Court of St. James, June
9, 1783
&
given out in Publick Orders at Head Quarters,
New
York 17th [of] August 1783.
A Plan of the Establishment of the several Regiments to be Reduced, refered to in his
Majesty's orders and Instructions to Sir Guy Carleton....
...the 17th
Infantry...Regiments are to hold themselves in readiness to embark for Nova
Scotia where they are to remain till further orders.... The 17th Dragoons...to hold themselves in
readiness to embark for Europe. The
17th regt. of Light Dragoons...[are] to be disembodied as soon as they arrive
in Great Britain..,. During the voyage
home the officers and men are to be put under the usual stoppages of three
pence sterling per day for provision.
All such men as have entered into marching regiments of infantry-are now
entitled to their discharge provided they have been three years in the service
from the date of their attestation....
All men under these circumstances will be discharged and passages provided
for them home, except such as may desire to remain in America.... The 3 & 4 Battalions of the 60th Kings
American Regiment — Queens Rangers — British Legions — New York Volunteers —
British Legion Infantry
— Loyal Americans — First [,] second and third
New Jersey volunteers
— First and second Delancies —Prince of Wales
American Regiment — Pennsylvania & Maryland Loyalists — American Legion and
Guides and Pioneers, and the men who wish to be discharged and remain in
America are to hold themselves in readiness to embark for Nova Scotia — where
on their arrival those corps will be disbanded unless any of them should
choEo3se to be dismissed at that place.
The non commiss[one]d officers and private men of the land forces who
may be reduced in Nova Scotia and wish to be settled in that province will be
allowed grants of land...of 200 acres to every non commiss[ione]d officer &
100 acres to every private man...each man shall be furnished out of the public
stores with the usual rations of provisions allowed to him for one year and
shall be permitted to retain his arms & accoutrements.... His Majesty has
been pleased to grant to the Kings American Dragoons commanded by Lieut. Col.
Thomson permanent rank in America and half pay upon the reduction of the Regiment.
[Source: Manuscript in
unknown hand. Collection of Kenneth W.
Rendel1, Inc. Catalog #197, Item #9,
1991.]