Ernest has nor been found on the 1881 census.
He is recorded on the tree remembered by Winifred Vera Repper (nee Stanlake). It is possible that he was christened using two names and the middle name being Ernest, making it possible that this person is actually one of the other sons.
Herbert was in the Liskeard Silver Band. A photograph of Herbert appeared in the Cornish Times newspaper of 27 March 1987. The photograph showed the band as it was on 2 April 1939 and includes A Cecil Repper, Ernest Repper and Herbert Repper.
Line in Record @I1745@ (RIN 284066) from GEDCOM file not recognized:
OCCU a bookkeeper
Line in Record @I364@ (RIN 282685) from GEDCOM file not recognized:
OCCU a teacher of science
William was Vice-Chancellor of Sheffield University, Dean of the Faculty for Applied Science 1905-1917, Engineering 1917-1923.He was created Companion of Honour for War Services 1914-1918, or for his work on steam.
There is a Sarah Ann Ripper born 1872 in East Stonehouse, Plymouth, Devon who is likely to be a daughter.
1881 census, North Hal+ (Yorkshire) - aged 38, living with husband and children.
Line in Record @I370@ (RIN 282691) from GEDCOM file not recognized:
CAUS drowningLine in Record @I370@ (RIN 282691) from GEDCOM file not recognized:
OCCU an engineer officer in the Royal Navy
John had no children.
Line in Record @I374@ (RIN 282695) from GEDCOM file not recognized:
CENS
Line in Record @I68@ (RIN 282389) from GEDCOM file not recognized:
OCCU a general labourer
William is mentioned in his mother's declarations to Poor Relief Guardians around 1810.No marriage entry for William has been found in Hampstead, St John's.
With his first wife, at the baptism of their son William in 1827 at St John's in Hampstead, they were registered as paupers.
William was given poor relief of 1/= in 1835 by the Hampstead Guardians.
At about the time of his second marriage as a widower to Mary Ann Hawkins in 1838 he seems to have adopted the additional name of Alexander, being the name of his father. Indeed he names his first child by this second marriage either William Alexander (at baptism) or Alexander William (on the civil registration).
His son's marriage certificate dated 1848 has a line deleting the father and father's occupation.
His death is registered in Hampstead Workhouse as William Nipper aged 63, a William Ripper being present at the death.
The William Ripper who was present at the death is probably the one who dies in 1872, aged 82. This gives a birth date of around 1790 and the fact that he was present at the death probably indicates a family connection, although no William exists in the family to meet these dates.
The following entries are census returns of this second William Ripper.
I have read through the census returns for 1841, 1861 and 1871 for Hampstead. I have also referred to the surname index of the 1851 census. These are the only entries I have found:
1841 - Brewhouse Lane, Hampstead (a lodging house for the poor):
* William Ripper; 45; labourer; born in Middlesex1841 - Belmont House, Heath Street:
* Mary Ripper; 50; independent means;not born in Middlesex; quite what "independent means" implies is not certain; there are two other ladies living with her:
* Esther Kearnes; 60; independent means; not born in Middlesex
* Sarah Aldridge; 30; FS; not born in Middlesex; FS may stand for 'Female Servant'.1841 - Charlotte Street, Portland Place (a lodging house on the edge of contemporary London, quite a distance from Hampstead across Regents Park):
* Frances Ripper; 50; independent means; not born in Middlesex1851 - No entries in index; the area has been scanned for errors on the index; no Ripper entries found, even in Brewhouse Lane & Workhouse.
1861 - Brewhouse Lane Hampstead
* William Ripper; 70; lodger; married; shoemaker; born in Hampstead Middlesex; no recorded disability.1871 - Hampstead Workhouse:
* William Ripper; 81; pauper/patient; married; formerly shoemaker; born Hampstead Middlesex; no recorded disability.It is also interesting to note that this second William is a shoemaker, bearing in mind that Alexander who first came to London has shown his occupation at the time of attesting for the marines as a leather dresser and is shown as a fellmonger on his death certificate. There is another connection to leather in that Ann Ripper nee Hutchinson (Alexander's wife) wanted to leave the children in the workhouse whilst she went to work in Horsleydown, centre of London's tanning industry.
