WAPP - Waltham Abbey Personnel Project

About WAPP
  
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Biography:

1. Born in Lancashire in 1790, Livesey was a retired regular soldier (Supply 5/238 dated the 30th November 1840). 2. He had originally trained as a Weaver before joining the Royal Regiment of Artillery (Fourth Battalion) at Rochdale as a Gunner on the 18th June 1808, on his eighteenth birthday. During his military career he saw service in the Peninsular War for 3 years and 9 months, and a further 6 years and 3 months in Canada. William was promoted to the rank of Corporal on the 1st June 1813, to that of Serjeant on the 1st June 1825, and, finally, to Serjeant-Major on the 1st April 1830. 4. On the 11th September 1839, Livesey appeared before a Medical Board at Woolwich where he was diagnosed with chronic Rheumatism and judged to be unfit for military service with a recommendation that he should be discharged. His military service spanning 31 years ended on the 8th October 1839 (WO97/1243). 3. Livesey took the position of Warder at the Gunpowder Mills in 1840 when John Smith (1) retired. 4. According to the 1841 Census, Wlliam, his wife, Isobella, and their 5 children, were then living at the Gatehouse - John Smith's old house - being Plot No. 91 on the Town Map in Appendix 1.