Militia & Associated Companies of Bucks County Pennsylvania

Captain James McLAUGHLIN's Company

On May 25, 1748, Pennsylvania's Provincial Council issued commissions to the officers of six militia companies in Bucks county, with Captain James McLOUGLIN,  Lieutenant James DAVIS and Ensign John HALL receiving commissions in the fourth company listed. (Note: such minor variations in the spelling of surnames are relatively common among such early records.)

In late 1755 concerns were rising about hostilities with the Indians along the frontier. In November, Indians were know to have crossed the Blue Mountains and into Berks county, engaging in acts of murder and mayhem. Following the massacre at Gnadenhutten, on November 24 of that year, a company of men under a Captain WILSON was sent to relieve Bethlehem. Soon after, some eight-hundred men were mustered into service under the command of Benjamin FRANKLIN, who was then colonel of a Philadelphia regiment and a provincial commissioner on frontier defenses given charge of defensive operations from the Delaware to the Susquehanna.

The first Bucks county company to join this force was that of Captain James McLAUGHLIN. Capt. McLAUGHLIN's company was formally mustered for this duty on on December 29, 1755,  with its members subscribing to the following oath:

"We, the subscribers, do hereby engage ourselves to serve as soldiers in His Majesty's service under the command of Captain James McLaughlin for the space of two months, and whoever shall desert or prove cowardly in time of action, or disobedient to our officers, shall forfeit his Pay. This agreement we make in consideration of being allowed, at the rate of Six Dollars per month, Arms, Ammunition, Blankets, Provisions, and a gill of rum per day for each man. The Blankets, Arms, and Ammunition left to be returned when we are discharged from the service."

The company received orders from the governor's to march on January 5, 1756. Capt. McLAUGHLIN was to detach the lieutenant and twenty men to await orders from Col. FRANKLIN, and then to lead his thirty remaining men to Harris' ferry.

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