You’re in the Army now, Mr Hirst!

Today’s post is written by Douglas Fyfe, longtime friend and colleague, in response to William Hirst’s Letter 2 – 12 March 1793.

The more we know, the more we want to know – with the biggest question being why would he ever join?

Mary Tivy’s useful link to the Flanders campaign does point to the army’s desire for bodies. Britain did go on a recruitment drive in 1793. Britain joined the continental alliance against France with a declaration of war in February of 1793. However they were rather unprepared. In March of that year, a substantial force did embark to Flanders and Hirst appears to be part of that.

I have looked for clues in your two letters to understand Hirst’s relationship with the army. Without knowing his rank or when he enlisted here is an examination with some of my thought process.

Was he in the army or attached to it?

For example, as civilian clerk or other part of the civilian structure of the military? The address has had the addition of the term “South Britain,” possibly by another hand.

Hirst Letter #2 – 12 March 1793 – Envelope Fold. Private Collection

This suggests the letter is being sent as part of the military post as South Britain (England and Wales ) was one of the country’s four military districts. Edinburgh was in North Britain. Regular post would not utilize that term. Thus, likely he is a member of the military.

What is his rank?

There are several suggestions that he is not a member of the rank and file.

1. His description of the embarkation order and the added detail that they are not expected to stay in the area long is more information than privates are likely to have received.
2. He regrets he cannot see his parents before he goes abroad suggesting more freedom of movement than rank and file would have.
3. His first letter indicates that before enlisting he had money to travel to America and explore prospects upon arrival. His description of opportunities and lack thereof and his choice to continue onward to the Indias suggest a young man with sufficient means and ambition to try to seek his own destiny. Even with the extra bounties being provided to boost enlistment in the early 1790s a private’s pay would net only a few pennies a day and a payout upon leaving the army of the bounty (a guinea was a large bounty). If he was a private, he would have no freedom, no profit and no provision for his family.
4. There was no literacy requirement for privates and his letters do indicate education. Although, it is possible that the the physical writing of the letters was done by postal or military clerks, the handwriting of the signatures and letters seem to be by the same hand.

Hirst Letter #2 – 12 March 1793 – Page 1 (Folded). Private Collection

If he is an officer, why did he join?

The 1790s in the area around Huddersfield were ground zero for the industrialization of the textile industry. Within twenty years there were uprisings by itinerant weavers against the machines within the “satanic mills”. This was where the Luddites were born.

Courtesy The Luddites – Historic UK https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofBritain/The-Luddites/

Young men looking for prospects, but uninterested in starting factories were emigrating for other opportunities.

My impression from the first letter is that young Mr. Hirst did not go to America with connections waiting for him or much of a plan. He arrived with a dream, got off the boat, made some inquiries and got back on the boat for the next land of opportunity, the “Indias”.

I landed at New York on the 16th of May but finding there is nothing to be done here every thing being so dear, and no trade going on, it obliges me to remove, which I believe on the 16th of this Month I shall set sail for the West Indias in the same ship that I came from Liverpool in, and if there is nothin to be done there, I shall be Oblig’d to return to England again …

William Hirst. Letter #1 – 2 June 1787.

When that plan appears not to have worked he returned home and embarked on a career romanticized in novels of the time. (His enlistment was a bit early to have been influenced by Jane Austen, but flashy military officers were popular characters of the period).

Sir Joshua Reynolds, 1723 – 1792 Captain Robert Orme 1756 Oil on canvas, 239 x 147 cm Bought, 1862 NG681 https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/NG681

An additional advantage was that he could join as a lieutenant and if he changed his mind he just needed to find someone to purchase his commission from him. It was a career with an exit strategy.

Hope this helps. Looking forward to reading more letters and finding out if my suspicions are correct and what more questions arise.

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Photo courtesy Douglas Fyfe

Douglas Fyfe has enjoyed working at 7 museums, exploring human experience through material culture, documents and interactions with the public.