The artistic establishment: Drummers, harpers and fifers

Office-Holders in Modern Britain: Volume 11 (Revised), Court Officers, 1660-1837. Originally published by University of London, London, 2006.

Citation:

'The artistic establishment: Drummers, harpers and fifers', Office-Holders in Modern Britain: Volume 11 (Revised), Court Officers, 1660-1837, (London, 2006), pp. 205-210. British History Online https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/office-holders/vol11/pp205-210 [accessed 24 June 2024].

Drummers 1660–1837

In 1660, the court was served by a drum-major general, a kettle-drummer, four drummers, a harper and a fife, all appointed by lord chamberlain's warrant. The drummers' positions seem to have been left unfilled 1685–1688. The harper and fife were eliminated in 1702. From about 1712 the drummers are referred to as drum-majors to specific household regiments (as opposed to the drum-major general). By 1758 there were five drummers and two kettle drummers. (fn. 1)

These servants were paid £34 7s at the Exchequer until 1682, when they were transferred to the paymaster of the forces. (fn. 2) From this point the drum-major made £30 per annum, the drummers and fife £24 per annum. They also received livery of £16 2s 6d. (fn. 3)

The kettle-drummer made £ 91 5s under William III. (fn. 4)

Drum-major General 1660–?1760



1660	20 June	Maugridge, J.
1688	10 Apr.	Maugridge, J.
1705	24 Apr.	Maugridge, R., jun.
1720	18 Feb.	Clothier, J.
1754	4 Feb.	Conquest, J.

Drummers (from 1712 Drum-majors) 1660–1837



1660	21 June	Crewes, J.
1660	20 July	Lewis, T.
1660	24 July	Ottley, E.
1661	19 Feb.	Maugridge, R
1662	7 Apr.	Clothier, D.
1665	27 Nov.	Maugridge, R., sen.
1677	19 Mar.	Wharton, E.
1683	30 Oct.	Skyrme, J.
1688	10 Apr.	Clothier, D.
1688	10 Apr.	Lewis, T.
1688	10 Apr.	Skyrme, J.
1699	29 Apr.	Clothier, J.
1701	25 June	Gardner, W.
1702	9 July	Vandenande, C.
1712	24 Mar.	Herauld, J.
1712	24 Mar.	Boroughs, R. (1^st Reg. of Footguards)
1712	24 Mar.	Underhill, W. (Footguards)
1715	7 Sept.	Minicks, D.
1715	7 Sept.	Perkins, R.
1715	7 Sept.	Venables, J.
1717	27 Dec.	Willis, J. (1^st. Reg. of Footguards)
1723	12 Feb.	Warrington, D. (1^st Reg. of Footguards)
1724	18 Feb.	Fisher, C. (Cold Stream Reg.)
1724	24 June	Hallam, W. (Coldstream Guards)
1725	23 Feb.	Norton, P. (1^st Reg. Footguards)
1727	16 Sept.	Browne, R. (3^rd Reg. of Footguards)
1727	18 Oct.	Baine, J. (3rd. Reg. of Footguards)
1733	18 May	Crisp, W. (Coldstream Guards)
1735	31 July	Drummond, W. (3^rd Reg of Footguards)
1741	23 Jan.	Jones, J. (Footguards)
1743	24 Jan.	Rowland, T. (Coldstream Guards)
1743	23 Apr.	Davis, D. (1^st. Reg. of Footguards)
1743	23 Apr.	Aspley, J. (1^st Reg. of Footguards)
1744	7 Feb.	Pollard, W. (3^rd. Reg. of Footguards)
1745	21 Nov.	Conquest, J. (Coldstream Guards)
1746	8 Dec.	Harmon (1^st Reg. of Footguards)
1747	23 Jan.	Spencer, R. (3^rd Reg. of Footguards)
1748	11 Feb.	Dolling (1^st. Reg. of Footguards)
1749	18 May	Higgins, L. (1^st Reg. of Footguards)
1751	29 Aug.	Sumner, W. (1st Reg. of Footguards)
1753	12 Jan.	Field, J. (1^st Reg. of Footguards)
1754	4 Feb.	Chaterley, J. (Coldstream Guards)
1754	14 Nov.	Thorpe, W. (Coldstream Guards)
1755	14 Nov.	Moore, H. (1^st Reg. of Footguards)
1756	1 Dec.	Rogers, T. (1^st Reg. of Footguards)
1758	7 Oct.	Messing, S. (3^rd Reg. of Footguards)
By 1759		Arbuthnot, T.
1759	28 Nov.	Bean, M. (1^st Reg. of Footguards)
1762	29 Sept.	Spink, C.
By 1767		Stuart, C.
By 1770		Wood, J.
By 1773		Gains, P.
By 1773		Tomlin, J.
1775	4 July	Malcolm, J. (Coldstream Guards)
1780	28 June	Sellers, C. (Coldstream Guards)
1780	21 Oct.	Mosman, D. (1^st Reg. of Footguards)
1781	12 Jan.	Wallis, T. (1^st. Troop of Horseguards)
1781	Aug.	Wood, W. (Coldstream Guards)
By 1783		Boyce, J.
1783	June	Gibbs, H. (1^st Reg. of Footguards)
1795	20 Jan.	Ford, J. (1^st Reg. of Footguards)
1795	20 June	Mortimer, G. (1^st Reg. of Footguards)
1795	21 Dec.	Lamb, W. (Coldstream Guards)
By 1797		Jenkinson, W.
1797	2 Feb.	Astler, R. (Lifeguards)
By 1801		Martindee, -
1801	7 Apr.	Wilson, R. (1^st Reg of Footguards)
1801	21 Oct.	White, W. (1^st Reg. of Footguards)
1803	26 Mar.	Wild, P. (3rd Reg. of Footguards)
1803	7 May	Watson, J. (1st Reg. of Footguards)
1804	28 Sept.	White, G. (1st Reg. of Footguards)
1804	4 Dec.	Robinson, J.
1806	8 Sept.	Potter, S. (Coldstream Guards)
1810	23 Apr.	Bradley, G. (1st Reg. of Footguards)
1814	Apr.	Burrows, J.
By 1816		Page, J. H.
1816	23 Feb.	Stevens, J.
1816	1 Apr.	Horton, J.
1816	15 Apr.	Lowrey, E.
1816	23 Aug.	McCarter, D.
1817	10 Apr.	Jones, J.
1819	24 Sept.	Rooney, J.
1819	30 Nov.	Ashton, J.
1820	26 Dec.	Sharp, J.
1825	19 May	Moss, G.
1825	17 Aug.	King, J.
1826	6 Feb.	Errington, J.
1828	3 Aug.	Caldwell, N.
1830	19 June	Busby, T.
By 1836		Gilbourne, G.
1836	9 Mar.	Robertson, R.

