HI Earl, No problem. The names Francis (male) and Frances (female) run in several of my lines. If they don't run in your lines, it's very easy to guess wrong about the spelling. In the letter/order Washington seems to be directing the selection of the Life Guards using Francis Moreland as both a participant as well as role model. This letter doesn't specifically refer to them as the Commander-in-Chief's Life Guards. This particular letter is dealing primarily with Quartermaster duties (which the Life Guards also saw to IIRC). In another letter relating to a 1778 Court Martial of George Albin. He was sentenced to receive 100 lashes in the "presence of the old and new Guards". Francis Moreland was named as a member of the Guards . Here's a better portal and path WASHINGTON Papers http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/gwhtml/gwhome.html Query box http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/mgwquery.html Search result http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query New Address for the Washington to Stephen letter http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/P?mgw:1:./temp/~ammem_QJ7L:: This is the page that mentions Francis Moreland ...it is now Image # 33 http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=mgw2&fileName=gwpage003.db&recNum=32&tempFile=./temp/~ammem_QJ7L&filecode=mgw&next_filecode=mgw&itemnum=1&ndocs=100 I printed my copy of this document a year ago. Apparently they've added more files and haven't maintained the integrity of their numbering system. I believe there have also been postings (on this very list, I thought) about the existence of a book about the Commander-in-Chief's Guards (or Life Guards) now in print. I haven't seen it. ~malinda E1091@aol.com wrote: > Sorry Malinda, if I may address you so, for misspelling the name Francis > Moreland. > I hope the reference you gave below mentions the men as part of Washingtons > Life Guards. Score now, after searching is : > > 4 Officers > > 12 Soldiers (not counting Francis Moreland and John Sallard, if mentioned as > Washingtons Life Guards.) > > Earl. > > In a message dated 11/28/01 3:46:59 PM, mthiesse@swbell.net writes: > > << Francis (with an "i" not an "e") Moreland was mentioned in a January 9, > 1756 > letter from George Washington to Adam Stephen which is available online in > the Series 2 Letterbooks in the George Washington Papers at the Library of > Congress < http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage > > > An image of the original document is in Letterbook 3 , Image 30. There is a > link on that site for a transcription in addition to the image. > > John Sallard is also mentioned as having his (George Washington's) "promise". > > The document is a little tricky to access from the URL (from my system). With > the info I gave you, you should be able to access it via another portal if you > have to. > > ~malinda > > E1091@aol.com wrote: > > > No Malinda, I do not have that name to date. If Frances was mentioned as one > > of Washingtons Life Guards, in any publication or letter, forward the data > to > > me please, with either web site, pension papers or other reference. I intend > > to continue adding to the list until time prohibits me from so doing. > > > > When I am sent that data, the list will be: > > > > 4 Officers > > > > 11 Soldiers. > > > > Various publications/sites state: the elite unit had it's own 13 star flag; > > the blue background and white stars were said to be the basis of our present > > flag; they were very well dressed, much moreso than the ordinary soldier; > the > > best soldier of each colonies unit was picked; minimum height was 5'10", > > except musicians, and one site said the unit consisted of 'several men from > > each colony.' Yet another site stated that the unit consisted of 240 to 250 > > men, most infantry, but some on horseback. Based on that information, the > > unit consisted of between 40 and 250 soldiers, so it appears I have many > > names to add to the list I started. > > > > If all that read this message would send me data I requested above, I may > be > > close to obtaining around 50% of the possible units strenth prior to the > > start of another century. > > > > Enjoy the information. > > > > Earl. > > > > In a message dated 11/28/01 8:34:55 AM, mthiesse@swbell.net writes: > > > > << Do you have Francis Moreland on your list ? He was mentioned specifically > > by Washington in one of his directives. > > > > ~malinda > > > > "by way of John Robertson " wrote: > > > > > Thanks much for the information. After 2 days of searching for a > list/roster > > > of men in Washingtons Life Guards, all I have found to date is a mention > > here > > > and there of the unit. With the name you sent below, I now have 4 officers > > > names and 10 soldiers, a very small fraction of the units strength. Still > > > searching. > > > > > > Earl. > > > > > > In a message dated 11/27/01 3:15:14 PM, Farns10th writes: > > > > > > << GEN. WASHINGTON'S GUARD > > > > > > VA's Corp .Henry Sparks was one of Washington's personal Guards > > > > > > 3rd Corp. Henry Sparks (1753-1836) was Revolutionary War soldier from > > > Virginia; served with Commander-in-Chief's Guard, "the flower and pick of > > > American army." While with this bodyguard Sparks fought at the battles of > > > Brandywine and Germantown. Discharged at Valley Forge in 1778. Came to > > > Kentucky, 1795; settled in present Owen Co., 1800. Buried at Sparks > Bottom. > > > > > > http://www.kentuckyconnect.com/kyprojects/markers/owen.shtml > >>