Line in Record @I67@ (RIN 282388) from GEDCOM file not recognized:
OCCU
Mary Ann Hawkins was a spinster at the time of her marriage to William Alexander, who is recorded as a widower. Francis Hawkins witnessed the marriage.In the Hampstead Workhouse in 1841 is a Martha Hawkins aged 70, a servant born in Middlesex.
He was baptised as William Alexander but registered as Alexander William.
James birth and death are both registered in second quarter of 1843.
Line in Record @I68@ (RIN 282389) from GEDCOM file not recognized:
OCCU a general labourer
William is mentioned in his mother's declarations to Poor Relief Guardians around 1810.No marriage entry for William has been found in Hampstead, St John's.
With his first wife, at the baptism of their son William in 1827 at St John's in Hampstead, they were registered as paupers.
William was given poor relief of 1/= in 1835 by the Hampstead Guardians.
At about the time of his second marriage as a widower to Mary Ann Hawkins in 1838 he seems to have adopted the additional name of Alexander, being the name of his father. Indeed he names his first child by this second marriage either William Alexander (at baptism) or Alexander William (on the civil registration).
His son's marriage certificate dated 1848 has a line deleting the father and father's occupation.
His death is registered in Hampstead Workhouse as William Nipper aged 63, a William Ripper being present at the death.
The William Ripper who was present at the death is probably the one who dies in 1872, aged 82. This gives a birth date of around 1790 and the fact that he was present at the death probably indicates a family connection, although no William exists in the family to meet these dates.
The following entries are census returns of this second William Ripper.
I have read through the census returns for 1841, 1861 and 1871 for Hampstead. I have also referred to the surname index of the 1851 census. These are the only entries I have found:
1841 - Brewhouse Lane, Hampstead (a lodging house for the poor):
* William Ripper; 45; labourer; born in Middlesex1841 - Belmont House, Heath Street:
* Mary Ripper; 50; independent means;not born in Middlesex; quite what "independent means" implies is not certain; there are two other ladies living with her:
* Esther Kearnes; 60; independent means; not born in Middlesex
* Sarah Aldridge; 30; FS; not born in Middlesex; FS may stand for 'Female Servant'.1841 - Charlotte Street, Portland Place (a lodging house on the edge of contemporary London, quite a distance from Hampstead across Regents Park):
* Frances Ripper; 50; independent means; not born in Middlesex1851 - No entries in index; the area has been scanned for errors on the index; no Ripper entries found, even in Brewhouse Lane & Workhouse.
1861 - Brewhouse Lane Hampstead
* William Ripper; 70; lodger; married; shoemaker; born in Hampstead Middlesex; no recorded disability.1871 - Hampstead Workhouse:
* William Ripper; 81; pauper/patient; married; formerly shoemaker; born Hampstead Middlesex; no recorded disability.It is also interesting to note that this second William is a shoemaker, bearing in mind that Alexander who first came to London has shown his occupation at the time of attesting for the marines as a leather dresser and is shown as a fellmonger on his death certificate. There is another connection to leather in that Ann Ripper nee Hutchinson (Alexander's wife) wanted to leave the children in the workhouse whilst she went to work in Horsleydown, centre of London's tanning industry.
Line in Record @I353@ (RIN 282674) from GEDCOM file not recognized:
CAUS drinking cold water 4 days before deathLine in Record @I353@ (RIN 282674) from GEDCOM file not recognized:
OCCU a leather dresser
Alexander Repper was born in Helston, Cornwall in 1773, the son of Alexander & Phillipa Repper. Phillipa had previously married John Guy who had died and she brought three children to her marriage - Mary Guy, John Guy & William Guy.Alexander was baptised in Helston Parish Church on the 16th March 1773.
His half brother John Guy had married and had a son called William in 1793. Alexander's mother, Phillipa died in Helston during August 1794.
