I represent Mrs. Riley. I was among the women enumerated in the Return of Women & Children of the 31st Regiment, Capt. Hodgson‘s Company, in Sept 1768. It was the practice of the British Army to allow their soldiers to bring wives and children to overseas assignments, usually because we had no other way to support ourselves than to accompany them. My husband’s name was not given in the Return, and the August 1768 muster roll for the 31st is not helpful: There was a Cpl. John Riley, a Pvt. Joseph Riley, and a Pvt. James Riley in Hodgson’s company! One child was enumerated with me, but not named.
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