Joseph Swales, formerly of the 8th Dragoons

[wiglet]

I am wondering if anyone could point me in the right direction in finding some army service information concerning my husband's ancestor, Joseph Swales (sometimes spelt Swailes).

All the details we have concerning Joseph are from Australian records, starting with his transportation on the ship "Calder" from Calcutta to Sydney, arriving on 21 November 1822.  We know from subsequent convict musters that he was apparently in the 8th Dragoons, and was either a blacksmith or a farrier by trade.  According to the NSW Convict indents, he was tried at Fort William on the 30 October 1821, at which time he was 29 years of age (which would put his birth year at about 1792), and was sentenced to transportation for Life.  The indents also state that he originally came from Bedford.  He died in 1878 in Adelaide, South Australia, where his age was given as 92, which would correlate with a birth year of about 1786, so there is some leeway in the birth year there.

What I am wondering is if there is any way of finding out more about his military service without to going to the UK National Archives in person, to look up muster and payrolls and the like - we are in Australia, so there's a slight tyranny of distance issue going on with that  .  Or is there a kind soul out there with the time and inclination to go and look up his records for us?

Thanks

Jenny

[miriamkinga]

Hi Jenny

Assuming you have all the information on this website re Joseph? :-

http://www.jenwilletts.com/searchaction.php?page=2&surname=swales&ship=&firstname=joseph

best wishes

Maria

[wiglet]

Thanks Maria - yes, I have all of Joseph's details off that site, and plenty more from local newspapers concerning his somewhat chequered career as a publican, both in New South Wales and South Australia. 

Unfortunately, because he chose to ultimately settle and die in SA, his official death details are rather lacking in detail (such as parents, etc).

[miriamkinga]

He sounds a really interesting person. Hope you get to the bottom of it all one day 

[km1971]

There was a Fort William barracks in Calcutta. Also, the 8th Light Dragoons - as they were then - were in India from 1802 to 1823. So it looks possible.

Ken

[wiglet]

Thanks Ken - we had worked out that the information does tally with general historical facts, as the 8th Dragoons were still in India at this time.  I take it that the regiment must have had reinforcements shipped out from the UK from time to time, given that Joseph was too young to have enlisted in 1802, when they first went to India (and assuming he was born in Bedford or similar, rather than in India itself!).

Interesting also is that in their last few years in India and as a Dragoon regiment, they were under the command of Banastre Tarleton!

I've also wondered what crime a soldier would have need to have committed, to be transported for Life - disobeying orders, perhaps?  And would the trial in question have been a court martial?