LAKE GEORGE EXPEDITION 1755. WALTER KENDALL WATKINS. IN 1746 the English were determined to make an attack on the French fort at Crown Point, but the attempt did not materialize till the next decade. General, afterwards Sir, William Johnson was charged with the conduct of an expedition in 1755. His army was made up of the farmers of New York and New England, but Massachusetts bore the chief burden of the expedition, as shown by the reimbursement of the colonies by Parliament afterward. Of £115,000, Massachusetts received £54,000; New York, £15,000; Connecticut, £26,000; while Rhode Island, New Hampshire, and New Jersey received the rest. The Massachusetts troops were in three regiments under Colonels Williams, Ruggles, and Titcomb. Of what men these regiments were composed is best shown by the "Beating Orders" issued to the recruiting officers at that time and I will give those sent to Ephraim Williams. "I. You are to enlist no person below the age of eighteen years, nor above thirty-five years. "2. You are to enlist none but able bodied, Effective men, such as be free from all bodily ails & of perfect limbs. "3. You are to inlist no Roman Catholic, nor any that are under five feet four inches high without their shoes. "4. You are to assure the persons inlisted they shall enter into his majesty's pay from the day of their inlistment to be paid them at their arrival at the headquarters which is Boston. "5. You are also to assure them that they are to have his Majesty's cloaths delivered them before they enter on actual duty. "6. Such persons as shall not choose to inlist at large you are to engage for three five or seven years, and for those who inlist for three years, I will allow twenty shillings sterling a bounty, for five years thirty shillings, & for seven years forty shillings, & for those who shall inlist at large fifty shillings apiece one quarter part to be paid at the time of inlistment & the other three parts at their arrival at the Head quarters. "7. You are to inlist no persons but such as you can be answerable for the money you advance, as well for their being fit for the service as for their desertion before their arrival at Boston. "8. You are before paying any part of the bounty to cause the 2d and 6th sections of the Articles of War to be read to them & have them also sworn & attested before a justice of the peace." Muster Roll of Col. Ephraim Williams with Field & Staff Officers in Crown Point Exped" from Mch 29 to Sept. 8, 1756. The rolls of these companies are found scattered in the State Archives. They are partially given in the following pages with the rank and time of service. In some instances the name of the parent or master is also given with the locality. In the rolls are also found further details as to service and wages. COL. EPH. WILLIAMS CO. Muster Roll of Capt. Jno Bourke & Co. on Crown Point Expedition from Mch. 29 to Dec. 30, 1756. |