| Citation |
PC.772.126
14-21 Nov 1772:1771 (306)
Thursday last the battalion of the Royal Train of Artillery,
quartered at Greenwich for the purpose of the review on
Black Heath by his Majesty, marched from thence for Chatham
barracks. They were a very handsome corps of young men, who
greatly attracted the notice of the young women of that town
by their civil and polite behaviour; and during their stay
got greatly into their good graces, insomuch that it is
computed near 20 young lasses went off with them. The drums
beat the march about two o'clock in the morning, at which
early hour the young girls took the opportunity of leaving
their beds, and slipped out unknown to their families, so
that in one street near the church, where they kept a guard,
there was not a servant maid that was handsome to be found
when the family go up, excepting two, who, being handsome,
and their mistresses having some suspicions, locked all the
doors over night and secured the keys, to the great
disappointment of the poor girls.
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