13th Light Dragoons 1840s onward

[anniebelle]

As part of my research I am trying to locate what happen to Seath Matthews after 1841. He was baptised at St Andrew, Canterbury on 25 Jul, 1819, the son of George Matthews and Margaret Matthews.  He was listed in the 1841 Census as a Private, aged 20 yrs, b Kent, at the Cavalry and Artillery Barracks,  13th Light Dragoons in St Mary Northgate, Canterbury, Kent.  Following this I have been unable to find any record of him at all.

Does anyone know if there are records which tell of the history of the 13th Light Dragoons and where they are located? Or any books of the Dragoons history and places they may have been located?

Any pointers in the right direction would be greatly appreciated.

[neil1821]

13th LD:
1819-40 in India (various places)
1840-54 England
1854-56 Bulgaria/Crimea/Turkey (Crimean War)

So they were certainly at home for the 1851 census. Have you searched that one?

[anniebelle]

Neil1821,

Thank  you for  your response and the information. Yes, I have looked at the 1851 census, and the following ones, using various references for the name 'Seath Matthews' without success.No marriage or death references either.  He seems to have disappeared!  I was hoping that maybe the 13th LD's were Overseas which may lead to what happened to him, but this doesn't seem likely unfortunately.  Shall follow up on the Crimean War when I work out how to do that.
Thank you.

[neil1821]

re the Crimean War, 13th LD were one of the regiments of the Light Brigade.
The site below has a provisional listing of all men of the brigade, but I don't see your chap.
http://www.chargeofthelightbrigade.com/allmen/indexallmen.html

That would suggest he wasn't there.

Have you tried looking for variations of the name "Seath"? I imagine Seth is more usual...

[Tyrannosaurus]

Locations of the 13th Light Dragoons, from Stations of the British Army, published monthly in the newspapers. Any gaps mean I don’t have the info.

April 41 to Sept 41: Canterbury
Oct 41 to May 43: Ipswich
Jun 43 to Aug 43: Hounslow
Sep 43: Ipswich
Oct 43 to May 44: Hounslow
Jan 44 to May 45: Exeter
Jul 45 to April 46: Cahir
Aug 46 to Sep 46: Dublin
Oct 46: Newbridge
Nov 46: Dublin
Dec 46 to Feb 47; Newbridge
April 47: Dublin
May 47 to Aug 47: Newbridge
Jan 48 to Aug 48: Longford
Nov 48 to Mar 1850: Dundalk
Apr 1850 to Apr 51: Edinburgh
June 51: York

Newspaper reports indicate they were at Piershill Barracks in Edinburgh and left for York mid April of 1851, i.e. after the Scottish census.

There’s a history online for the 13th Light Dragoons, but only up to 1842.
http://archive.org/stream/thirteenthreg00londiala#page/n11/mode/2up

Rex

[anniebelle]

Dear Neil1821 and Rex,

Thank you for your responses to my email.  The information you have given me has given me some directions to follow which I didn't have before.

I agree that Seath is likely to be recorded as Seth, but in the past I haven't had any indicators which would allow me to look at these with any basis to try and find a match.  I can know look up him up in Edinburgh in 1851.  Also other names in the 13LD as listed in the Light Brigade may lead me to my man.

Seath was listed as Danth Matthews in the 1841 census, so sometimes the entries can be hard to guess.

I appreciate the information you have both provided.

Kind Regards, Anniebelle

[Tyrannosaurus]

Just a bit more.

The Scotsman reported in April, 1850, that three troops and the headquarters of the 13th Light Dragoons would be stationed at Piershill, two troops at Glasgow, and one troop at Hamilton. By February, 1851, Glasgow barracks had been sold, leaving the 13th only at Piershill and Hamilton. There may still have been a troop at Hamilton at census time. It seem that the departure from Scotland was a gradual one as there were still elements of the 13th Light Dragoons at Piershill in July 1851.

Rex

[anniebelle]

Rex, 

Thank you for the additional information.

I haven't found him yet, but I am still working through the variations on name etc.

Good Luck,

Anniebelle

[John915]

Good evening,

The 13th were amalgamated with the 18th in 1922. In 1992 they again amalgamated with the 15/19 hussars to become the light dragoons. There is a very good history of these regts, The Light Dragoons by Allan Mallinson. He retired as a brigadier but was formerly a commanding officer of the 13/18 hussars. It is an excellent read and should be available from your local library.

John915