Henry McGilchrist b. 1754 Passley Pen, Portland, Jamaica, West Indies

1754 -

Name	Henry McGilchrist
Birth	1754	Passley Pen, Portland, Jamaica, West Indies [1]
Gender	Male
Adult Baptism	4 Sep 1773	Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland [2]
	M Corse and B Edwards were witnesses to this Adult Baptism. They do not appear to be associated with the church so their significance is unknown.
Occupation	Between 1774 and 1810
	Soldier Musician
Miltary Service	Between 1774 and 1810 [3]
	Trumpeter (Kettle Drummer), 3rd (King's Own) Dragoons
Residence	1811	Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland
Notes	At Present there is no direct evidence that Henry is in fact Sarah's father but the evidence of some relationship is clear, the age differance ruling out siblings. At the baptism of Sarah's child by Levi Baldwin,( AKA Balden), Henry was one of the witnesses along with John McDonald another Soldier of black origins. ******************************************************************** * In the Glasgow original parish registers there is an entry on 4 September 1773, " Henry McGilchrist a Negro man baptised witnessed by M Corse and Bob Edwards. ****************************************************************** * Military referances to Henry McGilchrist found so far are in the 3rd Dragoons Description Book, the muster rolls and his discharge papers. The description book of 1772 - 1781 lists Henry as being in the troop of Major Fitzroy. He was recruited as a Trumpeter by Major Whyte of the 3rd Dragoons on the 25 may 1774 at Greenwich. The description book shows that the regiment was at Black Heath, Greenwich, on the 25th May 1774. Unfortunately the description books from 1781 - 1810 have not survived. The Muster rolls for the period to 1781 do not list individual privates but later ones list Henry as a Trumpeter - Kettle Drummer. The 3rd Dragoons have only one Kettle Drummer but each troop had it's own Trumpeter. The troop Henry was assigned too listed two trumpeters and besides Henry's name was entered (Kettle Drummer), it is likely that although officially a Trumpeter for muster purposes, he was and always had been, a Kettle Drummer. He was paid a premium for his service for example the 1806 - 1809 muster (PRO ref: WO 12/374) shows : Henry McGilchrist Trumpeter (Kettledrummer) paid ?8 5s for 90 days ( An ordinary private received ?5 12/6 and a Serjeant ?9 15s) This amounts to ?25 per annum at a time when an agricultural labourer would receive ?5 plus bed and board. There is a discrepancy with his discharge papers which quote his enlistment as 25 May 1773. The 1774 date is more likely as this entry was made at the time of his enlistment. ****************************************************************** ** Abstract of Description book Entry ------------------------------------------------------- Trumpeter Henry McGilchrist 5'6 " age 19 born Passley Pen, Jamaica (the writing is difficult to read and has only recently been identified as Passley). A Passley Garden Pen is listed in the 1878 Portland Directory Jamaica when it was in the hands of the Thomson family. See Here for extract Enlisted by Major Whyte 25 May 1774 at Greenwich a Labourer Black Eyes/ Black Hair - Black Complexion. *************************************************************** Abstract of Discharge papers for Henry McGilchrist 18/11/1810 at Guildford ---------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------- At discharge he was serving in the 3rd or (King's Own) regiment of Dragoons under Lieutenant General William Cartwright in the troop of Captain Randal Gossip. Said to be 56 years old born in the Parish of Jamaica and enlisted at 18 years old on 25 May 1773. He served for 37 Years 177 days as a musician - Kettle Drummer and was discharged for " being rhumatic and worn out from length of service " . His general description at discharge was : 56 years age, 5'11 " in height, Black Hair, Black Eyes, and Black complexion by trade a labourer. What is interesting is that none of this service was in either the East or West Indies. ******************************************************************** After his discharge he returned to Glasgow, Scotland, where in 1811 he was a witness to the Baptism of Levi Baldwin son of Levi Baldwin and Sarah McGilchrist. Levi Baldwin was also a Soldier of Black Origins as was the other witness John McDonald who had served in the Glasgow Light Infantry. _________________________________________________________________
Person ID	I4786	bolstridge
Last Modified	19 Mar 2023

