James Taylor Trevor began his military career in Ireland at age eleven. A commision as an ensign in the 18th (Royal Irish) Regiment of Foot was purchased in his name on August 13, 1766. The 18th was at that time stationed in Dublin, so he may have resided in that area. Later inspection returns list Trevor as being Irish by birth. In January 1767, the 18th Foot was ordered to North America, so Trevor, obviously too young to field with a regiment on active service, sold out on 4 March 1767 to William Blackwood. Trevor may have had diffuculty finding another commission, because his records show he was without a commission for a month until he
purchased into the 55th Foot on April 8, 1767. The 55th was also stationed in Ireland at the time. Trevor purchased a lieutenancy on August 31, 1770.

Trevor continued to serve with the 55th, listed as the lieutenant in Captain William Winepress's battalion company in April 1774. Trevor was briefly transfered to Cpt. Garret Fisher's company before being promoted to Captain-Lieutenant July 16, 1774. When the regiment arrived in America, Trevor continued to serve in that role until being promoted to captain in late 1775. According to William Stryker, Trevor was in command of a detachment of the 55th Regiment at Princeton, but that has not been confirmed by a primary source (so far).

Trevor continued to serve with the 55th Foot until an argument with Ensign Robert Power turned deadly. Trevor apparently told Ensign Power that he was not much of a gentleman. Power and Trevor settled their disagreement in a duel with pistols. Ensign Power shot Trevor in the temple and he died near Philadelphia, November 4, 1777. Lady Sarah Trevor received the monies due Trevor from the regimental agents, Cox & Meirs. Lady Sarah was most likely Trevor's mother.

The returns of Trevor's company when in America are as follows:

Captain; James Taylor Trevor
Lieutenant; Michael Hammerton -- appointed Captain 11th May, 1776
Lieutenant; Edwin Thomas Stanley -- commission dated 11th May, 1776
Ensign; Matthew Anselow -- appointed Lieutenant in 17th Foot, 11th May, 1776
Ensign; -- Vacant --

Sergeants

Poter Clarke
Robert Henderson — Recruiting

Corporals

Peter McFarland
William Thompson — Recruiting
Archibald Mattews

Privates

James Crozier
John Carmon
Adam Coates — Sick
Arthur Canfields
Barney Cahill
Peter Davis
Patrick Dignam
Samuel Everale
William Everale
Robert Finlayson
Maurice Farrell
Henry Garvey
William Gunn
John Hill
Sam Hood
William Hollis
Thomas Hollington
John Hogan
William Jones
John Martin – Deserted 5 April, 1776
Donald McGibbon
William Mcintosh
Mungo McAllister
John Mitchell — Sick
Robert Millgate
Charles Paterson
John Proctor
Alexander Ross
Richard Pascow
Richard Scott
Robert Shoreland

Drummer

Murdoch McDonald


Promoted 28 May 1776
M_____ Cullen

TOTAL: 1 Captain, 1 Lieut., 1 Serjeant, 2 Corporals, 1 Drummer and 32 Privates present and fit for duty

Perth Amboy, 5 May 1777

Captain; James Taylor Trevor — Absent by leave at New York
Lieutenant; Peter Marland
Ensign; Peter Gordon -- not joined, commission dated 11th May, 1776
Ensign; -- Vacant --

Sergeants

Benjamin Crawford
William Gunn
Robert Henderson — on command

Corporals

Peter McFarland
William Thompson
Archibald Mattews

Privates

James Crozier
John Carmon — prisoner with rebels [Princeton]
Adam Coates — sick
Arthur Canfields
Barney Cahill
Peter Davis
Patrick Dignam
David Elphinstory
Samuel Everalle — killed 3 Jany, 1777 [Princeton]
William Everalle
Robert Finlayson
Maurice Farrell
Samuel Frazer — prisoner with rebels
William Gillespy
Henry Garvey
William Gunn
John Hill
Sam Hood
William Hollis
Thomas Hollington
John Hogan
William Jones
Henry Lockart — discharged 23 February 1777
Donald McGibbon
William Mcintosh — prisoner with rebels [Princeton]
Mungo McAllister
John Mitchell — sick
Robert Millgate
Charles Paterson — prisoner with rebels [Princeton]
John Proctor
Alexander Ross
Richard Pascow — sick
Richard Scott
James Seawright — prisoner with rebels [Princeton]
Robert Shoreland — on command
John Stubbs
Thomas Thompson

Drummers

John Bruce
Murdoch McDonald

TOTAL: 1 Lieut, 1 Serjeant, 2 Corporals, 22 Privates, present and fit for duty.

Philadelphia, 16 March 1778

Captain; James Taylor Trevor, — Died in November 1777
Lieutenant; Colin Lindsay — Appointed Captain Lieut 26th April, 1777
Lieutenant; Henry O'hara — Join’d from additional Coy 26 April, 1777 (Transferred to the Grenadier Compy, June 1777)
Ensign; Thomas Shuldham — Appointed Lieut 7th Regt 5th Novemr 1777

Sergeants

Benjamin Crawford — On Duty
Thomas Hogg
Thomas Doran

Corporals

Angus McKay — Reduced 10th March 1777
George Reed — Joined froim Additional Co'y 19th March
Chas Mann — Prisoner with Rebels
John McCall

Privates

[_____] Allen
Richard Burton
Robert Baillie — Inlisted 25th Aprl 1777 [an American?]
John Brogan
Joseph Anderson
Moses Cardugan [?]
Saml[?] Downy — On Duty
John Fluallen [?]
Joshua F—leau
Alistar Grant
Joseph Handley — On Duty
Thomas Landon — Sick
Angus McKay
Hugh McKay — From Corpl 19th March
John McNeale
Duncan McGallom
Alistar Morrison
John Myre — Inlisted 25th Aprl 1777 [an American?]
Marlin Pascow
Donald Ross
Barney Reilly
John Tarrolls — Sick
Henry Warouder [?] — Inlisted 25th January 1777 [an American?]
Joseph Warde
Robert Williamson
William Walker — Inlisted 16th March 1777

Prisoners with Rebels

Willm Basder
James Davis
Jeremh Franks
Thoms Kirke
Henry Poolly
James Robertson
John Whitley
Samuel Whilley

Drummers

John McDonald — Dead 20th Feby 1778 [disease?]
Alexander Mann

SOURCES: WO 12/6471, Cox and Maier Papers in the collection of Lloyds of London