Charles Andrews

   Cause of his death was Old Age.

  General Notes:

by Dick (Richard Arthur) Phillips

Charles enlisted in the Rifle Brigade 11th march 1818. He was 19 years of age. He transferred to the 80th Regiment of Foot, to be with his brother, John, on 25th April 1818. He was promoted to Corporal on 11th march, 1823, to Sergeant on 25th April 1825,and to Colour Sergeant at Warrington on 1st January 1832. He was given furlough from 2nd to 28th February 1832 and married Jane Isabella Davis at Portsea on the 14th of February. He served at Malta in the Mediterranean for 10 years and three months. Half of his regiment sailed from Chatham on 28th June 1836 aboard the “Earl Grey”, bound for Australia. The other half of the regiment was sent to Hong Kong. They arrived in Australia on 31st December 1836 and were stationed at Bowens Hollow, Richmond. His company served three months at Richmond and a further three months at Hassans Walls. His brother, Sergeant John Andrews, served in a company alternating with his. John was demoted from Sergeant to private on 27th April 1831 for being drunk on parade, and regained his sergeant’s stripes on 26/11/1835. Charles was deprived of his Colours by his commanding officer on 24th July 1838 - the pay sheet does not give any reason. His pay was reduced from two shillings and five pence per day to one shilling and eleven pence. His company was sent to Norfolk Island on 1st October 1838. Their daughter, Caroline, was born there on 3rd March 1839. They returned to Richmond on 30th September 1839 and Charles was discharged medically unfit on 29th February 1840. His brother, John, was discharged on the same day.

Charles’ total army service was 23 years 50 days. He then served as a constable at Windsor until 1841. He purchased 80 acres at Burranarral, Rickety creek, Windsor, then sold this land and bought 100 acres of beachfront land at Cabbage Tree Beach, Manly, on 13th April 1842 in partnership with Christopher Skally, price sixty pounds ($120). Their daughters, Lucy and Charlotte were born there. They sold this land in 1847 to George Thomson, supposedly because it was too far from town! After that, Charles was a farmer at Enfield in 1849, a shopkeeper at Ashfield in 1852, a market gardener at Penrith in 1864, and a carrier at Prospect in 1885. He died at South Creek on 29th February 1883 and is buried at St. Mary Magdalene Church of England at St. Mary’s. Though he suffered from chronic catarrh and rheumatism, apparently that wasn't what killed him. His death certificate states his cause of death as old age.

Physical description: Height 5’7” (170cm) Eyes, light hazel; Hair, sandy.

  Research Notes:

Documents/transcripts held:

1) Unlimited Service Attestation for Regiments
2) Declaration of the recruit
3) Recommendation for Medical Discharge
4) Discharged Soldiers Grant
5) Application to purchase land
6) 42/2749 Purchase of land 13 Apr 1842
7) affidavit re: the Will of Charles Andrews
8) Inventory re: the Will of Charles Andrews
9) NSW Death Certificate

  Some facts about his life:

• Religion: christened Church of England.

• Education: Read and write.

• Occupation: Soldier, Police Constable and farmer.

• Military Service: enlistment, 11 Mar 1818, Bristol, Somerset, England. ⁷ Discharged as medically unfit 29 Feb 1840.

Charles married Jane Isabella Davis on 14 Feb 1832 in St Mary, Portsea, Hampshire, England.^{1 2} (Jane Isabella Davis was born on 17 Apr 1815 in Plymouth, Devonshire, England ^{8 9}, christened on 28 Apr 1815 in C Of E Church, Plymouth, Devonshire, died on 5 Mar 1884 in St Marys, New South Wales, Australia ¹⁰ and was buried on 6 Mar 1884 in St Mary Magdalene, St Marys.) The cause of her death was Heart Disease.