A couple of queries please ....
My direct ancestor was a 'Christian soldier'
Philip Clear who was buried in Veryan churchyard in May 1829. It's a 'famous' headstone because it shows all the battles he fought and survived during the Napoleonic wars. The re-enactment society visit his grave every year as a sign of respect
I have his army papers etc. and he was eventually discharged in 1826, 'worn out' and with chronic rheumatism due to all the battles he fought. He was awarded the Waterloo Medal - I'd love to know where that is ! He died in Veryan of 'decline' in 1829 aged 40.
I have looked at the
original burial records which are available to view online (Fam.Search) but there is no mention of him on the page. He was buried on 7th May 1829. The entry IS on FindMyPast and Free BMD and also Fam.Search so why wasn't it recorded in the actual church burial book ??
Bit of extra info .... he was born in Falmouth in 1788 and was the son of Andrew and Jane. He also had a brother, Andrew, bapt. 1782 in Kenwyn.
Another query .... he spent many years in the West Indies and met an Irish lady (Julia Ann) while on the island of St.Kitts because they baptised a baby girl there (Julia Ann) in 1819. I have her birth certificate... parents Phillip and Julia Ann
Clare (mis-spelling). It was in the 5th Regt. of Foot baptisms register. Philip was a Corporal (later became a Sergeant.) I can't find a marriage of Philip to Julia so I don't know her maiden name. I wonder if she went there to work on the sugar plantations ?
Later, his wife & daughter, both called Julia Ann, must have sailed back to the UK with him at some point... was that allowed ? He died in 1829 and by 1841 the widowed Julia had remarried (in 1832) her former lodger, John Williams, also an Army pensioner. They are all on the census in 1841 at Treviskey, Veryan.
I have all the details from then on right down to me !!
Any thoughts on the above points would be most welcome.
Many thanks.