Family 1	Unknown UNKNOWN, b. Abt 1760
Family ID	F2262	Group Sheet \| Family Chart
Last Modified	19 Mar 2023

Family 2 Frances Akin, b. Abt 1760 d. UNKNOWN

Marriage 12 Dec 1791 Saint Mary's, Carlisle, Cumberland, England [4]

Witness James Allan

Witness Michael Smith

Minister J Brown

Notes

The following entry was found in the marriage register of Saint Mary, Carlisle; CUL
12 Dec 1791
Henry X McGilcrist widower married Frances X Akin widow by banns both of this parish
Witnessed by James Allan and Michael Smith ( Smith was a witness to most marriages)
J Brown minister.
Although the marriage was said to be by banns and both of the parish no banns entry was found in the banns book although marriages preceeding and following had the required banns entry.
It is proposed to examine the regimental diary currently at the Regimental Museum to ascertain if the 3rd Dragoons were in the area at that time.
The baptism of Sussanah McGilchrist at Birmingham in 1795 who subsequently died In Devizes seems to confirm that this Marriage is in fact that of our Henry McGilchrist
********************************************************************** **************************************************

Children

+	1. Sarah McGilchrist, b. Between 1794 and 1795, Devizes, Wiltstshire, England d. Aug 1863, Ryecroft, Walsall, Staffordshire, England (Age 69 years) [natural]
	2. Susannah McGilchrist, b. 1795, Birmingham, Warwickshire, England d. Mar 1800, Devizes, Wiltstshire, England (Age 5 years) [natural]
	3. Harry McGilchrist, b. 1798 d. Feb 1800, Devizes, Wiltstshire, England (Age 2 years) [natural]

Family ID F124 Group Sheet | Family Chart

Last Modified 19 Mar 2023

Event Map

	Birth - 1754 - Passley Pen, Portland, Jamaica, West Indies
	Adult Baptism - 4 Sep 1773 - Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland
	Marriage - 12 Dec 1791 - Saint Mary's, Carlisle, Cumberland, England
	Child - Sarah McGilchrist - Between 1794 and 1795 - Devizes, Wiltstshire, England
	Child - Susannah McGilchrist - 1795 - Birmingham, Warwickshire, England
	Residence - 1811 - Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland

= Link to Google Earth

Pin Legend : Address : Location : City/Town : County/Shire : State/Province : Country : Not Set

Histories
Black Musicians of the British Army
Background Information

Henry McGilchrist b. 1754 Jamaica
The Negro Kettledrummer of the 3rd King's Own Dragoons 1773 - 1811

Sources

[S62] War Office WO series, Army : Regimental Description Records 3rd Dragoons 1773 - 1781, (Name: PRO;), 121 - 110, WO 25/275.
See Notes for Abstract
Near Port Antionio
PDF copy
http://www.bolstridge.co.uk/genealogy/index.php?name=Downloads&req=vie wdownload&cid=3 " >
here
[S656] Original Register, OPR Scotland Glasgow Lanarkshire, 4 September 1773 Glasgow Parish Church, 644/1/15/18.
Henry McGilchrist a Negro Man Baptised Witnesses M Corse & Bob Edwards
[S63] War Office WO series, Army : Soldiers Discharge Papers, 1760 - 1913, (Name: PRO;), WO 121/110, W0 97 series.
Discharge papers for Henry McGilchrist 18/11/1810 at Guildford
3rd or (King's Own) regiment of Dragoons under Lieutenant General William Cartwright in the troop of Captain Randal Gossip.Said to be 56 years old born in the Parish of Jamaica and enlisted at 18 years old on 25 May 1773. He served for 37 Years 177 days as a musician - Kettle Drummer and was discharged for " being rhumatic and worn out from length of service " .
His general description at discharge was : 56 years age, 5'11 " in height, Black Hair, Black Eyes, and Black complexion by trade a labourer.
[S397] Parish Registers CUL, Carlisle St Mary's Marriages 1754 - 1806 with banns, (Name: LDS Film of Original Transcripts;), See Marriage Notes, FHL 252813.
Henry X McGilchrist Widower = Frances X Akin Widow