Israel Gibbs and his Massachusetts Captains

The purpose of this post is to look for clues among the militia and army officers John Gibbs served during the Revolution. My thinking is that Gibbs might have looked to such a person to help him bring Dirlam to Blandford. Or that such a leader might have suggested bringing Dirlam to Blandford to Gibbs.

Why Gibbs? Because Gibbs and Dirlam together bought a farm lot in Blandford in 1780 at a tax collectors sale. Gibbs bought several properties including the one he bought with Dirlam, farm lot 34. Altogether they spent almost £300. I think Dirlam's share might have been £50. I'm assuming Gibbs bankrolled Dirlam who had been taken prisoner just 2 years earlier. So Gibbs must have been, for Blandford, a wealthy man. Incidentally, the properties could have been recovered by the previous owners up to 3 years later, by paying the taxes and penalties.

The three names I found:

1) Captain William Knox(1722, Hopkinton MA - 1802, Blandford MA). William Knox came to Blandford with his parents and siblings, when the town was first settled in 1735. Knox served in the town militia during the French & Indian War [1754-1763]. 

In 1774 parliament annulled the colony's charter, and the royal governor dissolved the provincial assembly. The members of the assembly met anyway. The governor, a military commander, tooks steps to secure the situation. And in April 1775, Knox led Blandford's militia to defend Lexington, taking his eldest son, a 15 year-old. Later that year, the town sent him as a delegate to a Congress of Delegates from the several Towns and Districts in the Colony of the Massachusetts-Bay.

 
He was made captain of the 6th company of Massachusetts Provincial Militia when they were sent to Ticonderoga in October and November 1776. This was part of an effort to dissuade the British from trying to retake the fort. Two of Knox's brothers served in his company. Wikipedia's article, Second Saratoga order of battle, includes 4 Massachusetts regiments, but not the 6th, confirming that the Knox's didn't see combat there in 1777.

So far, I haven't found individual service records for 1777 and 1778. But the unit seems to have been transferred back and forth between the Highland's Department, formed around the defenses on the Hudson River north of New York City, where the Army had it's biggest materiel and hospital operation; and the Northern Department, farther north toward Albany.

When war in the north didn't produced the conclusive victories the British sought, they moved south, far from Massachusetts; at the end of 1779, the Continental Army planned another reorganization; and Knox resigned his commission, saying "he had served for a considerable time as a Captain of a militia company in Col. John Moseley's (Hampshire Co.) regt., and asking permission to resign is commission on account of age, lameness, and infirmity." He would have been 59 years old, and lived another 23 years.

After the war, Knox was elected twice to the Massachusetts General Court in 1799 and 1801. He and his wife are buried in the Old Burying Ground in Blandford.

William Knox was licensed as a retailer (of liquor?) in Blandford in 1784, 1785 and 1787.* William's brother, John Knox, owned a tavern on the road, now MA23, east to Westfield (a suburb of Springfield). He was reimbursed for caring for soldiers who stopped there; there was no hospital.


2) Captain William Cooley (17 Mar 1736, Springfield - 14 Apr 1825, Granville). Cooley and his wife are buried in Granville at Main Road Cemetery.

3) Captain William Cannon (1722, Blandford - Dec. 7, 1780, Blandford).

Here are service records for John Gibbs and his brothers:
GIBBS, Israel [1738-1818]. Private, in a detachment from Capt. William Knox's co., Col. John Moseley's regt.; service, 28 days; detachment marched to Ticonderoga Oct. 21, 1776, under command of Lieut. Col. Timothy Robison (Robinson) to reinforce Continental Army. Roll sworn to at Blandford. [Gibb's father served the same company. ]

GIBBS, Israel. 2d Sergeant, Capt. William Cooley's co., Col. John Mosley's regt.; engaged Sept. 22, 1776; discharged Nov. 12, 1776; service, 2 mos. 3 days, travel included. Roll dated North Castle [NY, near White Plains]. [Mosley's was the 3rd Hampshire County Regiment]

GIBBS, Israel. Fifer, Capt. William Cannon's co., Col. David Leonard's regt.; service, 70 days; company drafted and marched to Ticonderoga May 6, 1777, and returned home July 14, 1777; roll sworn to at Blandford; also, Capt. Solomon Brown's co., Col. Elisha Porter's (Hampshire Co.) regt.; engaged July 31, 1779; discharged Sept. 1, 1779; service, 1 mo. 6 days, travel included, at New London, Conn.  [Cannon's is the Blandford Company and Leonard succeeded Mosley to command the regiment]
GIBBS, Isaac [1744-1823].  Private, in a detachment from Capt. William Knox's co., Col. John Mosley's regt.; service, 28 days; detachment marched to Ticonderoga Oct. 21, 1776, under command of Lieut. Col. Timothy Robison (Robinson) to reinforce Continental Army. Roll sworn to at Blandford. 
GIBBS, John [1730-1816].  Private, in a detachment from Capt. William Knox's co., Col. John Mosley's regt.; service, 28 days; detachment marched to Ticonderoga Oct. 21, 1776, under command of Lieut. Col. Timothy Robison (Robinson) to reinforce Continental Army. Roll sworn to at Blandford.
- all from Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of The Revolutionary War, Volume 6, page 382 & 385


Now the service records of the captains:

Knox, William [1722-1802]. Sergeant, Capt. William Cannon's detachment, Col. John Mosley's regt.; service, 28 days; mileage out and home (320 miles) allowed; detachment marched to Ticonderoga Oct. 21, 1776, under command of Lieut. Col. Timothy Robinson to reinforce Continental Army.

Knox, William. Private, Capt. William Cooley's co., Col. John Mosley's regt.; engaged Sept. 22, 1776; discharged Nov. 16, 1776; service, 2 mos 3 days, including 8 days (160 miles) travel home. Roll dated North Castle.

