Drummer John Freeman, an Antiguan in The 29^th (Worcestershire) Regiment of Foot, 1800 to 1818

By John D Ellis

John Freeman was born at St John’s, Antigua in March 1789.^[1]For John Freeman see: The National Archives (TNA) WO 22/56 and WO 22/248. TNA WO 23/30, WO 23/38, WO 23/47 part 2, WO 23/146 and WO 23/167. TNA WO 25/957. TNA WO 97/479. TNA WO 100/10 (MGSM). TNA WO … Continue reading Nothing is known of his origins.^[2]The Freeman family were prominent White plantation owners on Antigua during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The surname ‘Freeman’ was also adopted by formerly enslaved people following … Continue reading He enlisted in the 29^th (Worcestershire) Regiment of Foot at Swinley Camp, Berkshire in August 1800 alongside another boy of African origin – Peter Askins (born St Domingo c.1791).^[3]For Peter Askins see: TNA WO 22/248. WO 23/2 and WO 23/30. Wo 25/364, WO 25/957 and WO 25/1264. WO 97/477. WO 120/68. Drummer Peter Askins served in the 29th until 1831 when he was discharged on a … Continue reading For the 29^th both new recruits were the most recent in a series of Black males enlisted since the 1750s to serve as drummers, with as many as ten serving at any one time until after the Napoleonic Wars (1793-1815).^[4]Ellis, JD. “Drummers for the Devil? The Black Soldiers of the 29th (Worcestershire) Regiment of Foot, 1759-1843,” Journal of the Society for Army Historical Research 80 (2002), 187. Their age was also not unusual – White, and sometimes Black, boys were frequently employed in the Corps of Drums or Band until they came of age. In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries the Crown regiments of British Army usually referred to soldiers of both African and Asian origin as ‘Black’ or ‘of colour’. Both were enlisted by the ‘HQ’ (Head Quarters) of the 29^th in the same manner as their White peers.^[5]TNA WO 25/957 and WO 25/1264.

Whilst the 29^th, in common with other regiments, were known to have ‘pressed’ men into the ranks (impressment not being confined to the Royal Navy), no reference to enslavement has been found in the records of either John Freeman or Peter Askins, nor indeed in the records of any Black soldier who served in the 29^th.

In 1801 the regiment served in the west of England and in 1802 moved to Halifax, Nova Scotia. An inspection of the regiment in April 1807 noted that there were 22 drummers of whom 20 were foreign born (i.e. outside of Britain and Ireland).^[6])Everard, Major H. History of Thomas Farrington’s Regiment: Subsequently designated The 29th (Worcestershire) Foot, 1694-1891. (Naval & Military Press, 2011. Originally published 1891). Page … Continue reading It was the practise in an infantry battalion of 10 companies to have 1 to 3 drummers per company, and in the 29^th Black drummers appear to have been deployed one per company. Thus, apart from when the drummers gathered under the command of the Drum-Major Sergeant, they would have spent their time alongside their White enlisted peers.

In 1807 the regiment returned to England and at Deal, Kent in August of that year one eyewitness observed: “We were enlivened by their excellent band; their corps of black drummers cut a fierce and remarkable appearance while hammering away on their brass drums”.^[7]Op cit. Page 265.

Desertions by White soldiers, as opposed to going temporarily absent, or ‘AWOL’ (absent without leave), were not uncommon. However, in Kent in September 1807 three Black drummers of the 29^th deserted. From the Kentish Weekly Post or Canterbury Journal, dated 29 September 1807:

DESERTED,

From his Majesty’s 29^th Regiment of Foot, quartered in

Deal Barracks, the following

THREE BLACK DRUMMERS, viz.

WILLIAM HALL, about 22 years of age, 5 feet 9 ½ inches high, slender made, long head, long face, nose rather flat, long neck, square shoulders; a native of America; has marks of punishment; talks fast and stutters a little. – 2d September 1807.

JOHN PETERS, about 21 years of age, 5 feet 5 inches high, slender made, long head, long face, flat nose, large mouth, round shoulders, a little marked with small pox and marks of punishment; a native of the Cape of Good Hope. – 19^th September 1807.

STEPHEN SIMMS, about 23 years of age, 5 feet 9 ½ inches high, stout made, round face, flat nose, large mouth, short neck, broad shoulders, stutters a little when speaking fast; a native of America; supposed to have on blue pantaloons. – 22^nd September 1807.

ONE GUINEA over and above what is allowed by Act of Parliament, will be paid for the apprehending each of the deserters.^[8]Kentish Weekly Post or Canterbury Journal, 29 September 1807. findmypast.co.uk

The desertions may have been prompted by news of the murder of Drummer John Sampson from Barbados, who was killed by men of the Argyllshire Militia whilst on recruiting service in Aberdeen.^[9]For John Sampson see: TNA WO 12/4503 and WO 25/957. Ellis, JD. “Drummers for the Devil? The Black Soldiers of the 29th (Worcestershire) Regiment of Foot, 1759-1843,” Journal of the Society for … Continue reading

The 29^th played a significant role in the Peninsular Campaign (1808-1814). Arriving in 1808, they were present at Rolica (Roliea 1808), Vimeiro (1808), Talavera (1809) and Albuera (1811). At the latter battle, the regiment captured two French colours. At Rolica one un-named drummer was listed as missing in action, another was killed at the ‘Heights of Grijo and Calvahos’ (Drummer Robert Forbes, 1809), and a third at Albuera (Drummer Joseph Creeber). Whilst it is not known if any of the three drummers were Black, two more who died definitely were: John Daine of Nevis died in the Peninsular in January 1811 and James Starling of Dominica died in September 1811. The latter left John Freeman the sum of £1/19s/ and 1/4d in his will.^[10]For John Daine (also rendered as Daines or Deane), see: TNA WO 25/957 and WO 25/1684. For James Starling see: TNA WO 25/957 and WO 25/1684. Both men had been “present at the capture of Oporto” … Continue reading

