List of British fencible regiments
This is a list of British fencible regiments. The fencibles were British Army regiments raised in the United Kingdom and in the colonies for defence against the threat of invasion during the Seven Years' War, the American War of Independence and French Revolutionary Wars in the late 18th century. Usually temporary units, composed of local volunteers, commanded by Regular Army officers, their role was, as their name suggests, usually confined to garrison and patrol duties, freeing the regular Army units to perform offensive operations.
The article is broken into two periods the first list is for the fencible regiments raised during the Seven Years' War and the American War of Independence the first was raised in 1759 two years after the start of the Seven Years' War and the last was disbanded in 1783 when active hostilities with the America colonies ended and the British recognised the de facto existence of the United States of America to be formalised by the Peace of Paris.
There is a far larger list for the French Revolutionary Wars and the Irish Rebellion of 1798. The regiments were raised during a time of great turbulence in Europe when there was a real fear that the French would either invade Great Britain or Ireland, or that radicals within Britain and Ireland would rebel against the established order. There was little to do in Britain other than garrison duties and some police actions, but in Ireland there was a French supported insurrection in 1798 and British fencible regiments were engaged in some minor pitched battles. Some regiments served outside Great Britain and Ireland. Several regiments performed garrison duties on the Channel Islands and Gibraltar. A detachment of the Dumbarton Fencible Regiment escorted prisoners to Prussia, and the Ancient Irish Fencibles were sent to Egypt where they took part in the operations against the French in 1801.
When it became clear that the rebellion in Ireland had been defeated and that there would be peace between France and Britain in 1802 the Fencible regiments were disbanded. The final ratification of the Peace of Amiens was concluded in March 1802. When the Napoleonic Wars resumed the British used alternative methods to defend the Home Nations and with the exception of the [|Royal Manx Fencibles] no more fencible regiments were raised for home defence.
Several fencible regiments were raised in the early 1800s in Britain for the defence of Canada, some of these saw active service during the Anglo-American War of 1812.
List of fencible infantry regiments raised prior to 1793
The total number of British fencible infantry regiments raised during the Seven Years' War and the American War of Independence was nine, of which six were Scottish, two were English and one was Manx.lo- cal | Name | Uniform | Commander | Raised | Disbanded | Notes |
SH | Argyll Regiment | Highland dress. Facings yellow | Colonel John, Duke of Argyll. | July 1759 | 1763 | When embodied was 1,000 strong. Quartered in different parts of Scotland until the peace of Paris, when it was disbanded. |
SH | Sutherland Regiment | Highland dress. Facings yellow | Colonel William, Earl of Sutherland. | July 1759 | 1763 | Raised July 1759, but the officers' commissions were dated in August. 1,500 men assembled within nine days after his Lordship had arrived in the north with his Letters of Service, but the authorised establishment being only 1,000 men, the remainder had to be rejected. Permission, however, was afterwards given to augment the strength to 1,100 men. This corps was remarkable for the fine appearance of the men, as well as for their peaceable, domiciliated habits in quarters. After doing garrison duty in various parts of Scotland it was disbanded. |
