Appendix #21: Comparison of Firemen in 1772 & 1776
References:
- Calendar of Historical Manuscripts, Relating to the War of Revolution in the Office of the Secretary of State, Albany, N.Y. VOL. I. Pages 315, 316 (Albany: Weed, Parsons and Company, Printers. 1868)
- Minutes of the Common Council of the City of New York, Vol vii Pages 385-387
- Spreadsheet Appendix #21 Comparison of Firemen in 1772 & 1776
- For Facsimile of List from Reference 1. See below.
- For Transcribed Lists of 1776 and 1772 with Analyses see Spreadsheet Appendix #21.
Illustration 21: Comparison of Firemen in 1772 & 1776
The fire department was remarkably stable from 1772 to 1776 considering the turbulent political conditions in the city and the approach of the military forces converging on New York in 1776. 65% of the firemen on the force in 1776 (111) had been members in 1772. By 1776 there were fifty-one replacements and eight additional members (59 total) forming one additional engine company, twelve companies in all. The 1776 List below differs from the 1772 List in that it did not represent ‘official’ appointments as recorded in the Minutes of the Common Council of the City. The 1776 List was most likely a survey done for a Congressional Committee and as such may not have been as complete. Several firemen do not appear on the 1776 list but do appear on the 'official' lists before and after the Revolution.
The List of Firemen of New York in 1776:
