Woodchurch Militiamen 1812

The summer of 1812 produced another call of duty for the Woodchurch men in the East Kent Militia. The majority — seventeen out of nineteen — were married, aged under thirty with no more than two children. Their families were entitled to an allowance for the time the men spent away. As in previous years, the Woodchurch militiamen of 1812 were named but their wives, who received the allowance based on the number of children and the length of time their husbands were on duty, were not. We have attempted to name the women concerned — we thought they deserved some recognition of their own!

“23 Jun 1812 Paid William Walter’s wife (Lucy) for the time he was on duty on the Local account 18 days £1 2s. 9d.”

• William and Phoebe Dunster 18 days 7s. 8d.
• Henry and Sarah Hook 18 days 7s. 8d.
• Joseph and Elizabeth Lindridge 18 days 15s. 3d.
• Peter and Sophia Button 18 days £1 10s. 0d.
• James and Barbara Bourne 18 days 7s. 8d.
• George and Elizabeth Dunster 18 days 15s. 3d.
• John and Bennet Ditton 18 days £1 10s. 0d.
• Robert and Jane Austen 18 days 15s. 3d.
• James and Charlotte Knowlden 18 Days £1 2s. 9d.
• Thomas and Maria Farmer 18 days 15s. 3d.
• Richard and Harriet Button 18 days 15s. 3d.
• Jonah and Ann Bourne 25 days £1 1s. 3d.
• Joseph and Phoebe Moore 25 days 10s. 8d.
• William and Charlotte Prall 18 days 7s. 8d.
• William and Martha Huntley 18 Days £1 2s. 9d.
• William and Mary Hudson 18 days 15s. 3d.

The two single Woodchurch men training with the East Kent Militia in 1812 were John King and Isaac Allcock.

The overseer of the poor for this session, who was recorded in the poor register as making these payments, was Thomas Fullagar (1768–1828), Robert Chown’s 4x great grandfather.

1812 was the year of Napoleon’s disastrous invasion of Russia, Wellington’s great victory over the French at the Battle of Salamanca and the War of 1812 against the United States.

Robert Chown has also produced a list of the Woodchurch men serving in the East Kent Militia in 1811.