His Majesty's 4th "King's Own" Regiment of Foot

Although we have a lot of fun, this is not a Game. Years ago, 36 Real Men of the King’s Own Light Coy

marched into a hostile interior to confront an insurgency. None knew what to expect. All were angry at

the abuse they had suffered for months at the hands of locals. We don’t know why each man fought, but

fight they did. Many died over the years that followed. NOT ONE DESERTED.A handful survived to receive

pensions from a grateful King.

 

Try and remember one of these Men as you go into Battle on April 19th and you will Honor their Memory.

 

Yr. Servants,

 

C. Woolf (Research)/R. Davis (Transcription)

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Sjt. William Tingey Senior Serjeant from 18th Nov 1775 (vice Hancock) Reduced 6/24/76 (Light Coy in SC) Transphered to Capt. Holmes Coy 10/24/76, continued as Private in Coy through 6/78. Not listed in 1780. Fate Unknown.

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Cpl. William Carter Promoted Serjeant in Capt. Balfour’s new Coy 11/18/75. Transferred back to Light Coy (vice Jarman) 12/25/75. Still Serjeant 2/80. Reduced to Private 9/30/83. Not listed 1786. No pension record – Fate Unknown

 

Drummer Thomas Weir (or Ware, or Wire) Enlisted in the 4th Regiment of Foot (The King's Own) on the 9th of November, 1764.

Entertained as Drummer in the Light Company 25th April, 1771. Detached recruiting in Britain Feb. 1774, but sailed with the Regiment to America in April 1774.

Listed as Sick 14th Sept. 1774.

Still with the Light Company in 1780.

Serving in Captain Barron's Company (Hat) in Ireland in 1781.

Serving as Senior Musician in Grenadier Company in 1786.

Admitted to Pension 18th September 1789 after 25 years & 11 months of service, aged 37 - Lame and Worn Out.

Born Ballyshannon, Donegal, Ireland. A Laborer.

 

Pvt. James Ashworth With Light Coy from 4/25/71. Transferred to Captain Balfour’s new Coy 10/24/75. (On Duty 7/76-2/78. Possibly Captain Balfour’s Servant with Thomas Roberts) Not listed in 1780. Possibly died of Fever in the West Indies 1778-1779. Fate Unknown

 

Pvt. James Barnes In the Light Coy since 12/71. Died 6/17/1775. Bunker Hill

 

Pvt John Burleigh In Light Coy since 12/71. Listed a Wounded 9/75 and 1/76. (Presumably didn’t go on Carolina Expedition) Transferred 8/25/76 to Major’s Coy. Died 11/5/76

 

Pvt James Darbyshire In Light Coy since 4/25/71. Died 10/6/77 of wounds suffered at the Battle of Germantown

 

Pvt Robert Farrie (Farry) With Light Coy since 10/25/73. Sick in 2/80. Drafted to 28th Foot (Smyth’s Coy) & Died 10/80 at St. Kitts in the West Indies

 

Pvt Thomas Fradshell With Light Coy since 3/19/74. Transferred to Lt. Col. Coy 6/26/77. Not Listed 1780. Prob Died of Fever in West Indies 10/1780.

 

Pvt Patrick Grey Joined Light Coy in 1773. Died in Concord action 4/19/1775

 

Pvt David Gunn Joined Light Coy 4/23/71. Died 7/23/75. (From wounds suffered 4/19 or Bunker Hill – Unknown)

 

Pvt James Hall With Light Coy Early 1773. Listed as “Died” at Concord on 4/19/75. Actual Fate Uncertain. MA/VT Family History indicates he might have survived his wounds and married a local Yankee Lass.

 

Pvt John Harnott In Light Coy since 12/71. Listed as a Prisoner with the Rebels 7/78. Not listed in 1780. Possibly died of Fever in West Indies in 1779-1780, or walked away and settled down from Captivity.

 

Pvt Hird (Herd) Joined Light Coy in Early 1773. Drafted into 28th Regiment of Foot (Daly’s Coy) in 1780. Fate Unknown.

 

Pvt John Hudson (Hodgson) With Light Coy from 12/71. Transferred 8/25/76. Died 10/19/76. Battle of New Rochelle

 

Pvt Benjamin Hustwayte With Light Coy since 1773. 1786 Serjeant in Major Ld. Napier’s Coy. Fate Unknown.

 

Pvt William Lea With Light Coy since 2/24/75. Made Corporal 2/24/78 (vice Little, Promoted) Still Corporal in 1780. Died 1781, Armagh, Ireland.

