Born at Sundridge, near Sevenoaks, Kent. (The 1851 Census Returns for Pockthorpe Barracks at Norwich show this as Tonbridge, Kent.)
Enlisted at Maidstone on the 1st of January 1836.
Age: 21.
Height: 5' 7".
Trade: Coachman.
Sallow complexion. Blue eyes. Brown hair.
"Deserted" on the 5th of August 1843 and rejoined the regiment on the 4th of May 1844.
William Staden was tried by a Regimental Court-martial and sentenced to "3 months' imprisonment and to forfeit all previous service," but this was restored by War Office Authority, dated the 22nd of March 1856. (The Discharge Board documents show him as having 32 years 1 month actual service, but 8 years were "disallowed".
1851 Census
Pockthorpe Cavalry Barracks, Norwich.
William Staden, 36, unmarried, Private, born Tunbridge.
Transferred to the 14th Light Dragoons at Sandhurst on the 23rd of February 1861 with the Regimental No. 503. He was then a groom to the Cadets there
Marriage registered
William Staden to Eliza Searle, December Quarter 1864.
Discharged from Edinburgh on the 23rd of January 1868.
"Own request, free to pension after 24 years' service."
Served 24 years 21 days.
In Turkey and the Crimea: 2 years.
Conduct: "very good".
In possession of five Good Conduct badges.
Four times entered in the Regimental Defaulters' book. Once tried by Court-martial.
Although William Staden's documents show him as having been awarded the Crimean medal with four clasps and the Turkish Medal, they also show him as "Being present at the battles of the Alma, Inkerman and the Siege and capture of Sebastopol" (i.e. no mention of Balaclava)
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasps for Alma, Balaclava, Inkerman, and Sebastopol.
[PB: Check that his name does indeed appear on the list of those entitled to the Balaclava clasp. Did he charge?]
He was shown as a member of the Balaclava Commemoration Society in 1877 but not in the 1879 revised list.
[CHECK how he is named on the BCS lists. Roy Dutton says a "Private E. Stadon" of the 11th Hussars appears on the 1877 but not the 1879 list. There is nobody of this or similar name, so it is presumably William Staden. There is an account of the Charge by a "William Charles Stanton" in the Illustrated London News, 30th October 1875. Doug Austin has transcribed this in his 2004 publication on the Balaklava Anniversary at Alexandra Palace 2 Oct 1875 (pp.15-16). FOLLOW THIS UP.]
1881 Census
3, Hawick Place, St. Margaret's Westminster, London.
The 1881 Census Returns show William Staden, his wife Eliza, and a daughter, Clara, were Domestic Servants to Col. Peel.
At this time he was shown as aged 67, an Army Pensioner, Servant to Colonel Peel, born at Sundridge, Kent, with his wife, Eliza, 40, a Domestic Servant, born at Blackwater, Surrey, and a daughter, Clara, 19, also a Domestic Servant, born at Bagshot, Surrey,
William Staden was servant and valet to Lieut-Colonel Edmund Yates Peel of the 11th Hussars at the time of the latter's suicide on the 25th of March 1885 in his chambers in London, and gave evidence at the inquest.
1881 Census
3 Howick Place, St Margaret's, Westminster.
William Staden, 67, Servant to Col. Peel & Army Pensioner, born Sunbridge.
Eliza Staden 40, Domestic Servant, born Blackwater, Surrey.
Clara Staden, 19, Domestic Servant, born Bagshot, Surrey.
Marriage registered
Clara Eliza Staden [daughter] to William Henry Searle, September Quarter 1882, Lambeth.
Birth registered
Mary Nina Searle, December Quarter 1883, W. Ham.
Death registered
William Henry Searle [son-in-law], aged 42 years, June Quarter 1885, Lambeth.
Marriage registered [2nd]
Clara Searle [daughter] to John Atkinson, December 1886, Farnham.
1891 Census
12 Gordon Terrace, Canning Town, West Ham.
William Staden, 77, Pensioner 14th Hussars, born Sunbridge.
Eliza Staden 50, Laundress, born Bagshot.
Minnie Searle, 7, Granddaughter, Scholar, born London.
Death registered
William Staden, aged 80 years, September Quarter 1894, Poplar.
1901 Census
12, Obelisk Street, Frimley.
Eliza Staden, widow, 60, Laundress, born Blackwater.
John Atkinson, son-in-law, 40, Valet Domestic, born Poplar.
Clara Atkinson, Daughter, 39, born Vauxhall.
Dollaranna (sic) Searle, 17, Laundry Hand, born Blackfriars. [This person ties in with Mary Nina and could be mis-spelling or nickname.]
1911 Census
7, Cromwell Road Camberley.
Eliza Staden, 70, widow, Laundress, born Blackwater.
Notes: Occupying 1 room of Mrs Harriett Try's house. She made her mark with an 'x'.
1911 Census
129, Lavender Road, Battersea.
John Atkinson, 48, Wood Machiner, born Isle of Dogs, Poplar.
Clara Atkinson, 49, Dress Maker, born Bond Street, Vauxhhall.
Notes: Married 24 years. 1 child born who has since died.
Death registered
Eliza Staden, wife, aged 84, June Quarter 1925, Farnham.
[TO BE COMPLETED] Census information for 1861, 1871, and death registrations kindly provided by Chris Poole.