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General => Armed Forces => Topic started by: coombs on Saturday 19 February 11 19:05 GMT (UK)
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Hi
My 5xgreat grandad was in the 63rd foot from about 1765 to 1785 when he was discharged. he went to America in 1775 and I heard they sailed from Cork in Ireland to Boston. I heard it was sometime in June 1775 but would like to know the date of when they left Ireland and when they arrived in America. I have googled but to no avail yet.
If no one can help find anything how long would a transatlantic trip on a army ship take in 1775 from Ireland to America?
Ben
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Would depend entirely on the strength and direction of the wind I would think.
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Hi Ben
I would have guessed 6-8 weeks. There is a letter in the NA that suggests regiments embarking from Cork for Boston embarked 5th to 8th of March 1775. So if your June arrival date is correct it suggests two months.
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/displaycataloguedetails.asp?CATID=-5757306&CATLN=7&Highlight=%2C63RD%2CREGIMENT&accessmethod=0
You could enquire at the Manchester Regt museum to see if they have a copy of their 'Historical Records'. These often give embarkation/arrival dates.
A. Admonition = Amity's Admonition
Ken
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Hi Km1971
Thanks. In the meantime I shall try old newspapers to see when the regiment left. I know the battle of Bunker Hill in America commenced 17th June 1775 and the 63rd was fighting in it so the ship must have docked in the first two weeks of June.
Again thanks for the link. Ooh two months at sea.
Ben
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I believe ships' logs are preserved at Greenwich, so if so it should be possible to get an accurate journeytime.
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Hi
The letter says 6th April 1775 so the ship must have been at sea from then to early June 1775. I would imagine it one of those old sailing ships built mainly of wood. Interesting.
Ben
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According to the National Archives Website the log books are kept in ADM29, these date from the early 19th century, but should be close enough in timeperiod to give an accurate idea of voyage length to the USA.
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It is my understanding that the 63rd Regiment of Foot did not become The Manchester Regiment until 1881, prior to that date it was referred to as the West Suffolk Regiment.
George.
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The 96th Regiment became the 2nd Battalion of the Manchester Regiment in 1881. Although it did not have even a nominal geographical name before 1881, it was raised in Manchester in 1824.
Ken
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The 63rd spent several years in America and a short while in Canada and the Caribbean. They were back in Britain by 1784.
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George
In 1881 the British Army changed to territorial areas the 63rd & 96th of Foot became the 1st and 2nd Battalions of the Manchester Regiment, so any history relating to the 63rd (West Suffolk) Regt of Foot or 96th Regt of Foot is going to be part of the pre-history of the Manchester Regiment.
Ben
It may be worth you getting a copy of " History of the Manchester Regiment 63rd & 96th Regt" Vol 1 1758-1883 compiled by Col H.C.Wylly. 1923
This is from pages 34, 35 38 (I've only used bits from these pages)
7th of April 1775 when the Regiment went on board the transport waiting to take it to America (it was normal in this period to sit on board 10 days before set sailing)
There is a manuscript book in the War Office library which appears to be something of an amplification of General Howe's orderly book at Charleston,Boston, and Halifax published in 1890 and in this is the first mention of the 63rd in America occurs under the date of 14 June 1775 where, in an after order we read:
" the 63rd Regiment to land tomorrow morning at six o'clock the Quartermaster to call on the Deputy Quartermaster General and receive his directions for encamping.The Grenadier and Light infantry companies to join these corps and encamp with them"
You should also get or have a look at " Difficulties Be Damned" The Kings Regiment 8th- 63rd-96th A History of the City Regiment of Manchester & Liverpool.
By Patrick Mileham
2000
Published Fleur de lys ISBN 0 1873907 10-9
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Again thanks very much for the info.
I wonder what they did during the voyage to America? Would they have still done some minor military activities or just potter around all day?
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I would imagine the ship would have very clean decks, and all the uniforms would be well rubbed blancoed and polished etc. etc.