Many family historians will discover militia men in their ancestry. The purpose of this article is to outline both the life of William MOORE(S), Bucks Militia, and the type of surviving records used to trace him and his demise as a Chelsea out-pensioner. The records used are variable in their survival and the outcome regarding other militia research may be accordingly better, or worse.

To harp on a point made elsewhere on this site, we must be careful about surnames. The genealogical process may well reveal a surname to be a corruption of another.  In this example Moores devolved to Moore.

For the benefit of my family this is not the Moore family who married Verry, but it is of my maternal family. William MOORE(S) was the father-in-law of Teresa MOORE (COLLEY) whose sad demise is described on this site.

I had long had an urge to trace William MOORE(S) based on family lore that he was a bugler at Waterloo. Sometimes family lore has some substance and in this case I happily accept a musician in a militia regiment, rather than one in a line regiment at that famous battle!

Tracing the movement of the militia enabled several of his children's christenings to be found.

William MOORE(S) (1785-1875)

Baptised High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire 21 July 1785 - "William MOORS, son of John and Mary". There are several Moores in the High Wycombe registers but only one child of John and Mary. High Wycombe was then a military town and William's father may have been in barracks there in 1785.

William enlisted on 24 August 1797 aged 11 into the Royal Buckinghamshire (Kings Own) Regiment of Militia, for life, holding ranks of drummer, private and corporal. An account of his life with the militia is documented further on. He was stood down in 1829 and thereafter claimed a pension for which overseas service had qualified him. His name appears in the admission books for Chelsea Hospital as an out-pensioner on 5 pence per day and some details of these records are set out later. Throughout these military records he is referred to a "Moores", but he signed "Moore". There was only one William Moore(s) in the Bucks Militia in the 1800's so there can be no confusion regarding his identify which often occurs with common names. There is no doubt that the family name was originally Moores.

MARRIAGE AND CHILDREN

He married by banns Harriet Clark RICE at St Sidwell's, Exeter on 19 October 1807, giving his occupation as "musician in the Bucks Militia". Harriet was born in Sidbury, a village 15 miles east of Exeter and the militia had been stationed in Ottery St Mary, the next village in 1807.

Their first two children, Charles and Eliza were baptised at St James the Apostle, Dover in Kent on 13 July 1811. They may have been twins but it is possible that duties with the militia delayed baptism of the first born. The Bucks Militia was stationed at Dover during that year.

The baptism of his other children are to be found in the registers of Buckingham, the regiment's headquarters. They were:
 

DATE	CHILD	PARENTS	FATHER'S OCCUPATION
27 October 1815	William MOOR aged 2	William and Harriet	Soldier
27 October 1815	John MOOR	William and Harriet	Soldier
8 January 1817	Henry MORE	William and Harriet	Bucks Militia
8 March 1819	Pamela MORE	William and Harriet	Shoemaker
2 February 1821	Emma MOORES	William and Harriet	Royal Bucks Militia
25 April 1821	Emma MOORE	William and Harriet	Musician in Bucks Band
22 August 1825	Rebecca MOORE	William and Harriet	Musician in Bucks Band

John and Henry emigrated to New Zealand in 1851.

Eliza married James RYDER and they emigrated to New South Wales in 1849.

Pamela died before 1859.

These children were buried in Buckingham:

Charles 29 June 1818 aged 9
William 17 July 1818 aged 6
Emma 11 June 1822
Rebecca 20 September 1827 aged 2.

THE MOVE TO CHELSEA

Sometime after his discharge from the militia in 1829, William moved to Chelsea. He is found there in the 1841 Census at No. 9 Lombard Street, in the third of four households at that address. The record is:
 

William MOORE	50 years	Labourer	Not born Middlesex
Harriet MOORE	50 years		Not born Middlesex
Chas RYDER	2 years		Born Middlesex

The boy Chas Ryder was their grandson and if it were not for his name on the record some uncertainty could exist regarding the identification of William and Harriet Moore as the 1841 Census was the least informative.

HIS OCCUPATION

A note here about William's occupation is appropriate. In the militia he began as a drummer boy, later becoming a private, then promoted to corporal. Whilst in service he is recorded as a shoemaker, in the baptism entry of his daughter in 1819. In March 1840 when his son John was married, his occupation was recorded as musician and later as we shall see, he was lodging with a shoemaker. Just how and when he learnt the shoemaking trade cannot be determined, but if the record is correct he had acquired the skill by 1819 and this must have been while serving with the militia. What exactly was meant by the record, "musician" in 1840 is unknown and in 1841 he gave his occupation as "labourer" to the census enumerator.