Other than this, little is know of his early life, the first recorded entry of his own life after his baptism is his marriage to Ann Hutchinson in Hampstead, Middlesex in 1796.
At the time of his marriage Alexander is shown as "of the Cornwall Dragoons" and also of the parish of Hampstead. Dragoon in this context is believed to have meant a military man or militia man on horseback. Alexander was most probably a member of the Cornwall Militia.
Militias operated under the auspices of local dignitaries who would raise a local volunteer force, made up a group of local men who have access to a horse. The men may be supplied with a carbine by the person raising the force and when saddled up would represent the local militia, being nothing more than armed mounted yeomen.
The local family with the responsibility for raising the force in Helston was most likely to have been the Vivyans on behalf of the Basset family. Their family papers may reveal something of the regiment's movements.
The leading authority on Cornish Militia is a Professor A C (Charles) Thomas of Lambessow, St Clement, Truro, Cornwall (01872 72980). He has written to me (3 September 1996) as follows:
"I think it is fairly certain that your ancestor in the (Royal) Cornwall (Fencible) Dragoons was a Fencible, not a Volunteer. This would explain an aspect that rather puzzled me - enlistment in the Marines, like the regular infantry, would normally be via service in the Militia ... volunteers were very seldom wanted in the regulars because they were insufficiently trained or not the right standard - men used to join the Militia to be 'fed up' to the right height and weight!"
The following is a copy of a notice which first occurs in 1794:
"KING AND CONSTITUTION
"A Corps of Fencible Light Cavalry commanded by the Right Honourable GEORGE LORD VISCOUNT FALMOUTH Colonel Commandant.
"Sir Francis Bassett Major
"Wanted, in Sir FRANCIS BASSET'S TROOP, some active Young Men, who are desirous of resisting French Anarchy & Confusion, and are willing to defend their KING and NATIVE COUNTRY, against all foreign Invaders. All persons who feel themselves inclined to enter, are desired to apply to at when they shall receive a handsome Bounty, be received into present pay, and may depend on the kindest Treatment. The Corps is not to go out of Great Britain, and is only to serve during the War. Persons entering will receive full Dragoon Pay, and will be mounted on Capital Horses."
Professor Thomas doubts the ability of this force to resist an invasion from the French, the prime reason for setting them up, but advises that they did become an effective local "police" force. He also advises that these forces were frequently used to control public disturbances, not an uncommon occurrence in this era, which were often borne out of discontent over food prices. It seems also that this was more frequent in and around London, the seat of government, and militia were sent in from all parts of the country to support the local militia.
The uniform of the Fencibles was a red jacket with black facings and white lace, a leather Light Dragoon helmet being surrounded by a yellow "turban" or pagri.
There were several civil disturbances in 1795 leading up to the act of the King being stoned by a crowd in October 1795. Government then introduced the Seditious Meetings Act which prohibited gatherings in excess of 50 people.
The fact that the Cornish Dragoons were sent to Hampstead is supported by the presence of Cornish names, such as Repper and Goldsworthy in the local population, although Professor Thomas has found no record of the regiment ever having left Cornwall. Although it is more usual for the local militia to have been discharged back in their home county, it is possible that some of them may have remained around Hampstead.
This force was raised in 1794 as a unit of four troops, increased in 1796 to six and disbanded (like most of the Fencibles) in 1800.
Given the marriage of Alexander and Ann in May 1796 it is likely that Alexander signed up for the militia early in 1795 and was sent to London later that year along with his colleagues.
Searching PRO (WO 13) has revealed no trace of him enlisting or being paid by the Devon & Cornwall Fencibles. Similarly his discharge has not been found. The PRO WO68 regimental histories, casualty books, enrolment muster, description & paybooks are equally silent about Alexander as part of the Fencibles.
The banns for Alexander and Anne's marriage had been read on 3rd April 1796, 10th April 1796 and 17th April 1796.
Alexander was married on the 20th April 1796 at St John's Hampstead to Ann Hutchinson. He signed his own name on the marriage register. At this time Anne had to sign her name as an X, being unable to apply a signature of her own. The witnesses to the marriage were Eliz Beale who signed for herself and James Woon who made a mark. The ceremony was conducted by the curate of St John's Hampstead, Charles Grant.
