Provincials

10/27/2024

I was saddened to just read of the recent passing of Kathryn Hilder of Fredericton. I first met Kathryn in the early1980's in my forays to the Harriet Irving Library at UNB. We quickly hit it off, with a shared fascination of all things Loyalist. She was instrumental in organizing and acquiring collections. Many of us owe her a lot, without realizing it. I will miss her.

10/19/2024

A reminder my lecture on the aftermath of the Royalist Corps of Burgoyne's army will be on at 4:19 this afternoon on C-SPAN 2. They are showing today all or many the Saturday lectures from the Fort Ticonderoga symposium last month.

Historian Todd Braisted discussed what became of British General Burgoyne's Royalist troops after his defeat in the battle of Saratoga in 1777. This was part of Fort Ticonderoga's 20th Annual Seminar on the American Revolution in Ticonderoga, New York.

10/18/2024

When you transcribe documents about people, you learn of what they did, and who they were. Not necessarily what they would become. I had always recalled a passage in Frederick Mackenzie's Diary mentioning two deserters from West Point at New York in January 1781, dressed as lightly as it was summer. I found the deserter interview in August in the Clinton Papers. The deserters had no way of knowing that less than a week later the detachment they had belonged to would get into a hard fought scrap with DeLancey's Refugees, in which a number of their former colleagues would be killed, wounded or captured.

That was no longer their concern, as the day after they arrived at New York they met William Digby Lawler, formerly a quartermaster in the 17th Light Dragoons but then a lieutenant of cavalry in the Queen's American Rangers, who enlisted both of them into the troop then raising under Captain Thomas Ives Cooke, another veteran of the 17th LD.

Both would serve in Virginia. Gray would survive Yorktown but desert from the regiment on 29 July 1782. He was eventually discovered or turned himself in on 20 April 1783 but deserted again on 25 June 1783, this time for good.

His dishonor paled in comparison to Webster, who with a Frenchman in the regiment named Lewis Trepaud, were believed to have r***d a woman named Jane Dickenson. Simcoe unhesitatingly turned them over to Cornwallis for punishment. If there was a court martial, it has escaped history. Trepaud ended up being turned over to the Royal Navy for service there. Webster however was hanged the next day.

Here is their deserter interview:

"Janry. 15th [1781]

John Grey an American of Col. Jackson’s Regt. or 16th Massachusetts – left West point eleven days ago, on command to North Castle. Genl. Heath commands. There were about 140 Continentals & 400 militia on the detachment. The Sixteen Massachusetts Regiments are reduced to ten. The Six Months men are all gone home. They have not as yet received any Recruits. The greatest part of the Army have seventeen months due to them. Some of the troops have got french cloathing. He heard at West point that the Pennsylvanians had revolted & were going to Congress to get redress for their want of cloathing pay &c. The Officers told them it was not so. They heard they had Seven pieces of Cannon with them & had kill’d several of their Officers. Ethan Allen had declared, if the Congress did not establish his Commission & give him pay he would fight both King & Congress, as he had then got a considerable magazine of ammunition & arms.

Jonathan Webster of Col. Seely’s Regt. or first New Hampshire Regt. 43 men in his Company all for the War – deserted with Grey – Col: Hull commanded the detachment. Beef is pretty plenty, flour scarce. The Soldiers only wait for their money & cloathing to desert, as they are tired of the service.

Both these men came in without Coats."

Source: University of Michigan, William L. Clements Library, Sir Henry Clinton Papers, Volume 141, item 15.

10/16/2024

C-Span 2 will air my lecture on the fate of Burgoyne's Royalist units this Saturday at 4:19 PM and Sunday at 2:00 AM Eastern time.

Historian Todd Braisted discussed what became of British General Burgoyne's Royalist troops after his defeat in the battle of Saratoga in 1777. This was part of Fort Ticonderoga's 20th Annual Seminar on the American Revolution in Ticonderoga, New York.

10/14/2024

Another appropriate post for today. While thousands of indigenous people fought on the side of the Crown during the Revolution, from Canada to Central America, most people then and now would probably only recognize one name, Joseph Brant. Brant started out officially as an interpreter but went on to lead both native and white troops in a semi-autonomous command (technically a part of the Indian Department, but known as Brant's Volunteers.) Below is the land grant petition of one who served under Brant before eventually enlisting in Butler's Rangers, a corps that often fought alongside Brant and a number of tribes.

"To His Excellency The Right Honorabley Guy Lord Dorchester, Captain General & Governor in Chief of the Provinces of Quebec, Nova Scotia & New Brunswick, Vice Admiral of the same, General & Commander of His Majestys Forces in the said Provinces & the Island of Newfoundland &c. &c. &c.

