List of Deserters and Settlers in North America
By Tod L. Molesworth
As a researcher of the British 41st Regiment of Foot of which my 4th Great Grandfather was a member for 18 years (15 in Canada 1799-1815), I have found many members that deserted and more than likely settled in the US. Many of the men were captured in the War of 1812 and the Americans actively offered bounties to these men to desert. Also, at the end of this page is a list I found of men who applied to settle in Canada after the War of 1812 who served with the 41st Regiment of Foot. There are others who settled in Canada after the War of 1812, William Molesworth, who was discharged in Ireland in 1817 and came back to join his family and settled in Perth, Lanark County, Ontario & James Worthington, who was discharged in 1823 in Madras, India and made his way back to Chippawa, Ontario.
These men were professional soldiers and signed up for a minimum of 5 years, well trained and drilled, not like the former laborers, shopkeepers, etc. that made up the American Army in the beginning of the War. One man that I found that died while in service of the 41st Regiment was 64 years old! Some had even fought for the British Army in the American Revolution 30 years before.
Did they then enlist in the American Army after desertion? Did they get land grants as incentives? I don't know. That is for other geneologist to find out. This list is simply a ways and means to find the ancestor that you have been unable to find his arrival in the United States or Canada. Couldn't find his name on a passenger list? No wonder, it wouldn't be something bragged about to the grandkids.
On the date of desertion, if it is late 1814, this more than likely was when they were released from Prison Camp. A soldier had quite a bit of time in prison and then the long walk to Canada to decide if they wanted the life of a soldier for the rest of their life or a new lease on life. An officer of the 41st, (John Richardson) told the tale of when he was touring the midwest later in life, meeting a former British soldier that simply walked away and now owned a small store in Ohio. Almost all of these men were held either in Greenbush, New York or in Chillicothe, Ohio.
If there is no date of capture then the man simply walked away from where ever he was posted. 85% of these men also had only been in the British Army for 2-3 years with 27 that had been in over 10 years.
This site also stands as notice that I'm looking for any information on soldiers who served in the 41st Regiment of Foot while in the Canadas. Be careful in the spelling as some names on the muster lists are spelled differently from time to time, i.e. Stewart, Stuart or Skelton, Sheldon, Shelton.
These men were professional soldiers and signed up for a minimum of 5 years, well trained and drilled, not like the former laborers, shopkeepers, etc. that made up the American Army in the beginning of the War. One man that I found that died while in service of the 41st Regiment was 64 years old! Some had even fought for the British Army in the American Revolution 30 years before.
Did they then enlist in the American Army after desertion? Did they get land grants as incentives? I don't know. That is for other geneologist to find out. This list is simply a ways and means to find the ancestor that you have been unable to find his arrival in the United States or Canada. Couldn't find his name on a passenger list? No wonder, it wouldn't be something bragged about to the grandkids.
On the date of desertion, if it is late 1814, this more than likely was when they were released from Prison Camp. A soldier had quite a bit of time in prison and then the long walk to Canada to decide if they wanted the life of a soldier for the rest of their life or a new lease on life. An officer of the 41st, (John Richardson) told the tale of when he was touring the midwest later in life, meeting a former British soldier that simply walked away and now owned a small store in Ohio. Almost all of these men were held either in Greenbush, New York or in Chillicothe, Ohio.
If there is no date of capture then the man simply walked away from where ever he was posted. 85% of these men also had only been in the British Army for 2-3 years with 27 that had been in over 10 years.
This site also stands as notice that I'm looking for any information on soldiers who served in the 41st Regiment of Foot while in the Canadas. Be careful in the spelling as some names on the muster lists are spelled differently from time to time, i.e. Stewart, Stuart or Skelton, Sheldon, Shelton.