Born in London.
Enlisted at Hounslow on the 27th of April 1849.
Age: 20.
Height: 5' 6".
Trade: Butcher.
"Deserted" from Hounslow on the 15th of September 1849. (At this time he was described as being of a swarthy complexion, hazel eyes and dark brown hair).
Rejoined the regiment on the 10th of October 1849, and being tried by a Regimental Court-martial, was imprisoned in Fort Clarence until the 16th of November 1849.
(His forfeited service was restored by War Office Authority, dated the 22nd of March 1856.)
"On Command" at Datchin from October of 1854 and most of 1855/56, where he was employed as a "Commissariat Butcher."
Discharged, "by purchase", from Canterbury on the 20th of September 1856. Payment of £20.
Served 7 years 145 days.
In Turkey and the Crimea: 1 year 10 months. Conduct: "very good".
In possession of one Good Conduct badge.
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasps for Alma, Balaclava, Inkerman, and Sebastopol.
A man of the same name is shown on the death certificate of 635 Samuel Parkes of the 4th Light Dragoons (see his record) as being "present at his death."
His address was shown as No. 7 Shouldham Street, St. Marylebone. (He was not living at this address according to the 1851 Census taking.)
It is possible, too, that he was a member of the Park Police, but enquiry of the present Metropolitan Police Authority shows that they did not take over the responsibility for the policing of Hyde Park until the 1st of April 1867.
Unfortunately, too, no records of the Royal Parks Constabulary for the period have survived.