1756 - 1844
(Forward by Norman Gill)
This is the earliest story of Daniel Gill presently known. He was the first North American ancestor of the Gills of Coldwater and Orillia in Ontario, Canada and of some of those Gills who originated in Vermont and lower New York State, USA from circa 1790. Daniel Gill’s link with history begins with his enlistment in the Fifty-fourth Regiment of Foot, a line regiment of the British army, on June 20th, 1777, at Rhode Island, USA. The information that follows is taken from the muster rolls of the ‘Fifty-fourth Foot’ which are held at the Public Records Office at Kew, England, and listed under W.O.12 6398/6399. I have borrowed heavily from the historical data contained in the "Dorsetshire Regiment, Part II, the Fifty-fourth", (C.T. Atkinson, [1946], Pages 14 to 43); Encyclopaedia Britannica, and from other information available in most libraries across the land. Altogether, it makes interesting reading and I hope it will be enjoyed by anyone related either in blood or by marriage to the multitudinous Gills of North America. There is still much to be learned about Daniel Gill’s background and early life in Norfolk, England, and of his connections with the Gills of that county who live there to the present day. Also unknown are the details of his life in the states of Vermont and New York. However, the investigation continues and it is hoped that other interesting material will emerge before too many years have passed.
Norman M. Gill, (fifth generation) Vancouver, Canada. April 1985.
Daniel Gill
A Link With History
At his "entertainment", (enlistment), on June 20th, 1777, Daniel Gill must have declared his birth date as being October 1st, 1756. This date is consistent with what he said in his last know letter, written to his oldest son, Jacob Charles Gill, on September 19, 1837. At the time, Jacob was living at "Aurilla Falls, Upper Canada", now known as Orillia, Ontario. For these reasons this birth date is assumed to be correct although the date carved on his tombstone at Stony Creek, New York, USA is "October 5th, 1757."
On the same tombstone is inscribed, "born in England, City of Norwich." The date he arrived in the British colony of Rhode Island is still unknown. He may have immigrated with his parents as a child, but the likelihood is greater that he came as a late ‘teenager only a short time before the colonies revolted, or even after the action had begun. There is a Daniel Gill on the "Deputy-Freeman" lists of Exeter and West Greenwich, Rhode Island. He and his wife Hannah, had six children, all of them older than ‘our’ Daniel. The indication is that the elder Daniel could have the uncle, perhaps an older brother of Daniel’s father, but this is only a speculation. If the surmise is correct, perhaps Daniel came to Rhode Island to work with his uncle.
Also in the area of speculation are the reasons for Daniel’s enlistment in a line regiment of the British army, which was stationed so near to where he was living. The elder Daniel Gill had a son of the same name who was twenty-two years older than ‘our’ Daniel. When Daniel enlisted, this man would have been forty-two years old and most likely would have had a young family of his own. Was he the Daniel Gill who applied for pension by virtue of his service with the American Continental army? Was this pension granted as a result of wounds received during his service against the British "punitive" force? If so, the young British immigrant was quite possibly an unwelcome visitor to a distantly related family where attitudes and interests may have been quite different and even hostile to his own. Perhaps there were some of ‘our’ Daniel’s former friends or acquaintances among the British forces of occupation so lately arrived on that small island and who may have vitally influenced his decision. Was it simply poverty and desperation, dissatisfaction with his immediate situation, the enthusiastic persuasion of a loyal draft organization, or even his own patriotism that brought Daniel before the British recruiting office? Naturally, it will never be known.
Turning now to the movements of Daniel’s regiment up to the time when he joined them, the Fifty-fourth Regiment of Foot was a line battalion of British infantry, which formed one of six that were commanded by Lord Cornwallis in 1775. In England they were ordered to the southern colonies to re-enforce the widely scattered regular force troops, numbering approximately 8,000, which were already in North America. The objective was to suppress the rising colonial revolt, which was well advanced by that time. A recruiting company stationed in the city of Norwich, England had long augmented this regiment, and when the county title was allotted in 1782 it became known as the West Norfolk Regiment. At the time of embarkation for North America its total strength was near the projected number of "577 of all ranks."
