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The Surviving Rank and File of the 59th Regiment on the Sea Horse

The following list of the 23 surviving rank and file of the 59th Regiment was published by J J McGregor in his contemporary pamphlet on the wreck:

Colour-Serjeant Thomas Curtis; Corporals Nicholas Ball and Michael Malone; Drummer W. Macneil; Privates James Offin, James Clayton, John Armstrong, Edward Doonegan, Joseph Clayton, John Tuntliffe, James Kelly (1st), James Kelly (2d), Peter Davey, Joseph Fitzpatrick, Henry Styles, James McLaughlin, John McKibben, David Gailey, John Hames, Robert Scott, Patrick Malone (since dead), Robert Colvey, and Robert McKitterick.[1]

A more accurate list of their names can be obtained from the regimental pay books, where they are noted as having being transferred to the detachment and district pay lists, following the wreck:

Sergeant Thomas Curtis
Corporal Nicholas Ball 
Corporal Michael Malone
Drummer William McNall
John Armstrong
James Clayton
Joseph Clayton
Robert Colvea
Peter Davey
Edward Donnegan
John Emms
Joseph Fitzpatrick
David Gailey
James Huffin
James Kelly 1st
James Kelly 3rd
Patrick Malone
Abraham McKibben
James McLoughlin
Robert Montkettrick
Thomas Scott
Edward Styles
John Tuntcliffe[2]


Colour-Serjeant Thomas Curtis served in the Peninsular War, where he was promoted to corporal on 2 August 1813. He later served as a sergeant at Waterloo, for which he received the standard medal. Following the wreck, he was put on temporary leave of absence or ‘on furlough’ up until 24 March, during which time; he certified that Thomas Kerevan saved one corporal, one woman, and five privates from the Sea Horse.[3]

Corporal Nicholas Ball served in the Peninsular War from 1812 to 1814. He was wounded in action at Vittoria on 21 June 1813. He later served at Waterloo. [4]

Corporal Michael Malone as his name suggests was an Irishman, born in Rathangan, County Kildare c1790. He enlisted at Boyle, County Roscommon on 11 August 1811. He was described as being 5 ft. 8 in. tall, with hazel eyes, sandy hair and a fresh complexion. He was further noted to be ‘insubordinate when drunk but a good and gallant soldier when sober’. Lieutenant Colonel George McGregor testified that, he distinguished himself in action with the enemy and volunteered for the forlorn hope at San Sebastián, twice, first on 25 July 1813 and later on 30 August, despite having been wounded in the back on 26 July.  He later served as a sergeant at Waterloo, for which he received the standard medal. After the wreck, he was transferred to 1st Battalion and joined them in India on 20 July 1817. Lieutenant Colonel McGregor signed his discharge papers in Bengal on 24 October 1821, discharge, due to incontinence of the urine.[5] His wife and child were lost on the Sea Horse.[6]

Drummer William McNall was born circa 1795 in the parish of Middlegate in or near the town of York. He was a labourer by trade. William joined the 59th Regiment at Leeds on the 8 January 1810, at the age of fifteen. He was appointed as a drummer in the regiment on the 24 January 1813, a position he held when he was shipwrecked. He was promoted to corporal on the 16 November 1820 and was further promoted to Serjeant on the 13 September 1825. William served for two years in Peninsular War and was present at the battles of Vittoria, San Sebastián, Nivelle and Nive. He was wounded in the right arm at San Sebastián. He was also present at the battle of Waterloo for which he received the standard medal. His general conduct was reported as being that of a good soldier. He was described as five feet 4 ft. ¾ in., with black hair, hazel eyes and a dark complexion. Discharged at his own request from Mullingar, on 14 March, 1832, at the age of thirty seven, he had served at total of twenty one years in the regiment. He received a pension of one shilling six and a half pence. Upon retirement, it was his wish to reside and draw his pension at Newcastle upon Tyne. [7] William and his wife Elizabeth Lumley appear on various censuses, in the following decades, where he is described as a labourer and later, a Chelsea Pensioner.[8] He died on  6 March 1864 at Walker's Pit.

Joseph Clayton’s left eye was injured during the shipwreck. He was born about 1790 and enlisted in the 59th Regiment for limited service in 1809. He served at Waterloo, where he got a slight wound in his right leg. In total, he served 6 years in the regiment. He was born at Dudley and was a bricklayer by trade. He was 5 ft. 2 in. tall, having brown hair, blue eyes and a fresh complexion. At the age of 84, he lived at 21 Stafford Street, Dudley and was in receipt of Parish relief. On 17 March 1874, he applied for an army pension as his advanced age made him unfit for any work.  In his application, he stated that he was wrecked in the Sea Horse transport. Now being very old, quite unable to work and in receipt of parish relief of 2 shillings a week , he applied for a pension. The medical department stated that his advanced age rendered him unfit for any work. His character judging from the testimonials of gentlemen of Dudley had been very good.[9] The 1841 census shows a Joseph Clayton aged 42, a bricklayer at Greystone Street, Dudley near Stafford Street. He was married to Maria aged 40 and had a daughter Lucy aged 13 and two sons Joseph aged 8 and Thomas aged 3.[10]
         
Two of the soldiers, James Clayton and Edward Styles married local women in the Church of Ireland in Tramore. Why the soldiers were still in Tramore several months after the shipwreck is unknown. Possibly they were too ill to travel as they were both transferred to the Waterford district pay list on 30 January.

