Research by Peter Day on James McMahon 18th Hussars

 

From Peter Day, Surrey News Service 020 8941 5679/ 07711 432166

 

For John McMahon, Canberra, Australia.

14th September 2011 by email.

 

These are the results of my researches at The National Archives, Kew, and the London Library, St James Square, London SW1 into the military career of your relative James McMahon.

 

Below you will find a partial transcript of his personal service record contained in a volume of Kilmainham Hospital pensioners’ records (the Irish equivalent of Chelsea Pensioners). Photocopies of the relevant pages are being sent separately but some of the handwriting is faint and difficult to read.

I also went through most of the muster rolls (personnel pay records) for the 18th Hussars between 1805 and 1821 and selected references to James McMahon as detailed below.

 

Summary: James enlisted in 1805 at the age of 18 for unlimited service. He is listed as a blacksmith or farrier. He went missing and was listed as a deserter around Christmas 1805 but obviously rejoined the regiment fairly quickly.

He fought in Wellington’s army in Portugal and Spain in the Peninsular War and then at Waterloo for which, like everyone else, he got a bonus of two years added to his service record for pension purposes.

He stayed on in the army of occupation in France but was obviously not well (or possibly had been injured) and was hospitalised several times. He was discharged from the regiment when it was disbanded in 1821. Almost immediately he re-enlisted in the 1st Royal Regiment of Veterans but was forced to retire soon afterwards with an aneurism of the aorta which would appear to be pretty serious.

 

You asked for information about the regiment during his service. I am sending you an excerpt from a book written in 1869 by Captain Harold Malet, himself a captain in the re-formed 18th Hussars. It is rather confusing but captures the cut and thrust of the battle of Waterloo using accounts from those who were there. There is also a colour oicture of a hussar in uniform from 1821.

However, for a really good account of the 18th Hussars for the whole period of James McMahon’s service you would do well to get hold of a copy of Charging Against Napoleon by Eric Hunt, published in 2001 by Leo Cooper, now an imprint of Pen And Sword books in the UK. Hunt describes the involvement of the 18th Hussars in Wellington’s campaigns clearly, with good maps, and explains the background. He quotes extensively from the letters and diaries of three officers who were in the 18th Hussars at the time. You may well find it in a library in Canberra but otherwise there are various places online where you can buy a copy, including Pen and Sword’s own website.

 

National Archives Records:

Volume WO 119/64 (Kilmainham Army pensioners records)

Reference number B2650 (top right of page).

(see photocopies)

 

His Majesty’s Eighteenth Regt of Hussars

Whereof Field Marshal The Marquis of Drogheda is Colonel

 

These are to certify (handwritten to left of this line is the word Farrier)

That James McMahon Pte____ born in the parish of Curran in or near the town of Curran in the County of Monaghan was enlisted for the aforesaid Regiment at Belfast in the County of Antrim on the 10 day Feb 1805 at the age of Eighteen for unlimited service.

That he hath served in the Army for the space of Eighteen Years and 213 days after the age of Eighteen, according to the subjoined:

 

Table then lists his service in 18 Hussars, Waterloo. His service as a private is listed as 16 years 213 days to which two years is added because he had served at Waterloo, making his pensionable service 18 years 213 days.

 

That by the Authority of the Commander in Chief dated ?? August 1821 he is hereby discharged in consequence of the disbandment of the regiment.

 

Etc etc

 

That his general conduct has been good

 

Etc

 

I James McMahon do hereby acknowledge etc

Certified by W Scott ?? commanding the troop or company. Signed James McMahon (with an X – his mark).

 

To prevent any improper use being made of this Discharge, by its falling into other hands, the following is a description of the said James McMahon Pte___. He is about Thirty-four years of age, is 5 feet 6 inches in height, fair hair, grey eyes, fresh complexion, and by trade or occupation a blacksmith.

Given under my hand and the Seal of the Regiment, at Newbridge this 10th day of September 1821

Signature of Commanding Officer: Indecipherable

Adjt General’s Office Dublin 4th September, 1821, confirmed Wm Pxxxx?

 

Reference number B2651 (top right of page)

His Majesty’s 1st Royal Regiment of Veterans

Whereof Major General Robert Kelso is Colonel.

 

These are to certify that Private James McMahon born in the parish of Curren in or near the town of Clones in the County of Monaghan was enlisted for the aforesaid regiment at Naas in the County of Kildare on the 25 day of December 1821 at the age of 36 for unlimited ---

That he hath served in the Army for the space of 19 years and 125 days, after the age of Eighteen according to the subjoined.

 

(Panel shows his length of service as before, with two years added for Waterloo and 257 days in the Royal Veterans)

That by the Authority of Lieut General Fyers (unclear) dated 3rd September 1822 he is hereby discharged in consequence of aneurism of the aorta (following words unclear, possibly McHanish, surgeon).

 

That his general conduct has been good.

 

Discharge certified by Thos Strangways, Capt (unclear) and signed with his mark X by James McMahon.

Description as in previous page except that his age is given as about thirty-seven and his occupation as labourer.

 

Seal of Regiment at Cork (unclear) Barrack on 7th day of September 1822

Signature of Commanding Officer J G Ross (unclear)

Adjutant General’s Office Dublin confirmed 18th Sept 1822 by xxx (signature unclear but same as previous document).

