190 [CHECK: says 191 below] John Bambrick, 11th Hussars, the father of 1465 John Thomas Bambrick was born at Windsor, Berkshire [c.1791]. He was the son of Valentine Bambrick, 17th Light Dragoons, and brother of both Robert Bambrick, who rose through the ranks and became a Captain in the 11th Hussars, and Valentine Bambrick, 11th Hussars.
[PB: Check that the dates all tally if he was indeed the son of Valentine Bambrick (senior) and brother of Robert & Valentine. ]
John Bambrick enlisted into the 11th Dragoons at East Bedfont [about 12 miles from Windsor] on the 14th of August 1813, at the age of 22.
He was 5' 11" in height, with a fair complexion, grey eyes, and brown hair. His trade was given as Labourer.
His promotion was rapid: he was made Corporal on the 10th of April, Sergeant on the 15th of April, and Troop Sergeant Major on the 10th of October 1815. Perhaps the casualties at Waterloo would have had something to do with this.
[PB: He was in India for about 18 years. Dates? This may well be him, recorded with the 11th Light Dragoons on the Indiaman "Atlas" departing Gravesend 7th of February 1819 for Calcutta. ]
He reverted to Sergeant on the 3rd of January 1816 and was again a Troop Sergeant Major on the 22nd of August 1822.
During his service in India, he had married a Harriet Redan:
"The following is a true copy of an entry in the Meerut Register of Marriages from the 1st of January to the 31st of December 1821. Entry No. 9. - John Bambrick, Sgt in the 11th Dragoons and Harriet Redan, Widow. By banns, 24th of January 1821. Signed, Henry Fisher, Chaplain."
1465 John Bambrick's mother was a seemingly much-widowed lady, whose original surname appears to have been Harriet Ann Gale.
(The greater family believe Harriet Ann Bambrick's original family surname was "Bailey". However, no trace can be found of anyone with this surname in either the baptismal or marriage records of the parish for this period.)
Judging from Census information, she was born c. 1795-1800 in St Luke's, Chelsea.
A search of the parish registers of St. Luke's, Chelsea, shows no trace of a Harriet Ann Gale being christened there but the marriage records show that, on the 20th of July 1795, a "Charles Gale, Bachelor, of this parish, a Soldier, and Jane Smart, Spinster, of the same Parish - were married by banns, by me, E. Middleton, Curate." Both had to make their mark. The witnesses were William Daley and George Goodyer. (The last-named may have been a verger as his name appears a number of times as a witness.)
If Charles Gale, a soldier, was indeed her father it might explain how she came to be in India.
A further search of the records shows that a "Timothy Smart of the parish of St. Bridget's, bachelor, and Mary Stuart, spinster, of this parish, were married on the 5th of October 1766 by the Revd. W. Gower in the presence of Susannah Miller and Mary Smart." The couple both signed their names. It is possible these are her parents.
In India, the earliest entry found to have a connection with her is an entry of marriage with a John Laurence in 1816:
"John Laurence, bachelor, and Harriet Ann Gale, spinster, both of Fort William, Calcutta, who were married at Calcutta, the 24th day of April 1816, by me, Joseph Parsons, Vicar. The marriage was solemnised in the presence of Francis Minden and Thomas Francis, Witnesses."
No indication was given as to just who John Laurence was, but he died at Calcutta on the 30th of June 1816. The marriage had lasted 2 months.
On the the 16th of April 1817, less than a year later, she married a Charles Villiers. Witnesses to the marriage were Charles Hadley and S. Burrows.
"Charles Villiers, bachelor, of Bangalore, Sergeant in H.M.'s 22nd Dragoons and Harriet Ann Lawrence, Widow, of the same place, were married in the church at Bangalore, by licence from the Commanding Officer, this day by me. Signed, Wm. Thomas, Chaplain."
Charles Villiers, a clerk on enlistment, was born at Knaresborough, Yorkshire. He had been promoted from Corporal to Duty Sergeant in the 22nd Dragoons on the 23rd of March 1817 and had been appointed Schoolmaster-Sergeant on the 30th of March 1817. He saw service in Maheidpoor in December of 1817 during the Pindarre War when serving in Captain Courtlandt's Troop, but because of the imminent disbandment of the Regiment, transferred (as a Private) to the 8th Hussars on the 19th of December 1819.
The couple were married for three years. The muster rolls of the regiment show him as "having died on the way to join the Regiment at Meerut from Cawnpore, as on the 8th of June 1820". In his will he left the sum of £2/0/1d to his widow, Harriet Villiers.
Less than three months later she married for a third time, but was a widow yet again within 6 months. A further entry in the Meerut Marriage Register shows that a "William Reddan, a merchant" [Redan? Redan?], married Harriet Villiers, a widow, by banns, at Meerut on the 1st of September 1820". The list of European Inhabitants in the Bengal Directory records him only as a "Merchant". He is shown as dying on the 1st of February 1821 and being buried in Meerut Cemetery, aged 26 years, on the 2nd.
