41st Regiment Deserters
41st Regiment of Foot

Deserters and/or settlers in North America

     As a researcher of the British 41st Regiment of Foot of which my 4th Great Grandfather was a member for 18 years (15 in Canada 1799-1815), I have found many members that deserted and more than likely settled in the US.  Many of the men were captured in the War of 1812 and the Americans actively offered bounties to these men to desert.  Also, at the end of this page is a list I found of men who applied to settle in Canada after the War of 1812 who served with the 41st Regiment of Foot.  There are others who settled in Canada after the War of 1812, William Molesworth, who was discharged in Ireland in 1817 and came back to join his family and settled in Perth, Lanark County, Ontario & James Worthington, who was discharged in 1823 in Madras, India and made his way back to Chippawa, Ontario.
     These men were professional soldiers and signed up for a minimum of 5 years, well trained and drilled, not like the former laborers, shopkeepers, etc. that made up the American Army in the beginning of the War.  One man that I found that died while in service of the 41st Regiment was 64 years old!  Some had even fought for the British Army in the American Revolution 30 years before.
     Did they then enlist in the American Army after desertion?  Did they get land grants as incentives?  I don't know.  That is for other geneologist to find out.  This list is simply a ways and means to find the ancestor that you have been unable to find his arrival in the United States or Canada.  Couldn't find his name on a passenger list?  No wonder, it wouldn't be something bragged about to the grandkids.
     On the date of desertion, if it is late 1814, this more than likely was when they were released from Prison Camp.  A soldier had quite a bit of time in prison and then the long walk to Canada to decide if they wanted the life of a soldier for the rest of their life or a new lease on life.  An officer of the 41st, (John Richardson) told the tale of when he was touring the midwest later in life, meeting a former British soldier that simply walked away and now owned a small store in Ohio.  Almost all of these men were held either in Greenbush, New York or in Chillicothe, Ohio.
     If there is no date of capture then the man simply walked away from where ever he was posted.  85% of these men also had only been in the British Army for 2-3 years with 27 that had been in over 10 years.
  This site also stands as notice that I'm looking for any information on soldiers who served in the 41st Regiment of Foot while in the Canadas.  Be careful in the spelling as some names on the muster lists are spelled differently from time to time, i.e. Stewart, Stuart or Skelton, Sheldon, Shelton.

Hope you find that piece of that puzzle!!
Tod L. Molesworth
Avoca, Michigan USA
4th Great Grandson of
William Molesworth
Drummer, 41st Regiment of Foot
1798-1817
[email protected]
Name Date of Capture Battle Date of desertion
Adcock, Thomas October 5, 1813 Thames July 24, 1814
Andrews, John September 27, 1813
Arbury, Robert October 5, 1813 Thames August 16, 1814
Asbury,  Robert October 5, 1813 Thames August 14, 1814
Aubin, John May 27, 1812
Ayres, George September 27, 1813
Barrett, Robert September 10, 1813 Lake Erie August 15, 1814
Barter, Noah October 5, 1813 Thames September 24, 1814
Bayley, James October 5, 1813 Thames October 5, 1813
Beagan, Francis September 10, 1813 Lake Erie November 7, 1813
Bendix, John June 26, 1813
Bennett, George August 2, 1813 Ft. Stephenson August 24, 1813
Bennett, Richard October 5, 1813 Thames September 24, 1814
Birthwistle, Mathew September 10, 1813 Lake Erie July 20, 1814
