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The Opening Engagement at Trafalgar; H.M.S. 'Royal Sovereign' raking the stern of the Spanish flagship 'Santa Ana'. James Wilson Carmichael |
Richard Land (bap. 24 Oct 1784 at
St Michael & All Angels,
Bampton, Devon) son of John Land and Sarah Melhuish, married
Mary Rookes (b. 7 Jan 1791, bap. 15 May 1791 at
St Peter's Church, Tiverton), daughter of Thomas and Mary Rooke, at
St George's Church, East Stonehouse, on
18 Apr 1811.
Richard and Mary Land had five children:
- Mary Land b. 26 Jun 1812, bap. 20 Sep 1812 at St Peter's, Tiverton
- Sarah Land bap. 8 Oct 1815 in Tiverton
- Richard Land bap. 25 Dec 1817 in Tiverton
- Elizabeth Land bap. 24 Apr 1820 in Tiverton
- Fanny Land bap. 16 Feb 1823 in Tiverton
The baptisms from 1815 onwards list Richard's occupation then as Labourer and so many were just that, but this certainly doesn't reflect his whole story:
The records of
Royal Navy Allotment Declarations - seamen and marines were able to send (allot) part of their wages to support next of kin at home - lists Richard Land from Bampton, Drummer, in 1805-10 with
HMS Hibernia (1804) at which time he allotted part of his pay to his mother, Sarah. Then, when he was with
HMS Ocean (1805) in 1811-12, to his wife, Mary.
"
Royal Marine Drummers were first mentioned in the 1664 Convening Order, at the formation of Corps and so pride themselves as being the oldest Branch in the Corps." -
Royal Marines Band Service
On his pension records, Richard Land's service in the
Royal Marines is listed as being 14 years, 1 month, 2 weeks and 6 days. If he left the service in 1816, it's more that likely he had enlisted in 1802 at 18. He was granted a pension, at the age of 32, from 16 May 1816, of £8 8s per year, for life.
In 1841, Richard Land (55), Mary Land (50), Mary Land (3) and Thomas Rooks (80) were living in
St Andrew Street, Tiverton. The three year old was their granddaughter, born Mary Elizabeth Gould Land bap. 29 Apr 1838, in Tiverton, the illegitimate daughter of Elizabeth Land (and someone whose surname was Gould?). Thomas Rooks (sic) was Richard's father-in-law.
Mary Land died, aged 58, in 1849 J Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 10 Page 194, and was buried on 10 Jun 1849, at St Peter's Church, Tiverton.
In 1851, Richard Land (66) Masons labourer (
Greenwich pensioner) was still in St Andrew Street, Tiverton, with Mary Land (12) Grand child, Scholar.
Richard Land (72) 5' 4", Widower from Bampton Devon, Labourer, last ship HMS Ocean, Marine was admitted to
Greenwich Hospital, London on 21 Dec 1855. (Just in time to be "
regaled with plum pudding and roast beef" on Christmas Day.)
The Royal Hospital for Seaman, as it was originally called, now the
Old Royal Naval College, once described as the "poshest pensioners home that ever was".
Life as a Greenwich Pensioner. In the column, "If wounded", it said NO, but underneath was written "Trafalgar".
This
Description In 1855 is fascinating in describing their diet, clothing and facilities. It boasts that, "
Their food is of the best description, varied daily by a new and liberal arrangement of diet introduced in 1853." (If a bit heavy on roast or boiled beef and mutton.) "
Two pints of excellent beer is the daily allowance throughout the year, except on four days set apart as festival days, when each man is supplied with two quarts of strong ale."
Also in 1855, it was said, "
The clothing has been somewhat changed of late. The original dress corresponded with that in common wear at the beginning of the last century; but the knee-breeches have been exchanged for trousers, and round hats have been allowed for daily wear. Cocked hats are issued, however, as before, and are worn on Sundays and on ceremonial occasions."
"
By all accounts the ‘Greenwich Geese’ as locals referred to them were a rowdy bunch and barely resembled our modern image of elderly pensioners." (Not resembling
any image of elderly pensioners is a good aim, IMHO!)
Richard Land died, at a pretty grand old age of 82, his death registered in 1866 D Quarter in CAMBERWELL Volume 01D Page 405.