The Humble Petition of Peter Shank formerly a private in Colonel Butlers Corps of Rangers Sheweth
That your petitioner was possessed of a Freehold Farm on considerable Value about nine miles from Albany which he was obliged to abandon on account of his Loyalty to the Kings Government (and narrowly escaped with his Life) and which has since been confiscated. That he together with several of his Companions joined General Burgoyne where he was wounded & taken prisoner. That he escaped from Prison & joined Colonel Joseph Brant; was two Years & a half with him & then inlisted in the Rangers. That he served in almost every Engagement that this Corps was in & was desperately wounded twice in his Right Leg near Scoharry where Sir John Johnson commanded & that he is now very lame in consequence of those Wounds.
Wherefore your petitioner humbly prays that Your Excellency taking the merits of his petition his Loyalty & Attachment to his King & Country & his wounds & Services into Your Consideration will be pleased to grant him Two hundred acres of Land situate on the South Side of the River a La Trenche bounded on the East by Mathew Dolson’s Farm & on the West by James Rough — or such other Quantity as to Your Excellency may seem meet as your petitioner wishes there to spend the remainder of his Days.
And Your petitioner as in Duty bound will ever pray.

his
Peter X Shank
Mark

District of Hesse
20th Augt. 1789."

Source: Library and Archives Canada, Upper Canada Land Petitions, “S” Bundle Miscellaneous 1788-1794, RG 1, L 3, Volume 493(a), No. 110.

08/27/2024

No one benefitted more from the Battle of Long Island than the 2nd Battalion, Royal Highland Emigrants, whose Robert William Walker, a Volunteer from Maryland, happened to be in the right place at the right time...

"When the Grand Army came from Halifax to Staten Island (where they came to Action) he went with Major Small to the taking of Long Island and joined the 17th Regiment of light Dragoons and took a great number of Horses and waggons and delivered them up for the Benefit of the Service- A few Days afterwards Major Small ordered the said Robert William Walker to go amongst the Rebel Prisoners to try what number he could inlist for the Regiment when he inlisted 173 Men and took them all safe to Halifax and delivered them to Captain Alexr. McDonald who Commanded the Regiment at that Time-"

Source: Great Britain, The National Archives, Audit Office, Class 13, Volume 40, folios 234-236.

The date of enlistment on the muster roll was 3 September 1776. That figure represents over 17% of the rank & file taken in that battle by the British. Some deserted back to the rebels in later years, but most served the British the whole war. The 1st Battalion of course had enlisted scores of men taken in the assault on Quebec.

08/25/2024

John Graves Simcoe: man of the people...

"dear Sir,
I purpose this Evening to send a patrole to Goose Creek & to return to morrow night; its object, beside the publick one of shewing ourselves is rout & overawing such small parties as might be inclined to assemble, & move this way, will be to seize a Hogshead or two of Rum, which will enable me to supply, what I cannot but think a deficiency, the want of a depot of that Cordial to revive & reward individuals of the Regt. when employed on particular duties.
There is a schooner unrigged, & dismasted at Dorchester; She might be brought down with some labour if she was thought an object.
I think necessary to mention this patrole to you, as I do not know whether any thing to prevent it has, or has not happened.
In case any Idea of the Rebells quitting the town, should be now entertained, I cannot help Expressing my Opinion, that the Position at Gardens house would be a good one for me, as it is but seven miles from Red Bank, eight from Dorchester & Eleven from Bacon Bridge, & the sloop brought down yesterday, is of more force, or rather alarm, than our very ineffective Battery.
I promised to inform our friend Crosby, when I moved that he might send out a Caterer for Fowls, Green Peas &c &c.
yours most truly
J G Simcoe

Major André
D Adjt. General
Head Quarters

[May 1780]"

Source: University of Michigan, William L. Clements Library, Sir Henry Clinton Papers, Volume 82, item 53.

08/16/2024

Extract of a letter from an Officer of the Volunteers of Ireland, dated Camden, August 25, 1780.

“I cannot help mentioning our glorious commanding officer Lord Rawdon, his conduct, coolness, and intrepidity do him immortal honour, he charged the rebels at the head of his regiment, and drove them, they rallied, and recharged us, the right of their column is supposed to have consisted of eight hundred men, they pushed for our standard which was in the center, and I must say without vanity was most nobly defended, their presumption they paid dear for, our men seeing the efforts at their national badge fought like lions, overturned every thing that opposed them, and put the rebels to a total route, in which they were most dreadfully cut up.”

