Fusilier veterans buried at Llanbadrig, Anglesey

[Clive Hughes]

While searching for something else in the Welsh newspapers Online website, I came across the following. A correspondent had written to the North Wales Chronicle 29 September 1894 page 5 to draw attention to several Army veterans buried at Llanbadrig Churchyard near Amlwch, Anglesey.

The church is a little hidden gem, with early Christian monuments inside. It is possibly the oldest St.Patricks Church outside Ireland and perched on the edge of a sea cliff. A Victorian benefactor who had converted to Islam arranged the interior decoration! It was used as one of the scenes in Demi Moore's spooky movie Half Light in the 1990s. The parish it serves, Llanbadrig, includes the small port of Cemaes.

Anyway, the writer stated that there was recently buried at Llanbadrig a Hugh Jones, an old Army pensioner of the 23rd RWF, who had served in India and the Crimea, and held "medals for good conduct and gallantry". I checked the church Burial register online and indeed, a Hugh Jones of Ty Capel Bethlehem, Cemaes was buried on 19 September 1894 aged 58 (so born ca. 1836). As an 18-year-old in 1854 he might well have served in the Crimea.

Then it went on to say that 30 years previously, another Crimean veteran of the 23rd RWF named John Jones had also been buried there. He proved a little less certain to identify, but after checking to and fro around 1864 I did find one John Jones of Penrhyn, buried 5 September 1863 aged 45 (so born ca.1818).

And then the writer added that the churchyard also contained the remains of another John Jones (note: no regiment stated), buried "about 49 years ago" (so around 1845). This one had allegedly served all through the Peninsular War with Wellington, and was wounded in the thigh at Waterloo 1815, after which he was discharged. He lived in Cemaes for years afterwards. A check on the burials 1842-62 only threw up two likely John Joneses: one from Cemaes buried 29 March 1844 aged 50 (born ca.1795), which seemed a tad young for a Peninsular veteran unless he was a boy drummer at first?? The other also from Cemaes was buried 10 April 1841 aged 52 (born ca.1789).

The correspondent thought the number of veterans was noteworthy, and suggested putting up a commemorative stone to their memory. I don't think it happened. In any case, I'm recording this here in case anyone feels like noting the fact or carrying out further research on these men.

Clive

[Hywyn]

Have you got access to Findmypast Clive?***

This looks a likely contender for Hugh Jones.

http://search.findmypast.co.uk/recor...hlights=%22%22

Curiously Crimea Service is no listed in his overseas service list but further down it says he has Crimea Medals! Also, he enlisted in 1858! I might have missed something though as I haven't thoroughly read them.


***I'll send them to you if you haven't.

Edit: Seen it now. He had former Coldstream Guard service reckoned towards his pension.

RWF = 1858 to 1877 but got 21 yrs pensionable service........I think.

[Clive Hughes]

That's good Hywyn - might well be 137 Pte. Hugh Jones. I'd agree he earned the Crimea with Sebastopol clasp & Turkish Crimea medal with the Coldstream Guards, then transferred over to the 2nd Battalion 23rd in 1858 aged 22. Doesn't seem to have been with the RWF in the Indian Mutiny; but he later earned the Ashanti War medal with clasp "Coomassie" for the 1873-74 campaign. And a Long Service & Good Conduct medal to boot, before being discharged 1877. Nice group, wherever it is!

Born Llanrhyddlad, Anglesey and intending to reside at Holyhead after discharge.

I've also now found in Ancestry's "Chelsea Registers of Soldiers who Served in Canada 1743-1882" a discharge for a Private John Jones, born Llanfaethlu, Anglesey and enlisted for the 23rd at Stilton, Cambridgeshire on 25 August 1807 aged 26. Discharged 22 Feb. 1827 being "old and worn out" aged about 45; character Excellent. His 19 and a half years service was however increased by 2 years because he had been present at Waterloo. I don't have the book on the Napoleonic Fusiliers and if he died in the early 1840s he would have no medal entitlement excepting Waterloo.

Waterloo: an online Roll shows only two such men present with the 23rd Regt - a Jon (?Jonathan) Jones in Capt. Hawtyn's Company Grenadiers; and a John Jones in Capt. Harrison's (3rd) Company. There were however 29 other John Joneses present; possibly plus two others who were killed or died of wounds - I'm not certain.

Clive

[ap1]

There was also a John Jones in No 4 Company (Capt George Browne). Here's the entry from the book covering all 3 names.

[Hywyn]

That John Jones from Denbigh has papers.
http://search.findmypast.co.uk/recor...2f429%2f894294

Discharge 1823 as a consequence of...." being old and worn out and gunshot wound through both thighs at Pamphlona and for being deaf and impaired vision of the left eye"

The being shot through both thighs was 'oh, yes and by the way..! !!

It seems there was a Siege of Pamphlona in 1813 and 1823. From what I see in RRRWF Vols 1 and 2, RWF were at the former.

[Hywyn]

Here's that John Jones from Llanfaethlu Clive. Died 26 3 1844 (page 2) so fitting in nicely with the burial you quote for 29 3 1844 in the opener.

http://search.findmypast.co.uk/recor...hlights=%22%22

[Clive Hughes]

Yes, that's him Hywyn. He isn't one of those listed by Al is he? Is it possible he transferred into the 23rd post-Waterloo or is there a simpler explanation?

Clive

[Hywyn]

I'm not sure what you mean Clive. I'm a bit outside my comfort zone with these. The docs definitely say he enlisted into RWF in 1807 and he got 2yrs pension for Waterloo. Yet, as you say he's not on the list provided by Al.
Of that list
John Jones (1) is the Denbigh one. Docs upthread

Jonathan Jones is this one
http://search.findmypast.co.uk/recor...2f429%2f894298

Having problems finding the Carmarthen one.

Edit: Further thought. 'Our' Llanfaethlu John Jones enlisted day after the Carmarthen one and both same age. I wonder if the wrong John Jones has been put in that list? Did they have numbers then? Is the enlistment book in existence do you know?

[ap1]

The register is available "The Descriptive Register 1807-1842"

[Hywyn]

Thanks Al
I assume you mean at the RWF Archives. It'd be interesting to see the entries against the two John Jones in contention i.e the Carmarthen one and 'our' one from Anglesey.

I'm also assuming that the list you quote above is of those RWF who served at Waterloo (I think I saw a similar booklet at Caernarfon County Archives some time ago). Do you have its publishing details, when compiled etc i.e how long after Waterloo. Given it provides discharge date it's obviously not in the years immediately after.