See also

John Williams (1832-1873)

Individual Events and Attributes

  • Birth:

  • Feb 1832

  • St Andrew, Stonehouse, Devon1 2

  •  

  • The 1861 Census gives his age as 29 and his place of birth. His Army discharge record is specific about the date of his attestation and his age when he attested and thus it is possible to calculate his date of birth to the nearest month. The year accords with the year calculated from the Census.

  • Milit-Beg:

  • 5 Jul 1850 (age 18)

  • Royal Artillery, Army3

  •  

  • His papers do not show where he joined up but is assumed that it was Plymouth as he was born there.

  • Milit-Beg1:

  • btw 5 Jul 1850 and 11 Dec 1858 (age 18-26)

  • Royal Artillery 11th Battalion, Army4

  •  

  • He took part in the Crimea was and was present at the battles of Alma, and Inkermann. On 19 February 1858 wheny bringing provisions up form Balaklava to the camp, early in the morning, his fingers became frozen, and when taken to hospital the last joint of the index finger of his right hand and the extremities of the other fingers fell off. The fingers of his left hand were also injured.

  • Milit-End:

  • 11 Dec 1858 (age 26)

  • Royal Artillery, Army, Woolwich5

  •  

  • As a result of his injuries from frost bite the Principal Medical Officer at Woolwich 8th November 1858 came to the conclusion that John Williams was unfit for service and likely to be permanently disqualified for military duty, but that he is able to contribute something towards his livelihood.

  • Parent:

  • 4 Jun 1865 (age 33)

  • Baptism of son John

  • Census 1871:

  • 2 Apr 1871 (age 39)

  • Devon County Lunatic Asylum, Exminster, Devon6

  •  

  • His wife was still alive and in the census described herself as a widow.

  • Death:

  • 1873 (age 40-41)

  • the Devon Count Lunatic Asylum, Exminster, Devon7 8

  •  

  • In the 1871 Census he is recorded as a patient in the asylum so I is virtually certain that he died there.

  • Death:

  • Dec 1873 (age 41)

  • St Thomas, Devon7

Marriage

picture

Son: Edward Price Williams, 1894, age 38

picture

1861, 1861 Census for Household of John Williams in Exeter, Devon

Sources

1.

1861 England Census for Household of John Williams in Exeter, Devon, (Ancestry website). Custom Id: RG9/2397, Folio 11, Page 16, Schedule 59; John Williams age 29 born in Stonehouse, Devon, in 1832. National Archives. Call Number: RG9/1397.

2.

Discharge Record for Gunner and Driver John Williams, Record Type: Discharge Proceedings containing record of service, Name Of Person: John Williams, (Period, 5 Jul 1850 - 11 Dec 1858). Parish of birth:Saint AndrewsTown of birth:PlymouthCounty of birth:DevonAge at attestation:18 years 5 monthsAttestation date:5 July 1850. National Archives. Call Number: WO97/1357/46.

3.

Ibid. Attestation date:5 July 1850Discharge rank:Gunner & DriverDischarge corps:Royal Artillery. National Archives. Call Number: WO97/1357/46.

4.

Ibid. The service up to 11 December 1865 amounts to 5 years and 160 days during which period he served abroad 1 year 39 days with the Expedition to the East and was present at the battles of Alma, and Inkermann. On 19 February last when on duty bringing provisions up form Balaklava to the camp, early in the morning, his fingers became frozen, and when taken to hospital the last joint of the index finger of his right hand and the extremities of the other fingers fell off. The fingers of his left hand were also injured.He has a medal for service in the Crimea with clasps for Alma, Balaclava and Inkermann.He is in possession of one good conduct badge.His name is not recorded in the regimental defaulters book. National Archives. Call Number: WO97/1357/46.

5.

Ibid. Opinion of the Principal Medical Officer at Woolwich 8th November 1858. After careful examination I am of the opinion that John Williams is unfit for service and likely to be permanently disqualified for military duty, but that he is able to contribute something towards his livelihood. National Archives. Call Number: WO97/1357/46.

6.

1871 England Census for John Williams in Devon County Lunatic Asylum, Exminster, Census Type: 1871 England, Census Place: Exminster, Devon, Folio: 56, Page: 6, (FMP website). Address: The Devon County Lunatic Asylum, ExminsterId NamesRelCondAge Rank, Profession or OccupationWhere Born551Jno WilliamsPatientMar40???Devon. Cit. Date: 2 April 1871. National Archives. Call Number: RG10/2060.

7.

CRI(E&W) for Death of John Williams, Event Type: Death, Registration District: St Thomas, Devon, Volume: 5b, Page: 53, (Period, Oct-Dec 1873). Quarter and Year Oct-Dec 1873Surname WilliamsGiven Names JohnAge 40Registration District St Thomas, Devon. General Register Office. Call Number: Deaths.

8.

1871 England Census for John Williams in Devon County Lunatic Asylum, Exminster, Census Type: 1871 England, Census Place: Exminster, Devon, Folio: 56, Page: 6, (FMP website). Address: The Devon County Lunatic Asylum, ExminsterId NamesRelCondAge Rank, Profession or OccupationWhere Born551Jno WilliamsPatientMar40???Devon. National Archives. Call Number: RG10/2060.

9.

Rev. John Puckle, Register Entry for the Marriage of John Edward Williams and Sarah Jane Spain in St Mary The Virgin, Dover, Kent, (FMP website). Custom Id: Marriages 1854, Page 236, No. 471; Cit. Date: 11 December 1854. Canterbury Cathedral Archives. Call Number: Film No 1836193.

10.

1861 England Census for Household of John Williams in Exeter, Devon, (Ancestry website). Custom Id: RG9/2397, Folio 11, Page 16, Schedule 59; Cit. Date: 7 April 1861. National Archives. Call Number: RG9/1397.