Muster Books and Pay Lists (WO 12/10684) : Duke of Cumberland's Regiment : 1783.
| Call Number: | HIL-MICL FC LMR .G7W3M8D8 |
| Category: | Military |
| Creator: | Great Britain. War Office. |
| Description: | 1 microfilm textual records () ; 35 mm |
| Background: |
The Duke of Cumberland's Regiment, also known as Montagu's Corps, was a British army provincial unit raised in Charleston and Camden, South Carolina. On 17 November 1780, Governor Dalling of Jamaica approved the rank of Lieutenant Colonel for Lord Charles G. Montagu and authorized him to raise 5 companies of 100 men each for service in Jamaica or elsewhere. The recruiting notice in the newspaper offered freedom to rebel prisoners, with an offer of land grants in Jamaica after successfully fighting against the enemies of Britain in the West Indies and the Spanish territories. In August 1781, the regiment sailed for Jamaica and spent the war there. Part of Amherst's Corps was merged with the Duke of Cumberland's Regiment, and the remainder of Amherst's Corps merged with the Loyal American Rangers.
A second Battalion of the Duke of Cumberland's Regiment was authorized by the Secretary of State, and Lord Montagu arrived in New York on 4 April 1783 to recruit for the Battalion. He announced that the Loyal American Rangers was to be absorbed into that Battalion. The Regiment was disbanded in Jamaica on 24 October 1783.
Captain Gideon White's company was allowed to settle in Nova Scotia and a number of officers and men from the disbanded regiment settled at Chedabucto, Guysborough County, while others went to Shelburne, Nova Scotia. Some went back to the United States and applied for pensions. |
| Contents: |
Twenty-seven muster rolls of the Duke of Cumberland's Regiment have been microfilmed on this reel. Both the 1st Battalion and the 2nd Battalion are represented. The dates of coverage of the muster rolls vary, but fall within the period from 25 December 1782 to 24 October 1783. Each muster roll contains the names of commissioned and non-commissioned officers and private men. Casuals are listed in the 1st Battalion records only. The Remarks column contains notes about individual soldiers, and as the regiment served in Jamaica, an inordinate number of the men are listed as sick, or sick in the regimental hospital. Other comments, typical of muster rolls include: on duty, dead, absent by leave, furlough, deserted, on guard, recruiting, and discharged. General subject terms include Britain-military-army-personnel-movements-organisation, health, and West Indies or Caribbean
In the case of the 1st Battalion, the 24 August 1783 muster lists a number of men who, after discharge, joined either the 60th Regiment or the Buffs. The musters of the 1st Battalion are far more detailed that those for the 2nd Battalion and can include the following headings: length of time in service, to remain in Jamaica, embark for England, and embark for Nova Scotia. Several companies of the 2nd Battalion have either two or three members of the Black Pioneers attached to several of the companies.
The muster rolls have been microfilmed in the following order:
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| Originals: | The original records are held by The National Archives (TNA) in London, England. |
| Archival Ref. No.: | TNA WO 12/10684 |
| Finding Aids: |
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| Electronic Finding Aid Record: | |
| Notes: |
Related Material: Gideon White Family Collection CO 137 volumes 80 and 81 pertaining to Montagu's experience recruiting in South Carolina. |
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