The Last Black Drummer: John Charles of the 32nd Foot, 1808-1845

By John D Ellis

John Charles was born in Port of Spain, Trinidad c.1793. Trinidad had been colonised by both the Spanish and French and was captured by the British in 1797. Lieutenant-General Sir Thomas Picton (1758-1815) was the governor of Trinidad between 1797 and 1803 and was later convicted of torturing a ‘mulatto’ teenage girl. The conviction was subsequently quashed on the grounds that Trinidad was either under Spanish law or martial law, and that both of those condoned the use of torture (Picton was later to have the 32^nd Foot in his division at the Battle of Waterloo). Nothing is known of John Charles’ origins, whether enslaved or ‘free’, but by October 1808 he was in Bath, Somerset. Decades later, when he left the 32^nd he gave his occupation as “servant”.^[1]For John Charles see: The National Archives (TNA) WO 97/505/24

During the Georgian period Bath developed into a fashionable spa town, attracting the very wealthiest of society, including William Thomas Beckford (1760-1844), novelist, MP and plantation owner. It was fashionable in the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries for wealthy Britons to employ Black children as servants to demonstrate their own wealth and status and it appears that John Charles was one of these children. In Staying Power, Peter Fryer asked what became of such child-servants when they grew to adolescence?^[2]Fryer, P. “Staying Power, The History of Black People in Britain”. (Pluto Press, 3^rd Edition. 2018) In the case of John Charles, that question can now be answered – at Bath, in October 1808 he enlisted in the 32^nd (the Cornwall) Regiment of Foot.^[3]32nd (the Cornwall) Foot later became the ‘The Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry’, then ‘The Somerset and Cornwall Light Infantry’, then ‘The Light Infantry’ and is now an antecedent … Continue reading

John Charles’ attestation records note that he voluntarily enlisted in the 32^nd Foot on the 2^nd of October 1808, and then attested (took the oath of allegiance to the monarch) in Bath on the 4^th of October 1808.^[4]For John Charles see: The National Archives (TNA) WO 97/505/24 His attestation was carried out by John Nicholl, a local magistrate, and a description of John Charles stated that he was fourteen years of age, 4 feet 10” tall with a black complexion, grey eyes and black hair.^[5]Ibid In 1808 he marked his enlistment record with an ‘X’ suggesting he was signature illiterate, whilst in 1845 he signed his discharge record, indicating that he has learnt to read and write during his military service.^[6]Ibid. School Master Sergeants had been established in British Army regiments in 1812 with the aim of educating both the enlisted soldiers and their children. Literacy was a prerequisite of promotion … Continue reading

He was paid a bounty of three and a half guineas, which approximated to over seventy days’ pay for an infantry private. Whilst this bounty was clawed back shortly after a new soldier was issued his uniform and equipment (which he had to pay for out of his bounty), for a short period of time he would have been quite well off. The bounty was probably one reason he enlisted, and enabled the 32^nd to compete with other potential employers.

The newspaper archives held by findmypast reveal that Black servants were in demand in 1808, with numerous advertisements being placed in London newspapers for ‘men of colour’ to act as footmen or servants (to shave, barber and dress gentlemen).^[8]Morning Herald (London) for 20^th January 1808, 11^th March 1808, 6^th June 1808, 11^th June 1808, 20^th June 1808. findmypast.co.uk

‘The West Kent Militia’ advertised for “several handsome Black Men, or Men of Colour….” in March 1808.^[9]Morning Advertiser, 26^th March 1808. findmypast.co.uk Promising those who brought Black recruits to them that “more money will be given to bringers than any other house in London”.^[10]Ibid. It is not known how successful the advertisement was, but previously, in July 1796 the ‘West Kent Militia’ had enlisted “Joseph” a “Black soldier” taken by General Abercromby at St … Continue reading The advertisement suggests that potential Black recruits had little or no autonomy over their own enlistment, with “bringers” expected to benefit financially from their service. In fact, the enlistment of soldiers like John Charles and others belies this and service in the regiments outside of the ‘West India Regiments’ (for whom the War Office purchased thousands of enslaved African men in the 1790s), appears to have been voluntary with re-enlistment rates for Black soldiers being higher than for their White enlisted counterparts.^[11]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 Whether this choice was ‘pro-regiment’ or ‘pro-Black’ is a matter of conjecture, but one possible attraction of military service for John Charles is that by the time he enlisted in 1808 many regiments had a well-established Black presence in the Band or amongst the drummers and trumpeters. The 32^nd had enlisted Black soldiers as military musicians since the early 1790s when serving in the West Indies, and eight other Black soldiers have been identified whose service in the regiment overlapped with that of John Charles – see Appendix.

