82nd Foot Regiment 1842-1849

[calmar]

I am looking for my great grandfather William Woodruff born in Derbyshire, and have found a record for that name.

It states that he was in 82nd Foot  and the dates shown are 1843-1849. Do those dates mean his army service and where was this Regiment formed.

He was 24 when discharged.

I have him in HEIC from 1856-1859 and then he joined/transferred to 2nd Bat 3rd Foot (East Kent Regiment) in Bombay after that date.

Hope someone can help me unravel the mystery.

Regards,

Margaret

[charlotteCH]

Hi Margaret,

 In what record did you find those dates stated?

charlotte

[Valda]

Those are his service dates

WILLIAM WOODROOFFE alias WILLIAM WOODROFFE; WILLIAM WOODRUFFE Born STAYLEY, Derbyshire Served in 82nd Foot Regiment Discharged aged 24 1842-1849

Unusual to be discharged to pension after only 5 years service so this would seem to indicate he had been wounded and was unfit for service. The 82nd was in Canada between 1842-1847. Nothing going on there as far as I know at that time.

Have you accessed the TNA record?

Regards

Valda

[calmar]

Thank you Valda and Charlotte, that is the one I found.

I am trying to trace his birth details but this one may be a bit before his time agewise. That would make him born 1825 but the earliest I can estimate his birth is 1829/30. I am not  sure that this record is correct for my great grandfather now.

I thought the records said 7 years service. Interesting that this regiment was in Canada.

Regards,

Margaret
 

[Valda]

Sorry obviously can't count - 7 years is still far to short a service to gain an army pension from -  you are looking at more like 21 years. However for his records to have survived for this period he must have been discharged to pension. Other soldiers' attestation papers were 'shredded' once they left the service (died or left before completing long term service) as the army only kept the papers they needed for pension purposes.
Army records are not known for their accuracy.

What are the details of the man you are interested in?
If he served in the East India Company his attestation papers would be at the British Library. Have you accessed those papers?

Regards

Valda

[calmar]

Yes I have his Attestation Papers from HEIC in London. They don't give much info on his birth details except to say that he was a Native of Glossop Derbyshire. He had signed up in Liverpool for 10 years with them but transferred after 3 years to British Army in Bombay.

I can't get to Kew to see his British Army records which start from his transfer from HEIC to there in 1859 when the HEIC was commandered by the Queen.

I am beginning to suspect that his birth details, father, address etc, will not be there either.

All searches have proved fruitless for his birth in Glossop or Derbyshire, come to that!! Also his death age does not match the census info from 1871-1901.

Thanks for your interest.

Regards,

Margaret
 

[Valda]

Have you obtained the details of William's marriage? What information does he give about his father?

Regards

Valda

[calmar]

He was married in Limerick Ireland in 1860 whilst in the army. His father is given as Edward Woodruff, Stove Grate Fitter, which was William's occupation before enlisting with HEIC. I have got the certificate for that, also his chilldren from army registers. He was in  2nd Batt 3rd Regiment of Foot (The Buffs) then.

Census info gives his birth between 1833 and 1838, but death details from certificate give his age as 89 in 1918, so that makes him born c 1829/30.

I have been tryingto find him for over 7 years now and have got all info from 1871 when he was in Cheriton as a soldier to his death. Only his birth is missing!!

Margaret

[calmar]

PS

I forgot to say that on his marriage certifcate for the church ceremony it gives his name as John William Woodruff but only William in army registers.

Also one of his children's birth certificates has his name as John William, all the others are just William. Hence the difficulty finding him.

The only family I can find with parent Edward and son of about the right age are in Lincolnshire in 1841. Sutton.

Regards,

Margaret