A Soldier's Tale - James Hubbert 1804 - 1886
Created | Updated Mar 28, 2006
Lincolnshire, the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, England and Ireland. A watchmaker and soldier who looked beyond the parochial life of the Fens.
In Brief:
James Hubbert a son of Robert Hubbert and his wife Mary Ireland was baptised on 6 July 1804 at St Margaret's Church, Sibsey, Lincolnshire, went on to become a watchmaker and then for the major part of his life, a soldier. His first marriage was on 10 March 1833 to one Mary Ann Williams at Enniskillen, Ireland. On 13 September 1860, Mary Ann [Williams] Hubbert died. On 14 January 1861 James Hubbert married Margaret Sellors at Paisley in Scotland. Both marriages produced large families. As a soldier James Hubbert served overseas for many years. He died at Paisley in 1886 aged 82.
In Detail:
Why, in a predominantly fenland farming community James Hubbert became a watchmaker and then for much of his life a soldier is unclear, but it is fairly obvious that agriculture and the parochial life of the locals were not his thing. His ancestors had been fenland farmers living the same life and doing the same job generation after generation since at least the 15th/16th centuries. As soldiering was a major part of his life and so differant to that of his siblings it is worth relating and the following is a description of James Hubbert's military career extracted from army records.
James Hubbert enlisted in the Nottinghamshire Infantry at Boston Lincolnshire on 3rd January 1828. The enlisting Sergeant was one John Egan. On 2nd February 1828 an army medical was conducted by Edward Coupland (Surgeon) and James Hubbert was passed as fit for duty. On 9th February 1828 Lt. Colonel J. J. Ewart approved the enlistment. James Hubbert signed the attestation papers in the presence of Sir Robert Rogers Mayor of Boston. On enlistment James Hubbert became:
‘No. 346 James Hubbert of Sibsey Lincolnshire, Watchmaker age 22. Height: 5ft. 6 ins. Fair complexion. Hazel Eyes, Brown Hair’.
James Hubbert had become a Private in the 59th Regiment of Foot commanded by Lt. General Sir Frederick P Robinson KCB for a Bounty of £3 to serve His Majesty King George IVth, His Heirs and Successors. On attestation James Hubbert received the sum of 2/6d.
The Service record of James Hubbert shows his initial progress through the ranks as follows:
Private - 1 January 1829 - 20 February 1831 - 2 years 57 days
Corporal - 21 February 1831 - 9 June 1835 - 4 years 109 days
Sergeant - 10 June 1835 - 14 July 1836 - 1 year 35 days
There is apparently no record of what he was doing between enlisting on 3rd January 1828 and 1 January 1829. Training perhaps.
James Hubbert travelled extensively during his military service. Children were born at a number of stations abroad and this tells us that his first wife Mary Ann Williams whom he married in Ireland whilst on a tour of duty there travelled with him. Whilst stationed in Malta for example records show that he had ‘38 Vouchers’ on the quarterly pay list.
The overseas service of James Hubbert is recorded as:
Mediterranean - 6 years 164 days (Corfu and Malta are known.)
Antigua - 3 years 6 days (his daughter Mary is buried there.)
Grenada - no record of time spent on station.
England and Ireland - remainder of service.
Not all of his army service was a success. On 15 July 1836 James was confined (i.e. locked up), and on 16 July Court Martialled by the Regiment for being drunk. James Hubbert was sentenced to 14 days solitary confinement and reduced to the pay and rank of Private. James Hubbert's actual confinement however was only from the 16th to the 23rd July 1836. The reason for his being drunk is unknown but, as he was Barrack Sergeant at the time this clearly did not endear him to his Commanding Officer.
If we accept that James Hubbert was a colourful character then it is worth mentioning that his first wife Mary Ann Williams was no shrinking violet either. Whilst stationed in Malta Mary Ann had one illegitimate child (by whom it is unknown) and two further children by James neither of which survived infancy. Records also appear to show that Mary Ann survived a number of miscarriages. In all however and even after discounting the illegitimate and the miscarriages, Mary Ann had 13 children. She died on 13 September 1860 at the age of only 45. That she survived as long as she did in those times and in a military environment points to Mary Ann being a tough girl.