The six-battalion force left Cork, Ireland, on February 10th 1776 in a Royal Naval convoy, under Commodore Sir Peter Parker, bound for the Carolinas. The planned rendezvous with the North American force under Sir Henry Clinton was to be Cape Fear, North Carolina, which they reached on May 3rd, 1776. At this point it was decided by the two commanders of the land and sea forces, Clinton and Parker, that they would conduct a combined operation to attack Charleston, South Carolina. On June 28th, troops landed on what is now know as the "Isle of Palms" ("Long Island") to attack a fort on Sullivan’s Island, which commanded the entrance to Charleston harbour. It was unsuccessful because the nature of the terrain was too difficult to properly exploit militarily. The force with drew and sailed for New York, arriving there on August 1, 1776.
The Fifty-fourth Regiment was allotted to Major-General Pigot’s 5th Brigade on Staten Island. This brigade formed part of the assault force ordered to attack Long Island on August 22nd, which drove out Washington’s troops by August 30th. On September 15th the force then moved to New York City and cleared it. On December 1st, at the insistence of the Royal Navy, Rhode Island was occupied by 6,000 troops, which included the 5 Brigade under Sir Henry Clinton. The Fifty-fourth Regiment then began its share of garrison duties, i.e. driving off American raids, conducting raids of their own, defensive operation, gathering of wood and supplies, and training of recruits. General Prescott was the garrison commander and Major (Bvt.Lt.Col.) Bruce was the new commander of the Fifty-fourth.
As noted, Daniel Gill was "entertained" as a private soldier on June 20th, 1777, and inducted into the Colonel’s company, presumably for training. Apparently he was transferred on December 25th, to the "Gen’ls" and joined Captain Bachop’s company. He served with this company until sometime between June and December 0f 1779 when he was transferred into Captain John Peter Addenbrook’s company.
During the summer of 1778, there was increased activity for the Rhode Island force. Daniel may have been with Major Eyre’s raid on the Fall River about June 1st. The occupation of Rhode Island in reality was a tactical error because it diverted troops needed to ensure a decisive victory over Washington’s forces north of New York. This weakening of support had already forced General John Burgoyne’s capitulation at Saratoga on October 17, 1777 and encouraged France to enter the war on the side of the rebels in February, 1778. In a short time, the punitive suppression of a British colonial disorder escalated into an almost global conflict in which, later on, the Spanish and the Dutch also became aligned against Britian. Rhode Island then became a strategic naval link in a theatre of war, which included the West Indies and Europe, and had repercussions as far away as India.
The French lost no time on July 11th, their Count d’Estaing sailed into New York waters. He was thwarted by General Howe’s disposition of the naval defense so he turned away and moved on to Rhode Island, arriving July 28th at Newport. he made an attempt in support of an attack by Sullivan’s American troops but General Pigot, replacing General Prescott who had been captured, had prepared his defenses well. Daniel Gill may have had a role in the preparations at Banister Hill. On August 10th, the appearance of a British naval squadron off Newport made the French decide to break off their part of the attack and they hastened out to sea. On august 22nd they left the area for good. On this event, the American forces ceased operations temporarily. Daniel Gill may have been in Colonel Bruce’s raid on August 26th at Easton’s Beach. He was almost certainly in the defensive operation against the last American counter-attack on august 30th and 31st, after which the Americans abandoned the assault on Rhode Island for the time.
Shortly after this activity, possibly in September of 1778, the flank companies of the Fifty-fourth were transferred to New York. Captain Bachop’s company must have been assigned as on of them because the muster roll for September 6th, 1779 indicates Daniel’s presence with that company at "New York Island" at that particular time. The remainder, the battalion companies, stayed at Rhode Island until June 15, 1779, but the entire regiment was included in the forces employed in raids on Connecticut by July 3rd. On July 5th, an attack was launched against Newhaven, which was captured and "public stores destroyed, several ships burnt and a 6-gun privateer carried off." Next, Fairfield was overrun, and on July 11th Norwalk was cleared of the enemy, a "gun was captured, and public stores and ship-building materials were destroyed." At this time, Daniel Gill must have had a part in the operations under Brig. General Garth and General Tryon which were designed as a lure intended to dislodge Washington from up the Hudson River and force him to battle. It was between June and December of that year when Daniel Gill was recorded as transferring to Captain John Peter Addenbrook’s company, indicating that he was once again with a battalion company and station at "Newtown, Long Island."
At the end of July 1779 a re-enforcement of 4,400 men arrived from England, many of whom were ill with what was "apparently typhus fever." Indeed, about 100 men had already died. By September 15th the epidemic was raging in force and in a month the Fifty-fourth had twice the number of sick than there were fit for duty, (302/151) and 27 men had died. The fever abated by December 1st and General Clinton was able to resume operations. On December 26th he sailed for South Carolina with a force of 9,000 men which included the flank companies of the Fifty-fourth. The battalion companies remained at New York, among them Captain Addenbrook’s company which included Pvt. Daniel Gill. The muster rolls from July 10th, 1780 to June 2nd, 1781 indicate that Daniel was with this company from (late) December of 1779 to December of 1780 at Paulus Hook, N.Y.
