English Army deserters in the early 1800s - what would happen to them?

[tillyann]

Hi Shaun.
I'd love to upload it but l'm not allowed to l'm pretty sure. I can only describe it.
I wish l'd paid more attention when l found it now.
I didn't save the url unfortunately.

[tillyann]

What was his discharge date? If it is 25 Nov 1817 it "fits" his pension starting 27 Nov 1817.

Cannot reconcile his absconding Christmas Day 1801 - when by all accounts the regiment was abroad?

His discharge date was 16 September 1817.

[ShaunJ]

Found the record (continues on next page): https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collections/3253/images/40940_2000729081-00298

[tillyann]

Oh great work Shaun.
Are you able to make out what it says?
Some of it l can't read.
Did it lead to any other documents about him particularly his age. Is there a date anywhere in the citation etc for that one?
I'm trying to claim this guy as an ancestor. He is 24 but when was that? How long was he incarcerated in Weedon. If l had the document date l could hopefully progress.
I'm not currently on Ancestry so can't look at it. I'm just working my way through documents l've collected atm.

[ShaunJ]

A pension record on FindMyPast has a Jas Whitaker, 25 Regt of Foot, residence Bury Lane, being admitted to pension (1s 0d), on 26 Nov 1817 - died 22 Nov 1844

More likely that would be Bury, Lancashire.

Possible burial on LAN-OPC:

Burial: 27 Nov 1844 St Mary the Virgin, Bury, Lancashire
James Whittaker -
    Age: 65 years
    Abode: Freetown

[tillyann]

Hi Shaun,
Thanks.
I looked up that James Whitaker (the one with the Chelsea Pension) and he went to Sierra Leone.
The James Whitaker who deserted isn't him. He was from Bury and was discharged in September not November.
It is a pity there are no dates on his record. It would help a lot to know when he was 24 years old.
The records is described on Ancestry as 1810 - 1818. If it was 1801 to 1818 everything would fit for who l'm looking for. It could be human error l guess.

[tazzie]

The storehouses at Weedon were converted I believe after James left service. Building was still in progress 1804 - 1816 when they were building the 8 main storehouses and the 4 magazines. In around 1837 numbers 5 & 7 were converted to barracks and a prison.
 A good detailed piece on the Historic England site also backs this up.
 Tazzie

[ShaunJ]

Are you able to make out what it says?

James Whitaker
Height 5' 8"
Age 24  (I think that must be age at Attestation - so he was born circa 1786/7)
Complexion Fresh
Visage Round
Eyes Grey
Hair Brown
Born "Barry" Lancashire
Occupation Weaver
Served in West Indies from 22nd February 1808
Attested at Stockport, Cheshire in April 1801
Deserted 25 December 1901
Rejoined 24 June 1804
Discharged 16 September 1817 at Weedon /Recommended/

[ShaunJ]

I looked up that James Whitaker (the one with the Chelsea Pension) and he went to Sierra Leone.

Where did you find that he went to Sierra Leone?

I think it is very likely that the pensioner who died in Bury in 1844 was the same soldier who deserted on Christmas Day 1801.

There are possible explanations for the discharge date disparity:

1. a short period of further service between approval of discharge and actual discharge (very common), or
2. a delay between discharge and being accepted for out-pension, for some reason.