The Wester Gerrard Chronicles

The Descendants Of Archibald Wester Gerrard Born 1769 (North America) Father: Unknown Possibly Samuel Gerrard Mother: Unknown
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Possibly Brother of: Samuel Gerrard of Montreal Based upon research and relevant facts regarding the history of my grandfathers in the Gerrard Clan - I have assumed that, as was the custom, in military families - sons followed their fathers into the same regiment. It is obvious from the newspaper obituary on the right that Archibald Wester was in The Fourteenth Regiment of Foot. It is known that his father was an officer in a british regiment serving in North America at the time he was born (1769) It is know that his Grandson was also in The 14th Regiment of Foot see discharge book It is know that the Fourteenth Regiment of Foot was based in Ireland a short while before Archibald Wester was born It is known that The Fourteeth Regiment of Foot was one of the four regiments that were based in Boston at the outbreak of hostilities. (1768) See Rest of 14th Regiment of Foot History...	Father Unknown Gerrard British Army Officer Revolutionary War Archibald Wester Gerrard b. 1769 (America) d. 14/5/1864 Aged 95 Buried. 15/5/1864 Comment Fr Moore "Old Age" Was living at The Glen in Clonbroney at time of death Wife: Unknown Children: 1.Samuel Gerrard Lived in America Clonbroney, Longford, Ireland Officer of The Fourteenth Regiment of Foot In 1768, the regiment under Lieutenant Colonel William Dalrymple, arrived in Boston via Halifax, during the crisis surrounding the Townshend Acts. In a show of force, the 14th and 29th were marched though the town to erect a tent city on Boston Common. Detachments of the two regiments were sent to take possession of Faneuil Hall, the "unofficial" headquarters of the Sons of Liberty where they seized all of the firearms stored there. In 1770 the 14th although at the ready in their barracks did not play a part in the "Boston Massacre". Captain Thomas (29th Foot) was the officer of the day in charge of the duty detail (29th of Foot) that faced the crowds outside of the Customs House. The crowd that gathered began taunting the detail until a shot, then volley was fired into the crowd, three civilians were killed outright and two more died later. Captain Preston and the detail went to trial and were defended (successfully) by Lawyer John Adams thus ending tensions between the crown and the citizens of Boston for the time being. The 14th would remain part of the Boston Garrison until 1772.	Taken from "The Warden" Saturday May 21st. 1864 "Mr.Archibald Wester Gerrard, of Glen Lodge in the County of Longford, Ireland, who died on the 14th., inst,. at the advanced age of ninety-five years was born in America, at the commencement of the war with that country, his Father being then an Officer in the British Army. At an early age, the son also entered the Army, and in 1798 he assisted in driving the French from our Shores. At Castlebar and Vinegar Hill he shared the perils of the day and did good service, until wounded by a bullet in the thigh. In one of those engagements the Colonel of his regiment was separated from his men and surrounded by three pikemen who engaged him with determined fury. Being an expert Swordsman, he was for some time able to defend himself but at length was on the point of being overcome, when the gallant soldier, seeing the danger of his Commander snatched up a musket, darted from the ranks, and with unerring aim, three were stricken to the ground, and the life of a brave old soldier spared.


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