1759 Documents Provides List Of British Soldiers Shortly After Successful Capture Of Guadeloupe During Seven Years War

GUADELOUPE. The Caribbean island of Guadeloupe is a French overseas department.DS. 2 pg. 6 x 8. February 16, 1759. Guadeloupe. A document signed Geo. Highton Lieu in the 68th Regiment of Foot. The document is signaling the Return of the Men at Work of the 63: Regt Commanded by Colo Watson. The front of the document provides a list of the soldiers involved in the work party. They are organized by their company. A bill for their work is listed on the front: three shillings for the one officer (most likely Watson), two shillings for the lieutenant, one shilling and six pence for one corporal, two shillings for one mason, and two pounds and one shilling (truncated) cumulative for 41 privates. The back of the document indicates that Highton is ordering a paymaster, John Barnes Esq, to pay the above bill by me. David Watson was a Scottish officer and military engineer in the British Army tasked with the colonelcy of the 63rd Regiment of Foot. This regiment took part in the successful invasion and seizure of French Guadeloupe in the West Indies in 1759. Guadeloupe was so economically important to the French that they willingly traded French Canada to the British in the Treaty of Paris in order to reacquire it. This document was written just weeks into the invasion, and so it is likely that some of the men listed on this document were among the nearly 800 British that died on the island that year. Known examples listed who were later KIA include Lieutenant-Colonel P. Debrisay, Major John Trollop, and Lieutenant George Highton himself, who died of disease. The document is in fine condition with some folds. (Inventory #: 6055)