A “well conducted man”: Corporal Stephen (Estiphania) Pappin of St Domingo and the 39th (Dorsetshire) Foot, 1788-1845

By John D Ellis

Stephen Pappin was born in St Domingo c.1788. (‘St Domingue’ was a French colony on the Caribbean Island of Hispaniola. The island is now two countries – the Dominican Republic and Haiti).^[1]His fore and surnames were rendered differently across a range of records. As a Prisoner of War (POW), he was ‘Etienne Pappin’. Whilst serving as a soldier in the 1st Battalion of the 39th Foot, … Continue reading In 1791 a revolt by enslaved people resulted in a series of bloody campaigns which eventually concluded in the defeat of both French and British forces, and the establishing of an independent Black nation state outside of Africa. Stephen Pappin’s army records contain the only reference to his ethnicity, on discharge from the 39th (Dorsetshire) Foot in 1832 his birthplace was given as St Domingo, and his complexion described as “dark” with the annotation “a man of colour”.^[2]The National Archives (TNA) WO 97/557.

It was not uncommon for soldiers of European origin to be described as having “dark” complexions, however, the annotation “a man of colour” clarified his ethnicity; revealing that he was of mixed heritage, (oft referred to in the British Army of the period as either a “Creole” or a “Mulatto”). However, the extent of Stephen Pappin’s African ancestry is unknown (if not either a “Creole” or “Mulatto” his African ancestry may have been from one grandparent or great-grandparent). Similarly obscure are both his background and how he survived the bloody events of the revolt and ensuing conflicts. What is known is that by 1807 he was serving as a soldier of the French Army in the Mediterranean.^[3]TNA ADM 103/228.

Pappin was not the only soldier “of colour” serving in the French Army during the Napoleonic Wars (1793-1815): Abdallah, “a Black man, born in Grand Cairo, Egypt” was serving with the French 32nd Regiment of the Line when he was captured in Portugal in 1808.^[4]Norman Cross. French prisoners of war 1806-1811. TNA ADM 103/407 and ADM 103/259. General alphabetical list of prisoners of war, c1755-c1831. TNA ADM 103/524. Transferred to British custody, he was a Prisoner of War at Norman Cross until being repatriated in 1814. The Black presence in the French Army was not just limited to males. Reportedly, a female Black drummer, the daughter of a Captain in Napoleon’s Egyptian ‘Mameluke Corps’ served with the famous ‘Old Guard’ during the Russian campaign of 1812.^[5]Westminster Gazette, 17^th April 1902 and Northants Evening Telegraph, 19^th April 1902. findmypast.co.uk The original reference is given as “Journal des Debats”, 29^th August 1814.

Although Black men did become senior non-commissioned officers (NCOs) in British Regiments and senior Rates in the Royal Navy, commissioning was rare. However, in the French Army it was more common. Emanuel Charles Greene claimed to have served as a junior cavalry officer at the battles of Leipzig (1813) and Waterloo (1815).^[6]An Officer and a Gentleman or no regular bred Frenchman? Emanuel Charles Greene, late of the battle of Waterloo and Newgate Gaol | John D Ellis – Academia.edu There was little in Greene’s later life, including his marriage into and subsequent acceptance by an Anglo-Irish military family (that had produced several distinguished cavalry officers), that contradicted that claim. Additionally, Thomas-Alexandre Dumas Davy de la Pailleterie, the mixed heritage St Domingo born father of the French writer Alexandre Dumas (1802-1870), became a general in Napoleon’s Army.^[7]For General Thomas-Alexandre Dumas see “The Black Count: Glory, Revolution, Betrayal, and the Real Count of Monte Cristo”, Tom Reiss, Vintage, 2013

Prisoner of War (POW)