Knox, William. Captain, 6th co., Col. John Mosely's (3d Hampshire Co.) regt. of Mass. militia; list of officers chosen in said regiment, endorsed “April 26, 1776;” reported commissioned April 26, 1776; also, Captain, Lieut. Col. Timothy Robinson's detachment from 3d Hampshire Co. regt., which marched to Ticonderoga Oct. 21, 1776, by order of Gen. Skyler (Schuyler) to reinforce army at that place; [service not given]; also, petition dated Blandford, Jan. 5, 1779, signed by said Knox, stating that he had served for a considerable time as Captain of a militia company in Col. John Moseley's (Hampshire Co.) regt., and asking permission to resign his commission on account of age, lameness, and infirmity.

Knox, William, 2d [1750-1815]. 2d Lieutenant, Capt. Samuel Sloper's (12th) co., Col. David Mosley's (3d Hampshire Co.) regt.; entered service June 12, 1782; discharged June 17, 1782; service, 6 days; company marched to Northampton June 12, 1782, in support of the government, and was allowed horse rations. 

- all from Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of The Revolutionary War, Volume 9, page 426


COOLEY, William, [1736-1825] Captain. Mass. Militia; wounded at White Plains Oct. 28, 1776; died 1825.
- from Hist. Reg. of Officers of the Continental Army

COOLEY, William, Captain. 9th and 5th Co., Col. John Moseley's (3rd Hampshire Co.) Regt. (In May 1776 a return was made of a military company in Granville, belonging to the 5th Regt. of Mass. Militia, of which Moseley of Westfield was Colonel. This company was commanded by Capt. William Cooley, Edmund Barlow was first Lieutenant, Samuel Bancroft, Jr., second Lieutenant, Richard Dickinson, Josel Strong and Samuel Williams, Sergeants; Joel Bancroft, John Cooley, Thomas Gilbert and James Coe, Corporals. The company numbered 73 men with 73 guns, 2 bayonets, 4 swords, 680 flints, and 5 1/2 lbs of powder. The strength and flower of the town were under enlistment. (quoted from Vol. II, page 62, Hist. of Western Mass., by Josiah Holland). List of Officers of Mass. Militia. Ordered in Council Apr. 26, 1776, that commission be issued; reported commissioned same day. Captain of detachment from 3rd Hampshire Regt. commanded by Lt. Col. Timothy Richardson; marched Oct.21, 1776, by order Gen. Schuyler, to reinforce army at Ticonderoga; also Col. John Moseley's Regt., engaged Sept. 23, 1776, disch. Nov. 16, 1776; same regt., July 9-Oct. 12, 1777, when company marched towards Bennington on an alarm; roll sworn to at Granville.

- from Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of The Revolutionary War, Volume 2, page 382


COOLEY, William, Captain. A description of his Detachment for 2 mos. 3 days, return of, in which a number of his men were from Blandford.
- from Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolution from Blandford, Massachusetts.

(V) Captain William son of Daniel (3) and Frances (McKintree) Cooley, was born March 17, 1736; died April 14, 1825. He settled in Granville, Massachusetts where he organized a military company for service in the revolutionary war. His commission as captain, issued April 26, 1776, signed by Perez Morton, secretary, assigns him to the Fifth Company, Third Regiment, Hampshire county militia, John Moseley, colonel. November 27, 1759, he married Sarah Mather, born November 26, 1734, died December 2, 1822, daughter of Timothy Mather, of Windsor, Connecticut, and a descendant of Rev. Richard Mather (see forward). The children of this union were: I. Sarah, born 1762; 2 William, 1763; 3 Abigail, May 3,1765; 4 Triphena, May 8, 1767; 5 Dorothy, April 22, 1768; 6 Timothy Mather DD; 7 Alexander, May 2, l775; 8 James, December 2, 1779.
- from Genealogical and Personal Memoirs Relating to The Families of the State of New York, Volume 4, edited by William Richard Cutter, William Frederick Adams, page 2182


Cannon, William (Mass) Captain Massachusetts Militia, 1777.
- from Hist. Reg. of Officers of the Continental Army

Cannon, William. Captain, 12th co., Col. John Moseley's (3d Hampshire Co.) regt.; list of officers of Mass. militia; commissioned April 26, 1776; also, same regt.; company marched to Ticonderoga Oct. 21, 1776, under command of Lieut. Col. Timothy Robinson to reinforce Continental Army; service, 28 days; also, petition dated Blandford, Sept. 30, 1778, signed by said Cannon, asking for a discharge from his commission as Captain of the 12th (Blandford) co. in Col. Moseley's (3d Hampshire Co.) regt.; allowed in Council, Oct. 6, 1778.

Cannon, William. Sergeant, Capt. Samuel Sloper's (12th) co., Col. David Mosley's (3d Hampshire Co.) regt.; enlisted June 12, 1782; discharged June 17, 1782; service, 6 days; company marched to Northampton in support of the government June 12, 1782.
- from Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of The Revolutionary War, Volume 3, page 72

This family name was sometimes spelled Carnachen or Carnahan.

* The Taverns and Turnpikes of Blandford, 1733-1833, by Sumner Gilbert Wood. 

The Philadelphia Campaign / Connecticut Regiments

Connecticut Regiments That Served Philadelphia's Defense and Afterwards Wintered At Valley Forge

This is looking to see if there is an obvious personal link between any Continental officers of likely regiments and John Dirlam, or anyone else I recognize from Becket or Blandford. Dirlam married a daughter of Sylvanus Snow, in 1781. Snow served throughout the war, first in Ashford militia, and then in Capt. Nathaniel Webb's Company of Durkee's Regiment, also called the 4th Connecticut Regiment. They camped at Peekskill, were involved in the defense of Philadelphia (including at Fort Mifflin) and wintered at Valley Forge in 1777-1778.

Deaths reported in Webb's Company: Sgt. Silas Frink, Joseph Bond, Charles Brandon, Amos Brewster, Eliphalet Coburn, Ephraim Durfy, George Mitchell, Charles Ripley, Isaiah Rogers, John Shaw, and James Wharf. Of 41 privates, 10 died and 4 deserted.

Most of Becket's early settlers came from Ashford, ninety miles away.

Below are the field officers, company commanders and surgeons serving Connecticut regiments at Valley Forge. Every one of these regiments also served in the defense of Philadelphia, according to either https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Connecticut_Line or ValleyForgeMusterroll.org.

