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James Moncrieff papers, 1710-1894 (majority within 1780-1804)

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Summary

Creator:
Moncrieff, James, 1744-1793
Abstract:
The James Moncrieff papers are made up of letters, documents, and reports partially documenting the military career of Moncrieff, a British engineer. In particular, the papers regard Moncrieff’s engineering work following the siege of Charlestown, South Carolina (1780 ff.), and in the West Indies in the early 1790s.
Extent:
403 items (1.5 linear feet)
Language:
English
Authors:
Collection processed and finding aid created by Cheney J. Schopieray, July 2005

Background

Scope and Content:

The James Moncrieff papers consist of 403 items, dated from August 2, 1710, to June 15, 1894 (the bulk dating between August 28, 1780, and April 4, 1804). The collection contains seven bound letter and account books, 38 pieces of correspondence, 244 documents pertaining to Works and Services for the Engineers Dept. of the British military, six military reports, 43 miscellaneous military documents, 10 documents pertaining to land holdings, 41 personal and financial documents, and 14 miscellaneous items.

The letterbooks and 38 individual letters pertain to the military career of James Moncrieff and regard military orders, personal purchases of Moncrieff, military purchases, military fortifications and other matters pertaining to the Engineer Corps. The 244 documents are numbered payment orders for Works Services in the Engineers Department of the British military. They include detailed lists of services and materials purchased for the operation of the Department. Each document is authorized and signed by the Commanding Engineer, James Moncrieff, by the sellers after payment, by the Paymaster, and by witnesses to the financial transactions. The 6 Military Reports (1791), initialed by G.B., G.D., B.P. and J.M., contain material regarding military engineering in the West Indies. Four of the reports contain James Moncrieff’s reports on military fortifications on Barbados, Dominica, St. Christopher’s and St. Vincent’s. The remaining reports are investigations into account fraud by bookkeepers on Barbados and St. Christopher’s.

The 43 miscellaneous military documents regard the Royal Engineer Corps. 10 documents pertain to land in Great Britain, several of which relate to the estate of George Moncrieff. The most extensive of the land documents is 13 pages in length and is titled “Search of Incumbrances on the Lands of Kingsbarns” (November 11 to November 20, 1887). The 41 documents related to personal affairs are almost exclusively accounts and receipts of James Moncrieff.

The 14 miscellaneous items include four bound volumes, including a manuscript book of poetry and notes by Moncrieff on the principles of war and on water drainage. The remaining 10 items are all undated and consist of: one printed fragment, one manuscript fragment, six unlabeled maps, one broadside and a print labeled “THE CASINO Promenade Concert Rooms.”

Biographical / Historical:

James Moncrieff (sometimes spelled "Moncrief") was born in 1744 to James Moncrieff of Sauchop, Fife and his wife (name unknown). After graduating from the Royal Military Academy in 1762, he acted as an ensign for the British expedition to Havana. For the next 14 years he served in the Royal Engineers in the province of East Florida and in the West Indies. During that time, Moncrieff accumulated a substantial estate consisting of land holdings and slaves (primarily in Florida). He was promoted to sub-engineer and lieutenant on December 4, 1770, and then Captain on January 10, 1776.

Once the American Revolution began, Moncrieff acted as Captain in the Royal Engineers. He fought in the Brandywine battle on September 11, 1777, and was briefly captured by the Americans at Flatbush, New York in 1778. From July, 1778, until December 1782, Moncrieff served in the southern campaign, specifically in Georgia and South Carolina. He was promoted Brevet Major on December 27, 1779, after proving himself a highly efficient engineer during the Siege of Savannah. He organized fortifications and other military works which were integral to its successful defense. Moncrieff joined the expedition commanded by Henry Clinton to capture Charlestown, South Carolina in 1780. He was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel on September 27, 1780. Following the success at Charlestown, James Moncrieff was put in charge of overseeing the defenses of the city (as Chief Engineer) where he remained until 1782.

The British Army evacuated Charlestown in December 1782, and Moncrieff returned to England. As a result of hostility from Americans, in 1784 he ordered his slaves in Florida to be removed to the Mosquito Coast, Nicaragua. When the British formally withdrew from the Coast in 1787, he requested that they be recovered to Jamaica. Only 51 of his slaves were actually able to be brought back to the West Indies due to unrest on the Mosquito Coast. Moncrieff remained in England, performing engineering tasks.

He received a promotion to Colonel in the army on November 18, 1790. In 1791, Moncrieff traveled to the West Indies, inspecting fortifications on various islands. Following the declaration of war between France and Great Britain, he was appointed quartermaster-general to the Duke of York (February 25, 1793), acting as de facto Chief Engineer. He assisted in British attacks along the northern French border and was promoted Regimental Lieutenant Colonel near the beginning of the siege of Valenciennes. James Moncrieff was killed in battle during the siege of Dunkirk in September 1793. He bequeathed the bulk of his estate to his daughter, Margaret Moncrieff.

Acquisition Information:
Donated, 1964; 2004. M-1301, M-4398 .
Custodial History:

The James Moncrieff letterbook, 1780 December 31-1782 October 7, was donated to the William L. Clements Library by Laurin Hunter.

Arrangement:
The James Moncrieff papers are organized in the following series and sub-series:
  • Series I: Military correspondence
    • Sub-series I: Correspondence
    • Sub-series II: Letterbooks
  • Series II: Military documents
    • Sub-series I: Payment orders
    • Sub-series II: Military reports
    • Sub-series III: Miscellaneous military documents
    • Sub-series IV: Military account books
  • Series III: Documents and other papers
    • Sub-series I: Land documents
    • Sub-series II: Miscellaneous documents
    • Sub-series III: Miscellaneous bound materials
    • Sub-series IV: Miscellaneous items and empty envelopes
Rules or Conventions:
Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS)

Contents

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How to Request

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Download PDF Finding Aid
RESTRICTIONS:

The collection is open for research.

USE & PERMISSIONS:

Copyright status is unknown.

PREFERRED CITATION:

James Moncrieff Papers, William L. Clements Library, The University of Michigan

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Collection

James Moncrieff papers, 1710-1894 (majority within 1780-1804)
Total components 71
Last indexed 2025-02-09