No children can be found recorded from any of these previous marriages.
[PB: Check: Her fourth marriage, to John Bambrick on the 21st January 1821, seems to have taken place before William Redan was dead died.]
He remained a Trop Sergeant Major from 1822 until his discharge from Canterbury on the 31st of July 1838.
Because of his long service in India (half of this time again was added to the service of men who had enlisted before the 15th of March 1818) his total service to count was 35 years 148 days.
Aged 47 years at the time of his discharge, the medical report stated:
"I am satisfied that Sergeant Major John Bambrick is unfit for service and is likely to be permanently incapacitated for military duties, the veins of his legs being varicose and his agility failing."
His conduct and character were described as "Unexceptionable".
He immediately applied for a post as a Barrack Sergeant:
"To Lieut-General the Right Honourable Sir R.H. Vivian, Bt. K.C.B. G.C.H. Master General of the Ordnance.
The Memorial of John Bambrick, late Troop Sergeant Major of Her Majesty's 11th Regiment of Light Dragoons, sheweth,
The Memoralist served in the above Corps nearly twenty-five years - 18 of which were in India and nearly twenty-four years as a Non-Commissioned Officer; was present at the battle of Waterloo and also at the Siege of Bhurtpore and was discharged as a Troop Sergeant Major on the 12th of September 1838.
Being now out of employment and with a wife and family to support and having devoted the greater part of his life in the Service of his Country, he is anxious to obtain some Government situation, which has induced him to submit his long, and he trusts, faithful service to the consideration of the Master General of Ordnance in the hope that he will be pleased to appoint him to the Situation of a Barrack Sergeant at a favourable opportunity.
Memoralist respectfully begs leave to submit the enclosed testimonials of his conduct under many of the officers under which he served and should his case be favourably received, it shall ever be his strenuous endeavour to give every satisfaction to those under whom he may be placed and do credit to the recommendations of those officers who have so kindly evinced their wishes as to his welfare. And as in duty bound, Memoralist will ever pray,
John Bambrick,
Out-Pensioner,
James Street, near the New Road,
Windsor."
February 18th, 1839. This letter was endorsed, "Send Query", and dated the 20th of February 1839. This was a series of questions asked of all applicants and comprised the following:
"(1) Whether you offer yourself for General Service, that is, in any of Her Majesty's Colonies, (including the West Indies as well as Great Britain and Ireland.) - N.B. Candidates offering themselves for General Service who decline going to any station to which they may be subsequently appointed, will be struck off the list.
(2) Your age.
(3) State of health.
(4) Number of your family.
(5) Your handwriting.
(6) Amount of your pension."
"Windsor, 22nd of February 1839,
Sir, In reply to your letter of the 20th inst. I beg leave to state that I offer myself as a candidate for a Barracks Sergeant's situation in England or on the islands of Guernsey or Jersey, my already having served 23 years on Foreign service, the last nineteen of which was in the East Indies. I am 47 years of age, in very good health and have a wife and five children. This letter is in my own handwriting and my pension is 2/3d. per diem.
I beg leave to subscribe myself,
Your most obedient servant,
John Bambrick,
Late Troop Sergeant Major 11th Light Dragoons,
Pensioner."
He also forwarded a "Doctor's certificate" as to his state of health:
"Windsor, 22nd February 1839.
I certify that John Bambrick, late Troop Sergeant Major of her Majesty's 11th Dragoons, appears to be in very good health considering his length of service.
Robert Hawkins.
Surgeon."
"Canterbury Barracks, March 21st, 1839.
Sir,
I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 19th inst. in relation to the character of John Bambrick, a Troop Sergeant Major in the 11th Light Dragoons, who is desirous of an appointment as a Barrack Sergeant and I beg simply to state that the individual in question bore a most excellent character in his corps.
He was for many years a Troop Sergeant Major, was perfectly honest and sober and a very good soldier. I have the pleasure of having it in my power to recommend him. His brother is Senior Lieutenant and Riding Master of the Regiment under my command.
I have the honour to be, Sir, [Signature not recorded]"
His application was successful:
"To Colonel Fox, Cardigan, Lieut. Colonel,
Ordnance Office. Commanding Officer
Pall Mall. 11th Light Dragoons. Canterbury Barracks, March 27th 1839.
Dear Fox,
I beg leave to thank you for your letter relating to the appointment of John Bambrick as Barrack Sergeant at the Cavalry Barracks, Hyde Park. I am much obliged in your preferring this individual in preference to any other candidate from the 11th Light Dragoons. It would be difficult to find a more deserving candidate than Bambrick.
