Born in the parish of St. Andrew's, London, c.1828.
Enlisted at London on the 17th of February 1846.
Age: 18.
Height: 5' 7".
Trade: Wire-drawer.
Appearance: Fresh complexion. Hazel eyes. Lt. brown hair.
1851 Census
Pockthorpe Cavalry Barracks, Norwich.
William Lovett [sic], 23, Private, born London.
The Balaclava period muster roll states, "Sick" and as being a "Muleteer" at Balaclava during February-March of 1855.
From Private to Corporal: 30th of October 1855.
Tried by a Regimental Court-martial on the 17th of April 1856 for "Being drunk in camp". Sentenced to be reduced from Corporal to the rank of a "Private Hussar".
Discharged from Birmingham on the 30th of April 1860 "By claim, at his own request, for a deferred pension upon reaching the age of 50 years." Aged 35 years on discharge.
Served 14 years 79 days. In Bulgaria and Turkey, 2 years.
Conduct: "good". In possession of two Good Conduct badges.
To live at Deene Park. (The estate of Lord Cardigan.)
He was granted a "deferred" pension of 4d. per day on his attaining the age of 50 years on the 11th of May 1877. At that time he was employed as a Gatekeeper at Deene Park, near Wandsford, Northants. In 1859 he was shown as "Orderly to the Earl of Cardigan," and as such was not actually with the regiment. It was probably due to this that he was later employed at Deene Park.
He later signed a document (no date shown) regarding his registration at the Royal Hospital Chelsea, as living in the parish of St. Marylebone, London. A later note on his documents regarding his deferred pension states, "Papers sent to Lynn (King's) 9th of June 1879."
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasps for Alma, Inkerman and Sebastopol, and the Turkish medal.
His name was on the 1877 list, but not on the 1879 revised list of members of the Balaclava Commemoration Society.
Marriage registered
William Lovett [sic], m Sarah Russell, September Quarter 1869, Oundle.
1871 Census
Porters Lodge, Deenethorpe, Northants.
William Lovett [sic], 42, Gate keeper, Deene Park, born London.
Sarah, 37, born Deene Thorpe Park.
Sarah Russell, 78, mother, widow.
1881 Census
William Lovett [sic], servant, 52, Groom domestic, born Middlesex.
Sarah, 46, General servant domestic, born Deenethorpe.
32, Lenthall Road, Hackney.
1891 Census
William Lovett [sic], 62, no occupation, born London.
Sarah, 57, Night nurse, born Deenethorpe.
24, Albion Gardens, Hammersmith.
Registration of marriage and Census information for 1851, 1871, 1881 & 1891 kindly provided by Chris Poole.