Born at Biggar, Lanarkshire.
Enlisted at Edinburgh on the 27 of January 1831.
Age. 18.
Height. 5' 8".
Trade. Baker.
Appearance: Fresh complexion. Grey eyes. Brown hair.
"Deserted" on the 18th of September 1833. Tried by a Regimental Court-martial and sentenced to six months' imprisonment in Cold Bath Military Prison from the 17th of October 1833 — 16th of March 1834. Also "to forfeit all of his previous service by this conviction."
[PB: For more on Coldbath Prison, see the record of 1064 Charles Aldous, 17th Lancers]
From Private to Farrier-Sergeant on the 7th of August 1845, when his forfeited service was also restored.
To Farrier-Major, ranking as Sergeant, on the 6th of July 1852. The post of Farrier-Major was instituted in July 1852. Brown was the first holder in the Regiment, initially as a non-substantive rank on the Regimental Staff. Brown was promoted on the 18th of November 1854 when the post became substantive.
At Varna, 1st of October 1854 — 30th of March 1855, and invalided to England aboard the "Edwin Fox" on the 28th of August 1855.
He sent money from the Crimea to a No. 1290 Thomas A. Brown (possibly his son) who was then at the Canterbury Depot and does not appear to have served in the Crimea.
(According to the Army Chaplain's Baptismal Records, a "Thomas A. Brown" was born into the 17th Lancers at Norwich during 1836. He was in the Regimental Band at one period. He was promoted to Corporal on the 1st of July 1855, later serving in India during the Mutiny, for which he was awarded the medal without clasp.)
Discharged from Chatham Invalid Depot on the 4th of December 1855, as:
"Unfit for action duty from shortness of breath, palpitations of the heart and rheumatic pains consequent upon long service and aggravated by fatigue during the past winter in the Crimea."
Aged 42 years 10 months on discharge.
Conduct and character, "very good". In possession of four Good Conduct badges.
To live in Wakefield, Yorkshire, but he was living in the Halifax area from 1864 to 1874.
Awarded a pension of 1/4d. per day.
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasp for Sebastopol. [PB: And the Turkish medal?]
1871 Census
Elin Street, Wakefield.
Ebenezer Brown, 58, Attendant Lunatic Asylum, born Scotland.
Mary, 53.
Three children shown: Sarah 33, Mary A. 19, Eliza E. 17.
1871 Census
Elm Street, Wakefield, Yorkshire.
The 1881 Census shows him as aged 63, an Annuitant, born in Scotland, living with his wife, Mary, 63, born at Upton, Yorkshire, and two grandchildren, a boy of 11 and a girl of 3, but with different surnames.
Died on the 21st of August 1890.
Extract from the Wakefield Express for Saturday the 23rd of August 1890:
"Death — Brown. On the 21st inst. at Elm Street, Wakefield, in his 79th year. Ebenezer Brown, late Farrier-Major of the 17th Lancers. Will be interred at Wakefield Cemetery today (Saturday) at 2.30. p.m."
Extract from the Wakefield and West Riding Herald, 23rd of August 1890:
"Many of our readers will regret to hear of the death of Ebenezer Brown, a well-known Wakefield man, which took place at his residence, Elm Street, off York Street, Wakefield, at the age of 78.
Brown entered the Army when quite a young man and served with the 17th Lancers for the space of 25 years, eventually becoming Farrier-Major. He served in the Crimean campaign during the years of 1856-57 [sic] and was present during the famous "Charge of the Light Brigade", but did not take part in it, being engaged in caring for sick horses.
His term of service expiring whilst he was in the Crimea, he was sent home before the fall of Sebastopol and received the usual pension. He received in addition to the Crimean medal and clasp, the Turkish decoration.
After quitting the Army the deceased became an attendant at the West Riding Asylum at Wakefield, where he was greatly respected and where he had been employed for 15 years, thus obtaining a pension for both civil and military service.
Brown was a man of powerful physique, and his figure was well known in the City. He had been unwell for some time past and died as above stated, evidently from sheer old age. He had been twice married, and leaves a wife and several children to mourn his loss."
From Mr. R.G. Pearson of Wakefield it is learnt that Brown was engaged on the 20th of March 1856 to work as a Night Attendant at the Stanley Royd Hospital, and left in 1871 on pension. The Hospital authorities also state that "he was only the eighth Attendant to come into the Asylum Service." Exactly what is meant by this is not clear.
Mr Pearson also says that, despite the newspaper report that Brown was interred in Wakefield Cemetery on the 23rd of August 1890, a search of the cemetery records for the period showed no trace of such an interment. Other places in the area whose records are available at the Cemetery office were also checked, but to no avail. (The Stanley Royd Hospital at Wakefield was formerly the Old West Riding Asylum.)
However, a further check of the burial register for Wakefield Cemetery by Mr. Pearson brought to light a discrepancy in the recording of Ebenezer "Brown" as Ebenezer "Bolton". A check of the book recording the actual grave plots shows him to have been buried under his correct name in Plot B. Grave No. 49A. A physical check found a stone for him and his greater family situated on the left-hand side of the main path from the entrance gates and can easily be seen from the pathway.
The inscription on the stone reads:
"In affectionate remembrance of Ebenezer Brown of Wakefield, who died July 22nd 1875. Also Elizabeth Brainham, sister of the above, who died October 19th 1889, aged 49 years. Also of Ebenezer Brown, father of the above (late Farrier-Major 17th Lancers) who died August 21st. 1890 in his 79th year. Also Mary, relict of the above Ebenezer Brown Senr. who died January 10th 1896, aged 77 years.
There is a photograph of his gravestone in the 17th Lancer file.
His son, Ebenezer, also served as an Attendant at Wakefield Asylum from the 4th of December 1868 to the 20th of August 1869. He is the Ebenezer Brown buried in the family grave in July 1875.
His will was proved at York on the 10th of September 1890 by the surviving executor, Robert Wilson, of Holly Terrace, Balne-Lane, Wakefield, Nephew, Relieving Officer.