Yours, very faithfully,
Colonel Fox. Cardigan."
Secretary to the Master General of Ordnance.
(The file is endorsed, - App. 28th of March 1839, Lord Cardigan having recommended him for an appointment at Hyde Park Cavalry Barracks.)
John Bambrick again wrote to Colonel Fox. (This letter is undated.)
"Sir,
Having on the 18th of February last forwarded an application letter to the Right Honourable the Master General of Ordnance, six certificates of my conduct during my service in the 11th Light Dragoons I have the honour to request you will be pleased to allow me to have these six testimonials again as they most probably may be of service to me hereafter.
I have the honour to be,
Your most humble and obedient servant,
John Bambrick,
Barrack Sergeant at Hyde Park Cavalry Barracks."
This letter was endorsed: "Returned to Sergeant Bambrick, 18th of June 1839."
1841 Census
Hyde Park Cavalry Barracks, 7th of June 1841.
John Bambrick, aged 50 years, Barrack Sergeant.
Harriet Bambrick, 45, Wife.
Robert Bambrick, 13.
Maria Bambrick, 11.
Adelaine Bambrick, 7.
The eldest daughter, Harriet Frances, was not living at home at this time.
[Note: The ages of the adults at this time were shown to the nearest five years below.]
[RM: Relating to John Bambrick senior:
Eton Times, 25th June 1842:
"The churchwardens of Windsor have received a letter from the War-office, stating that troop serjeant-major, John Bambrick, a native of this town, who was discharged from the 11th Hussars, on the 12th of September 1838, after long and faithful services, has been awarded the gratuity which is granted by her Majesty to discharged soldiers who have conducted themselves meritoriously while in the army; and the authorities of the War-office notify that fact to the churchwardens with the object of making it generally known in the parish to which he belongs."
]
1851 Census
Hyde Park Cavalry Barracks, 30th of March 1851.
John Bambrick, aged 61 years, Barrack Sergeant, born at Windsor, Berkshire.
Harriet A. Bambrick, 51 [sic], Wife, born in Chelsea, London.
None of the children appear to have been living at home at this time.
1861 Census
There is no entry for John Bambrick or his wife at Knightsbridge Barracks in the 1861 Census - nor for that matter an entry for any one else in the post that he held.
According to the Prison Book of Pentonville Jail, his son Valentine, who was serving 3 years' penal servitude (from January 1864) for "robbery and beating" was: "To be visited by Father, John. Barrack Master, Hyde Park Cavalry Barracks. London."
Valentine Bambrick committed suicide later that year.
Despite his seeming disability, described above, John Bambrick continued as a Barrack Sergeant at Hyde Park Cavalry Barracks until the 1st of May 1866. His pension, originally 2/3d. per day, was increased to 3/4d, vide a Royal Warrant, dated the 27th of March 1866.
He then went to the Brighton Pension District, but he was back in the West London Pension District by the 1st of July 1867.
[PB: Check. These are some of the same battles - Quatre Bras, Waterloo, Bhurtpore - as Robert Bambrick. Has there been a mix-up?]
1871 Census
South View, Isleworth, Middlesex (7th of April).
This was a conglomeration of houses in Station Lane (now known as Station Road).
John Bambridge [sic], aged 81 years. Old Pensioner, Chelsea. Born at Windsor, Berkshire.
Harriet A. Bambridge [sic], 76 years. Born in the parish of St. Luke's, Chelsea Bridge, London.
She was shown as being "In Hospital" at this time and for some unknown reason the surname of both was spelt as "Bambridge."
Harriet Ann Bambrick died at South View, Isleworth, on the 10th of May 1871, aged 76 years, from "Natural Decay". Wife of John Bambrick, a Chelsea Pensioner. Present at her death was Elizabeth Peters, of Station Cottages, Isleworth.
John Bambrick died at South View, Isleworth, on the 17th of March 1879, aged 79 years, from "Bronco-Pneumonia (2 months)." He was described as being a "Retired Army Officer," and his son-in-law, Mr. W.R. Turner, of No. 1 Percy Villas, Windmill Road, Brentford, was present at, and the informant of, his death.
[PB: 79? I calculated a birth year of c.1791, hence (if the same man) he would have been c.89 in 1879. 89 is also consistent with his stated age in the 1851 and 1871 Censuses. ]
The couple were buried together in Grave No. 13 BAP in the Old Ground of the Hounslow Cemetery. Also buried in the same grave-space was a Maria Turner, who died in October 1882, aged 57 years. She was possibly their second daughter, and the wife of their son-in-law W.R. Turner.
According to the Cemetery records a stone was erected. (There is a photograph of this stone in the 11th Hussar file.) No trace of any obituary or funeral report can be found for either of them in the local newspapers of the time.