The 32^nd were a double battalion regiment (so perhaps 1200 – 2000 men divided between the battalions), which usually served in different countries (typically the 2^nd Battalion was ‘at Home’ providing drafts for the 1^st Battalion), with companies serving in detachments, so it is possible that John Charles never actually served alongside any of the other Black soldiers. However, he would have known them by sight, worked alongside them in the Band and likely benefitted from the establishing of ‘racial norms’ which must have occurred before he enlisted in the regiment. The Appendix reveals several Black soldiers serving in the 2^nd, then 1^st Battalions at the same time as John Charles. Indeed, James Heard and James Ricard were a pair of African-American sailors who enlisted in Cork on the same date – if they were not friends before enlistment then they surely would have been comrades by the time they were discharged.

In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries it was common for British Army regiments to recruit Black males to serve as enlisted military musicians.^[12]Ibid. 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 between 1715 and 1845, 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”. The period Black soldiers served was one which saw an increase in the already historically established Black presence in Britain and Ireland; the Somerset Case (1772) resulted in many escaped slaves making their way to Britain. The American War of Independence (1775-1783), War of 1812 (1812-1815), and various British campaigns in the Caribbean, Africa and India also seem to have resulted in an increase of Black recruits into British Army regiments, both overseas and from amongst the Black population resident in Britain and Ireland. Additionally, dominance of sea routes, particularly after the British victory at Trafalgar (1805), meant that many ports had Black populations, variable in size and made up of residents (native born and/or long-term inhabitants) and transients (e.g. merchant sailors). Thus, by the Napoleonic Wars (1793-1815), most regiments had some Black presence; be it individuals or small groups of drummers, trumpeters or bandsmen.^[13]Ibid.

In the 32^nd Foot the Black presence in the ranks dated between 1792 and 1845. Colonel GC Swiney’s “Historical records of 32 (Cornwall Light Infantry) 1702-1892” makes no reference to the presence of Black soldiers in the regiment, but it does facilitate the identification of the places they served in and events they participated in.^[14]Swiney, Colonel G.C. “Historical records of 32 (Cornwall) Light Infantry 1702-1892”. (Simkin, Marshall, Hamilton, Kent & Co. London, 1893).

John Charles spent all of his service as a drummer. Initially (being underage), he was a drummer-boy, then later he was the Big-Drummer. Between 1808 and 1814 he served in the 2^nd Battalion of the 32^nd, then, when it disbanded, he transferred to the 1^st Battalion where he served until 1845. In total, he spent thirty-seven years in the regiment. George Carville, a Black drummer in the 29^th (Worcestershire) Foot is usually identified as the last Black soldier to serve, (dying of cholera in India in 1843), until James Francis Durham joined the ‘Durham Light Infantry’ in the 1890s, however, John Charles was actually the last.^[15]Op cit. Ellis, JD.

Where they served

The 1^st Battalion

*Service of Black Soldiers: Francis Augustine, 1814-1829. John Charles, 1814-1845. John Mathews, 1814-1817. John Peter, 1792-1814. William Thomas, 1814-1817.

