BACKGROUND OF WILLIAM BAGNALL OF STAFFORDSHIRE

William Bagnall's father was Walter Bagnall, born about 1716 who married Mary Hordern. Their son, William Bagnall, was born June 11, 1735 in Newcastle-Under-Lyme, Staffordshire. He married MaryKeeling on July 3, 1763 in Newcastle-Under-Lyme.

William and Mary Bagnall had four children - John, born May 4, 1764 and died September 9, 1772;William, born May 25, 1765; Walter, born September 16, 1767 and died November 13, 1767; and Thomas, born October 31, 1768. All births and deaths were in Newcastle-Under-Lyme, Staffordshire.

William's son, Thomas, married Sarah Smith April 5, 1791 in Newcastle-Under-Lyme, Staffordshire. They had
a son Thomas, born about 1792, who married a Susannah _________. Thomas and Susannah Bagnall had a daughter, Susanna, born about 1808, who married George Chisholm of Manchester, Lancashire.

Susanna Bagnall Chisholm's grandfather, William Bagnall, was an apprentice carpenter in the British Royal Regiment of Artillery. He came to America on June 17, 1759 as part of a British effort to reinforce their troops fighting in the French - Indian War.

More detail concerning the Bagnall and Chisholm families, as well as the relationship to the writer, may be
found at http://members.tripod.com/fdavies41/index.html .

BACKGROUND OF THE FRENCH & INDIAN WAR IN AMERICA

Generals George Washington and Edward Braddock had been defeated in attempts to take Fort Duquesne from the French, the latter attempt taking place in 1755. When William Pitt became Britain's Minister of War he made it a priority to commit his main forces to quell this war in the colony.

British ships successfully cut off French reinforcements and supplies which included goods to be traded with the Indians for support in the conflict. The fall of Fort Louisbourg at Nova Scotia in 1758 convinced the Iroquois and
Delawares that the French would not ultimately be victorious. Realizing this change in the momentum of the battle, the Indians ceased their frontier attacks.

General John Forbes organized a new expedition against Fort Duquesne, and pushed a new wilderness road directly westward from Philadelphia. Benefitting from the mistakes of his predecessors, General Forbes and his
detachment set up outposts along the way and sent out emissaries to court the good will of the Indians.

The French, anticipating ultimate defeat, burned Fort Duquesne and fled. General Forbes' detachment, William
Bagnall among them, erected Fort Pitt on the site which would eventually become the present day metropolis of Pittsburgh.

THE DIARY OF WILLIAM BAGNALL

The writer's great uncle, Everett Sutherland, had several papers relating to William Bagnall which included a
diary of his trip to America. After the death of Everett Sutherland, however, these items disappeared.

The following is an account of William Bagnall's journey:

                  "... Left Newcastle the 10 Day of July 1756 and came Binningh on the 11th and on the
                          3 Day of Agst  I came to London and on the 1 Day of Jenry 1759 Set out for America
                          and Landed at Philadelphia on the 17 Day of June there stayed 10 Days and marched
                          for Lancaster staded there 14 days then marched for Carslile stopd 4 Days then to
                          Shipingburg stop 10 Days then to Back Woods then to Fort Bedford there we
                          arrected a Stockaded fort from there to fort Legemur there arrected another and on
                          the 26 November we took Fort Duquesne and then arrected a fort that monted 113
                          Peses of Brass Conant with Barrak and all Conveniences but great want of
                          Pervishan and on the 21 January 1761 George the 3 was Proclamed in Philadelphia
                          for which we fired 21 guns the smallest 10 Pounders and the largest 42 Pounder."

Another paper formerly held by Everett Sutherland:

                  By Captn David Hay Commanding a Detachment of the Royal Rigiment of Artillery
                         in Philadelphia
                                    Permit the Barrer hereof Wm. Bagnall Carpenter to the Royal
                                    Artillery to pass and repass from Philadelphia to New York
                                    abought his own Lawful Affaires for the space of Twelve Days
                                    from the Date
                                    Thereof he Behaving as becometh

                                                         Given under my hand at Philadelphia this
                                                         Twelfth of January 1762
           To all concerned:           DAVID HAY
                                                         Commandant of Artillery on the Southern District
 

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