independent companies

[summsi]

Hi,

were there only english independent companies in the caribbean or also irish or scots? Time is late 17th / early 18th century.

regards

[summsi]

hm...ok...
how about other locations? Like India or west african forts.

[FifteensAway]

There were independent companies in North America by the time of the FIW and I'm guessing sometime sooner than that.  Best information I can provide you.

[michaelsbagley]

Hi,

were there only english independent companies in the caribbean or also irish or scots? Time is late 17th / early 18th century.

regards

Based on my (pretty extensive research), it was mostly Independent Companies in the Caribbean during the 1690-1720. I've focused my research on those years. Militia companies were actually likely more common. Other companies did exist, but I can't think of any distinctly Irish or Scottish companies during that time in the Caribbean.

If you are interested in some serious source material on the matter, Volume 2 of the below linked book is likely the best source one can get. When I ordered the book, it was easiest to order directly from the publisher, however they may have gotten wider distribution since I bought it, so look around to see if there is an easier more local source for you. Volume 1 cover India, Africa etc.

http://www.drenthpublishing.nl/colonialsoldiers/colonialsoldiers.html

[michaelsbagley]

I took a quick look, and found reference to two Irish regiments.

Formed June 1701, sent to West Indies Sept 1702 - Earl of Donegal's Regiment of Foot participated in expeditions against Guadalupe in spring 1703.

Formed June 1701, sent to West Indies Sept 1702 - Viscount Charlemont's Regiment of Foot participated in expeditions against Guadalupe in spring 1703.


There might be more, but that was an easy find on a quick flip through the book. If you want more info, buy the books, they are awesome resources.

[summsi]

Thank you for your help, michaelsbagley.

[AdamPHayes]

Before 1707 there might have been Scots companies involved in the Darien expedition?

[Emir of Askaristan]

The Darien expedition was a failed Scottish settlement. There may have been some professional soldiers involved but probably not professional units.

Scotland was prevented from trading with English colonies until 1707 and had no colonies of its own so it unlikely any independent companies of Scots soldiers existed outside Scotland. The separate Scottish army was only a handful of units and far as I'm aware the only foreign service the Scots regiments saw was in Holland, so it's very unlikely any Scottish units served in the Caribbean until after your period.

The only Scottish Independent companies I can find reference to would be those which were raised in Scotland to keep an eye on the other clans between the early 1600's and the '45. These eventually became the Black Watch.

[fastolfrus]

After Darien forced the Scots into the union there wasn't an independent Scotland :~}

The two Irish regiments (Donegal's & Charlemont's) were part of the British army by 1702 and went to the West Indies as such rather than as independent bodies

[summsi]

how was an independet company raised? Chosen from one regiment, or were they raised from different "veterans"?

[Vinlander]

The independent company that Garrisoned St. John's (Newfoundland) were raised from mainly local volunteers and men transferred in from other garrisons.

Here's a pictorial reference I came across the other day:

http://www.cmhg.gc.ca/cmh/image-167-eng.asp?page_id=215

[Emir of Askaristan]

I think that an "independent company" was a special force raised for local service or a body of men raised for a specific mission. For instance men raised to act as a "police force", locals raised to defend a settlement or a group of men raised to raid native villages on the frontier. As such it normally wasn't part of the military establishment although some were later incorporated into it.