West Indies, 1792. Jersey and return to the West Indies, 1794. St Domingo, 1796. Southwest England – Cornwall, Somerset and Devon – to Dublin to deal with ‘public order’, 1803. Copenhagen, 1807. England. Peninsula, including the battles of Rolieia (1808), Vimiera (1808), Corunna (1809). England, 1809. Walcheren Expedition, (1809). England, 1810-1811. Peninsula, including the battles of Salamanca (1812), the Siege of Burgos (1812), the Pyrenees (1813), Nivelle (1813), Nive (1814) and Orthes (1814). Cork and Fermoy, 1814. Waterloo Campaign under the command of Sir Thomas Picton, 1815. The Pursuit to Paris, 1815. The Allied Army of Occupation in France, 1815-1816. England, being stationed at Guernsey, Alderney and Hilsea, 1816-1817. Ionian Islands, 1817-1825.

England, in Devonport and Plymouth, 1825. The North of England – Bradford, Stockport, Bury, Rochdale, Oldham, Wakefield, Manchester, from mid-1826. In 1826, the Taunton Courier, and Western Advertiser reported the heroic efforts made by a Black man of the 32^nd (the Cornwall) Foot who repeatedly dived into a weir in order to rescue a man swept away whilst bathing.^[16]Taunton Courier, and Western Advertiser, 19th July 1826. findmypast.co.uk Even though it became clear that the man, Edward Squibb Cornish aged 22 years, must have drowned, the Black soldier “courageously and skilfully dived into various parts of the stream, and at length brought up the corpse.”^[17]Ibid. The newspaper mentioned that the Black soldier was rewarded with a collection of £3 (two months’ pay for a soldier), by benevolent onlookers, but failed to mention his name.^[18]Ibid. John Charles and Francis Augustine were both serving in the band of the 32nd at the time, and the regiment was passing through Taunton en route for the North of England. Francis Augustine was to be discharged in 1829 being infirm and so was probably not physically capable of the rescue, whilst John Charles was in his early thirties, 6 feet 1 and ¼” tall and served until 1845, and is therefore a more likely hero.

Ireland, 1827-1830. Canada, 1830-1841. England, including Portsmouth and Leeds, 1841-1844.  John Charles was serving in the band of the 32nd when it returned to Yorkshire in 1843. The performance of the band received much attention from the press when it played, including an ‘oratorio’ in Dewsbury, the ‘Military District Steeple Chases’ near Wetherby, and the ‘Temperance Gala’ at Leeds Zoological and Botanical Gardens.^[19]Leeds Intelligencer, 18^th February 1843. Leeds Intelligencer, 25^th March 1843. Leeds Times, 10^th June 1843. findmypast.co.uk The attempt by the regiment to ‘win hearts and minds’ was somewhat subverted by the Leeds Times, which reported that the citizens of the city were betting whether “…the Enniskillen Dragoons or the 32^nd Foot Regiment, can turn out the greatest number of ugly men”.^[20]Leeds Times, 10^th June 1843. findmypast.co.uk The Leeds Times favoured “…the gallant 32^nd”.^[21]Ibid.

Ireland, including Dublin, where in August 1844, the performance of the band of the regiment at Portobello Gardens, Dublin was described as “splendid”.^[22]Saunders’s News-Letter, 29^th September 1809. findmypast.co.uk Ireland, in Mullingar and Athlone, with the Headquarters in Dublin, 1844-1845. In May 1845, the Morning Herald (London), reported that the 32^nd’s “…big drummer (a black)…” was one of only three people left in the regiment who had served at Waterloo.^[23]Morning Herald (London), 23^rd May 1845. findmypast.co.uk This was a reference to John Charles, and whilst it confirms his role and longevity of service, the reference to his service at Waterloo was incorrect – technically he had served in the campaign, but not the battle.

