Lt.-Gen. Sir William Erskine, 1st Baronet of Torrie

From Wikipedia - Sir William Erskine, 1st Baronet

Lieutenant-General Sir William Erskine, 1st Baronet (1728 – 19 March 1795) was a British Army commander and the 1st Baronet of the Erskine of Torrie creation.

Background

Erskine was the son of Colonel the Honourable William Erskine of Torrie, Deputy Governor of Blackness Castle, Blackness, Linlithgowshire EH49 7NH 56.00611, -3.51611, and grandson of David Erskine, second Lord Cardross.

Erskine first married Magdalen Myrton, daughter of Robert Myrton of Gogar Castle Gogar, 180 Glasgow Road, Ingliston, Edinburgh EH12 9BQ 55.94306, -3.33833, and then Frances Moray, daughter of James Moray of Abercairny.

His eldest son by his second wife, Frances, William, the 2nd baronet was a cavalry officer who committed suicide in Lisbon, Portugal in 1813 after a mental breakdown. He had another son, James, who was an officer in the 133rd (Fraser's) Foot, and became baronet on his elder brother's death. His third son John, also became baronet, on the death of his brother James.

Erskine joined his father’s regiment the 7th Dragoons in 1742 and served in the War of the Austrian Succession, 16 December 1740 – 18 October 1748, seeing action at the Battle of Fontenoy, Fontenoy, Antoing, Belgium, 11 May 1745 50.5694, 3.4750, then in the Seven Years' War, 17 May 1756 – 15 February 1763. By March 1759 he was in Germany with the rank of Major in the 15th Light Dragoons, and was promoted Lieutenant-Colonel commanding the same regiment in 1762. Erskine performed exceptionally on the field at the Battle of Emsdorf, Kirchhain, Hesse, Germany, 16 July 1760 50.817, 8.917 and was able to present King George III with 16 colors captured by his regiment. For his prowess, Erskine was knighted.

American War of Independence

Erskine was posted to America in 1776 as a Brigadier staff officer under Clinton, seeing action in the New York campaign and commanding the 7th Brigade at Battle of Long Island, Long Island, Brooklyn, New York, United States 40.666, -73.966. In 1777 he was Quartermaster-General to Lord Cornwallis. Erskine is credited with advising Cornwallis on the occasion of the Battle of the Assunpink Creek, Trenton, New Jersey, United States 40.22167, -74.75611 (also known as 'Five Mile Run') not to put off attacking the Continental Army on the night of 2 January 1777. The Continental forces moved away by night, fighting the Battle of Princeton on 3 January 1777.

Erskine was made Colonel of the 80th Foot on 4 March 1777. Now a Brigadier-General, Erskine accompanied British forces as second in command under General William Tryon with the assistance of General James Agnew on an inland raid against Patriot supply depots in Danbury, Connecticut. After successfully destroying Patriot supplies, the British forces engaged and defeated Continental Army Generals David Wooster, Benedict Arnold, and Gold S. Silliman and Patriot militiamen in the Battle of Ridgefield, Ridgefield, Connecticut, United States, 27 April 1777 41.30528, -73.50139. Erskine served in the Philadelphia campaign, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, July 1777–July 1778 39.95278, -75.16361 and then, following Sir William Howe's resignation in 1778, continued as Quartermaster-General under Henry Clinton. Erskine went on to lead troops at the Battle of Monmouth, Freehold Borough, New Jersey, United States, 28 June 1778 40.256341, -74.320899 and after that campaign was given command of the eastern district of Long Island. Erskine's last active duty in North America was commanding five infantry battalions and a cavalry squadron in pursuit of the Continental Army which was thought to be moving to Virginia in November 1778. Promoted Major-General on 19 February 1779, Erskine sailed for London the same year.

Wars of the French Revolution

He became Colonel-in-Chief of the 26th Foot (Cameronians) in 1782. On 28 September 1787 he was promoted Lieutenant-General. He became a baronet in 1791. After the declaration of war with revolutionary France he served on the staff of the Duke of York in the Flanders Campaign from late 1793. He was present with York at the Siege of Dunkirk from 25 August 1793 to 10 September 1793, and commanded the retreat to Furnes after the Battle of Hondschoote, Hondschoote, Nord, France, 6–8 September 1793 50.9803, 2.5861. Erskine was given command of the army during York’s absence through the Winter of 1793/1794.

At the opening of the Spring campaign he was given command of York’s right wing in April 1794. He drove the French from Prémont on 16 April 1794, but was unable to join York to complete the victory at Vaux. He commanded a column sent by Coburg to reinforce Clerfayt after the French breakthrough on 26 April 1794 (see Battle of Mouscron, Mouscron, Belgium, 28–29 April 1794 50.733, 3.217), then commanded a 16-squadron cavalry reserve under York at the Battle of Tourcoing, Tourcoing, Nord, Hauts-de-France, France 17–18 May 1794 50.7323500, 3.1548000. He again fought at Tournai soon after. Erskine commanded the 2nd (British) Line Corps in August 1794.

