Mark Wilson (1807 - bef. 1857)

Born 23 Apr 1807 in Woolwich, Kent, England

Descendants

Died before Apr 1857 before age 49 in Barbados

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Biography

Mark Wilson was born on 23 Apr 1807 at Woolwich, Kent, England to Mark and Margaret Wilson. His father was a soldier in the Royal Artillery. He was baptised on 10 May 1807 at St Mary Magdelene church in Woolwich.^[1]

Military Career

Mark joined the Royal Artillery when he was about nine years old. We don't have his service record but we do have his discharge papers.^{[2] [3]}

Mark was in the 4th Battallion of the Royal Artillery. Initially he would have been a drummer or trumpeter. On 1 Jan 1824, he became a regular soldier. He began as a Gunner then on 1 Jan 1824 he was made a Bombardier.

He spent a total of 8 years and 126 days in the Barbados between 1 Jan 1824 and 6 May 1832. He was probably in the Barbados as a child before he joined the army, possibly because his father was stationed there.

Mark was in Barbados when the Great Barbados Hurricane occurred in 1831. During the storm, he was hit in the foot by a falling roof tile which left him laid up for some time.

On 2 Mar 1832, he was made a Corporal. He was back in England by 3 Nov 1832 where his first child was born. On 23 Apr 1837, he was promoted to Serjeant (this is how it is spelled in the records). His second and third children were born in Portsmouth, Hampshire. According to their baptism records, the family were living in the barracks in Portsmouth.

His battallion arrived in Malta in Feb 1841 where his fourth child was born on 9 Oct 1841. He was promoted to Serjeant Major on 15 Jan 1845. He was back in Barbados by 13 Apr 1847 where he was discharged from the army. He had developed arthritis in his foot due to the injury he had sustained in the hurricane in 1831 and it had become so serious that he could not walk well enough to undertake his duties. He had also developed chronic rheumatism.

Family

Mark's wife was Rosannah. They had four children:

• Martha Wilson 1832-??
• Andrew Wilson 1834-??
• John Wilson 1836-1912
• Mark Wilson 1841-??

Upon leaving the Royal Artillery, he was "appointed by the Master General to a Situation in Barbados".

Mark Wilson died shortly before Apr 1857 and was buried on 9 Apr 1857 at St. Paul's Chapel, Saint Michael, Barbados.^[4] He was 49 years old.

Sources

1. ↑ Baptism: "London, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1812"
   London Metropolitan Archives; London, England; London Church of England Parish Registers; Reference Number: P97/MRY/010
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry ca Record 1624 #4201623 (accessed 10 February 2023)
   Mark Wilson baptism on 10 May 1807, son of Mark Wilson & Margaret Wilson, in St Mary Magdalene, Woolwich, Greenwich, Kent, England.
2. ↑ Military: "British Army Service Records"
   Archive: The National Archives; Series: Wo 97 - Chelsea Pensioners British Army Service Records 1760-1913; Reference: WO 97
   FindMyPast Image - FindMyPast Transcription (accessed 10 February 2023)
   Last name: Wilson; Attestation date: 22 Nov 1830; Birth country: England; Birth county: Kent; Birth parish: Woolwich; First name(s): Mark; Year: 1830; Attestation age years: 24; Box record number: 300; Birth town: Woolwich; Attestation age months: 11; Country: England; Birth year: 1806; Document type: Discharge; Discharge corps: Royal Regiment Of Artillery; Regiment: Royal Regiment Of Artillery; Box: 1270.
3. ↑ Military: "British Army Service Records"
   Archive: The National Archives; Series: Wo 23 - Royal Hospital Chelsea: Admission Books, Registers, And Papers 1702-1876; Reference: WO 23; Piece number: 149
   FindMyPast Image - FindMyPast Transcription (accessed 10 February 2023)
   Last name: Wilson; Candidacy year: 1847; First name(s): Mark; Year: 1839-47; County: Kent; Pension age: 41; Parish: Woolwich; Regiment / service number as transcribed: 4th Battahon; Year range: 1839-1847; Piece description: Admission book: pensions payable in the colonies.
4. ↑ Burial: "Barbados Church Records, 1637-1887"
   citing Burial, Barbados, Department of Archives, Blackrock; FHL microfilm .
   FamilySearch Record: 68PG-8V8P (accessed 10 February 2023)
   FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-C9BH-PSYW-1 Image number 00151
   Mark Wilson burial (died age 51) on 9 Jul 1857 in Barbados.