British Prisoners Of War Held In America.

I have many times been asked if I had any information on a British soldier, and my answer for the most part was “ no“. It wasn’t that I didn’t have any information on the British, it’s just so hard to find it in the thousand of records I have. But I decided it was time to do a page on the British soldier.

I decided to do this page be cause I know there are others out side of the States, looking for their ancestor and after all this is a Surname site and I should given ever one a chance to find information on their ancestor.

Now this information may well be only bits an pieces while other information may be longer, but what ever the amount is there may be a lead to start you looking in a new direction.
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1782, The Secretary at War call in all the British soldiers, prisoners of war to the United States, who have been permitted to go out to work with the inhabitants, and that for the future no such permission be granted to such prisoners.

1779, John Showman Philips and Peter Bensey, British prisoners captured under the command of General Burgoyne, praying to be admitted to take the oath of allegiance to and become citizens of some one of the United State, That the Committee to whom was referred the petitions of John Showman Philips and Peter Bensey British soldiers captured under the command of Genl Burgoyne near Saratoga, and who deserted from the Convention troops on their March from Boston to Virginia, it is the opinion of the Committee that the prayer of said petitioners to be admitted to take the oath of Allegiance to these States and become citizens thereof being contrary to the said Convention, and if granted might operate to continue the imprisonment of the Citizens of the States with the enemy. Resolved, That the prayer of the said petition be not granted, and that a copy of this resolution be delivered to the deputy commissary of prisoners in this State.

1782, David Turner a British prisoner in the new goal, praying to be discharged from his imprisonment and the liberty of becoming a citizen of America, having married into a reputable family in this city.

1775, Lieutenant Hay, of the 7th Regiment, who is now a prisoner, have liberty to return to Great Britain, on his parole, not to take up arms against America, during the present dispute between Great Britain and these colonies.

1778. John Connolly, calling himself a lieutenant colonel in the British service, it is directed not to consent to his exchange without the special order of Congress.

1787, Richard Lawrence a prisoner confined in the New Jail of the City of New York stating that since the conclusion of the peace he has been arrested and confined in prison for Acts done during the war and under special Orders from the British commander in chief.

"That Dr. John Connolly, now stiling himself lieutenant colonel in the British service, was, in the latter end of November, 1775, apprehended in Frederick county, in Maryland, in company with a certain Allan Cameron and John Smith, by the committee of inspection of that county: "That at the time he was taken he was not in arms; or at the head of any party of men in arms; but was clandestinely making his way to Detroit, in order to join, give intelligence to, and otherwise aid the garrison at that place, as appears by his own intercepted letter of the 16 December, 1775, addressed to the commanding officer of that fortress, and by General Washington's letter to Congress of the 25 December, 1775.

1791, John D. Mercier, late a British subject, and residing in the city of Quebec, was presented to the House and read, praying compensation for losses and injuries sustained in his person and property, in consequence of adhering to the American cause, during the late war.

1777, It is ordered that the Board of War take steps to enquire into the conduct of Captain Gamble, a prisoner at Princeton, and particularly of Dr. Stapleton, who has been permitted to attend Captain M'Pherson, a prisoner of the 17th British regiment, at the same place: That they write to Governor Livingston relating to the conduct of the said Dr. Stapleton, and transmit to General Washington the result of their enquiries, and desire him to take such steps for removing the aforesaid officers from Princeton.

1776, Henry Beaumont, of the 26 regiment of the King of Great Britain, (which said Henry Beaumont is a prisoner of war,) was referred, brought in their report, which was taken into consideration: Whereupon, That said Henry Beaumont be permitted to reside with his wife and family at Elizabeth town, in the colony of New Jersey, he giving to the committee of inspection and observation of said Borough, his parole, in the form prescribed by Congress.

1776, Members of 7th and 26th regiments of British troops, are now prisoners of war.

1777, Lieutenant Colonel Barton, of a militia regiment of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, and the brave officers and men of his party, who distinguished their valour and address in making prisoners of Major General Prescot, of the British army, and Major William Barrington, his aid-de-camp; and that an elegant sword be provided by the commissary general of military stores, and presented to Lieutenant Colonel Barton.

1779. T. Pitcairn, captain of the 82 British regiment, a prisoner at Reading

1777, Major Thomas Leonard, a prisoner on parole at Reading, being of Colonel Skinner's corps in the British service, for his allowance from the 3d March to the 22 June, being 16 weeks, at 2 dollars per week, the sum of 32 dollars.

1781, The Commander in Chief be and he is hereby directed to recall Lieutenant General Burgoyne and all other British and [German] officers, [prisoners of war] now absent on their parole from America, to return immediately, unless the Honorable Henry Laurens, Esqr., be also enlarged on his parole.