30 Aug 2023

I came across something quite interesting today. Ancestry gave me a new hint for William Hinksman: banns for a marriage between a William Hinkeman and Jane Fisher in 1803:

No. 409. Banns of Marriage between Wm. Hinkeman and Jane Fisher both of the Parish of St. Maurice were published on the three Sundays underwritten: 10 July, 17 July and 24 July.¹

This is almost certainly my William Hinksman and Jane Fisher who were married in September of that year in Cheriton in Kent. From 20th to 28th July, William was recorded as recruiting in Southampton although the regiment were based at Shorncliff. I checked the Winchester marriage register for the period from July to September but there were no records of a Hinksman marriage, which supports the theory that this is the William who married in Shorncliff.

Banns are valid for three months after reading. Banns would be posted or called at the Parish of residence of both parties, so one or both must have been resident in Winchester while the banns were read.

The parish of Winchester St. Maurice lies to the north=east of Winchester cathedral. To the west of the cathedral lies the Lower Barracks which was in use at the time and further west still lies the Peninsular Barracks which was built on the site of an older barracks. Both of these lie in the parish of Wiinchester St. Thomas. It’s possible that William was stationed here and Jane was with him as his partner/mistress.

This new connection is the result of Ancestry adding the Hampshire parish record in May of this year.

To research William Hinksman further I need to look at the original muster rolls and pay books. Back in the 1980s Jeff found references in several pieces that I want to look at again and take pictures. I also want to take a look at later records that we haven’t ever examined:

The relevant books are available for viewing at the National Archives:

• WO 12/2197 4th Foot 1st Battalion 1798-1799 - Jeff examined. contains William Hinksman recruitment July 1799
• WO 12/2198 4th Foot 1st Battalion 1800 - Jeff examined. William demoted in Jun 1800
• WO 12/2199 4th Foot 1st Battalion 1801 - Jeff examined. William mentioned
• WO 12/2200 4th Foot 1st Battalion 1802 - Jeff examined. William mentioned.
• WO 12/2201 4th Foot 1st Battalion 1803 - Jeff examined. Edward Hinksman recruited
• WO 12/2202 4th Foot 1st Battalion 1804 - Not known if Jeff examined.
• WO 12/2203 4th Foot 1st Battalion 1805 - Jeff examined. Edward and John Hinksman, no William.
• WO 12/2204 4th Foot 1st Battalion 1806-1808 - Jeff examined. Edward died, William mentioned, also Mary Hinksman mentioned,
• WO 12/2205 4th Foot 1st Battalion 1809-1811 - Not seen. William may have been in 2nd battallion
• WO 12/2206 4th Foot 1st Battalion 1812-1814 - Not seen, but William was in 2nd battalion for some of this period.
• WO 12/2207 4th Foot 1st Battalion 1815-1816 - Available online, last mention of William as sergeant in 1st battalion in France
• WO 12/2208 4th Foot 1st Battalion 1817-1819 - Not seen.
• WO 12/2209 4th Foot 1st Battalion 1820-1822 - Not seen.
• WO 12/2210 4th Foot 1st Battalion 1823-1825 - Not seen.
• WO 12/2264 4th Foot 2nd Battalion 1807-1809 - Not seen, William may have been in 2nd battalion by this time.
• WO 12/2265 4th Foot 2nd Battalion 1810-1811 - Not seen, William may have been in 2nd battalion by this time.
• WO 12/2266 4th Foot 2nd Battalion 1813-1815 - Available online, William is Sergeant in 2nd battalion. 2nd was disbanded at end of year

I should prioritise the unseen books and the ones with significant biographical information. I can order up to 12 per visit so I think the order needs to be:

• Not seen: WO 12/2205, WO 12/2206, WO 12/2208, WO 12/2209, WO 12/2210, WO 12/2264, WO 12/2265 (7 pieces)
• Signficant: WO 12/2197, WO 12/2204, WO 12/2201 (3 pieces)
• Potentially incomplete information: WO 12/2203, WO 12/2202 (2 pieces)