Born at Austin Moor, Cumberland (another source states Whitehaven), c.1814.
Enlisted at Pocklington, Leeds, on the 9th of October 1832.
Age: 18.
Height: 5' 7".
Trade: Pin-worker.
Appearance: Swarthy complexion. Hazel eyes. Black hair.
In "Civil Gaol", 9th — 30th of September 1833. He had previously been confined "in cells" from the 4th of July — 9th of August 1833.
Deserted from Canterbury on the 18th of June 1839 and rejoined on the 6th of July 1839. Tried by a District Court-martial and sentenced to three months' imprisonment from the 6th of July to the 20th of October 1839 and to forfeit 6 years 222 days previous service.
Tried and imprisoned, 6th-31st of March 1841.
Deserted from the 12th of February — 4th of April 1842. Tried by a District Court-martial and sentenced to six months' imprisonment. Also to forfeit 2 years 76 days previous service.
Tried by a District Court-martial on the 28th of November 1850 and imprisoned to the end of January 1851. "To lose all previous service." Altogether he lost a total of 13 years 202 days.
1851 Census
Pockthorpe Cavalry Barracks, Norwich.
Silvester Milburn, 37, Private, born Austin Moor, Cumberland.
Wounded in action at Balaclava.
Sent to Scutari on the 29th of October 1854.
Having been sent to England on the 26th of January 1855, he was on the Chatham Invalid Depot roll until the 21st of March, when he was sent to the Regimental Depot.
"Horse Guards, 25th April 1855.
Sir, -The Adjutant General has the honour to request that the Officer Commanding the Depot of Cavalry at Newbridge, to transmit to his Office the usual returns and records of service in order that the names of the men mentioned in the enclosed letter [Private Thomas Milburne and Private John Haughton] that they may be submitted for the restoration of their forfeited service. The Adjutant General requests that the enclosure may be returned.
[To:] Officer Commanding the Cavalry Depot, Newbridge."
Horse Guards,
19th June 1855,
Sir, — With reference of the Memorandum from this Department on the 25th of April last, I have the honour to request that you will be pleased to transmit the returns and records as required in order that the names of the men named in the margin [Privates Haughton and Milburne, 11th Hussars] may now be submitted to the Queen for the restoration of their forfeited service, I have the honour at the same time to request the enclosure transmitted in the former communication from this Office be returned.
I am, etc, etc,.
R.P. Douglas, AAG.
[To:] "Officer Commanding the Cavalry Depot, Newbridge.
Horse Guards,
18th June 1855,
Sir, — I have the honour to request that you will be pleased to transmit to this Department the usual returns immediately, recommending the restoration of the forfeited services of the men named in the margin [646 Private John Haughton and 741 Sylvester Milburne] in accordance with the terms of Paragraph 11 (Page 106) of the Queen's Regulations. and Orders for the Army.
I am, etc, etc.
R.P. Douglas, AAG."
[To:] "Officer Commanding the Cavalry Depot, Newbridge.
Horse Guards,
15th August 1855.
Sir, — In reply to your recommendation for the forfeited service of the man named in the margin [741 Sylvester Milburne] I have the honour to acquaint you that the service of this man (as shown by the accompanying record and as required by the Regulations of the Service (See Page 184) since his restoration to duty following his two acts of desertion are not long enough to entitle his claim for consideration unless it can be shown that his performance of good and gallant conduct in the field will bring his name within the meaning of the Circular from this Department of the 28th of May last,
I am, etc, etc.,
R.P. Douglas, AAG."
[To:] Officer Commanding 11th Hussars, Crimea."
"Horse Guards,
26 October 1856.
Sir, — In reply to your letter of the 11th inst., relating to the restoration of the forfeited service of Private S. Milburne of the 11th Hussars, I have the honour to acquaint you that the name of this soldier will be forthwith submitted to Her Majesty the Queen for the restoration of the whole of his forfeited service.
I have, etct. etc,.
R. P. Donoghue, DAG.
[To:] Officer Commanding 11th Hussars, Cahir."
Horse Guards.
3rd July 1857.
Sir, — With reference to the communication from the War Office to Officers Commanding Regiments and Depots, No. 807, I have it in command to transmit the enclosed letter dated the 14th of May 1857 and statement accompanying it and to certify for your information and guidance that HRH the General Commanding-in-Chief is pleased to approve of the man herein named [Private Sylvester Milburn, 11th Hussars] being permitted to wear the number of distinguishing marks to which it is stated against his name as entitled to for good conduct.
I have, etc. etc.,
R. P. Douglas, AAG."
[To:] Officer Commanding 11th Hussars, Canterbury.
By this time, July 1857, he had been discharged for more than a year.
Discharged from Chatham Invalid Depot on the 24th of April 1856:
"Unfit for further service. Suffers from a chronic chest affliction and varicose veins. The probable effects of military service and not aggravated by vice or mis-conduct. Right arm fractured by a gun-shot wound at Balaclava. Is now totally unfit for service."
Served 24 years 5 months.
In Turkey and the Crimea: 9 months. East Indies, 3 years 8 months.
Next of kin (in 1841): Father, Thomas Milburn, then living in Leeds. In 1854: Wife, Jane Milburn.
Aged 43 years 6 months on discharge.
Conduct and character: "Indifferent." Not in possession of any Good Conduct badges.
Awarded a pension of 1/- per day. Living in the Hull Pension District in 1857.
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasps for Alma, Balaclava and Sebastopol, and the Turkish medal.
He was presented with his Crimean medal by Queen Victoria at aceremony on the Horse Guards Parade on the 18th of May 1855.
His name appears on the Nominal Return of those present now in the PRO, and also on a similar roll which appeared in the United Services Magazine for June of 1855 and on that which appeared in the Illustrated London News of the 26th of May 1855.
Further detailed medal information archived.
Died in the Hull Pension District on the 16th of January 1869.
His death certificate shows that he died at Jenning Street, Hull, on the 16th of January 1869, a Greenwich Pensioner [sic], aged 52 years, from "Chronic Bronchitis." A Jane Elizabeth Milburn of the same address (who had to make her mark) was present at, and the informant of, his death.
(There is a copy of the death certificate in the 11th Hussars "Certificates" file.)
Extract from the Hull Times, 23rd of January 1869:
"Death — Sylvester Milburn, January 16th, at Hull, aged 53 years. Of Jenning Street, Groves, and late of the 11th Hussars."
Census information for 1851 kindly provided by Chris Poole.