It's taken a little while to get back to the research into John Locke, Royal Artillery gunner and driver that Shaun very helpfully identified.
I tried to find out more about the 2nd battalion, what they were doing in Plymouth in 1807 and then Dublin 1825. I've not researched an ancestor with an army link previously - it's only been the RN and marines to date so something of a new area.
I came across an interesting document detailing the commanding officers of various RA companies of the second battalion and the location of the company at various times between 1807 and 1825. There were 10 companies in 1807 later reduced to 8 in 1825 when the company that I suspect John Locke was serving in was named 1st Coy. Only one seems to give a possible time in Plymouth in 1807 and then be in Dublin in 1825...
The company was involved in the disastrous expedition to Walcheren in 1809 before going to Scotland in 1812 and Ireland in 1815 where John Locke spent 10 years before being discharged on medical grounds. Whether the weak constitution referred to in the discharge was a consequence of Walcheren Fever is a matter of speculation but it sounded terrible.
I will try to find out more about the activities of the company throughout the years John served. There are a few questions that I would like to answer...
The company moved from Sicily to England in 1807 maybe as late as September. I am guessing that this was Plymouth just simply because John signed up in Plymouth in March 1807. I would be interested to know what that process involved and why the artillery. Would he have met a recruitment sergeant in his hometown of Kingsbridge then gone into Plymouth. Would the recruiter have been connected with the artillery or was it just a matter of whatever regiment was billeted in Plymouth at that time?
During his time in Ireland he got married - the discharge papers mention a daily marching allowance for his wife to travel from Dublin to Plymouth. I've not managed to locate the wife in Ireland but on return to Devon, John and Ann Lock(e) settled in Moreleigh where they later appear in the 1841 census before John died in 1845. Ann subsequently moved to Plymouth where she lived a long life and provided a few clues in the census returns. She lists her place of birth as Castlemartyr in Cork and a year of birth of 1797.
I'm not sure whether any records will exist in Ireland - I was advised that there was a fire that destroyed many records in the 1920s. Any suggestions on this would be very welcome.
Many thanks.