There has been a tradition in New Zealand branches of the family that William was related to Thomas Moore, the Irish born poet and musician. There is no connection.

THE MOVE TO DEVONSHIRE

Between 1841 and 1849 William and Harriet moved to Devonshire, her county of birth and by March 1851 they were living at Oakfield Place in Heavitree, a village just ouside of Exeter (but now a suburb of that city). They appear on the 1851 census schedule at between No. 25 and No. 26 Oakfield Place (now Street) and the address is recorded as "at back of Oakfield Place". Thus a tenement on a rear section is implied. In that census record William gave his occupation as "Pensioner, ex Bucks Militia" and daughter Pamela is shown as residing with them.

Harriet died at Oakfield Street (as it became) on 12 April 1859 aged 74. Patience HAYWARD of nearby Cottage Court was present at the death. Two revealing letters written by Willam about that time have survived and copies are given later.

After Harriet's death, William found lodgings in Cottage Court which runs off Oakfield Street and the 1861 Census for No. 1 Cottage Court, Heavitree gives this record:
 

Thomas RICHARDS, Head, Married	53 years	Bootmaker	born Exeter
Mary RICHARDS, Wife	53 years		born Heavitree
William MOORE, Lodger	75 years	Chelsea Pensioner	born High Wycombe, Bucks

And for 1871 at No. 9 Cottage Court (which may indicate a shift or merely a renumbering of houses), the record is:
 

Thomas RICHARDS, Head, Married	65 years	Shoemaker	born Exeter
Mary RICHARDS, Wife	65 years		born Heavitree
William MOORE, Lodger	85 years	Pensioner, Royal Bucks Militia	born High Wycombe

Patience Haywood, the neighbour who was the informant at Harriet's death was at No. 8 Cottage Court in 1861 aged 64 years, the wife of Robert, a retired labourer. By 1871 the Richard's with William Moore were at No. 9 whilst Patience, by then a widow was at No. 2.

The discharge papers for William indicate that an application for a pension increase was made in 1874 and the papers are endorsed "no authority to increase pension unless discharge from Regular Army after serving in wars in foreign (parts?)". His application was therefore declined, as he was with a militia regiment and not a regiment of the line on overseas duty.

He died aged 91 years in 1875 at Heavitree.

• Enlisted 24 August 1797 at age 11, for life (reference, discharge papers).
  

• According to a handwritten history of the 3rd Battalion, Oxfordshire Regiment (which the Bucks Militia       later became) in the PRO (doc. WO68242), the Bucks Militia volunteered to serve in Ireland, arriving Dublin 2 July 1798, returning in the spring of 1799. The reason for their presence was a rebellion which broke out in Ulster and County Wexford and the landing of 1000 French troops at Killala Bay, County Mayo (who were forced to surrender). The Bucks Militia was one of 13 English regiments sent there after the passing of an Act allowing English militia to be deployed in Ireland.

In 1799 the regiment furnished 400 men for the 4th Kings Own Regiment of Infrantry which fought in the Peninsular Wars. The regiment also furnished yearly its full quota of men for those wars, principally to the 14th (Buckinghamshire) Regiment of Foot.

In 1809 the Bucks Militia volunteered for service in Spain but was declined.

The service documents for William Moore indicate that he remained with the militia - that is he was not transferred to a line regiment.   The following documents trace his movements with the militia. Pay was quarterly, on the 24th of the month.


• 1808 (Doc. WO13//189)
  
  
The Militia was stationed on each of the pay days, 24 March, 24 June, 24 September and 24 December at Eastbourne Barracks in Sussex, south coast of England. William Moores appears under the column "Drummers and Fifes" drawing full pay with unbroken service (that is, he was not at any time in prison, hospital or leave, or a deserter). His rate of pay was one shilling and one and three quarters pence per day, compared to one shilling a day for privates.

1809 (Doc. WO13/190)

They were still in Eastbourne Barracks as at 24 March that year, but thereafter were stationed at Dover. William Moores is still listed under Drummers and Fifes and still with unbroken service.

1810 (Doc. WO13/191)

Stationed at Dover, still a drummer with unbroken service, until the accounts for the period 25 September 1810 to 24 October 1810. These show that at that latter date William Moores ceased to hold status as a drummer and became a private, dropping to one shilling a day which seems inexplicable in view of his marriage. The pay lists also record marches away from base but not which companies marched where.