Despite his court-martial it appears that James Hubbert was a capable soldier and this is evidenced by continuing army service. Records show that subsequently he served in the capacity of:
Private - 24 July 1836 - 20 October 1841 - 5 years 89 days
Corporal - 21 October 1841 - 30 June 1846 - 4 years 253 days
Sergeant - 1 July 1846 - 24 February 1849 - 2 years 239 days
This gave James Hubbert a total army service of 21 years and 17 days plus for some reason 51 days further service to 16th April 1849, giving a grand total of 21 years and 68 days.
James Hubbert was discharged from the army in Dublin on 16 April 1849 on medical grounds. The medical reason for his discharge being, “his disability arises from wasting bodily strength and activity, the result of long military service.” A decision made by the Chelsea Board of Regimental Pensions. Evidence of his general good character is demonstrated by comments made on his discharge from the army:
“His conduct has been very good, though demoted and in solitary confinement for having been drunk when Barrack Sergeant.”
By now well into his 40s’ and on discharge from the army James Hubbert received a pension of 1s/7d halfpenny “per diem.” His intention was to reside at Sibsey.
During his long army career James Hubbert would amongst other things have seen Wellington as Prime Minister, the Sikh Wars, the conquest of the Punjab, the coronation of Queen Victoria and the Opium wars. He was not however involved in or with any of them, which is a big shame for this tale. After discharge from the army James Hubbert did in fact return to Sibsey as planned and was certainly there in the spring of 1851.
Nothing further is known of James Hubbert until the death of his wife Mary Ann on 13th September 1860. James Hubbert had by then appeared at Paisley in Scotland. What James Hubbert was doing in Paisley is not known although he may well have returned to watchmaking. It is known that one of James Hubbert’s sons (another James) started a 5 year apprenticeship as a Joiner on 29 October 1877 in Glasgow.
Four months after the death of Mary Ann and on 14 January 1861 James Hubbert married again. His second wife was one Margaret Sellors and they went on to produce seven children over the next 10 years. James was 57 and Margaret Sellors 21 at the time of their marriage. From James Hubbert and his second wife there sprung a dynasty which now has its roots in Australia and New Zealand. In addition to this there are also descendants of James Hubbert living in Canada and Yorkshire.
Margaret (Sellors) Hubbert died at Paisley on 16 December 1886 at the age of 45. Note that, coincidentally one hopes, her predecessor also died aged 45. James Hubbert himself died at Paisley on 17 February 1886 at the age of 82.
Not bad for a fenland boy.
In Brief:
James Hubbert a son of Robert Hubbert and his wife Mary Ireland was baptised on 6 July 1804 at St Margaret's Church, Sibsey, Lincolnshire, went on to become a watchmaker and then for the major part of his life, a soldier. His first marriage was on 10 March 1833 to one Mary Ann Williams at Enniskillen, Ireland. On 13 September 1860, Mary Ann [Williams] Hubbert died. On 14 January 1861 James Hubbert married Margaret Sellors at Paisley in Scotland. Both marriages produced large families. As a soldier James Hubbert served overseas for many years. He died at Paisley in 1886 aged 82.
In Detail:
Why, in a predominantly fenland farming community James Hubbert became a watchmaker and then for much of his life a soldier is unclear, but it is fairly obvious that agriculture and the parochial life of the locals were not his thing. His ancestors had been fenland farmers living the same life and doing the same job generation after generation since at least the 15th/16th centuries. As soldiering was a major part of his life and so differant to that of his siblings it is worth relating and the following is a description of James Hubbert's military career extracted from army records.
James Hubbert enlisted in the Nottinghamshire Infantry at Boston Lincolnshire on 3rd January 1828. The enlisting Sergeant was one John Egan. On 2nd February 1828 an army medical was conducted by Edward Coupland (Surgeon) and James Hubbert was passed as fit for duty. On 9th February 1828 Lt. Colonel J. J. Ewart approved the enlistment. James Hubbert signed the attestation papers in the presence of Sir Robert Rogers Mayor of Boston. On enlistment James Hubbert became:
‘No. 346 James Hubbert of Sibsey Lincolnshire, Watchmaker age 22. Height: 5ft. 6 ins. Fair complexion. Hazel Eyes, Brown Hair’.
James Hubbert had become a Private in the 59th Regiment of Foot commanded by Lt. General Sir Frederick P Robinson KCB for a Bounty of £3 to serve His Majesty King George IVth, His Heirs and Successors. On attestation James Hubbert received the sum of 2/6d.