The Battle of Trafalgar (1805) had given Britain command of the seas, and whilst Napoleon ruled much of mainland Europe the Royal Navy was quick to pounce on any French shipping. In December 1807 a patrol from the Mediterranean Station (including HMS Cephalus and HMS Weasel) captured the French merchant vessel ‘La Providentia Imperial’, amongst the over 200 soldiers being transported, was one Etienne Papin.^[8]Register of French POWs, Malta, 1806-1809. TNA ADM 103/228. The most recent French incursion on St Domingo had ended in defeat in 1803, and it is possible that Stephen Pappin’s service in the … Continue reading

Taken to Malta, where they were held as Prisoners of War (POWs), the captured soldiers faced an uncertain future. Whilst Napoleon was in the ascendency (it was to be another seven years before he abdicated), Britain was safe from invasion and Malta (where they were being held) was unlikely to fall to a French assault. So, for the new POWs their incarceration had no discernible end in sight.

Many of the POWs were subsequently recruited by the Royal Navy or émigré regiments of the British Army.^[9]TNA ADM 103/228. For Etienne Papin and Joseph Louis see TNA ADM 103/228. Joseph Louis cannot be identified in the records of the 39th Foot, and his fate remains unknown. Ethnicity was not identified … Continue reading Two of the POWs were recruited by the 1st Battalion of the 39th (Dorsetshire) Foot, including ‘Etienne Papin’ (Stephen Pappin) who enlisted in March 1808 and ‘Joseph Louis’ who enlisted later the same year.^[10]TNA ADM 103/228 Other Black soldiers captured whilst serving with the French Army, made the same decision: Crepin, Fontaine and Hyacinthe, were captured during the British assault on St Lucia in 1798.^[11]ADM 103/325. Portchester. French POWs, 1797-1801. After time spent as POWs at Portchester, the three enlisted in the 62nd (the Wiltshire) Foot in January 1800.^[12]Ibid. For Stephen Pappin, it is possible that his decision was influenced by Napoleon’s decision to re-introduce slavery in 1802 and the decision of the British government to pass the Abolition Act in early 1807 (this was certainly not the case for Crepin, Fontaine and Hyacinthe whose incarceration and enlistment pre-dated 1802). It remains unknown whether the choice was of a pro-Britain, anti-French, anti-slavery or pro-Black, one; or simply one of survival, with enlistment being preferable to the risks involved in an indeterminate length of incarceration.

The 39th (Dorsetshire) Regiment of Foot in the Peninsular and North America

The 39th Foot was a two-battalion regiment linked with East Middlesex until 1807 when it was linked with Dorsetshire.^[13]The 39^th later became The Dorsetshire Regiment (‘The Dorsets’) and is an antecedent regiment of The Rifles. The 2nd Battalion had served in the Peninsular campaign (1808-1814) from 1809. The 1st Battalion had served in the Mediterranean since 1807, including Malta (where Stephen Pappin enlisted), and later joined the 2nd Battalion in the Peninsular in 1811. Many of the soldiers of the 2nd Battalion subsequently transferred to the 1st Battalion, whose first major engagement in the Peninsular was the Battle of Vitoria (1813).

In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries it was common for British Army regiments to recruit Black males to serve as enlisted military musicians.^[14]Ellis, JD. “The Visual Representation, Role and Origin of Black Soldiers in British Army Regiments during the Early Nineteenth Century”, (MA Thesis, University of Nottingham, September … Continue reading The fashion for “Turkish music”, and the ‘racialised’ belief in the ‘natural propensity for music of Black people’, resulted in most British regiments employing Black musicians to play percussion instruments such as cymbals, tambourines and drums (in addition to trumpets and bugles). Employed as symbols of regimental opulence and prestige, they were initially enlisted by high status cavalry and Guards regiments. The British Army of the period made no distinction between soldiers of African or Asian origin, simply referring to them as either “Black” or “of colour”.