Source: The Royal Gazette (New York,) September 20, 1780.

07/31/2024

Over the winter, I was invited to submit a piece for The Gotham, a blog site for New York City History, any aspect, any time period. This was my submittal. I hope you will enjoy it.

Damn’d Good Shots: A Matter of Honor on the Streets of New York, 1783 By Todd Braisted What had caused such hot-headed emotions between the two senior officers present with the regiment? Delicacy, in the 18th Century manner. This life-and-death struggle centered around the regimental clerk, Serg

07/26/2024

About a month ago I sat down for an interview with Chris Parkinson of Redcoat History for a chat about the Loyalist military. Chris does a fantastic job with his YouTube Channel, with over 80,000 subscribers. It was a fun experience, and has just now been posted. I hope you enjoy it!

Today we are talking about the “Good Americans” - those who stayed loyal to the crown during the American Revolution.Lieutenant General James Robertson, a se...

07/23/2024

When piecing together history is more than just a figure of speech: Warrant from Brigadier General Cortland Skinner to Robert Cooke to raise a battalion of New Jersey Volunteers...

07/16/2024

16 July 1779. Frederick Philipse Robinson of Dutchess County, a Fifteen Year Old ensign in the 17th Regiment of Foot, takes part in the Battle of Stoney Point.

"In July 1779, my Brother Morris and myself, were taken Prisoners by the Americans at a Post called Stoney Point, on the Hudson River. The Garrison consisted of the 17th Regiment, Two Companies of Grenadiers of the 71st Regt. (Highlanders), a Detachment of the Loyal Americans under the Command of my Brother Morris, and another of the Royal Artillery; the whole under the Command of Lieut. Colonel Johnson of the 17th. The Place was stormed at midnight by the Americans under the command of Genl. Wayne (formerly a Drover) who had given directions to his men “not to give quarter” in revenge for a dreadful defeat he met with from the British Light Infantry under Sir Charles Grey. On this occasion I commanded one of the advanced Companies, which must have been accidental, as I was much too young for so important a situation upon so severe a trial. I acted however as many old Officers no doubt had done before, and since, I obeyed the directions of an experienced Sergeant, who also saved my life by shooting a man who had levelled his Firelock at me within ten yards, which was perceived by the flashes of the Artillery and Small arms only, for the night was Darkness visible. After a sharp and close conflict for more than an hour, our Party was driven back; and in an instant all was confusion, every one striving the best for himself; I was seized by an American Officer who exclaimed “I’ve got a very young Prisoner” then snatched off my hat and left me, a Soldier then took my Sword, but like his Officer did not think me worth attending to. I made my way to the Colonels tent, where I found him and many of the Officers prisoners, my great and only comfort under our misfortune was, that a musket Ball had grazed my Shoulder. I soon however had cause for sorrow in the grief of my gallant friend the Colonel, whose extraordinary personal exertions were unavailing against disparity of numbers favored by the extreme Darkness of the night, and the Enemy’s perfect local knowledge; as soon as it was light, my attention was attracted by a Sight which I confess struck me dumb with horror. Near me I saw the naked body of my old friend Captain Tew of the 17th Regt. a man whom I loved and respected in the highest degree; I almost Sickened at the Sight, and was rivitted to the Spot. An Officer who witnessed this, took me by the arm and led me amongst the Dead and Wounded in order, as he said afterwards, to familiarise me to Such Sights. I now believe he was right, for he did not shew any want of feeling, but placed the circumstance in its proper light to me.

The Prisoners marched Off the next morning (16th July 1779) under a Strong Es**rt of Cavalry (Lee’s Dragoons) and in about a fortnight the Officers arrived at Lancaster in Pensylvania, where they remained on Parole, at large."

Source: Journals of Sir Frederick Philipse Robinson, 1777-1814, Royal Military College of Canada, Massay Library, FC3071.1.R58 1814.

07/01/2024

While July 1st marks Canada Day, a celebration of our friends up North, it marks another special occasion, the 248th anniversary of the founding of the New Jersey Volunteers, the largest Provincial regiment of the Revolutionary War. When the British fleet arrived off Sandy Hook on this day in 1776, some 70+ men from Monmouth County, New Jersey sailed out to greet and join them. They were led by Elisha Lawrence, whose memorial is below, and organized as the 1st Battalion, New Jersey Volunteers. Commanded by Brigadier General Cortland Skinner, the corps would eventually number six battalions, plus a battalion of West Jersey Volunteers and some cavalry. Some 3,300 officers and men would pass through its ranks between this date and 10 October 1783, when the corps was disbanded. So Happy Birthday to the NJV!