 

Back page:

 

Handwritten: Cork (unclear) September 7, 1822

I certify that Jas McMahon has received of me one pound seven shillings, amrching money to (go to?) Clonish or Clones

Signature unclear, line below may be Paymaster xxxx.

 

Cork September 21

Private James Mcmahon received 18 days marching money (£1:7:0) from the 8th to the 25th (Signature as above).

 

WO 12/1371

Muster roll 18th Hussars, 1805.

 

James McMahon first appears on the pay roll for the period 25th March to 25th April, as one of 64 privates in Captain Lord Aghrim’s troop. His pay for the period was £1:18:9. He had been paid a recruitment bounty of £9:6:4.

There was also an Arthur McMahon serving in the same troop and a Michael McMahon in a different troop. They were on detachment at Mallow, Ireland.

There were ten troops in the regiment, each comprising around 64 privates, five corporals, five serjeants, a trumpeter, sadler-serjeant, armourer-serjeant, paymaster-serjeant and serjeant major. The Colonel of the Regiment, Lord Drogheda, was away on leave and Lt Col the Hon Charles Stewart was away attending Parliament. The senior officer was 2nd Lt Col O T Jones.

 

July – Aug 1805: On detachment, Curragh Camp.

Sept – Oct: On detachment Portumna

Nov – Dec: McMahon listed as a deserter.

 

WO 12/1374

Statement of pay 25 Dec 1807 – 24 March 1808

James McMahon £5:13:9, stationed at Harley.

July – Sept

2nd Muster (i.e. August) on passage to Portugal with the rest of the regiment.

Wives were not allowed to embark; including an Anne McMahon who resided in England (There is nothing to suggest she was James’s wife. There were at least two other McMahon’s in the regiment).

Returned from Portugal by the end of the year and stationed at Northampton

1809 March – June still in Northampton

Apparently in UK through to December 1910.

 

WO 12/1375

Sept – Dec 1811

8th December, rejoined after a period of desertion.

From March 1813 onwards abroad, at Alverca, then Othoz in Spain,

 

WO 12/1376

December 1813 Stationed at Lewes Bletchington?

Or possibly Leiven/Leuven in Belgium.

June-July 1814 Chichester

July-Sept 1814 In UK

Sept – Dec Canterbury

Dec Mar 1815 Brighton

(MacMahon detached to London)

March – April back with regiment at Canterbury

Then to St Maria xxx??, Flanders (possibly St Maria Aalter).

Special muster roll of men who served at Waterloo and qualify for extra pay includes James McMahon £1:5:4.

 

WO 12/1377

Reappears on the roll for Dec 1815 – Mar 1816

Sept – Dec 1816 based at Etaples.

And through 1817

And 1818 eventually returning to Newcastle upon Tyne

In November 1818 was treated at York Hospital

 

WO 12/1378

Sept-Nov 1919: On leave, Regiment back in Ireland

Dec 1920 Treated in regimental hospital.

Three months to March 1921, treated at the Royal Infirmary and Regimental Hospital.⁴

Regarding the children of James(snr) and Ellen, we are sure they had James in 1838 and Rose a year or two before or after. Patrick, Bryan and Katherine appear only in the Griffith Valuation entry for Aghadreenan. There is no evidence that they really are the children of James and Ellen.

Regarding Widow McMahon. She is shown in this database as mother of James (snr). There is no evidence other that an assumption by Marshal William McMahon that Widow McMahon was an ancestor.

Relationship between William Anderson and the McMahon clan has always been a mystery. Marshal’s writings say he was called "uncle" by Edmund and his brothers. Another legend says he was related to Ellen. When all the Andersons and their birth dates are plotted, the most likely relationships to emerge are that Ellen’s sister was William’s mother making him Ellen’s nephew. Another, and more convincing possibility is that the Ellen who was married to William’s uncle James Anderson, was, in fact Ellen Finlay and she married James McMahon after the death of James Anderson. I asked Cavan Genealogy to find a death certificate but they couldn’t. Nevertheless, I am fairly sure that William was half-brother to James McMahon, James’s mother Ellen having been married to William’s Uncle James Anderson before she married James(snr) McMahon

I believe that Ellen was married to James Anderson and had his 5 children. He died(or otherwise left about 1837(cannot yet find record of death). She then married James (snr) who had spent his younger years as a batchelor in the army. I am assuming Ellen married James Anderson about 1827 when he was 42 and a year before their fist was born.

Transcript of the death certificate of Ellen McMahon died Red Hills 1877

 

DEATHS Registered at Ballyhaise in the Union of Cavan in the County of Cavan

 

Date and Place of deathSeventeenth March 1877 Red Hills

Nmae and SurnameEllen McMahon

SexFemale

ConditionWidow

Age last birthday85 years

Rank, profession or occupationPauper

Certified cause of death and duration of illnessGeneral debility, uncertified. No medical attendant

Signature, qualification and residence of informantBridget X Connors Her Mark, Present at Death

When Registered17th March 1877

 

 

Griffith Valuation contains the following entry:

 

County Cavan

Parish of Annagh

 

Townland Drumakeenan

 

Village of Redhill

Map referenceTownland and OccupiersImmediate LessorsDescription of TenementAreaValuation landValuation BuildingsTotal valuation

15 3Ellen FinlayRev E V W VenablesHouse--10shillings10 shillings