At Athlone in November 1845 Drummer John Charles appeared before a board of regimental officers prior to being examined for pension. A very detailed record confirmed his biographical details and dates of service.^[24]TNA WO 97/505/24. It noted that he had served abroad for 19 and 1/3 years, including the Ionian Islands for 8 and 1/4 years and Canada for 11 and 1/2 years. He made no claim for service in either the Peninsula or Waterloo – indicating he was certainly not the source the reports of his service there. He was discharged as a Drummer to a pension of 1s/6d per day, 3rd November 1845, due to “disability ensuing from length of service and medical causes not attributable to neglect, vice and intemperance”.^[25]Ibid. It was also noted that he suffered from “chronic rheumatism”. It was observed that “He has been a very good and efficient soldier, seldom in hospital, trustworthy and sober. He is in possession of four distinguishing marks for good conduct”^[26]Ibid. (these dated from 1839, 1840, 1842 and 1844 and were each worth 1d per day). On discharge he was 51 years and 2 months of age, (suggesting he was born in September 1794), 6 feet 1 and 3/4″ tall (the average height of a male was 5 feet 6” tall), with black hair, black eyes and a black complexion. He was a servant by occupation. In December 1845, the Morning Herald (London) updated it’s readers on John Charles: “The black drummer, John Charley, has arrived in Dublin to be discharged, he having served for 37 years, and was present with the corps in the Peninsular and Waterloo, and was a great favourite with the officers and men”.^[27]Morning Herald (London), 26^th December 1845. findmypast.co.uk The suggestion that John Charles had served in the Peninsula was incorrect, however, John Peter (see Appendix) had served with the 1^st Battalion in the campaign. John Charles’s application for pension was duly agreed three days later in Dublin on the 29^th of December 1845, with The Tipperary Free Press reporting that upon retirement John Charles had received “…a watch and £10 from the officers…”^[28]TNA WO 97/505/24. The Tipperary Free Press, Saturday 27 December 1845. findmypast.co.uk

The 2^nd Battalion

*Service of Black Soldiers: Francis Augustine, 1806-1814. John Charles, 1808-1814. James Heard, 1811-1814. John Mathews, 1812-1814. Alexander Moore, 1807-1810. James Ricard, 1811-1814. George Sears (Severs), 1807-1810. William Thomas, 1810-1814.

Raised in August 1804. Colchester and Guernsey, 1807. Fermoy, 1809. Thereafter, stationed throughout Ireland providing drafts for the 1^st Battalion. However, similar to most British regiments in Ireland, the 2^nd Battalion did support the local authorities dealing with public order. In September 1809, soldiers of the regiment seized a large private ‘still’ at Cloghooly near Kilvallin, pouring away 2000 gallons of illicit brew, destroying a large quantity of malt and corn and confiscating seventeen carts full of brewing equipment.fn>Saunders’s News-Letter, 29^th September 1809. findmypast.co.uk{[(|fnote_end|)]} The 2^nd Battalion disbanded in Ireland in October 1814 and the remaining officers and men transferred to the 1^st Battalion.

‘Civvy Street’

The fate after discharge of most soldiers who served in the British Army during the Napoleonic Wars remains unknown. However, some survived long enough to re-appear in medal rolls and more detailed pension returns from the late 1840s onwards. John Charles’s pension was administered from the Liverpool and Preston Districts, but from January 1846 it was drawn from Castletown on the Isle of Man.^[29]WO 22/92, WO 23/39 and WO 23/48.

In 1851 John and Ann Charles, a married couple, were residing at Red Gap, Malew on the Isle of Man.^[30]1851 England Census. Red Gap, Malew, Isle of Man. HO/107/2526/12/17/36. findmypast.co.uk John was 56 years of age, a Chelsea Pensioner born in Trinidad, West Indies. Ann was 42 years of age and had been born in Ireland. It is not known when John and Ann met and got married, however, the 32^nd had served in Ireland on several occasions.

John Charles died on the Isle of Man in December 1862.^[31]WO 23/48. In 1871 Ann Charles was residing in the ‘Poor House’ Red Gap, Malew on the Isle of Man.^[32]1871 England Census. Poor House, Malew, Isle of Man. RG10/5777/210/10. findmypast.co.uk She was a widow, aged 72 years and a former domestic servant born in Ireland. Ann Charles died at Malew in January 1874.^[33]Isle of Man Burials, 1598-1950. findmypast.co.uk Her death was reported by the Isle of Man Times:

