John Turner: A Centenarian Black Cymbalist of the 62nd (Wiltshire) Regiment of Foot

By John D Ellis

John Turner enlisted for unlimited service in the 62^nd (Wiltshire) Regiment of Foot at Bradford, Wiltshire in January 1797.^[1]The 62^nd Foot later became ‘The Wiltshire Regiment’ and is now an antecedent regiment of ‘The Rifles’. His complexion was described as “Black” in his army pension record, and he was referred to as “a man of colour” by contemporary newspapers.^[2]For John Turner see: The National Archives (TNA) WO 97/759/135. Morning Chronicle, 23rd February 1853. findmypast.co.uk As will be seen, the year and place of his birth was a matter of conjecture. He was to serve until December 1822, with all of his service being in the rank of private apart from 2 years and 180 days spent as a drummer. The regiment served in the West Indies between 1791 and 1797, and it is possible that John Turner joined the regiment in a civilian capacity during that time. More likely, however, is that he was already resident in Britain prior to enlistment.^[3]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 Appendix reveals that he was not the only Black soldier in the 62^nd; three Black soldiers who served with the 62^nd at some point during their career were subsequently discharged on a pension. In January 1800 the regiment enlisted five Black recruits from amongst the French Prisoners of War held at Portchester.

Between 1797 and 1822 the 62^nd Foot had two battalions:

The 1^st Battalion served ‘at Home’ until 1809 when it was sent to Sicily. It participated in raids on Ischia and Procida, and other raids on the Italian mainland (1811). In 1812 it transferred to eastern Spain to support British operations in the Peninsula Campaign. In 1814 it was sent to Italy. Upon the cessation of hostilities, it was sent to North America to fight against the USA in the ‘War of 1812’. It then served in the West Indies before moving to Nova Scotia, where it remained until 1823. John Turner appears to have spent all of his service in the 1^st Battalion.

The 2^nd Battalion was raised in 1799 and disbanded in 1802. Raised once again in 1804 and quartered in Jersey from 1808. In 1813 it joined the 1^st Battalion in the Peninsula, participating in the Battle of the Pyrenees (1813). In 1814 it was sent to Ireland. Following the Waterloo Campaign, it was part of the ‘Allied Army of Occupation’ in France. It disbanded in 1816.

John Turner was discharged as a private on a pension of 1s/2 and 1/2d per day, in December 1822, in consequence of “an attack of inflammation of the lungs, a pulmonary affection has remained which with his great age extremely incapacitates him from doing any regimental duty”.^[4]For John Turner see: The National Archives (TNA) WO 97/759/135.

On discharge his place of birth was given as Boston, North America and his age as 54 years – although this had been crossed out and replaced with “61 years”.^[5]Ibid. He was 5 feet 7 and 1/2” tall with black hair, black eyes and a black complexion. He was a labourer by occupation and his conduct had been good. He marked rather than signed his record. Like many Black soldiers, his service in the West Indies did not credit towards his pension – it being believed that Black soldiers had a ‘natural immunity’ to the rigours of the climate.

Civvy Street

John Turner would almost certainly have disappeared into the anonymity of civilian life if not for a newspaper report of February 1853 concerning the death in Chelsea of “an army pensioner” and “…a man of colour, who had been for many years cymbal player in one of the regimental bands.”^[6]Morning Chronicle, 23rd February 1853. Also in: Morning Advertiser, 24th February 1853. The Hull Advertiser and Exchange Gazette, 25th February 1853, suggests he was first married at 96 years. … Continue reading

Cross referencing a database containing the biographical and service details of approximately 500 Black soldiers who served between 1715 and the 1840s with parish registers, census returns on ancestry.co.uk and findmypast.co.uk revealed the individual to have been John Turner, late of the 62^nd Foot.

As an out-pensioner of the Royal Hospital Chelsea and in common with several Black veterans, John Turner settled near the hospital, almost certainly to take advantage of the medical care and daily allowance of soup and bread provided to out-pensioners.

In September 1849, at St Jude, Upper Chelsea he married Frances Ann Gunn.^[7]Marriage: 4th September 1849. St Jude, Upper Chelsea, Kensington and Chelsea, England. Groom: John Turner. 85 years. Bachelor. Army Pensioner. 12 Mermaid’s Yard. No name provided for father. Bride: … Continue reading John was 85 years of age and an Army Pensioner.