Bodman, Richard October 5, 1813 Thames April 14, 1814
Bostock, James
listed below, so must have returned
October 5, 1813 Thames February 11, 1814
Bowden, Thomas October 5, 1813 Thames November 23, 1814
Bray, Thomas November 8, 1813
Brierly, John October 5, 1813 Thames July 23, 1814
Broil, Michael September 10, 1813 Lake Erie July 23, 1814
Brown, William
captured at age 16
from Bradford, Wiltshire
October 5, 1813 Thames November 23, 1813
Buckley, Benjamin
enlisted December 29, 1799
October 5, 1813 Thames April 17, 1814
Buckley, Cornelius
enlisted June 4, 1799
October 5, 1813 Thames October 17, 1814
Buffey, John October 5, 1813 Thames October 17, 1814
Bulfin, John October 5, 1813 Thames February 11, 1814
Bullock, John October 5, 1813 Thames September 8, 1814
Burrows, Thomas May 27, 1813 Ft. George June 24, 1813
Burton, John October 5, 1813 Thames October 17, 1814
Butter, Joseph September 28, 1811
Camm, John
enlisted October 24, 1804
October 5, 1813 Thames July 6, 1814
Casey, William October 25, 1799
Chapman, John
from Lewannick, Cornwall
September 10, 1813 Lake Erie October 24, 1814
Ching, William October 5, 1813 Thames November 5, 1813
Clapton, Samuel October 5, 1813 Thames May 14, 1814
Clarke, Noah September 10, 1813 Lake Erie October 18, 1814
Cliff, John October 5, 1813 Thames October 24, 1814
Collins, John
enlisted 1798-1799
September 10, 1813 Lake Erie August 13, 1814
Collins, Thomas October 4, 1814
Colohan, Thomas
enlisted April 10, 1799
October 5, 1813 Thames October 24, 1814
Connop, James September 10, 1813 Lake Erie July 15, 1814
Cooling, Thomas September 10, 1813 Lake Erie June 26, 1814
Cottle, Daniel October 5, 1813 Thames November 6, 1813
Cummins, Thomas
from Atlow, Derbyshire
September 17, 1813
Curtis, John October 5, 1813 Thames April 28, 1814
Davidson, Elias October 5, 1813 Thames November 18, 1813
Dear, John November 24, 1814
Dickman, John October 5, 1813 Thames October 24, 1813
Dogherty, James October 25, 1799
Donohue, Hugh October 5, 1813 Thames November 24, 1813
Dowland, Hugh summer of 1813 August 24, 1814
Dukes, Richard October 5, 1813 Thames October 17, 1814
Dunn, Thomas August 2, 1813 Ft. Stevenson March 1, 1814
Easterbrook, John (Cpl.)
enlisted January 6, 1799
wifes name is Julia, daughters Grace born in Montreal May 5, 1801 and Harriet born at Ft. George January 10, 1808.
October 5, 1813 Thames November 24, 1813
Emery, James October 5, 1813 Thames November 24, 1813
Evatt, John May 20, 1812
Farrell, John September 10, 1813 Lake Erie July 25, 1814
Faulkner, John
enlisted August 20, 1798
September 10, 1813 Lake Erie July 26, 1814
Fitzgerald, John
enlisted November 3, 1805
October 5, 1813 Thames April 24, 1814
Fletcher, William September 27, 1813
Fox, William (drummer)
from Montreal, Canada
October 5, 1813 Thames October 24, 1813
Gingle, George September 28, 1811
Glanville, James October 5, 1813 Thames April 24, 1814
Goddard, Isaac September 10, 1813 Lake Erie September 24, 1814
Godwin, John October 5, 1813 Thames December 24, 1813
Graves, Thomas October 5, 1813 Thames October 18, 1814
Green, David
enlisted 1798-1799
September 10, 1813
wounded and captured aboard the "Detroit"
Lake Erie July 24, 1814
Green, Edward October 5, 1813 Thames September 24, 1814
Gregson, George May 27, 1812
Groce, John October 5,  1813 Thames April 26, 1814
Hall, Jacob September 10, 1813 Lake Erie October 24, 1814
Hamm, Thomas
enlisted 1798-1799
October 5, 1813 Thames November 24, 1813
Hardy, Jacob October 5, 1813 Thames February 27, 1814
Hare, Patrick
enlisted 1798-1799
October 5, 1813 Thames November 24, 1813
Harris, Thomas
from Gwennap, Cornwall
October 5, 1813 Thames November 17, 1813
Hastings, James October 5, 1813 Thames October 17, 1814
Henderson, David (Cpl.)
