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In the summer of 1800 the Fernyhough family gathered in their home in the Staffordshire town of Whittington. A father, a mother, five sons and two daughters. Of the sons 4 were to fight against Napoleonic France. They would never be all together under the same roof again.
Thomas Fernyhough was newly gazetted Ensign in the 60th Rifles, with orders for the West Indies. Henry was then an Ensign in the Militia, John was a Lieutenant in the Royal Marines to serve aboard HMS Donegal (80) and Robert would also join the Royal Marines.
The King’s service would see them taken on many paths, mostly paths of routine rather than glory, but only John & Robert would meet again on the mortal side of eternity.
Henry Fernyhough, 21, died at sea 30 Nov 1803.
John Fernyhough, 26, died at sea 25 Oct 1805.
Henry Fernyhough, 21, died at sea 30 Nov 1803.
John Fernyhough, 26, died at sea 25 Oct 1805.
Henry was made 2nd Lieutenant of Marines in the frigate Argo, (44), he was presented at the King’s Levee before reporting for duty, which would see him tragically die from a ruptured abscess received from a simple fall during the mission to bring Elfi Bey to Egypt
John, aboard HMS Donegal (80) perhaps narrowly missed a death in action at Trafalgar and instead was handed out a heroic but ignominious demise by drowning while attempting to organise a rescue for the floundering Spanish ship Rayo.
That then is a small thread the cost of war to a typical British gentry family. By 1830 a sister & 3 brothers were gone.
That family gathering in 1800 was looked back on by the last surviving brother, Thomas, with mingled fondness & melancholy ever after.
That family gathering in 1800 was looked back on by the last surviving brother, Thomas, with mingled fondness & melancholy ever after.
