REGIMENTAL RECORDS OF SERVICE 1756-1900

[Note:- Richard AMEY (1786-1850) I have not been able to locate a baptism. At the age of 15 Richard Amey described as being from Fordington parish was arrested by the Bailiff of Weymouth for stealing 3 horse shoes when he was described as being single, 5' 2½ inches tall, with dark brown hair but fair complexion and dark hazel eyes which is a bit different from some of the description given above but 4 years later. He was tried before the JP J Pickard Esq in Sep 1802 but acquitted of the charge. At the age of 19 he enlisted into the 2nd battalion 82nd Regiment of Foot and gave his birth place as Dorchester in Dorset. Men enlisting from Fordington often had their place of birth recorded as Dorchester. On 25th March 1813 he was transferred to the Regiment of Veterans [V.B.] and discharged from the Army having completed 10 years service on 19th April 1815. This qualified him for a small weekly Pension. After leaving the Army he returned to Dorchester where he obtained employment as a night watchmen.

In 1828 six people (Henry PROWSE; James KING; Thomas MUTFORD; William HARRIS; George LOADER and George BURT) were all indicted for an assault on Richard AMEY and found guilty at the General Sessions held at Dorchester on 4th Oct 1828. They were all sentenced to 3 months imprisonment in the House of correction in Dorchester and fined 10 shillings each and told to find sureties in the sum of £10 each to keep the peace and be of good behaviour towards Richard AMEY for a year.

In his capacity as watchman he was one of the principal witnesses in the trial of William KENNEDY a 19 year old Soldier in the 5th Regt of Dragoon Guards whom he had warned about being out of barracks after hours when he discovered him near the market in Dorchester on the evening of 28th Nov 1829. Kennedy was later found guilty of shooting and severly wounding Revd. Henry WILLOUGHBY and was executed in 1830.

In the June 1841 Census he and his wife Mary are living in Fordington in Mill Street when his age is given as being in the 50 to 54 band and his occupation as that of a Constable. I have not located a marriage to Mary. All we know about her is that in 1841 she was recorded in the same age band and her place of birth was given as being in Ireland. She is still in Mill Street now recorded as a widow aged 65 (born 1786) in the March 1851 Census . She is probably the Mary AMEY (c1786-1857) from Mill Street buried at St Georges church on 13th Jan 1857 as she is no longer in Mill Street in 1861, although her age was given as being 74 (83).

Richard AMEY is listed in the Tithe Map of Dorchester in 1844 as being the owner and occupier of plot 66 measuring 7 pecks which was a very small plot at the far left hand end of Mill Street as shown on the tithe map. The numbers are not clear on the image of the map on ancestry but it would be one of those wedged between the river and Mill Street itself.

Richard was buried at St Georges Church in Fordington on 29th March 1850 when his age was given as being 63 (1787).]

7 Mar 1826 - 12 Oct 1836 rank private (10 years 226 days]
Tried by a Regimental Court Martial - Sentenced to Corporal Punichment and in confinement 13th Oct to 17th Oct 1836: [Service nil]
Served as private 18th Oct 1836 to 31st Aug 1841 [Service 4 years 318 days]
Discharged at his request : after 15 years 173 days service 31st Aug 1841 receiving a gratuity of £4.11. 3d Of Good Character

Re-attested to serve in THE ROYAL CANADIAN Rifle Regiment 5th June 1843 to 10th March 1845: [Service 1 year 279 days]
Tried by a Garrison Detatchment Regimental Court Martial for breaking out of barracks: Sentenced to 20 days prison 11th March to 30th March 1845 [Service Nil]
Served as a private 31st March 1845 to 11th Feb 1850 [Service 4 years 318 days]
Tried 13th Feb 1850 by Garrison Detatchment Court Martial for being drunk on guard duty: Sentenced to 40 days imprisonment with Hard Labour + forfited 1d per day for 30 days Imprisoned 13th Feb 1850 to 24th March 1850 [Service Nil]
Released Served as Private 25th March 1850 to 14th July 1850 [Service 112 days]
Tried by Garrison District Court Martial for being drunk on gaurd Sentenced to Imprisonment 26th July 1850 to 9th Jan 1851 with hard labour and forfeit of 1d a day for 30 days {Service Nil]
Released Served as Private 10th Jan 1851 to 31st May 1851 [Service 142 days] Further Service 1st June to 26th Aug 1851 [Service 87 Days]