INQUEST.- The widow of “Black Charley” was found dead in her room in Parson’s Poor-house. She and several other poor widows have rooms in this house, and by one of these widows she was heard in her room on Friday night. Not having been seen on Saturday or Sunday morning, in the afternoon, on the occasion of her dinner being sent as usual from Mr Stowell’s (who has been very kind to her), her door was broken open, and she was found, as above mentioned. Verdict: “Died by visitation of God”.^[34]Isle of Man Times, 24th January 1874. findmypast.co.uk Amongst the rank and file of the British military it has always been the custom to refer to someone by their surname or a nickname. As such, and … Continue reading

Conclusion

John Charles, the subject of this article, left no words of his own. Consequently, it is left to piecing together military and civilian records to create a narrative in which to frame his service and life in ‘civvy street’. That he was respected as a soldier and a man is indisputable. To some extent this must have been based on his imposing stature, the longevity of his service and his reputed campaign service in the Peninsula and at Waterloo. Whilst reporting of the latter was erroneous, he made no claim to such service on discharge, his bravery (at Taunton in 1826) was undeniable, as was his popularity amongst the officers and men of the regiment he served in.

The one area of the life of John Charles of which least is known is that of his life in ‘civvy street’ and his relationship with Ann Charles. Military records seldom reference wives, partners and children, and the fact that John Charles spent much of his service either in Ireland or overseas means that civilian records are not as accessible. It is unknown how many times John Charles was married or how many partners and children he had. However, a reference to “Black Charley” of the “32^nd Regiment of Foot” in a report about the boxer John Perry in 1847 provides more questions than it does answers.^[35]Bell’s Life in Sydney and Sporting Reviewer, Saturday 20^th October 1849. New South Wales, Australia. trove.nla.gov.au

John Perry (Parry, also known as ‘Perry the Black’) was born to African parents in Annapolis, Nova Scotia c.1819-1820.^[36]Fryer, P. “Staying Power, The History of Black People in Britain”. (Pluto Press, 1^st Edition. 1984). pp. 450-451. Initially, he followed his father in serving in the Royal Navy on a man-of-war. After discharge he moved to England, where, by the mid-1840s, he was earning a living by performing feats of endurance and as a boxer. Perry was described as being “…six foot one and a half inches (tall) and 212 pounds…”^[37]Ibid. At Ripon in January 1844, he walked one and a quarter mile every hour for 1000 successive hours, with the public being invited to donate a sum of their choice to witness what the York Herald referred to as “pedestrianism extraordinary”.^[38]York Herald, 20^th January 1844. findmypast.co.uk

At Ripon Cathedral on the 23^rd of January 1844, he married Miss Sarah Ann Horn of Bramley, near Leeds. With the Leeds Times referring to him as “…the American Black…”^[39]Leeds Times, 27^th January 1844. findmypast.co.uk According to the Marriage Certificate, John Perrey (as the surname was rendered) was a ship carpenter, resident in Ripon. Sarah Ann Horn was a resident of Bramley and the daughter of James Horn, a Cloth Manufacturer.^[40]North Yorkshire County Record Office. Ripon Cathedral Marriages. N-PR-RI-34. findmypast.co.uk John and Sarah Ann Parry lived for a time in Sheffield, where he patronised the Fitzwilliam Arms public-house.^[41]Bell’s Life in Sydney and Sporting Reviewer, Saturday 20^th October 1849. New South Wales, Australia. trove.nla.gov. Eleven months after their marriage, Sarah Ann Perry died, and John Perry took to the road focussing on his boxing.^[42]A Sarah Ann Perry, aged 23 years and wife of John Perry of Leicester Street, was buried at St George’s, Brook Hill, Sheffield on the 30th of November 1844. Parish Burials. Yorkshire Burials. … Continue reading In 1846, Perry faced his first professional opponent, Billy Burton, who he hopelessly outclassed.^[43]Fryer, P. “Staying Power, The History of Black People in Britain”. (Pluto Press, 1^st Edition. 1984). pp. 450-451. His pugilistic career in England came to an end when he was convicted and transported to Australia for passing forged currency.

