John Scadding

  Noted events in his life were:

• source. Roger Scadden who writes:

I have just noticed that one of the Open Documents at the Public Record Office, Kew, relates to a John Scadding of Bridport. This is Record No. WO 97/310/75.

The on-line summary for this says that the WO 97 records are in respect of the "Royal Hospital Chelsea; Soldiers Service Documents".

The records show that a John Scadding of Bridport was discharged at age 45... after serving with the 9th Foot Regiment during the period 1799-1819. This is probably the "John Scathen" born on 31st May 1772 in Bridport, [ son of the Robert Scadding* born in Hemyock, Devon in 1740 and Mary Nicholson.... and the grandson of John Scadding and Hannah Catherine Barnes.] ... * See Robert Scadding No. 104 on http://www.scadding.net/ [Devon Scadding "download"].

I was interested to find a Scadding with a war record during the turbulent Napoleonic period....and hope to be able to visit Kew to discover more !

A record of the movements of the 9th Foot Regiment is given on the "wikipedia" website.

Although the 9th Foot Regiment was serving in Canada during 1815, and would not therefore have participated in Wellington's victory over Napoleon at Waterloo, they did see action against Napoleon's forces in the earlier Spanish campaign.

He later added:
After the Execution of John Scadding {or Scadden} in 1795, his widow, Mary [nee Warren], was left quite destitute and with a young family to care for.

However, Mary [and an unknown partner], had another child, called Joseph, who was born in 1800.

At this time the family was living in the small village of Chideock, Dorset. It appears that Joseph was a determined youngster not content with a life of poverty in Chideock.

At the young age of 13 he enlisted as a crew member on a coaster called "London". This coaster docked in the small harbour of West Bay, near Bridport. From this time Joseph's surname in the records changed from "Scadding or Scadden" to "Scadeng". Joseph used his mother's maiden name, "Warren", as a middle name and from there on was known as "Joseph Warren Scadeng" .

Joseph remained a crew member of the "London" until he was aged 17.

Joseph worked his way up as a Merchant Seaman and eventually became employed as, "Master" of the "William Fawcett".

This ship plied between England and Ireland and as far south as, [at least], Gibraltar.

The "William Fawcett" was a relatively small boat but became famous as the first boat of the P&O shipping company.

{There is a very good model of the "William Fawcett" on display at the South Kensington Science Museum in London.}

Joseph Warren Scadeng established a "dynasty" of Scadengs, firstly near the docklands of east London. The Scadengs have now spread to many parts of the UK and aboard. {See "Scadden Mailing List" dated March 2007…"Some notes on the SCADENG Family"}

Joseph started his merchant navy career in 1813 when the south of England was in fear of a Napoleonic invasion.

It would be interesting to discover more about Joseph's life at this time.

In the more peaceful time of the 1830's Joseph was Master of a ship which carried passengers to Belfast and Dublin, calling in at Plymouth and Falmouth en route.

I have noticed a few advertisements in the "Morning Post" of the 1830's about this .

The "Morning Post" of 2nd January 1835 has the following :-

"STEAM to DUBLIN, calling at PLYMOUTH and Falmouth".

The "LONDONDERRY, J.SCADENG, Commander, will start from her moorings off Union Stairs, below the TOWER, on SUNDAY MORNING next, January 4, at Nine. Horses, Carriages and heavy Packages to be sent to the Dublin Steam Packet Wharf, adjoining St. Katharine's Dock. Branch Office, No. 33, Regent Circus; from which small parcels are forwarded at 3s 6d. each."

John married Hannah Catherine Barnes. (Hannah Catherine Barnes was born circa 1730.)