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General => Armed Forces => Topic started by: sedgarwilliams on Friday 30 October 15 12:46 GMT (UK)
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My G3Grandfather Thomas WILLIAMS was born in St George's Hanover Square in 1787. He volunteered and enrolled on 25 October 1797 and was appointed drummer on 25 October 1799 - these dates I have from hand-written notes from a search over 30 years ago at Kew but I couldn't find the records again at a recent visit. The next I have is him joining the 9th company, 1st battalion of 20th Foot at Newry on 7th May 1812; presumably he was already there with the Royal Westminster as his first muster roll record with 20th Foot states that he was indeed a volunteer from that militia. I can trace his life thereafter but this period from 1797 to 1812 is a mystery. Can anybody throw any light on this please.
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The musters for the 3rd Middlesex or Royal Westminster Militia are in WO13 in Kew. Not available online. They appear to cover one year each, so should give you where he was each month.
They were Regular Militia so almost certainly served away from their home county. You should also check the Middlesex Record Office as someone may have written a history, which will save you a lot of work at Kew.
His first muster with the 20th Foot should have told you how much bounty he received for transferring to the Regular Army. This to allow him to be sent overseas.
Ken
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Thanks for that Ken; I'll have to make an expedition to Kew again sometime. The musters do not mention a bounty at all - here's the first for information.
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There is usually a section towards the back that summarises every soldier joining and every soldier leaving. Did you see that?
WO 13/1469 3rd (Westminster) Middlesex 1780 - 1797
WO 13/1470 3rd (Westminster) Middlesex 1798
WO 13/1471 3rd (Westminster) Middlesex 1799
WO 13/1472 3rd (Westminster) Middlesex 1800
WO 13/1473 3rd (Westminster) Middlesex 1801
WO 13/1474 3rd (Westminster) Middlesex 1802
WO 13/1475 3rd (Westminster) Middlesex 1803
WO 13/1476 3rd (Westminster) Middlesex 1804
WO 13/1477 3rd (Westminster) Middlesex 1805
WO 13/1478 3rd (Westminster) Middlesex 1806
WO 13/1479 3rd (Westminster) Middlesex 1807
WO 13/1480 3rd (Westminster) Middlesex 1808
WO 13/1481 3rd (Westminster) Middlesex 1809
WO 13/1482 3rd (Westminster) Middlesex 1810
WO 13/1483 3rd (Westminster) Middlesex 1811
WO 13/1484 3rd (Westminster) Middlesex 1812
The first one probably covers a six month period rather than monthly musters. So less information.
Ken
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No, I didn't see that. Next time I go I'll get to look at that one again. Thanks - it looks promising ...