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Deserters

The Hon. Mrs. Marker

Devon Notes & Queries, vol. I, (January 1900 to January 1901), p. 133.

Prepared by Michael Steer

The British Army in the 18th century was commonly seen as disciplined, regimented and harsh. Camp life was dirty and cramped with the potential for a rapid spread of disease, and punishments could be anything from a flogging to a death sentence. Yet, many men volunteered to join the army, to escape the bleak conditions of life in the cities, for a chance to travel the world and earn a regular wage. One of the more common offences that required excessive punishment was desertion. A man could be branded with a "D" if captured, and if he re-offended could face execution. Death sentences were uncommon, with hanging normally reserved for murderers, and death by shot employed for those who were repeat offenders. The three absconders named in the entry possibly deserted from Evan’s Dragoon Regiment. The extract, from a copy of a rare and much sought-after journal can be downloaded from the Internet Archive. Google has sponsored the digitisation of books from several libraries. These books, on which copyright has expired, are available for free educational and research use, both as individual books and as full collections to aid researchers.

Note 99. DESERTERS. The Hon. Mrs. Marker sends us a copy of an entry written on the fly-leaf of the register of the parish of Gittisham. There are other entries of merely local importance.
"An Hue & Cry granted by Mr John Newcomb, Mayor of Exon, dated ffebruary 25, A.D. 1703, to search for & apprehend Cornelius Carnell, a Scotch Irishman, squatt & thick, about 5 feet & 7 inches high, wearing his owne haire very black, and a red coate lined with green and a black coate under it, his speech very much ye Irish tone.
John Richards a tall young fellow about 5 feet & 10 inches high wearing his owne haire, being browne & a red coate lined with green.
Austin Rice, a German borne, about 5 feet & 9 inches high wearing a red coate lined with green & under it colourd cloaths & speaks broken English, which 3 lately deserted ye company & service of Colonell Evans. Whoever apprehends y m & brings y m to M r Tho. Robinson at ye New Inn in Exon shall have 2 guinias for each."