John Marshall born 8th Aug 1828 Baptised at St Nicholas's Church Liverpool.
Robert Marshall born 23rd Sep 1830 baptised Birmingham St Philips Church
William brn 12th July 1833 York Banaley
Andrew born 12th July 1833 Ditto
Catherine Isabella born 2nd March 1835 St Peters Liverpool
Charles Marshall born 18th Feb 1837
Mark born 28th July 1838

Name: Edward KEATES Entry No.77 (image 68 Ancestry.com) Poor quality note there is a second page.
Height: - 5' 4" when attested - at age 24. 5' 4"
Age: 23
Compexion: - Fair
Visage: Round
Eyes: - Grey
Hair: - Brown
Visage: - Round
Born : - Dorset Dorchester - c1786 [Note: Not identified despite Keats families in Dorchester, Fordington and Stinsford]
Trade: - Labourer
Discharged: 27th May 1816? [481]

This is to Certify that Private Edward KEATES born in the Parish of Dorchester near Dorchester in Dorset was enlisted for the aforesaid Regt at Plymouth in the County of Devon on the 3rd day of April 1809 at the age of twenty three for unlimited service. That he hath served for a space of 18 years and 164 days after the age of 18. That by the authority of His Majesty dated at Horse Guards 26th June 1827 He is hereby discharged in consequence og Pulmonic affection contracted when on service with the Regiment in North America during a period of 5 years. etc Conduct very good. To prevent any improper use being made of this discharge -- decription of the said Private Edward KEATES He is about Forty One years of age is Five feet 4 inches in height with brown hair grey eyes and fair complexion and by trade a labourer. Signed at Guernsey 16th day of July 1827. Confirmed Horse Guards 4th September 1827.

Name: Jos^h RODGERS
Born: c1773* Trinity Parish Dorchester
Description: Height 5' 9" : Hair Light: Eyes Grey : Complexion Fair
Service: Rank Private 3rd Garrison Regiment - 1 year 3 months
Rank Private: 88th Regt Foot - 18 years 8 months - 3 years service in East or West India
Total Service Given as 21 Years 5 months
Admission to Pension: 22nd Oct 1816 Aged 43 [c1773] Pension Rate 1 shilling per day.
Trade: Plaisterer
Complaint [Reason for Discharge] Wounded left thigh diseased pisarn?

Royal Hospital Chelsea Certification Certificate: [WO/97 / 976 ]
Joseph RODGERS Private in Captain Flacks Company in the 2nd Battalion 88 Regiment of Foot, born in the Parish of Dorchester in the town of Dorchester in the County of Dorset was enlisted at the age of 22 years and has served for 18 years - is considered unfit for further service and is discharged --- Description to prevent improper use etc He is about 40 years of age is 5 feet nine inches in height sandy hair grey eyes pale complexion; by trade a Plasterer: Statement of Service 88th Regiment of Foot from 17th Oct 1796 to 1813 total as private 18 years 3 months.
[*If aged 22 in 1796 his approx birth is 1774]

[Note:- The only likely candidate appears to be Joseph ROGERS the son of Francis ROGERS and Ann nee CANTERBURY who was baptised at Holy Trinity Church in Dorchester on 3 Oct 1779. If so he is 6 years younger than recorded by the Army when he attested on 3rd Oct 1779. He was baptised on the same day with his brother John Rogers who died on 3rd Dec 1780 so may well have been born some time prior to his baptism but his elder sister Mary was baptised on 11th Nov 1776 so he is unlikely to have been born earlier than about 1777. Recruits often did not know their age so it was sometimes an estimation by the recruiting sergeant. The family were certainly resident up to 1790 in Holy Trinity parish but we then loose track of them]

Orange Free State
Transvaal
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Relief of Ladysmith
Laing's nek