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From: "Irene Thompson" <>
Subject: British Regiments at the Cape 1786-1796
Date: Tue, 22 Feb 2005 20:33:20 -0800


Dear Listers:

I wonder if some kind person can tell me or advise me how to find out
which British Army regiments, or elements thereof, were stationed in the
Cape of Good Hope area at any time during the period 1786 to 1796. I explain
below why I am seeking this information. This is a longish message, but
please continue reading if you think you might be able to help me.

My 3x great grandfather, George Thompson, was an Infantry Private in the
East India Company Bengal Armys 2nd European Regiment. The Bengal Army
Muster Role & Casualty Return for the year 1797-1798 lists him as being 28
years old (therefore born c1770), arriving in India on the ship Lord
McCartney in 1797, being from England (unfortunately no County or Town is
identified in these early muster rolls), and first enlisting at the CAPE OF
GOOD HOPE in 1796. It also records his death in Fort William (Calcutta) 9
January 1798.

For several years now I have been trying to find out where in England this
George Thompson came from. Naturally, I am most anxious to try and track his
(and my) ancestry back further. I have had generous assistance from people
in the UK who have tried to find more information about my man in the
British Library India Office records but with no success. Most recently I
have enlisted the services of a professional researcher to search British
military recruitment records at the UK Public Records Office (PRO) on the
off chance that George Thompson might have got to South Africa (where he was
recruited by the Bengal Army) as a member of one of HMs Services, and then
was released, captured, or deserted in country. Unfortunately the initial
search for army and naval enlistment/attestation records, that would show
his town of origin, (e.g. an army WO97 file for him) has come up negative.
Furthermore, my UK researcher advises me that the Merchant Service records
prior to 1840 are virtually non-existent. So, if it was as a merchant seaman
(either by choice, or by way of being press-ganged) that my George got to
the Cape, no record is likely to be found.

Having failed (so far) to find out where in England George Thompson came
from, my PRO researcher has suggested that we now focus on individual
British Army Regimental muster rolls and pay lists, that may list men for
whom enlistment/attestation records are missing. Clearly I need to limit
such further detailed search of muster rolls and pay lists to only those
British regiments that had a presence in South Africa during the period of
interest. That then is the purpose of my request posed at the beginning of
this message i.e.to find out which HM regiments had elements in the Cape
during 1786-1796 period?

From another source, I have been informed that the 2nd Battalion of 78th
Foot, together with seamen and marines, under Major General James Craig,
landed at the Cape on 14 July 1795. I was also told that reinforcements also
came from St. Helena. Does anyone know which regiments provided these
reinforcements? Were there other British regiments involved within the Cape
area around this time before, after? Thats the sort of info that I would
be most grateful to receive.

Sorry to be so terribly long winded, folks, but Im most anxious to try and
put some holes in my brick wall! Any help will be much appreciated. Best
regards Al Thompson on Vancouver Island

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