Charles Forbes Birch (1831 - 1848)

Born 4 Nov 1831 in Longburgh, Cumberland, England, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Died 12 Aug 1848 at age 16 in Woolwich, Greenwich, London, England, United Kingdom

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Biography

Born 4 Nov 1831, Longburgh, Cumberland, England, the son of John Birch and Mary Forbes.^[1] Baptised 2 Jan 1832, Burgh-by-Sands, Cumberland, England. ^[2]

His father died when he was 4 years old, and he moved with his mother to live in Liverpool. Enrolled as a Gentleman Cadet at the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, Kent, England.^[3]

Accidentally drowned 12 Aug 1848, Woolwich, Kent, England, aged 16 years. ^[4][5][6] Buried Woolwich Cemetery, Kent, England.^[7][8]

Sources

1. ↑ John Birch’s Military Record
2. ↑ "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NG36-G3R : 19 September 2020), Charles Forbes Birch, 1832. Digital Folder Number: 007561553; Microfilm Number: 252831; Originating System: ODM; Indexing Batch: P00479-1 Christening: C/E Parish, Burgh-by-Sands(Cumberland), Parish Registers 1653-1961
   1832, Jan 2, BIRCH, Charles Forbes, son of John and Mary Arabella BIRCH, father: Gentleman of Longburgh, WM. Mark, Vicar
3. ↑ Liverpool Mercury, Friday 11 June 1847
   At the late examination for gentlemen cadets in the Royal Military Academy at Woolwich, the first place was assigned to Mr. Charles Forbes Birch, of this town, son of the late Capt, Birch, of the 73rd regiment.
4. ↑ https://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/search.pl Free BMD
   Deaths Sep 1848; BIRCH, Charles Forbes; Dstrict: Greenwich; Vol: 5; Page: 214 Death Certificate
   Death in the Registration District of Greenwich, in the subdistrict of Woolwich Arsnel, in the County of Kent on the 12 August 1848, at Woolwich Disenal of Charles Forbes Birch, male, 16 years, a Gentleman Cadet. Accidentally drowned in the Avenal Canal whilst Bathing, Informant Cha. Jas. Cartter, Coroner for Kent, Greenwich. Registered 13 September, 1848. Richard Ripon, Registrar.
5. ↑ The Times, August 14, 1848
   DEATH OF A GENTLEMAN CADET.--Mr. Charles F. Birch, one of the gentlemen cadets studying at the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, went to bath in the canal in the Arsenal with another cadet after 4 o'clock on Saturday afternoon, when their studies for the day were ended. They had not been long in the water when Mr. Birch sank to the bottom, having apparently been seized with the cramp. His brother cadet was unable to render him any assistance, and having come out of the water immediately gave the alarm, and assistance was promptly procured; -but it was nearly three quarters of an hour before the body could be found, and although every means was taken to restore animation, the long period the body bad been in the water rendered all the exertions made for his recovery of no avail. Mr. Birch was second on the list of the practical class who joined at the Royal Arsenal on the 5th.of the present month to go through a course of laboratory instruction previous to obtaining commissions in the Royal Artillery or Royal Engineers in October next. At the examination previous to the last examination he obtained the prize for history, geography, military plan drawing and sketches. His parents are at present traveling in Germany.
6. ↑ Commissary Clerk of Edinburgh under the Sheriff Courts Act, 1876. Calendar of Confirmations and Inventories.
   December 1884 - Charles Forbes Birch, Value of Estate £329, 18s. 6d., 12 May - Confirmation of Charles Forbes Birch, sometime residing in Liverpool, son of the late John Birch, Army Captain, who died 12 August 1848 at Woolwich, intestate, granted at Edinburgh, to Henrietta Birch or Bell, Quarrybrook, Maghull, Liverpool, widow of Captain Charles Cowen Bell, H.E.I.C.S., sister of deceased, Executrix datice qua next of kin
7. ↑ Board of Guardian Records, 1834-1906 and Church of England Parish Registers, 1813-2003. London Metropolitan Archives, London. Reference Number: p97/mry/045
   St. Mary Magdalene, Woolwich, Greenwich.
   Burials in the Parish of Woolwich in the County of Kent in the Year 1848 No: 903; Charles Forbes Birch; Abode: Ordinance Hospital; Buried: 18th August 1848; Age: 16 years & 8 months; Celebrant: Geo. J Thomas.
8. ↑ https://www.kentarchaeology.org.uk/research/monumental-inscriptions/woolwich#MIsWoolwich001-450
   MI Woolwich Cemetery
   “Charles Forbes BIRCH, gentleman cadet of the Royal Military Academy who was accidentally drowned 12 August 1848 in 17th year.”