Hi all , this is my first post so apologies for any errors ,thanks to a grave in my local cemetery dedicated to the wife of a former soldier I am trying to research a man called Thomas Mcdermott ( sometimes spelt Macdermott) . He was a militia officer in Ireland who joined the Irish Brigade in France in 1786, Like many royalist officers joined the ill fated Irish brigade in the British army,
He appears on the half pay list and in 1801 is listed as a colonel, the next record I found of him is as a POW in Valenciennes in 1806 where he died in 1809,
I would like to try find out more about his service in the period of 1800-1806 and also if possible find out where he is buried ? Any suggestions most welcome.
Ive tried Newspapers.com , the National archive , British Newspaper archive and findmypast .
Thanks in advance.
Cheers again Tom , must check that blog, I found the reference to the school in Algers book ,but cant find a link to the secrete police book ? is it online ?
Tom, thats absolutely fantastic, his daughter ended up marrying the Commander Young RN, so it all ties together. There doesnt seem to be any record remaining of the sale on Ebay so i doubt there is any chance of seeing the originals but the information is a huge help
Don't know if you've seen this (gives the name of "Mme Macdermott":
1809 ARCHIVE concerning MACDERMOTT who was a NAPOLEONIC PRISONER OF WAR NO RESERVE DATE:- 1809 to 1841 THIS LOT CONSISTS OF 6 DIFFERENT MANUSCRIPTS WHICH ARE ALL RELATED.
1) A DECLARATION DATED 9TH SEPTEMBER 1809, HANDWRITTEN IN FRENCH ON PAPER, STATING THAT THOMAS MACDERMOTT AN IRISH COLONEL IN THE ENGLISH ARMY, BEING A "HOSTAGE" IN VALENCIENNES DECLARED THAT HE MARRIED MARIE JOSEPH WERTZ ON 3rd AUGUST 1791 AND GOES ON TO LIST THE NAMES AND DATES OF BIRTH OF THEIR 4 CHILDREN.
THE DECLARATION WAS MADE IN THE PRESENCE OF JOHN MURRAY, ALSO IRISH, A GENERAL IN THE ENGLISH ARMY, ALSO A "HOSTAGE" (PRESUMABLY A PRISONER OF WAR) AND LIEUTENANT MATTHEW YOUNG BEFORE PUBLIC NOTARIES IN VALENCIENNES.
2) AN EXTRACT FROM A DEATH REGISTER HANDWRITTEN IN FRENCH ON 10TH SEPTEMBER 1809 STATING THAT COLONEL THOMAS MACDERMOTT HAD DIED AT 4 P.M. ON THE PREVIOUS DAY.
QUESTION WAS HE EXECUTED? OR WAS IT "NATURAL CAUSES"? The other documents in this archive consist of a printed circular dated 6th April 1813 to Mrs. McDermott in London concerning Widows' Pension; a handwritten letter of 29th June 1813 to Mrs. McDermott from the War Office; a Stamp Office form concerning LEGACY and a handwritten copy of the will of Mrs. McDermott dated 1841. A FASCINATING STORY WORTHY OF FURTHER RESEARCH Condition. The French documents are in very good condition with some minor age darkening and the others also in good readable condition but with small faults such as cracks on folds, creasing and all with the usual folding creases.
http://www.durtnall.org.uk/DEEDS/Ireland%201-100.htm?LMCL=Y4J5M8
Excellent Tom, thanks
The 1806 Army List includes Lt. Colonel Thomas McDermott on half pay in the 3rd or Dillons regiment of the Irish Brigade which was disbanded in 1798. He was made a Colonel in the Army in 1801. So he was not serving when taken POW, my suggestion is that he was trapped in France when the Peace of Amiens broke down eg https://www.waterlooassociation.org.uk/2019/07/18/imperial-guests-napoleons-british-detenus/