Prentice's Regiment / Huntington's Regiment / 1st Connecticut
Colonel Josiah Starr
Major David Still
Major Christopher Darrow
Captains William Belcher, Christopher Darrow, James Aldridge, Eliphalet Holmes, William Richards, John Shumway, Benjamin Throop, Christopher Ely
Surgeon Albigence Waldo
Surgeon’s Mate Samuel Brown

Webb's Regiment / 2nd Connecticut
Colonel Charles Webb
Lt. Colonel Isaac Sherman
Major Hezekiah Holdridge
Captains Stephen Bett, James Beebee, Ichabod Hinckley, William Manning, John Mills, Jonathan Parker, David Parson, Amos Walbridge, Samuel Granger
Surgeon Noah Coleman
Surgeon’s Mate Isaac Day

Durkee's Regiment / 4th Connecticut
Colonel John Durkee
Lt. Colonel Giles Russell
Major John Summer
Company Commanders
Captains Abner Bacon, Beriah Bill, Andrew Fitch, John Harmon, Robert Wallam, Elisha Lee, Nathaniel Webb, Robert Durkee, John McGriegier, Simon Spaulding
Surgeon Samuel Lee
Surgeon’s Mate Jonathan Knight

Bradley's Regiment / 5th Connecticut
Colonel Philip Bradley
Lt. Colonel Mathew Mead
Major Jonathan Johnson
Company Commanders
Captains Josiah Child, Eli Catlin, Samuel Hait, Josiah Lacey, Abner Prior, Ezekiel Sanford, Soloman Strong, Joseph A Wright
Surgeon Benjamin Putman
Surgeon’s Mate Jabez Smith

Swift's Regiment / 7th Connecticut
Colonel Heman Swift
Lt. Colonel Josiah Starr
Major John Sedwick
Captains Phineas Beardsley, Aaron Steevens, Ebenezer Hills, Titus Watson, Theodore Woodbridge, Albert Chapman, Stephen Hall, Thomas Converse
Surgeon Lancalot Jockques
Surgeon’s Mate Jonathan Todd

Chandler's Regiment / 8th Connecticut
Colonel John Chandler
Lt. Colonel Thomas Dyer
Major Joseph Hait
Captains Paul Brigham, Samual Mattocks, Theophils Monson, David Smith, Silvanus Brown, Samuel Comstock, Nehemiah Rice, Samuel Sanford
Surgeon David Holmes
Surgeon’s Mate Solomon Howe

The Philadelphia Campaign / Massachusetts Regiments

Massachusetts Regiments That Served Philadelphia's Defense and Afterwards Wintered At Valley Forge

This is looking to see if there is an obvious personal link between any Continental officers of likely regiments and John Dirlam, or anyone else I recognize from Becket/Blandford. Sadly, I don't see one. But it would have been a shame to have missed such an obvious link, just for not looking. Below are the field officers, company commanders and surgeons serving Massachusetts regiments at Valley Forge. Every one of these regiments also served in the defense of Philadelphia, according to either https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massachusetts_Line or ValleyForgeMusterroll.org.

The most interesting name here is Col. William Shephard. His son, also called William Shepard, went to Washington County, New York around the time of the exodus from Becket/Blandford, 1795-1800, like John Dirlam. And 10 years later moved further west to Canandaigua, like Dirlam's sons.

Vose's Regiment / Paterson's Regiment / 1st Massachusetts / 15th Continental:

• Colonel Joseph Vose
• Lt. Colonel Elijah Vose
• Major Thomas Cogswell
• Captains Moses Ashley, Nathaniel Cushing, Robert Davis, Abraham Hunt, Jeremiah Miller, George Smith, Orringh Stoddard, Abraham Tuckerman
• Surgeon John Crain
• Surgeon’s Mate Joseph Fisk

Bailey's Regiment / Thomas' Regiment / 2nd Massachusetts / 23rd Continental:

• Colonel John Bailey
• Lt. Colonel John Bailey
• Major Andrew Peters
• Captains Judah Alden, Ephraim Burr, Samuel Darby, George Dunham, Hugh Maxwell, Isaac Warren, Seth Drew
• 1st Lieutenant Jacob Allen
• Surgeon John Hart
• Surgeon’s Mate Timothy Smith

Learned's Regiment / 4th Massachusetts / 3rd Continental:

• Colonel William Shephard
• Lt. Colonel Ebenezer Sprout
• Major Warham Parks
• Major Jonathan Allen
• Captains Job Alvord, Labbous Ball, Seth Bannister, Thomas Fish, Caleb Keep, Moses Knapp, Simon Learned, Isaac Pope, Reuben Slayton, George Webb
• Surgeon Jonathan King
• Surgeon Josiah Harvey
• Surgeon’s Mate Josiah Waterhouse
• Surgeon’s Mate Daniel Bartlet

Sargent's Regiment / 8th Massachusetts / 16th Continental:

• Colonel Michael Jackson
• Lt. Colonel John Brooks
• Major William Hull
• Captain James Bancroft, John Burnham, Ebenezer Cleaveland, Ephraim Cleaveland, James Keith, James Varnum, John Wiley, Benjamin Brown
• Surgeon Walter Hastings
• Surgeon’s Mate Calvin Scott

Wesson's Regiment / Gerrish's Regiment / 9th Massachusetts / 26th Continental Regiment:

• Colonel James Wesson
• Lt. Colonel James Mellen
• Captains Samuel Bartlett, John Blanchard, Samuel Carr, Abraham Childs, Amos Cogswell, Nathan Dix, Joseph Pettingill, Nahum Ward
• Surgeon John Thomas
• Surgeon’s Mate Henry Adams

Marshal's Regiment / 10th Massachusetts:

• Colonel Thomas Marshall
• Lt. Colonel Joseph Thompson
• Major Nathaniel Winslow
• Captains Benjamin Walcott, Amasa Soper, Josiah Smith, William Warner, Philip Thomas, Samuel King, Christopher Marshall, Jacob Wales
• Surgeon John Jones
• Surgeon James Parker
• Surgeon’s Mate Daniel Bartlet
• Surgeon’s Mate Elisha Skinner

Frances' Regiment / 11th Massachusetts:

