William Pratt

  General Notes:

WILLIAM PRATT Born HONITON, Devonshire Served in 28th Foot Regiment Discharged aged 42- 1803-1822
William Pratt served in the battle of Waterloo, as a Private. His trade prior to joining the army was a labourer and he was not literate. William was in service with the 1st company of the 28th Foot during his service at Waterloo.
Napoleonic Literature

The Waterloo Campaign of 1815 was the first for which all enlisted British participants were recorded by name and received a medal immediately afterwards. In addition, for all participants who were later to claim a pension, being present at Waterloo counted as an additional two years reckonable service, and such service is recorded in their discharge documents. (Chapter 1)
http://napoleonic-literature.com/Articles/28th_Foot/Chapter_1.htm (accessed 5/4/2112)

Recruitment and Promotion in the Napoleonic British Army: A Study of the 28th (North Gloucestershire) Regiment of Foot, an English Regiment at Waterloo
A Dissertation by John Duncan Ellis


Army records show Private William Pratt born in the Parish of Honiton in or near the Parish of Honiton in the County of Devon ... was enlisted at the Plymouth Dock in the County of Devon on the 28th Day of August 1803 at the age of Twenty Four Years for Life.
William served in the army for Twenty years and 226 days...
28th Foot From 25th June 1803 to 5th Feb for 18 years and 226 days. There is then a note saying Waterloo 1822 for two years giving a total of 20 years and 226 days.
William was discharged in consequence of general bad health and worn out.
Conduct of soldier was noted as "good and that he was wounded slightly in the right hand and right hip at Waterloo on the 16th of June 1815 in action with the Enemy.
William signed with his mark that he had received all pay and clothing and upon discharge.
Private William Pratt is described as about fourty two, five feet five inches, light hair, grey eyes and fair complexion. His trade or occupation is labourer. Signed by the commanding officer (signature unreadable) of the horse guards on the 5th of Feb 1822 at Corfu.
Army Records received from the UK National Archives.

28th Foot aka Slashers Nickname was first used in 1775- At the Battle of White Plains, the regiment had to leave its muskets behind to climb a cliff and drove the rebels from their positions with their short swords. Alternatively, soldiers of 28th are alleged to have cut off the ear of an anti-British magistrate in Montreal in 1764.
28th Foot aka The Silver Tailed Dandies, nickname was first used on the Peninsula- Officers' coat-tails were apparently longer than regulation and had ornate silver decorations on them

Occupation on 1841 census- Ag Lab. Residence- High St Honiton.
Occupation on 1851 census- Chelsea pensioner. Residence 27 High St Honiton
Occupation for William Pratt- noted on sons death certificate- Imperial Pensioner

Name:William Pratt
Age:60
Estimated birth year:abt 1781
Gender:Male
Where born:Devon, England
Civil Parish:Honiton
Hundred:Axminster
County/Island:Devon
Country:England
Street address:
Occupation:
View image
Registration district:Honiton
Sub-registration district:Honiton
Neighbors:View others on page
Piece:200
Book:19
Folio:8
Page Number:11
Household Members:
NameAge
William Pratt60- Labourer
Jame Pratt50
William Pratt15
Elizabeth Pratt12
Thomas Pratt10
Jame Pratt7
Class: HO107; Piece: 200; Book: 19; Civil Parish: Honiton; County: Devon; Enumeration District: 1; Folio: 8; Page: 11; Line: 10; GSU roll: 241301

Name:William Pratt
Age:72
Estimated birth year:abt 1779
Relation:Head
Spouse's Name:Jane Pratt
Gender:Male
Where born:Honiton, Devon, England
Civil Parish:Honiton
Phillimore Ecclesiastical Parish Maps:
View related Ecclesiastical Parish
Town:Honiton
County/Island:Devon
Country:England
Street address: High Street
Occupation: Chelsea Pensioner
Condition as to marriage:
Disability:
View image
Registration district:Honiton
Sub-registration district:Honiton
ED, institution, or vessel:9b
Neighbors:View others on page
Household schedule number:27
Piece:1863
Folio:147
Page Number:6
Household Members:
NameAge
William Pratt72
Jane Pratt60
Jane Pratt17- Lacemaker
Ancestry.com. 1851 England Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005.

Name:William Pratt
Address:High Street, Honiton
Enumeration District:Honiton Honiton
County:Devonshire
Birth Place:Honiton, Devonshire, England
Age:72
Gender:Male
Relationship:Head
Marriage Status:Married
Occupation:Chelsea Pensioner
Household:View other family members
Taylor, Ron, comp.. 1851 United Kingdom Census Sample [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004.

Name:William Pratt
Registration Year:1853
Registration Quarter:Jul-Aug-Sep
Registration district:St Thomas
Parishes for this Registration District:View Ecclesiastical Parishes associated with this Registration District
Inferred County:Devonshire
Volume:5b
Page:23

William married Jane Fieldew, daughter of Unknown and Ann Fieldew, on 4 Feb 1823 in Honiton on Otter, Devon, England.⁴⁷ (Jane Fieldew was born on 24 Dec 1790 in Chard, Somerset, England ⁴⁰² and was christened on 27 Jan 1793 in Honiton, Devonshire, England ⁴⁰³.)

  Marriage Notes:

Name:William Pratt
Gender:Male
Marriage Date:4 Feb 1823
Marriage Place:Honiton On Otter,Devon,England
Spouse:Jane Fildew
FHL Film Number:917148
Ancestry.com. England, Select Marriages, 1538'961973 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014.