Ambrose arrived in America as a private in Cpt. I.
Hamilton’s Coy. He was listed as being on command on the 27 October 1767
muster. Likely, he was among the
detachment sent to Ft. Pitt under Cpt. Edmonstone. He was transferred to
Edmonstone’s Coy on 24 June 1768, most likely at Ft. Pitt. Ambrose remained at
Ft. Pitt for the next four years until that post was abandoned in the fall of
1772.
When he returned to Philadelphia in the fall of
1772, he remained with Edmonstone’s Coy. He didn’t leave that company until the
regiment was reorganized prior to leaving Philadelphia. At that time, Ambrose
was transferred to Cpt. R. Hamilton’s Coy on 9 October 1774. He travelled to
Boston with Hamilton’s Coy and remained with that company until Christmas. On
25 December 1775, he was transferred to the Grenadier Coy probably in response
to the impact of spotted fever on the Grenadiers.
While in Boston, Ambrose stayed out of trouble. He
most likely fought at both Concord and Bunker Hill. He was listed as being on
duty when the company was mustered at Charles Town Heights on 7 October 1775
and was drafted into the Grenadier Coy of the 52nd Foot in December
1775. He was evacuated to Halifax in March 1776 with the rest of the Army in Boston
at that time.
Ambrose remained with the 52nd Foot throughout
its American Service. He was present at Staten Island in July 1776 for the
beginning of the Long Island Campaign. He was listed as present at Brunswick,
New Jersey in April 1777 and at Philadelphia on 9 February 1778 meaning he
survived the Philadelphia Campaign and fighting at Brandywine and Germantown.
He is last listed as present on 21 September 1778 at King’s Bridge, New York,
directly before the 52nd was sent to the West Indies. So he most
likely also fought at Monmouth Court House.
Unfortunately, his record ends there. He does not appear on the August
1780 or the 1784 rolls of the 52nd Foot. The intervening returns
being lost. His fate is unclear; he may have died in battle or of disease in
the West Indies. It is also possible he deserted, but not probably as his
record indicates he was a model soldier.