The 29^th were described by the Duke of Wellington as the best regiment in the British Army but suffered such losses that they were forced to return to Britain. Colonel Leslie of Balquhain served as a junior officer with the 29^th in the Peninsula campaign and on its return to Britain. In his memoirs he recalled:

“The regiment continued at Windsor and was fast filling up with recruits and volunteers from the militia and received the greatest marks of honour from the Queen and all members of the Royal family. So high was the character of the regiment, that from one militia regiment alone sufficient men came to have laid the foundation of a second battalion, but owing to the drummers of the 29^th being all black, some mischievous person posted a placard asking “Who would be flogged by a black _____?” The men retracted, and I lost for the moment my chance of a company”.^[11]Leslie, Colonel KH. The Military Journal of Colonel Leslie, KH of Balquhain: Whilst serving with the 29th Regiment in the Peninsula and 60th Rifles in Canada &c 1807-1832. (Aberdeen University … Continue reading

The 29^th were a single battalion regiment and establishing a second battalion would have resulted in more career opportunities for both officers (like Leslie) and enlisted men. The fact that the 29^th chose to retain Black drummers rather than dismiss them in order to expand the regiment was to their credit.

A review of the regiment in 1813 revealed that it had 12 drummers, one of whom was English, two Irish and the remainder being foreign.

In 1814 the 29^th were sent to Gibraltar where Drummer Robert Glover died in the regimental hospital. He named John Freeman as his next of kin and left him the sum of £4/5s/and 1/4d.^[12]For Robert Glover see: TNA WO 25/957 and 1684 WO 12/4494 and WO 12/4547. Robert Glover, like John Freeman, had been born at St John’s, Antigua.

From Gibraltar the regiment were sent to North America to serve against the USA in the ‘War of 1812’.

Following Napoleon’s return from Elba, the 29^th were rushed to Europe, arriving in time to hear the firing at Waterloo, but not to see service in the battle. Thereafter, the regiment served as part of the Allied Army of Occupation. An inspection on Christmas Day 1815 noted that the 29^th had 22 drummers.

In September 1817 the regiment moved to Valenciennes, and it was during this time that Drummer John Freeman injured his spine when falling into a ditch. He was discharged as an out-pensioner of the Royal Hospital Chelsea on a pension of 6d per day in September 1818 “due to an injury to the spine from a fall into a ditch when the regiment was encamped on the plain of Valencienne in October 1817.” On discharge he was 35 years of age (there was some doubt as to age), 5/6″ tall with black eyes, “woolly black hair” and a black complexion.^[13]For John Freeman see: The National Archives (TNA) WO 22/56 and WO 22/248. TNA WO 23/30, WO 23/38, WO 23/47 part 2, WO 23/146 and WO 23/167. TNA WO 25/957. TNA WO 97/479. TNA WO 100/10 (MGSM). TNA WO … Continue reading A labourer by occupation he was described as being of very good character. He signed, rather than marked (with an ‘X’) his discharge records which indicates that he was signature literate. The 29^th had established a ‘regimental school’ in 1812, although it may have been that John Freeman’s literacy pre-dated his enlistment.

The fate of the majority of British soldiers who served during the Napoleonic Wars remains unknown. However, in the case of John Freeman he lived long enough to re-appear in army records during the 1840s and beyond. Within a few years of being discharged he enlisted in the Royal Navy and served three years and five months as a rating.^[14]TNA WO 23/167.

This service appears to have taken him to Malta (a strategically important naval base) from where he claimed the Military General Service Medal (GSM) 1793-1814, it was authorised in 1847 and issued in 1848, with clasps for the battles of Roleia, Vimiera, Talavera and Albuhera.^[15]TNA WO 100/10 (MGSM). The medal is now in the possession of the “Mercian Regiment Museum (Worcestershire)”.^[16]Reproduced with permission of “The Mercian Regiment Museum (Worcestershire)”. WOSWR: 2017-57.

In 1849 John Freeman travelled to England, settling in West London. In August 1850 he successfully petitioned to become an in-pensioner of the Royal Hospital Chelsea.^[17]TNA WO 23/146.  At this time his service details were confirmed, his service in the Royal Navy established and it was noted that he had “no wife or family” and was resident in Pimlico.^[18]TNA WO 23/167.

In 1851 he was residing at the Royal Hospital Chelsea, St Luke’s and it was noted that he was a Private Soldier, a widower, aged 64 years who had been born at St John’s, Antigua.^[19]1851 England Census. HO/107/1472/555/37/0. findmypast.co.uk

John Freeman died of phthisis pulmonalis at the Royal Hospital Chelsea on the 25^th of November 1855. He was 66 years of age, an in-pensioner on the 4^th Ward (of the hospital), and his death was reported by Sarah Brown who had been present when he died.^[20]General Register Office. England & Wales Deaths, 1837-2007. findmypast.co.uk Phthisis pulmonalis, or pulmonary tuberculosis, is the historical term for consumption, or TB.

John Freeman was buried at the ‘West of London and Westminster Cemetery’ (now Brompton Cemetery) on the 30^th of November 1855.^[21]Cemetery Registers, 1840-2012. Brompton, London, England. ancestry.co.uk He was interred in a ‘common grave’ alongside another Chelsea in-pensioner, John Barker, in a plot in the north-west corner of the cemetery purchased by the Royal Hospital Chelsea in 1854.