Windsor Foresters/Fencibles

[PrueM]

Hello Armed Forces experts 

Can anyone help me to find out more about the movements of my hubby's 4xg-grandfather, Jethro DOBSON, who was a soldier in the Berkshire Regiment of Fencible Cavalry or 'Windsor Foresters'?

He was born in Clewer in Berkshire, around 1774, and stationed in Montrose, Scotland by 1798 when he married local girl Elizabeth MEARNS (there are loads of other soldiers of the Windsor Foresters on the same page of the parish records).  In 1799 they had a son, Jethro, born and baptised in Montrose, and their next child, David, was born in 1801 in 'Jersey Barracks', Jersey, CI (according to census returns).  All children thereafter were born back in Clewer, Berks.

I have found a little bit of info online about the Windsor Foresters, who seem to have been sent to Scotland as reinforcements against French invasion etc. during the Napoleonic Wars...does anyone know where I could find out the movements of the regiment, when they were where, etc.?

I'd appreciate your advice 

Many thanks

Prue

[km1971]

Hi Prue

Here is a link to researching Militia in Kew - http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/RdLeaflet.asp?sLeafletID=26

You may find their Musters in WO13 in Kew. They are original documents so you will have to visit. Military documents of this period contain virtually no FH information, so tracking their movements is all you can do, followed by lookups in church records.

Musters this old could be on one yard square pieces of vellum, so a magnifying glass and a digital camera are essential.

His name brings up no hits on the the Catalogue - http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/search.asp - so it looks as if his papers have not survived. There are other Windsor Forresters in WO97, which may give you further information.

Ken

[PrueM]

Thanks very much for your reply, Ken 
I live in Australia so I won't be able to visit Kew in the foreseeable    However it's good to know that there (probably) are some records out there that will be useful.

Kind regards

Prue

[liverpool annie]

Hi Prue and Harry 

Can't seem to find too much on the regiment I'm afraid ... but heres some bits and bobs !!  they were also called 21st Light Dragoons !!

Col Charles Rooke raised a regiment called the Windsor Volunteers and was allowed by King George III to reside in the "Stone Tower " of Windsor Castle  where he died 1827

Fencibles, both infantry and cavalry, were full time troops recruited on the same basis as regular soldiers, but for home defence duties only.  The Royal Windsor Forresters Regiment of Fencible Cavalry, commanded by Col Charles Rooke, was formed in 1794 and consisted of 6 troops.  The Regiment saw much service in Scotland and was disbanded in 1799/1800.

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/nra/searches/subjectView.asp?ID=O38164

Found this ....... Officer 21st Light Dragoons or Royal Windsor Foresters 1760

[PrueM]

Ooh, thanks Annie!    That soldier looks rather dashing, I must say...I feel a swoon coming on!

I wonder what Jethro was doing on Jersey in 1801?  Grrr!  I'll just have to save my pennies until the next trip back to the Old Dart, and go to Kew myself!

Cheers
Prue (and Harry    )

[BerkshireYeoman]

Dear Prue
I came across this string while searching for something else.

I have a 38 page pamphlet ref the Yeomanry Cavalry of Berkshire which covers quite a bit ref the Windsor Foresters.
An excerpt for 1797

A notice inserted in the Reading Mercury offered a reward for the apprehension of any person inciting any soldier to desert. This was placed on behalf of the Non commissioned Officers, trumpeters and Private Men of the Windsor Foresters Regiment of Fencible Cavalry gave the ranks as set out below:
Colonel Rooke's Troop   
John Bowles, Serj Major,        Thos Goode, Corporal.
Wm Cooper, Serjeant,        R.C. Smith, Do.
James Day, Do.        John Chadwick, Do.

Lieutenant Colonel Sir N Dunkinfield's Troop   
Wm Bullock Serjeant.        John Allen Corporal
John Bradnock Do        Thos Fletcher Do.
Wm Franklin Do.        Thos Rowley Do.

Major Sturges' Troop   
George Wise Q.M. Serjeant        Wm Elborough Corporal.
Thos Osborne Serjeant        James Ellison Do.
John Marshall Do        James Peggotter Do.

Captain Ximenes' Troop   
Luke Marvelly Serjeant.     John Mathews Corporal.
George Rowley Do.        Luke Perdue Do.
George Ellis Do.        Richard Dobson Do.

Captain Culbert's Troop   
Wm Ethilny Serjeant        Wm Parker Corporal.
Charles Knott Do.        John Cuth Do.   Reg CL
Wm Musgrove Do.        Wm Wain Do.

Captain Collier's Troop   
George Miles Serjeant.        Corporal Wm Gardiner.
Thomas Lee Do.        John Bridge Do.
George Millar Do.        John Mills Do.

This notice dated 9th June 1797 gives the regiment's location as Perth Barracks.


If you send me you email address I will send you whole document

regards
Andrew French
asst hon curator Berkshire Yeomanry Museum

[spinycactus]

hi there i have an ancestor who was also in the windsor foresters  from 1774 -1800 who married a girl (Jane) from Scotland but i do not know where or her maiden name so i am trying to track down any where in Scotland where they may have been stationed. you mention a booklet is it possible to have a copy  Many thanks Spinycactus

[BerkshireYeoman]

Hi Spiny

Glad to oblige. Send me an email to andrewgfrench@hotmail.com and I'll send you a copy

Regards
Andrew

[bleckie]

Hi All

For information.

Queens Barracks Perth (regimental Depot of Black Watch)

Was built in 1794 and named after the first regiment to occupy it "4th Queens Dragoons"

Yours Aye
BruceL