SH | Argyll, or Western Fencible Regiment | Highland dress. Facings yellow | Colonel Lord Frederick Campbell. | February 1778 | April 1783 | Embodied at Glasgow. Volunteered to extend its services to any part of the world where their country required them. This offer was accepted, but their services were not required abroad. Served in Scotland, and disbanded at Glasgow. |
SL | South Fencible Regiment. | Facings green | Colonel Henry, Duke of Buccleuch. | 10 April 1778 | 1 April 1783 | Embodied at Edinburgh. Offered to serve in any part of Great Britain. Served in Scotland. Disbanded at Dalkeith. |
SH | Duke of Gordon's North Fencibles | Highland dress. Facings Yellow | Colonel Alexander, 4th Duke of Gordon. | May 1778 | 1783 | Embodied at Aberdeen. Served in Scotland. Disbanded at Aberdeen. |
SH | 2nd Sutherland Regiment | Highland dress. Facings Yellow | Colonel William Wemvss of Wemyss. | January 1779 | 1783 | Embodied at Fort George. Were stationed principally in the neighbourhood of Edinburgh. Distinguished for "the sobriety, probity, and the most scrupulous and orderly attention to duty" of its men. Disbanded at Fort George. |
En | Fauconberg's Fencibles | 1779 | 1783 | Raised in 1779 in Yorkshire. Confined to garrison duty in England and disbanded in 1783. | ||
En | North's Fencibles | 1779 | 1783 | Raised in 1779, in the Cinque Ports. Confined to garrison duty in England and disbanded in 1783. | ||
Mx | Manx Fencible Corps | 1779 | 1783 | First corps. Raised in 1779 in the Isle of Man, consisted of three companies of infantry, disbanded in 1783. |
List of fencible cavalry regiments raised between 1793 and 1803
The British cavalry and light dragoon regiments were raised to serve in any part of Great Britain and consisted of a force of between 14,000 and 15,000 men. Along with the two Irish regiments, those British regiments that volunteered for service in Ireland served there. Each regiment consisted of eighteen commissioned officers and troops of eighty privates per troop. The regiments were always fully manned as their terms of service were considered favourable. At the beginning of 1800 all of the regiments were disbanded.loc | Name | Uniform | Commander | Raised | Disbanded | Notes |
First Regiment | Colonel The Honourable John Villiers. | 14 March 1794 | Early 1800 | |||
Ancient British Regiment | Colonel Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn | 14 March 1794 | Early 1800 | Served in Ireland. | ||
Lancashire Regiment . | Colonel Thomas Peter Legh. | 14 March 1794 | Early 1800 | |||
Rutland Regiment | Colonel Noel Edwards. | 19 March 1794 | Early 1800 | |||
Somersetshire Regiment | Colonel John, Earl Poulett. | 28 March 1794 | Early 1800 | |||
Norfolk Regiment | Colonel William Harbord. | 10 April 1794 | Early 1800 | |||
Cinque Ports Regiment | Colonel Robert, Lord Hawkesbury. | 1 May 1794 | Early 1800 | |||
Windsor Foresters or Berkshire Fencible Cavalry | Red with blue facings | Colonel Charles Rooke. | 1 May 1794 | June 1800 | 5th Regiment of Fencible Cavalry from 1798 | |
Surrey Regiment | Colonel George, Lord Onslow. | 1 May 1794 | Early 1800 | See also the [|Loyal Surrey Regiment] | ||
Hampshire Regiment | Colonel Thomas Cooper Everitt. | 13 April 1795 | Early 1800 | |||
Cornwall Regiment | Colonel George, Viscount Falmouth. | 14 April 1795 | Early 1800 | |||
Loyal Essex Regiment | Buff facings. | Colonel Montague Burgoyne. | 20 April 1795 | Early 1800 | Served in Ireland. | |
Berwickshire Corps | Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Alexander Don | 21 April 1795 | Early 1800 | Served in Ireland. | ||
Cambridgeshire Regiment | Colonel Robert Jones Adeane. | 25 April 1795 | Early 1800 | Served in Ireland. | ||
Lanark and Dunbarton Regiment | Black facings, bonnet and trews or kilt. | Colonel William Hamilton. | 2 May 1795 | Early 1800 | Served in Ireland. | |