After three years he was freed and moved to New South Wales where he resumed his boxing career.^[44]Ibid. When he re-launched his career, Bell’s Life in Sydney and Sporting Reviewer published a sympathetic biography which clearly drew on information provided by John Perry or someone close to him. He was described as “The Molineaux of the Day” (a reference to Tom Molineaux, 1784-1818), his place of birth was given as Dublin in 1819, and his parents were identified as Black Charley, a drummer in the 32^nd Foot, “a remarkably powerful man” who stood at “six foot two inches”.^[45]Bell’s Life in Sydney and Sporting Reviewer, Saturday 20th October 1849. New South Wales, Australia. trove.nla.gov.au Also … Continue reading His mother was “a native of Jamaica…”^[46]Bell’s Life in Sydney and Sporting Reviewer, Saturday 20^th October 1849. New South Wales, Australia. trove.nla.gov.au He became a shipwright at his father’s behest (“…being naturally anxious to advance his interests in society…”) and served as a carpenter on a ship which arrived in England in 1841. Between 1841 and 1846 he sparred and boxed both as an amateur and professional throughout England, and the list of his acquaintances and opponents was a ‘who’s who’ of Victorian boxing: Jem Ward, George Sergeant, John Batty, William Perry (‘The Tipton Slasher’), Charley Jones, Bill Traunter, George Church, Bob Caunt and Thomas Winter. Briefly married, then widowed, his conviction was depicted as a conspiracy aimed at preventing a Black man becoming the first champion boxer in England. In Australia, Perry trained boxers, became a publican and married for a second time. However, an altercation with a guest led to him being charged with larceny and assault, and he was convicted and imprisoned for a second time.^[47]www.harbourtrust.gov.au/en/our-story/harbour-history/digitales/john-perry/ Released in 1857 he returned to boxing but began drinking heavily. He died at Sydney in 1867 from congestion of the brain which was attributed to “long continued intemperance”.^[48]Ibid.

So, was John Perry the son of John Charles? At “…six foot one and a half inches (tall)…” he was approximately the same height as John Charles.^[49]Fryer, P. “Staying Power, The History of Black People in Britain”. (Pluto Press, 1^st Edition. 1984). pp. 450-451 However, he did not use the surname, Charles. Whilst John Charles did serve with the 32^nd in both Ireland and Canada, the regiment were stationed in the Ionian Islands between 1817 and 1825, so whether John Perry was born in Dublin or Annapolis c.1819-1820, it is unlikely that John Charles was the father. Although it is possible that he was sent to Ireland in 1819-1820 with a recruiting party, he would not have been sent to Canada. Perry’s Jamaican mother was unlikely to be the Irish born Ann Charles living with John Charles on the Isle of Man from 1846 on. But it is possible that John Charles was in a relationship with someone else prior to Ann.

The most conclusive evidence that the two men were not related comes from information provided by John Perry himself. When he married Sarah Ann Horn at Ripon in 1844, he identified his father as John Perrey, a rope-maker.^[50]North Yorkshire County Record Office. Ripon Cathedral Marriages. N-PR-RI-34. findmypast.co.uk Later, in 1847, when he was incarcerated in Pentonville Gaol, he gave his place of birth as Anapolis (Annapolis County), Nova Scotia and his family (next-of-kin) as Thomas Parry, a farrier of Bridge Town (Bridgetown in Annapolis County), Nova Scotia.^[51]TNA PCOM2/62/32.

Whilst it is unlikely that John Charles was the father of John Perry, it is testimony that when the latter was re-launching his career in 1849 the former was referenced. It also suggests that whilst the two may never have met, that John Perry (or at least those linked to him), had heard of John Charles and thought that creating a connection between the two men would be beneficial.

 

Appendix. The Black Soldiers of the 32^nd (the Cornwall) Foot.

