blackarm1

Black Soldiers in Northamptonshire Regiments of the British Army

or the Northamptonshire Militia in the early Nineteenth Century

This information has been supplied by John Ellis BA (Hons), MA

The Damerums The family tradition of military service, whilst oft quoted regarding White brothers, sons and fathers serving together has never purely been the preserve of White families, as can be seen by the case of William and James Damerum, (two Anglo-Indian brothers who served with the 48^th "Northamptonshire" Regiment between 1824 and 1834). William, the older brother, was only ten years old when he served at Assaye, (where 80% of the 74^th Foot was wiped out), he was joined by James in 1808 and service followed in Britain’s "small wars" – Travancore, Bourbon and Java, and no doubt the 48^th Foot’s "Coorg Campaign" of 1834. The Damerum’s Asian connection, (during the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries marriages between White soldiers and Indian women were encouraged by the Army), must have been strong as they opted to stay in India every time their regiments were posted back to Britain, (hence their transfer to the 55^th Foot when the 48^th returned home in 1834). Both opted to settle in their native Madras after discharge, and the fact that neither brother claimed the many campaign/battle clasps that they were eligible for (in 1848 when the "GSM 1793-1814" was retrospectively awarded) suggests that they quickly re-assimilated into Asian society.

48th Foot, (later 1st Battalion/Northamptonshire Regiment)

William Damerum Born in the East Indies, and enlisted for unlimited service in the 74th Foot in the Wallajabbad, (Walajabad), East Indies, 24th September 1800, aged 7 years. Served as a Private in: 74th Foot, (under age 24/09/1800-27/09/1805, discharged on embarkation of regt for England), 94th Foot, (period not noted, but u/a), 69th Foot, (volunteered from 94th & served 25/09/1807-19/07/1824), 48th Foot, (volunteered from 69th & served 20/07/1824-31/07/1834), and 55^th Foot, (volunteered from the 48^th Foot & served 01/07/1834-30/11/1837). "Served 26 years and 67 days in the East Indies, besides 11 years under age. Was present as a Private in the 74th Regiment at the Battle of Assaye and the Sieges of Gawilghur and Chausore, and also as a Private in the 69th Regiment during the operations in Travancore in 1809, and at the capture of the Island of Bourbon, France, and Java in 1810 and 1811." "Conduct was that of a good and efficient soldier, seldom in hospital." Discharged as a Private, 30th November 1837, due to "disability arising in service." On discharge he was literate, 44 years old, 5’/7^1/4" tall, had black hair, dark eyes, a black complexion and was a musician by trade. Drew pension in Madras until death sometime after 1848. Source/s: WO 97/680. WO 120/67-70.

James Damerum 55^th Foot. Private #786. Served as a Private in the 69^th Foot 01/08/1808-31/10/1818, (underage), & 01/11/1818-19/07/1824. 48^th Foot 20/07/1824-31/07/1834, (volunteered from 69^th and served as a Private). 55^th Foot 01/08/1834-30/11/1842, (volunteered from 48^th Foot and served as a Private). Born Trinchinoply, East Indies, (now Tiruchchirappalli in the State of Tamil Nadu – formerly Madras). "This soldier’s disability consists of chronic rheumatism with general debility consequent of twenty four years service in India. Disability contracted and by the service all attributable to the debilitating effects of long service in a tropical climate. The subject of this is an Indo-Britton and enlisted as a Drummer in 1808 – is unable to march or carry his kit and as such is quite unfit for any active military duty. This disability has not been aggravated by vice, bad conduct or intemperance." Drew pension in Madras, died 15/05/1871. Source/s: WO 97/680. WO 120/67-70.

58th Foot, (later 2nd Battalion/Northamptonshire Regiment)

John Billey Born in St. Ann’s, Barbados, West Indies and enlisted in the 58th Foot in Southampton, 6th March 1818 aged 14 years. "Served Jamaica, 09/04/1819-28/04/1822, and Ceylon 18/11/1828-25/06/1839." Discharged as a Drummer to a pension, 25th June 1839, due to being "rheumatic and worn out.... having (been) aggravated by change of weather - Lame - inability to march." On discharge he was literate, of good character, 36 years old, 5’/5^3/4" tall, had black hair, black eyes, a black complexion and was a labourer by trade. Sources: WO 97/705.

