DONEGAL TOWNSHIP MILITIA

(Provincial Militia)

During the French and Indian War and Pontiacs Rebellion, men from Lancaster County served as Provincial Militia. These men helped to protect the citizens and the Provincial Quaker government of Pennsylvania. These militia men served as scouts and rangers and helped to build fortifications such as Fort Hunter, Fort Augusta and Fort Halifax to name but a few.

Lancaster County Militia during the French and Indian War
And Pontiac’s War

Pennsylvania’s Quaker ran government, located in Philadelphia was one of pacifism. At the beginning of the conflict in 1754, the Quaker government refused to create any form of militia law to aid in the defense of the frontier of Pennsylvania. As time went on, and the atrocities inflicted on those living on the Pennsylvania frontier began to spread east, the attitudes in Philadelphia slowly began to change.

Benjamin Franklin introduced a bill in the fall of 1755. This bill was entitled” An Act for Better Ordering And Regulating as Such are Willing and Desirous to be United for Military Purposes Within this Province” This Bill recognized and allowed for the sensitivities of the Quakers.

On November 24th, 1755, even while this bill was in debate, a Shawnee war party with French assistance attacked a Moravian mission settlement. Those Moravians were much like the Quakers, they were pious people who were known and respected for their kindness and consideration for all people. Eleven inhabitants were killed and their mission was burned to the ground.

One day later on the 25th of November, Franklin’s defense act was passed. This Militia Act was unique from other colonies here in America. This act provided for a non-compulsory all volunteer force.

A companion act, called the “Supply Act of November 27th, 1755” was passed. This act called for the construction of a series of forts in the defense of Pennsylvania. The act however, stretched the militia far beyond its limits. Now with forts being built garrisons of men would be needed to man them. The Supply Act provided for raising a full time regiment to garrison these fortifications; these forces would be known as the Pennsylvania Provincial Regiment.

These provincial troops would be paid in the service of the Commonwealth for specific time periods and were not constrained by geographical limitations. Numerous provincial companies were formed however, from existing militia transferring to provincial status. This meant that while the units now had a different name they were often made up of the same group of personnel.

Those militia who failed to become part of the provincials, still played a very important role in the defense of Pennsylvania and surrounding lands during the French and Indian War. Control of the militias of Pennsylvania by England or even the government of Pennsylvania were virtually nonexistent until the following year.

On April 15th, 1756 the Pennsylvania Assembly passes the Commonwealth’s version of the British Mutiny Act. This act forced even militias into following military discipline.

The Donegal Township Riflemen, Inc. portrays real persons from Lancaster County.

As our revolutionary unit is based on real persons who lived and served during the American Revolution from Lancaster County; it is also accurate that some of those same persons served during the French and Indian War. Some of those who served were from Mount Joy, Rapho and Donegal Townships and were also members of the Donegal Presbyterian Church.

There is a monument on the church property that list several names of congregation members who served during both the French and Indian, and the American Revolutionary War. It is again those men who we base our Donegal Militia unit upon. Additionally some of those same names appear from papers written by Colonel James Burd commander of one of the Pennsylvania Provincial Regiments during the French and Indian War. Names such as Samuel Grubb, Samuel Atlee and Robert Lowry are prominently displayed.

These men and others from Lancaster County served at Fort Hunter, and helped with the construction and supplying of Fort Augusta and the provincial troops there. These same men scouted, fought and defended the Pennsylvania frontier. Some of these men served under Forbes during the French and Indian War and later is western Pennsylvania under Bouquet during Pontiac’s War. Further on, some of these men served during the American Revolution as soldiers and officers.

References:

The Pennsylvania Militia: The Early Years, 1669-1792 by Samuel J. Newland, Ph.D.

The Papers of Benjamin Franklin, Pennsylvania Archives, Harrisburg Pa.

The “Journal of Col. James Burd while Building Fort Augusta at Shamokin, 1756-57.”
Pa. Archives, Second Series, Vol. II