The Service record of James Hubbert shows his initial progress through the ranks as follows:
Private - 1 January 1829 - 20 February 1831 - 2 years 57 days
Corporal - 21 February 1831 - 9 June 1835 - 4 years 109 days
Sergeant - 10 June 1835 - 14 July 1836 - 1 year 35 days
There is apparently no record of what he was doing between enlisting on 3rd January 1828 and 1 January 1829. Training perhaps.
James Hubbert travelled extensively during his military service. Children were born at a number of stations abroad and this tells us that his first wife Mary Ann Williams whom he married in Ireland whilst on a tour of duty there travelled with him. Whilst stationed in Malta for example records show that he had ‘38 Vouchers’ on the quarterly pay list.
The overseas service of James Hubbert is recorded as:
Mediterranean - 6 years 164 days (Corfu and Malta are known.)
Antigua - 3 years 6 days (his daughter Mary is buried there.)
Grenada - no record of time spent on station.
England and Ireland - remainder of service.
Not all of his army service was a success. On 15 July 1836 James was confined (i.e. locked up), and on 16 July Court Martialled by the Regiment for being drunk. James Hubbert was sentenced to 14 days solitary confinement and reduced to the pay and rank of Private. James Hubbert's actual confinement however was only from the 16th to the 23rd July 1836. The reason for his being drunk is unknown but, as he was Barrack Sergeant at the time this clearly did not endear him to his Commanding Officer.
If we accept that James Hubbert was a colourful character then it is worth mentioning that his first wife Mary Ann Williams was no shrinking violet either. Whilst stationed in Malta Mary Ann had one illegitimate child (by whom it is unknown) and two further children by James neither of which survived infancy. Records also appear to show that Mary Ann survived a number of miscarriages. In all however and even after discounting the illegitimate and the miscarriages, Mary Ann had 13 children. She died on 13 September 1860 at the age of only 45. That she survived as long as she did in those times and in a military environment points to Mary Ann being a tough girl.
Despite his court-martial it appears that James Hubbert was a capable soldier and this is evidenced by continuing army service. Records show that subsequently he served in the capacity of:
Private - 24 July 1836 - 20 October 1841 - 5 years 89 days
Corporal - 21 October 1841 - 30 June 1846 - 4 years 253 days
Sergeant - 1 July 1846 - 24 February 1849 - 2 years 239 days
This gave James Hubbert a total army service of 21 years and 17 days plus for some reason 51 days further service to 16th April 1849, giving a grand total of 21 years and 68 days.
James Hubbert was discharged from the army in Dublin on 16 April 1849 on medical grounds. The medical reason for his discharge being, “his disability arises from wasting bodily strength and activity, the result of long military service.” A decision made by the Chelsea Board of Regimental Pensions. Evidence of his general good character is demonstrated by comments made on his discharge from the army:
“His conduct has been very good, though demoted and in solitary confinement for having been drunk when Barrack Sergeant.”
By now well into his 40s’ and on discharge from the army James Hubbert received a pension of 1s/7d halfpenny “per diem.” His intention was to reside at Sibsey.
During his long army career James Hubbert would amongst other things have seen Wellington as Prime Minister, the Sikh Wars, the conquest of the Punjab, the coronation of Queen Victoria and the Opium wars. He was not however involved in or with any of them, which is a big shame for this tale. After discharge from the army James Hubbert did in fact return to Sibsey as planned and was certainly there in the spring of 1851.
Nothing further is known of James Hubbert until the death of his wife Mary Ann on 13th September 1860. James Hubbert had by then appeared at Paisley in Scotland. What James Hubbert was doing in Paisley is not known although he may well have returned to watchmaking. It is known that one of James Hubbert’s sons (another James) started a 5 year apprenticeship as a Joiner on 29 October 1877 in Glasgow.
Four months after the death of Mary Ann and on 14 January 1861 James Hubbert married again. His second wife was one Margaret Sellors and they went on to produce seven children over the next 10 years. James was 57 and Margaret Sellors 21 at the time of their marriage. From James Hubbert and his second wife there sprung a dynasty which now has its roots in Australia and New Zealand. In addition to this there are also descendants of James Hubbert living in Canada and Yorkshire.
Margaret (Sellors) Hubbert died at Paisley on 16 December 1886 at the age of 45. Note that, coincidentally one hopes, her predecessor also died aged 45. James Hubbert himself died at Paisley on 17 February 1886 at the age of 82.
Not bad for a fenland boy.