Dumfrieshire Regiment | Colonel Michael Stuart Maxwell. | 4 May 1795 | Early 1800 | Served in Ireland. | ||
Fifeshire Corps | Lieutenant-Colonel Comm. J. Anstruther Thomson. | 8 May 1795 | Early 1800 | |||
Warwickshire Regiment . | Colonel George, Earl Warwick. | 19 May 1794 | Early 1800 | |||
Lothian Regiment | Colonel John Hamilton. | 29 May 1795 | Early 1800 | |||
Lothian Regiment | William Earl of Ancram. | 29 May 1795 | Early 1800 | Served in Ireland. | ||
Sussex Regiment | Colonel Sir George Thomas | 13 April 1795 | Early 1800 | |||
Princess of Wales's Regiment | Colonel William, Earl of Darlington. | 14 April 1795 | Early 1800 | Served in Ireland. | ||
Pembrokeshire Corps | Lieutenant Colonel Comm. Henry Davis. | 18 April 1795 | Early 1800 | |||
Oxfordshire Regiment | Colonel Thomas Parker. | 20 April 1795 | Early 1800 | |||
New Romney Regiment | Colonel Cholmely Dering. | 20 April 1795 | Early 1800 | Served in Ireland. | ||
Roxbrough and Selkirkshire Regiment | Colonel Sir John Scott. | 21 April 1795 | Early 1800 | |||
Princess Royal's own Regiment | Colonel Andrew McDowall. | 1 May 1795 | Early 1800 | |||
Perthshre Regiment | Colonel Charles Moray. | 29 May 1795 | Early 1800 | |||
Ayrshire Regiment | Colonel Andrew Dunlop. | 19 June 1795 | Early 1800 |
loc | Name | Uniform | Commander | Raised | Disbanded | Notes |
First Regiment | fur-crested Tarleton helmets, dark blue jacket, with white cord and lace, and white britches. | Colonel Robert, Viceroy, Jocelyn. | 18 July 1795 | |||
Second Regiment | fur-crested Tarleton helmets, dark blue jacket, with white cord and lace, and white britches. | Colonel Edmund, Lord Glentworth. | 18 July 1795 |
List of fencible infantry regiments raised between 1793 and 1803
Scottish fencibles
loc- ale | Name | Uniform | Commander | Raised | Disbanded | Notes |
SH | Princess of Wales' Regiment.* | Highland dress. Facings yellow | Colonel Sir James Leith. | 25 October 1794 | 11 September 1803 | Raised 25 October 1794. Embodied at Aberdeen. Disbanded in Ireland, 11 September 1803. |
SL | Angus Volunteers | Facings Buff, or facings yellow, and bonnet and trews | Major-Commandant John Fraser. | 27 September 1794 | 1799 | Strength, two companies. |
SL | Angusshire Regiment | Facings yellow | Colonel Archibald Douglas. | 20 October 1794 | 19 July 1802 | Had a good many Highlanders from the Highland borders. Served in Ireland. Disbanded at Perth. |
SH | 1st Argyllshire Regiment | Highland dress. Facings yellow | Colonel George, Marquis of Lorne, Afterwards George, 6th Duke of Argyll. | 2 March | 1799 | Embodied at Stirling. Its services were confined to Scotland. |
SH | 2nd Argyllshire Regiment | Highland dress. Facings Blue | Colonel Henry Mord Clavering. | 25 October 1794 | 24 July 1802 | Served in Ireland. Disbanded at Ayr. |
SH | 3rd Argyllshire Regiment | Highland dress. Facings yellow | Colonel Archibald Macneill of Colonsay. | 15 June 1798 | 3 July 1802 | The name of Argyll did not properly apply to this corps, as the number of Argyllshire men was very small. Its service extended to any part of Europe, and in 1800 was sent to Gibraltar. Ordered home at the peace of 1801. Disbanded at Dumbarton. |
SH | Breadalbane Regiment | Highland dress. Facings yellow | Colonel Earl of Breadalbane. | 2 March 1793 | 28 July 1802 | 3 Battalions |
Breadalbane Regiment — 1st Battalion | Lieutenant-Colonel William Maxwell Morrison. | 2 March 1793 | 18 April 1799 | Embodied at Perth. Volunteered for duty in Ireland, August 1798, but its services were not required. Remained in Scotland. Disbanded at Fort George. | ||