Erskine died on 19 March 1795, aged 67, and is buried at Torryburn, Fife.

In the army he was nicknamed "Woolly" Erskine.

From Scotland's People: Old Parish Registers - Births and Baptisms

• 28 March 1728 birth or baptism of William Erskin, son of Major William Erskin and Henrietta Baillie [child 2], in the parish of Edinburgh

From Scotland's People: Old Parish Records - Marriages and Banns

• 3 December 1756 marriage or banns of William Erskine to Magdalene Myrton, in the parish of Corstorphine
• [Unknown day] [Unknown month] 1756 marriage or banns of William Erskine to Magdaline Myrton, in the parish of Torryburn

From Scotland's People: Old Parish Registers - Births and Baptisms

Possible list of 1 child of William Erskine and Magdalen Myrton from first: [Unknown day] [Unknown month] 1757 Robert Erskine

• [Unknown day] [Unknown month] 1757 birth or baptism of Robert Erskine, son of William Erskine and Magdalen Myrton [child 1], in the parish of Corstorphine

From Scotland's People: Old Parish Registers - Births and Baptisms

Possible list of 7 children of Sir William Erskine and and Frances Murray from first: 4 April 1769 Frances Erskine to last: 24 February 1787 Magdalene Erskine

• 4 April 1769 birth or baptism of Frances Erskine, daughter of Sir William Erskine and and Frances Murray [child 1], in the parish of Torryburn
• 31 March 1770 birth or baptism of William Erskine, son of Sir William Erskine and and Frances Murray [child 2], in the parish of Torryburn
• 18 May 1771 birth or baptism of Christian Erskine, (U) [son or daughter] of Sir William Erskine and and Frances Murray [child 3], in the parish of Torryburn
• 13 April 1776 birth or baptism of John Drummond Erskine, son of Sir William Erskine and and Frances Murray [child 4], in the parish of Torryburn
• 28 October 1780 birth or baptism of Henreitta Erskine, (U) [son or daughter] of Sir William Erskine and and Frances Murray [child 5], in the parish of Torryburn
• 20 April 1782 birth or baptism of Elizabeth Erskine, daughter of Sir William Erskine and and Frances Murray [child 6], in the parish of Torryburn
• 24 February 1787 birth or baptism of Magdalene Erskine, daughter of William Erskine, Baronet, and Frances Murray [child 7], in the parish of Torryburn

From London Gazette Issue 13318 Saturday, 18 June 1791 Page 363

Whitehall, Tuesday, 21 June 1791. The King has been pleased to grant the Dignity of a Baronet of the Kingdom of Great Britain to the following Gentlemen, and the respective Heirs Male of their Bodies lawfully begotten, viz....

Sir William Erskine, Knight, Lieutenant-General of His Majesty's Forces.

From London Gazette Issue 13644 Saturday, 19 April 1794 Pages 361-363

Captain Clinton, Aide de Camp to His Royal Highness the Duke of York, arrived this Morning at the Office of the Right Honorable Henry Dundas, His Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for the Home Department, with a Dispatch from His Royal Highness, of which the following is a Copy. Cateau, Friday, 18 April 1794...

[Page 362] I have equal Satisfaction in reporting, from my own Observation, and the Account I have received from Sir William Erskine, the Spirit and good Conduct of all the Officers and Men under my Command; but I have particular Obligations to Lieutenant-Generals Sir William Erskine and Otto, as well as to Major-General Abercromby, who commanded the Advanced Guard of my Column, to Colonel Devay, Major Lippert of the Austrian Hussars, and to Lieutenant-Colonel [Page 363] Count Merseldt of the Austrian Etat Major.

From Scotland's People: Old Parish Records - Deaths and Burials

• 24 March 1795 death or burial of William Erskin, in the parish of Torryburn
• 24 March 1795 death or burial of Willm Erskine, in the parish of Torryburn

From British Newspaper Archive: Caledonian Mercury Saturday, 21 March 1795 Page 3 Edinburgh, March 21

Died, on Thursday, 19 March 1795 [instant], at Torrie house, Lieutenant General Sir William Erskine, of Torrie, Bart. Torrie House, Torryburn, Fife KY12 8HH 56.0629, -3.5826

From British Newspaper Archive: Caledonian Mercury Monday, 23 March 1795 Page 3 Edinburgh, March 23

The late Sir William Erskine had, just before his decease, been appointed Commander in Chief in Ireland.

From Scotland's People: Wills and Testaments

• 29 December 1796 TT [Testament] of Lieutenant General Sir William Erskine of Torry, Baronet; court: Edinburgh Commissary Court

From Stirnet: Cunningham 07