The National Archives 24

Source: British Archives, Kew

Manuscripts digitally photographed at The National Archives in Kew by Michael Barrett

All of the manuscripts digitized by Mr. Barrett concern German troops returning to Europe in 1783.

The first four concern the transport of Anhalt-Zerbst recruits. At Plymouth on 27 August 1783 a detachment of Anhalt-Zerbst recruits from Halifax, Nova Scotia was shifted from HMS Magicienne, which had transported them from there, to HM Armed Storeship Dauphin, M&C Paul Minchin. The Dauphin then carried them to the Downs where they transferred to an as yet unidentified transport for the final leg of their voyage to Bremerlehe in the River Weser.

• ADM 36/9970. Muster table of HM Armed Storeship Dauphin containing the ranks and names of the Anhalt-Zerbst recruits with the dates they embarked and disembarked from the ship.

• ADM 51/239, Section 5. Captain’s log of HM Armed Storeship Dauphin.

• ADM 52/1694. Master’s log of HM Armed Storeship Dauphin.

• ADM 174/118. Letters from Capt. Edward Le Cras, the resident commissioner at Plymouth to the Navy Board between 27 August and 5 September 1783 reporting, among many subjects, the arrival and departure of ships including the Dauphin on 31 August 1783.

• ADM 36/9943. Muster table of HM Armed Storeship Supply, Lt. Adrian Renou commader, which carried over 300 officers and men of the Hessen-Cassel Regiment von Jung Lossberg from New York to Sheerness in England between November 1783 and January 1784.

NOTE: As the late Bob Brooks wrote to me years ago, it is important to note that Royal Navy logs use nautical days, which run from noon of one day to noon of the next.

COMMENT: The muster table, captain’s and master’s logs of the Dauphin were disappointing since none of them mentioned the name of the transport to which the Anhalt-Zerbsters were transferred.

DLS 9-27-2021 email to MPG

MPG 10-31-2022.