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General => Armed Forces => Topic started by: PrueM on Monday 27 October 08 09:33 GMT (UK)
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Hello Armed Forces experts :)
Can anyone help me to find out more about the movements of my hubby's 4xg-grandfather, Jethro DOBSON, who was a soldier in the Berkshire Regiment of Fencible Cavalry or 'Windsor Foresters'?
He was born in Clewer in Berkshire, around 1774, and stationed in Montrose, Scotland by 1798 when he married local girl Elizabeth MEARNS (there are loads of other soldiers of the Windsor Foresters on the same page of the parish records). In 1799 they had a son, Jethro, born and baptised in Montrose, and their next child, David, was born in 1801 in 'Jersey Barracks', Jersey, CI (according to census returns). All children thereafter were born back in Clewer, Berks.
I have found a little bit of info online about the Windsor Foresters, who seem to have been sent to Scotland as reinforcements against French invasion etc. during the Napoleonic Wars...does anyone know where I could find out the movements of the regiment, when they were where, etc.?
I'd appreciate your advice :)
Many thanks
Prue
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Hi Prue
Here is a link to researching Militia in Kew - http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/RdLeaflet.asp?sLeafletID=26
You may find their Musters in WO13 in Kew. They are original documents so you will have to visit. Military documents of this period contain virtually no FH information, so tracking their movements is all you can do, followed by lookups in church records.
Musters this old could be on one yard square pieces of vellum, so a magnifying glass and a digital camera are essential.
His name brings up no hits on the the Catalogue - http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/search.asp - so it looks as if his papers have not survived. There are other Windsor Forresters in WO97, which may give you further information.
Ken
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Thanks very much for your reply, Ken :)
I live in Australia so I won't be able to visit Kew in the foreseeable :-\ However it's good to know that there (probably) are some records out there that will be useful.
Kind regards
Prue
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Hi Prue and Harry :-*
Can't seem to find too much on the regiment I'm afraid ... but heres some bits and bobs !! :) they were also called 21st Light Dragoons !!
Col Charles Rooke raised a regiment called the Windsor Volunteers and was allowed by King George III to reside in the "Stone Tower " of Windsor Castle where he died 1827
Fencibles, both infantry and cavalry, were full time troops recruited on the same basis as regular soldiers, but for home defence duties only. The Royal Windsor Forresters Regiment of Fencible Cavalry, commanded by Col Charles Rooke, was formed in 1794 and consisted of 6 troops. The Regiment saw much service in Scotland and was disbanded in 1799/1800.
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/nra/searches/subjectView.asp?ID=O38164
Found this ....... Officer 21st Light Dragoons or Royal Windsor Foresters 1760
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Ooh, thanks Annie! :D That soldier looks rather dashing, I must say...I feel a swoon coming on!
I wonder what Jethro was doing on Jersey in 1801? Grrr! I'll just have to save my pennies until the next trip back to the Old Dart, and go to Kew myself!
Cheers
Prue (and Harry :-* )
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Dear Prue
I came across this string while searching for something else.
I have a 38 page pamphlet ref the Yeomanry Cavalry of Berkshire which covers quite a bit ref the Windsor Foresters.
An excerpt for 1797
A notice inserted in the Reading Mercury offered a reward for the apprehension of any person inciting any soldier to desert. This was placed on behalf of the Non commissioned Officers, trumpeters and Private Men of the Windsor Foresters Regiment of Fencible Cavalry gave the ranks as set out below:
Colonel Rooke's Troop
John Bowles, Serj Major, Thos Goode, Corporal.
Wm Cooper, Serjeant, R.C. Smith, Do.
James Day, Do. John Chadwick, Do.
Lieutenant Colonel Sir N Dunkinfield's Troop
Wm Bullock Serjeant. John Allen Corporal
John Bradnock Do Thos Fletcher Do.
Wm Franklin Do. Thos Rowley Do.
Major Sturges' Troop
George Wise Q.M. Serjeant Wm Elborough Corporal.
Thos Osborne Serjeant James Ellison Do.
John Marshall Do James Peggotter Do.
Captain Ximenes' Troop
Luke Marvelly Serjeant. John Mathews Corporal.
George Rowley Do. Luke Perdue Do.
George Ellis Do. Richard Dobson Do.
Captain Culbert's Troop
Wm Ethilny Serjeant Wm Parker Corporal.
Charles Knott Do. John Cuth Do. Reg CL
Wm Musgrove Do. Wm Wain Do.
Captain Collier's Troop
George Miles Serjeant. Corporal Wm Gardiner.
Thomas Lee Do. John Bridge Do.
George Millar Do. John Mills Do.
This notice dated 9th June 1797 gives the regiment's location as Perth Barracks.
If you send me you email address I will send you whole document
regards
Andrew French
asst hon curator Berkshire Yeomanry Museum
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hi there i have an ancestor who was also in the windsor foresters from 1774 -1800 who married a girl (Jane) from Scotland but i do not know where or her maiden name so i am trying to track down any where in Scotland where they may have been stationed. you mention a booklet is it possible to have a copy Many thanks Spinycactus
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Hi Spiny
Glad to oblige. Send me an email to andrewgfrench@hotmail.com and I'll send you a copy
Regards
Andrew
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Hi All
For information.
Queens Barracks Perth (regimental Depot of Black Watch)
Was built in 1794 and named after the first regiment to occupy it "4th Queens Dragoons"
Yours Aye
BruceL
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Hi Pru
I did a quick search on www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk for an opr marriage for Dobson Jethro
spouse Mearns in all the opr's there is only 1 hit. Unfortunately I have no credits at the moment and am at work.
Yours Aye
BruceL