(WO 27/35, Public Records Office, Kew) Crown copyright is reproduced with the
permission of the Controller of Her Majesty's Stationary Office.
(WO 27/35, Public Records Office, Kew) Crown copyright is reproduced with the
permission of the Controller of Her Majesty's Stationary Office.
General Returns -- 55th Regiment of Foot
Commanded by Richard [Lambart, 6th], Earl of Cavan, Colonel
Reviewed at Charles Fort, [31st] May 1775
by Lieutenant General Lord Blayney
| Officers/Rank & Name | Country | Age | Service | Ensign (or 1st Commission) |
| Colonel Richard Earl of Cavan | Irish | 43 | 30 | 5/7/45 |
| Lt. Col Alexander Duncan | Scotch | 42 | 29 | 17/2/46 |
| Major Mungo Campbell | Scotch | 43 | 30 | 18/7/45 |
| Major Robert Gray | Scotch | 43 | 30 | 7/55 |
| Captain Valentine Gardner | English | 35 | 19 | 4/1/56 |
| Captain John Luke | English | 39 | 19 | 4/1/56 |
| Captain John Gillian | Scotch | 35 | 19 | 5/1/56 |
| Captain Benjamin N. Stratford | Irish | 24 | 12 | 10/8/63 |
| Captain Gerrit Fisher | English | 29 | 18 | 18/9/61 |
| Captain Henry Downing | Irish | 34 | 13 | 4/9/62 |
| Capt. Lieut. James T. Trevor | Irish | 20 | 9 | 8/4/67 |
| Lieut. Decimus Reynolds | English | 30 | 14 | 2/8/64 |
| Lieut. Robert Lucas | Irish | 28 | 6 | 18/4/69 |
| Lieut. Michael Hammerton | Irish | 23 | 6 | 23/9/69 |
| Lieut. Honbl. Colin Lindsay | Scotch | 20 | 4 | 14/11/71 |
| Lieut. Melbore Ellis Doyle | Irish | 21 | 5 | 12/12/70 |
| Lieut. Henry Babington | Irish | 24 | 5 | 14/3/71 |
| Lieut. Robert Stotsbury | Irish | 26 | 3 | 23/4/72 |
| Lieut. Christopher Forster | Irish | 21 | 3 | 12/1/73 |
| Lieut. Rupert Vallency | Irish | 18 | 2 | 12/7/73 |
| Lieut. Henry O'Hara | Irish | 18 | 2 | 12/7/73 |
| Lieut. Colin Campbell | Scotch | 21 | 4 | 14/3/71 |
| Ensign John Waring | Irish | 17 | - | |
| Ensign Donald McDonald | English | 19 | - | |
| Ensign Edwin Thomas Stanley | Irish | 20 | - | |
| Ensign Matthew Anketell | Irish | 18 | - | |
| Ensign David Dulton | Irish | 20 | - | |
| Ensign Robert Gervis Straton | Irish | 17 | - | |
| Ensign Robert Power | Irish | 21 | - | 16/3/75 |
| Chaplain Joseph Barnes | Irish | 30 | - | |
| Adjutant Thomas Gillfillan | Scotch | 37 | - | |
| Quartermaster Rupert Vallancy | Irish | 23 | - | |
| Surgeon Hamilton Achinson | Irish | 21 | - | |
| Mate Barrt Boorback | English | 27 | - |
Description of the Uniforms of The Officers of said Regiment Coats with Cuffs and Lapels of deep Green, according to His Majesty's Regulation dated at Dublin the 13th January 1769, a Falling Collar of the same, Gold epaulets & Cross Pockets. Button holes Looped with narrow Gold Lace, Buttons Numbered, Waistcoats & Breeches of White Cloth, Coats & Waistcoats Lined with White, Hats laced with Gold, Uniform Swords Gilt and knots Crimson & Gold.
