Born at Linton, near Cambridge, on the 23rd of February 1835, and christened at Linton Parish Church on the 31st of May, the fourth son of James and Maria Houseden. His father was a carpenter, and had ten children altogether.
Enlisted at Hounslow on the 30th of July 1853.
Age: 18.
Height: 5' 7".
Trade: Blacksmith.
Features: Fair complexion. Grey eyes. Brown hair.
When loading the horses, en route for the Crimea, he was badly kicked in the head, but is said to have told the Colonel that "It was nothing compared to the cuts that he expected to get later on..."
At Scutari, aboard a Hospital Ship, from the 16th of October 1854, joined the regiment in the Crimea on the 23rd of October, sent back to Scutari on the 26th of October until the 11th of May 1855.
Embarked for India from Cork aboard the S.S. "Great Britain", on the 8th of October 1857.
The muster rolls for the July-September 1858 period show him as "On Detachment at Sholapoore" during the whole of the period.
In action against the rebels at Zeerapore on the 29th of December 1858 and at Baroda on the 1st of January 1859.
Re-engaged at Colchester for a further period of 12 years service on the 27th of July 1865, when he received a bounty of £5/13/6d.
Discharged from Dublin on the 18th of August 1874 at "Own request, after 21 years service,"
Served 21 years 20 days.
In Turkey and the Crimea: 2 years
In India: 6 years 3 months.
Conduct: "very good."
In possession of five Good Conduct badges.
Four times entered in the Regimental Defaulter's book. Never tried by Court-martial.
Is shown on the Regimental "Married roll" from the 22nd of January 1868, his wife's name being Martha.
Awarded a pension of 2/- per day.
Documents confirm the award of the Crimean, Turkish, and Indian Mutiny medals. There is no mention of the L.S. & G. C. medal which he was awarded on the 6th of February 1872, with a gratuity of £5.
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasps for Alma, Sebastopol, and the Turkish medal.
Mutiny medal without clasp.
To live in Linton, Cambridgeshire, after discharge.
Living in the North London Pension District in 1868.
1881 Census
The 1881 Census shows a man named as Alfred "Housden" living at the Coffee Shop, Broad Lane, Tottenham, London, a Coffee House Keeper, aged 42, (his shown age does not agree with that given on enlistment), born at Linton, Cambridgeshire, with his wife, Eliza, aged 49, born at Hazelwood, Suffolk and two children, a son and daughter.
1891 Census
14 Victoria Road, Tottenham.
Alfred Houseden, 52, Domestic Gardener, born Linton, Cambridgeshire.
Eliza, 64, Suffolk.
One son shown: John, 20.
[RM: Alfred Housden died aged 54, during the June quarter of 1893 in Edmonton District (this includes Tottenham).]
Census information for 1891 kindly provided by Chris Poole.