• Colonel Benjamin Tupper
• Lt. Colonel Noah M. Littlefield
• Major William Lithgow
• Captains Daniel Wheelwright, Moses Greenleaf, Richard Mayberry, Samuel Page, John Skillings, George White
• Lieutenant William Burley

Phinney's Regiment /12th Massachusetts / 18th Continental Regiment:

• Colonel Samuel Brewer
• Lt. Colonel Samuel Carlton
• Major Tobias Fernald
• Captains Nathan Watkins, Elisha Brewer, Daniel Merrill, Silas Burbank, James Donnell, John Chadwick, Joseph Jenkins, Enos Stone
• Surgeon Paletiah Warren
• Surgeon’s Mate Josiah Waterbuse
• Surgeon’s Mate Joseph Gardner

Brewer's Regiment / 13th Massachusetts / 6th Continental:

• Colonel Edward Wigglesworth
• Lt. Colonel Dudley Coleman
• Major John Porter
• Captains Arron Haynes, Nathaniel Alexander, Noah Allen, Nicholas Blasdall, Israel Davis, Matthew Fairfield, Daniel Pillsbury, Thomas Wettington
• Surgeon John Wingate
• Surgeon’s Mate Joshia Chase

Bradford's Regiment / 14th Massachusetts:

• Colonel Gamaliel Bradford
• Lt. Colonel Barakieh Bassett
• Major Samuel Tubbs
• Captains Zebedee Redding, Joseph Wadsworth, Thomas Turner, James Cooper, Elinathan Haskell, Joshua Eddy, John Lamonts, Josiah Stetson, John Russell
• Surgeon Samuel Finley
• Surgeon John Wingate
• Surgeon’s Mate George Fairbanks
• Surgeon’s Mate Jonathan Clark

Patterson's Regiment / 15th Massachusetts:

• Colonel Timothy Bigelow
• Lt. Colonel Henry Haskell
• Major Hugh Maxwell
• Major David Bradish
• Captains Daniel Barnes, Joshua Brown, Paul Ellis, William Gates, Joseph Hodgkins, Adam Martin, Edmund Munro, Silvanus Smith
• Surgeon James E.B. Finley
• Surgeon’s Mate William S. Little

The surgeons were:

• Surgeon John Crain
• Surgeon’s Mate Joseph Fisk
• Surgeon John Hart
• Surgeon’s Mate Timothy Smith
• Surgeon Jonathan King
• Surgeon Josiah Harvey
• Surgeon’s Mate Josiah Waterhouse
• Surgeon’s Mate Daniel Bartlet
• Surgeon Walter Hastings
• Surgeon’s Mate Calvin Scott
• Surgeon John Thomas
• Surgeon’s Mate Henry Adams
• Surgeon John Jones
• Surgeon James Parker
• Surgeon’s Mate Daniel Bartlet
• Surgeon’s Mate Elisha Skinner
• Surgeon Paletiah Warren
• Surgeon’s Mate Josiah Waterbuse
• Surgeon’s Mate Joseph Gardner
• Surgeon John Wingate
• Surgeon’s Mate Joshia Chase
• Surgeon Samuel Finley
• Surgeon John Wingate
• Surgeon’s Mate George Fairbanks
• Surgeon’s Mate Jonathan Clark
• Surgeon James E.B. Finley
• Surgeon’s Mate William S. Little

State & County Troops Sent to Reinforce the Continentals

Colonel John Moseley's Regiment (3rd Hampshire County) - served 9 months at Fishkill in 1778

Colonel Thomas Nixon's Regiment (6th Massachusetts) - 1777 to 1780

Nixon's orderly books are preserved at the New-York Historical Society. Here's a resource for many many many orderly books - http://www.revwar75.com/

The Philadelphia Campaign Part 1

British Grenadiers

John Dirlam served in Blakeney company of the 23rd Foot Regiment. Companys were named after their commanders, in this case Major William Blakeney (later Colonel), injured twice during the Seven Years War, and again at Bunker Hill.

Blakeney's was a grenadier company. Grenadiers were a 17th century invention, originally trained to use grenades, hence the name. They were specialized assault troops, useful in siege warfare, and common to European armies. Technological improvements to guns, cannons, and gunpowder made those weapons vastly more lethal than bombs and grenades. But the value of specially trained assault troops continued to be popular into the 19th century, and they were widely deployed by the British against fortifications during the Revolutionary War.

Ideally, Grenadiers were picked from the most experienced and toughest soldiers, but were sometimes just the tallest and strongest. They wore tall bearskin caps to add to their towering appearance. Think of the Grenadier Guards at Buckingham Palace. The soldiers were proud of the bearskins -- regular infantry wore tri-cornered 'cocked hats' and were called 'hatmen'.

I suspect John Dirlam was selected for his height, since he was assigned to Blakeney Company on his arrival in New York City, before his skills could have been known; and also since there's some height among his descendants today. To quote from the orderly book for the 4th Grenadier Battalion, “…the Grenadier Company is to be constantly kept compleat, from the best and tallest Men in the Regiment…, and have such Men only in it, as are perfect masters of their business… as experience proves that Grenadier Company which covers most ground when under Arms, to be much superior in point of Marching, and every sort of fatigue…”

This from http://www.revwar75.com/library/pace/4th-Brit-Gren-Bn-OB-1776.pdf

A typical British infantry regiment consisted of ten companies; eight center companies, and two flank companies: a grenadier company on the right flank, and a light infantry company on the left. But these are parade ground positions. Because of their toughness, grenadier companies from different regiments were often combined into battalions, larger assault teams. In early 1776, after the British realized they needed to prepare for war, their grenadier companies were detached from the parent regiments and grouped into composite grenadier battalions. This included Blakeney company, which was assigned to a 1st Battalion of Grenadiers, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel [William] Meadows [55th Regt.].

This summary is taken from "British Grenadier Companies at Monmouth" on Yahoo Group: Revlist (sorry for the amount of detail).

Head Quarters Halifax 14th May 1776... The Commander in Chief is pleased to form the Grenadier and Light Infantry Companies into four Battalions.