During this time, Washington at last made a move as far as Morristown in New Jersey and was halted in early June, 1780 by troops from New York under the German General Von Knyphausen who drove the American rear-guard to the village of Springfield on June 23rd. Also, a French convoy arrived at Newport, Rhode Island, on July 10th and their General Rochambeau disembarked 6,000 troops, which straightway occupied the island unopposed. These events brought all operations to a standstill for the next year except for sporadic raids on "tobacco plantations on the shores of Chesapeake Bay." It is not clear what the role of the Fifty-fourth actually was at the time. Between December of 1780 and June 1781 Daniel was still at Paulus Hook, but had been transferred into the Colonel’s company. He may have been on detached duty of some sort or even ill from the fever.
Between June and December of 1781, possibly in July or August, Daniel Gill is recorded as having been transferred to Captain Steven Bromfield’s company at Flusing, Long Island. In September Brig. General Benedict Arnold, having lately deserted the American forces, was ordered to attack New London which he did on September 6th, with 2,000 troops, among them the Fifty-fourth Regiment. Bvt.Lt.Col. Eyre was now in command and Arnold had directed him to attack Fort Griswold by assault. it proved to be a very difficult operation; the fort was more strongly defended than was expected. Lt. Col. Eyre was wounded, the next senior officer was killed, and Major Bromfield assumed command. The fort was "carried with the bayonet" at a loss of 15 killed and 78 wounded. Daniel Gill was certainly in this action, which was the last operation of American Revolution in which the Fifty-fourth had part.
There were virtually no further operations in North America after the surrender of Lord Cornwallis to the combined French and colonial forces on October 19th, 1781, but the Fifty-fourth Regiment remained at New York until November 25, 1783. Between December of 1761 and June 1782, Daniel Gill was transferred to Captain Claud Hamilton’s company where he remained until he was discharged on august 24th, 1783. In that time, he is recorded as being station at Bedford Heights between December of 1781 and June, 1782, McGown’s Pass (York Island) between June and December of 1782 and Staten Island from December 1782 until discharged. The release order may have been automatic for those having three or more year of service, but Daniel may have re-engaged immediately as authorized by an order date June 9th, 1783. Returns are quoted as showing that "180 men had joined during August and September." Apparently Daniel Gill was with the contingent bound for Nova Scotia on November 25, 1783, because he is next recorded as being at Fort Cumberland with Captain George Lane’s company from December 1783 to June 1785. After that time, returns were compiled by units only (regiments) and not by companies. He was still at Fort Cumberland when the Fifty-fourth Regiment moved to the city of St. John, New Brunswick, probably very early in 1786 and remained there until he deserted on August 28th, 1787.
No reasons are yet available as to why Daniel deserted the army after ten years of service. He may have found life in a small unit or detachment located far from towns or cities in circumstances where there were few duties or responsibilities an extremely boring and unrewarding experience. Functioning at reduced strength must have made the hard work of building and repairing quarters in some areas even harder. There was little likelihood of either an increase in pay or any hope of promotion. The indications are that morale was in decline and that desertions were fairly common, even though the punishment for it could be hanging or flogging if caught. No doubt the decision to desert was given careful thought and planning because to fail in the attempt would mean almost certain death.
So it was that Daniel Gill found himself at the crossroads of uncertainty. The regiment was not ordered back to England for another three years so it is unlikely that there was even a rumour of its happening at all in the late summer of 1787. At the age of thirty-one Daniel had to make a choice between a hopeless future of boredom or death, or an adventure into the dangerous unknown. His flight into Vermont, briefly mentioned in his letter of 1833 as fraught with "dangers, fatigues and distress", to seek refuge in a land against whose government he had fought and risked his life is some indication of how desperate his situation really was at the time.
