British Forces in America 1770s-1783

[karenb]

I'm stuck and need help again! 

Is there anyone here that can tell me what Regiments were in and around New York in the 1770s until they left in 1783?

Also what Royal Navy ships would have been there?

I am having a major problem trying to find out if my ancestor was in the Royal Navy or an Army Regiment as I now have 4 conflicting reports from various family documentation.

All reports agree he was Lieutenant John Thompson, but one states he was in the RN, another in the 69th Foot, yet another the 95th foot and a last report says 96th (which I couldn't find to exist at all).

Apart from family tales the only actual proof I have that he was really in New York is a (belated) birth registration (from English parish records) for a son.  John swears by oath in 1799, that his son was born Nov. 1779 "at Brooklyne on Long-Island in the Province of New York".

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Karen

[geniecolgan]

This page might help.

British Troops in North America -

http://www.rootschat.com/links/05tb/

[karenb]

Thanks geniecolgan, that's wonderful!   

Don't know why I couldn't find that !

Karen

[geniecolgan]

Hi Karen,

happy to be of some use 

I had trouble finding it too but I knew I had it somewhere. Sorry I can't help with the Navy.

genie 

[neil1821]

karen,
Neither the 95th Regt nor the 96th Regt existed at all between 1763 and 1780, so you can ignore those two.

The 69th were in New York briefly in 1781

[km1971]

Hi Karen

According to the 1781 Army List the 69th Regiment had a Captain John Thompson. He was senior Captain obtaining his rank on 9 October 1775.

Unfortunately I cannot find him in the London Gazette of the period, so do not know what happened to him.


Ken

[karenb]

Thanks Neil and Ken,

I have actually come across Capt. John of the 69th before and he is buried near the Scottish border and his rank &  battalion are noted on his grave.  Doesn't appear to be the correct John though.

In a will of an uncle from 1793 he is still noted as Lieutenant and I'm sure he would have identified him as a Captain if he was one.

I have found a reference to a Lieut. John Thompson applying for a land grant in New York in 1773 in a New York historical publication.  He is listed as being from the 95th.  Rather odd when the 95th disbanded in 1763 and I wonder if it is a print error.

In any case - if he had been in the 95th he obviously went elsewhere after it disbanded.

I do know he had one son later in the 40th and another in the 37th.  I wonder if he ended up in one of those?

ARRG 

Karen

[km1971]

There is a Gazette entry for 1774, ie after they were disbanded, when their Lt Colonel is being made a Deputy Governor. He is described as late of the 95th Regiment.

As the officers had bought their commissions they would have gone onto half-pay when the 95th were disbanded in 1763. So he could have been on the half-pay of the 95th when he bought the land.

You really need someone with an Army List before 1780.

Ken