Samuel James McCartney

Updated 24 June 2008

This inquiry was sent by Carole Francesca. If you have any related information, contact her at carole2922@gmail.com.

Samuel James McCartney is Carole's great-great-great-grandfather. His history follows:.

Samuel married Elizabeth BRYNAN from the Belfast area around 1808. He died approximately 1834. The places of birth and death are not known.

Samuel James McCartney was a Captain in the 28th (North Gloucestershire) Regiment serving primarily in the 2nd Foot. According to the records of the Soldiers of Gloucestershire Museum, he likely began his career as a private soldier in the 60th (Royal American) Regiment. He was promoted to Quarter Master (which betokened a higher than average level of education and a gift for organisation, according to the museum researcher) also for the 60th Regiment.

The 60th was the largest infantry regiment in the army, consisting of 6 battalions in 1803. The Army Lists note 5 other QMs for the 60th during this period, making one for each battalion. Four of them have the battalion numbers they served with (the 2nd, 3rd, 5th and 6th). Two of them, including Sam McCartney, do not and it is likely he was with either the 1st or 4th Battalion. Those battalions were stationed in Jamaica in May/June 1803.

McCartney rose to the rank of Ensign/Adjutant (9th July 1803) in the 28th, 2nd Foot(north Gloucestershire) Regiment. (An Ensign in the British Army was a 2nd Lieutenant and was responsible for the day-to-day administration of the regiment.) In July the battalion was sent to Ireland to recruit more men. It was first based around Fermoy, then Cork. In early 1805 they were quartered at Birr, later moving to the Curragh then to Dublin in 1805. McCartney was again promoted to Lieutenant (31 Jan 1808). One year later, on January 31 1809, the 2/28 were dispatched to Lisbon, Portugal. On 22 July they sailed to Santarem, then marched via Abrantes and Castello Branco to Zarza la Mayor. They joined (as part of 2nd Division) Wellesley's main army in the Guadiana Valley in Sept.

The 2/28 fought at the battle of Busaco on 27 Sept 1810 and were behind the Lines of Torres Vedras by October, being based at Bucellas. On 17 Nov they crossed the Tagus and went into winter cantonments at Almerim. The 2/28 pursued the French as they retreated thru Portugal in spring 1811. On 16 May, they fought in the battle of Albuera. By July 1811, 2/28 were based at Villa Viciosa, part of General Hill's Corps, guarding Wellington's southern flank.

McCartney was promoted to Captain (10 October 1811). He was put on half pay (effectively retired) when the 2/28 disbanded in October 1814.

These details are confirmed from the many contemporary volumes of Army Lists in the museum's archives.

If anyone has information or can make a connection please contact me.

Thank You!
Carole