Country, Size, Age and time of service
|
| Age | Cavan's | Duncan's | Campbell's | Gray's | Gardener's | Luke's | Gillian's | Stratford's | Fisher's | Downing's |
| 55 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 50 | - | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | 1 |
| 45 | - | - | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | - | - | - | - |
| 40 | 6 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 35 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 4 | 1 |
| 30 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 11 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 9 | 21 | 4 |
| 25 | 18 | 16 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 10 | 16 | 14 | 6 | 17 |
| 20 | 3 | 13 | 7 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 6 | 4 | 7 |
| 18 | 3 | 1 | 2 | - | 4 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 8 |
| Halberts | Drums | Firelocks | Bayonets | Cartridge Boxes | |
| Good | 4 | 1 | 389 | 389 | - |
| Bad | 16 | 12 | - | - | 390 |
| Wanting | - | 1 | 1 | 1 | - |
16 of the halberts in 1775, 2 in 1770 and 2 in 1772. The drums in 1770.
39 stand of arms in 1772 and 351 in 1774.
351 of the cartridge boxes in 1756 & 39 in 1772.
No[te]: The stand of arms returned as wanting was lost by desertion.
| Colours | Serjeant Sashes | Grenadier Swords | Waist Belts | Pouches with Shoulder Belts | Slings | Match Cases | Axes | Aprons | Saws | |
| Good | 2 | - | 39 | 67 | 339 | - | - | - | - | - |
| Bad | - | 20 | 32 | 323 | 51 | 390 | - | 9 | 9 | 9 |
| Wanting | - | - | - | - | - | - | 39 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Return of the Clothing Delivered in 1774
Serjeants: 20 Coats, 20 Serjeants Hats or Caps, 20 Breeches
Drummer/Fifers: 12 Coats, 12 Breeches, 12 Hats or Caps
Rank and File: 390 Coats, 390 Breeches, 390 Hats or Caps
[Left blank = shirts, rollers, shoes, stockings] No[te]: The Colonel allows the Non-Commissioned Officers and Men full half mounting money to supply them with shirts, shoes, stockings and rollers.
Officers -- Saluted pretty well made a good appearance. Uniforms agreeable to His Majesty's regulations.
Non Commissioned Officers -- Made a good appearance. Hats well cocked and a good size agreeable to order.
Drummers & Fifers -- Beat and played pretty well.
Privates -- A very good body of men, not very highly dressed nor well appointed.
Clothing -- Very good. Of a very good length and not cut away in the length as most regiments are.
Arms -- Pretty Good
Accouterments -- Very bad. Pouches are not fit for service. Drums are old & very bad.
Recruits -- Pretty Good
Complaints -- none
Accounts -- Properly settled [Regimental Agent Cox & Mair]
Orderly Books -- Well Kept
Manual of exercise -- Performed with the 3 Reg't according to His Majesty's regulation in pretty good time.
Firings and Maneuvers -- Fired by companies from flanks to center. Ditto by Grand divisions twice each. Faced to the right about and fired by companies and by grand divisions as above. Marched to the rear in quick time, came to the right about, halted and fired by grand divisions from center to flanks. Advanced to front, halted, fired by battalions and advanced in quick time. Came to the right about and marched to rear. Came to right about and halted. Formed a column on the two center companies to front in quick time, came to the right about, marched to the rear and formed the battalion. Fired by companies from the center to flanks. Retired in column from the flanks by files and formed battalion. Fired by companies from center to flanks. Battalion faced to the right about, changed front on the light company, came to the right about, fired by grand divisions, chequered fired by wings once and battalion once. Charged bayonets in double-quick time, halted [and] loaded and fired by companies to [the] center. Obligingly retired in confusion, rallied and formed. Fired a volley [as a] general salute.
[Written comments at bottom of return in a different penmanship] This regiment are a very good body of men, not very [steady, although they] level well. Their buff accouterments and pouches very bad and scarce fit for service.
[Signed] Lieutenant General Lord Blayney.
Last updated 1/30/03 by Mark Tully