General Chat

from

http://themodstolemyboyfriend.wordpress.com/tag/army-wives-in-history/


"Married to the Military, 19th Century Style
June 11, 2012

Have you ever wondered what life was like for military wives hundreds of years ago? The Royal Navy can be traced back to the beginning of the 16th Century, the British Army to the very early 18th Century. Life was rather different back then for married couples.

Up until the middle of the 19th Century women were allowed to hold unofficial paid roles in the British Army. These varied from prostitutes to laundresses, cooks, nurses and seamstresses. They also worked as sutlers (think a mobile NAAFI). Well over 20,000 women followed the British Army in the early 1800s, they travelled with their respective regiment when it went to battle all around the world and made up the very fabric of the army.

During the latter half of the 19th Century the army became more professional and the roles women previously played were slowly cut out. Marriage was emphasised for officers as they were taught to feel protective of their soldiers and the hierarchy felt that if they were all family men this would come to be of second nature. Soldiers beneath them however were actively discouraged from marrying. The regiment was enough wife and family for the non-commissioned officers, family in tow would increase numbers, cost money and slow movement and as a direct result of this position they had to seek permission from their commanding officer to marry. Requests were rarely granted.

Those who had been permitted to marry and therefore had ‘official’ marriages were allowed their wives to travel with them, but it was expected that a wife would behave in a maternal way to her husband’s colleagues, performing duties for them such as laundry and basic medical care, much in the same way that women had before only now the role was unpaid with the wife sharing her husband’s pay and rations. If her husband were to be killed it was also expected that the new widow would quickly take a new husband from within this group of men. With death rates high it was not uncommon for men to attempt to secretively court a friend’s wife in order that he might be chosen should her existing husband be killed in the next battle. Unofficial wives, those who had married despite permission being refused by the CO and of whom there were plenty, had to stay behind. At the time, a soldier could expect more than two thirds of his 22 year career to be spent abroad."




rather a grim life!!

Could have been married before going over seas.

Military records 1790-1820
Six women per company were officially "on the strength" and could accompany their husbands on active service, receiving rations and places on troop transports.

I thought it would be better posted on FA or Genealogy Chat - I don't think the poster expected this to take off like it did - my fault :-)

To War ???? I am shocked at that, I have never watched Sharpe even for Sean Bean but I do find it interesting, could be an interesting TV programme the part wifes played in the army over the ages.

many women accompanied their men to war during the 18th and 19th centuries ........... and probably earlier.

Many of them were legally married, many were not.

If their husband was killed, then they would often soon marry one of his friends, or a member of the same company.


There of course no "living quarters" as such ............... but the wives (legal and common-law) of the ordinary soldier followed the army ............. they would travel with the baggage carts, usually walking, and carrying their children with them

They were extremely useful ...... cooking food, washing clothes ................. and acting as nurses



Bernard Cornwell's series on Sharpe was a pretty accurate account of the situation.

I think Roy is right
lynda - maybe if you post this on one of the other boards rather than the general chat one you will have better luck - I wish you all the best with your search and hope you get some results soon

Can i point out that the Peninsular War was (1808-1814) France and Spain had invaded Portugal so theirs a good chance dad was involves,
Would a soldier want to take his wife into a war zone?

Hayley, Not sure when married quarters where introduced as separate accommodation for overseas service but It wasn't the norm until around the mid 1800's before that a married man with his wife shared accommodation with others usualy in a corner of a barrack block



Roy

Index to Baptisms in Lisbon Portugal - ans | Communications ...
It consists of baptisms in Lisbon, Portugal which MAY relate to the British Factory and families who were connected to the India trade Return to genealogy
isp.ans.com.au/~rampais/genelogy/india/?indexes/lisframe.htm

MARRIAGE IN BRITISH FACTORY AT LISBON - genealogyforum.co.uk ...
MARRIAGE IN BRITISH FACTORY AT LISBON. by fdeboutaud » Sun Apr 03, 2011 5 ... Christening: 27 JUL 1800 British Factory Chaplaincy, Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
www.genealogyforum.co.uk/forum/?viewtopic.php?f=6&t=8583 - Cached