Francis Augustine was born at Cape Francois, St Domingo c.1782. He was enlisted in the 32^nd for unlimited service by Lieutenant-Colonel Power (CO of the 2^nd Battalion), at Plymouth Dock, Devonport in September 1806. He transferred from the 2^nd Bn to the 1^st Bn in Cork, Ireland, in October 1814.  He subsequently served as a private in No. 3 Company. During the Waterloo Campaign he was noted as being “sick” and then “absent”, however he was not disciplined for desertion, which suggests that in the pursuit of Napoleon to Paris some soldiers became separated from the regiment. He was discharged in Dublin as a private on a pension of 1s/1s per day, in November 1829, in consequence of being infirm and length of service. His conduct had been good. On discharge he was 47 years and 2 months old, 5/6 and ¾” tall with black eyes, black hair and a black complexion. He was a servant by occupation and like John Charles, was signature literate.  He was not the man who died at St Olave, Southwark, London in October 1851. His fate remains unknown. For Francis Augustine see: TNA 12/4739, WO 25/366 and 367 and WO 97/504/27.

James Heard was born in New York c.1783. He enlisted in the 2^nd Battalion 32^nd in Cork in May 1811 with James Ricard. On enlistment he was 28 years of age, 5/5 and1/2” tall with black eyes, black hair and a black complexion. He was a sailor by occupation. He was discharged in November 1814, as “not recommended”. His fate remains unknown. For James Heard see: TNA 25/368.

John Mathews was born in Baltimore c.1789. He enlisted for unlimited service in the 2^nd Battalion 32^nd in Omagh in December 1812. On enlistment he was 23 years of age, 5/4” tall with black eyes, black hair and a black complexion. He was a labourer by occupation. He transferred from the 2^nd Bn to the 1^st Bn in Cork, Ireland, in October 1814.  He subsequently served as a private in No. 1 Company and was attached to the Regimental Hospital during the Waterloo Campaign. He was discharged at Hilsea in April 1817 being “unfit for further service”. His fate remains unknown. For John Mathews see: TNA WO 12/4739 and WO 25/366.

Alexander Moore was born in Philadelphia c.1791. He enlisted in the 2^nd Battalion 32^nd in Bristol in February 1807. On enlistment he was 16 years of age, 5/3” tall with black eyes, black hair and a black complexion. He was a labourer by occupation. He died in July 1810. For Alexander Moore see: TNA 25/368.

John Peter was born at St Peter, Martinique c.1773. He enlisted in the 32^nd in August 1792 when it was serving in the West Indies. . On enlistment he was 18 years of age, 5/5” tall with black eyes, black hair and a black complexion. He was a hairdresser by occupation. He served with the 1^st Battalion 32^nd in the Peninsula and France. He was discharged as a private on a pension in August 1814 “due to a defectivation of the left eye”. His fate remains unknown. For Peter John see: TNA WO 12/4739, WO 25/961 and WO 119/0028/A7936-A8233.

James Ricard was born in New York c.1783. He enlisted in the 2^nd Battalion 32^nd in Cork in May 1811 with James Heard. On enlistment he was 28 years of age, 5/5 and1/2” tall with black eyes, black hair and a black complexion. He was a sailor by occupation. He was discharged in October 1814, as “not recommended”. His fate remains unknown. For James Ricard see: TNA 25/368.

George Sears (Severs) was born on the Island of Bermuda c.1770. He enlisted in the 2^nd Battalion 32^nd in Cork in July 1807. On enlistment he was 37 years of age, 5/5” tall with black eyes, black hair and a black complexion. He was a servant by occupation. He deserted at Cork in December 1810. His fate remains unknown. For George Sears (Severs) see: TNA 25/368.

William Thomas was born at Santa Cruz c.1788. He enlisted in the 32^nd for unlimited service at Cork in July 1810. On enlistment he was 22 years of age, 5/5” tall with black eyes, black hair and a black complexion. He was a labourer by occupation. He was discharged as a private on a pension in July 1817 “due to a cataract of the left eye and being unfit to march from debility”. There is a Private William Thomas on the Waterloo Medal Roll, but it was not this man. His fate remains unknown. For William Thomas see: TNA WO 25/366, WO 97/509 and WO 116/26(1).