James Clayton served at the battle of Waterloo for which he received the standard medal. James and Isabella Reilly were married in Tramore Church by John Cooke on 3 June 1816.[11]

Edward Styles was misnamed Henry in the contemporary accounts. He was a labourer from Morbes, Nottinghamshire when he enlisted on 12 July 1813. Styles were not listed on the Waterloo Medal Roll. Edward and Rose Richardson were married in Tramore Church by John Cooke on 8 July.[12] However, he transferred into the 1st battalion and served in India. Later promoted to corporal, he was killed in action at the Battle of Bhurtpore, in January 1826.[13]
        
Two of the enlisted men hailed from County Louth. It is interesting to note that Major Douglas’s aunt also lived in County Louth.

Robert Montkettrick was born in Ardee, County Louth. A Labourer, he enlisted in the 2nd Battalion of the 59th on 11 December 1810. He served in Peninsular War from 1813 to 1814 in Captain Fuller’s company of grenadiers and was present at Waterloo as a corporal. He transferred to 1st battalion in 1816. He held the rank of sergeant, when he was killed in action at the battle of Bhurtpore on 18 January 1826.[14]
       
James McLaughlin was also born in Charlestown, Ardee County Louth c1886. He enlisted in the regiment at Tullamore, King’s County on 11 November 1810 at the age of 24 for unlimited service. He was 5ft 7 in., having hazel eyes with a dark complexion. He served at Waterloo. He served 18 years 281 days. His conduct as a soldier was very good. His discharge was signed by Major Fuller at Bhurtpore on 24 Nov 1826, confirmed 2 July 1827. He was worn out, aged 40.[15]

Two of the men saved were named James Kelly, the first was from Dublin. At the age of 33 he enlisted in the regiment in Dublin on 1 September 1812 for unlimited service. His conduct was generally good. He was born in the parish of Saint Mary’s in Dublin. A shoemaker by trade he attested for the 59th at Belfast County Antrim on the 11 November 1810 at the age of twenty. He was at Vittoria, San Sebastián and Nive. He was promoted to corporal on 25 December 1818 and further promoted to Serjeant on 6 July 1822. He was wounded in the head, thigh, face and hands at the battle of Bhurtpore where he distinguished himself with his bravery. In all, he served 3 years in the Peninsular and 11 years 343 days in the East Indies. His general conduct was that of a very good soldier. He was discharged at Enniskillen barracks 6 December 1832 due to disease or disability, and retired to his residence in Drogheda, County Meath.[16]

The second James Kelly was born in Dungarvan, County Derry c1778. He was a labourer, 5 foot six, brown hair, grey eyes, with a fresh complexion.  At the age of 33 he enlisted to the regiment in Dublin on 1 September 1812 for unlimited service. He was at Waterloo and served for five years 71 days until he was discharged in 10 November, 1817, at the age of 38, due to an injury to the spine and paralysis, a result of the shipwreck. His conduct was generally good.[17]
        
Some of the men did not live long after the disaster. Patrick Malone died in Tramore by the time McGregor wrote his journal, which was published on 15 February 1816.[18] David Gailey was transferred to the 1st Battalion in 1816 and died in Ceylon on 1 January 1819. Gaily was born in Coppy, County Tyrone. He was a labourer and served in Peninsular War 1812-1814. He was at Waterloo.

Abraham McKibben a born in Ahoghill, County Antrim, and was a weaver by trade. He served in the Peninsular and was present at Waterloo. He also transferred to the 1st Battalion in 1816 and later died at Berhampur in Bengal, on 28 August 1820.[19]

On the other hand, Robert Colvea was one of the most long lived of the survivors. Colvea was born in about 1791 in the parish of St James’s, Norwich. He worked as a labourer and served in the West Norfolk Militia, before he enlisted into the 59th in April 1811. He was described being 5 ft. 6in. tall, having fair hair, grey eyes and a fair complexion. He served in the Peninsular at Vittoria, where, he was wounded by a musket ball in the right instep on 21 June 1813 and later at San Sebastián. He was discharged on 17 March 1817. Colvea retired to Norwich where, he applied for a pension on 3 August 1853, receiving 6 pence a day. He lived long enough to receive his Peninsular Medal, dying in Norwich on 29 August 1870, aged about 70.[20]

Several of the enlisted men’s names were misrepresented in the reports of the day. John Hames was in fact John Emms, born in Norwich, Norfolk c1793, a weaver by trade, he enlisted into the regiment in October 1809 and served in Peninsular at Vittoria and San Sebastián, where he was wounded in the right thigh on 12 September 1813. He also served at Waterloo. He applied for a pension at Norwich on 22 August 1865, when he as described as being 5 ft. 8 in. tall, with grey hair, grey eyes and a sallow complexion.[21]

