Thomas Dennett

   Cause of his death was heart disease.

  Noted events in his life were:

• Occupation. soldier, agricultural labourer, 'Chelsea Pensioner

• source. Diane Meckinsh & Noel Davies who writes:
Thomas was probably a member of the West Kent Militia or West Kent Yeomanry. He was a widower when he married Harriet, and had alreday retired from the army.

The 1851 Census had the family living at Little Dunton Farm, Otford, Kent as Thomas, wife Harriet (b~1816), Frederic (b ~1841), William (b ~ 1843), James (b ~ 1845) Elizabeth (b ~ 1849) Children born after this census were Sarah (~ 1852), Emily (~1855) , our George Henry (1857) and John (~1859) An earlier son Thomas (baptised 5-5-1839) presumably died in infancy.

• Resided. Resided at Toe Hill, Sundridge; Bore Place, Chiddingstone; Little Dunton Farm and Shab Hall cottages, Otford, Kent
Gerald Dennett writes:
The houses Thomas Dennett and our great-great-grandfathers (mine is Frederic) lived in are perhaps grander in name than in fact. Shrubb Hall cottages were nothing great as far as I know. Longford Mill cottages cannot have been much more than hovels. I am still looking for Little Dunton Farm.

• Census. The ages on the censuses are very rubbery - Thomas is 50 in 1841, 64 in 1851 and 70 in March 1861; Harriet is 20 in 1841, 35 in 1851 and 47 in 1861!
In 1841 they had 2 sons Thomas 2 and Frederic 5 months and resided at Toe Hill, Sundridge Upland

Shab Hall cottages is the address from the 1861 Census

'soldier' from George Henry's marriage certificate
'Chelsea Pensioner' from 1861 Census, 'Ag labourer' from 1841 and 1851 Censuses

• Military. Gerald Dennett writes:
Thomas Dennett was shot in the head at the storming of San Sebastian (31 August 1813 http://www.peninsularwar.org/sebastian.htm <blocked::http://www.peninsularwar.org/sebastian.htm>) which makes his living until the age of 74 and fathering 9 kids quite an achievement. Especially when you consider that he was discharged from the Army for being "41 years old and worn out" and then went on to live as an agricultural labourer in Victorian times. He had apparently also served in India. I need to go to Norwich one day to look up the regimental records as the 9th Regiment of Foot is now the East Anglian Regiment.

• Military. Thomas Dennett's discharge certificate courtesy of
Gerald Dennett [gerald.dennett@btinternet.com]

Whereof General Sir Robert Brownrigg Bt. G . C . B. is Colonel
**************
These are to Certify
THAT Private Thomas Dennet born in the Parish of Sevenoaks in or near
the Town of Sevenoaks in the county of Kent was enlisted for the aforesaid regiment
at Woodbridge in the County of Suffolk on the 25th Day of August 1807
at the Age of 21 years for Unlimited Service.

THAT he hath served in the army for the space of 20 Years and 341 Days after the Age of Eighteen according to the subjoined.


STATEMENT OF SERVICE
Corps 9^th Foot Period of service in the East or West Indies
from 3^rd April 1819 to 30th January 1827 is 7 years 303 days.

Total Period of service from 25^th June 1807 to 31st May 1828 is 20 years 341 days

THAT by Authority of the Adjutant General's Letter dated 16^th May 1828
HE IS HEREBY DISCHARGED in consequence of being of long service and worn out.

THAT he is not to my knowledge, incapacitated by the Sentence of a general Court Martial,
from receiving Pension.

THAT his general Conduct as a Soldier has been Good.
Wounded at the storming of San Sebastian, in the Head on the 31^st August 1813

THAT he has received all just Demands of Pay, Clothing &c. from his Entry into the Service
to the date of this Discharge, as appears by his receipt underneath.

I Private Thomas Dennett do hereby acknowledge that I have received all my Clothing, Pay,
Arrears of Pay, and all just Demands whatsoever, from the time of my Entry into the Service to the time of this Discharge.

Certified by J. Scargill 9^th Foot Thomas Dennett X his mark
Commanding the Troop or Company Signature of the Soldier

TO prevent any improper use being made of this Discharge, by its falling into other Hands, the following is a Description of the said Private Thomas Dennett
He is about Forty One Years of age, is 5 Feet 3¾ Inches in height. Brown Hair
Grey Eyes, Fresh Complexion, and by trade a Laborer

Given under my hand, and the seal of the regiment, at Manchester this 21st Day of May 1828

Signature of the Commanding Officer P. Taylor Lt. Col.

• connection. The connection between Gerald Dennett (1954) & myself is as follows:
(He is 3rd cousin once removed to John & Noel Davies)
Gerald Dennett (1954)
His father was Michael Dennett (1928)
His father was Charles Dennett (1900)
His father was James Dennett (1869)
His father was Frederic Dennett (1841)
His father was Thomas Dennett (1787) & he also had George Dennett (1857) who married Christina Carr (1865)
They had George Dennett (1891)
He had Mary Dennett (1834) who married Arthur Davies (1921)
His father was George Arthur Davies (1894) who also had Colin Davies (1925)
He had me - Robyn Bray (nee Davies) (1950)

Thomas married Susannah Barkin on 8 Oct 1830 in Halstead, Kent England. (Susannah Barkin was born circa 1800.)

Thomas next married Harriett King, daughter of William King and Sarah Pearless, on 18 Jul 1838 in St Marys, Chiddingstone, Kent England. (Harriett King was born circa 1814 in Sundridge, Kent England, christened on 18 May 1817 in Sundridge, Kent England and died on 22 May 1881 in Marden, Kent England.)