Light infantry company 10th Regiment of Foot 1775

Captain Thomas Hewett 
10th Regiment of Foot

   How many British soldiers were sent in the march to Concord on April 19 1775?  Various numbers are given, usually between 600 to 800 men.  These are of course estimates.  To give a snap shot into this I have looked at the War Office pay rolls for the period.  These files are at the Public Record Office in Krew.   These are listed as WO - 12/2750 muster or commissary rolls.  They are very large papers.  

    Each regiment had these taken twice a year;  ending in June and December of that year.  Information would be for the previous six months.  They are fascinating as they give little histories of what was going on with the company during that time.  who was promoted, or demoted; transferred into the company or out of the company.  Who was sick and excused duty for the period.  And who was in leave.  

    Here is the information  for the Light Infantry company of the 10th Regiment of Foot for the period December through June 1775.  This will include both 19 April and 17 June.  Note that additional men were transferred into the company after June to bring them up to war strength.  I have picked the 10th Light Company as they were on Lexington green and at Concord Bridge.  

Officers:

Captain Lawrence Parsons.  - Was wounded later in the day 19 April.  Is listed on next roll as "sick"

Lieutenant Anthony Botet - listed as in "Kings leave."  Next roll transferred to Captain Mundy Pole's company.

Lieutenant James Hamilton - reported  " sick" on 19 April so did not go on expedition. ( In his place Ensign Jeremy Lister volunteered to go on expedition.  He was wounded at North Bridge and eventually retired from service).

Lieutenant Waldren Kelly - transferred into company 12 April.  Wounded at North Bridge fight.  Next roll listed as "on leave."

Sergeants:

William Eakin - next roll reduced to private on 2 June and reported dead 24 June.

George McEvan -promoted to sergeant 8 November.

Richard Green  -   transferred from lt. col. Smith's comany on 17 June.  Listed as dead 23 June.

John McConkey. -  transferred from Captain Basset's co.many 24 June.

Corporals:

Edward Cherry. 

William Boarman

John Robinson - transferred  from Captain Macintosh's company November.   Dead 7 July.

Drummer:

Robert McMullen

Private Men:

David McDonald - promoted to corporal 8 July

William Atkins - sick

Edward Cassey

Edward Webb - sick

Henry Wilkes

Samuel Cross. - died 24 june

Andrew Highland - sick.  Transferred to it col. Smith's company 24 April

Thomas Campbell 

William Dean - sick.  Transferred to Captain Herbert's company 24 June.

John Cruse 

Daniel Robinson

Peter Grant - sick.  Discharged 6 October

Phillip Floyd

Isaac Ladd - on duty

Owen Hamilton - Died 1July 

James Laureston - Transferred to Captain Delway's company 24 April.

John Rickey

William Cuttes - Died 4 August

Charles Martin - Transferred to Lt.col. Smith's company 24 june.

William Munro

John Wright

Matthew McGray - Died 6 August

William Parker - Died 18 August

William Willits

John Thomas - Sick

Phillip Leahy - Sick

George white - Sick

Charles Hickey

Thomas Gardiner - Transferred to Colonel's company 24 june.

Peter Foxwell - Died 31 July.

Hiram Reed - Transferred to Lt. Col. Smith's company 24 june

John Baird - Sick

Alexander Hamilton - Sick.  Transferred to Captain Pole's company 24 April.

Mustered on roll as of 19 January for 25 June 1775 to 24 December 1775. Effective and fit for duty.

1 Captain

1 lieutenant

2 Serjeants

3 Corporals

1 drummer

29 private men

Excused duty:

1 lieutenant

4 private men

1 casual - died 19 June 1775

Total 6

Total strength of 43 men