1788 Militia Return

September 2020

In case you have some difficulty reading the handwriting, the companies are: Major McDonell’s; Captain Johnson’s; Captain Simmons’; Captain Parrat’s; Captain Dusenberry’s; Captain Everit’s; Captain Macaulay’s; and Captain Atkinson’s.

The headings across the top read: Majors, Captains, Lieutenants, Ensigns, Adjutants, Quartermasters, Serjeants present, Drummers present, Present fit for duty, Sick, Absent with leave, Absent without leave, Total.

The note across the bottom is: “NB Captain Dusenberry was sick and Lieutenant Clark absent.”

Just as a point of interest, the four pages containing this copy and the page that follows, together with a library-created transcription, were purchased in 1978 by a researcher who thought at the time (erroneously) that her husband descended from

Captain Simmons of Jessup’s Rangers. Total cost was 40¢ for copies and 60¢ for mailing and service charge.

Absent without leave: John Thorn, James Morden, Dan’l Morden, John Morden, Peter Little – Major’s Company Kenith McPherson – Captain Simmons Company Benjamin Smith – Captain Everits do [“do” for “ditto”, for “company”]

George Galway, John Spears, Dandwoff, Wager, Alexr Noble – Captain Macaulays do

Thomas Bond – Captain Atkinson’s do

Wonder what punishment, if any, was given to those Absent Without Leave from the militia muster?