Stephen Pappin served as a drummer, initially in No. 4 Company then in No. 9 Company of the 1st Battalion during the Peninsular battles of Vitoria (1813) Pyrenees (1813) Nivelle (1813) Nive (1813) Garris (1814) Orthes (1814) and Toulouse (1814).^[15]TNA WO 12/5258. The 39^th experienced fierce fighting at Vitoria (when over 220 men were lost) and the Pyrenees (when over 150 men were wounded, killed or declared missing). Following the first abdication of Napoleon in 1814, the 1st Battalion saw service in North America, at the Battle of Plattsburgh (1814) during the ‘War of 1812’ against the United States.^[16]TNA WO 12/5258. At the end of 1815, Stephen Pappin was re-roled from drummer to private. It is likely that his service in the band dated from this time, or shortly after.^[17]TNA WO 12/5258 (6th December 1812 to 24th December 1815) and WO 97/557. The 1st Battalion 39th Foot possessed a band between 1812 and 1815, and the privates serving in it had the annotation … Continue reading

Peacetime Soldiering, Marriage and Promotion, 1815-1832

Following the Waterloo Campaign (1815), the 39th Foot were part of the ‘Allied Army of Occupation’ in France between late 1815 and 1818. According to Gleeson, Black bandsmen of the Foot Guards, who spoke French, acted as interpreters whilst serving with the ‘Allied Army of Occupation’ in France following the Waterloo Campaign.^[18]Gleeson, J. “Pomp and Circumstance: A History on the Band of HM Coldstream Guards, 1685-2015”. (RHQ, Wellington Barracks, Birdcage Walk, London, 2015). Being from St Domingo and a native French speaker, it is possible that Stephen Pappin was employed by the 39th in a similar role.

Whilst the circumstances of their meeting are lost in the mists of time, be it haggling for food whilst foraging (legally – the British Army flogged or shot looters, so a fair price had to be offered for goods), or in a smoky café, Stephen Pappin met and married a French woman, Josephine-Louise (hereafter ‘Josephine’).^[19]Judith King suggests that Josephine’s surname was either ‘Lionse’ or ‘Liruse’, and that her father, Stephen, was a farmer. See: “Cooper and Killen family tree” (Judith King). … Continue reading

From France, the regiment moved to Ireland, where the 39th served between 1818 and 1825. Three children are known to have been born to Stephen and Josephine whilst in Ireland: George Pappin (1818-1839, NSW); Phoebe Pappin (1820, Kilkenny – 1904, NSW); and Mary Ann Pappin (1824, Limerick -1883, NSW).^[20]Josephine Pappin’s death certificate indicates that ten children were born to her and Stephen, six of whom have been identified, of whom only two were surviving by 1880. NSW Death Registration … Continue reading

In 1825 the 39th left Ireland for Chatham, Kent, where between 1825 and 1830, they provided detachments for escorting convicts on transport ships proceeding to New South Wales (NSW). Whilst some elements of the 39th were deployed either in Chatham, in New South Wales or on the transports travelling between the two locations, Stephen Pappin appears to have served, (briefly at least), with the Depot in Harwich, Essex.

In February 1828, Stephen Pappin was promoted to the rank of Corporal, giving him authority over White soldiers.^[21]WO 97/557. It was rare, but by no-means unknown, for Black soldiers to be promoted to non-commissioned rank (NCOs).^[22]Ellis, JD. “The Visual Representation, Role and Origin of Black Soldiers in British Army Regiments during the Early Nineteenth Century”, (MA Thesis, University of Nottingham, September … Continue reading Those that were promoted, were invariably long serving combat veterans. In the 20th Light Dragoons, two St Domingo born soldiers become NCOs: George Tombs served as Trumpet-Major in the regiment, and after being discharged on a pension later re-enlisted and regained his rank in the 2nd Dragoon Guards.^[23]For George Tombs see: TNA WO 119 (marked) WO 120/20, WO 25/284, 285 and 288 and WO 97/3 (signed) and WO 12/1423-1425. His fate is unknown. Tombs, a “man of colour” and veteran of the Peninsular campaign, found himself limited to a musical role – albeit one with authority over White soldiers. However, Robert Yates, whose complexion was described as both “Black” and “Yellow”, and like Pappin and Tombs was a Peninsular veteran, served as a Troop Sergeant (a non-musical role).^[24]For Robert Yates see: WO 119 (signed). TNA WO 25/284 and 285 and 287. TNA WO 100/10 (MGSM). Robert Yates appears to have settled in India on discharge, as in the late 1840s he claimed the MGSM with a … Continue reading

