James TRUCKELL was born in 1785 and baptized on 11th Sep 1785 at St Edmund’s, Stratford Sub Castle, Wiltshire, England. The fourth child of Thomas TRUCKELL and Elizabeth ANDREWS, he had four siblings, namely: Thomas, Ann, Elizabeth, and Mary. Described as 5'6", dark hair, hazel eyes with a fresh complexion James worked as a labourer prior enlisting the military in 1809. He was assigned as a Private to the 41st Foot Regiment and was stationed in Canada where his unit were involved in a number of conflicts with the Americans during the War of 1812.

 

The Battle of Fort Detroit was fought between 15th –16th Aug 1812 in which the Americans were effectively “bluffed” into surrendering. For this the British 41st Regiment, including James, were awarded the battle honour "Detroit", one of the few to be awarded to British regiments for the War of 1812. The captured colours of the 4th U.S. Infantry are now kept at the Welch Regiment Museum at Cardiff Castle.

 

James was involved in another series of conflicts during 18th-23rd Jan 1813 in the Battle of Raisin River, French Town, which were recorded as the deadliest on Michigan soil. On 22nd Jan 1813 during the second battle James was wounded by a musket shot in the right arm near the elbow.

 

The Siege of Fort Meigs in Mayo, northwestern Ohio took place May 1813. It was during this battle on 5th May that James was wounded by a musket ball in the left arm near the shoulder. By the end of 1913 James was transferred to the 10th Royal Veteran Battalion until he was discharged at Quebec on 19 November 1814, aged 29 and he returned to his home in Wiltshire.

 

James married Martha PENNY on 03 Jul 1815 at St Edmund’s and by 1841 was living in Castle Street (Occupation: Chelsea Out Pensioner) In 1851 he had moved 20 Scotts Lane.

 

James TRUCKELL and Martha PENNY had the following children:

 

1. Jane TRUCKELL (1816-1878) married Thomas ROLLS

2. Maria TRUCKELL (1819) married Henry DEWEY

3. Ann TRUCKELL (1823-1910)

4. James TRUCKELL (1826-1866) married Anna BOWELL

5. Elizabeth TRUCKELL (1828-?)

6. Charles TRUCKELL (1831-1835)

7. Martha TRUCKELL (1833-1845)

 

James died on 2nd Jan 1857 and was buried at St Edmund's on 08 Jan 1857

 

Selected references

War of 1812 Website

UK, Royal Hospital, Chelsea: Regimental Registers of Pensioners

UK, Military Campaign Medal and Award Rolls

1841 and 1851 England Census

Pariah Registers St Edmund’s Stratford Sub-castle, Salisbury, Wiltshire, England