1811 (Doc. WO13/192)

Stationed in Dover still, up to pay day 24 September 1811. William is still a private, with unbroken service. Pay list for 25 September 1811 to 24 December 1811 does not state where they were stationed but indicates they were on marches in Essex. On 23 January 1812 they were at Woodbridge in Suffolk, near the Essex border, at which time William was still a private, with unboken service on full pay. (In July 1811 his two children Eliza and Charles had been baptised at St James, Dover).

1812

The regiment was camped at Kersall Moor near Manchester, where it caused trouble by its disorderly conduct.

1814 (Doc. WO13/195)

These are much more composite records and include Adjutants (Muster) Rolls.

Quarterly pay list 25 December 1818 to 24 March 1819 shows the regiment stationed at Carrick-on-Shannon in the West of Ireland. Whereas William Moores was previously shown as having unbroken service, in these records he appears under the heading: "Privates who have been entitled to, and have received the full rate of pay for Broken Periods from the date of Commencement of the Account". In the remarks column, for cause of broken serice is written "Volunteer for extended Militia Service". To the left, in another's handwriting is written "no beer" and in the next column: "Transferred to Depot at Buckingham from 15 Janujary" (ie 1814).

Adjutants Roll for 24 January 1814, Carrick-on-Shannon lists William Moores as a private in Captain Fellowes' company. In the remarks column is written: "Band. On furlough in England from 25 December to 24 January".

The Adjutants List for 24 April, 24 May, 24 June, 24 July 1814 continue to list William Moores as a private in Captain Fellowes' company but note Fellowes as being "on command in a Provisional Battalion" ie the 1st Provisional Battalion which left for Bordeaux in March of that year and had returned by June). 

• According to "An Epitomised History of the Militia" (Hay - 1905), the Bucks Militia in 1814 volunteered for service in the Militia Brigade to be formed and employed in France and embarked 10 March at Portsmouth with 21 officers: (Lt Col. W L Young, Majors Forster and Dedan; Captains McDermot, Vasser, Beatly, Cape, Fellowes; and Lieutenants Dardis, Keane, Brown, Mason, Carrington, Harland, Grove, Shillingford and Spier; Ensigns Donolan and Bridger; Adjutant J T Brown, Quartermaster Mr J Masters; Surgeon T Ledbrooke: and 560 NCO's and men. It formed part of the 1st Provisional Battalion and Brigade under command of the Marquis of Buckingham, Lieutenant Colonel Commandant Royal Bucks Militia. On landing in France near Bordeaux the Brigade was placed in the Division of the Earl of Dalhousie for service under the Duke of Wellington. On leaving France the officers of the Royal Bucks were decorated with the Fleur de Lys by King Louis 18th.

Stuffed into the Quarterly Pay List 25 June 1814 to 24 September 1814, Bucks Militia, Carrick-on-Shannon (to where some of them must have returned) is a handwritten document headed "Muster Roll of a Detachment of the Royal Bucks or Kings Own Regiment of Militia from 25 June to 19 July 1814 both days inclusive". At the end is written: "The muster for the period of the Roll was taken at Buckingham on the 19th day of July 1814". William Moores was listed, still a private and therefore had returned (to Buckingham Barracks) by 25 June 1814.

Adjutants Roll dated 24 August 1814 taken in Carrick-on-Shannon - William still appears under Captain Fellowes, but with a note "volunteer for extended Militia Service. Disembodied at Buckingham 19 July" (ie 1814). This confirmed a Roll of the Bucks Militia in the Buckinghamshire Record Office which has this entry:


"Moores, William: Place of Residence, Buckingham: For whom service; musician. Has been Drumr. sevl. times. Date enrolled August 1797."


The name is crossed with a red X and a memorandum at the beginning of the Roll states:


"Those Private Men whose names are corssed out thus X on the within list were disembodied 19 July 1814."


(Note: Disembodied in this sense means temporarily stood down).

The pay list for 24 December 1814 quarter shows the regiment stationed at Portsmouth and William Moores' name is not mentioned and his discharge papers state: "absent from 19 July 1814 to 23 May 1815" for reasons which are unclear, but may be because of some infirmity. During examination of these documents it was noted that the regiment included a John and Thomas Moores, privates. Any relationship is unclear but their movements suggest that they were all "in it together". There was only one William Moore(s) in the Bucks Militia for the whole of the period of search.  


