Parole St. Bridget                                                         CS/ Chambly

At the General Court Martial held at Niagara on the 8th of June 1781 Lieutenant Jacob BALL of the Corps of Rangers tried for endeavoring to stir up a mutiny and Sedition in said Corps, and to render the men of said Corps discontented, and for being concerned with Lieut. Peter BALL, 2nd Lieut. Joseph FERRIS and Serjeant FREYLICH in writing an anonymous Letter directed to Brigadier General POWELL Commanding the Upper Posts & charging Lieutenant Colonel BUTLER and other Officers of the said Corps with Capital Crimes, and for not behaving becoming the Character of a Gentleman, is honorably acquitted the charges against him not being supported.

Lieutenant Peter BALL of the Corps of Rangers tried for endeavoring to stir up a Mutiny and Sedition in said Corps, and to render the men of the said Corps discontented, and for being concerned with Lieut. Jacob BALL, 2nd Lieut. Joseph FERRIS, and Serjeant FREYLICH, in writing an anonymous Letter to Brigadier General POWELL Commanding the Upper Posts & charging Lieut. Colonel BUTLER, and other Officers of the said Corps with Capital Crimes, and for not behaving becoming the Character of a Gentleman, is Acquitted, the Court being unanimously of Opinion that he is not guilty of any of the Crimes laid to his Charge.

2nd Lieutenant Joseph FERRIS of the Corps of Rangers tried for endeavoring to stir up a Mutiny and Sedition in the said Corps, and to render the men of the said Corps discontented, and for being concerned with Lieut. Jacob and Peter BALL and Serjeant FREYLICH in writing an Anonymous Letter to Brigadier General POWELL Commanding the upper Posts & charging Lieut. Colonel BUTLER and other Officers of the said Corps with Capital Crimes and for not behaving becoming the Character of a Gentleman, is acquitted of the first and Second part of the charge laid against him,

but the Court think his conduct reprehensible, so far as relates to his conservation with Serjeant SMITH and in his mode of expressing in a letter No. 3 addressed to Brigadier General POWELL therefore find him guilty of a breach of the 3rd Article of the 20th Section of the Articles of War, and do sentence him to ask Pardon of Lieut. Col. BUTLER publickly, and likewise to be reprimanded in such manner as His Excellency the Commander in Chief shall be pleased to direct.

Serjeant FREYLICH tried for being concerned with Lieut. Jacob and Peter BALL and 2nd Lieutenant FERRIS in writing an Anonymous Letter to Brigadier Genl. POWELL Commanding the Upper Posts & charging Lieut. Col. BUTLER and other Officers of said Corps with Capital Crimes, and for endeavoring to stir up a Mutiny & Sedition among the men of the Corps of Rangers, and for speaking disrespectfully of the Commanding Officer of the Regiment, is found guilty of the 3rd charge exhibited against him, and Sentenced, on Account of the undoubted Testimony of his general good Character in the Corps, and behaviour on Sundry occasions, only to be reduced to the Ranks.

The Commander in Chief approves of the above Sentences and directs that Lieutenants BALL be forthwith released from their arrest, and that Lieut. FERRIS may be made acquainted how highly displeased he is with his conduct, which however he is willing to attribute in a great measure to his inexperience.

Great Britain, British Library, Additional Manuscripts, No. 21,743, Quebec Orderly Book, folios 81-82.

Click here for ---> Other Regimental Orderly Books

                               Top of Page

The On-Line Institute for Advanced Loyalist Studies
For information please contact Todd Braisted

Updated 2/01/01