Breadalbane Regiment — 2nd Battalion | Lieutenant-Colonel Andrew Macdouall of Logan. | 8 March 1793 | 18 April 1799 | Embodied at Perth. In 1798 the greater part of this corps volunteered for service in Ireland, and landed at Carrickfergus in September. Returned to Scotland in March 1799. Disbanded at Paisley. | ||
Breadalbane Regiment — 3rd Battalion | Lieutenant-Colonel John Campbell of Achallader. | 9 December 1794 | 28 July 1802 | Served in Ireland. Disbanded at Ayr. | ||
En | Loyal British Regiment | Facings Blue | Colonel Sir Robert Stuart, Bart. | 24 October 1794 | 1802 | |
SH | Caithness Legion. | The bonnet and tartan pantaloons. Facings yellow. | Colonel Sir Benjamin Dunbar of Hempriggs. | 15 November 1794 | 1802 | Served in Ireland. Disbanded at Enniscorthy. |
SH | Royal Clan Alpine Regiment | Highland dress. Facings Blue. | Colonel Alex. Macgregor Murray of Napier Rusky. | 21 September 1798 | 24 July 1802 | Raised for general service in Europe. Embodied at Stirling. Served in Ireland. Disbanded at Stirling. |
?? | Duke of York's Own Regiment | The bonnet and truis. Facings probably yellow. | Colonel Andrew Hay of Mountblairey. | 26 July 1798 | 1802 | This regiment had a number of Highlanders in its ranks. Garrisoned Gibraltar. |
SH | Dumbarton Fencible Regiment | Black facings, Highland dress, or trews | Colonel Colin Campbell of Stonefield. | 14 August 1794 | 5 October 1802 | Embodied at Dumbarton. Served in Guernsey, and afterwards in Ireland during the rebellion, where it was actively occupied and employed as a light infantry corps in the mountains, under Sir John Moore, who kept it constantly near his person. "By the recommendation of General Moore, a detachment of the regiment was ordered as a guard to 400 rebel prisoners sent to Prussia, with directions that 'the detachment should consist entirely of Highlanders, as the service required confidential, trustworthy men'.". Disbanded at Dumbarton. |
SL | Lord Elgin's Regiment. | The bonnet and truis. Facings green | Colonel Thomas, Earl of Elgin. | 28 November 1794 | 15 October 1802 | There were about 300 Highlanders in this corps. Served in Ireland. Disbanded at Linlithgow. |
SL | Fifeshire Fencibles | Facings yellow | Colonel James Durham of Largo. | 20 October 1794 | 11 April 1803 | Served in Ireland. Disbanded at Kilkenny. |
SH | Fraser Regiment | Highland dress. Facings black | Colonel James Fraser of Belladrum. | 29 November 1794 | 12 July 1802 | Embodied at Inverness. of the soldiers, 300 bore the name of Fraser. Served in Ireland. Disbanded at Glasgow. |
SH | Glengarry or British Highland Regiment | Highland dress. Facings yellow | Colonel Alex. Macdonnell of Glengarry. | 14 August 1794 | 1 July 1802 | Raised as a Catholic corps. According to General Stewart, more than one-half of the men in this regiment were enlisted from the estate of Glengarry. Of the thirty-two officers, twenty-two were Macdonnells or Macdonalds. Served in Jersey, Guernsey, and in Ireland, where they were actively employed during the rebellion, earning for themselves the sobriquet of the "Devil's Bloodhounds". Disbanded at Ayr, after which the greater part of the regiment emigrated, together with their families and relations, to Canada, settling in a district to which they gave the name of their native glen. In February 1812, a regiment known as the Glengarry Light Infantry Fencibles was raised in Canada, a proportion of which was made up of soldiers of the former fencible regiment or members of their families. The colonel of the regiment was E. Baynes and a major in the regiment was George Macdonnell. It was disbanded in August 1816. |
