George Robert Scadden

  General Notes:

Margaret Partridge writes to Roger Scadden's group:
One member of our Family who certainly deserves a mention is Frederick Scadden who was born in the parish of St Peters, Portland, Dorset in 1888.
Frederick was the son of the George Robert Scadden who was born on 13 May, 1841 in the small Dorset village of Litton Cheney. It seems possible that George Robert Scadden was himself a military man [although we have not yet located any army records] because we know that his wife, Margaret Murphy was born in Quebec, their daughter, Alice MM Scadden, was born in Ireland c1871, their daughter, Mariann , was born in Jersey c 1872, another daughter, Harriet, was born at Hook,c 1877 and a son George was born at Aldershot, c 1891. Three other sons were born at Dorchester. [ ie. all in or near Military Towns]. However , by 1881 ,George and Margaret had settled on the Island of Portland where George lived- at least until 1901- as a "Farm Carter" or a "Cattleman on a farm".

The records at Kew show that Frederick, [who had been a "mason",] joined the 2nd Battalion of the Dorset Regiment at Dorchester on 8th November 1907. He was aged 19yr. 4mth and was 5 ft 7.75" at the time and weighed 130 lbs with a 32" chest and 3" expansion . He had a "Sallow Complexion", Blue Eyes, Brown Hair and his religion was "C of E". He was on "Home Service" from 8/11/07 to 03/02/09 . In "the Indies" 04/02/09 to 05/11/14, and in Mesopotamia from 06/11/14. He was wounded in "Persian Gulf Action" on 14/05/15 and died on 15 04/15. He was awarded the DCM for Distinguished Conduct and Conspicuous Bravery and Gallant Conduct in the Field. At that time his mother, Margaret was living at 105 Weston Road, Portland. His elder brother, George Robert was serving aboard HMS Grayton. His brother, Charles was living in Weston Road, and brother Thomas was serving with the 1st Dorsets, based at Gosport. His sisters were Alice Ground living at Salisbury, Mary Stone, living at 29, Weston Road, Portland, Harriet Conway and Emily Venner, both living at 125 Antelope Avenue, Montreal, Canada, Annie Asher, living at 2 Bluet St., Maidstone Kent and Martha Downton-address unknown.

Frederick's death is commemorated on the Memorial at the Basra War Cemetery.

Sadly, Frederick's brother Thomas, was later killed in action on 19th September 1918 in Egypt.

Both Frederick and Thomas Scadden are listed on the War Memorial at Top Hill on Portland.

  Noted events in his life were:

• source. Roger Scadden notes:
The 1881 Census shows George R. Scadden, then aged 39, and his wife, Margaret A. Scadden [nee Murphy] and their family, living on Portland, Dorset.

Margaret Agnes was born in Quebec...but the children listed were born in Ireland, in Jersey, in Aldershot, in Litton Cheney, at "Cook Farm" and at Fordington, Dorchester. near- or in- "Military" towns ...so I had surmised that George Robert Scadden was probably serving with the army !

Margaret Partridge, has now kindly provided us with a copy of George Robert Scadden and Margaret Agnes Murphy's marriage registration. They were married in Quebec, Canada on the sixth of June, 1868.... The [original] record shows that George Robert was serving with the "30th Regiment". Margaret plans to visit

>From the Wikipedia website, I found that "The 30th Regiment of Foot"
>were moved to Canada in 1861....and remained there until 1869.
"The 30th." were sent to Canada following the "Trent Affair" and were involved in repelling the "Fenian Raids"..... [ I think it is interesting to know something of the historical background to our Family History.]

Another website said that "the 30th Foot was posted to Ireland in 1869, moving to Jersey in 1871 and England in 1872."

and "From September 1873 until June 1875 the 30th Foot was at Fort Purbrook". [This is the Fort on the heights overlooking the City of Portmouth.]

" In 1880 the 30th Foot sailed to India".. However, by 1881 George Robert Scadden had left the army He is listed in the Census as a " Farm Carter"
living on the Isle of Portland, Dorset.

The 1881 Census provides something of a "trail" of George Robert's [and the Regiment's] travels !....and confirms that his wife, Margaret Agnes Scadden, [nee Murphy] followed in close proximity !

1881 Census: Portland, RG11 2107/44, page 32.

George R. Scadden 39 b. Litton Cheney. Farm Carter.
Margaret A. Scadden 34 b. Quebec.

Alice M.M. Scadden 10 b. Ireland.
George R. Scadden 9 b. Jersey.
Charles H. Scadden 6 b. Litton Cheney.
Harriett E. Scadden 4 b.Cook Farm, Dorset.
Martha Scadden 1 b. Fordington, Dorset.

[George and "Maggie" went on to have at least five more children, mainly in
Portland These included Thomas Scadden and Frederick Scadden who sadly
died in WW 1 ....for more information see Mailing List April 2009].

George Robert Scadden was born at Litton Cheney, Dorset on 13/05/1841 He was the son of Robert Scadden [14/01/1811] and Ann Stone.

George married Margaret Agnes Murphy on 6 Jun 1868 in Quebec Canada. (Margaret Agnes Murphy was born circa 1845 in Quebec Canada.)