72. Lt. John Frazer & 73. Martha Milligan [Scot, SC]
~1750, John born in Scotland.
~1750, Martha born d/o 146. William Milligan.
~1770 in Charleston, SC, John married Martha.
6/23/1777, John Frazer and W Milligan of Beale’s Wharf mentioned in the South Carolina Gazette.
2/9/1779, John killed in the Battle of Port Royal [near Beaufort] as a member of the Charlestown Artillery. Account of the Battle of Port Royal: “Last Saturday returned hither the detachment of Charlestown artillery and militia, which, with a part of Col. Skirving’s regiment, beat the British light infantry on the 4th of last month on Port Royal Island. Our loss 8 killed and 25 wounded. Charlestown artillery: Lieut. Benj Wilkins, private John Fraser killed. …” (Wednesday, 3/10/1779). (S) SC Hist. 7 Gen. Mag., V17, P152. [In support of “Lt.” rank – at the same engagement on the same day he is listed as a Lt. in 4th SC Artillery: (S) Officers of the Continental Army … 1914, P236; & (S) SC Hist. & Gen. Mag., V7, P222 – “Captain Jacob Milligan testified at the Court of Inquiry on Lieutenant Fraser, 1780.”]
1790, See No. 36, Martha appears to be living in Charleston with her son John.
(S) DAR, V23, P147 & V50, PP309–310, ID#22425. (S) Allied Families by Johnson.
Family notes:
• On February 3, the British tried to force General William Moultrie with 300 militia to leave the town of Beaufort, SC, which they had occupied. The Americans repulsed their attack in less than an hour. British losses were heavy and they retreated to their ships. The americans lost 8 killed and 22 wounded. (S) Major Battles and Skirmishes of the American Revolution.
• John formed an entity called “John Fraser And Son”. See No. 36, 1813 entry.
• It is generally well accepted that the “Frasers” originated in France, probably from the area of Anjou. The first record of a Fraser landholder in Scotland was Simon who gave a large tract of land to the monks of Kelso in 1160. The Frasers of Lovat acquired most of their landholdings by marrying into the Bisset family from 1360-1425, and were given other lands as gifts from various sources. Because Sir Simon Fraser, the 11th Lord Lovat, sided with Bonnie Prince Charlie in the Battle of Culloden, he was the last Lord to be executed by England in 1747 at the age of 80. His title and estates were declared forfeit to England. His body lies in the Chapel of the Tower of London. To make amends for their part in the Battle of Culloden, Sir Simon’s son, Simon Fraser, raised the 78th Fraser Highlanders, who were instrumental in assisting General Wolfe defeat General Montcalm on the Plains of Abraham in Quebec, Canada in 1759. It is said that General Wolfe, who disobeyed an order to execute the wounded Charles Fraser, the leader of the Frasers at the Battle of Culloden in 1746, died in the arms of a Fraser during that battle. This regiment was disbanded in 1763. Simon Fraser continued his military career, and became a General. In 1774 he received back the forfeited Lovat estates. In 1775 he raised the 71st Fraser Highlanders which served in the US until it was disbanded in 1783.
Children of John and Martha:
i. John Milligan Frazer ( 36), born 2/1778 in St. Phillips Parish, Charleston, SC.