SH | Royal Inverness Highlanders | Highland dress. Initially buff facings, became blue facings when they became the Duke of York's. | Colonel John Baillie of Dunean. | 21 November 1794 | 25 August 1802 | Embodied at Inverness. Served in Ireland during the Irish Rebellion of 1798, and after its suppression the designation of the corps was changed to "The Duke of York's Royal Inverness-shire Highlanders" as a compliment to their good behaviour. In 1801 the regiment voluntarily offered to serve in any part of the world, but owing to the preliminaries of peace having been signed, their services were not required abroad. Disbanded at Stirling. |
SH | Regiment of the Isles, or Macdonald Fencibles | Highland dress. Facings yellow | Colonel Alexander, Lord Macdonald. | 29 May 1798 | 26 July 1802 | Embodied at Inverness. Served in Scotland and England. Disbanded at Fort George. |
SH | Lochaber Fencibles | Highland dress. Facings black | Colonel Donald Cameron of Lochiel. | 15 June 1798 | 26 June 1802 | Embodied at Falkirk. Served in Ireland. Disbanded at Linlithgow. |
SL | North Lowland Regiment | Facings green. | Colonel Thomas Balfour. | November 1794 | 6 August 1802 | There were a number of Highlanders in this corps. Served in Ireland. Disbanded at Dundee. |
SL | West Lowland Regiment. | Facings Green. | Colonel Earl of Eglinton. | 2 March 1793 | 26 March 1799 | Disbanded at Musselburgh. |
HS | Princess Charlotte of Wales' or Loyal Macleod Fencibles | Highland dress. Facings blue | Colonel John Macleod of Colbecks. | 15 June 1798 | 11 June 1802 | Embodied at Elgin. Served in Ireland. Disbanded in England at Tynemouth Barracks. |
HS | The Northern or Gordon Fencibles | Highland dress. Facings yellow. | Colonel Alexander, Duke of Gordon. | 3 March 1793 | 1799 | Embodied at Aberdeen. Its services were confined to Scotland, but the men having volunteered to extend it, the offer was accepted, and in 1794 the regiment moved to England. "When quartered in Kent, the King, who had never seen a Highland regiment, ordered them up to London, where they were reviewed in Hyde Park in the presence of His Majesty, who expressed himself highly satisfied with their appearance". Disbanded in Scotland. |
SI | Orkney Battalion. | Facings yellow | Major-Commandant Thomas Balfour. | 20 April 1793 | 1799 | Strength, three companies. |
SH | Perthshire Highlanders | Facings yellow. | Colonel William Robertson of Lude. | 20 October 1794 | 27 February 1799 | Embodied at Perth. "Although called Perthshire Highlanders, this was a misnomer, as the number of Perthshire Highlanders, or Highlanders of any county, was very limited". Disbanded at Preston. |
SL | Prince of Wales' Own | The bonnet and truis. Facings yellow | Colonel Sir William Johnstone, Bart. | 15 June 1798 | 21 May 1802 | Served in Ireland. May have garrisoned Gibraltar. Disbanded at Plymouth. |
SH | Reay Highland Regiment | Highland dress. Facings light grey-blue | Colonel Mackay Hugh Baillie of Rosehall. | 24 October 1794 | 13 October 1802 | Embodied at Elgin. Served in Ireland. Was present at the battles of Tara Hill and Ballinamuck. Disbanded at Stirling. |
SH | Ross-shire Highland Regiment | Highland dress. Facings yellow | Major-Commandant Colin Mackenzie of Mountgerald. | 20 November 1794 | 1799 | Strength, two companies. Although a small corps, the men were noticeable for their "exemplary character and physical capacity. No man was punished; none died during its service". |
SH | Ross And Cromarty Rangers | Highland dress. Facings yellow | Colonel Lewis Mackenzie, Younger of Scatwell. | 8 August 1798 | 27 July 1802 | Raised for service in any part of Europe. Embodied at Inverness. Served in Scotland and Ireland. Disbanded at Inverness. |
SH | Rothesay and Caithness Highlanders | Highland dress. Facings yellow | Colonel Sir John Sinclair of Ulster. | 2 Battalions. | ||
Rothesay and Caithness Highlanders — 1st Battalion. | Lieutenant-Colonel James, Earl of Caithness. | 7 March 1794 | 6 May 1799 | Embodied at Inverness. Remarkable for the size of its officers, twenty of whom averaged six feet in height, and who were consequently known as "Thier-nan-more" or "The great chiefs". Served in Scotland and the north of England. Disbanded at Bruntsfield Links, Edinburgh. | ||
