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Thanks for reply to my post yesterday. I have an ancestor, Andrew Knox, who fought at Waterloo as a private with the 32nd Regiment of Foot, receiving a "musquet ball through the right leg" [source Cert of Discharge] and later a Waterloo medal [source W Medal Roll]

He first joined the Durham Fencibles in 1798 then transferred to the 32nd regiment in 1801 He took part in the seizure of the Danish fleet in 1807[source -musters], and spent most of the years 1808 - 1814 in Portugal and Spain [source musters] for which he was awarded the Peninsula Medal with 8 bars [official doc]. He was discharged in 1821.

He was born at Ivyston near Lanchester in 1777 and can be found in the 1841 census at Hetton-le Hole with the family of Jonathan Williams, in 1851 at Kelloe with the family of James Charlton and in 1861 at Cassop with the family of Thomas Lowry. The latter was the second husband of his wife Mary. Her first husband had been Thomas Knox, grandson of Andrew's brother (from whom I am descended). Andrew's siblings seem to have remained in Durham.

This does not prove Andrew was in Durham for the regatta in 1834 but it makes it highly likely that he was in the county and not far from the city. He died  at Cassop in 1864 at age 86 [Register of deaths].

Andrew married whilst a serving soldier but sadly his wife died in January 1810 one month after he had returned from detached duty in Spain.

If you have information particularly regarding the "missing years" from 1821 to 1841 I would be grateful if you could pass it on. I have more detail of Andrew's career in the army if of interest to you.

Andrew was one of about 45 men who "volunteered to line" with 32nd i.e transferred to regular regiment from the Durham Fencibles in 1801. This was in advance of the disbandment of the Fencibles soon afterwards. Not all these men would have been from Durham, not all would have fought at Waterloo and not all of thosewho did would have been alive in 1834. Other DF men transferred to other regiments. I am writing this in case you see any mileage in following up the DF connection.

Regards

Jon

jon andrews

For the Serjeant of the living history group of the 32nd regiment

re your question of 11 August, I believe that my ancestor (Andrew Knox) was
buried in Durham in Apr-Jun 1864. He was shown on the 1861 census as living in Cassop (aged 83) in the household of a man aged 27 whose wife had been previously married to a great nephew (presumably dead) of Andrew. The 1861 census described Andrew as "pensioner 32nd regiment". In the household there were also 3 step children from the first marriage and a month old baby from the second marriage! Andrew is recorded in the census as "uncle". Andrew was also shown in Durham in the 1841 and 1851 censuses.  He was also described as "widower" in 1851 and 1861 but I have not traced when or how often he was married     Regards   Jon

 I expect this message is unnecessary in view of the time since your enquiry of Jan 2009. However, I have an ancestor who fought at Waterloo with the 32nd regiment and was "grievously wounded with a musquet ball through the right leg"
1) the 32nd regiment was not designated a Cornish regiment until mid victorian times when there were a number of reforms including abolition of purchase of commissions. There was no previous formal link to Cornwall. My ancestor came from Durham. He spent time in Chelsea hospital and I have a page from the hospital register with 20 entries of whom there was one Cornishman and many Irishmen. Since regiments are not shown on the page I think all entries on the page are to do with the 32nd.
2) The regiment was part of the 5th brigade or reserve corps both at Quatre Bras and Waterloo and its use was controlled by Wellington himself. As far as I can tell the corps arrived at QB at 3 pm in time to help halt the French attack. At W there are references to it being in a "sunken lane" behind the centre of the ridge occupied by the centre of the Alllied army and I guess subsequently defended the position against the successive French cavalry attacks and artillery bombardment prior to the defeat of the French "Old Guard"
3) You can get a timeline or chronology of the regiment from the internet. My ancestor fought through the Peninsular war and was awarded a  peninsula medal with 8 bars which were only given to survivors in about 1848
Hope this helps
Jon