Christopher Carleton

Lt.-Colonel Christopher Carleton (1749–1787) was born into an Ulster military family in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England. Christopher's parents died at sea when he was only four years old and his uncles, Guy Carleton (later created The 1st Baron Dorchester), the future Governor General of Canada and Commander-in-Chief, North America, along with Thomas Carleton, later the 1st Governor of New Brunswick, saw to his education and upbringing. At the age of twelve, Chistopher joined the British Army as an ensign in the 31st Regiment of Foot. Before his first tour of duty in North America, Chistopher married Anne Howard, whose sister Maria was the wife of Guy Carleton. While in North America, Christopher Carleton met Sir William Johnson and lived among the Mohawk Indians, learning their language and partaking in their customs. He would remark in later life that the time spent living with the Mohawks was the happiest of his life. These skills would serve him well later. Christopher would be back in England when the American Revolutionary War broke out in 1775.

In May 1776, Captain Christopher Carleton arrived at Quebec City as part of a relief force for his uncle Sir Guy Carleton, as he was now, besieged in the city by the Continental Army forces. During the campaign leading up to the Battle of Valcour Island, Capt. Christopher Carleton served on his uncle's staff and in command of detachments of Indian allies. In 1777, Christopher purchased a major's commission in the 29th Regiment of Foot, in which his uncle, Thomas Carleton, was a lieutenant colonel. Provided by Wikipedia