enlisted March 2, 1799
October 5, 1813 Thames November 15, 1813
Higgins, James August 2, 1813 Ft. Stevenson October 27, 1813
Hill, Robert October 5, 1813 Thames November 26, 1813
Holt, Cornelius January 3, 1813
Hopping, Joseph October 5, 1813 Thames November 24, 1813
Hornby, John May 27, 1813
House, Richard (drummer)
enlisted 1798-1799
October 5, 1813 Thames  October 24, 1813
Jones, Thomas
from Fohey, Cornwall
October 5, 1813 Thames September 5, 1814
Kemp, John
enlisted 1798-1799
married Penelope Mobbs June 7, 1807 in Sandwich, Ontario
May 27, 1813 Ft. George June 24, 1813
Kettlewell, Joseph August 2, 1813 Ft. Stevenson August 24, 1813
King, William
enlisted October 25, 1799
from Dunfield, Wiltshire
October 5, 1813 Thames August 26, 1814
Lambourne, Thomas
captured just after 16th birthday
May 27, 1813 Ft. George June 24, 1813
Lucas, John August 2, 1813 Ft. Stevenson August 24, 1813
Lynsky, Michael
enlisted 1798-1799
August 2, 1813 Ft. Stevenson May 19, 1814
Lyster, William October 5, 1813 Thames November 9, 1814
Maddox, William October 5, 1813 Thames August 9, 1814
Mahoney, Daniel
enlisted June 4, 1799
June 18, 1813
Marlow, Patrick summer of 1813 August 24, 1814
Marter, Charles May 27, 1812
Mathews, Richard October 5, 1813 Thames October 31, 1814
Mathews, William
enlisted October 25, 1799
from Rowde, Wiltshire
September 10, 1813 Lake Erie October 31, 1814
McBean, James
enlisted 1798-1799
October 5, 1813 Thames November 24, 1813
McCall, Edward
enlisted April 16, 1799
October 5, 1813 Thames November 17, 1813
McCullock, Alexander (Cpl.) October 5, 1813 Thames November 15, 1813
Meach, George September 10, 1813 Lake Erie July 17, 1814
Miles, Richard October 5, 1813 Thames July 25, 1814
Minchin, William September 10, 1813 Lake Erie July 17, 1814
Murphy, Patrick October 5, 1813 Thames August 6, 1814
Myers, Michael Christopher September 10, 1813 Lake Erie May 7, 1814
Newton, James
enlisted 1798-1799, some confusion in muster lists if actually deserted
October 5, 1813 Thames December 12, 1813
Norris, John
from Corsham, Wiltshire
September 10, 1813 
(slightly wounded)
Lake Erie August 1, 1814
Nowland, James September 10, 1813 Lake Erie July 23, 1814
O'Conner, Cornelius October 5, 1813 Thames October 9, 1814
Oldfield, John October 5, 1813 Thames November 24, 1814
O'Neal, Felix
enlisted April 3, 1799
September 10, 1813 Lake Erie July 25, 1814
Ostles, Richard October 5, 1813 Thames July 25, 1814
Payne, John October 5, 1813 Thames October 18, 1814
Phillimore, Robert October 5, 1813 Thames October 24, 1813
Pimlett, Joseph September 10, 1813 Lake Erie November 24, 1813
Plummer, William September 10, 1813 Lake Erie (aboard "Detroit) December 24, 1813
Power, John
enlisted January 24, 1799
October 5, 1813 Thames October 18, 1814
Regan, Edward May 27, 1813 Ft. George June 24, 1813
Ross, John (drummer) October 5, 1813 Thames November 24, 1813
Rummell, William October 5, 1813 Thames April 12, 1814
Sanders, James
from Wolverhampton, Staffordshire
October 5, 1813 Thames November 16, 1813
Sanders, James
from Leadsmith of St. Lawrence, Somerset
October 5, 1813 Thames November 24, 1813
