T 1/406, n.p.

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


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Wednesday, November 1, 2023

Prisoners of War

The earliest recorded usage of the phrase "prisoner of war" dates to about the year 1610, while the earliest known "prison of war" camp was established at Norman Cross Prison in Huntingdonshire, England in 1797. (Jeffrey Campbell, Brothers, 2024. Artist's rendition created with Perchance AI Image Generator)

Prisoners of War

Two separate lists of the English prisoners of war dating to June 14th, 1760, were located among the War Office records of Jeffrey Amherst, former Commander in Chief of British forces in North America during the Seven Years' War. Although this first list remains anonymous, it may have been generated by Governor James Murray or his staff.

15th Regiment
Lieutenant Henry Hamilton
Serjeant Bryan Fortune
Serjeant John Lackey
Private Andrew Boitler
Private Edward Warren

N.B. John Fernall of the 15th Regiment & Richd. Jones Servants and not prisoners.

27th Regiment
Lieutenant John Fortiscue
Ensign Daniel Stuart
Private John Morison
Private Wm. Hempfield
Servant John McDuff

35th Regiment
Private Samuel Degrode
Private Thos. Dawson
Private Jas. Jemmison
Private Duncan Black
Private Edward Barrey
Private Philip McElroy
Private Daniel McFarling
Private John Greame

43d. Regiment
Lieutenant Nicholas Lysaght
Ensign Crank Maw
Private Hugh Smith

47th Regiment
Lieutenant William Sherriff
Lieutenant Henry Goddard
Sergeant Edmond Sikes
Private Peter Douglas
Private McAdow
Private Richd. Greenash
Private Wm. Swails

48th Regiment
Serjt. Major Wm. Scott
Private Alexr. Youell
Private Wm. McGaughey
Private George Aberdeen
Private Wm. Orr
Private Daniel Orr
Private John Cooper
Private Robert Cooper
Private Wm. Lenard
Private Francis Mortan
Private Balagh Rupple
Private John Baillie
Private Peter McKenny

58th Regiment
Serjeant Richard Murray
Private Ledwick Robinson
Private Jonathan Sedwell
Private Dennis Daugherty
Private Robert Piles
Private John Porter

2d. B.R.A. [2nd Battalion, 60th Royal Americans]
Serjeant Charles McDonnell
Corporal Henry Cunningham
Private Thomas McMurray
Private David Holstead
Private Daniel Pearson
Private Richd. Strough

3d. B.R.A. [3rd Battalion, 60th Royal Americans]
Voluntier William Bayard
Serjeant Christopher Pauley
Private Justich Heyman
Private Andrew Over

4th. B.R.A. [4th Battalion, 60th Royal Americans]
Private James Bryan
Private George Taylor

63d. Regiment [78th Regiment]
Private Andrew Rose
Private John Chisam
Private Wm. Brown

Proventials
Jervle De'ball
Emmanuel Grey
Josiah Molone

Rangers
Captain [blank] Jacobs
Captain James Lute
Serjeant Saml. Reynolds
Lewis Denny
Saml. Hall
Issey Traverese
Wm. Hardy
Thos. Cleesh
Thos. Bignall
Frederick Courtis
Abel Davis
Hight Young

Royal Artillery
Lieutenant William Cock

Royal Train
Mattross Wm. Bond

Pepperell's and Shirley's taken at Oswego in 1756
Private Valantine Earnest
Private Dennis Jordan
Private John Snell
Private Patt. McCallum
Private John Fahie
Private Daniel Loughray
Private Patt. Castaquin
Private Norman Ash
Private Morgan Kinney
Private Saml. Bennet
Private John Barton
Private Mathew Dunn
Private Thomas Wade
Private Joseph Pike

Belonging to His Majesty's Ships of War
Gunner John Sherman
Gunner's Mate Thos. Burgery
Joseph Campage, Carpenter
Sailors:
Thomas Jowle [Jervle?]
Mathew Dyer
Wm. Isles
Thos. Caulvin
Robert Hamman
Thomas Todd
John Walker
Wm. Owens

Inhabitants
Thos. Cowan
John Smith
Robert Mason
George Cost
Nathl. Smith

Suttlers
Daniel Pacault
George Hipps
Willm. Jaunt
John Whelan

Women
Sarah Garwin
Bridget Dunn
Sarah McCallum
Eliza. Halmer
Mary Ann Crisk

List of Officers Sent in Govr. Murray's Return not Included in the foregoing List, as L. Goddard Accounts for them.

Prisoners on Parole at Quebec:

Kennedy's Regiment
Capt. Maitland

Webb's Regiment
Lt. Davers

Lawrence's Regiment
Capt. Charteris
Lt. Campbell
Lt. Forbes mentioned missing in Govr. Murray's is dead.

Fraser's Regiment
Ens. Malcolm Fraser (dead)

Otway's Regiment
Capt. Ince (dead)

Lascelle's Regiment
Capt. Archbold (dead)

Amherst's Regiment
Ensn. Montgomery (dead)

Endorsed - Copy  

List of the English Prisoners 
returned from Canada - 
14th June 1760
transmitted by Capt. Bonneau
in his of the 18th.

Source:
War Office Records: Amherst Papers. Correspondence between French Officers in North America and the Commander-in-Chief, 1757-1761. W.O. 34, vol. 10, pp. 234-238.