• 1815-1820 (WO13 196)

Pay lists and musters for Bucks Militia. He is not on the pay list for quarter ended 24 March 1815 when they were stationed at Fort Cumberland, Portsmouth. The next mention of him is the 25 December 1815 to 13 February 1816 pay list under "Privates who have been entitled to and received the full rate of pay for broken periods from the Day of Commencement of this accompt" - "Moores, William", to 30 January' number of days: 37. Remarks: "retained as a drummer."

For 1816 to 1819 the pay lists are annual, ending 24 December. William is listed as a private, with unbroken service (presumably from re-enlistment date) and there is no note of his having been on leave, although a space exists for this and other Bucks Militia are noted as being on leave for x number of days (in which case half pay was paid).

On the annual pay list for year ended 24 December 1820 he is noted as having been  in training from 6 November to 3 December 1820 and the Adjutants Rolls for the same period taken at Buckingham shows Private William Moores in Captain John Fellowes' Company. Three days of this training consisted of marches.

Clearly, from late 1815 to 1820, William was attached to the Headquarters Barracks in Buckingham.  


• 1829 (Doc. WO 13 198)

Disembodied Militia 1829 Annual Account and Paylist", under the heading "Non-Training Pay List and Return of the Royal Bucks and Kings Own Regiment of Disembodied Militia for the Period Commencing 25 February 1829 and ending 24 December 1829, both days inclusive" - 14 corporals are listed, including "Moores, Willm", as entitled to pay from 25 February to 24 June. Number of days resident at Headquarters (ie Buckingham) - 120. Total number of days charged for in the pay list: 120. Rate of pay per diem: 1 shilling and two pence. Amount of pay Seven pounds. Remarks: Discharged 24 June."
 
• Discharge Papers (1829) (Doc. Class WO97/1104)

He signs as Wm Moore, identical to the signature on a letter to his children in 1859.

There were three sets of admission books, Document Class WO116 and 117 and WO209. By admission is meant admitted to a pension. The bulk of Chelsea Pensioners were "out-pensioners" ie they drew their pension while carrying on a normal life. The in-pensioners, those with the traditional red coats were by far a minority. William Moores was an out-pensioner.

Doc. WO23 7, folio 94 "Report furnished to the Secretary at War of the Several Invalid Soldiers were examined before the Lords and Others, Commissioners of Chelsea Hospital on the 11th day of November 1835, specifying the particulars of their services etc and of the rates of pension assigned to such as were admitted on the Out-Pension"

(I should note here that "invalid" does not necessarily mean "sick", but could simply mean "no longer able to be a soldier").

This record states:

Bucks Militia - Wm Moores. Drummer aged 49; Service: Corporal 7 years 7 months, Private 25. Total service 27 and 7. Under age 5 years (ie served five years when younger than 16 years). Rate of pension: 5 pence a day.

Pension to commence from 17 March 1836, having received six months pay per WO letter. Cause: reduction (ie no longer required). Birthplace: High Wycomb Bucks. (in red) "Formerly a pensioner from the Bucks Militia at 5 pence. Admitted 24 June 1829.

Folio 22 of Doc. WO116 44 - "Examination of the claims of Discharged Soldiers on Wednesday the 11th of November", has references to seven ex Bucks Militia soldiers, including William Moores. The entry reads:

Willm Moores, Drummer Age 49 Private.  Total service 32 years and six months. In the column head "rate of pension" is written "Withdrawn. See Admission Book". In the next column in red: "This man does not appear to claim pension having received the gratuity of six months' pay".
 

CAUSE OF DISCHARGE	Reduction (ie redundant)
WHERE BORN	High Wycombe, Bucks
TRADE OR OCCUPATION	Labourer
HEIGHT	Five Feet Five Inches
HAIR	Brown
EYES	Grey
COMPLEXION	Fair

(That he did receive a pension is noted on his discharge papers dated 1829 and that it was for disability is indicated by the above reference which is in the admission book for such and not WO117, which is admission for length of service.)

TWO SURVIVING LETTERS TO HIS CHILDREN
(Punctuation inserted - his spelling retained). I am indebted to Don Jamieson, a co-descendant for his permission to use these letters.

