What were the family and sexual dynamics of British officers posted abroad in the late 18th century? Would officers typically have children out of wedlock with the daughters of other servicemen?

by NangiPungi

A certain Scottish officer had at least three children out of wedlock with the daughter of a late sergeant in his regiment while they were living in the West Indies in the 1780s. The officer went on to marry someone else and rise through the ranks, and his biography mentions only his legitimate children.

Was it typical for the wives and children of servicemen to travel with them to the colonies, and for their daughters to bear the children of officers without being married to them? How many British women were present in the West Indies in the 1780s? What were the dynamics that led to the birth of army brats out of wedlock?

NangiPungi

Follow-up question: could anyone please point me to the movements of British troops in the West Indies in the 1770s and 1780s, and particularly of the 60th Army Regiment before it was posted to Quebec in 1787?

Dinocrocodile

While you wait for an answer, you'll probably enjoy this older post:

I am a young woman from Hindustan that has been adopted into a British naval officer's family in 1812 and brought to English soil. What sort of social and religious obstacles would I face in my day to day life? by /u/mikedash