Records indicate that the Fifty-fourth Regiment "evacuated New York" and "proceeded to Nova Scotia in 1783 and it is concluded that they sailed direct to Fort Cumberland. This for was (and still is) located on Cumberland Basin between two small rivers, the Tantramat and the Missequash. This fort had been the French Fort Beausejour which was built in 1751 as a part of the defense chain for New France in which Louisbourg protect the eastern flank. At the time it constituted a strong point, being a "pentagonal, palisade structure, with five bastions capable of carrying cannon and a ditch around the walls." It was attacked and surrendered to the British commander, Monckton, on June 16th, 1755. Early in 1756 it was re-name "Fort Cumberland." In more recent times the fort has been given its original name, "Fort Beausejour" and has been partially restored as a National Park. It is on the New Brunswick side of the border between the two provinces and is not far from Sackville, N.B or Amherst, N.S.
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Muster Rolls
54th Regiment of Foot
The following are extractions taken from muster rolls of the 54th Regiment of Foot by the progessional record agent, Archie McMillan. The muster rolls are held at the Public Records Office at Kew, UK, and are listed as WO 12 6398/6399, those for Daniel Gill being WO 97 671. The agent was unable to find personal papers for Daniel Gill and he said that "these are loose documents and many for that period have not survived." On July 6th, 1984, I have asked him to continue the search for more detail from a regimental history. I do not expect a reply until the first or second week of august, 1984.
The detail are copied exactly as presented by the agent:
DANIEL GILL Wo 6396/6397. Muster Rolls, 54th Foot
Dec 1776 - June 1777;
Private Daniel Gill; Colonel's Company
Entertained, 20 June 1777
Roll: Rhode Island, 20 Oct 1778
June - Dec 1777
Private Daniel Gill; Captain John Bachup’s Company
transferred to Genls., 25 Dec 1777
Roll: Rhode Island, 20 Oct 1778
Dec 1777 - June 1778
Private Daniel Gill;
Captain John Bachup’s Company
Roll: Rhode Island, 20 Oct 1778
June - Dec 1778
Private Daniel Gill;
Captain John Bachup’s Company
Roll: N. York Island, 6 Sep 1779
Dec 1778 - June 1779
Private Daniel Gill; Captain John Bachup’s Company
Roll: N. York Island, 6 Sep 1779
June - Dec 1779
Private Daniel Gill; Captain John Peter Addenbrook’s Company
Roll: New Town Long Island, 25 apl 1780
Dec 1779 - June 1780
Private Daniel Gill; Captain John Peter Addenbrook’s Company
Roll: Paulus Hook, 10 July 1781
June - Dec 1780
Private Daniel Gill; Captain John Peter Addenbrook’s Company
Roll: Paulus Hook, 2 Jan 1781
Dec 1780 - June 1781
Private Daniel Gill; Colonel’s Company
Roll: Paulus Hook, 7 July 1781
June - Dec 1781
Private Daniel Gill; Captain Stephen Broomfield’s Company
Roll: Flushing Long Island, 11 Jan 1782
Dec 1781 - June 1782
Private Daniel Gill; Captain Claud Hamilton’s Company
Roll: Beford Height, 19 July 1782 (Camp near)
June - Dec 1782
Private Daniel Gill; Captain Claud Hamilton’s Company
Roll: McGowen Pass, 31 Dec 1782 (York Island)
Dec 1782 - June 1783
Private Daniel Gill; Captain Claud Hamilton’s Company
Roll: Staten Island, 7 July 1783
June - Aug 1783
Private Daniel Gill; Captain Claud Hamilton’s company
Discharged 24 Aug 1783
Roll: Staten Island, 9 Oct 1783
Aug - Dec 1783
Some company rolls missing. Daniel Gill not included in remainder. He must have re-enlisted in this period.
Dec 1783 - June 1784
Private Daniel Gill; Captain George Lane’s Company
Roll: Fort Cumberland, 9 July 1785
June - Dec 1784
Private Daniel Gill; Captain George Lane’s Company
Roll: Fort Cumberland, 9 July 1785
Dec 1784 - June 1785
Private Daniel Gill; Captain George Lane’s Company
Roll: Fort Cumberland, 9 July 1785
June - Dec 1785
Private Daniel Gill, at Fort Cumberland
Roll: city of St. John, 5 Sep 1786
Dec 1785 -June 1786
Private Daniel Gill, at Fort Cumberland
Roll: City of St. John, 5 Sep 1786
June - Dec 1786
Private Daniel Gill,
Roll: Saint John, New Brunswick, 8 Sep 1787
Dec 1786 - June 1787
Private Daniel Gill
Roll: Saint John, 29 Sep 1788
NOTES:
Place of signing roll is only indication of where Company's were stationed.
After June 1785 rolls were prepared on regimental basis so it is not possible to determine which company served in.
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