Matthew Seamark 1780 – 1839
Light Dragoon fought in Peninsula Wars
Relationship
to Frederick George Seamarks, Second Great Grand Nephew
During the Period
running upto the end of the 1700’s England was a dark and lonely Island unsure
if the French would invade, recruitment took place up and down the land. The
Dublin based Light Dragoons toured the Midlands and recruited men to initially
defend from invasion along the South Coast or from Ireland. The market town of
Bedford was a recruiting station with many men taking the King’s Shilling.
The invasion never
happened and the Dragoons left England to fight in Portugal, Spain and at
Waterloo. Wives often travelled with the men acting as Nurses.
Matthew enlisted in
the 13th Light Dragoons on 21 December 1799 and discharged 4 June 1817, a
period of Seventeen years and 166 days, From the discharge papers the Regiment
was in York on the 24 March 1817.
The discharge papers
indicate that Matthew was the rank of Private for the whole duration of his
service, general conduct good - served with the Regiment in the Peninsula
[Portugal/Spain].
Matthew was 5ft 6
inches tall, Brown Hair, Blue Eyes, [Dark] Complexion and occupation labourer.
To survive 17 years
as a private was quite a feat and as such Matthew must have been very
resourceful.
For his wife Phylis,
England was cruel, being evicted from her home under English Poor Law.
From the Stagsden
Poor Records of 1810, on February 24th 1810, Phylis Seamark was returned to Harlington
the last registered dwelling of her Husband. Phylis was sent back with a
four-year-old daughter. Her husband was a Private in the 13TH Regiment of Light
Dragoons. The order to return was signed by Win Hooper and John Higgins. It was
not general practice to send back family whose husbands were serving with the
army, but was the norm for people who could not support themselves.
The daughter
Elizabeth; married Jacob Bonner 24th September 1823 at Harlington Bedfordshire.
In 1861 Phylis was living with daughter Elizabeth and Family in Westoning,
Beds. Phylis place of birth is given as Norwich.
From records held in
Dorset, Fordington St George: Matthew Seamark, son of Matthew and Phillis, 1
April 1814, 13th L Dragoons. The reference to '13th L Dragoons' is the
'occupation' of the father. Matthew Junior is believed to have died 16th
April 1814.
23 December 1812 John
son of Matthew and Sarah Seamark, Melcombe Regis, Dorset
Extract from “History
of The X111 Hussars” by CRB Barrett 1911
1798 – Regiment returns from the West Indies, terrible losses due to sickness in the West Indies … raise the regiment anew. Regiment normal size was 641 Men and 641 Horses.
1798 Marched to York from Trowbridge
1799 August Regiment was at full strength and Marched to Weymouth. On arrival at Birmingham orders changed and the regiment was stationed at Coventry, Warwick and Stratford-On-Avon. Regiment Size 802 Men and Horses, 9 troops
1800 Spring moved to Leicester and Nuneaton , 10 troops in total
1800 August – June 1801, The 13th were quartered in Norwich, Aslsham, Walsham, Beccles, Bungay and Wymondham. [Note Matthew’s wife from Norwich]
1801 March 902 Men and Horses
1801 April One troop marched into Norwich [Note Matthew’s wife from Norwich]
1802 Troops redeployed over East Anglia as far as Boston Lincolnshire. Regiment reduced to 652 Men and 600 Horses then to 516 Men, 436 Horses in eight troops. This reduction was due to peace with France, Treaty of Amiens.
1802 July Regiment marched to Romford and Hornchurch. Inspected by the King at Hornchurch, it is noted the King made a minute inspection.
1803 War broke out, May - Regiment increased to 604 Men and 524 increased to 684 men and 604 horses in July
1803-1804 13th Sent to the South Coast, Deal four troops, Sandwich and Stonar one troop each, Ramsgate two troops By December 1804 the 13th the Regiment stood at 1064 Men and Horses
1805 December Marched to Canterbury [Elizabeth
Seamark born Canterbury daughter of Matthew]
1806 September Four troops marched to Deal, two to Sandwich and two to Ramsgate. By the end of 1806 Strength was 854 Men and Horses
1807 July Marched from the South Cost through Canterbury to quarters at Kingston, Richmond, Twickenham and Cobham.
1807 August 17th Regiment reviewed by the Prince of Wales and the Duke of York next day Regiment left for Dorcester, Dorset.
1807 September 24, Last Division reached Dorcester
1807-1809 Marched around Dorset, Somerset and Cornwall [Blanford, Exeter, Honiton, Plymouth, Tiverton, Totness, Truro,
1809 West Country Tour ended. June 22 the regiment began its
march from Exeter for “King’s Duty” and during the curse of July went into
cantonments in Hounslow, Hampton Court, Richmond, Twickenham, Chertsey, Staines
and Egham. [note Maria Seamark was born
in Chertsey daughter of Mathew]
1810 1st Week February, 13th Light
Dragoons were ordered to prepare eight troops for immediate service. Service troops formed on February 9th
four troops marched to Portsmouth. [expect
Phylis wife of Mathew would have been in or returning to Stagsden, Bedfordshire
with daughter Elizabeth]
1810 February 17th , 1st, 2nd and 3rd Divisions marched into Portsmouth and embarked.
1810 February 18th part of the 4th embarked
1810 February 24Th
February, Back in Bedfordshire Phylis is removed from Stagsden with
Elizabeth and sent to Harlington –
[Imagine that happening today, see Stagsden Poor Book]
1810 Monday February 26 and Tuesday 27 final troops of the 4th embarked
The entire regiment, consisting of eight troops of 85 men each and 85 horses were distributed between 23 ships. The depot of the regiment was established at Chichester
1810 March 5, fleets destined for Portugal and Gibraltar weighed anchor
1810 March 28, disembarked, and marched to Belem Barracks, situated four miles from Lisbon. During the forty days on board seventeen horses lost,
1814 The regiment returns from the Peninsula. Need to understand the 1812 birth not necessary the same Mathew as wife is given as Sarah. 1814 Birth/Death of Matthew the younger fine’.
Waterloo – Matthew did not take part in the Battle. This is the only “roll call” that survived the period Matthew served with the Dragoons. It is therefore expected he was in the Calvary Reserves at this time.
1817 4 June Matthew
discharged.
After de-mob as per the notes above Mathew rejoined Elizabeth in Harlington, Beds where he died. His daughter went on to marry Jacob Bonner.