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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Essex => Topic started by: arny on Friday 10 February 12 17:19 GMT (UK)
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Where were the barracks, & what regiments were stationed there?
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Hello, I am not sure exactly where they were but I do know it was the Essex Regiment that was stationed there.
Carol
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Arny, hullo and welcome to rootschat :)
The Local Studiees library nearest to the area where you think the barracks were should be able to help you.
charlotte
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Hi
There certainly was a barracks in Weeley during the Napleonic War and slightly later - dates appear to be around from at least 1803 until possibly as late as 1820. The barracks were then dismantled.
http://www.uk-genealogy.org.uk/england/Essex/towns/Weeley.html
The British Army moved battalions around the country and in barracks and garrisons abroad regularly so you could find many regiments stationed in any barracks including Weeley. The battalions were not necessarily associated with the area they were stationed at though each regiment had a smaller depot which was somewhere in their county of origin. Most regiments usually only had one battalion rising to two during periods of war like the Napleonic period (or more during the First World War). If a regiment maintained a second battalion (from which soldiers were used to supply the first which would be serving abroad) later on in the C19th, then that battalion was often stationed at the regimental depot which might be large enough to be a garrison (more than one barracks) in which case other regiments would often be stationed with them.
'Because of fears that a standing army in barracks would be a threat to the constitution, barracks were not built in Great Britain until 1790, on the eve of the Napoleonic War.'
'The regimental depot of a regiment is the regimental headquarters and normally also the place where recruits are assembled and trained. It is also where soldiers and officers awaiting discharge or postings are based, and where injured soldiers return to full fitness after discharge from hospital before returning to full duty. A variety of regimental stores will also be kept at the depot.'
Examples of regiments stationed at Weeley Barracks
Queens Own Highlanders
(Seaforth & Camerons)
1808
'The embarkation was effected in safety, and on the army arriving in England in February, the 79th marched to Weeley Barracks, in Essex, about 10 miles from Chelmsford, where many of the men were shortly afterwards attacked with fever, though not a man died.'
42d Royal Highland Regiment
(The Black Watch)
'They remained in their new quarters, giving way too freely to the temptations to which they were exposed, by the hospitality of the inhabitants, till the spring of 1803, when, in consequence of the interruption of peace, they were embarked at Leith for the camp then forming at Weeley, in Essex.'
The Essex Regiment was formed in 1881 following the union of the 44th (East Essex) Regiment of Foot and the 56th (West Essex) Regiment of Foot. I don't know where the regimental depots were for these two regiments during the Napleonic War but Rootschat Armed Forces board experts will probably be able to tell you and give you more information on Weeley Barracks. The battalions themselves were stationed in many places throughout the British Empire during the C19th.
Regards
Valda
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Thanks Valda, I'm in France & researching online, which is limited, this site is a godsend.
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hi,,are you researching a particular man in the army? ;) edit it is Joseph bothroyd ;)
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Yes, as with the name of Bothroyd he was not born in Esses & his only reason for being there would be that he was in the army & stationed there. I have found three births at about the right time all in the Hudersfield area, so I guess he was in a Yorkshire Militia. If I have a possible regiment it will save me time when I come to England. I found too many Peninsular battles where he could have been killed to try to do it that way. I can't find a burial in the U.K.
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Hi,
Whilst I believe you may well be right about Mr Bothroyd's reasons for being in Essex, you will need to keep an open mind, something you have probably already worked out for yourself.
My ancestor Susannah Sturdy was baptised 1739 in Nun Monkton, Yorkshire, then in 1766 she married William Adams in Great Waltham, Essex. How this marriage came about I guess I'll never know but I do know it wasn't a family migration, I know for sure at least her brother stayed in Yorkshire. Although the proof that Susannah was the same Susannah Sturdy baptised in Nun Monkton was excellent, it still took me a while to come to terms with the fact that she was born and baptised in Yorkshire.
Regards.
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All,
Are you sure there was a barracks at Weeley. Do you mean Warley, this is near Brentwood and was linked to the East India company. I have more detail as I have researched this area.
Best
Kevan
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Hi
I have just been reading the history of the 2nd West York militia which states:-
"Feb 16-17, 1813 - Marched by route Harwich and Weeley Barracks"
Men from the Morley / Leeds area were conscripted to join the 2nd West York militia during the Napoleonic Wars.
Hope this helps.
Ermin
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hi all
have a look here www.napoleon-series.org/military/organization/.../c_92ndfoot.html several references to weeley in the list of movements for the 92nd .
probably whats confusing is a part of the post valda has written in that record it states that weeley being 10 miles from chelmsford which i,m certain should read 10 miles from colchester a garrison town from way back in the mists as chelmsford is approx 22 miles from colchester , if you do a google search for weeley barracks lots of hits come up some worth looking at but proof positive that it did exist and bear in mind that back then that harwich was a big naval base so no doubt would be used for transporting troops to where needed and also this part of the east coast has numerous martello towers ready and waiting for an invasion by napoleonic forces these would need to be manned as well with felixstowe having one of the largest in landguard fort this was as much to protect the mouth of the river orwell and harwich naval port as anything else .
regards
trevor
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Just been reading up on history in Dedham and it stated that timbers from the Weeley Barracks which were pulled down after the Napoleonic Wars were used to restore the Anchor Pub in Dedham...........
Ronnie :)
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Not sure if this helps. In early 1800's Martello Towers were built in Clacton.In 1812, when the guns were delivered, it was decided that, due to the 'unhealthiness of the coast' the garrison of the towers should be stationed at Weeley Barracks.
