DaveDave
RootsChat Extra
Posts: 27
Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
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Hi
I hope someone on this forum can help us – or at least point us in the right direction so we can find the info.
We're looking for personnel records on an ancestor, Sgt Samuel Player, who served with the Fife Fencibles. This is the only information we can find so far…
When Samuel married Margaret Williamson in 1795 in Cupar, he was recorded as being a soldier in Durham’s Regiment. 18th century regiments were sometimes formed by wealthy individuals, who then named the regiment after themselves. Samuel enlisted with Durham's Regiment (not the Durham Regiment) Durham being General James Durham of Largo (Fife).
It is thought Durham's Fencibles (Fifeshire Fencible Infantry) was raised in 1795 as this appears to be the earliest attestation date.
Muster 31st May 1795 taken to Londonderry 1796.
Samuel promoted to Corporal August 1796
Samuel promoted to Sergeant September 1796
1st October 1797 - 31st March 1798 at Strabane
From April 1798 - April 1799 sworn at Strabane until May 1799 when men divided into companies and musters every month.
Sergeant Player in Colonel's Company. (James Durham)
May - December 1799 sworn at Londonderry in June.
(Sergeant S. Player sick August 1799) transferred to Lt/Col Thomas Durham's Company Sept. 1799
January 1800 - December 1800 Londonderry
January 1801 - December 1801 Kilcullen - 1802 in Naas - Dublin in May 1803 - Kilkenny 1803
Sgt. Player Lt/Col Company on furlow January 1803.
Company (Disembodied) 1803.
Samuel returned to Scotland 1804.
Who would hold the personnel records for Sgt Samuel Player? National Archives has nothing on him.
And, who now hold the records of the Fife Fencibles, especially the Description Book with every soldier’s details?
Hope you can help and very much look forward to hearing from you.
Regards
Dave Player
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« Last Edit: Sunday 01 February 09 13:39 UTC (UK) by DaveDave »
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DaveDave
RootsChat Extra
Posts: 27
Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
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Hi Diddy
Many thanks for the link but this appears to be the Fencible regiment from the county of Durham, not the Fencibles set up by General James Durham of Largo, known as the Fife Fencibles as well as Durham's Fencibles.
Reading thru' the many posts on this web site, you appear to be one of the local experts, so I was hoping that you might have some info on this little known Fife regiment.
It seems that every regiment had a book with all the soldiers details called the Description Book - this'll hold the details on our anscestor, Sgt Samuel Player. I'd like to find out where this book is now, and also what the regimental badge and uniform looked like.
Any ideas?
Dave
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DaveDave
RootsChat Extra
Posts: 27
Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
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I found some more interesting little snit-bits... Does anyone have any idea what the uniform looked like or the regimental cap badge?
Any one have any info, links etc to contribute?
Pages 397 and 399 mention the Fife Fencibles…
http://books.google.com/books?id=r32yANzckOMC&pg=PA397&lpg=PA397&dq=%22fife+fencibles%22&source=bl&ots=y0ykvQG6rn&sig=HzAQVViKGNM0hFSRejwHnop-OTQ&hl=en&ei=dw2QScPeOZiq-gaJprWPCw&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=5&ct=result#PPA397,M1
Life of Captain Matthew Flinders, page 177 by Ernest Scott
http://manybooks.net/pages/scotternetext05flind10/177.html
Page 282
http://books.google.com/books?id=xcQTAAAAYAAJ&pg=RA2-PA282&lpg=RA2-PA282&dq=%22fife+fencibles%22&source=bl&ots=VY6pmQyTOs&sig=y_mX3QWiJWhR0YAC4GR16-T3580&hl=en&ei=kBKQSfCGDNWV-gbY6smrCw&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=7&ct=result#PRA2-PA283,M1
REBELLION, INVASION AND OCCUPATION:
A MILITARY HISTORY OF IRELAND, 1793-1815
Could one of the uniforms on page 3 by that of the Fife Fencibles?!
Fife Fencibles mention in pages 59, 109 (2 Fife Fencibles executed),
http://ir.canterbury.ac.nz/bitstream/10092/1042/1/thesis_fulltext.pdf
Page 18 and 19
http://books.google.com/books?id=o3qcmGbLHGQC&pg=PA18&lpg=PA18&dq=%22fife+fencibles%22&source=bl&ots=EmAdy7PlvP&sig=m-wKMzDMfaF8-TTbtfziZ3n8lz0&hl=en&ei=dReQSdb4FMaO-gb6x4ijCw&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=1&ct=result#PPA19,M1
Fife Fencibles Unit Strength = 500
http://books.google.com/books?id=IjQ9Plqyd8AC&pg=PA166&lpg=PA166&dq=%22fife+fencibles%22&source=bl&ots=HRlS3JLs0N&sig=ZQYh84cSAbdfmBxoD6aAHwEOjN4&hl=en&ei=dReQSdb4FMaO-gb6x4ijCw&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=2&ct=result#PPA166,M1
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jackfo
RootsChat Extra
Posts: 2
Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
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Point of information. Regarding entries for 'Fifeshire Fencibles' in Hythe birth records, this will be a reference to the Fifeshire Fencible Cavalry who moved to Kent from Essex in 1799, (having made their way gradually south from Carlisle in 1796 via Sheffield and the Fens). My g.g.g.g.grandfather commanded a troop 1794-1799.
There are detailed muster rolls and paylists for the F.F.C- biannual 1794-97 and monthly thereafter- at WO 13 in the National Archives, Kew. This may repay investigation if you haven't checked already.
It's dusty work, I warn you. I have just spent a couple of days in the company of my ancestor and his Laddies- "I venture to say there are not two finer troops in the regiment- I may say the ARMY". He didn't make it to Kent, though. Unfortunately he took sick the previous winter, went home and died.
Good Luck,
JF
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DaveDave
RootsChat Extra
Posts: 27
Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
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I think you may've got your dates wrong as the Fife Fencibles were in Ireland from 1795 to 1803.
I've been in touch with Kew and they say they have very little as records didn't survive.
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jackfo
RootsChat Extra
Posts: 2
Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
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I'm sorry there was nothing much on the Fife Fencibles at Kew. The muster/pay records for the Fifeshire Fencible Cavalry at WO13/3748 and 3749 are fairly comprehensive- including the dates! Of course, I didn't mean to suggest those records would be any use to you.
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Author
), and have succeeded where others have failed... 