Description:

Seven Years' War
[London, England], May 18, 1764
"Lord Forbes" 3rd Person ALS Re: Cleiland Family of Scotland, 2 Generations of Military Service During Seven Years' War & Revolutionary War, Ex-Forbes
3rd Person ALS
A 2pp autograph letter twice signed in the third person as "Lord Forbes," possibly by William Forbes (1739-1806), 6th Baronet of Monymusk and Pitsligo. May 18, 1764. St. James Street, [London, England.] Written on watermarked laid paper. Expected wear including flattened paper folds. Isolated paper reinforcement of edges and mounting traces verso. A small typed biographical description of Alexander Forbes, 4th Lord Forbes of Pitsligo (1678-1762) is affixed to the lower right corner of the first page; a former collector erroneously attributed this autograph letter signed to him even though he had died two years earlier. Else near fine. 7.125" x 8.625." Ex-private collector from the United Kingdom. Ex-Collection of Steve Forbes.

Lord Forbes wrote this letter to a certain Colonel Boyd regarding the financial predicament of the family of Lieutenant Colonel of the 63rd Regiment of Foot Robert Cleiland (also spelled Cleland or Clelland), who had died while serving in Guadeloupe in 1760. Lord Forbes hoped that a placement could be found for Robert Cleiland's eldest son, who was then estimated to be about 12 years old.

Lord Forbes's letter about the Cleilands tells a very interesting story about one Scottish family's eighteenth-century military service in various branches including the Army, Navy, and Artillery. The deceased officer, Lieutenant Colonel Robert Cleiland, came from a storied clan from Carnbee (or Carnbell) in County Fife in southeastern Scotland. At least two generations of the Cleiland Family participated in military conflicts in the Caribbean and North America during the Seven Years' War and Revolutionary War period.

Lieutenant Colonel Robert Cleiland, the subject of this letter, served in the British Army for 25 years before dying following the 1759 Invasion of Guadeloupe during the Seven Years' War. His eldest son, also named Robert Cleiland, and referred to in the letter as the "boy," eventually served as Third Lieutenant on the "H.M.S. Fame" under Admiral George Rodney and saw action at the mid-April 1782 Battle of Saintes. Lieutenant Colonel Robert Cleiland's youngest son Molesworth Cleiland - not mentioned in Lord Forbes's letter but described in various family genealogies - served as a Lieutenant of the Royal Artillery and was killed somewhere in the North American theatre in 1777.

The transcript is as follows, with unchanged usage and spelling. Paragraph breaks have been silently added for clarity.

"Lord Forbes's Complts. to Col Boyd, sends him the particulars of Col Cleiland's Services, + the boys age he shewed him is near twelve; hopes the Services of the Father, and the distressed situation he left his family in, will plead the deficiency of what age is required for his admission, + hopes from the known benevolence of Lord Granby's generosity to the distressed, makes Lord Forbes presume to beg Col Boyd will represent his Widow reduced to no other support but that of taking a house to let lodging except her pension for herself, two Daughters + this son, to bring them up & educate them, except the friendship of those who knew the father, & are acquainted with her merit & industry, in doing all in her power her small & precarious income will permit her for the maintenance of herself & three helpless children [Genealogical accounts do not mention any daughters, just the two sons.]

He was an Officer 25 years; he was Adjutant to the Queen's 17 years; which he purchased, & when drafted from that regimt. was not allowed to sell or receive any gratuity for that employment; Inclosed I send you the dates of his several Commissions by a Gentleman who is Uncle to the Boy, & will answer any further information you may require.

St. Jas. Street. 18 May, 1764.

The Services of the late Lieut. Colonel Robert Cleiland of the 63d Regiment of Foot

He was appointed Ensign in the 2d Regiment at Gibraltar in 1735. Adjutant in 1739. Lieutenant in 1744. Capt Lieut. in 1755; and Captain in 1756.

On the raising of the second battalions in England, he was drafted into the 8th regt. and on the 2d battalions being regimented, he became the eldest Captain of 6sd regiment.

He went with General Hobson's [sic] Expedition [Major-General Peregrine Hopson (1696-1759)] to the west indies, was first Aid de Camp to him, & afterwards the same to General Barrington [Major-General John Barrington (ca. 1712-1764)]; was made Major in June 1759 & Lieut. Colonel in febry. 1760. He dyed at Guadaloupe 13th November 1760, after a Service of 25 Years, & never was absent from either of the above Corps in all that time, but 9 Months for his health at Bath when he was Major -

NB. He was Adjutant (wch he purchased) 17 years; but by his being drafted, was not allowed to sell it - ."

The 63rd Regiment of Foot was raised in 1756 in response to the Seven Years' War. The regiment's first postings were at Guadeloupe and Martinique. Regimental histories confirm the particulars of Lieutenant Colonel Robert Cleiland's military service record, including his death at Guadeloupe. Cleiland was not wounded or killed in action, but is simply listed in rosters as having "died." He had been allowed to return to England in June 1759 for health reasons, so perhaps he died of a related illness in November 1760.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Provenance: Sophie Dupre (Wiltshire, England).
    Ex-Collection of Steve Forbes.
  • Dimensions: 7.125" x 8.625"
  • Medium: 3rd Person ALS

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