William Hall
My great, great, great grandfather was born in Stockland near Axminster around 1770.
On 19 March 1799, William enlisted in the 62nd (Wiltshire) Regiment of Foot "A second battalion of the 62nd was formed in 1799. Both battalions were ordered to Holland, but the British forces there returned home before this could be put into effect. The second battalion was disbanded in 1802.
In 1803, Napoleon threatened invasion with his army encamped at Boulogne, as a result of which recruits flocked to enlist and the 2nd/62nd was re-formed at Devizes in 1804. After serving in the Channel Islands the Battalion joined Wellington’s army in the Peninsula in 1813 and was involved in many of the battles which are now household names. In this campaign it earned the Battle Honours of 'Peninsula' and 'Nive' though neither were awarded until some years later. Following Napoleon's abdication in 1814 the 2nd Battalion went back to Ireland. It rejoined Wellington's army the following year, after Napoleon's escape from Elba, but arrived too late to take part in the Battle of Waterloo.
The 1st/62nd left England in 1806 as part of an expedition to Egypt where they joined a force under the command of General Frazer against the Turks. This force was required to retreat losing a 1000 men. The British agreed to evacuate Egypt on the liberation of his men being held by the Turks. After this they went to the Mediterranean and were based in Sicily for several years where they took part in actions against the French at Scylla Castle, The Bay of Naples, Palinuro, and gunboat service off the coast of Italy, and later Genoa, before leaving for North America in 1814. The 2nd/62nd was disbanded in 1817 when 400 men of the Battalion joined the 1st/62nd who were at that time in Nova Scotia."
I can't be sure exactly where William served, but according to his service records, he had completed 16 years and 153 days service by 19 March 1816, when he was discharged in Halifax, Nova Scotia. 1812 war in Canada.
Anglo American Waw of 1812.
His record shows that he was about 39 years old on discharge: this would put his year of birth at about 1777. He had worked as a butcher However, based on the 1851 Census and his Burial Register, the year of birth could have beeen 1773 or 1770.
William returned home and went to live at at Heathstock, South Stockland
Heathstock
References
Census - Returns: 1841 — 1851The Rifles - Berkshire and Wiltshire Regimental Museum
GRO References: Birth — Siblings — Marriage — Death — Children
Alternative spellings:
Parents
Birth
Siblings
Partial Transcript of Service Record..majesty's ...Ba 62 Regiment of foot whereof General Saml Hulse is Colonel
These are to Ceritify that Wm Hall Private in Captain Sweeney's Company in the Regiment
Aforesaid, born in the Parish of Stockland in or near the Town of Stockland in the County
of Dorsett Hath served in the said Regiment for the space of Sixteen Years and
153 Days according to the following Statements, but in Consequence of impaired
Vision contracted in July from repeated attacks of ophthalmia
is considered unfit for further Service abroad and
is proposed to be discharged and has been ordered to the army Depot in the Isle of Wight, that
his case may be finally determined on having first Received all Just Demands of Pay, Clothing
&c, from his entry into the said Regiment, to the date of this Discharge as appears by the Receipt
on the Back Thereof, except
and to prevent any improper use being made of this Discharge by its falling into other
hands, the following is a Discription of the said, Wm Hall He is about
Thirty Nine Years of Age, is Five feet Six Inches in Height Dark Hair Blue Eyes Dark
Complexion and by Trade, a Butcher
Statement of Service
Corps: 62 Regt - From:18 Oct 1799 - To: 19 March 1816 - Private: 16 Yrs 153 Days - Total Service: 16 Yrs 153 Days
Given under my hand and seal of the Regiment at Halifax this 19th day of
March 1816 Geo.......nlleth Lt Col 62?
Marriage
William Hall married Ann Carter 30 April 1818 in Stockland
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Children
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1841 England, Wales & Scotland Census Transcription
Heathstock, South Stockland, Axminster, Dorset & Devon, EnglandWilliam Hall Male 70 1771 Dorset, England
Ann Hall Female 45 1796 Dorset, England
Eliza Hall Female 10 1831 Dorset, England
John Hall Male 5 1836 Dorset, England
First name(s) William
Last name Hall
Sex Male
Age 70
Birth year 1771
Birth county Dorset
Birth county as transcribed DORSET
Birth place (other) England
House name -
House number -
Street Heathstock
Parish or township South Stockland
Town -
City or borough -
Registration district Axminster
County Dorset, Devon
Country England
Occupation -
Family member first name(s) Eliza, John, Ann
Family member last name Hall
Archive reference HO107
Piece number 282
Book number 8
Folio number 28
Page number 3
Record set 1841 England, Wales & Scotland Census
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1851 England, Wales & Scotland Census Transcription
Heathstock, South Stockland, Axminster, Dorset & Devon, EnglandWilliam Hall Head Married Male 78 1773 Pensioneer Stockland, Devon, England
Ann Hall Wife Married Female 56 1795 - Stockland, Devon, England
John Hall Son - Male 15 1836 Scholar Stockland, Devon, England
First name(s) William
Last name Hall
Relationship Head
Marital status Married
Sex Male
Age 78
Birth year 1773
Occupation Pensioneer
Birth place England
Birth town Stockland
Birth town as transcribed Stockland
Birth county Devon
Birth county as transcribed Devonshire
House name Cox Cottage
Street -
Town -
Parish Stockland
City -
County Dorset, Devon
Hamlet Stockland
Parliamentary borough -
Municipal ward -
Registration district Axminster
Archive reference HO107
Piece number 1862
Folio 447
Page 8
Record set 1851 England, Wales & Scotland Census
Category Census, land & surveys
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Death
William was buried at the Church of St Michael and All Saints, Stockland on 5 June 1853 aged 83 years.
