Adams' Rangers
Encyclopedia
Adams' Rangers was a Loyalist
independent company raised for the British Army during the American Revolutionary war
. Led by Dr. Samuel Adams of Arlington the unit's most significant contribution in the conflict was serving as part of the ill-fated Burgoyne Expedition
of 1777.
area (now Vermont
), with the largest number coming from Arlington. Adams later stated that he had raised 70 men for the company. Either late in the Burgoyne campaign or early 1778, Adams' Company absorbed a body of men that served in the Bateau
x service under Jeptha Hawley of Arlington.
Very little has been recorded concerning the activities of the unit during the campaign, but Loyalist claims made by men of the company describe piloting the army, running dispatches between commanders, raiding cattle from rebel farms and defending loyalist farms from Patriot
foraging parties.
, Adams' Rangers and other Loyalist units were allowed to retreat to the Province of Quebec
. For the next three years Adams' men, like most other Loyalist troops in Canada, were occupied serving garrison duty and being employed in work parties improving the defences of the Province. Several of the men of the unit and their families lived at the Machiche
refugee camp near Trois-Rivières
, Quebec. In early 1778, the company numbered 37 all-ranks — by mid-1780 their number had reduced to 27.
Frustrated by lack of prospects and dispersement of his men around the Province, Captain Adams demanded to be allowed to join his Company to Roger's Rangers
(2nd Battalion King's Rangers
) or go to New York to serve in the Central department. When his demands were refused, Adams disbanded his men in late October 1780.
, a collection of under-strength Loyalist units. In November 1781 these units were consolidated into a new Provincial Regiment, the Loyal Rangers, commanded by Major Edward Jessup
.
, but most were granted land in South-Eastern Ontario along the St Lawrence River. The largest concentration of former Adam's Company men settled in Ernestown
and Edwardsburg
Townships.
Dr. Samuel Adams
of Arlington, Vermont
Jeptha Hawley of Arlington, Vermont
Lieutenant
Simpson Jenne of Clarendon, Vermont
Ensign
Gideon Adams
of Arlington, Vermont
United Empire Loyalists’ Association of Canada Directory of Loyalists:
The Old United Empire Loyalist List:
Loyalist (American Revolution)
Loyalists were American colonists who remained loyal to the Kingdom of Great Britain during the American Revolutionary War. At the time they were often called Tories, Royalists, or King's Men. They were opposed by the Patriots, those who supported the revolution...
independent company raised for the British Army during the American Revolutionary war
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
. Led by Dr. Samuel Adams of Arlington the unit's most significant contribution in the conflict was serving as part of the ill-fated Burgoyne Expedition
Saratoga campaign
The Saratoga Campaign was an attempt by Great Britain to gain military control of the strategically important Hudson River valley in 1777 during the American Revolutionary War...
of 1777.
Recruitment
The men of the unit were recruited primarily from the New Hampshire GrantsNew Hampshire Grants
The New Hampshire Grants or Benning Wentworth Grants were land grants made between 1749 and 1764 by the provincial governor of New Hampshire, Benning Wentworth. The land grants, totaling about 135 , were made on land claimed by New Hampshire west of the Connecticut River, territory that was also...
area (now Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
), with the largest number coming from Arlington. Adams later stated that he had raised 70 men for the company. Either late in the Burgoyne campaign or early 1778, Adams' Company absorbed a body of men that served in the Bateau
Bateau
A bateau or batteau is a shallow-draft, flat-bottomed boat which was used extensively across North America, especially in the colonial period and in the fur trade. It was traditionally pointed at both ends but came in a wide variety of sizes...
x service under Jeptha Hawley of Arlington.
Burgoyne Expedition
Adams' Rangers was part of the scouting service during the campaign.Very little has been recorded concerning the activities of the unit during the campaign, but Loyalist claims made by men of the company describe piloting the army, running dispatches between commanders, raiding cattle from rebel farms and defending loyalist farms from Patriot
Patriot (American Revolution)
Patriots is a name often used to describe the colonists of the British Thirteen United Colonies who rebelled against British control during the American Revolution. It was their leading figures who, in July 1776, declared the United States of America an independent nation...
foraging parties.
After Burgoyne Expedition
After the British Army's defeat and surrender at SaratogaBattle of Saratoga
The Battles of Saratoga conclusively decided the fate of British General John Burgoyne's army in the American War of Independence and are generally regarded as a turning point in the war. The battles were fought eighteen days apart on the same ground, south of Saratoga, New York...
