Disbandment, Survival and Resurrection

The Treaty of Ryswick of 20th September 1697 brought to an end the indecisive War of the Grand Alliance, and, as a result, the army was voted in Parliament to be reduced to a strength of 10,000 men, Many of the recently raised British regiments were disbanded the following year, Gibson’s Regiment among them.

“The Warrant for the establishment of half-pay to officers of the eight regiments of Foot, lately disbanded. Whereas our regiments of Foot commanded by our right, trusty, and entirely beloved cousin and counsellor Charles Duke of Bolton, our trusty and well beloved Colonel Richard Coot, Colonel Thomas Brudenell, Colonel Thomas Saunderson, Major-General Thomas Erle, Colonel John Gibson, Colonel William Northcote, and Colonel Thomas Farrington together with independent companies commanded by Colonel Rouse and Captain J. Pitt have been lately disbanded. And we being graciously pleased to allow half-pay to the officers of our said regiments and companies for their support until they have been fully paid off and cleared and be otherwise provided for. Our will and pleasure is, &c., that you pay unto the Officers of our said Regiments the respective allowance mentioned in the list and establishment hereunto annexed being the half-pay of themselves and their servants respectively, to commence from 1st day of April next and to be paid unto them by monthly or quarterly payments upon certificates from our Commissionary General of the Muster of their being alive and qualified as afore mentioned.”

Given at our Court at Kensington, 16th March 1697-8, in the tenth of our reign.
By His Majesty’s command,
CHAS. MONTAGUE,
STE. FOX,
TH. LITTLETON,
J. PELHAM.
To our right trusty and right well beloved cousin and counsellor,
Richard, Earl of Ranelagh,
Paymaster-General of the Forces.”

Only the remnants of the Newfoundland garrison left there by Colonel Gibson in 1697 remained on active service, until the Regiment was re-raised in 1702.

Picture: The Treaty of Ryswick