RootsChat.Com

I've come across this website having recently watched Terry Wogan's recent TV programme where he visited 'Powerscourt', an estate which was owned, in the 19th century by the Wingfield family. Many years ago I had researched the DCLI/32nd of Foot on behalf of an American family who happen to have my surname and discovered that the regiment was serving under Lt Col Wingfield in Canada in the 1830s. Whether there is any connection I know not, however trawling through your website I came across a reference to the Royal Hospital at Chelsea. The Americans had given me a copy of a discharge certificate of their soldier ancestor which bore not only Colonel Wingfield's signature, but also the rubber stamp of the Royal Hospital. I looked into this and discovered that ALL soldiers records and discharge details were administered by the Royal Hospital in those days. The 'received' rubber stamp on the discharge certificate is dated 1874 and as the soldier concerned was born in 1800 I assume the certificate was 'processed' by the Royal Hospital at the time of the soldier's death. It would appear from other records that the soldier remained in Canada, with his wife and son, having been discharged, and possibly having been granted a pension.