1st Battalion of Grenadiers, composed of the following Companies, To be Commanded by Lieutenant Colonel [William] Meadows [55th Regt.] and Major [Edward] Mitchell [5th Regt.], Viz.: 4th, 5th, 10th, 17th, 22d, 23d, 27th, 35th, 38th, 40th.

2d Battalion of Grenadiers composed of the following Companies, To be Commanded by Lieut.-Col. [Hon. Henry] Monckton [45th Regt.] and Major [Hon. Charles] Stuart [43rd Regt.], viz.: 43d., 44th, 45th, 46th, 49th, 52d, 55th, 63d, 64th, 1st. and 2d. Marines.

Source: Gen. Sir William Howe's Orders, 1776, in "The Kemble Papers, Vol. I, 1773-1789" in Collections of the New-York Historical Society for the Year 1883, Publication Fund Series, Printed for the Society, New York, 1884, Google Books, pp. 352-353.

General Order to Disband the 3rd British Grenadier Bn. and Assign the 42nd Grenadier Co. to the 2nd British Grenadier Bn., Mar. 23, 1777

Source: "Orderly Book of General Sir William Howe, Kept By Major Stephen Kemble, Deputy Adjutant General, 29 January 1777 - 20 June 1777" in New York State Library Manuscripts and History Library, Accession Number 6744.

General Order to Disband the British Flank Battalion and Return the Grenadier and Light Infantry Companies to Their Regiments, July 5, 1778

Source: "The Kemble Papers, Vol. I, 1773-1789" in Collections of the New-York Historical Society for the Year 1883, Publication Fund Series, Printed for the Society, New York, 1884, Google Books. This order was issued following the departure from Philadelphia and the battle of Monmouth Courthouse, New Jersey on June 28, 1778. The officers of the grenadiers and light infantry, took this order to disband as an insult to the elite status of their battalions and it was soon reversed.

General Order to Reestablish the British Flank Battalions, July 31, 1778

Source: "Captured British Army Orderly Book, January 29-August 9, 1778" in the George Washington Papers at the Library of Congress, 1741-1799: Series 6. Military Papers. 1755-1798

Saturday 11th Septr 1779 ...found the Battalion divided as follows 1st [Lt. Col. Henry] Hopes consisting of 7th, 17th, 23d, 33d, 37th, 38th, 42d, & 43d. 2nd [Lt Col. John] York's, the 22d, 54th, 57th, 63d, 64th, 70th, & 74th...

The 1st Battalion, and thus Blakney company, saw action repeatedly near Philadelphia in late 1777, so it's likely this is where John Dirlam was injured. Gen. Howe was replaced in May 1778, and the British army was marched back to New York City, but without Dirlam, who less than two years later was buying land in western Massachusetts.

What can Wigand Dirlam tell us about John O Dirlam?

Wigand Dirlam and his brother Konrad, from Otrau (south of Kassel) served in Knyphausen's Hessen-Kassel Regiment during the War for Independence. Their service is documented in HETRINA. Konrad died in New York, injured within a few weeks of his arrival there in 1776. But Wigand survived the war and returned home.

HETRINA doesn't reveal their relationship, but Ancestry does -- as sons of Johannes Dirlam and Martha Elisabeth Krey. And another brother's son, Jacob Dirlam, settled in Wayne County, Pennsylvania in the 1850s. These Dirlams used the name Johannes every generation, going back into the 17th century. The use of a Saint's name, here it's John the Baptist, was common, and often became a family tradition. That was often combined with another name like Johann Peter, Johann Jost or Johann Heinrich, and at home the child was called Peter, Jost or Heinrich. But all the sons could have the same Saint's name. And their cousins could too! Which one is our John O. Dirlam?!!??!!

Wigand's military service is also documented in two volumes of the Journal of The Johannes Schwalm Historical Assocation, Inc. According to volume 3, number 1, he was taken prisoner at Trenton, New Jersey 26 December 1776 and appears on a list made by the Germans on 27 February 1777. Nearly nine hundred Hessians were captured, and Dirlam was part of a group marched 100 miles west to Lancaster. Most of these prisoners were exchanged between June and August 1778, when Dirlam returned to his regiment, then occupying Philadelphia.

After the British surrendered an army at Saratoga, their overall strategy changed. 18 June 1778 they abandoned Philadelphia, and the Knyphausen Regiment returned to New York. After France entered the war, the British, never really trusting the loyalty of Quebeckers, sent Knyphausen's Regiment to prevent rebellion among the French-speaking inhabitants. Anyway, 8 September 1779 the regiment sailed north aboard 3 ships, part of a much larger fleet. Two ships, Molly and Triton, were damaged by a storm and captured by privateers. Wigand Dirlam was part of this group, sent to Philadelphia's New Gaol. These prisoners were exchanged and allowed to travel to their post in Quebec.

The regiment was later transferred to New York, arriving 28 Oct 1781, just three days before Cornwallis' surrender. They remained in New York for the duration of the treaty negotiations, finally returning to their garrison at Ziegenhain 16 Oct 1783.

According to JJSHA, volume 2, number 1, Wigand Dirlam's captivity (from his capture 26 Sep 1779 to his release 13 Oct 1779) at The New Gaol is recorded in the Bradford papers, summarized as:

• an undated list of 91 POWs signed by Capt. Wiederhold. 
• a list of 92 POWs signed by Feldwebel (1st Sgt.) Johannes Meinguth, dated 10 Oct 1779, including notations about Wigand's 2 week hospitalization 
•  a list made by the Americans of POWs held during 1781 and 1782, Wigand appears in section F 
• a list of POWs who worked for Jacob Faesch, Iron Master in 1782 
• a list of 122 German POWs made 5 Feb 1782 

It's a wild story. Wigand was

• captured at Trenton, PA 26 December 1776
• marched to 65 miles to Lancaster, PA 2 January 1777
• released March 1777
• part of occupation of Philadelphia 26 Sep 1777?
• left Philadelphia 18 Jun 1778
• wintered in New York
• set sail for Quebec 8 September 1779
• captured at sea 26 September 1779
• held briefly in Philadelphia Gaol 10 October 1779
• released 13 Oct 1779
• surrendered at Yorktown 19 October 1781
• marched to Rockaway, NJ to work 

More research is required to confirm what's actually on these lists. Schwalm lists file no. 59 of the Bradford Papers (held by the Historical Society of Pennsylvania) as belonging to Wigand Dirlam, Regt. Knyphausen, Company 3.

