Born at Chesterton, near Cambridge, c.1823.
1841 Census
High Street, Chesterton.
Samuel Long, aged 50 years, Cordwainer, living in the High Street, with his wife, Charlotte, aged 56 [?], and two sons: Matthew, 18, Servant, and Joseph, 35.
Both parents were shown as born in the county, but the two children as not.
A Samuel Long is shown in the parish registers as having been buried at Chesterton, aged 58 years, on the 21st of October 1848.
Samuel Long had enlisted into the 7th Light Dragoons at Hyde Park Barracks, London, on the 4th of October 1812. He embarked for Spain on the 15th of August 1813 and landed at Bilbao on the 1st of September. On returning to England he disembarked on the 12th of June 1814 and was stationed at Hastings on revenue duties.
He did not go to France with the regiment for the Waterloo campaign, but was sent to the Maidstone Depot on the 12th of April 1815, where he served in Captain Frazier's Troop. He was discharged by "Order of the Adjutant-General's Office" on the 23rd of April 1815. A number of other men at the Depot were discharged under this Order at the time, but no reason is shown.
Enlisted at London on the 6th of May 1842.
Age: 17 years 10 months.
Height: 5' 7".
Trade: Printer.
Fresh complexion. Grey eyes. Brown hair.
1851 Census
Piershill Barracks, Leith South, Midlothian.
Matthew Long, 27, Soldier, Private, born London.
From Private to Corporal: 13th of April 1853.
Corporal to Sergeant: 19th of June 1855.
He is shown on a Nominal Roll, dated the 9th of November 1855, as being On Duty at Scutari from the 24th of October 1855. From this we can assume he did not serve in Eupatoria with the regiment.
Matthew Long sent money from the Crimea to his brother, Joseph Long, living at 4, Park Place, St. James's, London.
Discharged from Aldershot on the 25th of April 1864, as:
"Unfit from defective vision, consequent upon advancing age and long service. Will soon be unable to earn his livelihood as a compositor. Not aggravated by vice or misconduct."
Served 21 years 294 days. In Turkey and the Crimea, 2 years.
Conduct: "very good."
In possession of two Good Conduct badges when promoted and would now have had four.
Once entered in the Regimental Defaulters' book. Never tried by Court-martial.
Awarded a pension of 1/6d. per day, but this was increased to 2/- on the 7th of July 1870.
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasps for Alma, Balaclava, Inkerman, Sebastopol and the Turkish medal.
Documents confirm the award of the Distinguished Conduct medal, Crimean medal with four clasps and the Long Service & Good Conduct medal.
Awarded theDistinguished Conduct Medal, but it is not known when or under what circumstances.
Awarded the Long Service & Good Conduct medal on the 18th of September 1863, with a gratuity of £5.
Living in North London after discharge and was still there in 1875.
1881 Census
High Street, Chesterton, Cambridge.
Matthew F. Long, aged 58, "(Army Pens) Chelsea Pensioner Cavalry", born in London.
He was unmarried and living with his brother, Joseph W. Long, aged 55, born London. Joseph was also unmarried and shown as an "Annuitant". [RM]
1891 Census
High Street, Chesterton.
Matthew Long, 68, Army Pensioner.
William Long, brother, 64, living on own means. [CP]
Death registered
Matthew Long, aged 74, June Quarter of 1897, Chesterton District. [RM]
Matthew Long appears in the photograph of a number of officers and men of the 13th Hussars said to have been taken (according to the Regimental History) the day after the battle of Balaclava, i.e. 26th of October 1854. However, some doubt exists as to just when this picture was taken. Some of men pictured could not possibly have been there, being already prisoners-of-war, or had not yet arrived in the Crimea proper.
Census information for 1851 and 1891 kindly provided by Chris Poole.