John Finch (1755 - 1777)

Born 22 May 1755 in England

Ancestors

Died 29 Jun 1777 at age 22 in Perth Amboy, Middlesex, New Jersey, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Michael Schell [send private message]

Biography

He was a son of Heneage Finch, the 3rd Duke of Aylesford and Lady Charlotte Seymour, second daughter to Daniel Earl of Winchelsea, and Nottingham.

A 23-year-old Captain John Finch of the British Brigade of Guards led his division of light infantry at the Battle of Short Hills, New Jersey. During battle, on 26 Jun 1777, he was mortally wounded and died 3 days later.

The only officer casualty at Short Hills was Captain The Honourable John Finch of the Guards Light Infantry. He had been to the forefront of the attack and, at one point, called out to Lord Stirling, “Come here, you damned rebel, and I will do for you!” Stirling’s response was to instruct four marksmen to concentrate their fire upon the captain. Finch soon received a wound, from which he died three days later.

Research Notes

Extract of a letter from a gentleman of the guards, (Quartermaster Thomas Sandford, Second Battalion, Brigade of Guards), dated July 6, 1777, relating to the death of the Hon. Capt. Finch of that corps:

June 26th, by a forced march the guards were ordered to advance against three pieces of cannon of the enemy's, our men (though amazingly fatigued) rushed on with their usual intrepidity to the attack, in the midst of a heavy fire from their cannon loaded with grape shot, and a brisk discharge of musquetry, but in spite of the strongest efforts of the enemy, who were greatly superior in numbers, we drove them from their cannon, which we secured, and pursued them about a mile, killed and took several prisoners; our loss on this occasion would have been very trifling but for the irreparable loss of the hon. capt. Finch, son to the earl of Aylesford; that gallant young gentleman was on horseback, at the head of his division of light infantry, and seeing the enemy endeavouring to cut away the horses from their cannon, he rode up with his bayonet only, and struck at the enemy, who immediately retired; at that instant he received a shot from a party of the rebels posted behind some rails, at a little distance, and fell from his horse; the shot went in at his belly and came out at his back, wounding the back bone in its passage; I was some distance upon his right, where the other cannon were taken; he was soon after carried out of the field in a waggon; seeing me pass him on horseback, he begged I would assist him as he lay very uneasy; I rode with him four miles, when he informed me in what manner he was wounded; I told him it was a pity he advanced before his division; he replied, : You, sir, would have done the same, and so would I again;" upon my expressing myself to him that I hoped he would soon recover, he said, "It did not signify, he was prepared for either." He had been promoted and ordered home, but had taken great pains to get general Howe's leave to stay; I wish he had been more fortunate; no man could be more brave. He lived till Sunday the 29th and died about seven in the morning of that day, at Perth Amboy, East New Jersey. The weather was so excessive hot when we were after the enemy the 26th, that 25 British and Hessians died on the march, with heat and fatigue. ^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ The Chelmsford (England) Chronicle, Friday, September 5, 1777.

• Muster Rolls
• Wikipedia