Sunday April 10 (ie 1859)

Dear Children

With aching heart I write to inform you of the illness of your dear mother. She as been ill about 2 months with a deacese of the heart and with the dropsy. I have a skillfull Doctor from Exeter but he says nothing more can be done for her as her whole system is broke up. I have not had my clothes off for 11 nights. It is wonderfull what she suffers and with What Patience she gives her whole heart to God. We have both taken the Sacrement twice and she as the prayers of the Church. I have a nurse day and night. It is a great experience now and a great deal more when it shall pleas God to take her. Emma as helped us a little but having no child or relation near us every thing his left to strangers.

Dear children don't think she wants anything for she wants nothing for some kind Ladies suply us what little she wants such as wine arrowroot and nice dinners when she could eat.. The Doctor said yesterday that she might live 3 or 4 days longer but she might go off in a moment. I have just been up to ask her what I shall say to you and she sends her blessing to all and begs that you will put your trust in the Lord with the dear children. She as given all her dear children up to the Lord praying the Lord will open their eyes,  that they will give their hearts to God before it is too late. She forgive John and begs that he will think of his poor mother after she is gone altho he forgot her while living with her.  Blessing to Henry and his dear family with all her dear children and that we may all meet together at the right hand of God.

I shall be obliged to send this letter to morrow as the mail sails on the 12th of the month. If it please God to take her between this and then I can let you know by this month or I must wait till the next. O if you could hear her just now in one of her fitts, your hearts would melt with pain. I am allmost broken down myself with fatige and want of sleep. She bless you all for all your kindness to us. I will have her buried in a respectfull way, if I am obliged to sell all I can pay him. So my dear children don't frett. I believe your mother will be happy and that is a conselation to my dear children and myself altho I shall be left alone in the world but I trust in my dear saviour and he has promised never to leave them that put their trust in him. I shall bury her by the side of Pamala. Now dear children I have said all I can respecting your dear Mother. I hope you will not lay it too much to heart, but bless the Lord that your mother is going. Lett us endeavour to follow her as she followed Christ, Amen.

We was in hopes of hearing from you last month as you promised. The mail was above a fortnight behind and we waited every day but at last when it came, the Post Man said there was no letter for us. Your poor mother freted but perhaps there will be one this month by the April mail. I have seen the Canterbury Paper and John's name in it. It is an advertisement in the way of Business - John Moore, Boot and Shoemaker from London has imported an asortment of Boots and Shoes. The address is John Moore, Oxford Terrace, West Christchurch so he must have moved for his last residence was Arma Street near the Golden Fleece, New Zealand Canterbury Settlement. And now I must conclude with our blessing to you and the Dear boys and Dear Henry and John if you write to them. Pray for me my dear children for I am very much cut down. Emma cannot come to us as they are very busy having to furnish Mr South's masters house so your mother will have all strangers to follow her but myself. I will write again next mail if it please God. I have not wrote to your master Mr Everet as he wrote to me, so there as been no money taken out of what you left in his hand. If you write to him, you can request of him to send some lttle parcel of mine and I will send it to him.

God Bless you all is the Prayer of your Affectionate

Father and Mother

Tell Eliza not to fret. I trust mother will be in Glory before you gett this. Will not that be a blessing. Give our kind love to the Dear Boys. I have send you a newspaper. Pray write.

Note: This letter was addressed to his son-in-law Mr James Ryder, Armadale, NSW ("care of Mr Everett Esq") postmarked at Exeter April 1859 and received Sydney 10 July 1859.

Ann Moore died the following day, 12 April 1859 at their home in Oakfield Street, Heavitree (which is now a suburb of Exeter), of mobus cordus; Patience Heyward present at the death.

August 12 (1859)

Dear Children,

I have received your kind letter of the 24th of April and am happy to hear that you are all well. I am happy to say my health is better than when I wrote last which I wrote on the 12th of April and on the 12th of May, both of which I hope you received safe - that on the 12th of April was the day on which your dear mother died so that I could not inform you, as I was obliged to post the letter on the 11th , one day before. My dear children you cannot think how miserable I feel as I am left alone and as I have nothing to do for. I cannot go about as I used to do. I am obliged to stop at home and sit and read my Bible or other good Books as I cannot expect long to live in this world. I think it is my duty to make my Peace with God and strive to follow your dear mother. I have done with the word and strive to serve my dear Saviour who will never cast out them that come to him with Faith. O  that my dear children may consider their ways and turn to the Lord and that we may meet in heavan were I trust we shall meet with your dear Mother and our dear Pamala for I believe that you sister died happy. I never forgett my dear children in my prayers night and morning and I trust the Lord will hear and answer my prayers for the sake of our dear Saviour, Amen.

