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1st Canadian Regiment, Continental Army, Payrolls and Muster Rolls
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Held at: Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division [Contact Us]
This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.
Overview and metadata sections
Having raised a local militia to assist with the initial American invasion of Quebec in September, 1775, the Second Continental Congress authorized Colonel James Livingston (1747-1832), an emigrant from New York, to raise a regiment to continue to support the colonies' efforts on the Canadian front. The 1st Canadian Regiment, one of a small number of Continental Army regiments that was the direct responsibility of Congress, received formal regimental designation by Richard Montgomery on November 20, 1775, with recognition by Congress following on January 8, 1776. Placed under the command of General Benedict Arnold, the regiment included a mix of Canadian, American, and foreign-born soldiers, including two of Livingston's brothers, Lieutenant Colonel Richard Livingston and Captain Abraham Livingston. The regiment saw action primarily in the Canadian theater and New York, participating in the failed American assault on Quebec and the Battle of Trois-Rivières, before fleeing with the Continental Army to Fort Ticonderoga, New York. In August 1777, it took part in the expedition to relieve Fort Stanwix, in September and October of that year participated in both Battles of Saratoga, and in 1778, the Battle of Rhode Island. For the remainder of the war, the regiment had garrison duty in New York. It was during this time when Colonel Livingston, in command of Verplanck's Point on the Hudson River, played a crucial role in exposing Benedict Arnold. The regiment was disbanded as part of a major reorganization on January 1, 1781, at King's Ferry, New York. Members that remained in service were assigned to the 2nd Canadian Regiment.
Consists of forty-three payroll sheets and fifteen muster rolls, dating from 1776 to 1780, of several companies from the 1st Canadian Regiment. Payrolls contain the names and ranks of each soldier, his wage per month, his amount of subsistence, length of time for which the soldier is receiving pay, and the total amount of subsistence and wage. Some also contain information about debt owed and whether the soldier is listed as a casualty. Two payrolls from 1780 also contain soldiers' time of service. Muster rolls list personnel of the company, both officers and enlisted men, including their appointment date, duration of service, casualties, and remarks. On the verso of each is found a "Proof of Effectives," or a roll call of personnel "Present, Absent, and Total," with a signed oath verifying that the totals are correct. The documents also reveal the passing of several of the regiment's captains, including John Baptist Allen, Augustin Loseaux, and Timothy Hughes, as the men are identified as the "late" captains of their respective companies.
Also included in the collection is a copy of Senate Bill S. 186 submitted to the 33rd Congress by the Committee on Revolutionary Claims in 1854.
Arranged by company.
Purchase, 2016. (AM 2017-38)
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This collection was processed by Faith Charlton in September 2016. Finding aid written by Faith Charlton in September 2016.
Items were repaired by Conservation during 2016 processing.
No materials were separated during 2016 processing.
People
Subject
Place
- Canada--History--1763-1791. -- Sources
- New York (N.Y.)--History--Revolution, 1775-1783. -- Sources
- United States--History--Revolution, 1775-1783--Campaigns. -- Sources
- United States--History--Revolution, 1775-1783--Participation, Canadian. -- Sources
- United States--History--Revolution, 1775-1783--Regimental histories. -- Sources
- Publisher
- Manuscripts Division
- Finding Aid Author
- Faith Charlton
- Finding Aid Date
- 2016
- Sponsor
- This collection was purchased through the Delafield Fund, which was created as a fitting memorial to General John Ross Delafield and the Delafield Family.
- Access Restrictions
-
Open for research.
- Use Restrictions
-
Single copies may be made for research purposes. To cite or publish quotations that fall within Fair Use, as defined under U. S. Copyright Law, no permission is required. For instances beyond Fair Use, it is the responsibility of the researcher to determine whether any permissions related to copyright, privacy, publicity, or any other rights are necessary for their intended use of the Library's materials, and to obtain all required permissions from any existing rights holders, if they have not already done so. Princeton University Library's Special Collections does not charge any permission or use fees for the publication of images of materials from our collections, nor does it require researchers to obtain its permission for said use. The department does request that its collections be properly cited and images credited. More detailed information can be found on the Copyright, Credit and Citations Guidelines page on our website. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us through the Ask Us! form.
Collection Inventory
Consists of 7 payrolls or pay abstracts, including those for the months of February, 1778, August and September, 1778, January, April, and May, 1779; and 2 muster rolls, including one dated June 21, 1776, and one for November and December, 1780; as well as a couple of fragments.
Physical Description1 folder
Includes 1 payroll of the "Late Capt. John Baptist Allens Company" for August and September, 1778; and 2 muster rolls, including one dated June 28, 1778.
Physical Description1 folder
Includes 3 payrolls for the months of March, October and November, and December, 1778 (the last payroll is for the "Late Capt Augustin Lascaux [sic] Company"); and 1 muster roll dated September 7, 1777.
Physical Description1 folder
Includes 3 payrolls for the months of April and May, June and July, and October and November, 1778 (the last is for the "Late Capt. Timothy Hughes Company"); and 1 muster roll.
Physical Description1 folder
Includes 3 payrolls for the months of June and July, and December 1778, and February and March, 1779; and 1 muster roll dated September 7, 1777.
Physical Description1 folder
Consists of 6 payrolls, including those for February, 1778, the months of April, May, and July, 1779, and August, September, and October, 1780.
Physical Description1 folder
Includes 5 payrolls for March through July, 1778, and January and April, 1779; and 3 muster rolls, including one dated March, 1777.
Physical Description1 folder
Includes 4 payrolls for April through July, 1778, and January and July, 1779.
Physical Description1 folder
Includes 1 payroll for the months of August, September, and October, 1780.
Physical Description1 folder
Includes 2 payrolls for July and August, 1779; and 5 muster rolls, including ones dated September 14, 1777, December 19, 1777, and May 4, 1778.
Physical Description1 folder
Includes 3 payrolls for January through March and May, 1779.
Physical Description1 folder
Includes 2 payrolls for the months of January and April, 1779.
Physical Description1 folder
Includes 2 payrolls for June and July, 1779.
Physical Description1 folder
Includes 1 payroll for October, 1779.
Physical Description1 folder
Bill submitted to the 33rd Congress by the Committee on Revolutionary Claims.
Physical Description1 folder