Born at Pocklington, Yorkshire c.1810
[PB: His WO97 says "John Blades...was born in the parish of Given Dale in or near the town of Pocklinton [sic] in the county of York". This must be Great Givendale, which is 3 miles north of Pocklington. However, later censuses suggest he was born in Preston — either Lancashire or Yorkshire (see the notes about the 1861 and 1871 censuses below)]
Enlisted at York on the 23rd of August 1832.
Age: 23.
Height: 5' 9".
Trade: Farrier.
Fair complexion. Grey eyes. Fair hair.
[PB: WO97 says attested "at York 23rd of August 1832 at the age of 22 years". LC says "Farmer", but WO97 confirms Farrier.]
1841 Census
Chorlton Cavalry Barracks, Manchester, Lancashire.
John Blades, 30, Soldier, not born in county.
[PB]
1851 Census
Preston Cavalry Barracks [Brighton], Sussex.
John Blades, 40, Married, Private Soldier, born Pockington [sic], Yorkshire.
Maryann Blades, 30, [Position in the institution] Domestic, Married, Soldier's Wife, b. Warminster, Wiltshire.
[PB]
Embarked for the Crimea aboard the H.T. "Mary Anne" [PB: Marianne?] on the 18th of April 1854.
His wife, Maryann, accompanied him east, but she died of cholera at Yenebazar. She was the maid-servant of Mrs Duberly, wife of the Regimental Paymaster Henry Duberly. Fanny Duberly wrote in her Journal:
"Friday, 18th August 1854 [at Yenebazar?]
Poor Mrs. Blaydes [sic] (my servant), after recovering from an attack of fever, brought on a relapse to-day from over-anxiety to attend to my comforts. She endeavoured to work till her health absolutely forbad it; and a great assistance she was to me. Poor woman! she has been insensible since morning...
Sunday, 20th August
Poor Mrs. Blaydes expired this morning! Truly, we are in God's hands, and far enough from the help of man! Insufficient medical attendance (many of the doctors are ill), scanty stores, and no sick diet — we must feed our dying on rations and rum! As far as I am concerned, I feel calm, and filled with a tranquil faith: I have the strongest trust in the wise providence of God."
[PB: James Rawlins records her death in his diary but without naming her and with no comment. The regiment had moved to Yenebazar from Devna, after cholera broke out in the French camp there.]
We had field days almost every morning in marching order which lasted about four hours and then church parade on Sundays. We stayed there about six weeks and during that time we lost the first of our regiment including one woman. [Source: One Hussar, p10, transcribed and published by Ken Horton, no date (1986?)]
John Blades was sent to Scutari on the 26th of October 1854 to the 28th of December 1854 and was sent there again from the 19th of January 1856 [?] until being invalided to England aboard the "Alps" (5th — 21st of February [year?]).
[PB: He was sent to Scutari on the day after the Charge. Had he charged, and was he injured? However, there is no record of this. He is recorded as a Hospital Orderly in musters, so presumably he was accompanying men injured in the Charge.
Check dates. LC says "at Scutari from 26 October to 14th December or 23 December 1854 [54-4-5]. Hospital Orderly all 3 musters [55-3-5] [55-4-5 with free rations]. To Scutari 19 January & to England 02-04-56 [56-1-5]. With Service Troops entire period excluding portion of 1856 after 02-04."]
He was at the Regimental Depot from the 2nd of April 1856.
Discharged from Dundalk on the 4th of July 1856: "Unfit from age — length of service and chronic rheumatism for which he was invalided from the Crimea."
Conduct: "good".
In possession of four Good Conduct badges.
"Service...23 years 320 days...Two years abroad viz. Crimea One 2/12 years Turkey 2 months...was present at the battle of 'Alma' and the siege of 'Sebastopol'...Discharge is being proposed in consequence of his being considered unfit for further military service...Character and conduct...have been good...he is in possession of three Good Conduct badges."
He was awarded a pension of 1/- per day.
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasps for Alma and Sebastopol.
His documents state, "Present at the battle of the Alma and the Siege of Sebastopol."
He was awarded the Long Service & Good Conduct medal with a gratuity of £5 on the 22nd of February 1856.
[PB: A John Blades, "Out Pensioner", was living in Great Givendale in 1861. He was still there in 1871, when he was described as a "Pensioner (Chelsea)". This appears to be him. Had he returned to his home village and remarried?
When did he marry "Margeret"? Was she a widow living with her father-in-law, and are Hannah and Esther Smith recorded in 1861 her children from a former marriage? A number of family trees on Ancestry.com say they married in Pocklington in 1858, when she was 41. But no supporting sources are given.
But why is his birthplace in 1861 given as Preston, Lancashire, and in 1871 as Preston, Yorkshire? In 1841, when he was in Chorlton Barracks, Lancashire, it is said he was not born in the county. There is a Preston in Yorkshire, about 25 miles south-east of Pocklington, but there is no other known reason to connect him with there.]
1861 Census
Great Givendale, Pocklington, Yorkshire.
Thomas Smith, 75, Head, Widower, Agricultural Labourer, born Great Givendale, Yorkshire.
John Blades, 50, Son-in-Law, Married, Out Pensioner, born Preston, Lancashire [sic].
Margeret Blades, 44, Married, Housekeeper, Great Givendale, Yorks.
Hannah Smith, 12, Granddaughter, Scholar, Great Givendale, Yorks.
Esther Smith, 9, Granddaughter, Scholar, Great Givendale, Yorks.
[This was in the middle of three unnamed, unnumbered houses (possibly three households in one cottage?) recorded between Well Garth House and Grimthorpe Wood Cottages. A William Smith, 64, Agricultural Labourer, and Elizabeth Smith, 71, lived next door. These may have been relatives.]
[PB]
1871 Census
5 Givendale, Pocklington, Yorkshire.
John Blades, 60, Married, Penshioner (Chelsea) [sic], born Preston
Margeret [sic] Blades, 56, Married, Great Givendale, Yorks.
William Smith, 8, Nephew, Scholar, Pocklington, Yorks.
[PB]
In 1891, Margaret Blades, 74, widow, appears to have been living with another widow, Mary Surrage, 75, in Bishop Wilton with Belthorpe, Yorkshire.
Deaths registered
John Blades, 66, January Quarter 1876, Pocklington, Yorkshire.
Margaret Blades, 77, April Quarter 1893, Pocklington, Yorkshire.
[PB]