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

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Friday, September 1, 2023

Payroll Account of Private John Fraser [1st], 1758

An accountant at the War Office in Westminster, London, was ultimately responsible for the tracking of hundreds of millions of pounds being spent on funding British armies on multiple fronts around the world. At the regimental level, paymasters were charged with accounting for the income and expenses of every soldier, ensuring assets were properly tracked down to the very last pence. (Jeffrey Campbell, Accountability, 2024. Artist's rendition created with Perchance AI Image Generator)

Payroll Account of Private John Fraser [1st], 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 Private John Fraser [1st; multiple men with the same name in this company], 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 1]

Income

To 2 Weeks arrears Due in Ireland : £0. 0. 10
     
To 9 Weeks Pay & arrears Due in y'e passage from y'e 5th July 1757 to y'e 5th Sept. 1757 : £1. 10. 9
     
To 5 Weeks arrears of Pay due from y'e 5th Sept. to y'e 10th Oct. D'o. : £0. 8. 4

To 1 Weeks arrears from 10th Oct. to the 17th. : £0. 0. 5
    
To 6 Weeks Pay & arrears Due from y'e 17th Oct. to the 28th Novr. 1757 : £1. 0. 6

To 21 Weeks arrears Due from y'e 28th Novr. 1757 to y'e 24th Aprl. 1758 : £1. 15. 0 

[Total]  £4. 15. 10
[Page 2]

Expenses

To 1 Pair Shoes & 1 Napsack : £0. 6. 6
    
To 2 Haversacks at Kilraick & Glasgow : £0. 2. 0

To 1 Cocade 1 pair garters & 1 sett buckles : £0. 2. 0
    
To 1 Pistle & 1 Kilt belt : £0. 1. 4
     
To 1 Turn Key 1 Screw 1 Brush & Wire : £0. 0. 9                                                
     
To Provisions furnished at Glasgow &c. :  £0. 4. 8
   
To Spruce Beer at Halifax : £0. 2. 8

To 2 Cheq'd Shirts furnish'd by y'e Maj.r : £0. 7. 0

To 10 Months Stopp.s for y'e Paymsr. Serjt @ 1p : £0. 0. 10

To 7 Months Stoppages for y'e barber @ 2p m : £0. 1. 2

To y'e Proportion of a Cook Frock : £0. 0. 8

To Cash giv.n at Fairf.d & Boston p. Ad.ve : £1. 17. 4

To 4 Weeks Pay Ad.ve the Hosp.l at Halifax : £0. 12. 0

To 2 White Shirts from the Com [sic, Comisary? ] Store : £0. 7. 0

To Cash Paid him as Ball.ce of ye. above acct. : £0. 9. 11

  [Total]  £4. 15. 10

Halifax 3d. May 1758. Received the above Ball'ce. in full of my Pay & arrears of Pay Due from y'e Date my attestation to y'e 24th Apr. 1758 last as witness of my hand.

        his
John JF Fraser
        mark

Source:
Major James Clephane, "Payroll account of Private John Fraser, 1758." Military Account Book at Halifax, NAS GD125-34-5, pp. 30-1.

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

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Tuesday, August 1, 2023

Requesting Levy Money and Tents for Two Highland Battalions

A clerk at the War Office in Westminster, London, processes several requests from Lord William Barrington (1717-1793; 2nd Viscount Barrington) regarding levy money and tents to be issued for two new Scottish Highland battalions raised for service in North America. (Jeffrey Campbell, Supplying the Battalions2024. Artist's rendition created with Perchance AI Image Generator)

Requesting Levy Money and Tents for Two Highland Battalions

In November 1756, at the request of Lord Loudoun to raise additional men for service in North America, the War Office, led by Secretary at War William Barrington, in January 1757, began issuing a series of beating orders, which were instrumental in not only recruiting men for the then-Second Highland Battalion (quickly renumbered 63rd Regiment of Foot, then 78th Regiment of Foot) but also, to begin issuing camp necessaries such as tents, kettles, and other implements to be utilized.

The following two orders address the allotment of three British pounds in currency to each new recruit as levy money for their enlistment, also, that the tents may be issued out of His Majesty's Stores for the use of the newly raised First and Second Highland Battalions, led by Lieutenant-Colonels Archibald Montgomery and Simon Fraser.

Recruit Levy Money
War Office 13 January 1757
My Lord & Sir,
His Majesty having been pleased to order two Highland Battalions of Foot to be forthwith raised & sent to North America each Battalion to consist of 40 Serjeants 40 Corporals 20 Drummers and 1000 Private Men besides Commission Officers (their Establishment to commence from the 23 Decr. Last incl and to allow three pounds per Man Levy Money I have the Honour to acquaint you therewith, that you may be pleased to lay a Memorial before the Rt. Honble the Lords Commissioners of his Maty’s Treasury for the Money wanting for this Service.

    I am
    My Lord & Sir
    Barrington

Lord Visct. Dupplin
& Thos. Potter Esqr. Paymaster Genl.

Copy

Requesting Tents
War Office 13 Janry 1757
Sir

His Majesty Having ordered two Highland Battalions of Foot to be forthwith raised each Battalion to consist of 40 Serjeants, 40 Corporals, 20 Drummers & 1000 Private men besides Commission Officers under the Command of Lieut Colonel Archibald Montgomery and Lieut Colonel Simon Fraser, and be employed for the defense of His Majesty’s Colonies in North America, I am to desire you will be pleased to receive His Majesty’s Command thereupon and signify the same to the Master Genl. of the Ordnance, that Tents may be delivered out of His Majesty’s Stores with all possible Expedition to each of the said Battalions Accordingly to the above mentioned Numbers.

    I am
    sir &c
    Barrington

Rt. Hon'ble Mr. Pitt His Majesty’s
Principal Secry of State

Source:
War Office Records: Out Letters: Secretary at War. General Letters, Dec. 1756 - Apr. 1757, LAC, W.O. 4, vol. 53 (Selections), p. 60.

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

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Saturday, July 1, 2023

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.

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