Drummers of the First Battalion, KRRNY

The official strength was two drummers in each ten companies. Therefore, a full complement was twenty. As can be seen above, there were twenty-seven Drummers who served in the 1^st Battalion during the war. This number included two men who transferred to the 2^nd Bn after its formation in 1780.

Those Drummers who enlisted on 19 Jun 1776 joined on the date of the 1^st Battalion’s founding. Although three lads enlisted on 02 May 1780, the significance of that specific date is Unknownnown.

Two drums used in the recreation of the 1^st Battalion were donated to the unit in memory of the Casselman drummers. One was given by Murray Barkley and the other by Ken and Cecile Paterson, who also commemorated the loss of a son with this gift.

* – Averil enlisted in the 53^rd Regiment when the 1^st Bn disbanded on 24 Dec 1783.

** – Young enlisted in 1777 at age 11 with Butler’s Rangers and transferred to the KRR NY in 1780.

§ – Trapp served as 1^st Bn Drum Major from his enlistment through to 1782. Exactly where he came from has not been determined. He was English-born, one of the 5% of the men with that ethnic background. When he left the regiment in 1782, he seems to have disappeared, as no record of settlement in Quebec can be found. It is very likely that Trapp had transferred from a Regular battalion and returned to that unit.

§§ – John Mitchell replaced Trapp as Drum Major. He is another mystery man. Where he suddenly emerged from is unknown, but he likely transferred from a Regular regiment. Due to his very late enlistment, he is not found on KRR muster rolls. His appointment was recorded in Captain Archibald McDonell’s Orderly Book. Mitchell did not settle in Quebec before 1786; however, the Old UE List noted that a man of that name, who had been a Drum Major, settled at some time in RT4/Williamsburgh.

‡‡ – These men were noted as Fifers.