Waterloo Men and Durham Regatta

[jon andrews]

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

[suzanna]

Hello

I am descended from Andrew's brother Anthony.  He also at some point was a soldier according to the baptism details of daughter Grace Knox.  He became a carter later.  I have been unable to find out what regiment he was attached to although it would seem likely to have been The Durham Fencibles.  I understand this to have been more of a Territorial Regiment in the 1st instant, as Andrew became I think a regular soldier after serving in Ireland.  I have a service record for him. I know he married but could you give me a few more details on how you know the finer points about this marriage?  It sounds very sad. I have his wife as Isabella Nicholson, but that is a good guess from parish records as much as anything else. Brother Anthony married Mary Pearson, they had a good family, and one of the sons Andrew married Mary Sarah Young, she is also known as just Mary in some records.  Andrew died in 1852 and Mary married William Mole.  Andrew and Mary Sarah or Sarah Mary had a son Joseph Knox who married Mabel Ritson. Joseph died about 1895.  Mabel then remarried to a George Ward.  Mabel and Joseph Knox had 4 children, Thomas Henry Knox being one of them.  He was sometimes known as Thomas Henry Ward when his mother remarried.  He married Isabella Henry and one of their sons was Thomas Henry Knox my late father. Just to give you a brief idea of how we connect.  I am very proud of having an ancestor who served at Waterloo.  Apparently he was a Sargent at one time, but for one reason or another was demoted. Kind regards Jenny