THE AMERICAN REGIMENT [WILMINGTON (Spencer Compton, c. 1673-1743, 1st Baron, 1723, and 1st Earl, 1730, succeeded Walpole as Prime Minister in 1742, Wilmington in Delaware and in North Carolina are named after him)]

Finely penned Memorial addressed to the Prime Minister “of Sundry Reduced Officers of the Forces raised in North America for the late Expedition to the West Indies”, referring to their “very great charges... in raising their Companies in North America” and “for the different Embarkations... during the course of the said Expedition”, followed by “Necessaries and Payment for their Passages to England from Jamaica where everything was excessive dear”, so that many “especially the Subalterns“ are “reduced to great Difficulties how to subsist or to procure Credit”, other memorials have already been presented “in relation to putting them on Half-pay”, and asking the Prime Minister “to move His Majesty... speedily to declare His Royal Will and pleasure”, 1 side 15” x 9¼”, title “Memorial of sundry officers of the American Regiment” on conjugate leaf, no place, no date but 1742 -

‘The American Regiment’ was raised in 1740 for service in the West Indies against Spain, known as “the war of Jenkins’ Ear”. Its Colonel was William Gooch, Governor of Virginia, and the senior company commander Laurence Washington, elder brother of the future President. They joined forces from Britain under Admiral Vernon in attacking Cartagena, and the regiment was hence known as ‘Gooch’s Marines’, the first Marines, it seems, in American history. The regiment, terribly reduced by yellow fever, was paid up to 24th October 1742 and disbanded. Laurence called his estate Mount Vernon after the Admiral.

Item Date:  1743

Stock No:  42233      £775

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