Sanders, Richard October 5, 1813 Thames December 24, 1813
Scott, John
from Wolverhampton, Staffordshire
October 5, 1813 Thames September 24, 1814
Scully, Michael May 28, 1813
Sharp, Thomas
enlisted 1798-1799
October 5, 1813 Thames July 14, 1814
Sheals, John September 10, 1813 Lake Erie November 23, 1813
Sheehan, Patrick
enlisted 1798-1799
September 10, 1813 Lake Erie November 24, 1813
Sheldon, William September 10, 1813 Lake Erie October 18, 1814
Shephard, Henry October 5, 1813 Thames February 26, 1814
Shepway, Joseph July 11, 1813 Black Rock, New York July 24, 1813
Siddons, William September 10, 1813 Lake Erie July 23, 1814
Skelton, Joseph October 5, 1813 Thames April 27, 1814
Southern, John October 5, 1813 Thames November 20, 1813
Stacy, Giles October 5, 1813 Thames October 10, 1813
Staight, John October 5, 1813 Thames August 11, 1814
Stanning, James October 5, 1813 Thames July 29, 1814
Stayner, Thomas May 27, 1813 Ft. George June 24, 1813
Stevens, James October 5, 1813 Thames July 6, 1814
Stewart, Levi
enlisted October 25, 1799
October 5, 1813 Thames August 28, 1814
Taylor, George October 5, 1813 Thames December 24, 1813
Taylor, George September 10, 1813 Lake Erie July 23, 1814
Thomas, John October 5, 1813 Thames October 24, 1814
Thomas, Thomas February 12, 1813
Thompson, William (while posted Ft. Niagara, NY) August 27, 1814
Toole, Michael September 10, 1813 Lake Erie November 24, 1813
Toomer, Thomas October 5, 1813 Thames August 14, 1814
Tracey, Peter September 10, 1813 Lake Erie October 4, 1813
Trollop, John (Sgt.) August 2, 1813 Ft. Stevenson August 24, 1813
Trump, John October 5, 1813 Thames October 2, 1814
Tull, Solomon October 5, 1813 Thames November 18, 1813
Uncles, James
captured at 17 years old
October 5, 1813 Thames September 24, 1814
Vickers, Richard October 5, 1813 Thames November 16, 1813
Watts, Richard October 5, 1813 Thames September 24, 1814
Watts, Samuel
from Libury, Shropshire?
September 10, 1813 Lake Erie November 7, 1813
Watts, Samuel
from Westbury, Wiltshire
October 5, 1813 Thames September 24, 1814
Watts, Thomas September 28, 1811
Webb, Robert October 5, 1813 Thames November 24, 1813
Webber, Thomas July 4, 1813
West, John
enlisted October 25, 1799
October 5, 1813 Thames July 24, 1814
Weston, Stephan June 14, 1813
Westwood, Joseph October 5, 1813 Thames March 3, 1814
Wethersby, John October 5, 1813 Thames August 13, 1814
Whalley, John June 14, 1813
Whitefield, Samuel May 27, 1812
Whitehead, John October 5, 1813 Thames February 11, 1814
Whitehouse, Benjamin September 10, 1813 Lake Erie September 24, 1814
Whitehouse, Richard October 5, 1813 Thames October 24, 1813
Whitely, John
enlisted February 9, 1800
September 10, 1813  Lake Erie (aboard "Hunter") October 7, 1814
Wild, Adam September 10, 1813 Lake Erie August 23, 1814
Wilkinson, William (drummer) November 24, 1813 Thames November 24, 1813
Williams, Edward October 5, 1813 Thames August 17, 1814
Willis, Joseph October 5, 1813 Thames November 23, 1814
Willis, Richard October 5, 1813 Thames February 9, 1814
Wilmot, Robert
wife Lucy died at Ft. George and buried July 17, 1809.
