HUDDLESTONE in the War of Jenkins' Ear, 1741
The following is from the book, "Colonial Soldiers of the South, 1732-1774," by Murtie June Clark (Baltimore, 1983, Genealogical Publishing Co.)
Page xv "Gooch's American Regiment was raised to fight in the War of Jenkins' Ear.Robet Jenkins, master of the "Rebecca," had his ship seized by pirates in the Caribbean in 1731.Jenkins accused his captors of cutting off one of his ears.Seven years later the story of Jenkins' ear tipped the scales and Great Britain declared war on Spain.
"Col Alexander Spotswood, a former lieutenant-governor of Virginia, ... was made a colonel of the American Regiment with a commission as major-general in the British army.Unfortunately, he died on June 7, 1740.He was succeeded in command by William Gooch, the lieutenant-governor of Virginia.This regiment became known as Gooch's American Regiment and it existed between December 29, 1739 and December 25, 1742
"The American Regiment was composed of thirty companies, with the colonies of Virginia, Massachussetts, and North Carolina furnishing four companies each. ... Each company had a captain, two lieutenants, one ensign, four sergeants, four corporals, two drummers, and 100 private soldiers.
"The New York troops disembarked for the Caribbean on October 3, 1740... On October 12 the armada sailed for the Virginia Capes to rendezvous with the troops from Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia.But this segment of the fleet had already sailed and made port at Port Royal in Jamaica, ahead of the main convoy.The North Carolina troops were delayed and did not arrive until March 1741.
"Akey for the abbreviations in the remarks column of these lists was not located.It appears that "D" means discharged, "DD" is for deceased and "Ds" is undeterminedThese are subsistence records of the Americans in this expedition while they were on board the British transports taking them to the zone of war.The British mis-managed this expedition and more colonials died of disease than combat.Although he was wounded, Gooch survived the expedition and returned to Virginia in 1742.Lawrence Washington, George Washington's brother, was an officer of a Virginia company in this campaign, and he also survived to return home"
Page 242
"His Majesty's ship Worcester Muster Book:
"A List of Americans belonging to the Honorable Colonel Gooch's Regiment borne for victuals is only by order of Edward Vernon, Vice Admiral of the Blue and Commander-in-Chief.
"[Irish Bay}
Nr. RankNameRemarks
1EnsignEels, Sam:lD, 26 Apr 1741, Hospital ship
2SerjeantChandler, Nath:l
3CorporalWadsworth, Abby:h D. 19 Mar 1740, Torbay
4"Read, Will:m
5PrivatePowers, Isaac
6"Readon, Mos:D. 19 Mar 1740, Torbay
7"McColley, Alex:r
8"Daws, Gideon
9"HUDDLESTON, Ja:sD. 26 Apr 1741, hospital ship
etc.