Alexander Mercherson was a native of the parish of Kilmere on the Isle of Skye. He was born about 1766. When the New Brunswick Regiment of Fencible Infantry (later the 104th (New Brunswick) Regiment of Foot) was raised in 1803, one of the recruiting parties was sent to the Highlands of Scotland. Mercherson (also spelled Murcherson and Murchison) was one of those recruited there. He joined the regiment in October 1804, probably at Inverness, at the age of 38. He may have been married at the time. His wife was Barbara Macketche, a native of Inverness. The Scottish recruits arrived in Fredericton on 20 September 1805 accompanied by seventeen women and forty-eight children. Mercherson served as a private soldier for all of his career.
Tag Archives: New Brunswick Regt of Fencible Infantry
Andrew Rainsford
104th Regiment of Foot
This application is sponsored by the City of Fredericton, New Brunswick.
Andrew William Rainsford was the third son of Captain, the Honourable Andrew Rainsford, who was the Receiver General of His Majesty’s Quit Rents in West Florida from 1774 until it was captured by the Spanish in 1781. He was also active in military affairs serving as the Fort-Adjutant and Barrack-Master at Fort George. After the end of the revolution, he and his family came to New Brunswick as Loyalists. Andrew Rainsford held several public offices including Receiver General for the province and Deputy Barrack Master General. Five of his sons later served in the military.
George Shore
104th Regiment of Foot
This application is sponsored by the City of Fredericton, New Brunswick.
George Shore was born in England in 1787. He was commissioned as an Ensign in His Majesty’s New Brunswick Regiment of Fencible Infantry on 9 July 1803. His promotion to Lieutenant was effective 25 March 1804 and he was made Captain on 23 August 1810. With the retirement of Captain Duguald Campbell that year, he took command of the Light Company which he retained until the regiment was disbanded in 1817. In 1810, his regiment was elevated to the line as the 104th (New Brunswick) Regiment of Foot.
Harris William HailesCanadian Fencibles
This application is sponsored by the City of Fredericton, New Brunswick.
Harris William Hailes was born at Burton Park, Surrey, England on 13 September 1752. He was first commissioned a Lieutenant Captaincy in the 1st Battalion British Grenadiers. He served with this regiment during General Clinton’s campaign in the southern colonies and was present at the capture of Charleston, South Carolina.
William Phair
104th Regiment of Foot
This application is sponsored by the City of Fredericton, New Brunswick.
William Barry Phair was born on 17 March 1783 on Staten Island, Colony of New York. His father, Lieutenant Andrew Phair, was an officer in Major General Benedict Arnold’s Loyal American Legion. After the end of the Amercian Revolution, the family came to Fredericton, New Brunswick as Loyalists. Andrew Phair held government appointments such as Deputy Barrack Master and Postmaster, both at Fredericton.
Lawrence Rainsford
New Brunswick Fencibles
This application is being made on behalf of St. Peter’s Anglican Church, Kingsclear, New Brunswick.
Lawrence Bradshaw Rainsford was the fourth son of Captain, the Honourable Andrew Rainsford, who was the Receiver General of His Majesty’s Quit Rents in West Florida from 1774 until it was captured by the Spanish in 1781. He was also active in military affairs serving as the Fort-Adjutant and Barrack-Master at Fort George. After the end of the revolution, he and his family came to New Brunswick as Loyalists. Andrew Rainsford held several public offices including Receiver General for the province and Deputy Barrack Master General. Five of his sons later served in the military.
Charles Rainsford
104th Regiment of Foot
Charles Rainsford was commissioned as an Ensign in the New Brunswick Regiment of Fencible Infantry on 17 July 1806 and was promoted to Lieutenant on 25 November 1808. The regiment was elevated to line status in 1810 and became the 104th Regiment of Foot. Rainsford participated in the epic march from Fredericton to Kingston in the winter of 1813 and appears to have been at the Battle of Sackets Harbor on 29 May 1813. He served with the regiment in Upper Canada (Ontario) during the war and in Lower Canada (Quebec) after the war ended. Rainsford was promoted to Captain on 6 June 1815.