To His Excellency S[I]r Henry Clinton, Knight of the Bath, General and Commander in Chief of his Majesty's Forces in America &c &c &c
Memorial of the Captain,
Lieutenant, Eldest Lieutenant, and Eldest Cornet in His Majesty's 17th Regiment
of Light
Sheweth [sic] that the
17th Regiment of Dragoons being raised in the year 1759: the command was given
to Lieutenant Colonel John Hale, the Major Blaqaure
{Kirby
Captains {Birch
{Basel
{Lasedles
four Troops with four
Captains, The Two Field Officers not choosing to raise Troops, being paid the
difference of pay as Captains, by Warrants issued for that purpose. Two other Troops were added by the Captains
Baston and Townshend - making Six Troops with Six Captains.
Soon after L[ieutnean]t
Colonel Hale was promoted to the rank of Colonel, Major Blaqaure, to the rank
of Lieutenant Colonel, and Captain Birch, then eldest of his rank to that of
Major, carrying his Troop with him, - All these Promotions were without purchase. About the year 72, S[I]r John Blaqaure
quitting the Service, Major Birch succeeded to the L[ieutenan]t Colonelcy and
Captain Bishop to the Majority by purchase - at which time Col[onel] Birchs
Troop was sold to Captain Delaney from the 14th Dragoons - and a Fresh Warrant
issued, or the Old one continued and handed down for the difference of pay as
Captain of a Troop.
That a vacancy happening
by the promotion of Captain Stanley, and your Memorialists having reason to
apprehend the Lieutenant Colonel may think himself obliged by the tenor
of the Warrant to memorial for the Troop, beg leave to request your
Excellency's Consideration of their Services and Situation.
That the present Captain
Lieutenant was Eldest Cornet in the Regiment in the Year 59. Nineteen Years ago, purchased his
Lieutenancy soon after, and the Captain Lieutenancy in the year 72. That Lieutenant Nettles has been upwards of Twelve
Years a Lieutenant in the Regiment, and Cornet Cooke more than Six
Ens[ignc]y and Cornet, during which time they have done their duty irraproachably
and Constantly.
That they imagine the Object
can be of no importance to a Field Officer - tho of the utmost to
your Memorialists.
That upwards of Sixteen
Captains from other Corps have come in on the Regiment, and that Your
Memorialists have never been benefited by one single promotion without purchase
-
That they paid equal
prices for their Commissions with the rest of the Army, and hope your
Excellency after so many years Service, and for so trifling a
Consideration, will not admit of their being deprived the common benefit and
expectation of every Officer in His Majesty's Service, that of Regimental
promotion.
Rob[er]t Archdale
Capt[ai]n L[ieutenan]t
Henry Nettles Lieutenant
J. J. Cooke Cornet
[Source:
David Library of the American Revolution, Microfilm Collection, P.R.O. W.O.
1/10, 281/292. As transcribed by
Gilbert Riddle.]