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General => Armed Forces => Topic started by: ShaunWADonaldson93 on Sunday 11 December 22 15:36 GMT (UK)

Title: Clerk of the War Office C1800-1812
Post by: ShaunWADonaldson93 on Sunday 11 December 22 15:36 GMT (UK)

I am research an ancestor who was in the army as an Ensign and then promoted to a Lieutenant. In approx 1803 he became a clerk in the war office but I'm unsure if there would be any records related to this.

Could anyone advise on researching this period in his life?

Title: Re: Clerk of the War Office C1800-1812
Post by: Andy J2022 on Tuesday 13 December 22 13:21 GMT (UK)

There appear to be two specific sets of documents at TNA which might have details of your man, depending on how long he remained at the War Office (which was then located at Horses Guards):
WO 25/3957 - Headquarters Staff, and correspondence on the re-organization of Branches. 1803-1860
WO 25/3959 - Lists of Employees and Annual Expense Accounts. 1809-1828

If either or both of these prove fruitful there are later staff records in WO 25/3960 - Nominal Rolls by Branches, Military and Civilian. 1811-1862

The records have not been digitized so a visit to TNA, or employment of a researcher, would be required.
It is possible that he retained his commission and was on half pay while employed at Horse Guards.

There's a brief history of the War Office here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/49053/history_of_mod.pdf