1714
After the conclusion of the treaty of Utrecht, the strength of the army was reduced, and Colonel Kerr's regiment of dragoons was disembodied in Ireland in the spring of 1714.
1715
At the time this regiment was reduced, the royal dragoons and Scots greys were augmented, and many men from Kerr's dragoons entered these two veteran corps. Few months, however, elapsed after the decease of Queen Anne, (1st August, 1714,) and the accession of King George I., when a change took place in the circumstances of the British court. His Majesty arrived from Hanover on the 17th of September. The result of the measures pursued by the ministry of Queen Anne, during the last three years of her reign, was soon manifested in the prevalence of Jacobin principles, and the king found it necessary to augment the army. One of the first acts of His Majesty on this occasion, was the restoration of Kerr's regiment of dragoons, now the Seventh, or Queen's Own Hussars, by a warrant under the sign manual, of which the following is a copy:—
"GEORGE R.
"Whereas we have thought fit that a regiment of dragoons be immediately formed to be under your command, to consist of one colonel, one lieut.-colonel, one major, one chaplain, one adjutant, one chirurgeon, and six troops, each consisting of one captain, one lieutenant, one cornet, one quarter-master, one serjeant, two corporals, one drummer, one hautboy, and thirty private dragoons, (including two for widows.) And, Whereas we have directed our right trusty and right well-beloved cousin Thomas, Earl of Strafford, to deliver over unto you the two youngest captains, two youngest lieutenants, two youngest cornets, and the two youngest quarter-masters, together with the non-commissioned officers and private men of the two youngest troops of our royal regiment of dragoons under his command, with the horses, arms, clothing, and accoutrements; and also our right trusty and right well-beloved cousin David, Earl of Portmore, to deliver unto you the three youngest captains, three youngest lieutenants, three youngest cornets, and three youngest quarter-masters, together with the non-commissioned officers and private men of the three youngest troops of our regiment of dragoons under his command, with their horses, arms, clothes, and accoutrements; our will and pleasure is, that you receive from the said Earl of Strafford, and the said Earl of Portmore, the commissioned and non-commissioned officers and private men directed to be delivered over unto you as aforesaid, towards forming the said regiment of dragoons. And we do hereby authorize you, by the beat of drum, or otherwise, to raise so many volunteers as shall be wanting to complete and fill up the said regiment to six troops, each consisting of the numbers aforesaid. And all magistrates, justices of the peace, constables, and other of our officers, whom it may concern, are required to be assisting unto you, in providing quarters, impressing carriages, and otherwise, as there shall be occasion.
"Given at our court at St. James', this 3rd day of February, 1714-15, in the first year of our reign.
"By His Majesty's Command,
"William Pulteney."
To our trusty and well-beloved
Colonel William Kerr.
In compliance with this order, Captains Lewis Dollon's and Peter Renourds' troops from the royal dragoons, and Captains William Crawford's, George Dunbar's and James Levingtone's troops from the greys, (being augmentation troops raised when Kerr's regiment was disembodied,) with a sixth troop raised near London, were constituted a regiment, which now bears the designation of Seventh, or Queen's own Hussars; but was then styled "KERR'S DRAGOONS."