Rothesay and Caithness Highlanders — 2nd Battalion. | Lieutenant-Colonel Benjamin Williamson. | 19 November 1794 | July 1802 | Embodied at Forfar. Served in Ireland for two years, where it was distinguished for its exemplary conduct. In 1797 this battalion volunteered for service in any part of Europe, but was not called upon to go abroad. Disbanded at Glasgow. | ||
SI | Shetland Battalion | Facings — | Major-Commandant George Malcolmson. | 8 February 1798 | 1802 | Strength, two companies. |
SL | Southern Regiment. | Facings Light grey-blue | Colonel James Hope-Johnstone, 3rd Earl of Hopetoun. | 2 March 1793 | 12 April 1799 | Served in Scotland. Disbanded at Linlithgow. |
SH | Grant or Strathspey Regiment | Highland dress. Facings green. | Colonel Sir James Grant of Grant. | 2 March 1793 | April 1799 | Embodied at Forres. Served in Scotland. Disbanded at Inverness. |
SH | Sutherland Regiment. | Highland dress. Facings yellow | Colonel Major-general William Wemyss of Wemyss. | 2 March 1793 | March 1799 | Embodied at Fort George. Extended its services to Ireland in 1797. Disbanded at Fort George, many of the officers and men transferring their services to the 93rd Sutherland Highlanders, raised by General Wemyss on a letter of service dated 16 April 1799. |
Loyal Tarbert Regiment. | Facings blue | Colonel Sir Edward Leslie, Bart. | 27 July 1798 | 19 June 1802 | Disbanded at Plymouth. | |
The Loyal Tay Regiment. | Facings blue | Colonel Sir Robert Anstruther, Bart. | 25 October 1794 | 28 June 1802 | This regiment had a good many Highlanders from the Highland borders. Served in Ireland. Disbanded at Stirling. |
The Scottish Fencibles raised in 1793 had eight companies each, except the Orkney, which had three.
Those raised in 1794–1802 had ten companies, except the 1st Battalion Rothesay and Caithness Regiment, which had eight, and three others — the Angus Volunteers, Ross-shire and Shetland Fencibles — which had only two companies.
Of the total number of Scottish corps raised from 1739 to 1802, independent of Colonel Macneil's Argyll, Colonel Robertson's Perthshire, and the Ross-shire Fencibles, the total number of Fencibles raised in the Highlands, and considered as exclusively Highland, amounted to twenty-six battalions Some of the other Scottish Fencibles, however, although not nominally Highland, had a number of men from the Highlands in their ranks, and this fact is noted in the above list under the regiments concerned.
English fencibles
Name | Uniform | Commander | Raised | Disbanded | Notes |
Royal Lancashire Volunteers. | Blue facings? | Sir Thos. Egerton, Bt. | 1779 | 1783 | This regiment's services were confined to garrison duty in England. |
Royal Lancashire | Lord Grey de Wilton. | 16 October 1794 | 1801–2 | Ten companies. Served in Ireland during the rebellion | |
Northampton | Blue facings red collar. | John Manners Ker. | 20 October 1794 | 1801–2 | Ten companies. Served in Ireland during the rebellion |
Loyal Essex | John E. Urquhart. | 20 October 1794 | 1801–2 | Ten companies. Served in Ireland during the rebellion | |
Loyal Nottingham | Green facings. | James O'Connor | 20 October 1794 | 1801–2 | Ten companies. Served in Ireland during the rebellion |
Suffolk | John Robinson | 20 October 1794 | 1801–2 | Ten companies. Served in Ireland during the rebellion | |
Loyal Somerset | Yellow facings. | W. F. Forster | 20 October 1794 | 1801–2 | Ten companies. Served in Ireland during the rebellion |
York | Hon. G. A, C. Stapylton | 20 October 1794 | 1801–2 | Ten companies. Served in Ireland during the rebellion | |