Drummers in Extraordinary 1665–?1690



1665	28 Feb.	Canon, N.
1665	27 Aug.	Maugridge, R., sen.
1665	28 Oct.	Wharton, E.
1667	22 Oct.	Gibson, S.
1671	30 Aug.	Maugridge, J.
1672	14 Dec.	Skyrme, E.
1675	20 Dec.	Langley, J.
1679	22 Jan.	Agas, R.
1690	19 Jan..	Hobson, C.

Kettle-drummers 1660–?1782; c. 1836–1837



1660	20 June	Bartooske, J.
1661	23 Dec.	Berneyhoski, H.
1666	22 June	Vanbright, W.
1682	8 June	Maugridge, R., sen.
1686	6 May	Vandenande, C.
[1702]		Maugridge, R., jun.
1714	31 Dec.	Vandenande, J.
1744	4 May	Smith, F.
By 1755		Wietzenmüller, J.
1758	22 June	Simpson, R
By 1766		Asbridge, -
By 1770		Malme, G.
1781	13 Feb.	Dressler, J.
By 1836		Astley, R.
1836	14 Oct.	Tutton, J. R.

Kettle-drummer in Extraordinary 1662–?



1662	6 June	Josse, J. N.

Drum-maker 1677–?



1677	31 Oct.	Goodale, J.

Harper 1690–1702; 1827–?



1690	20 Jan.	Reynolds, M.
1827	13 Jan.	Weippert, J. M.

Fife 1660–1702



1660		Jeddow, -
By 1661		Tasher, J.
1662	23 June	Vaux, R.
1672	25 Nov.	Newth, C.
1690	12 Apr.	Ashbury, J.

Fife in Extraordinary 1667–1672



1667	22 Oct.	Newth, C.

Bagpiper 1664–?



1664	23 Feb.	Tollet, W.