October 5, 1813 Thames November 23, 1814
Windale, Zachariah September 10, 1813 Lake Erie July 23, 1814
Wood, John
from St. John's, Cornwall
October 5, 1813 Thames November 17, 1813
Woodcock, William October 5, 1813 Thames August 4, 1814
Wormold, Joseph October 5, 1813 Thames November 24, 1813
Wright, Joseph
from Dudley, Worcester
October 5, 1813 Thames August 15, 1814

Settlers
The following is a list of men of the 41st Regiment of Foot who wished to come to the Canadas with former Captain Adam Charles Muir to settle.  I don't know the date but it originated in Londonderry, Ireland where the Regiment was posted from June 1818 until August 1820 when it was sent to Scotland.  These men were all short timers, with less than 10 years in service with the 41st Regiment.  Some of the names I could not find on the muster list so they either joined after the War of 1812, or they went by a different given name than what is on the muster list.  The "address" is, I would guess, either where they were from when they originally enlisted or where they could be reached.  This document is very hard to read so some of the addresses I could not interpret to a modern map of England
document from the Canadian National Archives


Name Rank Address
Alder, Richard Private King's Stanty, near Stroud Water, near Leister, Gloucester
Bailey, Thomas Private Freers Green, Warrington, Lancaster
Bales, James (married)
can't find him on muster rolls
Private Longford Lane, Warrington, Lancaster
Bostock, James (married)
listed as deserted above, must have returned
Private Sandwich, Cheshire, Chester
Boys, Thomas Private Church Ellen, near Chippenham, Wiltshire, England
Brooks, Jonathan Private Brickfield near Worster, Worster
Brown, Joseph (married) Private Closes St., Manchester, Lancaster
Browning, Peter Sgt. Stroud, Cloucester
Clarke, Nicholas (married with 2 children) Cpl. Carronton, Dowlick, Meath, Ireland
Cole, Charles (married) Private Derry Hill, near Chippenham, Wiltshire
Cook, William Private Queen St., Kidderminster, Worster
Daniels, William (married) Private Chipping Sodbury Post Office, Gloucester
Dinor, John Private Devon
Eaton, Richard (married)
can't find him on muster rolls
Private Londonerry, Ireland
Edwards, James Private Hamford, Somerset
Elliot, Henry Private Uley, Gloucester
Evans, John
can't find him on muster rolls
Private Newton, Meath near New Cashier, Stafford
Fletcher, William (married)
not same man who deserted above
Private Stroud Water, Gloucester
Freeling, Thomas Private Wiltshire, England
Gough, Alexander Private Poy St., Hereford
Green, James
can't find him on muster rolls
Private 41 Port St., Manchester, Lancaster
Groves, Jonathan Private Mill St., Kidderminster, Worster
Hay, Thomas
can't find him on muster rolls
Cpl. #6 Church St., St. Stephens Burough, London, Middlesex
Healy, Thomas Private Great Brook, near Birmingham, Warwickshire
Holding, Charles Private Waggan, Lancaster
Hunt, Richard Cpl. Stroud, Gloucester
Jacket, William (married) Private St. Minver, Cornwall
Jenkinson, Aaron
wounded and captured during assault on Ft. Erie August 15, 1814
Sgt. Eaton Lane, near Stockford, Lancaster
Kent, James Private Chipping Sodbury, near Bristol, Gloucester
Kent, Joseph (married)
can't find him on muster rolls
Private Chipping Sodbury Post Office, Gloucester
Kilminster, Richard Private Wiltshire
Knight, William Private Coultey, Gloucester
Lamb, Thomas
Wounded at Battle of Conjocta Creek, New York August 3, 1814
Private Coach & Horses, Catherine's Parish, Gloucester, Gloucester
Lee, William Private Brenton on Trent, Stafford
Leslie, James (married) Sgt. Fourig by Huntley, Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland
Lousley, Joseph
spelled Loosely in muster rolls
Private Oxford Lane, Great Marton, Lancanshire 
Maund, William Private Minters St., ? John's, Wereford, Wereford
McBellamy, Jonathan
can't find in the muster rolls
Private Brigford Abbey, Landford, Ireland
Miles, William
can't find in the muster rolls
Private Lasiter, Hereford
Moyle, William (married with 1 child) Private Marshbrond, Hereford
Palmer, William Private Ullensridge, Gloucester
Percival, Edward Private Duke St., Chester, Chester
Pritchard, George (married) Private Found Hope, Wereford
Robinson, Daniel
wounded in the assault on Ft. Erie August 15, 1814
Private Wood St., Ashton-Underline, Lancaster
Rooke, Abraham Private Upham, Hampshire
Sanger, George Private Dedwin St., Salisbury, Wilsthire
Scrouse, Robert Private Choulden, near Bristol, Somerset
Shephard, John (married with 2 children) Private Stogursey, near Bridgewater, Somerset
Smith, Thomas (married)
not same man as above in desertion list
Private Valentimeal, near Stroud, Gloucester
Strickland, Peter Private Blandford, Dorset
Strong, Thomas Private Eastings Lane, Westgate, Exeter, Devon
Waters, Michael
can't find in the muster rolls
Private Durrough, Kilkenny, Ireland
Whitehouse, Joseph Private Park St., Walsall, Stafford
Williams, David Private Southwest Radner, Wales
Williamson, William Private #6, Eagles Rarely Row, Stockport, Chester
Wright, Richard Private Longburly, Northhampton, Northhampshire