 

Pvt John Lester (Leister) With Light Coy since 12/25/73. Transferred to Lt. Col Coy 8/25/76. Not Listed 1780. Fate Unknown.

 

Pvt Samuel Lowe With Light Coy since 12/71. Listed as Wounded 9/75. Discharged 12/24/75. Admitted to Pension 6/6/76 – Wounded in Left Shoulder. Aged 33, 8 years’ Service. Born: Ashton, England – a Laborer

 

Pvt James Manning With Light Coy since 4/25/71. Not Listed in 1780. Probably Died of Fever in West Indies. Fate Unknown.

 

Pvt James (Jamie) Marr General’s Coy 6/74. Transferred to Lights 7/24/74. Listed Dead 4/24/75. But Gave Evidence to Rebel Enquiries 4/23/75. Probably wounded and Taken Prisoner. Fate Unknown.

 

Pvt James Marrin With Light Coy from 12/72 and again in 6/73. Died 2/24/78 – Philadelphia

 

Pvt John Matham (Meatham, Mithum) With Light Coy since 1773. Pvt in Light Coy in 1796, aged 52, 31 years of service. “Worn out and Wounded” born: Comb Chard, Somerset, England. A Clothier.

 

Pvt Amos Medowcroft With Light Coy since 1773. Listed as Wounded in 9/75 and 1/76. Trasfered to Webster’s Coy 6/24/76. Discharged. Admitted to Pension 8/23/76. Disabled in Left Hand. Aged 40 after 20 Years’ Service. Born: Halifax, England.

 

Pvt Joseph Moss With Light Coy since 12/71. Listed as Wounded 9/14/75 & Discharged 8/24/75. Admitted to Pension 11/14/75. Age-31. Service -7.5 Years. “Shot in the Arm”. Born-Ashton, England. A Weaver.

 

Pvt Thomas Roberts Vacant Coy – 6/74. Light Coy 9/13/74. Transferred to Balfour’s new Coy 10/24/75. Transferred to 55th Foot 10/25/77. Fate Unknown.

 

Pvt Alexander Robinson Transferred to Light Coy 2/23/75. Died 10/7/77. (3 Days after the Battle of Germantown. Likely of wounds)

 

Pvt John Slater Listed with Light Coy 4/25/71. Likely Died of Fever 1779-1780

 

Pvt William Small With Light Coy since 4/25/71. Corporal 11/18/75. Serjeant in 1780, Ditto 1786. Pension 5/26/1800 after 32 years’ service, aged 49. “Worn Out and Asthmatic” born: St. Mary’s Parish, Chester, England. A Cordwainer.

 

Pvt Laurence Smith Joined Light Coy in Dumphries, Scotland, KIA Concord, 4/19/1775

 

Pvt Thomas Smith With Light Coy since 7/7/72. KIA Concord 4/19/1775.

 

Pvt Thomas Taylor With Light Coy since 12/71. KIA 6/17/1775 Bunker Hill

 

Pvt Joseph Tomey With Light Coy since 10/25/73. Transferred to Webster’s Coy, 12/24/75 & Transferred to 10th Regiment of Foot 2/24/76 – Probably LT Barker’s Servant)

 

Pvt William Tomlinson Joined Light Coy 6/1773. Corporal – 11/18/1775. Serjeant 11/30/1777 (vice Promenant, reduced) Died – 2/17/80 at Antigua.

 

Pvt George Wrangham With Light Coy since 5/24/74 (At Embarkation) Prisoner with the Rebels 7/78. Fate Unknown.

 

Lieutenant Edward Gould CO of 4th’s Light Coy, 4/19/1775. Wounded at North Bridge in Concord. Captured on return to Boston 4/19/75. Left Army later in 1775. Testified on the Lex Green Affair in a Court Case in 1779. Eloped with an heiress and later became Colonel of the Nottingham Militia.

 

Lieutenant John Barker 2nd in Command of the Light Coy on 4/19/75. Took command after Lt Gould wounded in 4/19/75. Took Control of Coy after Gould wounded at Concord Bridge 4/19/1775. Major in 1787. Lt. Colonel of 27th Foot later. Retired to home, Clare Priory, near Castle Clare in Suffolk, England. Captain 10th Foot 1/13/76. (Still serving as such in 1780)

 

Absent

 

Captain Nesbit Balfour Absent on Command 4/19/1775 leading Marshfield Expedition. Wounded J6/17/75. Battle of Bunker Hill. Via Army List 1775 Multiple promotions. General 1803. Died 1823 , Aged 79, Dunbog, Scotland.