| Description | A. pp.1-251
Many blank pages.
Col. Caldecot's correspondence is invaluable for the light it throws on the organisation and vicissitudes of militia companies in the days of the American War. Many references to the substitute system of recruiting - inordinate values set, expenses to parishes, loss caused by desertion (pp. 86,-88, 133, 138, 140-4). Grievances there were a plenty : dilatoriness in supplying uniforms, especially "hatts" [hats] (p. 10, 18, 31); difficulties over the payment of wages to a surgeon-mate between the Col. and the Army paymasters, reginmental agetn etc. (p. 102-114, 119); delay in arrival of queen's bounties (p. 83).
The behaviour of the North Lincolnshire Militia was not in all ways exemplary. There were charges of stealing chickens (p. 73), charges of murder against a sergeant and drummer (p. 79); there was a fierce disagreement between two captains which led to a court-martial (p. 121-131); there happened in the case of one dragoon such disobedience to officers and disrespect to orders that he was sentenced to receive a thousand lashes and deportation to serve in Africa (p. 144). No great wonder therefore the the inhabitants of Scarborough wish the militia kept in barracks "on account of a good deal more company coming in to the town" (28 August 1780).
The Colonel's conception of duty was evidently a high one : several cases prove his care for the men under his charge (p. 64-6, 68, 93); he had sound ideas about drill and training as witness his decision not to put firelocks into the hands of recruits till "he got them upright [the men] and able to march well" (p. 93)
Many references to the events of the time "the late tumultuous assemblies", June 1780 (p. 75, 77-78); the change of ministry in 1782 (p. 118); the fear of Dutch privateers arriving off Sunderland, which caused the good Colonel to catch a cold by standing on a moor keeping watch (p. 127, 131-2, 139)
B. pp. 1-20
The most interesting points here are the references to the frequent robberies of the post (p. 10), the strict injunctions that officers were not to leave their posts to shoot game (p. 16), and the very informing account of his duty and outlook given by an engineer officer (p. 17-18) |
| AdminHistory | Colonel Gilbert Caldecot of the North Lincolnshire Militia was a close relative of Elizabeth Caldecot, second wife of the fourth Love Parry (the first Sir Love Parry) |