Devon and Cornwall | Robert Hall | 15 November 1794 | 1801–2 | Ten companies. | |
Prince of Wales' Leicester | Major Parkyns | 15 November 1794 | 1801–2 | Ten companies. Served in Ireland during the rebellion | |
Cheshire | Charles Courtenay | 17 November 1794 | 1801–2 | Ten companies. | |
Loyal Durham | Green facings. | Barrington Price | 26 February 1795 | 1801–2 | Ten companies. Served in Ireland during the rebellion |
Northumberland Francis | Blake | 28 February 1795 | 1801–2 | Ten companies. | |
Newfoundland | Skinner | 25 April 1795 | 1801–2 | Ten companies. | |
Scilly | Captain Henry Gudgeon | 19 April 1796 | 1801–2 | One company. | |
Loyal Surrey Regiment. | Colonel George Augustus Pollen. | 1799 | 1800 | 1794: formation as the [|Surrey Cavalry], From 1800 became the [|Loyal Surrey Regiment of Rangers]. | |
Royal Canadian Volunteers. | 1799 | The regiment was posted to Nova Scotia | |||
Fauconberg's Fencibles. | 1799 | ||||
North's Fencibles. | 1799 | ||||
Loyal Surrey Regiment of Rangers, or Pollen's Fencibles | Colonel George Augustus Pollen. | 1800 | 1802 | Ten companies. Previously the [|Loyal Surrey Regiment of Fencible Infantry]. In Nova Scotia. |
Irish fencibles
Welsh fencibles
Manx fencibles
Further information
Three other Fencible Corps may have been raised between 1795–1798, which were disbanded in 1801–2 viz.:- Royal Birmingham or Rann's Fencibles
- Nova Scotia Provincial Regiment, 1803–1816: Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Quebec, Ontario.
- Prince Edward's Island Fencibles
- Newfoundland, or Skerret's Fencibles, 1803–1816: Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Quebec, Ontario.
- New Brunswick, or Hunter's Fencibles, raised in 1803, numbered 104th in 1810, New Brunswick.
- Nova Scotia, or Wetherall's Fencibles
- Canadian Fencible Infantry, or Peter's Fencibles
Besides the established regiments there were seven regiments for which Letters of Service were issued, but which never appear to have been formed. Five were to have been raised in Scotland and two in England, with a strength of ten companies each:
Date of letter of service or Order of raising | Colonel or Commissioner | Notes |
20 October 1794 | Lieutenant-Colonel Morison | |
15 November 1794 | David Hunter | |
15 June 1798 | Dunbar | |
20 July 1798 | Dunlop | |
31 July 1798 | Alex. McGrigor | |
10 August 1798 | Tyndale | |
10 December 1798 | James Kann |
The total number of fencible infantry corps embodied 1793–1802 was thus 61 battalions of which 29 were Scottish, 15 were English, 4 Irish, 1 Welsh and 2 Manx. "Most of the Fencible Corps," writes Sir John Fortescue "were created either in 1794 or 1798, and to judge by the old Monthly Army Lists of 1799, the greatest number of them in existence at one time in Great Britain was 31 regiments of cavalry and 45 battalions of infantry. But by March 1800 the greater part of the cavalry had been disembodied, so that it would not be wise to reckon the Fencibles as exceeding, at their highest figure, twenty to twenty-five thousand men".
The preliminaries of peace were signed in London on 1 October 1801. The final ratification of the Peace of Amiens, however, was not concluded until March 1802. Fortescue writes "most, if not all, of the fencible infantry were disbanded in May 1801, before the signature of the preliminaries of peace", but Ian Scobie states that this was not so, as the greater number were not disbanded until late in 1801 or early in 1802, and that many of the Scottish fencibles, were not disbanded until some time after the Peace of Amiens had been signed.
The disbandment of the fencibles in 1802, and "the establishment in that year of a permanent Scots Militia, rendered unnecessary any further organisation on a large scale of this more ancient but partial system of national defence".