Lt Col John Young - our next Virginia Lt Gov?
By end of June 1759, we are more than a year into Lord Fauquier residing in the Governor's house in Williamsburg. Fauquier was appointed 26 Jan 1758, but he did not actually arrive until 5 June 1758. During that interim, President John Blair, head of the Executive Council, filled the role of acting Governor during that interim.
John Blair and all the Virginia leaders expected someone else to arrive a year ago.
Lord Loudoun had touted Lt Col John Young to succeed Lt Gov Dinwiddie.
22 March 1757 Dinwiddie writes letters to William Pitt, to Lord Halifax, to Abercrombie about this request for leave due to ill health and mention's Loudoun suggesting Lt Col John Young to succeed as Lt Gov of Virginia.
But,
Lieutenant-Colonel John Young was severely wounded at the fall of Fort William Henry, August 9, 1757. It is stated in the Abercromby correspondence, previously referred to, that so confident was Young of his appointment that he had sent to the colony " a post-chaise for his use."
-page 602 footnote, Vol IV Dinwiddie Papers published by the Virginial Historical Society - https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?
A Post-Chaise
A postilion is a pilot who sits on the horse to guide the carriage instead of a coachman, who would sit on the carriage to pilot it. And on this carriage, there was no coachmen, because that front section was used for luggage.
In England, public post chaises were painted yellow and could be hired, along with the driver and two horses, for about a shilling a mile.
From Britannica and wikipedia
That debacle of the loss of Fort William Henry, though, was the stuff of legend.
That battle became part of the Last of the Mohicans by James Fenimore Cooper.
And so,
Lt Col John Young did not succeed Lt Gov Dinwidide.
News is slow
That defeat at Fort William Henry where Lt Col John Young was wounded 9 Aug 1757 never got conveyed to the leaders in Virginia.
"We hear Colo. Young has got his Commission come for this Government," writes President John Blair of the Council acting as govenor in lieu of an absent Governor and Lt Governor. He writes this 5 Feb 1758 to Colonel George Washington.
Also another event never got conveyed to the leaders of Virginia.
London appointed Francis Fauquier as Lt Gov of VA on 26 Jan 1758,
President Blair had not received communication of this.
It takes 3 months to cross the big pond, the Atlantic Ocean, just to deliver a message.
Founders Online Footnote 8: There seems to have been a false rumor that Lord Loudoun, governor of Virginia, had succeeded in getting his protegé Lt. Col. John Young, paymaster of the Royal American Regiment, an appointment as lieutenant governor of Virginia to replace Robert Dinwiddie. An entry for 12 Jan. 1758 in the Exec. Journals of Virginia Council mentions the impending “Arrival of the Honourable Colonel Young (whom we may soon expect to succeed [Governor Dinwiddie]).”
"MR President [John Blair] this Day took the Oaths appointed to be taken by Act of Parliament instead of the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy, the Oath of Abjuration, and subscribed the Test; was also sworn duly to observe the Acts of Trade, and faithfully to discharge the Office of Commander in Chief of this His Majesty's Dominion of Virginia, and then was pleased to express himself in the Words following Gentlemen of the Council, As by the Departure of our truly worthy Lt. Governor, the Honble Robert Dinwiddie Esqr. before the Arrival of the Honour- able Colonel Young; (whom we may soon expect to succeed him) the Administration of the Government for that Interval is, by the Death of our late worthy President in Septemr. last [William Fairfax] , devolved on me, I comfort myself that under this new and arduous Task, I shall be well assisted by your wise and prudent Counsels in all difficult Emergencies, which I must therefore call for, as Occasion offers, and shall make the Rule of my Conduct. ..." source- 12 Jan 1758 session of Council.
William Pitt overides Lord Loudoun
Even without the wounding,
William Pitt,
still would have over-ruled
Lord Loudoun's nomination
of Lt Col John Young.
One reason is that
Francis Fauquier's Dad was big. He was rich. His Dad had ended up on the Court of Directors of the Bank of England. His Dad had worked at the Mint under Sir Isaac Newton. The son, now our Lt Gov Francis Fauquier, was a teacher and friend of a young Thomas Jefferson. He's elected to the Royal Society of London and sat with Ben Franklin. Here's a simple timeline to show some major events in his life.