For those of us interested in his presumed-cousin, John O Dirlam, the most tantalizing item here is one about POWs working to make iron in an American foundry. An article by Lion G. Miles follows the list, and it says:

Sometimes this use of captured enemy soldiers was done on a quasi-legal basis, depending on government policy at the time, but always it was done in an attempt to alleviate the acute labor shortage that prevailed in colonial America. Hessians and other Germans were used in the various Pennsylvania ironworks of York, Lancaster, Berks, and Bucks Counties. Others worked on the construction of government buildings, some were used as shoemakers, and many more employed as farm hands.

I added the emphasis on shoemakers, because John O Dirlam was a shoemaker. The significance is nicely summarized by George Washington, writing 21 April 1778 at Valley Forge:

To see the men without clothes to cover their nakedness, without blankets to lie upon, without shoes...without a house or hut to cover them until those could be built, and submitting without a murmur, is a proof of patience and obedience which, in my opinion, can scarcely be paralleled.

 An article in this same volume 3 of JJSHA by Kenneth S. Jones describes orders to transfer POWs from the overcrowded Worcester jail to Newbury Port 2 June 1777. And to move POWs  from Boston's Workinghouse to Worcester jail or into work arrangements with Worcester families 31 July 1777. These records are in the Massachusetts Archives, Vol. 167 -1-2a. Volume 167 are Revolution Council Papers from 1777, when the Council acted as sole executive. The volume primarily relates to requests to leave the state, prisoners of war, and commissions for the commanders of privateers. The papers are viewable at The Massachusetts Archives Reading Room, 220 Morrissey Blvd., Boston MA 02125.

Timeline (preliminary)

