Tiger Roche , 1729- Irish Soldier and ' Rogue ' was a celebrated Soldier
Duelist and adventurer. variously hailed a hero and damned as a thief and a murderer at many times during his stormy life. He has sometimes been referred to as the true ' Barry Lyndon ' from which William Makepeace Thackeray based his book Barry Lyndon published in 1844.
Tiger Roche was born either the first or second of three sons, to Jordan Roche and Ellen White in Dublin, Ireland in 1729. His younger brother
Duelist and adventurer. variously hailed a hero and damned as a thief and a murderer at many times during his stormy life. He has sometimes been referred to as the true ' Barry Lyndon ' from which William Makepeace Thackeray based his book Barry Lyndon published in 1844.
Tiger Roche was born either the first or second of three sons, to Jordan Roche and Ellen White in Dublin, Ireland in 1729. His younger brother
was Sir Boyle Roche, the eminent politician. Roche received the best education Dublin could provide, and was instructed in all the accomplishments then deemed essential to the rank and character of a gentleman. So expert was he in the various acquirements of polite life, that at the age of 16 he recommended himself to Lord Chesterfield, then Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, who offered, gratuitously, a commission in the army. However, Roche had fallen in with a disreputable crowd who convinced him to refuse Chesterfield's offer. Further, Roche was present ( and probably directly involved) when his associates attacked and killed a watchman. Compelled to leave Dublin, Roche made his way to Cork, and from there to North America. At the outbreak of the French and Indian War, Roche entered as a volunteer in one of the provisional regiments and distinguished himself in skirmishes against the Indians. Roche displayed intrepidity and spirit in his military doings and was expected to rise to a high rank until an unfortunate event destroyed his career. An officer of Roche's regiment missed a valuable gun, which was later found in Roche's possession. Roche declared that he had bought the gun from a corporal of the regiment called Bourke. Bourke declared on oath that Roche's statement was false, and Roche was brought to court-martial. Roche was convicted of the theft and ordered to quit the service with " every mark of disgrace and ignominy ".
Roche subsequently challenged and attacked a number of people involved in the incident, including Corporal Bourke. During the fight with Bourke, Roche sank his teeth into Bourke's throat and was pulled away dragging a mouthful of flesh ( which he afterwards said was " the sweetest morsel he had ever tasted " ). It was from this fight that he gained the nickname ' Tiger '. After this incident Roche fought as a volunteer in other Battles, possibly including Ticonderoga. Though he fought well, Roche was not able to escape the stain of the theft. He made his way to New York and eventually in 1758, received some money from his friends in Ireland and was able to obtain passage on a vessel bound for England. Roche reserved part of his supply of money for the purchase of a regimental commission. Unfortunately, just as the purchase was about to be completed, a report of his theft in America reached the regiment and the officers refused to serve with him.
Roche subsequently challenged and attacked a number of people involved in the incident, including Corporal Bourke. During the fight with Bourke, Roche sank his teeth into Bourke's throat and was pulled away dragging a mouthful of flesh ( which he afterwards said was " the sweetest morsel he had ever tasted " ). It was from this fight that he gained the nickname ' Tiger '. After this incident Roche fought as a volunteer in other Battles, possibly including Ticonderoga. Though he fought well, Roche was not able to escape the stain of the theft. He made his way to New York and eventually in 1758, received some money from his friends in Ireland and was able to obtain passage on a vessel bound for England. Roche reserved part of his supply of money for the purchase of a regimental commission. Unfortunately, just as the purchase was about to be completed, a report of his theft in America reached the regiment and the officers refused to serve with him.
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The British Fort at Ticonderoga
Roche traced the origin of the report to a Captain Campbell, whom he met and challenged to a duel. Both men were desperately wounded. On other occassions Roche challenged or attacked others connected with the incident, and generally anyone who spread the story. Roche's attacks though fierce, were not usually successful and he was wounded on several occassions. Ultimately, redress to his character came accidently and unexpectedly. Corporal Bourke was mortally wounded by a scalping party of Indians, and on his death bed made a solemn confession that he himself had actually stolen the gun, and sold it to Roche, and that Roche had purchased it without any suspicion of the theft. This declaration of the dying man was properly attested and universally accepted, and instantly restored Roche's character.
In compensation for the injustice and injury he had suffered, Roche was awarded a lieutenancy in a newly raised regiment. He returned to Dublin ( where the old murder charge had been quietly dropped ) a much celebrated hero.
Dublin was at this time infested with criminals known as 'sweaters' or ' pinkindindies' ( who cut off the points of their swords because they would rather " inflict considerable pain " than kill ) One evening Roche happened to single handedly rescue an old gentleman with his son and daughter from a gang of several such attackers. This gave him the idea to form a body, consisting of officers and others of his acquantance, to patrol Dublin at night, further enhancing his heoric status. The peace concluded in 1763 reduced the size of the army, and forced Roche to retire in indigent circumstances to London, where he soon lived beyond his income. In order to repair it, he managed to marry a Miss Pitt, who had s fortune of £4000 ( approximately £100,000 in today's money)
In compensation for the injustice and injury he had suffered, Roche was awarded a lieutenancy in a newly raised regiment. He returned to Dublin ( where the old murder charge had been quietly dropped ) a much celebrated hero.
