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I'm hoping someone can help me make sense of Royal Navy records pertaining to my ancestor James Wilson, baptized at Brixham, Devon in 1787. 

His children's baptism records (beginning in 1819) identify him as 'Lieutenant, R.N.'.  In a notice in the Portsmouth Times and Naval Gazette of 1871, his eldest daughter is referred to as 'the daughter of a deceased lieutenant R.N. who was at Trafalgar'.

National Archives data base of men who served at Trafalgar identifies James Wilson, age 20, born Portsmouth, Ordinary Seaman, serving on HMS Tonnant.  Allotment Declarations at findmypast for 1802/3 have James Wilson, Landsman, on Tonnant, but deserting in March 1809.

I can find no passing certificate or other official documentation of him as a Lieutenant.  However in the 1861 Census his widow is a Naval Pensioner and in 1871 another daughter is on the Compassionate List.  I believe he died between 1833 and 1838.  His father had also been a Lieutenant in the Navy, according to the father's death certificate.

Could a man who deserted in 1809 have subsequently re-enlisted and become a lieutenant?  

Thanks in advance for any insights or comments,
Marna

Hello,
I hope someone can help me make sense of the Binding records I've found for Robert SOPER at findmypast.  He appears in two records as being bound 04 May 1733 at Twickenham. One (Source: Binding Records 1692-1949) shows Master Thomas Soper and a free date of 18 April 1760.  The other (Source: Reassignments 1688-1908) shows Master William Wadbrook and that he was bound to 26 May 1737.  I would assume that the second record is the original given the 1737 end date, but why is it in Reassignments?  Re the other record, doesn't a free date of 1760 make for an awfully long apprenticeship?

Sorry if I am being dense here; I would appreciate any insight please!

(I originally posted this as a reply under 'Occupation Interests', but am not sure if that will generate responses.  Apologies for the double posting)
thankyou

Hello.
I am hoping someone will be able to shed light on the career of my ancestor Richard Folkes (c1766-1848).  From Army Lists, I have pieced together the following:

Richard was an Ensign in the 130th Regiment of Foot which was sent to the West Indies in September 1795. The Regiment fought in the Second Maroon War in Jamaica and was disbanded in San Domingo in 1796. ... He was transferred to the 62nd (Wiltshire) Regiment of Foot which had been on garrison duty in Jamaica since 1795.  The 62nd spent most of 1796 fighting in what is now Haiti.  Richard was commissioned Lieutenant in July, replacing a Lieutenant Phaire who had been dishonourably discharged.  His rank of Lieutenant in the Army is dated the 10th of August 1796.  The 62nd returned to England from the West Indies in 1797.

Richard achieved the Army rank of Captain in 1801.  In 1802 he was placed on the Irish Half Pay, presumably when the Second Battalion of the 62nd was disbanded in Ireland following the Peace of Amiens.  In 1804 Adjutant Richard Folkes was transferred to the 9th (East Norfolk) Regiment of Foot.  The first battalion of the 9th Regiment had been in Ireland since September 1803 and was engaged there until 10 November 1805.  It returned to Ireland in January 1807, but it appears that Richard was no longer on active duty.

The War Office List of Officers on Full or Half Pay for 1806 shows that Richard was receiving English Half Pay for service in disbanded independent companies and Irish Half Pay for service in the 62nd Regiment.  In 1809 Captain Richard Folkes is listed as Adjutant in The Royal (South) Gloucestershire Militia.  The 1821 Army List shows him being on Half Pay, Independent Companies.  In the 1841 Census his occupation is "Army - HP".

Does this mean that after 1805 he "retired" from the army?  Did retired army men often join the militia?  Any insight into the Half Pay system, or the Army's Independent Companies would be greatly appreciated! 


 

I am trying to verify burial dates for John and Betty Smart at Sutton Benger.  I have found the following possibilities in England Deaths and Burials 1538-1991 at familysearch.org:

1. John and Betty Smart both buried 08 Sept 1797
2. Elizabeth Smart buried 09 Mar 1818
3. John Smart buried 08 Feb 1834

I have John and Betty as parents of: John b 1778/William b 1779/Ann b 1781/Mary b1782/James b 1788
Charles b 1789/Uriah b 1791/Sarah b 1793/Jacob b 1796/George b 1809... all in Sutton Benger.

If the common burial in 1797 is correct, then George b 1809 is ruled out as their son. 
Any information that may provide a clue is very welcome!
Thank you