In September 1830, Stephen and Josephine Pappin welcomed twin boys: James and Stephen Pappin, who were baptised, aged only 5 days, at St Nicholas, Harwich.

^[25]James Pappin. At St Nicholas, Harwich, Essex. Born 13th September 1830, baptised 18th September 1830. Son of Stephen Pappin, HM 39th Infantry, and his wife Sarah Josephine. Essex Record Office. D/P … Continue reading James Pappin died in October 1830 and Stephen Pappin in February 1831. Both were buried at St Mary’s, Chatham.^[26]Burial. St Mary’s, Chatham. James Papin, Chatham, 3 weeks. 6th October 1830. Medway Archives and Local Studies Centre, Chatham. P 85/1/83. St Mary’s Burials 1813-1837. Kent Burials. … Continue reading

Stephen Pappin was not the only Black soldier to have links with Chatham, as the biography of Peter (Perry) Brooking, from Barbados who served with both the Royal Navy and 40th (2nd Somersetshire) Foot reveals:

Manwell Fellon, (born Guadeloupe c,1782) enlisted in the 4th West India regiment in Chatham in 1798. William Winters, (born Jamaica c.1798), enlisted in the 85th (Buckinghamshire Volunteers) Foot in the town in March 1818. However, it was not all one-way-traffic: John Harris (born Cape Verde, Africa c.1784), and described as “a man of colour” deserted from the 3rd Veteran Battalion in Chatham in May 1816. He must have done so in the belief that either he would find sympathy and refuge amongst the civilian population of Chatham, (both Black and White), or a berth on a departing merchant vessel. Chatham was also home to several Black out-pensioners, including Charles Arundell of St Kitts and described as “a mulatto” (43rd and 69th Regiments of Foot), and William Rind, Brookings’s former comrade in the 40th. Peter (Perry) Brookings died in Chatham and was buried at the Church of St Mary’s on the 27th of August 1836.^[27]www.academia.edu/45644945/In_the_service_of_the_Crown_Peter_Perry_Brookings_Royal_Navy_and_40th_Foot

In late 1831 Corporal Stephen Pappin and his family, (Josephine, George, Phoebe and Mary Ann Pappin) arrived in New South Wales. That the family had accompanied Stephen Pappin during his service in Ireland, England and Australia indicates that the 39th had officially recognised Josephine as being legally married to Stephen and placed her ‘on strength’. Only six wives per 100 soldiers were officially recognised as such. They were entitled to draw rations and live in the barracks, on condition that they undertook tasks such as doing the laundry, cleaning and nursing sick soldiers. They also had to comply with military law, lest they lose their ‘on strength’ status.

‘Civvy Street’ in New South Wales

Corporal Stephen Pappin was discharged as an out-pensioner of the Royal Hospital Chelsea on a pension of 1s per day in June 1832.^[28]WO 97/557. Discharged “at his own request” it was noted that his “conduct has been that of a particularly regular, sober, well conducted man”, and that he had “served in Malta 1 year, Sicily 14 months, Peninsula 3 years and was present at several engagements – Vittoria, Pyrenees, Nivelle, Nive, Garris, Orthes and Toulouse. In America 1 year. In France 3 years and New South Wales 9 months”.^[29]If Stephen Pappin had lived long enough to apply for the retrospectively awarded Military General Service Medal 1793-1814, he would have been eligible for clasps for Vittoria, Pyrenees, Nivelle, … Continue reading

