A Soldier in 1800

[clare]

Hi,
    Can anyone tell me how to find information on a soldier  through the National Archives please,  I can get into the sight but can't open  it for any information,
   I am looking for
 Benjamin Suggitt, born ab;1777 in Yorkshire
 I am not sure when he joined up but was discharged  ab; 1813/14, & seved in 3rd Foot Guards
 He died 1842 in Church of York Hospital Room, South Chelsea, Middlesex,  any help appreciated
                  Clare

[km1971]

Hi Clare

His papers do not appear to be at the National Archives. All surviving records for men discharged before 1855 have been microfilmed, and the Friends of the NA/PRO have indexed them. This is available on the Catalogue under series WO97. There is a very good 'soundex' on the catalogue which should take care of different spellings.

There are other records available, but you will have to visit Kew. The best would be the Muster Books and Pay Lists in WO12. The earliest are yard square vellum sheets, which later became pre-printed books. They had Musters on the first of the month, and if a man is missing they record where he was. You will need a reader's ticket. But you can take your own digital camera. And you will definitely need a magnifying glass.

= http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/search.asp

= http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/militaryhistory/army/step4.htm

From the dates given, he was discharged before Waterloo, and died too soon to receive a medal for the Peninsular War/War of 1812. You had to be alive in 1848 to receive this. So he will not be on any medal rolls.

Ken

[clare]

Ken, thank you for trying to find him,   maybe I will get to  Kew one day
                        Clare

[jorose]

He is in the Catalogue as Benjamin Sugget, b. Skewsby, Yorkshire, served in 3rd Foot Guards, 1800-1814, discharged aged 38 (in 1814).

These records are currently undergoing digitisation (will probably be available through one of the pay sites). You could try ordering a copy from the NA, but it may be that they are coming online fairly soon - they never do give exact dates.

Skewsby is within the parish of Dalby, in North Yorkshire.  And sure enough, there's a baptism of a Benjamin Suggitt in Dalby in 1779, father Richard, indexed on the IGI, and possible siblings (name varies: Suggitt, Suggit, Sugget all represented).

[clare]

Thank you so much for looking that up,  and for telling me where Skewsby  is, I had the name Dalby in Yorkshire  but did not know where Skewsby  was situated with it,   I am wondering why I didn't get him to come up on IGI, I will have another go, probably me as usual
                             Clare
                           

[liverpool annie]

IGI......... all of these have the father Richard ... no name for mother !!

Jane Suggitt - Christening - 20 Apr 1773 Dalby Yorkshire
Richard Suggitt - Christening - 22 Jul 1771 Dalby Yorkshire
Barbara Suggitt - Christening 17 May 1765 Dalby Yorkshire
Mary Suggitt - Christening - 25 Jun 1776 Dalby, Yorkshire
John Suggett -  Christening - 22 Apr 1788 Dalby, Yorkshire,
Lydia Suggitt - Christening - 17 Jul 1782 Dalby, Yorkshire
William Suggitt - Christening - 24 Aug 1770 Dalby, Yorkshire
Benjamin Suggitt - Christening - 07 May 1779 Dalby, Yorkshire
Sarah Suggitt - Christening - 20 Aug 1780 Dalby, Yorkshire
Hannah Suggitt - Christening - 17 Aug 1768 Dalby, Yorkshire
Ann Suggett -  Christening - 20 Jul 1774 Dalby, Yorkshire

[clare]

 It  is a pretty good possibility  they maybe Benjamin's siblings, so gives me some more  to research,  thank you very much for finding them,  I can't figure what I am doing wrong, I went on the IGI, but never found them.  maybe I need to practice more, or do I need to sign in with  the Family Search
                              Clare

[km1971]

Clare

Records for men discharged before 1855 are already on microfilm, so you can order his record by quoting WO 97/211/126. I believe they charge about 40p a page.

Ken

[clare]

Thanks Ken,   I will send for his records
                        Clare