Having considered the size of Civil War drums (the one in the Tower for example is larger than most of the 'replicas' carried by boys and women in the Re-enactment Societies) I have always thought that the idea of the C17th drummer 'Boy' has been erroneous.
Aside from the size, there is also the fact that the contemporary English and foreign illustrations show men drumming, not boys. For example see the Farndon Church window (more of which later- Ed) and the illustration the drummer was taken from.
As another 'nail in the coffin' for the Drummer Boy, and as a note on the division of plunder during the War, I quote a few lines from an ORDER OF THE COUNCIL OF WAR, Dublin, February 10th, 1643 on PREYS & BOOTIES-
A Cornet of Horse to have three horsemen's part (of booty!-Ed.)
A Trumpeter likewise to have one part and a half.
A Captain of foot to have six foot men's shares.
A Serjeant to have one foot man's share and a half.
A Drummer to have two foot men's shares.
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