The Pappin family had lived a nomadic existence. Neither Stephen nor Josephine had links to Britain or Ireland, and their children had been born in different places. Consequently, and in common with a number of other veterans of the 39th who had spent years living a similar existence, the Pappins chose to settle in New South Wales.^[30]WO 22/248. Stephen Pappin did not have to return to Chelsea to make his application for a pension in person. He was one of seven soldiers referred to Chelsea by the 39th, for whom the need to travel was dispensed with. One of the seven was Private Charles Hunt, a White soldier born in Tewkesbury, Gloucester who had served alongside Stephen Pappin for 24 years.^[31]For Charles Hunt see: TNA WO 23/4, WO 23/30 and WO 23/148. Pension payments were made to Charles Hunt until 1846 when they were stopped on the basis that he was “supposed dead”. It is evident that Stephen Pappin and Charles Hunt were not just comrades, but friends. In August 1833 they jointly received a land grant of 100 acres of in Cumberland County, New South Wales.^[32]State Records Authority of New South Wales; Kingswood, NSW, Australia; Archive Reel: 1493; Series: 12976; Description: Index to Land Purchases and Grants. 1831 – 39. Estiphania Pappin and Charles … Continue reading Initially, between 1833 and 1838 at least, the plan of Stephen Pappin and Charles Hunt to farm their 100 acres, appears to have been a success. In May 1838, Stephen Pappin, the employer of Ann Farrell (a convict transported on the ship Margaret), gave permission for her to marry one William Lewis.^[33]From a letter dated, 21st May 1838. St Phillip’s Church, Sydney. Stephen Pappin was the employer of Ann Farrell, (a convict transported on the ship Margaret), serving a 7 year sentence. He gave … Continue reading

The Pappin family also welcomed two more children: Sarah Ann Pappin (1832-1867) and Elizabeth Pappin (1836-).^[34]“Cooper and Killen family tree” (Judith King). ancestry.co.uk

As early as 1835, Stephen Pappin was augmenting his pension and any income he earnt from his land by playing the bugle in the orchestra at the Theatre Royal.^[35]The Sydney Monitor, 2^nd May 1835. nla.gov.au By 1839 the Pappin family were residing at Kent Street, Sydney. Where, in March of that year, George Pappin, “…Musician, the only son of Mr Stephen Pappin…” died.^[36]Commercial Journal and Advertiser, 16^th March 1839. nla.gov.au Stephen Pappin played both bugle and drums in the orchestra at the Royal Victoria Theatre, through 1841 to 1843 and as such would have been employed in the pit at the front of the stage.^[37]There are several references to “Mr Pappin”, including in The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser, 6^th February 1841 and The Australian, 8^th March 1843. nla.gov.au

Stephen Pappin died at home in Kent Street, in June 1845.^[39]Death and Bural. Stephen Papin. Died 27th June 1845, buried 30th June 1845. A Musician, resident in Kent Street. Church of England Burials, Parish of St Andrew, Cumberland, New South Wales. Vol 30B. … Continue reading

Post Script

The Pappins: Josephine Louise Pappin survived her husband by 35 years, dying at the home of her daughter Phoebe in Woolloomooloo, New South Wales in June 1880. “Much respected by all who knew her”.^[40]Family Notices (1880, June 15). The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW: 1842 – 1954), p. 1. Retrieved June 29, 2021, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article13462207. NSW Death Registration … Continue reading Phoebe, Mary Ann and Sarah Ann Pappin all married. Phoebe and Sarah Ann are known to have had issue.^[41]“Cooper and Killen family tree” (Judith King). ancestry.co.uk

Royal Victoria Theatre: Opening in 1838, the Royal Victoria Theatre was built in a regency style and became equal to any provincial English theatre. It held operas, dramas, burlesques, pantomimes and other amusements. It was destroyed by fire in 1880.