I must now tell you how I am situated. I have a comfortable room to myself and pay one shilling a week and I have to pay a woman the same that attended your dear mother one shilling a week for washing and cleaning my room and other things for me. She is a dear motherly woman and serves God. We both attend the Methodist Chapple which is close to my room and we are both members as was your dear mother. I strive to make both ends meet as well as I can. I don't want so much now and I trust the Lord will supply my wants.

I hope you will write to John and Henry respecting the death of your dear mother for they will not write to me. With a fathers blessing I forgive them and shall allways pray for them that we may all meet at the right hand of God and then all anamosity will cease. Give my blessing to your dear boys. May the Lord bless them and that they be a blessing to their dear parents. I should be happy to se you once more if it please God, but this may not be, but lett us strive to meet in Heaven to part no more for ever. Wont that be happyness.

(Annotated: "I have not received the Doctor's bill at present. I have paid the funeral expenses and the nurse upwards of 4 pounds".

I am glad that you are so comfortable and I think it would be best for you to be settled were you are, as perhaps a change might be for the worst for I hear bad news about Australia respecting labour and you begin to feel at home and I think Eliza is in the right. I have not heard from Mr Daubin since I inclosed his last letter to me. I shall not have time to gett an answer from Throxfield this month, but will write next month if it please God to spare me.

Emma as been ill but was getting better the last time she wrote. I am sorry she as not wrote to you. She is very thoughtless. She out not to be ungrateful to you affter your kindness to her. I shall write and tell her.

And now dear children I close this with my blessing to you all. I have very few to speak to and sit many howers by myself. I still feel very much the loss of your dear mother, but when I consider were I trust she is gone, it cheers my heart. God bless you from your affectionate father.

Wm Moore

Pray write as often as you can. It is a comfort to have a letter from you.

NOTE:

• Throxfield was James Ryder's village in Wiltshire and Emma may have been his younger daughter.
  
 
• This and his preceding letter indicates that communication with his sons in New Zealand had ended some time before.

CHILDREN OF WILLIAM AND HARRIET MOORE

1. ELIZA, baptised 13 July 1811 at St James, Dover, in Kent. She married at Chelsea in 1832 James RYDER,a gardener from Froxfield, Wiltshire. This couple emigrated on the "Dianna" from London to New South Wales in 1849 and appear to have settled firstly at Limestone Creek, New England in that State. They later moved to Bundarra, near Inverell. James Ryder was described as a farmer when he died 27 February 1871 at Armidale, New South Wales aged 58, of a heart condition. His father was William Ryder, a farmer and his mother Sarah nee Kent.James Ryder and Eliza had four children: George, born 1841, Battersea, London, who married Elizabeth GRAY in 1861; William born 1843 at Chelsea who married Mary Ann ROSS. William was a stockman on Texas Station, near Goandiwindi in Queensland and the issue of this marriage has been traced by Don Jamieson to the present generation. The other two children of James and Eliza were Charles who died young and an unnamed female infant who also died young. Charles was with his grandparents in the 1841 Census of Chelsea.
   CHARLES, who was baptised on the same day as Eliza and therefore possibly a twin, although it is more likely that his father's militia service delayed the baptism. He was buried at Buckingham 29 June 
   1818 aged 9.
   
   
2. WILLIAM, baptised at Buckingham 27 October 1815, aged 2 years. Buried Buckingham 17 June 1818 aged 5.
   
   
3. JOHN HENRY MOORE, baptised at Buckingham 27 October 1815 (as John Moor), on the same day as his brother William. He married Ann Amy WALLER at St Marys Church, Marylebone, Middlesex on 24 March 1840. His occupation is recorded in the register as "Cordwainer" (ie shoemaker) and his father's occupation as "Musician". Ann Waller's father is named as Henry WALLER, farmer deceased. The marriage was witnessed by Susan WALLER and Paul JONES. All parties could sign their names.
   
   
4. HENRY MOORE baptised at Buckingham 8 January 1817. His first wife was Teresa COLLEY, a daughter of Robert Colley, Labourer of Maids Moreton, Bucks and Sarah nee LAMBURN. Teresa was baptised at Maids Moreton on 4 August 1811. She is variously recorded as Tresha, Terisha, Teraser as well as Teresa, indicating the difficulty clerks were having with her name. Her surname did not yield easily, but protacted research finally located it by way of the birth registration of their youngest child, earlier children being unregistered. Using the unique Posse Comitatus records of Buckinghamshire to deduce the location of Colley's there in 1798, the marriage of Henry and Teresa was found in the records of Maids Moreton, a village just north of Buckingham Town.