Alexander and Annes's first child, Anne, was born around 1797 but no entry of her birth or baptism has yet been found.
Their second child, Mary Ann, was born in Hampstead on 10th July 1805 but not baptised until she was 3 years old in February 1809 at St John's Hampstead.
On the 16th February 1807, their third and last child was born - William. Like his elder sister, he too was baptised on 26th February 1809, he being two years old at the time. It is most probable that Alexander was not present at the baptism of his children, but this had been prompted by local dignitaries whom Anne had approached for financial help.
Alexander joined the marines in 1808 and his occupation is given as a leather dresser. When his wife was seeking work whilst he was serving at sea it is interesting that she did so in Horsleydown Bermondsey, the centre of the tannery industry in London. It is possible that he had developed some connection with Bermondsey at that time.
The description register gives him as being 31 years old, born in 'Elston' in Cornwall; he had a fair complexion, grey eyes and brown hair, being 5 feet 3 inches tall; he was enlisted into the marines, Chatham Division, in Uxbridge by Captain Hunt, entering company #43.
The recruitment of marines resembled that of the army, as they were essentially landmen they could not be "impressed" like seamen. Posters were printed and stuck up in market places, and recruiting sergeants roamed the area trying to recruit young men with tales of action and adventure. Persuasion was not enough and in wartime a substantial bounty was offered which by 1801 had reached Đ26 per man. Despite this the rapid expansion of the navy caused a crisis as recruitment of marines did not match impressment of sailors. Some soldiers from the army were consequently used at sea and to overcome line of command problems many were offered bounties to transfer to the marines full time. The marines continued to expand throughout the Napoleonic Wars so that by 1805 some 30,000 marines had been voted by parliament. Marines like soldiers were traditionally recruited for life however during the 1790's there was some attempt made to recruit for the "duration" instead.
Marine shore organisation centered on three divisions, with barracks near the dockyards at Chatham, Portsmouth and Plymouth. Training on shore was almost entirely in the skills of an infantryman. The first many marines knew of a ship was on their first posting aboard.
Alexander's wife later reported to the guardians of the poor in Hampstead that he was a marine and the record shows that he was on board the "Arbouher". It is this record which enabled his marine record to be found.
On the 12th April 1808 Alexander was posted to HMS Aboukir, the only member of the 43rd company intake at this time to go to this ship. His last entry on the records of the 43rd shows that he had received pay for 12 days in April at 1 shilling per day. The pay of a marine private was £1-8s-0d per month as per the army. However on board ship this was reduced to 19s 3d per month as victualling and accommodation were provided free.
The Aboukir was the second vessel of the name in the British line. Like its predecessor it was a third rate ship of the line. The first Aboukir was captured from the French in the 1790's, having been called 'Aquilon'. The second Aboukir entered service in 1807 and remained in service until 1824, although not active much after 1815.
At the time of Alexander's posting to the ship it was still in a state of first preparations ahead of sea trials.
The ship's log for Wednesday 13th April 1808 records westerley winds and this entry:
"Light airs and fine clear w~ [weather]. Employed embarking the marines. Rec'd [received] on board 106 being the compliment (sic) for the ship. PM Do w~. [Afternoon Ditto weather] . Riggers and Shipwrights at work on the ship. Rec'd provisions
from lighter."Marines are often associated with the suppression of mutiny and this role greatly expanded during the Napoleonic Wars. They had always carried out guard duties aboard ship and had enforced regulations below deck. Marines were to stand guard whenever punishment was inflicted. They were deliberately separated from the seamen and in harbour, when mutiny was most likely, they were to be kept 'constantly at drill or parade, and not to be diverted by the ordinary duties of the ship'.