, Adams' Rangers and other Loyalist units were allowed to retreat to the Province of Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
. For the next three years Adams' men, like most other Loyalist troops in Canada, were occupied serving garrison duty and being employed in work parties improving the defences of the Province. Several of the men of the unit and their families lived at the Machiche
Yamachiche, Quebec
Yamachiche is a municipality in the Mauricie region of the province of Quebec in Canada.-Etymology:The name Yamachiche was first used to identify the Little Yamachiche River which runs through the town. It came from the Native American words iyamitaw and achichki...
refugee camp near Trois-Rivières
Trois-Rivières
Trois-Rivières means three rivers in French and may refer to:in Canada*Trois-Rivières, the largest city in the Mauricie region of Quebec, Canada*Circuit Trois-Rivières, a racetrack in Trois-Rivières, Quebec...
, Quebec. In early 1778, the company numbered 37 all-ranks — by mid-1780 their number had reduced to 27.
Frustrated by lack of prospects and dispersement of his men around the Province, Captain Adams demanded to be allowed to join his Company to Roger's Rangers
King's Rangers
The King's Rangers was a British provincial military unit raised for service during the American Revolutionary War.After Colonel Robert Rogers left the Queen's Rangers he went to Nova Scotia where he raised this unit in 1777. Rogers was famous for his service during the French and Indian War...
(2nd Battalion King's Rangers
King's Rangers
The King's Rangers was a British provincial military unit raised for service during the American Revolutionary War.After Colonel Robert Rogers left the Queen's Rangers he went to Nova Scotia where he raised this unit in 1777. Rogers was famous for his service during the French and Indian War...
) or go to New York to serve in the Central department. When his demands were refused, Adams disbanded his men in late October 1780.
After disbandment
Following the dissolution of the company, a few men from the company joined Roger's Rangers, but a majority were absorbed into McAlpin's CorpsMcAlpin's Corps
McAlpin’s Corps can refer to either of two loyalist units in the British Army in Canada commanded by Major Daniel McAlpin during the American Revolution. Inmost instances the name describes the American Volunteers, a corps of...
, a collection of under-strength Loyalist units. In November 1781 these units were consolidated into a new Provincial Regiment, the Loyal Rangers, commanded by Major Edward Jessup
Edward Jessup
Edward Jessup was a soldier, judge and political figure in Upper Canada.He was born in Stamford, Connecticut in 1735 and moved with his family to Dutchess County, New York in 1744. In 1759, he served with Jeffery Amherst in the Lake Champlain region...
.
Settlement
Following the war, a few of Adam's men returned to the United States, some settled in Quebec around SorelSorel-Tracy, Quebec
Sorel-Tracy is a city in southwestern Quebec, Canada and the geographical end point of the Lake Champlain Valley at the confluence of the Richelieu River and the St. Lawrence River, on the western edge of Lac Saint-Pierre downstream and east of nearby Montreal. The population as of the Canada 2006...
, but most were granted land in South-Eastern Ontario along the St Lawrence River. The largest concentration of former Adam's Company men settled in Ernestown
Ernestown Township, Ontario
Ernestown is a historic township in Lennox and Addington County in eastern Ontario. It was originally known as Second Town because it was surveyed after Kingston Township, but was renamed in 1784 after Prince Ernest Augustus, fifth son of George III...
and Edwardsburg
Edwardsburgh/Cardinal, Ontario
Edwardsburgh/Cardinal is a township in the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville of eastern Ontario. It includes the villages of Cardinal, Johnstown and Spencerville, as well as several smaller communities....
Townships.
Company Officers
CaptainsDr. Samuel Adams
Samuel Adams (Loyalist)
Dr. Samuel Adams was a physician and surgeon, farmer, and loyalist soldier from Arlington, Vermont.Adams was born in Stratford, Connecticut, in 1730. In 1764, he moved with his family to Arlington in the New Hampshire Grants. On several occasions, Adams served as representative and negotiator for...
of Arlington, Vermont
Jeptha Hawley of Arlington, Vermont
Lieutenant
Simpson Jenne of Clarendon, Vermont
Ensign
Gideon Adams
Gideon Adams
Gideon Adams was a farmer, soldier and political figure in Upper Canada.He was born in Connecticut in 1755 and moved with his family in 1764 to Arlington in the New Hampshire Grants. He served during the American Revolution as an Ensign in his father's company, Adams' Rangers, and later as a...
of Arlington, Vermont
External links
The On-line Institute for Advanced Loyalist Studies:- http://www.royalprovincial.com
United Empire Loyalists’ Association of Canada Directory of Loyalists:
- http://www.uelac.org/Loyalist-Info/loyalist_list.php
The Old United Empire Loyalist List:
- http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~apassageintime/uelist/uelist.html