James Offin was really James Huffin. James was born in Ilkeston, Derbyshire c1790. He enlisted in 59th on 4 April 1809. He was a frame work fitter. He served at Vittoria and San Sebastián and the Pyrenees. He suffered from a weakness of the arm due to a blow he received when he was shipwrecked in the Sea Horse. Discharged in 1816, he died in Ilkeston 14 March, 1867.[22]  He was on listed on the Peninsular Medal Roll.[23]                                               

John Tuntcliff was born in Derbyshire c1789. He enlisted into the 59th Foot in December, 1811. He served in the Peninsular at Vittoria, San Sebastián and the Pyrenees. He was discharged on 14 May 1814, having been wounded in the right leg at San Sebastián. He was 25 years of age, 5 foot 9, brown hair, grey eyes with a fresh complexion. He was a labourer by trade.[24] Mentioned on the Peninsular Medal Roll, he continued to be recorded in the Regimental Pay List up until the shipwreck, when he was transferred to the District pay list for 37 days.

Thomas Scott was born in St Mary’s County Meath, circa 1792. A weaver by trade, he described as being 5 ft. 4 in. tall, having light hair, grey eyes and a fresh complexion. He attested for unlimited service in the regiment at Belfast on 19 April 1812. After the wreck, he was subsisted on the Waterford district pay list from 31 January to 7 March 1816. He later transferred to 1st Battalion and joined them in India on 20 July 1817. He was discharged on 23 August 1825, suffering from chronic hepatitis. He was further described as being ‘of drunken conduct.’

Joseph Fitzpatrick is not among the men listed in either the Peninsular or Waterloo medal rolls. He was possibly the brother of Jeremiah Fitzpatrick from Urney, County Tyrone, who was also in the regiment.[25]

Peter Davey was born in St Alum’s, County Sligo, c1791. He was 5 ft. 9 in. tall, with dark hair, grey eyes and a dark complexion. He enlisted in the regiment in April 1809 and served in Captain Scott’s company at Vittoria and San Sebastián, where he was wounded in the chest. He later served at Waterloo.  In total, he served 7 years, before being discharged a few months after the wreck, on 21 June 1816. He then worked as a ‘turnkey’ in Sligo jail. He was wounded in the chest at San Sebastián and later served at Waterloo.[26]

John Armstrong served in the Peninsular War from 1812 to 1814, and was in Captain McGregor’s company at Waterloo

Edward Donnegan, probably another Irishman served in Captain Pilkington’s company at Waterloo.




[1] John James McGregor, Narrative of the Loss of the Sea Horse Transport, Waterford 1816, pages 23-24.
[2] War Office, Regimental Pay Books, 1815-1816, National Archives, WO 12/b870
[3] The Waterford Chronicle, 23 March 1816.
[4] David Ingham, Sudden Death, Sudden Glory-The 59th Regiment 1793-1830, Oldham 1996, pages 109-113.
[5] Chelsea Pensioners British Army service records 1760-1913, WO97.
[6] Chelsea Pensioners British Army service records 1760-1913, WO97.
[7] Chelsea Pensioners British Army service records 1760-1913, WO97.
[8]  1841, 1851 and 1861 Censuses.
[9] Chelsea Pensioners British Army service records 1760-1913, WO97.
[10] 1841 census
[11] Drumcannon Parish Register, Church Representative Body Library.
[12] Drumcannon Parish Register, Church Representative Body Library.
[13] David Ingham, Sudden Death, Sudden Glory-The 59th Regiment 1793-1830, Oldham 1996, page 173.
[14] David Ingham, Sudden Death, Sudden Glory-The 59th Regiment 1793-1830, Oldham 1996, pages 123 and 173.
[15] Chelsea Pensioners British Army service records 1760-1913, WO97.
[16] Chelsea Pensioners British Army service records 1760-1913, WO97.
[17] Chelsea Pensioners British Army service records 1760-1913, WO97.
[18]  John James McGregor, Narrative of the Loss of the Sea Horse Transport , Waterford 1816, pages 23-24.
[19] David Ingham, Sudden Death, Sudden Glory-The 59th Regiment 1793-1830, Oldham 1996, page 121.
[20] David Ingham, Sudden Death, Sudden Glory-The 59th Regiment 1793-1830, Oldham 1996, page 49.
[21] David Ingham, Sudden Death, Sudden Glory-The 59th Regiment 1793-1830, Oldham 1996, page 55.
[22] David Ingham, Sudden Death, Sudden Glory-The 59th Regiment 1793-1830, Oldham 1996, page 61.
[23] Peninsular Medal Award Rolls, National Archives, WO 100/7.
[24] David Ingham, Sudden Death, Sudden Glory-The 59th Regiment 1793-1830, Oldham 1996, page 83.
[25] Royal Hospital, Kilmainham: Pensioners' Discharge Documents, National Archives, WO 119.
[26] David Ingham, Sudden Death, Sudden Glory-The 59th Regiment 1793-1830, Oldham 1996, page 53.

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