The marines were of prime importance in amphibious warfare. Co-operation between the army and the navy often led to disputes of authority, the marines however were clearly under naval discipline and more hence effective. Marines duties on shore were not restricted to amphibious warfare. They could be landed as guards in a friendly port or to keep seamen from desertion. The smart uniformed appearance was also used to impress enemies and allies. Occasionally they were used for impressment duties.
Back in Hampstead Anne and children had fallen upon hard times. The following records are taken from the book of the meetings of visitors to the workhouse.
Monday 27th February 1809:
"Repper, Ann - wants to leave the house as she wants to nurse a young woman, does not recollect her name, but her husband is a leather dresser and works at Mr Shipley's in Tooley Street and expects to lodge at Mr Humphreys in Charles Street, Horsleydown. She expects a guinea for the month - she wishes to leave her children in the house and will return at the end of the month and take her children out. Leave given - to have 2/6d."It is likely that she had applied for earlier help but had been refused because her children had not been baptised into the Church of England. On 26th February 1809 the youngest two children were baptised, as detailed earlier. This also provides evidence that an entry for the baptism of the eldest child, Anne, probably exists in another parish, not having been found in St John's Hampstead.
The muster rolls of HMS Aboukir show that Alexander was on the pay list from 13th April 1808 initially as a 3rd class marine and then as a 2nd class marine after his promotion whilst the Aboukir was in Genoa harbour on 24th February 1815. The contracted period for signing up to the marines was 7 years and upon achieving that Alexander received automatic promotion. He remained on board the Aboukir until discharged from the service on 11th September 1815. The muster rolls show unbroken service for the whole period as a member of #43 company.
He was with the Aboukir on its many frequent journeys along the south coast of England, often being stationed at Portsmouth, Deal (The Downs) and Plymouth.
Continuing the entries from the workhouse record gives a vivid picture of the experiences of Anne and the children at this time.
27th March 1809:
"Repper, Ann - aged 36, quitted house 27th February 1809."1st May 1809:
"Repper, Ann - wife of Alexander Repper, now a marine on board the 'Aboukir' man-of-war, applied to take her three children out of the house. (...) for pension - husband allows her out of his (...) - pay 4d per day. Leave given to have 3/= per week."8th May 1809:
"Repper, Ann - (wife of Alexander Repper) her children, namely Ann aged 12, Mary aged 5 and William aged 4 were taken from the house on the 1st instant by their mother."In July 1809 the Aboukir was part of the fleet which sailed on the Walcheren expedition and Alexander was one of the crew.
"After two months of discussion the Cabinet decided to strike at the Scheldt with an army of 40,000 men. Lack of transport, however, prevented it sailing until July, secrecy was lost and the French fleet escaped above Antwerp, our commander Chatham was unenterprising, and co-operation with the navy very bad. A prolonged siege of Flushing, on the island of Walcheren, destroyed any hope of surprising Antwerp, the dykes were cut, the troops-knee deep in water, and in September, when a quarter of our strength were sick, the survivors were brought home." (A History of England, Keith Feiling, pub. Macmillan 1966, p.773).
Some details from the Ship's Log relating to this incident follow:
16 July 1809:
"Received on board part of the 36th regiment, 675 men".28 July 1809 Ship's Log:
"2 divisions sailed and landed in Walcheren and South Beveland. The enemy offered no resistance except at Flushing".30 July 1809 Ship's Log:
"Sent all the troops on shore from the ship and the brigade of seamen".31 July 1809 Ship's Log:
"Boats employed disembarking troops, horses and various articles belonging to the army".3 August 1809 Ship's Log:
"Punished George Robinson, marine, with 8 lashes for insolence".4 August 1809 Ship's Log:
"At 10:00 sent gunboat away with Lieutenant Seward and 14 seamen and 6 marines with 7 days provisions"6 August 1809:
"Walcheren"13 August 1809 Ship's Log:
"Mustered ship's company by divisions. At one o'clock observed the cannonade to begin and to continue without interruption from our lines and shipping against Flushing. At eight o'clock the cannonade still continues. At midnight the cannonade continues".14 August 1809 Ship's Log:
"Cannonade continues with increased vigour. At six cannonade ceased, our ships anchored observed the town on fire".The Aboukir resumed normal duties and the following entries show indicate life over the next few months:
27 August 1809:
"Texel"8 September 1809:
"At sea"15 September 1809:
"Flushing, Flushing Roads"28 December 1809 - 24 April 1812
At various stations off the British SE & S coasts.Back in Hampstead, Ann and the children were faring no better than they had since William had joined the marines.
