Lot 1101 1751 Commission document signed by King George II, having belonged to Captain Boughey Skey. This official Army Commission appoints Boughey Skey to the rank of Captain in Kennedy’s (i.e. the 43rd) Regiment of Foot of the British Army. The document was duly signed at top left by King George the Second, on May 2, 1751. During the 18th Century these official Army Commission documents were important pieces of personal identification and would have been carried by their owners while on active service. Captain Skey was born in England in 1728, joined the Army in 1747, and served with the 43rd Regiment throughout the Québec Campaign of 1759/1760 and he was wounded at the Battle of Sainte Foy on April 28, 1760. The standard reference work Historical Records of the Forty-Third Regiment (1868) by Sir Richard Levinge confirms the following information (relevant photocopies included in this lot): 2 May 1751 appointed to the rank of Captain in the 43rd Regt., 15 March 1761 appointed to the rank of Major in the 43rd Regt., Skey transferred to the 49th Regiment (with rank of Lt-Col) in 1768 and retired in 1769. The work states explicitly that Skey served during the Siege of Québec in 1759 and during the Expedition to the West Indies under Lieutenant General Robert Monckton in 1762. The 43rd (Kennedy’s) Regiment played an important role during the famous battle on the Plains of Abraham outside Québec City on September 13, 1759, during which British Commander-in-Chief General James Wolfe was killed in action. On that fateful day, the 43rd Regiment contributed 327 soldiers to the total Army strength of 4,829 men. The document is in very fine condition, with the normal folds. In all likelihood, Captain Boughey Skey was carrying this actual Commission document during the epic battle, thereby making it an artifact of great historical significance in the Canadian context. Rsv. $2,500. Estimate $5,000, sold for C$7,500.00 plus 17% buyer’s premium. See also Lot 1102 for letters received by Capt. Skey.
Captain Boughey Skey
Lot 1102, Canada 1759 group of three folded letters from the Québec Military Campaign to Captain Boughey Skey, sold for C$53,820
Lot 1102 Group of Three Folded Letters Written During the 1759 Québec Military Campaign, all three are addressed to Captain Boughey Skey, Commander of the Guard at the Bridges of the River St Charles, of the 43d Regiment of Foot (Kennedy’s Grenadiers). The first letter is datelined “Camp Point Lévis 28th July 1759 / 10 at Night” and was written by Brigade Major John Spital (wounded on Sep 13, 1759), informing Skey that “…by orders of the General (Wolfe)… you march to the Encampment of the Grenadiers.. and put yourself under Major Morris’s Orders… your men are only to carry their blankets with them…”, etc. Written on the eve of the Battle of Beauport, also known as the Battle of Montmorency. The second letter is unaddressed, but starts off with “Dear Skey”, datelined “Québec October the 21st 1759” written by Major of Brigade Richard Maitland (wounded Aug 8, 1759), informing Skey that the General (Wolfe) has intelligence suggesting that there are enemies “…on your side, and that they intend to surprise you… he desires that you be very alert…”. The third letter is datelined “Québec 22 (October) 1759 / 6 oclock”, written by Thomas Mills (wounded in Apr/May 1760) informing Skey that General Mills will be sending “…40 men out to the Country, they will come near your post at night…”. This third letter has a half-remnant of a red wax seal bearing the arms and motto of General James Murray (who served immediately under General Wolfe and later became Governor of Québec). None of the letters have any postal indications and would have been carried “post haste” by army officers in this tumultuous time in Québec. The River St Charles (where Skey and his men were posted) is the principal river within Québec City and played a prominent role during the Québec Campaign of 1759/1760. Captain Boughey Skey joined the Army in 1747 and became part of this Regiment in 1751. He would have certainly taken part in the famous Battle of the Plains of Abraham, which took place on Sep 13, 1759. A very important trio of letters in very fine condition. Estimate $5,000, sold for C$46,000.00 plus 17% buyer’s premium.
