Information from Wendy Leahy
John William Vann
Born: c.1832
Born at: Leicester
Occupations: Clerk
Father: John, of G[rea]t Glen, Leicester
1st Regiment no: 1557
Enlisted: 05 02 1853, Birmingham, aged 21 years 4 months
Height at enlistment: 5' 7"
Rank: 1853-1854: Private
Other duties: 01 09 1854: To Varna Hospital
Died: at Scutari
Will: 15s 7d
Next of kin: Father, John Vann, of G[reat] Glen, Leicester
TNA sources: WO/12/657, WO/12/659
[Source: Wendy Leahy, http://shadowsoftime.co.nz/4ths/dragoonuv/vann1.html (accessed 4.3.2014). We are very grateful to Wendy for allowing us to reproduce information she has collected.]
(Click on image to enlarge)
Part of a stone headstone commemorating the Vann family, St Cuthbert's Church, Great Glen, Leicestershire (photo, Nige Vann, date?)
JAMES VANN
CORPL 4th.L.D.
WHO DIED AT VARNA
SEPTEMBER 11TH. 1854.
AGED 22 YEARS.
Another brother, Henry, a sergeant in the RE, died at Mauritius in 1867.
[PB: In May 2015 the EJBA was contacted by Nige Vann, who was puzzled about the forename of the "J. Vann" who died at Varna. He supplied a photograph (shown above) that shows that it was James. He added that James was one of 9 children of John Vann baptised in Great Glen, including his own 3x great-grandfather, also called John. It would be good to clarify this.]
1841 Census
Great Glen, Leicestershire.
John Vann, 50, 1791, Male, Agricultural Labourer.
Mary Vann, 45, 1796, Female.
Thomas Vann, 20, 1821, Male, Bricklayer Apprentice.
Ann Vann, 14, 1827, Female.
James Vann, 10, 1831, Male.
Joseph Vann, 8, 1833, Male.
Henry [?] Vann, 5, 1836, Male.
King [?] Vann, 3, 1838, Male.
All born Leicestershire
[PB]
The headstone as a whole reads:
In affectionate remembrance of JOHN VANN, who died February 18th 1867 aged 78 years.
MARY wife of the above who died October 18th 1853 aged 59 years.
also of their sons THOMAS VANN who died September 23rd 1849 aged 27 years.
JAMES VANN Corpl 4th L.D who died at Varna September 11th 1854 aged 22 years.
HENRY VANN Sergt R.E. who died at the Mauritius, April 7th 1867 aged 30 years.
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again Even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
[Source: http://www.leicestershirevillages.com/greatglen/missectionc1.html (accessed 6 May 2015). The headstone is apparently close to the west end of the church, on the north side.]