Some Lisbon merchants « Leghorn Merchant Networks
The British Historical Society of Portugal have a great deal of information about ... the AUBIN records from LDS Film No. 0477648 British Factory Chaplaincy Lisbon ...
leghornmerchants.wordpress.com/2009/11/?15/some-lisbon... - Cached

BRITISH FACTORY AT LISBON - AIM25 collection description
: BRITISH FACTORY AT LISBON: Date(s): 1721-1814: Level of ... A chaplaincy attached to the Factory was established in the ... British Factory | Lisbon | Portugal
www.aim25.ac.uk/cgi-bin/vcdf/?detail?coll_id=16001&inst... - Cached

too late - I think he's hung up his wotsits

Oh blimey Mr M, Catholics are too hard to find :-D She may well have been a Catholic, but she did marry in a C of E church, maybe I should tell the pope before he retires :-D

If she was born of a local girl she could have well been a catholic.

ohh thanks everyone, I will check the link Susan wiv :-D

He could have been anything Roy, I was only going down the army route, as that was suggested to me, I did wonder if he was an officer if his wife, if English, would of gone with him at the army's expense?

I have got another 3x Great grandfather, different side, who was born in America, also a British subject, but I know his father was a merchant, not that, that has helped me much, but at least I know why he was there in the first place :-D

are these Hales yours?


The Family of Charles Hale, born c1772.


Charles Hale . . . Click here for a possible family connection.
Born: circa 1772
Died: 20 July 1837, Woolwich, Kent, England.
Occupation : Wheelwright
Was at The Battle of Alexandria in 1801 during the Napoleonic Wars.
+Charlotte Fry
Born: 12 June 1782.
Baptised: 24 July 1782, St. Nicholas Parish Church, Plumstead, Kent.
Married: 22 April 1799, St. Saviour, Southwark, Surrey.
Occupation : 1841 Milk Seller (Census)
Died: 1 May 1862 Woolwich, Kent.
Occupation at Death: Widow.
Father: Edward Fry
Mother: Ann Fry


Charlotte Hale
Born: 12 January 1803, Woolwich, Kent.
Baptised: 13 February 1803, St. Mary Magdalene Parish Church, Woolwich, Kent.
+Richard Baker
Married: 22 May 1831, St. Mary Magdalene Church, Woolwich, Kent.

Elizabeth Hale
Born: 31 January 1805, Woolwich, Kent.
Baptised: 27 February 1805, St. Mary Magdalene Parish Church,Woolwich, Kent.

George Hales . . .
Born: c1807, Kent.
Baptised: 1 Nov 1807, Plumstead, Kent, England.
+Ann ELLIOT
Born: c1806, Kent.
Married: 9 Nov 1828, Saint Luke, Old Charlton, Kent.
Father: Francis ELLIOT
Mother: Ann UNKNOWN

Hannah Hale . . .
Born: 5 January 1812, Woolwich, Kent.
Baptised: 26 January 1812, St. Mary Magdalene Parish Church, Woolwich, Kent.
+James Farlie
Born: c1811, Woolwich, Kent.
Married: 20 January 1833, St. Nicholas Church, Deptford .
Occupation: Cordwainer.

Harriet Hale . . .
Born: 6 September 1813, Charles Street, Woolwich, Kent.
Baptised: 26 September 1813, St. Mary Magdalene Parish Church, Woolwich, Kent.
Died: 26 July 1883, Portland, Victoria.
Buried: 28 July 1883, Portland North Cemetery, Portland, Victoria, Australia.
+William Hale
Born: circa 1809, Woolwich, Kent.
Baptised: 15 February 1829, As an adult, aged about 20 Years, St. Nicholas Parish Church, Chislehurst, Kent.
Married: 30 September 1832, St. Nicholas Parish Church, Deptford, Kent.
Occupation : Carpenter & Builder.
Died: 2 November 1889, Portland, Victoria, Australia.
Buried: 4 November 1889, North Portland Cemetery, Portland, Victoria, Australia.
Father: William Hale
Mother: Mary Rhodes

Benjamin Hale
Born: 1 January 1816, Woolwich, Kent.
Baptised: 21 January 1816, St. Mary Magdalene Parish Church, Woolwich, Kent.
Occupation : Shoemaker
Died: 1 October 1887, Gipps Ward, Melbourne Hospital, Victoria, Australia.
Buried: 4 October 1887, Main Cemetery.





