Charles Crowe
of Coddenham, Suffolk: Soldier
1785-1854

Born: 1 March 1785 and died 30 Dec 1854.
Son of: Philip Crowe (1745-1828) and Margaret.
Brother of:
Catherine Crowe (1777-1807).
Philip Crowe (1779-1831) who married Matilda Willes and lived at Coulsden, Surrey.
Frances (1781-1856).  Known as Fanny.
Eliza (1786-1858).
Susan (1793-1848).
Edward (1793-1815).
Charles married: Susan Thomas (or and Eliza?) in Lowestoft, Suffolk, 22 December 1818.
I understand that Charles did not have any children.

Charles Crowe: An Overview

We have the following references to Charles Crow:
1. A brief mention in the diary of his cousin Elizabeth Jones (nee Helsham, 1801-1866).
2. His War record which is in the Public Record Office in Kew.
3. His diary 'Peninsular Journal Vol 1' and 'Peninsular Journal Vol 2'
4. The book 'Marching with Wellington' by Martin Cassidy, 2003.  Much of this book is based on Volume 2 of Charles Crowe's diary.
5. His will which is in the Suffolk Record Office in Ipswich.

Charles's war record notes his army service as follows:
Ensign in West Suffolk Militia 25 March 1810.
Lieutenant in West Suffolk Militia 22 May 1810.
Ensign in 48th Regiment 14 August 1811.
Lieutenant in 101st (Dillon's) Regiment 24th December 1812.
Lieutenant in 27th Regiment 14 January 1813.

His war record states that he held the above ranks "without purchase" and then went on to maintain the rank of Lieutenant on half pay attached to the 2nd Battalion of the 27th Regiment.  His record notes that he "suffered a Coup de Soleil [sunstroke] near St Estwan when detached with money for wounded officers of the 4th Division at Vitoria in Spain August 15th 1813".  He also notes that he was "not desirous of service" in consequence of continuous ill health ever since 11 July 1826.  It also notes that he had no children, at that point in time.

The "Peninsula Journal" itself is very interesting and covers Charles's time in barracks at Chelmsford in Essex from where he makes his way down to Portsmouth and then catches a sailing ship that takes him to Portugal.  He then travels overland until he catches up to join the Duke of Wellington's army in Spain.  He comments much about the army life and also mentions seeing the Duke of Wellington passing with all his hunting dogs.  At one stage Charles gets into a dispute with a fellow officer and this almost leads to a duel.  Before long he sees action, fighting the French, the result of which is that a large number of his colleages are killed around him but he comes through unscathed.  Volume 1 ends on the 14th August 1813 when he is about to set off on a journey accompanying a shipment of money. 

Volume 2 had been missing for the last 20 years but recently turned up in the collection of the Inniskillings Museum.  It has now been reunited with Volume 1 and I wish to express my grateful thanks to the Inniskillings Museum for all their help in this matter. 

In Vol 2 Charles continues with his adventures in Spain and then on into France until Napoleon is defeated and the army returns home.  Unfortunately his health is rather up and down initially due to a very bad case of sun stroke but later as a result of  mercury poisoning.  He had been admistered mercury by the doctors in the Peninsular but this was later found to be ill advised.  He was not called upon to go back to France to fight the battle of Waterloo and lucky for him as many of his comrades did not return.  He spends the later part of his military career being stationed in Ireland but is eventually put on half pay and returns to England.

Charles Crowe's diary finishes with a brief note of him meeting his wife at Lowestoft and getting married 22 Dec 1818.  He does not state her name but says that she was the sister of Dr Thomas.  His military record also records his date of marriage as 22 Dec 1818 but does not say the name of his wife.  His will is in the Suffolk Records Office in Ipswich (IC/AA1/275/47) and records him as dying 30 Dec 1854, and leaving everything to his wife Susan.  Elizabeth Jones in her diary records his death in 1855 and records his wife as Eliza. 

  If you have any information to add to what is listed please contact me on jj@jjhc.info

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