Thank you for your very interesting email regarding Private Edward Vaught and my following article:
69th (South Lincolnshire) Regiment of Foot – Battle of Quatre Bras (1815)
I have never seen an official 'Discharge' Document issued to Enlisted Men when leaving the British Army during the early 1800s - and I must thank you for sharing this with me. We will examine the text of this Document and see if we can extract any further data or conclusions - although you seem to have done a very good job.
As you know, many of the men from this era were often recruited from over-crowded inner city areas and were usually 'illiterate' (partially or completely). Therefore, when issued with these 'legal' documents - they probably made the mistake of not attaching too much importance to them. I suspect these Documents granted certain legal rights and obligations on behalf of the British governmet, etc, to Veterans of the British Army.
The designation of the 'East' Indies (India) and the 'West' Indies (Caribbean) seems a little vague - but can be explained. Of course, soldiers recruited in the UK were often relatively 'small' in number and transported all over the Empire to secure stability - and where necessary train 'Native' troops recruited into 'newly' formed Regiments of the British Army.
This is the case with the West Indies and a very good historical assessment of the late 18th and 19th centuries is dealt with in Barry Renfrew's book entitled 'Britain's Black Regiments - Fighting for Empire and Equality'. The author discusses how 'White' British soldiers were brought over to the West Indies to 'train' 'Black' men (usually 'Slaves' or 'former' Slaves) who had volunteered to join the local British Army Units. I believe that these 'Slaves' were granted their 'Freedom' with Enlistment.
Interestingly, components of the newly created West Indian Regiment were transported to the British colony of 'Sierra Leone' in West Africa - which I had no idea was part of the British Empire until I read the above book! On occasion, 'White' soldiers (recruited in the UK) are traversed through the area. This type of peripheral military data is often of interest to various historical researchers - as the professional (military) authors have gained access to difficult to find historical documentation.
Within 'India', as far as I am aware, The East India Company was permitted to recruit and train a 'Private Army' which was commanded directly by the East India Company (and not the British government) - but was to be used only in the pursuance of British government business and political objectives (which 'mirrored' the business interests of the East India Company). The East India Company locally recruited ethnic Indians as private soldiers - and 'White' Officers from the UK (at least in the early days) - these 'Officers' were either recruited from retired British Army personnel or directly from University, etc. Even so, British Army Units (recruited from the UK and directly controlled by the British government) were still traversed through India on occasion.
The following is what we think we can read from the 'Discharge' Document of Private Edward Vaught. He apparently could 'Sign' his own name - but does not seem to know his exact date of birth. The British Army authorities seem to be assuming that Edward Vaught was '18' in 1811 - which would suggest the birthdate was somewhere within the year of 1793:
Colonel: Liet Gen Sir John Hamilton Bart
Discharge: Edward Vaught (Private)
Reason: Being affected with tape worms and being lame from an old (permanently hot) wound on right thigh - Charles Whyte (possibly Regimental ‘Doctor’ or ‘Surgeon’).
On These Grounds - Demobilisation Process is Authorised: By Maj Gen Commanding - Dated 6th May 1828.
Age: About 34 years
Height: 5 foot 6 inches
Hair: Dark Brown
Skin: Dark Complexion
Occupation: Labourer
Character: Good
British Army: 69th Regiment of Foot (Company and Platoon not clear)
First Enlisted: Durham, Norfolk - 20th January 1812 - Age 18 - Limited Service.
Re-Enlisted: Cannonne - East Indies. 13th March 1819 (aged 25 years) - Unlimited Service.
East Indies 28th June 1817 - 24th February 1826.
British Army: 69th Regiment of Foot (Waterloo)
Duration of Service: 25th December 1811 - 28th May 1828.
Total Years of Service: 16 years and 156 days.
Signed: Charles Cuyler - Commander 69th Regiment of Foot - (Demobilisation Granted) 28th May 1828.
With regards to Private Edward Vaught - the Discharge Document states his service could have been 'In East or W. Indies' - and that he served in these theatres between 1817-1826. However, as the 'time served' data column contains only a capital 'E' - I suspect this refers to military service in the 'East India' theatre alone - an assumption supported by the fact that there is no date entry attributed to a capital 'W' (or the 'West Indies' - a matter probably dealt with by a different form already printed with a 'W'. If a soldier had served in both theatres - then a form containing a pre-printed capital 'E' and 'W' would have been used).
This seems like a 'medical' discharge as he had tape worms and an inflamed wound as you say. Oddly, it seems he joined the British Army on the 25.12.1811 - but his 'official' join-up is recorded as being the 20.1.1812 (under 'Limited Service'). He seems to have been considered '18' even in 1811 although 'both' dates are retained - with his Service being taken from the earlier of the two. As you can see, 'Drummers' and 'Trumpeters' were recruited - quite often boys as young as 8 or 9 years old at the time. His second 'Enlistment' was in India during 1817 when he about 24 years old (designated as 'Unlimited Service'). He was in India until the 24.2.1826 (around 33 years old) - after which he must have returned to the UK - where he was finally 'Discharged' on the 6.5.1828 (aged around 34 or 35 years old).
As to whether Private Edward Vaught was at the Battle of Waterloo - it would seem to be the case from the 'Battle Honour' of 'Waterloo' being added to his Discharge Notes. Although the 1st and 2nd Battalions of the 69th Regiment of Foot were amalgamated in 1816 - it seems that each part (or Division) of this Regiment retained its own distinct 'Battle Honours'. Whilst the 1st Battalion saw action in India and Java, etc - during the time period under discussion - the 2nd Battalion was the Unit of the 69th Regiment of Foot which fought at the Battle of Waterloo. I suspect that Private Edward Vaught enlisted in the '2nd Battalion' in 1811-1812 and was eventually deployed to Belgium during 1815 (where he would have been 22 years old). Perhaps this is where he picked up his leg wound. It would seem a musket ball or piece of shrapnel had embedded itself in his thigh - and after its extraction the wound was 'cauterized' - but never fully healed. If this is the case (as we cannot be sure), then it is remarkable that he continued to serve for another 13 years as a professional soldier in the British Army without complaint!
Kind Regards
Adrian