Delaware Provincials
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Origin and History
During the War of the Austrian Succession, in 1748, a home guard had been organized to defend Chester County against the depredations of French and Spanish pirates. But these preparations became unnecessary when peace preliminaries were signed at Aix-la-Chapelle.
At the time of the Seven Years' War, Delaware was part of the province of Pennsylvania, forming its Three Lower Counties. Thus Delaware Provincials were also known as the Lower Counties Provincials.
In 1758 and 1759, each of these three counties supplied 1 company of 100 men.
Service during the War
In April 1758, 300 men from Delaware assembled at Lancaster. Among them, 100 were assigned to the expedition against Fort Duquesne under Brigadier John Forbes. By the end of June, Forbes' army was on the march from Philadelphia, slowly progressing towards Fort Duquesne by Raystown, Shippensburg and Loyalhannon. After a failed raid on Fort Duquesne in mid September, Forbes' army finally marched directly on Fort Duquesne at the end of November. The French destroyed the fort before retiring.
Uniform
Privates
As members of the Province of Pennsylvania, these provincials probably wore the same uniform as the Pennsylvania Provincials.
Officers
no information found yet
Musicians
no information found yet
Colours
no information found yet
References
Chartrand, Rene, Colonial American Troops 1610-1774, Osprey Publishing, Oxford, 2002.
Smith, George: History of Delaware County Pennsylvania, Philadelphia: Ashmead, 1862, pp. 257-268
N.B.: the section Service during the War is mostly derived from our articles depicting the various campaigns, battles and sieges.
