Valentine Bambrick [appears to be] a younger brother of 191 [190?] John Bambrick, who had served with him as No. 190 [sic? in the 11th Dragoons?]. As such he is therefore the uncle of 1465 John Bambrick.
An entry in the parish registers of Clewer, near Windsor, shows that a Valentine Bambrick - the son of Valentine and Frances Bambrick - was baptised there on the 9th of May 1802. Such a combination of family names makes it certain that they were one and the same man.
Later Census records describe his birthplace as "Windsor Barracks" (where his father was Barracks Sergeant).
Further research in the Clewer parish records shows an entry for Frances (in brackets): "Said by the parents to have been born on the 23rd of April 1800", christened on the 27th of March 1803, the daughter of Valentine and Frances Bambrick. Also an entry for Mary Ann, christened on the 5th of May 1805.
He enlisted at East Bedfont on the 14th of August 1814. Aged only 13, he was 4' 9" in height. His trade, like that of his brothers, was given as Labourer.
His promotions were not as rapid as his brother's, not becoming a Corporal until the 30th of November 1822, and Sergeant on the 23rd of August 1824.
[PB: It is possible he is recorded along with his brother John and other members of the 11th Light Dragoons on the Indiaman "Atlas" departing Gravesend 7th of February 1819 for Calcutta.]
He was tried by a Regimental Court-martial on the 13th of September 1827 and reduced to Private.
Promoted again to Sergeant on the 3rd of January 1828; he remained in that rank until appointed to Troop Sergeant-Major on the 16th of May 1837.
He was discharged from Canterbury on the 31st of July 1839 with a service to count of 21 years 128 days and a pension of 2/- per day. The reason for his discharge was shown as the "Reduction of the Regiment - fit for service, being in good health." His age was given as 37 years, and his conduct and character as "good."
He did not serve at Waterloo, although he is credited with having served 2 years and eight months in France, out of the 3 years and eight months the regiment was there. He was present at and received, the Army of India medal with the clasp for "Bhurtpore".
He was shown as "Intending to live in the Taunton Pension District after discharge."
He too had married in India, the records showing him as having married Mary Ann James, a spinster, at Cawnpore on the 12th of January 1829. The witnesses were his brother, John Bambrick, 11th Dragoons, and Ann Shepherd. Edward White, the District Chaplain was the officiating priest and the clerk was James Paton. He was then a Sergeant, aged 26 years, and she only 14.
Three children were born to them in India: Mary Ann, born in Cawnpore on the 27th of July 1830, Frances Ann, born in Meerut on the 19th of August 1832, and Charlotte Ruth, born in Meerut on the 22nd of September 1835.
No trace of him can be found in the 1841 Census returns for Bridgwater in Somerset, but by a coincidence a "John Bambrick" aged 45 years, whose occupation is described as "Army", was living in the High Street at this time. Said to have been born in Ireland, no other person of this name was shown at the address. It was, apparently, a lodging house, two of the four other people shown there were described as" Travellers". (According to the Census instructions given to the Returning Officers the term "Army" was to be used for a serving man.)
1851 Census
Railway Parade, Bridgwater (31st of March 1851)
Valentine Bambrick, aged 47, widower. Chelsea Pensioner. Born in Windsor Barracks, Berkshire.
His three daughters were living at home with him, the two youngest being shown as "Scholars." All were shown as being born in Bengal, India.
No trace can be found of the death of his wife, Mary Ann. She was alive up to 1839, but it is not known where the family lived up to 1846, (the date when the parish records of St. John the Baptist's, Eastover, Bridgwater, commenced).
1861 Census
Railway Parade, Bridgwater (7th of April 1861)
The details regarding Valentine Bambrick, apart from his stated place of birth (given only as Windsor), were repeated. Mary Ann, his eldest daughter, was not living at home and the other two were shown as being "Dressmakers".
Valentine Bambrick died at the Railway Parade, Bridgwater, on the 17th of February 1871, aged 68 years, from "Disease of the heart and paralysis". Dr. James Bailey, of Bath Road, Bridgwater, was the informant of his death.
It has not yet been possible to find out where he was buried, the parish records not being available after 1868. If this was his correct age, he would appear to have been younger than his stated age on enlistment.
No funeral report can be found for Valentine Bambrick, but an obituary notice appeared in the "Somerset Gazette" for the 11th of February 1871:
Death - February 7th., at the Railway Parade, St. John's Street, Bridgwater, Somerset. Sergeant-Major Valentine Bambrick, late of the 11th Hussars, aged 68.
190 Troop Sergeant Major Valentine Bambrick was buried in St. John's Church-yard at Bridgwater on the 11th of February 1871.
1871 Census
Railway Parade, Bridgwater (2nd of April 1871)
The two youngest girls were still living in Railway Parade, their occupations now being shown as "School-mistresses".
Nothing can be traced of them as such, it having been established that there were no fewer than twenty-seven public and private schools in the area. They could well have been employed in the teaching of needlework. Their ages were given as 33 and 31 years respectively at this time.
It is known that two of his daughters married.
Mary Ann married James Bailey, a cabinet maker, at St. John's Church, Eastover, on the 16th of October 1871. Both were described as being "of full age", she a spinster and he a bachelor. Her father was shown as Valentine Bambrick, a Sergeant Major, and his as James Bailey, a gardener. The witnesses were Frederick Charles Levinge and her sister, Charlotte Ruth. The ceremony, by licence, was performed by the Reverend H.J. Creswell. No children can be found recorded of this couple in the parish, but they could have lived in either of the other two parishes in the town. [CBJ: At the time EJB wrote this account, the records for these were not yet accessible.]
Francis Ann married William Brooks, a smith, at the same church on the 17th of August 1873. He was then 22 years of age and she 30 [sic]. Described as a bachelor, his father being John Brooks, an engine driver, and she as a spinster, Valentine Bambrick, Sergeant Major, 11th Hussars, being shown as her father. The witnesses were William Rigby and Mary Brooks, and the the ceremony was performed by the incumbent, the Revd. John H. Collins.
A child, William Valentine, son of William Brook, a mechanic, and his wife, Frances Ann, was baptised at St. John's Church on the 11th of July 1875 by the Revd. R.J. Creswell. No record of any other children being born to either of his daughters, or of any further marriages, can be found in the parish records, which are now available to 1884.
1980: Enquiry through the correspondence columns of the "Bridgwater Mercury" seeking descendants of Valentine Bambrick (senior's) children, brought no response.
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[PB: to follow up:
There was a Sergeant Valentine Bambrick in Captain Creighton's troop of the 11th Light Dragoons at Bhurtpore [DATE? 1826?] This is the possible ??uncle valentine
[http://chargeofthelightbrigade.com/allmen/allmenB/allmenB_11H/bambrick_j_1465_11H/bambrick_valentine_uncle.html]
PB: what was number "60" mean LHS of his name? Source: WO 100; Piece: 13. {http://search.ancestry.co.uk/Browse/View.aspx?dbid=1686&path=Asia.India+1803-1849.ALL.All+Regiments%2c+Units+and+Staff.7}]