Weeley 1812-13 Joseph Bothroyd

[arny]

Could someone check if my soldier was buried during this period please?

[kmart66]

Hi

Looked through PRs of St Andrews for years 1812,1813,1814 and nothing for your man.

Kevin

[arny]

Thanks Kevin, he was probably killed in Spain.

[MUSKETBALL]

Hi.
I am researching Weeley Barracks and collect info on soldiers stationed there,may I have a bit more info re your relative.
Regards Musketball

[arny]

Hi,
     I have none Musketball. Simply a hunch that he was a soldier. All the births of that name at around the right date are from around Huddersfield, there were no Botroyds/Boothroyds in Essex, born or buried, only his marriage. Many of the marriages in Weeley at that period give the regiment of the soldier, perhaps you already have all that from Seax. I have posted them on napoleonicwarsforum, which you may or may not know. If a Yorkshire Militia was at Weeley I will start my search with that when I come to England. Where were the barracks? I read once about the bricks all being re-used when they were demolished.

[MUSKETBALL]

Hi Arny.
Thanks for the reply,the barracks covered some 50 acres to the rear of the present church. They existed from 1793 TO 1803 under canvas and as a purpose built barracks from 1804 to around 1815. The site had been cleared and returned to the farmer by 1820..They have been my main interest for the past 30 years or so,I have recorded most of the regiments that spent time there.Many were obscure Scottish militia units such as the Ross and Cromarty volunteers ,the Caithness Legion,to name but two.The 42nd ,79th,92nd,73rd and 91st were just a few of the line regiments also at Weeley.I have transcribed the parish registers and extracted all the births and deaths of men stationed at the barracks I have only the marriages to do.if I can help with lookups re the barracks let me know .

[arny]

Thanks for this. Good defensive position overlooking the valley. Funnily enough I walked a dog there last year & there's not a trace of course. I've been through all the regiments noted & find that the 2nd battalion 59th regiment were in 3 Peninsular battles in 1813 where my man could have been killed. It's a Notts regiment, but means little, it's somewhere to start looking for Joe. I have had no luck on the National Archives trying to access militia muster rolls online. Have you tried that? Essex Record Office only have deliveries of hay etc, have you found anything there?

[MUSKETBALL]

Hi Arney.
You say you were on barrack land last year, did you visit the churchyard I wonder? there are some interesting graves in there that relate to the barracks.As for militia lists,these are a great source of information but not many available in my area,like you not much success on line.London is best,I also find marching orders to be a superb source of information.
As for your regiment The 59th Foot ,The Lillywhite's.They were at Weeley,I have found several buttons for this regiment whilst field walking the site following ploughing.
In the 1930s at nearby Ash Farm a piece of sacking was found in the loft,the farmer records that stencilled on it was the legend.           50P.GT.COATS.59FT.2ND.BATT.WEELEY.BARRACKS.A.11636.
Unfortunately there was no date.Ash Farm was the quarters for officers from the barracks.
According to my records The 59th were at Wheeley in 1808 then left for Spain,returned briefly to Weeley 1809 before marching to Walsham,returned Weeley 1810  for the last time as they left the same year.
Hope this is all of interest. Keep in touch .
Regards

[arny]

Hi MB, Thanks for that info. My man Joe married Maria Newman 27th May 1806. She re-married in 1816,but there is no burial record for him anywhere. So I supposed he was a soldier. If the 59th didn't arrive until 1808 I have the wrong regiment. Their only child Sarah was baptised in 1812, I put that down to his being posted in Spain & the 59th seemed to fit.
Do you know which regiments were there in 1806, & then came back at the right time for Sarah's bap? Although of course she may have been born much earlier, her husband was born in 1804. They might have waited til dad came back.
Seems like you're a real Weeley Whooper. I am convinced that came from this period. Aupa is spanish for "Come on!"& the Peninsular veterans brought it back with them. Ever heard of that?
I have a muster roll from Mistley 16 Feb no year! it's ERO document L/DTp 34
Best, Arny