It is odd how sometimes you discover something you weren't even looking for as a result of going off on a tangent while researching ancestors. This is exactly what happened when someone asked me if the occupation of building houses had been passed down to any of the descendants of my 3 x great grandfather on my adopted tree, William Bird of Newnham (1757 - 1833). The answer is that his business had probably been passed to his oldest son, William Henry Elliott Bird (1798 - 1870), and, while I was researching him for my next blog, I found his probate record which then caused his story to morph into a totally different story !
The probate record referred to one of his executors being his son, William Henry Bird, "a Schoolmaster in Her Majesty's Regiment of Grenadier Guards quartered in the Tower of London". Sounds interesting !
The probate record referred to one of his executors being his son, William Henry Bird, "a Schoolmaster in Her Majesty's Regiment of Grenadier Guards quartered in the Tower of London". Sounds interesting !
This William was born in December 1824 and was baptised on New Year's Eve at the Victorian Church, St Mary at Lambeth. I haven't traced him on the 1841 census although his parents and siblings were all living at 8 Elizabeth Place, St Mary, Lambeth, which was one of the houses his grandfather built. However, on 17th January 1849, aged 25, he signed up with the Grenadier Guards and for the next three and a half years he was a student in the school for training regimental schoolmasters at the Royal Military Asylum for Children of Soldiers of the Regular Army in Chelsea. His rank was Sergeant.
The Asylum was established in 1801 and, as well as the regimental school, it included a boarding school for around 700 boys and 300 girls of serving or deceased officers who were in need of the Army's charity. The boys were taught the three R's whilst the girls learned the art of needlework and household work.
A Corps of Army Schoolmasters was formed in 1846.
The Asylum was established in 1801 and, as well as the regimental school, it included a boarding school for around 700 boys and 300 girls of serving or deceased officers who were in need of the Army's charity. The boys were taught the three R's whilst the girls learned the art of needlework and household work.
A Corps of Army Schoolmasters was formed in 1846.
In July 1852 William was given the title "Schoolmaster with the Grenadier Guards Army in the East of England".
According to his discharge papers, William served just 204 days overseas during his entire service. This was with the "Army in the East" between 5th December 1855 and 26th June 1856 and was during the Crimean War where the Grenadier Guards had suffered heavy casualties. In particular, the 3rd Battalion of Foot Guards, of which he was a member, had fought a couple of years earlier in November 1854 at the Battle of Inkerman. The defence of the Sandbag Battery in the fog against overwhelming odds is one of the epics of British military history. On that day the Brigade of Guards, of which the 3rd Battalion of the Grenadier Guards formed part, lost half its officers and men, but not a single prisoner or an inch of ground. (Source : The History of the Grenadier Guards www.army.mod/uk.)
I am not sure why a serving schoolmaster should be posted to a war zone but he was !
According to his discharge papers, William served just 204 days overseas during his entire service. This was with the "Army in the East" between 5th December 1855 and 26th June 1856 and was during the Crimean War where the Grenadier Guards had suffered heavy casualties. In particular, the 3rd Battalion of Foot Guards, of which he was a member, had fought a couple of years earlier in November 1854 at the Battle of Inkerman. The defence of the Sandbag Battery in the fog against overwhelming odds is one of the epics of British military history. On that day the Brigade of Guards, of which the 3rd Battalion of the Grenadier Guards formed part, lost half its officers and men, but not a single prisoner or an inch of ground. (Source : The History of the Grenadier Guards www.army.mod/uk.)
I am not sure why a serving schoolmaster should be posted to a war zone but he was !
In October 1856 William married schoolmistress Harriett Matilda Moffatt.
They had a daughter, Helen Marie (aka Ellen) (born in The Tower of London 1857). They then had two sons, Frederick Edwin (born at Portman Barracks 1861) and Ernest William (born at Chelsea Barracks 1869).
On the 1861 census they were living at the Infantry Barracks and Hospital in Windsor which is still where the Grenadier Guards set off to change the guard at Windsor Castle - presumably in those days they were guarding Queen Victoria. The 1861 British Army List shows that William also served in Dublin and The Curragh, County Kildare.
On 1st January 1862 William was promoted to "1st Class Schoolmaster".
We know from his father's probate records that in 1870 William was based at The Tower of London. A year later on the 1871 census he is at the home of the Grenadier Guards, Wellington Barracks (Old Wing) near St James' Park, Westminster.
His wife sadly died while giving birth in February 1872.
They had a daughter, Helen Marie (aka Ellen) (born in The Tower of London 1857). They then had two sons, Frederick Edwin (born at Portman Barracks 1861) and Ernest William (born at Chelsea Barracks 1869).
On the 1861 census they were living at the Infantry Barracks and Hospital in Windsor which is still where the Grenadier Guards set off to change the guard at Windsor Castle - presumably in those days they were guarding Queen Victoria. The 1861 British Army List shows that William also served in Dublin and The Curragh, County Kildare.
On 1st January 1862 William was promoted to "1st Class Schoolmaster".
We know from his father's probate records that in 1870 William was based at The Tower of London. A year later on the 1871 census he is at the home of the Grenadier Guards, Wellington Barracks (Old Wing) near St James' Park, Westminster.
His wife sadly died while giving birth in February 1872.
After serving 27 years 51 days, William was discharged from the Army on 11th March 1876. He was described as being 6 foot 1 inch tall with grey eyes, a fresh complexion and dark brown hair. His character was described as "very good".
Probably soon after leaving The Guards, William became Clerk at St Stephens Club which was on the Victoria Embankment in Westminster. This was a private members club founded in 1870. Charles Dickens said about it in 1879 that "The only persons eligible for membership are those who profess and maintain Constitutional and Conservative principles. The committee have power to select for ballot twenty candidates annually from those duly proposed and seconded, who shall be called selected members. The election of members is by ballot in committee. Entrance fee £31-10s.; subscription £10-10s." Benjamin Disraeli (Prime Minister 1874 - 1880) was one of the founder members. Perhaps William met him ?
Probably soon after leaving The Guards, William became Clerk at St Stephens Club which was on the Victoria Embankment in Westminster. This was a private members club founded in 1870. Charles Dickens said about it in 1879 that "The only persons eligible for membership are those who profess and maintain Constitutional and Conservative principles. The committee have power to select for ballot twenty candidates annually from those duly proposed and seconded, who shall be called selected members. The election of members is by ballot in committee. Entrance fee £31-10s.; subscription £10-10s." Benjamin Disraeli (Prime Minister 1874 - 1880) was one of the founder members. Perhaps William met him ?
William died on 26th March 1880. His death certificate says the cause of death was heart disease and anasarca. He was 55 years of age.
As you can see from the Probate summary, his brother Frederick Elliott Bird was executor of his estate and, it certainly looks like, the legal guardian of his two boys, who would now be aged 10 and 18.
As you can see from the Probate summary, his brother Frederick Elliott Bird was executor of his estate and, it certainly looks like, the legal guardian of his two boys, who would now be aged 10 and 18.