Looking for an ancestor William Russell Qtr Master Sergeant at Waterloo

[km1971]

Trumpeter Abraham Ward - Can anyone advise me how I can find more details of his movements ie 1813 - Waterloo? Which battles during the Napoleonic war and where was he until 1819 and where abouts in India?

Hi Brian

His record makes no mention of being in Spain/France so you can assume that Waterloo was his first campaign. To double check you will need a researcher to look at the muster/paylists in the National Archives. Likewise for where exactly in India, England and maybe Ireland he served. You may he able to buy a book (or use an online newspaper archive) that lists the locations, but these will only be where the CO was. Only the musters will tell you an individual's location.

The regiment sailed from Boulogne and arrived in Ramsgate (Kent) on July 7th 1814. They then moved to Radipole (Weymouth) until October 1814. I have two conflicting sources. One says they stayed in England until being sent to France in April 1815. The second says they were in Ireland when Napoleon escaped from Elbe. While the regiment was overseas at least one troop remained at home to carry on with finding and training recruits.

After Waterloo they served in the army of occupation in France until May 1816. Then back to England, before sailing to India in February 1819. 

In the top LH corner of his discharge it says that in November 1839 his pension was 1s 7d (19 pence if you do not remember shillings) per day. Did he stay in India? Or did he take advantage of a free passage to another colony?

Ken

[bamc37]

Thanks for your advice Ken. Yes I will get hold of a researcher.
 Abraham was discharged in 1839. He was a sick man and from his papers it would appear he was discharged at Bangalore to reside in India. There are records to show there was a marriage in 1833 between Abraham Ward and Fanny Long. (So I assume my 3xgrandmother, Mary Anne Ward had died, in fact I don't believe she ever went to India) There was also a birth of George Abraham Ward in 1839, son of Abraham and Fanny Ward. and the death of Abraham Ward aged 71 at Bangalore on 23rd Sept 1863.

[km1971]

Hi Brian

At least he had his pension for 24 years. Men often stayed in India, as with 1s 7d a day he could afford a few servants and have a much better standard of living. Having survived service in India for so long he had obviously acclimatised.

In case you were wondering 'half period' was a 50% bonus in pensionable service given to men enlisting before 1818, for service in the East or West Indies. With his half period and Waterloo bonuses it all added up to a much better pension.

In 1847 they announced a medal for the Peninsular. Men had to be alive on 1st June 1847, and claim it. I cannot find him listed, which again suggests he did not serve overseas until 1815.

Ken