Another reason is that
William Pitt was no longer in favor of Lord Loudoun who had recommended Lt Col John Young. William Pitt had already decided to recall Lord Loudoun from the job of leading North American military operations.
That's it.
That's our lead story.
There's always more.
Skip around.
Read bits and pieces.
Compiled and authored by Jim Moyer 2/13/2022, 6/28/2023, 7/4/2023, 7/9/2023
Table of Contents
Fort William Henry
2 strikes and then a Home Run
The French counter attack and destroy Fort William Henry 3–9 August 1757. That's when Lt Col John Young was wounded.
Then on July 8,1758 the French defending their Fort Carillon defeated Abercrombie and killed Howe who had a promising future.
Finally in 1759 the British win on Lake George reducing Fort Carillion. Since the British and natives previously called the area Ticonderoga when the French had it, the British named their new fort Ticonderoga.
See some links referring to Lt Col John Young:
The_35th_Regiment_of_Fo... Lieutenant Colonel Young's Reinforcement Column, which arrived the day before the ... Young was a protégé and close friend to Loudoun; he would be killed ...
(PDF) The 35th Regiment of Foot and the British Artillery at ... Academia.eduhttps://www.academia.edu ›
This was all very fine, however during negotiations several acts by Montcalms indian allies convinced one British officer (Lieutenant Colonel Young) that the Indians may not have been in FULL agreement to the surrender document, and conveyed his worries to Montcalm.
Montcalm was well aware of the problem, knowing only too well that the Indian forces were ALLIES and not by any means under his command. He was also well aware that on a similar such occasion at OSWEGO the previous year, wounded from the surrendering garrison had been murdered. He therefore called a general council of the gathered chiefs to which Lieutenant Colonel Young was invited. Montcalm apparently went to some lengths to explain the "European" terms.
They returned with word that Indians were encamped on islands in the lake about 18 miles (29 km) from the fort. Swearing Putnam and his rangers to secrecy, Webb returned to Fort Edward, and on 2 August sent Lieutenant Colonel John Young with 200 regulars and 800 Massachusetts militia to reinforce the garrison at William Henry.[24]
Nester, William R (2000). The First Global War: Britain, France, and the Fate of North America, 1756–1775. Westport, CT: Praeger. ISBN 978-0-275-96771-0. OCLC 41468552. page 55
Suppressed Official British Report of the Siege and "Massacre" at Fort William Henry, 1757
Lt Colonel john Young is referenced on Footnote 2 on last page:
Lt Col John Young brought 812 men of Colonel Joseph Frye's Massachussetts regiment, 57 New York troops, and 122 of his own Royal Americans.
BTW that's the same Joseph Frye who got mad at Robert Rogers taking his recruits enlisted on Massachussetts money to New Hampshire instead.
.
Links to Virginia leaders
President John Blair
Head of Council
Lt Gov Francis Fauquier
When is getting over here?
Fauquier asking Burgesses if he should go to Philly Conference
Lord Loudoun
He was the absentee Governor of Virginia over both Dinwiddie and for some time over Fauquier.
Loudoun takes a long time leaving
We also look at other aspects of Lord Loudoun, particularly his recommendation of Lt Col John Young, paymaster of the Royal American Regiment to succeed Lt Gov Dinwiddie. Because of that the House of Burgesses announced Lt Col Young's imminent assumption of the office on 12 Jan 1758.
Goodbye Lord Loudoun Again?
Feb 13, 2022
Good bye Lord Loudoun
Dec 18, 2021
Where's Lord Loudoun in July 1757?
Jul 4, 2021
Lord Loudoun and the war February 1757
Feb 7, 2021
Lord Loudoun and the war January 1757
Jan 24, 2021
Loudoun wonders if GW is a Traitor?
Jan 3, 2021
Lord Loudoun
Nov 24, 2020
Lt Gov Robert Dinwiddie
He tries to leave since 22 March 1757 and finally leaves 12 Jan 1758
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