Major John Edwards

[twinkletoes_917]

Hello everyone. I have been searching the British Army lists for my ancestor, John Edwards. I know he was a Major in the army who sold his commission prior to 1796. I have come across a couple of contenders, but I also need some help.

The man I think is mine enlisted as a Lieutenant 22 Oct 1761 (date from later lists)? Regiment. Lieutenant 45th foot 15th August 1775. 23rd Jan 1778- Captain 75th foot. Disbanded 1783. 25th September 1787- Captain 40th foot. 30th October 1793- Major 95th foot. 

The list for the 45th in 1775 has a handwritten notation at the bottom of the page which reads: 11: Co Capt. H ? Powlett, Lt John Edwards...do, Ens. Hon Hawby, all dated 15th August 1775. I can not figure out what this means. The same notation '11:Co' appears on the bottom of a number of other regiments' lists as well. What does it mean? Can anyone help?

There is a John Edwards of the 53rd foot who disappears after 1775, but his date of enlistment is different, as are ranks. ? Same man. Many thanks. Mel

[km1971]

Hi Mel

I have a few Army Lists from this period and will check over the weekend.

Officers did not enlist so the man from the 53rd can probably be ignored.

Ken

[twinkletoes_917]

Hi Ken,

Thanks so much! My terminology could be wrong...I said enlistment, but what I meant was that 'Date in Army' on the list was different. Could be the date of the first commission. Sorry, not all that great with respect to army lists! Mel

[km1971]

Probably is an officer. Army Lists give rank in army and rank in regiment. So if different he transferred into the 53rd.

Ken

[km1971]

Hi Mel

I have found the 1774 Army List. None of these officers are listed. There is a Horatio Armand Powlett getting his captaincy in the 45th Foot in September 1877 - https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/11802/page/1

The only Hawby I can find is Charles and Chaplain to one of the Dragoon Guards.

I also found this - https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/11885/page/3

So still some work to be done.

Ken

[twinkletoes_917]

Hi Ken, Thank you so, so much! I had not seen the gazette article before. I also find it strange those men are not found anywhere else. Just one question, since you seem to know army lists better. Does 'Date in army' mean first date signed? or does it mean first date for that rank? This is important, because I had assumed 'date in army' meant first date signed/enlisted. Is this not so?

[km1971]

hi Mel

A date in the army means he first achieved his current rank in another regiment. It is left blank if he achieved his current rank in his current regiment.

Army Lists in this period only give details of his current rank. An exception is for senior officers becoming Hon. Colonels of regiments. Later lists give the date of all promotions.
 
The 1774 list has Captain John Edwards in the 53rd Regiment. He obtained that rank 1st April 1873. I cannot find him on the LG after 1774.

btw..to find 53rd Regiment on the LG you need to use 53d. Likewise they used 2d rather than 2nd.

Ken

[twinkletoes_917]

Hi Ken,

I'm having trouble deciding whether these two John Edwards's are the same man. Can you help? A book by Colonel H C Wylly thinks they are. The basis of this seems to be that one man disappears from the army list after 1775. The other appears in 1775. I initially thought they were but now I think this may be a mistake. I have taken these dates and regiments for these two John Edwards's from the army lists:

1. John Edwards:
Ensign 53rd foot Date in army 7 Nov 1759. Listed 1759-1764
Lieut 53rd foot 1766-1773
Captain 53rd foot 1 April 1773-75.

2. John Edwards:
Lieutenancy in army 22 Oct 1761 ? regiment
Lieut 45th 15 Aug 1775
Capt 75th 23 Jan 1778-1784
Capt 40th foot 25 Sept 1787 "from half pay."
Major 95th foot 30 Oct 1793. Appears in 1794 list but is not in 1775.
I think that this is my John Edwards. From my research, I know that a newspaper article dated 1796 states that he 'was a major but had sold his commission.' I know from other research that this article refers to my John Edwards.

The problem is that the first 'date in army' for one John Edwards was 1759, whereas for the second it is 1761. The first John Edwards was also not promoted to Lieutenant until 1766, whereas the second held his lieutenancy since 1761.

Another document from the 'Canada, British Regimental Registers of Service, 1756-1900' confirms that the second John Edwards (of the 75th) had attained his first Lieutenancy 22 Oct 1761.

Could a mistake have been made? Could these two still be the same man? I can't find any other John Edwards's prior to 1775 that would fit the bill.

Mel

[km1971]

Hi Mel

I have had another session on the LG without getting anywhere. There are two critical periods. Firstly 1759-61 when you need to establish how many John Edwards were serving. For this the army lists are needed – there is an almost full set in the National Archives.

The second is 1775. In this year a war with the American settlers looked likely. I found a notice in the LG in this year inviting officers on half-pay (semi-retired) to apply to go back to full-time service. The same may have applied to officers who had sold their commissions. For this one you really need to find the LG entries involving the two Edwards’. Even if you do the second one is likely to be a Gent gaining a commission. It probably will not say ‘Gent, formerly a Major’. You should ask the LG for advice how to find a specific edition in 1775.

Do you know this man’s age? If so I take it that it is possible for him to have had 2 or 3 careers as an officer. Have you looked for his will?

Ken