--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



The Family of Charlotte Hale, born 1803, Woolwich, Kent.


Charlotte Hale
Born: 12 January 1803, Woolwich, Kent.
Baptised: 13 February 1803, St. Mary Magdalene Parish Church, Woolwich, Kent.
+Richard Baker
Married: 22 May 1831, St. Mary Magdalene Church, Woolwich, Kent.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



The Family of George Hale of Woolwich, Kent.




Charles Hale
Born: 1831, Woolwich, Kent.
Photograph by Henderson, London Bridge, c1850.





Benjamin Hale
Born: 1839, Woolwich, Kent.
Died: 1897, Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia.



George HALE
Born: c1807, Kent.
Baptised: 1 Nov 1807, Plumstead, Kent, England.
+Ann ELLIOT
Born: c1806, Kent.
Married: 9 Nov 1828, Saint Luke, Old Charlton, Kent.
Father: Francis ELLIOT
Mother: Ann UNKNOWN


George William HALE
Baptised: 1 Mar 1829, St. Mary Magdalene, Woolwich, Kent.

Charles William HALE
Baptised: 10 Apr 1831, St. Mary Magdalene, Woolwich, Kent.

Amelia Helen HALE
Baptised: 28 Apr 1833, St. Mary Magdalene, Woolwich, Kent.

William Francis HALE
Baptised: 24 May 1835, St. Mary Magdalene, Woolwich, Kent.

Ann HALE
Baptised: 27 Aug 1837, St. Mary Magdalene, Woolwich, Kent.

Found these Lynda.

https://www.familysearch.org/search/record/results#count=20&query=%2Bgivenname%3Aelizabeth~%20%2Bbirth_year%3A1800-1820~&collection_id=1520601&offset=0

Interesting , would his wife not of gone in marriage quarters in them days?

here is some info on British Factory Lisbon


https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=marriage+place:+British+Factory+Chaplaincy,Lisbon,Lisboa,Portugal&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en-gb&client


if the link doesn't work...enter British Factory Chaplaincy, Lisbon, Lisboa, Portugal into google

If dad was in the army at that time i doubt he would have taken his wife with him? back then soldiers had to pay even for rations so they would not have been able to afford to pay travel for his OH but its possible her dad was an officer, Officers had to buy their commission at that time the cost would have been several hundred pounds so he would not have had a problem paying for his wife's travel.



It's more than likely he married a local

First you would need to find her parents before you can answer the question as to whether he was in the army or in Portugal on behalf of his employer or on some business of his own

Could he also have been Embassy staff? "She was born in Lisbon"
The British Embassy is in Lisbon,

Roy

I suppose it could be her fathers sister, but I just don't know, as I have no other relatives for Elizabeth, I've only been looking for her for 15 years :-D

name: Henry Anderson
gender: Male
baptism/christening date: 09 Nov 1798
baptism/christening place: BRITISH FACTORY CHAPLAINCY,LISBON,LISBOA,PORTUGAL
birth date: 22 Sep 1798
father's name: Charles Anderson
mother's name: Margaret
indexing project (batch) number: C88000-1
system origin: Portugal-ODM
source film number: 477648

can't see Elizabeth but could this be a connection - sister maybe?

groom's name: William Anderson
bride's name: Margaret Mary Hale
marriage date: 06 Jul 1799
marriage place: British Factory Chaplaincy,Lisbon,Lisboa,Portugal
indexing project (batch) number: M88000-1
system origin: Portugal-ODM
source film number: 477648