| Background: |
The Peace of Amiens between Great Britain, France, and Spain, which was signed on 27 March 1802, appeared to signal the beginning of a permanent peace, and British military forces were reduced both at home and abroad. However, the peace was short lived and the war resumed in May of 1803. Plans were made immediately to raise, once again, fencible corps in Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and in the Canadas. On 6 July 1803, Brigadier-General Sir Martin Hunter was authorized by Letter of Service, to raise men for the New Brunswick Regiment of Fencible Infantry, and at the same time he was appointed Colonel of the Regiment. This Regiment was the successor to the King's New Brunswick Regiment which had been raised to the status of a fencible regiment just a short time before the Peace. Recruiting for the new regiment was permitted anywhere in North America and in Scotland. By September 1805, the number of recruits had passed the 500 mark and the Regiment having reached this number, the formal inspection could take place. Colonel Tinling, Deputy Quarter-Master-General at Halifax, carried out the inspection in Fredericton. Recruiting continued, and by 1807 the Regiment had reached its established strength of 800 men, including all ranks. In 1809, General Martin Hunter, as Colonel of the Regiment, forwarded an application to the Adjutant General in London requesting that the Regiment be placed on the British Establishment and numbered as a regiment of the line. On 11 September 1810, the King approved the change and the New Brunswick Regiment of Fencible Infantry became the 104th Regiment of Foot of the British Army. |
| Contents: |
The Register of Service Returns of the New Brunswick Regiment of Fencible Infantry that is microfilmed on this reel has the following caption: Statement of the Periods of Service of all Non-Commissioned Officers, Drummers, Fifers, and Privates of the New Brunswick Regiment of Fencible Infantry Who Were Liable to Serve Abroad on 24 June 1806. The information is arranged alphabetically by surname on very large sheets of paper and the details concerning each person are recorded in columns with such headings as: rank, surname, Christian name, date of enlistment, date of birth if enlisted under 18 years of age, service or out-pension, dates of service in the East Indies or West Indies, rate of pay depending on length of service, and remarks. |