In 1851, John and Frances Turner were residing in Turk’s Row, St Jude, Chelsea. He was 97 years of age, a Chelsea Pensioner and had been born in Kingston, Jamaica. She was 49 years of age and had been born in Gloucestershire.^[8]1851 England Census: John Turner. Married. 97 years. Chelsea Pensioner. Born Kingston, Jamaica. Frances Ann Turner. Married. 49 years. Born Leorinton, Gloucestershire. 1851 England Census. Turk’s … Continue reading

The longevity of Black people was frequently a subject of fascination for nineteenth century British newspapers, and in February 1853 the death of John Turner, reputedly at the age of 102 years, was reported by London papers and then others in Devon, Hull, Scotland and Staffordshire.^[9]Morning Chronicle, 23rd February 1853. Also in: Morning Advertiser, 24th February 1853. The Hull Advertiser and Exchange Gazette, 25th February 1853, suggests he was first married at 96 years. … Continue reading

From the Weekly Chronicle (London):

“At the workhouse, Chelsea, and army pensioner died of “natural decay” at the age of 102 years. The registrar, mentions that “this was a man of colour, who had been for many years cymbal player in one of the regimental bands’ he was admitted into the workhouse from Mermaid Yard about three months before his death; it is stated that he was married only six years ago.”^[10]Weekly Chronicle (London), 19^th February 1853. findmypast.co.uk

John Turner was buried at St Luke, Chelsea on the 18^th of February 1853.^[11]Board of Guardian Records, 1834-1906 and Church of England Parish Registers, 1813-2003. LMA. Reference Number: p74/luk/279. ancestry.co.uk Aged 102 years, and an inmate of Chelsea Poor House, he was interred on the north side of the churchyard alongside three fellow paupers.^[12]Ibid.

So where was John Turner born and when?

John Turner’s army records indicated that he was born in Boston, USA whilst the 1851 Census suggested his place of birth was Kingston, Jamaica. Whilst his given or estimated age placed his year of birth somewhere between 1751 and 1768.

These simply may have been clerical errors, or because John Turner may not have known either with certainty. Alternately, he may have been being deliberately evasive: Although ostensibly free on setting foot on British soil after the ‘Somerset Case’ (1772), for former enslaved people the risk re-enslavement (or enslavement for those born ‘free’) was a distinct possibility.

Appendix: The Black Soldiers of the 62^nd (Wiltshire) Regiment of Foot

Crepin, described as a “Black soldier”, was recruited by the 62^nd from the French Prisoners of War held at Portchester in January 1800. He has not been identified amongst the pensioners of the 62^nd, and his fate remains unknown. Sources: Portchester. French POWs, 1798-1799. TNA ADM 103/ 326. findmypast.co.uk

Fontaine, described as a “Black soldier”, was recruited by the 62^nd from the French Prisoners of War held at Portchester in January 1800. He has not been identified amongst the pensioners of the 62^nd, and his fate remains unknown. Sources: Portchester. French POWs, 1798-1799. TNA ADM 103/ 326. findmypast.co.uk

Hyacinthe, described as a “Black soldier”, was recruited by the 62^nd from the French Prisoners of War held at Portchester in January 1800. He has not been identified amongst the pensioners of the 62^nd, and his fate remains unknown. Sources: Portchester. French POWs, 1798-1799. TNA ADM 103/ 326. findmypast.co.uk

John Lewis was born in Tobago c.1780. He enlisted in the 62^nd Foot in May 1799. (See ‘Jean Louis’). On enlistment he was 5 feet 5” tall with a black complexion, grey eyes, grey hair and was a barber by occupation. He served as a drummer until transferred to the 8^th Royal Veterans in July 1806. He was discharged as a drummer on a pension of 9d per day in July 1814, ““His Majesty not requiring his further service and ruptured”. His fate remains unknown. Sources: TNA WO 97/1133 and WO 116/16.

Jean Louis, described as “Black”, was recruited by the 62^nd from the French Prisoners of War held at Portchester in January 1800. (It is possible that he was ‘John Lewis’). He has not been identified amongst the pensioners of the 62^nd, and his fate remains unknown. Sources: Portchester. French POWs, 1798-1799. TNA ADM 103/ 326. findmypast.co.uk

Phillip Mason was born at Spanish Town, Jamaica c.1775. He served in the 21^st Light Dragoons from May 1796 to May 1801. He enlisted in the 62^nd Foot in June 1801 and served until May 1803, when he transferred to the 9^th Lancers (in Dublin), with whom he served until February 1819 when he was discharged as a trumpeter on a pension of 9d per day due to a reduction in the establishment and a severe rheumatic complaint. On discharge he was of very good character, 43 years of age, 5 feet 6″ tall with black hair, dark eyes and a black complexion. His fate remains unknown. Sources: TNA WO 97/91 and WO 120/20.

Alexis Rolan, described as a “Black soldier”, was recruited by the 62^nd from the French Prisoners of War held at Portchester in January 1800. He has not been identified amongst the pensioners of the 62^nd, and his fate remains unknown. Sources: Portchester. French POWs, 1798-1799. TNA ADM 103/ 326. findmypast.co.uk

Matthew Springer was born at Port-au-Prince c.1777. He served as a private in the 62^nd Foot from December 1797 to May 1801, and then transferred to the 9^th Lancers in Dublin. He was discharged on a pension as a trumpeter, November 1825, being arthritic and worn out: “For the last six months he has been totally incapable of any duty in the Band, to which he belongs as cymbal player.” On discharge he was of good character, 49 years of age, 5 feet 6″ tall with black hair, black eyes and a black complexion. He was a labourer by occupation and marked rather than signed his record. His fate remains unknown. Sources: TNA WO 97/125.