63rd foot voyage to america 1775.

[coombs]

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

[Redroger]

Would depend entirely on the strength and direction of the wind I would think.

[km1971]

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

[coombs]

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

[Redroger]

I believe ships' logs are preserved at Greenwich, so if so it should be possible to get an accurate journeytime.

[coombs]

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

[Redroger]

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.

[Iban Kepala]

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.

[km1971]

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