Thomas Draper "a Black foreigner" enlisted in the 58^th Rutland Regiment (later 2/Northants) in 1822 aged 24 years. He transferred to the 11^th (Devonshire) Regiment in 1824, and then to the 2^nd West India Regiment in 1825. Source/s: Description Book 11th Foot 1816-1829, WO 25/333.

Northamptonshire Militia

Joseph Bonnie Born in St. Lucia, West Indies and enlisted for life in the 1st Regiment of Life Guards at Westminster, Middlesex 9th December 1802 aged 24 years. Previously served four years as a Drummer in the "Northampton Shire Militia" from April 1798 to April 1802. Discharged from the 1st Life Guards as a Private to a pension of 1s/^1/2d per day, 9th April 1828, due to "being worn out from his period of service." On discharge he was literate, of good character, 49 years old, 5/8^1/2" tall, was "a man of colour", and a labourer by trade. Sources: WO 97/2.

Charles Dupree Born in St. Eustia, West Indies and enlisted for unlimited service in the 1/30th Foot in Northampton, Northamptonshire 27th August 1802, aged 28 years. Previously served as a Private in the "Royal Irish Fencibles" for 7 years & 213 days. Also previously served as a Private in the "Northamptonshire Militia" for 1 year & 53 days. Served in India for 20^3/12 years whilst with the 30th Foot. Discharged as a Private from the 30th Foot to a pension of 1s/3d per day 15th January 1827 as worn out. On discharge he was illiterate, of good character, 52 years old, 5’/9" tall, had black hair, black eyes, a black complexion and was a cordwainer by trade. Sources: WO 97/486.

James Pompey Born in Martinique, West Indies and enlisted for unlimited service in the 3rd Foot in Maidstone, Kent 27th April 1804 aged 21 years. Served: Northants Militia 1798-1800, (underage). 4th Foot 14/06/1800-24/03/1804. 2nd Foot Guards 25/03/1804-30/04/1804. 3rd Foot 27/07/1804-27/07/1826. A note in his records stated that James Pompey initially enlisted in the Northamptonshire Militia at Falmouth, Cornwall in 1798. Discharged as a Private to a pension of 1s/1d per day, 27th July 1826 due to "being worn out from length of service." His conduct was described as "always very good, he has uniformly maintained an excellent character in the regiment." On discharge he was illiterate, 42 years old, 5’/9^1/4" tall, had black hair, hazel eyes, a dark complexion and was a labourer by trade. Sources: WO 97/256.

George Lancaster 2nd West India Regiment of Foot. Enlisted aged 27 years. "Joined at New Providence 03/05/1811." Born Ebo, Africa. Colour Black. "To 58th Regiment 25/02/1817." (note: the 58th Rutland Regiment later became 2nd Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment) "Marked with small pox and scar on breast." "A deserter from 38th Regiment." Source/s: WO 25/644

Notes to Service Details

1. All references are from the Public Record Office, Kew, London

2. William Damerum. Came relatively late to the 48th. Possibly either the son of a British soldier and a native woman, or a young boy adopted by the regiment. His continued volunteering for service in the East Indies might suggest that he had a family locally. His young age is not unusual for the period.

3. Northamptonshire Militia Men.

a) I would suggest that Pompey was in fact of mixed race, as it was not uncommon to find them being described as dark, although it is confusing as "dark" was also a fairly common description for the complexion of white soldiers. Never the less, the fact that he had a "slave name", (i.e. Pompey), served at the same time Bonnie & Dupree, (who were definitely black), and didn’t spend long in the 2nd Foot Guards, (they only took the darkest of black men), leads me to speculate that he would probably have been considered black.

b) From the records of other black soldiers, it would seem that many militia colonels employed blacks as enlisted military musicians, (no doubt following a fashionable trend), and that like their white militia peers, many of these men subsequently volunteered for the regular Army.