Wiltshire - Cornwall Tree

Graham Lovelock email message 29-Nov-05:

The Budock Online Parish Clerk has very kindly reviewed the Budock registers in detail with respect to Robert, and has turned up some more information.

The marriage entry, to Jane Toye, apparently declares Robert to be from EASTON Wilts, not EATON, so one minor doubt removed. As he was also declared to be a widower of the Royal Veterans Battalion she kindly checked out the PRO papers and found in WO 121/185/442 the discharge details for Robert Lovelock born HASAN, Wilts, served 62nd Foot Regt; Garrison Battalion; 2nd Royal Veteran Battalion, discharged aged 68 after 33 years of service 1781-1815. The 62nd Foot became the Wiltshire Regiment in 1782. The Regimental Digest declares that the Regiment was at Lincoln until 1782, when it deployed to Newark, New York, so I'm not sure how Robert will have joined them. At some point in 1783 the Regiment returned to the UK and went to Trowbridge, so perhaps Robert joined them there, having been in some sort of holding unit since 1781.

I can understand how EASTON pronounced AYSON in a strong Wiltshire accent could become HASAN in a clerk's transcription of what he heard, and probably Robert couldn't read, or read enough, to correct the matter.

Of course the age quoted in his discharge papers means he was apparently born in 1746 or 1747, which doesn't help with identifying him at all. It does mean that he didn't join up until he was 34 or 35 years old, and means he only 'lost' 3 years between being discharged and buried.

If he was the Robert who married Mary Wilks at Easton in 1777 it would seem that Mary was still alive when he joined up - we have burials of a Mary in 1783 and 1790 only. Coincidentally there are no burials of a Robert in our Easton records, although it's always worrying when you find a gap of 22 years without a Lovelock burial - could we possibly have missed one or two?

Also, if he was the Robert who married Mary Wilks, his joining up would explain why there were no more children at Easton.

From Leonard Robert Lovelock, via Jeremy Lovelock email message 18 Jan 06:

Robert of Easton was a keen Wesleyan Methodist when he was in Cornwall - where they are still strong. He wonders if he was christened in a Methodist church in Wiltshire?

Robert appears in a list of those who served in the 62nd Regiment in Canada at Ancestry, a Chelsea Hospital document. The entry was made when he was aged 50 and states that he had 19 years of service, so had joined when he was 31. He served 12 years in the 2nd Volunteer Battalion but it is not clear when that started. The entry records that he was from Easton, Marlboro (sic), Wilts and also includes his date of death - 23 July 1830.

23 Oct 2021 GL adds:

Imagery on the Find my Past website includes Robert's Discharge Papers:

'2nd Battalion His Majesty's 62d Regiment of Foot whereof Lieut Genl Peter Craig is Colonel. These are to certify that the Bearer hereof, Corporal Robert Lovelock in the Vacant Company of the aforesaid Regiment, born in the Parish of Easton in or near the Market Town of Marlborough in the County of Wilts aged fifty years and by trade a Labourer hath served honestly and faithfully in the said Regiment 19 years; but by reason Chronic Rheumatism is rendered unfit for Service. (Signed) Tho Hervey Surgeon 62d is hereby discharged, and humbly recommended as a proper object of His Majesty's Royal Bounty of CHELSEA HOSPITAL. He 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 his Receipt on the back hereof. Given under my Hand and the Seal of the Regiment, at Portchester this second day of February 1800. (Signed) Trevor Hull (?) Lieut Col 62d

Robert made his mark on the reverse.