Dublin was at this time infested with criminals known as 'sweaters' or ' pinkindindies' ( who cut off the points of their swords because they would rather " inflict considerable pain " than kill ) One evening Roche happened to single handedly rescue an old gentleman with his son and daughter from a gang of several such attackers. This gave him the idea to form a body, consisting of officers and others of his acquantance, to patrol Dublin at night, further enhancing his heoric status. The peace concluded in 1763 reduced the size of the army, and forced Roche to retire in indigent circumstances to London, where he soon lived beyond his income. In order to repair it, he managed to marry a Miss Pitt, who had s fortune of £4000 ( approximately £100,000 in today's money)
Unfortunately on the anticipation of this fortune, Roche engaged in a series of extravagances that acculilated debts beyond his marriage portion. He was arrested and cast into the King's Bench Prison, where his wife divorced him and where so many detainers were laid upon him so that it seemed unlikely that he would ever go free. However a legacy left him by a relation enabled him to escape confinement.
Roche became a costant frequenter of billiard-tables. One day he was idly pushing balls around a table and someone complained that while he was not playing himself, he was ' hindering other gentlemen from their amusement ' Roche replied " Why, sir, except you and me, and two or three more, there is not a gentleman in the room " A friend afterwards remarked that he had grossly offended a large company, and wondered why none had appeared to resent the affront. " Oh " saild Roche " there was no fear of that. There was not a thief in the room that did not consider himself one of the two or three gentlemen i excepted. " Once again Roche's fortunes improved, and he was called on to stand as candidate to represent Middlesex in Parliament. So high an opinion was entertained of his daring spirit, that it ws thought by some of the popular party he might be of use in intimidating Colonel Luttrell, who was declared opponent of John Wilkes at that election. In April 1769, he was put into nomination at Brentford. Roche disappointed his friends and declined the poll, induced, it was said, by promises of Luttrell's friends to provide for him.
Roche's stay in London included at least one duel, and also an attack by two
Roche became a costant frequenter of billiard-tables. One day he was idly pushing balls around a table and someone complained that while he was not playing himself, he was ' hindering other gentlemen from their amusement ' Roche replied " Why, sir, except you and me, and two or three more, there is not a gentleman in the room " A friend afterwards remarked that he had grossly offended a large company, and wondered why none had appeared to resent the affront. " Oh " saild Roche " there was no fear of that. There was not a thief in the room that did not consider himself one of the two or three gentlemen i excepted. " Once again Roche's fortunes improved, and he was called on to stand as candidate to represent Middlesex in Parliament. So high an opinion was entertained of his daring spirit, that it ws thought by some of the popular party he might be of use in intimidating Colonel Luttrell, who was declared opponent of John Wilkes at that election. In April 1769, he was put into nomination at Brentford. Roche disappointed his friends and declined the poll, induced, it was said, by promises of Luttrell's friends to provide for him.
Roche's stay in London included at least one duel, and also an attack by two
ruffians with pistols in which Roche, only armed with a sword, nevertheless prevailed. Less savory stories of Roche's attachment, mismanagement and eventual dissipitation of a young woman's fortune also survive from this period.
Roche was appointed Captain of a Company of Foot soldiers in the East India Service, and embarked in the Vansittart for India in May 1773. Apparently Roche was in such a temper that he fell out with all the passengers, including a Captain Ferguson, who called him out as soon as they arrived in Madeira. Roche was siezed with a sudden and unaccountable fit of terror, and refused to fight. The early arrogance and later cowardice he had displayed revolted the whole body of the passengers, and the Captain of the ship expelled him from the table, leaving Roche to join the common sailors on board the ship. With these he endeavoured to ingratiate himself by claiming vengeance against every gentleman and officer on board the ship. His threats were particularly directed against Ferguson, whom he considered the origin of the disgrace he suffered. On the arrival of the ship at the Cape of Good Hope, Roche came ashore and was seen near the house where ferguson lodged. A message was conveyed to Ferguson, who went out, and was found soon afterwards behind the house with nine deep wounds, all on his left side. Suspicion immediately fixed on Roche as the murderer and he fled during the night, taking refuge among the locals. Roche was tried by the Dutch authorities at the Cape of Good Hope, and acquitted. He then took a passage in a French vessel to Bombay, but the Vansittart had arrived in India before him. Information had been given to the British authorities, charging Roche with Ferguson's murder, and Roche was arrested as soon as he landed. He asked to be discharged, or at least bailed, on the grounds that there was not sufficient evidence against him and that he had already been aquitted. He also argued that as the offence, if any had been committed outside British dominion, he could only be tried by special commission.
Roche was appointed Captain of a Company of Foot soldiers in the East India Service, and embarked in the Vansittart for India in May 1773. Apparently Roche was in such a temper that he fell out with all the passengers, including a Captain Ferguson, who called him out as soon as they arrived in Madeira. Roche was siezed with a sudden and unaccountable fit of terror, and refused to fight. The early arrogance and later cowardice he had displayed revolted the whole body of the passengers, and the Captain of the ship expelled him from the table, leaving Roche to join the common sailors on board the ship. With these he endeavoured to ingratiate himself by claiming vengeance against every gentleman and officer on board the ship. His threats were particularly directed against Ferguson, whom he considered the origin of the disgrace he suffered. On the arrival of the ship at the Cape of Good Hope, Roche came ashore and was seen near the house where ferguson lodged. A message was conveyed to Ferguson, who went out, and was found soon afterwards behind the house with nine deep wounds, all on his left side. Suspicion immediately fixed on Roche as the murderer and he fled during the night, taking refuge among the locals. Roche was tried by the Dutch authorities at the Cape of Good Hope, and acquitted. He then took a passage in a French vessel to Bombay, but the Vansittart had arrived in India before him. Information had been given to the British authorities, charging Roche with Ferguson's murder, and Roche was arrested as soon as he landed. He asked to be discharged, or at least bailed, on the grounds that there was not sufficient evidence against him and that he had already been aquitted. He also argued that as the offence, if any had been committed outside British dominion, he could only be tried by special commission.