The circumstances leading up to this marriage are revealed in the banns book. Banns were read on only two Sundays in March 1836, instead of the lawful three, then again on the 11th, 18th and 25th of September 1836. The marriage was then solemnised on the Monday following, 26 September, but not before the baptism of their first child, Sarah, which took place that same day and for which the entry is annotated "before marriage". Witnesses to the marriage were Mary Ann HADLAND and Pamela MOORE, Henry' sister who signed as Pamlour. Henry signed his name, Teresa by mark. Both were residents of Maids Moreton, where Henry was working as a shoemaker. By the following year they were in Buckingham but later moved to London.

In April 1840 Henry and Teresa were living in Lombard Street, Chelsea, when their son William was baptised. As his father is in the 1841 census at the same street it is not unreasonable to presume that Henry and family had moved in with them whilst looking for lodgings elsewhere.

In the 1841 census the family are found at No. 1 Church Street East, Chelsea, in the fourth household of five at that address.

In 1842 when another son Thomas was baptised the family was at Lawrence Street. In all instances Henry is recorded as a shoemaker, presumably a journeyman shoemaker working for another.

By 1849/50 the family had moved to 12 Grove Cottages  in Yeomans Row, which runs off Brompton Road in Brompton, a suburb just north of Chelsea. Their youngest child Emma was born and baptised there - the only child whose birth appears to have been registered. This was fortunate as it led to Teresa's surname which otherwise might never have been found.

The baptism entry for Emma states: "daughter of Henry and Teraser Moore, shoemaker". On the same day their neighbours at No. 11, the Dowman's had two of threir children baptised. Unfortunately the Moore's are not to be found at Yeomans Row in the 1851 Census records. Of Yeomans Row, there is a small section devoted to it in the South-Kensington and Brompton volume of the Survey of London. Grove Cottages were a row of cottages in Yeomans Row itself. The writer states that the 68 little cottages in Yeomans Row contained at the 1851 Census, a population of 1020 persons. This makes an average population per cottage of 15 persons and the maximum found in one house there was 28 persons in six households. The writer notes that only two houses were in undivided occupation, one was the proprietor of the houses and the other was No. 12 where the Moores lived. So, amongst the 67 houses with working class occupants, 12 Grove Cottage was the only one not multi-occupied. It may therefore be assumed that the Moore's were there but either missed by the Census Enumerator, or were all out visiting that night.

CHILDREN OF HENRY MOORE AND TERESA (nee COLLEY)

1. SARAH christened Maids Moreton 26 September 1836 (and annotated "before marriage" - the marriage took place later same day.
   
   
2. ROBERT christened Buckingham 20 September 1837. Worked as barman for brother-in-law Joseph William PAPPRILL at Papanui. Moved to Australkia and married Elizabeth SMITH daughter of George SMITH and Ann McLUCAS 1865 Toowoomba, Queensland and had issue. Robert died Moree Hospital in 1900.
   
   
3. WILLIAM HENRY christened St Luke's, Chelsea 12 April 1840. He was in Christchurch, New Zealand 1889 working for his cousin Richard MOORE and apparently still single.
   
   
4. THOMAS christened St Luke's, Chelsea 9 October 1842. Not on passenger list. Presumably died   young.
   
   
5. HARRIET probably born London circa 1847.  Not referred to in family correspondence 1889.
   
   
6. HENRY probably born London circa 1847. Other than a reference 1889 - "I never hear from Henry but think he is still in Christchurch" - nothing further known.
   

The Emigration

The Moore's emigrated on the barque "Bangalore", departing from Gravesend Dockyard near London on Friday 9 May 1851, arriving at  Lyttelton  at 3 pm Thursday 21 August in fine weather. The "Bangalore" was the tenth ship of the Canterbury Association arrivals.

Passengers disembarking at Lyttelton

The death of Teresa Moore (Colley) during this voyage is here - Demise of Teresa Colley.

Emigration Barracks, Lyttelton

John and Ann were residing at Lordship Place, Chelsea in 1844. He may have been the John Moore, boot and shoemaker who appeared in directories as living at 14 Cheyne Row, Chelsea in the 1840's, disappearing after 1848. By 1849 they were living at 16 George Street, Chelsea.

