I recently discovered that my Great (x3) Grandfather, Samuel Hayes, served in the 47th Regiment of Foot from 5 December 1808 thru December 1832. Medal rolls indicate he served in 2/47th during the Peninsula War, with entitlement to the MGSM with Vittoria and San Sebastian clasps. The lack of the Barrosa clasp suggests he was in one of the battalion/centre companies.
I'm heading to Kew on 2 Oct to dig through the 2/47th muster rolls. I also have a number of books on order including Harley's "Veteran", "The Spanish Ulcer: a History of the Peninsular War", "A Commanding Presence: Wellington in the Peninsula 1808-1814", "Wellington and the Siege of San Sebastian 1813", "Vittoria 1813", Wylly's "Loyal North Lancashire Regiment", and others that cover the First Anglo-Burmese War.
I'm interested in finding other primary sources that might shed more light on the locations and travels Samuel undertook while in service. For example, are there any records of the vessels that transported the 2/47th to Gibraltar, Cadiz etc.?
Any pointers to sources (or additional books that would be of use) would be very much appreciated as I dig into this previously-unknown aspect of my family history.
Now that this thread has been resurrected, one of Samuel Hayes medal roll entries for the Peninsular War lists his Battalion and Company as 1st Battalion (which can't be correct since the 1st Bn was in the East Indies throughout the Peninsular War period) and Yates. I'm thinking this must have been his Company Commander while serving with the 2nd Bn, 47th Foot in Spain because his Company Commanders during his later service with the 1st Bn were Hutchison and Sadlier.
Is there any way to confirm that Yates was his Company Commander in Spain?
Hi Paul,
Many, MANY thanks for the above link. I was tracking that my Great x3 Grandfather transferred to the 1st Bn, 47th Foot but the Regimental muster rolls are rather patchy during the 1814-1815 timeframe.
The Tilbury Fort muster roll includes my forebear (Samuel Hayes) on p.22 of the record. I'll now need to dig through any related records to see if I can find more entries for him.
One thing that's puzzling me is that he's recorded as joining the 1st Coy, 1st Bn, 47th Foot on 28 May 1815 but the muster roll entry with that detail dates from October 1815. Apparently he joined from the Regimental Depot at Bombay. Perhaps somewhere on Ancestry there's the Bombay equivalent of the Tilbury Fort muster roll?
Kind regards, Mark
Mark after the disbanding of the battalion on the 24th Oct 1814. Many of the men were transferred to the 1st Batt in India. My Ancestor served with the 2/47 from Feb 1812-1814. He was discharged on the 24th Oct 14. I believe due to being wounded at San Sebastian. 109 days in regimental hospital. He re-enlisted into the 40th foot.
Many of the recruits were recruited by depots such as Hull depot. My ancestor was recruited in Tyrone. He then was moved to Liverpool & then to Hull Depot. From Hull to Hilsea, then Portugal. Hull Depot Musters have all different regiments inside. Tilbury Depot has the men of the 2/47 in 1814 being transferred to India.
Hi Mark.
Samuel Hayes was at Tarifa.
You can contact through my website
http://2-84thfoot.uk/index.php/contact-2/
Jim
Ian,
There is no Dennis Hellim on the Musters, but there is a Dennis Hulme, he was from Unsworth, Lancashire and enlisted 5th April 1809. He sailed on the Ephira in February 1811 from Cadiz to Algeciras as part of Graham's force at Barrosa. Following which he also served at Tarifa as part of Skerret's defence. He was then involved in the defence of Puente Largo, Aranjuez 30th October 1812, here he was reported as missing/killed WO25/1822 and died 16th December 1812. Hulme had 12/- credit which was ordered 21st October 1815.
Musters are notorious for phonetic/mispelling of names so this could possibly be your relative; time scales are right 1809 to 1815 and there are only three Dennis's shown on the Musters.
If you feel it could be him pm and I will send images
Jim