1735	Blandford first settled
1740	Oliver Watson (1718-1782) bought 2000 acre lot #2 in Leicester
1740	Becket first settled
1741	Town of Blandford incorporated
27 Jan 1754	John Gibbs purchased 60 acre Blandford home lot #34 from his father for £56 13s.
1750s	Chester first settled
1765	Towns of Chester and Becket incorporated
1768	John Watson (1747-1823) bought Blandford home lot #9 and established a tannery
1772	Oliver Snow Jr. moved to Becket
10 Jun 1773	23rd Foot arrived in New York Harbor from England
16 Dec 1773	Boston Tea Party
1773	Town of Otis incorporated (as Loudon)
1774	Oliver Snow Jr. married at Becket
20 May 1774	Parliament passed the Massachusetts Government Act (Intolerable Acts)
Spring 1774	23rd Foot ordered to Boston
16 Aug 1774	A mob closed the Berkshire county courthouse
6 Sep 1774	Militia seized the Worcester county courthouse
18 Sep 1774	Governor Gates ordered seizure of militia supplies at Concord
19 Apr 1775	Battles of Lexington and Concord (including 23rd Foot's flank companies)
13 May-19 Jul 1775	Oliver Watson attended provincial Congress at Watertown, MA
16 Jun 1775	Battle of Bunker Hill  (Grenadiers of 23rd Foot led 3 charges, Sylvanus Snow injured)
3 Mar 1776	Knyphausen Regiment left Ziegenhain (Konrad + Wigand Dirlam?)
17 Mar 1776	British evacuated Boston
17 Apr 1776	4 companies of Knyphausen Regiment left Bremerlehe
6 May 1776	British/Hessian troop convoy #1a, 85 ships left Portsmouth
14 May 1776	Some von Scheither recruits left Stade (John Dirlam?)
14 May 1776	Blakeney Company assigned to 1st Grenadier Battalion
18 May 1776	Minnegrode Company of Knyphausen Regiment left Bremerlehe (K+W Dirlam?)
26 May 1776	British/Hessian troop convoy #1b, 25 ships left Portsmouth (K+W Dirlam?)
9 Jun 1776	British/Hessian troop convoy #2 left Ritzebuttel (John Dirlam?)
28 Jun 1776	British/Hessian troop convoy #2 left Portsmouth (John Dirlam?)
7 July 1776	Second Continental Congress adopted Declaration of Independence at Philadelphia
12 July 1776	Fleet of 150 British ships arrived in New York Harbor
14-15 Aug 1776	British/Hessian troop convoy #1a and 1b disembark on Staten Island (K+W Dirlam?)
27 Aug 1776	Battle of Brooklyn Heights, NY (incl. 23rd Foot)
16 Sep 1776	Battle of Harlem Heights, NY (incl. 23rd Foot)
18 Oct 1776	British/Hessian troop convoy #2 arrived at NY harbor
18 Oct 1776	John Dirlam, 3 other Hessians joined 23rd Foot in NYC (Blakeney Company)
28 Oct 1776	Battle of White Plains, NY (incl. 23rd Foot + Knyphausen)
Nov 1776	Nathan Snow's Ashford militia guarded Providence, RI for 3 months
16 Nov 1776	British captured Fort Washington, NY (incl. 23rd Foot + Knyphausen)
17 Nov 1776	23rd Foot garrisoned in New York City
8 Dec 1776	British captured Newport, RI
26 Dec 1776	Battle of Trenton, NJ (Wigand Dirlam captured)
2 Jan 1777	Battle of Assunpink Creek, NJ
3 Jan 1777	Battle of Princeton, NJ
8 Jan 1777	John Dirlam mustered for Blakeney Company
13 Apr 1777	Battle of Bound Brook, NJ
26 Apr 1777	Asa Snow and Oliver Jr's** Becket militia marched to Saratoga, NY
26 Apr 1777	Burning of Danbury, CT (23rd Foot in rearguard)
27 Apr 1777	Battle of Ridgefield, CT
23 May 1777	Battle of Sag Harbor, NY
26 Jun 1777	Battle of Metuchen Meeting House, NJ
6 Jul 1777	Fort Ticonderoga, NY surrendered to the British
18 Jul 1777	Oliver Snow Jr**, Amos Kingsley* Becket militia called 5 days to Manchester, VT
14 Aug 1777	Jonathan Wadsworth**, Amos Kingley* Becket militia called 9 days to Bennington, VT
16 Aug 1777	Battle of Bennington, NY
1 Sep 1777	Nathan Snow** and Sylvanus Snow's Ashford militia marched to Stillwater, NY
11 Sep 1777	Battle of Brandywine, PA (incl. 23rd Foot)
19 Sep 1777	First Battle of Saratoga, NY
21 Sep 1777	Battle of Battle of Paoli Tavern at Malvern, PA
26 Sep 1777	Capture of Philadelphia, PA (incl. 23rd Foot)
26 Sep 1777	23rd Foot moved to Germantown, PA
3 Oct 1777	23rd Foot sent to guard Middle Ferry and Chester Road at Philadelphia
4 Oct 1777	Battle of Germantown, PA (not incl. 23rd Foot)
7 Oct 1777	Second Battle of Saratoga, NY
8 Oct 1777	Nathan Snow** and Sylvanus Snow's Ashford militia marched to Albany,NY
10 Oct 1777	Battery on Carpenter's Isl. (behind Redbank) surrendered 300+ men by British (mostly grenadiers, incl. of 23rd Foot)
15 Oct 1777	Fort Mifflin, PA (opposite Redbank) evacuated by Continentals
19-26 Oct 1777	Middletown, CT militia escorted prisoners from Ticonderoga and Bennington through Connecticut and delivered them to the sheriff in Hartford, CT
22 Oct 1777	Battle of Redbank, NJ for Fort Mercer (incl. 23rd Foot)
Nov 1777	Burgoyne's Convention Army marched to stockade in Cambridge, MA
12 Nov 1777	Sylvanus Snow's youngest child born in Ashford, CT
11-12 Dec '77	British forage in force from Philadelphia to Radnor, PA (incl. 23rd Foot) 15 mi
Jan 1778	Timothy Levi and Nathan Snow Ashford militia guarded Providence, RI for 2 months
16 Feb 1778	The Treaty of Alliance with France signed in Paris
18 Feb 1778	Loyalist raid on Jenk's Fulling Mill, Newton, PA (25 mi to Philadelphia)
20 Feb 1778	Raid near Frankford, PA (8 mi to Philadelphia)
24-25 Feb '78	Raid near Skippack, PA ( 65 mi to Philadelphia)
24 Feb 1778	John O Dirlam reported 'captured by rebels' (by 23rd Foot)
Apr 1778	Levi Snow's* Ashford militia served at Greenwich, Hartford and New Haven, CT
1 May 1778	Silas Snow's** Ashford militia in West Point, NY and New London, CT for 1 year
18 Jun 1778	British evacuated Philadelphia, PA (incl. 23rd Foot)
28 Jun 1778	Battle of Monmouth, NJ (incl. 23rd Foot: grenadier company lost 1/3 of it's men)
Jun-Sep 1778	Wigand Dirlam freed/returned to Knyphausen regiment in Philadelphia or NYC
Jul 1778	Levi Snow's* Ashford militia served at White Plains and West Point, NY
5 Jul 1778	Blakeney Company returned to 23rd Foot from 1st Grenadier Battalion
1 Aug 1778	John Gibbs purchased 18 acres of Blandford lot #14 from sheriff for 17s. 3p.
Sep 1778	Nathan** and Bilarcah*** Snow's Ashford guarded New London, built Ft. Trumbull
Nov 1778	Levi Snow's* Ashford militia served at New London, CT
Feb 1779	Nathan Snow** moved from Ashford to Becket
May 1779	British captured the King's Ferry Forts (incl. 23rd Foot)
Jun 1779	Silas Snow's** Ashford militia served 3 months, guarded Groton, CT lighthouse
30 Jun 1779	British raided Fairport, New Haven and Norwalk, CT (incl. 23rd Foot)
Jul 1779	Nathan Snow's** Becket militia guarded New Haven, CT
5 Jul 1779	British raided New Haven, CT
9 Jul 1779	British burned Fairfield and Green Farms, CT
11 Jul 1779	British burned Norwalk, CT
8 Sep 1779	Knyphausen Regiment sailed for Quebec (3 ships inc. Wigand Dirlam captured)
7 Mar 1780	John Gibbs bought 405 acres on Blandford lots 4 and 14 from sheriff for £190 5s.
7 Mar 1780	John Gibbs and John Durlam bought 456 acres on lot 34 from sheriff for £107 s3 d6
Jul 1780	Silas Snow's** Ashford militia served 3 months at West Point, NY
21 Jul 1780	Asa Snow** enlisted for 6 months in Continental Army unit from Becket
16 Oct 1780	British raided Royalton, VT (Asa Snow present?)
25 Oct 1780	Asa Snow** mustered at Camp Totoway, NJ
15 Mar 1781	Battle of Guilford Courthouse, NC (incl. 23rd Foot, except grenadiers at NYC)
Jul 1781	Silas Snow's** Ashford militia served 3 months at Mohegan, CT
18 Sep 1781	John Dirlam married Sarah Snow at Becket
16 Oct 1779	Captured soldiers rejoin Knyphausen Regiment in NYC (inc. Wigand Dirlam)
19 Oct 1781	British surrender at Yorktown, VA
29 Oct 1781	Royal Welch Fusiliers marched to stockade in Winchester, VA
12 Jan 1782	Royal Welch Fusiliers marched to stockade in Lancaster, PA
5 Mar 1783	Oldest Dirlam son born
May 1783	Royal Welch Fusiliers marched to Staten Island, NY to rejoin the Army
24 Jun 1783	Royal Welch Fusiliers at Herricks, NY recorded John Dirlam as 'deserted'
Jan 1784	Royal Welch Fusiliers embarked for England
24 Sep 1788	John Dirlam land purchase in Becket recorded
10 Oct 1788	Sylvanus Snow land purchase in Becket recorded
20 Aug 1800	John Gibbs relinquished claim to 484 acres, farm lot 34

* Sylvanus Snow's sons, Levi, Timothy and son-in-law, Amos Kingsle
** Oliver Snow's sons Asa, Nathan, Silas, Oliver Jr. and son-in-law Jonathan Wadsworth
*** Samuel Snow's son, Bilarchy

Updated from November 2010 version.

