A LIVING HISTORY BLOG.

18TH CENTURY LIVING HISTORY IN AUSTRALIA.

Wednesday 14 October 2009

More Ranger Information.


Gorham's (often spelt Goreham) Rangers, Nova Scotia, 1755(Translated from the French:) "...there is also an independent company of 120 men composed of Maringhams [Mohican] Indians, which ours [our Indians] despise, and of bad subjectsof all nations. This corps is destined to run into the woods and is dressed in grey, cross pocket, with small leather caps or hats. It does not reside in Halifax..." Extracted from a French "Projet d'attaque sur Halifax" made in 1755, papers later taken by British.

Rogers Rangers
"...the said Robert Rogers to be Captain of an Independent Company of Rangers to be forthwith raised and employed in His Majesty's Service..." Boston, 24 March 1756, W. Shirley [General & Commander in Chief of H.M. Forces in North America]
Terms on which the three Ranging Companys are to be raised for His Majesty¹s Service under the Command of Capts Humphrey Hobbs & Thomas Speaksman. [Albany, May 14th, 1756] "...A good hunting Coat, Vest, Breeches, a Shirt, a pair of Indian Stockings, Shoes and a Hatchet to be delivered [to] each man gratis at Albany - A firelock and Blanket to be Delivered Each Man at Boston, the firelock to be returned at the End of the Service."


John Earl Loudoun to Capt Robert Rogers, New York, 11 January 1757 "...augment the Rangers with five additional Companies...each company to consist of one Captain, two Lts, One Ensign, four Sergeants and one hundred privates... They are likewise to provide themselves with good warm clothing which must be uniform in every company, ...And the Company of Indians to be dressed in all respects in true Indian fashion..."

Gen. J. Amherst to H. Bouquet, New York, 31 August 1763 "...And I approve of your having Ordered the Rangers to be discharged for I have a very low opinion of them..."
(Translated from the French:) "...there is also an independent company of 120 men composed of Maringhams [Mohican] Indians, which ours [our Indians] despise, and of bad subjectsof all nations. This corps is destined to run into the woods and is dressed in grey, cross pocket, with small leather caps or hats. It does not reside in Halifax..." Extracted from a French "Projet d'attaque sur Halifax" made in 1755, papers later taken by British.

Ordered that the Rangers by Act of Assembly appointed to keep Ranging upon the frontiers of this province take care to settle themselves to inhabit beyond all the inhabitants plantations situate upon the frontiers as aforesaid, and that they keep an exact journall of all their proceedings & observations made in their Ranging & return an account thereof unto his Excellency at the Port of Annapolis, at least once a Month... Council of Maryland March 3, 1695/96
http://www.baltimorerangers.org/


October 1693 - Items purchased to be given to the rangers to be raised in Baltimore county; "2 bibles, 1 prospective glass, 1 dark lanthorne, 1 pockett compass, 2 books called Duties of Man, 2 copies of the Book of Common Prayer, 2 bookes of Church Catechism, 2 books of Christian Religion, 2 books on Marshall Discipline and 3 books of the Articles of War."

March 1694/5 - Six hatchets, six gunlocks and 18 screws for the locks are provided to Oldton by the government for use by his rangers.


March 4, 1695/96 - 8 pounds of powder to be delivered to the rangers under Oldton.
April 1696/97 - Oldton signed a receipt for for ten saddles and caps for carbines, nine bridles, ten pair of pistols, ten cartouche boxes and belts, ten bayonets and belts and ten carbines and belts for use of the Rangers of Baltimore county. Prior to this issue a ship arrived that described the carbines and pistols as having round locks, not dog locks.

May 26, 1697 - John Oldton signed a receipt for 8 pounds of powder, 10 pounds bullets out of the county magazine.
June 1, 1697 - The Assembly approved the issuing of "10 granadoes, 10 fuses, 2 spades, 2 pick axes and 2 shovels"
June 2 1697 - The following items were to be sent to the rangers in Baltimore by the Maryland Council; 10 grenades, 20 fuses, 2 spades, 1 pick axe, 2 shovels, 50 pounds of powder "with fflint and Ball equivallent the same to be returned backe and not made use of but upon action". However, according to the receipt dated June 23rd he received: 3 grenade shells, 14 fuses, 49 flints, 43 pounds of bullets, and one pick axe.
Oct. 13, 1697 - The council ordered that the rangers of the Potomac and Baltimore Garrisons take up one or two unmarked wild horses a piece, for use in the Kings service, provided they train and break them and do not sell them.http://www.baltimorerangers.org/index2.html

The Baltimore Rangers have an excellent site with information and good images.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Saw you rpost on the New England Colonial Living HIstory site as well and you made a note that you have not seen any evidence of priming horns.

On the Baltimore Rangers website in our Historical images section is a woodcut of Williamite soldiers circa 1695 with priming horns.

Oh, and glad you like our site :)

John Machate

Keith said...

Thank you John, much appreciated.
Regards.