Going to dig through and see if I can find anything else.
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I have had a quick look through and all I could find were references to a murder in Little Clacton 25/7/1806. A member of the Cameron Highlanders, Alexander McDonald, was murdered in Lt Clacton, but it says he came from Weeley Barracks. cannot see it on any of my old maps.
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Hi
The barracks were only there between 1803 (maybe earlier) -1820 and possibly not much in use in the later years. You would need a map from that period as they were dismantled in 1820.
Apparently the field where the barracks stood is now called Barrack Field.
Regards
Valda
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Hi again, there is a topic on here already, answered by Musketball. Re Weeley 1812-13.
He is very knowledgeble on the subject. It would appear that the barracks are behind the present church. Covering an area of 50 acres.
Perhaps worth looking Musketball up as he seems to have a lot of info and could help more.
Lin
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I didn't know there had been a barracks at Weeley until I started transcribing the Weeley parish registers. There were so many babies born at the barracks (which at one point had more people living in it than in Weeley itself!) that they had their own maternity ward, in effect!
My transcriptions are on www.FreeREG.org.uk so if you think your family may have been stationed there, it might be worth searching.
I'm putting together a new website (I used to put my transcriptions on my own site but now they're all on FreeREG) where I will have surname lists (so a surname index, basically) by event in each parish. Not sure when that'll be finished though!
It's very interesting though as you can see local girls marrying the Scottish soldiers (there were a LOT of Scottish Highland regiments passing through Weeley), and there's also lots of illegitimate babies produced by local girls, given Scottish-sounding middle names! Plus you had various militia there - Essex and Surrey, being ones I recall.
There's a book on Google Books which is a compilation of letters written by an officer's wife. She lived at Weeley for a while and she talks about the horrible living conditions - they lived in wooden huts and there were huge amounts of mud whenever it rained, but she talks in amused tones about it, and I suppose she was quite glad that she was able to spend time with her husband, rather than have him stationed overseas while she was stuck in the UK (I think this may explain all those aforementioned babies!).
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Hi Helvissa
Nice to see that there is someone else with an interest in Weeley Barracks.Like you I have been transcribing the parish records. My interest being the men who were stationed there and of course their families.As you say many of the regiments at the barracks came from Scotland however what is not generally known is that many of the men came from quite obscure miitiia regiments.I have recorded such units as the Luss and Row Volunteers,The Caithness Legion, Dunblane Volunteers and the Ross and Cromarty Rangers to name but a few.I am not saying that these units were at the barracks however men from the units were, it is believed the barracks served as a training depot for men from the militia volunteering for service in line regiments.Proof of this are buttons found on the site over the past 30 years.English regiments and Irish were also present at various times during the life time of the barracks 1803-1820
I have a large file on the barracks and am willing help anyone researching the site.
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Just reviving this thread - I'm getting round at last to putting PDFs of Weeley transcriptions on my site:
http://essexandsuffolksurnames.co.uk/essex/weeley/
I'm going to use the regiments given for the baptisms to produce a list of regiments and the years they were stationed there. Hurrah for data sort in Excel, that's all I can say....
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Here's the list of regiments at Weeley Barracks (http://essexandsuffolksurnames.co.uk/history/miscellaneous/regiments_at_weeley_barracks.htm), which appear in the baptisms and burials register between 1803 to 1812.
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And here's something I've written over the weekend (when most normal people were doing the gardening or putting up shelves!) : Life at Weeley Camp and Barracks, 1803 to 1804, from Mary Ann Grant's <i>Sketches of Life & Manners</i> (http://essexandsuffolksurnames.co.uk/history/miscellaneous/life_at_weeley_camp_barracks.htm)
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If you are still interested in Weeley Barracks there is a lecture on the subject:Weeley Barracks 1793 - 1840
Weeley Barracks, a look at the life and times of a Napoleonic garrison and the men that served there. Illustrated talk by historian Vic Miller.
17 April - Weeley Barracks 1793 - 1840.
Fri, 04/17/2015 - 11:00
Venue Name:
Jaywick Martello Tower
Venue Address:
The Promenade, Belsize Avenue, Jaywick, CO15 2LF
Contact Name:
Jaywick Martello Tower
Contact Details:
01255 822783
£2 per talk
V. Miller is a well known expert on the subject.
David
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That sounds very interesting, but I won't be able to go, alas.
Has he written a book or article about it as I'd be interested in knowing more.
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Hi MusketBall.
I have just joined this site today. I am researching the 79th Regiment of Foot, (79th Cameron Highlanders), during their time at Weeley Barracks, 1806 to 1810.
The Barracks were built early 1806, and were running into dis-use by 1814, and were totally demolished in 1815. The 79th used Weeley as their UK Base, before and after their many overseas expeditions. Weeley Churchyard, St Andrews has many Men and Children / Infants buried within, (only 3 women).
I note from your response above that you have a file relating to the Barracks, I would be very interested to know what range of information you have on file.
I do have a number of questions relating to military life around this date, if you are able to assist.
I am running three similar projects at the same time, as they all relate.:
1) The 79th and the Ferry Disaster in Harwich Harbour, 1806.
2) The Life Story of Sergeant James Clarke, 79th Regt.
3) A Brief History of any named individuals I come across related to the 79th Regiment. (Currently 8 individuals), mostly officers of course.
I would be willing to share info.
Best regards
Richard