Documents List Re: Hessians

These are War Office documents I believe pertain to the von Scheither Hessians, held at the National Archives in Kew:

First, there is the Correspondence of the Secretary-at-War.

1. WO 4/96, pp. 257, 389, 462 (Secretary-at-War, general letters, January to April, 1776) **
2. WO 4/98, p. 439-440 (Secretary-at-War, general letters, July 1776 to January 1777)
3. WO 4/99, page 198 (Secretary-at-War, general letters, January to May 1777)**
4. WO 43/405, (Colonel G.H.A. de Scheither of Hanover recruits 4,000 Germans for British army service. Details of transport of soldiers and their families to Dover and other ports. Letters from Lord North, Viscount Barrington, Deputy Adjutant General, Colonel W. Faucitt.)

William Barrington, 2nd Viscount Barrington, served as Secretary at War, so this is his correspondence. Much of it with Frederick North, 2nd Earl of Guilford, the Prime Minister; George Germain, 1st Viscount Sackville, Secretary of State for the Colonies;  and General William Howe, later 5th Viscount Howe, who commanded the British Armies in North America until 1781. My sources are "Forty German Recruits" by Don Hagist on REVWAR75 (http://www.revwar75.com/library/hagist/FORTYGERMANRECRUITS.htm#10) and page 16 of what seems to be an unpublished book on Oxford University Press (http://fds.oup.com/www.oup.com/pdf/13/9780198206590.pdf).

Then there are Muster Rolls for the 23rd Foot at WO 12/3960 for the period 1774-1785.

1. New York, 8 Jan 1777 
2. Philadelphia, 24 Feb 1778 
3. Camp at New York Island 23 July 1778 
4. New York, 20 Dec 1778 
5. Staten Island, 16 Sept 1779 
6. Herricks, Long Island, 13 Mar 1783 
7. Herricks, Long Island, 3 July 1783

In the Public Records Office there are also the Headquarters Papers of Guy Carleton, 1st Baron Dorchester, who served as Commander-in-Chief after the surrender and thus collected the documents of earlier royal officials. PRO 30/55 p. 200 is an "Embarkation Return of 402 German Recruits". It may include a duplicate of a list contained in WO 43/405 mentioned above.

The Carleton Papers are available in a 58 volume work, Report on American Manuscripts in the Royal Institution of Great Britain. Volume 1, Correspondence between Sir Wm. Howe, Lord Barrington, Sir Geo. Osborne and Capt. Mackenzie, American War, 1775 to 1777 contains:

Lord Barrington to General Howe 1776, May 28. War Office - A body of German recruits being directed to embark for North America to be incorporated into the regiments, he sends copy of distribution of the same. Sergeants and corporals are to continue to do duty and receive pay and clothing as sergeants and corporals according to the rank in which they have been sent over. And the difference of pay and clothing between non-commissioned officers and privates is to be made a charge in the contingent bill of the regiment to which they belong. Duplicate signed letter. Vol. 1. No. 33. 3 folios.

Enclosure: - Distribution of the German recruits for the forces with General Howe. Shewing forty or forty one recruits each for the 4th, 5th, 10th, 15th, 17th, 22nd, 23rd, 28th, 35th and 38th Regiments. Vol. 1. No. 33. 1 page.

And Volume 2, Correspondence between Sir Wm. Howe and the Treasury Office, 1775 to 1777 contains:

German Recruits. 1776, June 1. Portsmouth - Embarkation return of 402 recruits for the regiments of foot in America. Vol. 2.  Number 74. 1 Page. Enclosed by Lord Germain to Gen. Howe, 21 June.

I reviewed references to the regiment by folio number in the index, the following are not relevant to our search: 23rd Foot, 42, 161, 163, 169, 217, 231, 439; Welsh Fusiliers [23rd regiment], 97. I also reviewed references to Major Blakeney without success. I might be able to locate potential lists by a careful review of this index. (http://www.archive.org/stream/reportonamerican12greauoft)

There are negative photocopies of these 30,000 manuscript pages in 44 boxes at the New York City Public Library, with a 4 volume index, called British Headquarters Papers, 1775-1783. The index volumes cover these dates:

1. 1747-July 1779
2. Aug. 1779-June 1782
3. July 1782-Mar. 1783
4. Apr.-Dec. 1783

There is a Royal Welch Fusiliers Regimental Museum in The Queen's Tower at The Castle of Caernarfon, Wales. Its old records have been transferred to the National Archives. What does that mean? How old? It's between curators so I can't inquire whether there are relevant records of service, diaries, or orders.

I reviewed microfilm of individual soldier's records through the local Family History Center. The records, part of WO 97/427, are described as Soldiers documents: service documents of soldiers, containing particulars of age, birthplace and trade or occupation on enlistment, a record of service, including any decorations and the reason for discharge to pension, 1760-1872. But the roll I reviewed, v. 427 23rd Rgmnt. of Foot: Cherry-Fellow 1760-1854, didn't include anything from the eighteenth century.

And what's in the Frederick MacKenzie Papers, at the William L. Clements Library of the University of Michigan?  There are a number of seven bound volumes of which Volume B contains approximately 95 pages of regulations and orders concerning the Royal Welch Fusiliers for the years 1755-1764. It conveys policies concerning military rank, provisions, prices of commissions, the compiling of returns, and other administrative matters. Also included are marching orders for the 23rd Regiment, information on their summer cantonment for the year 1768, and lists of necessary camp supplies.

Clements Library also holds German Auxiliaries Muster Rolls, 1776-1786 including for Knyphausen Regiment 1780 and 1781, in Box 1, folders 36 and 37.

And another possible source is the David Library of the American Revolution in Washington Crossing, Pennsylvania. They hold microfilm called "Recruitments by Lieutenant Colonel von Scheither and others for the English Crown; permission of places for recruitment as only residence in the electorate of Hannover and transportation of the foreign recruits: Hann. 41 V Nr. 4 [microform]."And they may have another copy of the British Headerquarters Papers, 1775-1783.