They emigrated with four of the children born in London, on the "Steadfast",  the eighth ship of the Canterbury Assolciation arrivals. Afer residing in Armagh Street, Christchurch for a time, they moved to Kaiapoi and John is recorded as a shoemaker of Cookson Street. In the late 1850's advertisments in the Lyttelton Times refer to his shop in Oxford Street, Christchuch ..........

....."John Moore, boot and shoemaker from London has imported an assortment  of boots and shoes."

Ann Moore died at Kaiapoi 26 November 1875 and John, 24 October 1881. Early life in the province must have been difficult for John as he was bankrupted in 1857.

1. ANN AMY, born 13 November 1840, baptised 7 April 1844 at St Lukes, Chelsea on same day as her brother, John Henry. Died before 1900.
  

2. JOHN HENRY, born 18 October 1843, baptised 7 April 1844 at St Lukes, Chelsea. He became a shoemaker at Kaiapoi and married there, Lucy Caroline BILLENS, 10 April 1871. Children were: Emma Lousia born 9 May 1872 and Frank born 9 October 1875. A John Henry Moore, shoemaker, is listed in a directory of 1900 as a resident of Sefton.
  

3. JAMES WILLIAM (JIMMY) born 24 May 1846, baptised St Judes, Turks Row, Chelsea 21 June 1849. He became a shoemaker at Amberley in Canterbury and was bankrupted in February 1884. He married  a Miss Frances of Woodend but I have not traced any children.
   
   James is referred to in "Dr Gundry's Diary". Dr Gundry was the surgeon on board the Steadfast and he records this incident: "Tueday, 27 May 18512, a day of accidents.....Mr Moore's little boy James, or "fat Pickwick" as he is called, fell down the hatchway on the larboard side on to the lower deck. He was much shaken by the fall, but no serious injury done, happily (aged 4, second youngest of the four children of John Moore, 33, shoemaker and wife Anne, 32)".
   
   
Dr Gundry was John Seager Gundry, who set up a surgery in Cashel Street, Christchurch.
 
4. RICHARD MOORE born 7 March 1849, baptised St Judes, Chelsea 21 June 1849 on the same day as his brother James.
   
   The following was taken from "Cyclopedia of New Zealand", Canterbury Volume, 1903.

"Richard Moore, 1849-1936, born in London, son of John Moore, came with his parents in the Steadfast to Lyttelton in 1851.  He was educated at Broughtons and Mertons Schools in Christchurch and Rangiora and entered business in Kaiapoi at 21 years old as a coach builder and wheelwright, later adding a saddlery. He constructed the first wool wagons used in North Canterbury. Disposing of this business he took over the Kaiapoi Produce Co and later sold it to the Kaiapoi Produce and Shipping Company. He promoted two Building Societies at Kaiapoi. He was Mayor of Kaiapoi from 1884-1887, Chairman of the Waimakiri Harbour Board, a keen sportsman, boating club member and President of the Rifle Club. He contested the Kaiapoi seat against E Richards in1887, was elected in 1890, defeated 1893, elected again 1896 and defeated 1899. In 1914 he was called to the Legislative Council of which he remained a member until 1935. He died 12 September 1936. He married Mary Ann, daughter of R Woodford and their children were Cora born 1872, Muriel born 1876 (who married a Mr Farnham), Rena born 1881, Estella Beatrice born 1883 married a Mr Mills) and Lionel born 1879. Richard Moore married secondly Maria Louisa BINGHAM.



Richard Moore

A similar account is given in "New Zealand Dictionary of Biography" - Scholefield.

In 1878 he is recorded as a blacksmith of Cookson Street, Kaiapoi and in 1900 at North Road, listed as a Justice of the Peace.  


5. ARTHUR, born New Zealand, nothing further known.
   
 
6. ROSE, born New Zealand, nothing further known.

Robert MOORE has been found. I am indebted to Robert McCREDIE, Australia, a descendant, for the following. Robert married Elizabeth SMITH, daughter of George SMITH and Ann nee McLUCAS on 1 June 1865 at Toowoomba, Queensland. Elizabeth was born 7 August 1848 in Brandon, Seaham, New South Wales and died 22 September 1941, Moree, New South Wales. Robert MOORE died aged 60 on 15 June 1900, at Moree. Descendants of this couple have been traced by Mr McCredie who has provieded us with a copy.