26th March 1810:
"Repper, Ann - pension 4/=; she applied to put her three children into the house as she is going to service to Mr Maccon of Wetherall Place, Hampstead at 14 guineas per annum. Children are aged thus - Ann 13, Mary 6 next July & William 4 years. She says her mother does not take proper care of the children. Relieved this day with 1/= but application to stand over."2nd April 1810:
"Repper, Ann - pension 4/=; relieved also with 1/=; agreed to allow in future instead of 4/= per week and children to be kept out of the house."17th September 1810:
"Repper, Ann - pension 5/=; wants to put two youngest children into house and give up pension - the allowance of her husband being suspended - will take children out again when allowance is returned. Inquiry to be made about her husband - in the meantime allow her 2/6d per week extra."A small pension is shown to be paid to his wife Ann, when she is examined by the Guardians of the Poor in Hampstead at a time when Alexander is at sea with the marines. This was in fact a "standing order" deduction from his pay for the benefit of his wife. This is evidenced in the naval pay books by the letters "FB".
In September 1810 Anne Repper's pension was suspended, according to the records in Hampstead Workhouse. His pay records, the captain's log and the ship's log may explain why this has happened.
1st October 1810:
"Repper, Ann - pension 5/= per week; relieved also with 2/6d."15th October 1810:
"Repper, Ann - pension 5/= per week; relieved also with 2/6d."22nd October 1810:
"Ann Reppar - she wants to put her two children into the house and will then give up her pension. Consideration postponed."29th October 1810:
"Ann Reppar - pension 5/=; relieved also with 2/6d. She was very rude and impertinent because visitors refused to take children into the house."5th November 1810:
"Ann Reppar - relieved again with 2/6d exclusive of pension."12th November 1810:
"Ann Reppar - pension 5/=; relieved also with 2/6d."19th November 1810:
"Ann Reppar - pension 5/=; she has sold goods and gone away and left her family. The children attended at the house, viz Ann aged 13 and upwards, Mary Ann aged 6 and William Alexander aged 5. Children say their mother told them to come to the house. Goods sold to landlord, Mr Cousins. Children to be received into the house."26th November 1810:
"Repper Ann - 13, Repper Mary - 6, Repper Wm - 5, the three children of Ann Repper left them on the parish."On the 9th December 1811 Mary Ann Repper died in the workhouse aged just 7. She was buried in the grounds of St John's Hampstead two days later.
The final remaining entry mentioning this family in the surviving workhouse records relates to Ann, the eldest child.
22nd June 1812:
"Repper Ann - aged 15; she left on same day to go to her mother."The fate of Anne, Ann and William are not very well documented after this date.
In 1812 the Aboukir was in the Baltic, as part of the fleet under Admiral Saumarez which had assembled off Vinga in May 1812. Captain Thomas Browne, her commander, acted as Flag-Captain to Rear Admiral T. Byam Martin.
The Aboukir and the Orion were detached to co-operate with the Russians, now our allies since France and Russia had been at war from 19 March and passed through the Belt on the 10 June and arrived off Danzig which was still in French hands, on the 20th June. Here they found a Russian frigate. 0n 5 July they arrived off Dunamunde near Riga and Captain Browne fitted out some 33 gunboats, which arrived with a Russian frigate on 12 August, in which some 300 to 400 of Aboukir's crew were employed daily in the defence of the city. 0n 22 August the frigates escorted 13 Russian transports laden with troops and landed them on the 3 September at Heel, near Danzig. They left to rejoin Admiral Saumarez on the 16th.
7 June 1812:
"Anholt (Danish island in Kattegat)"14 June 1812:
"Fano Bay (near Esbjerg)"21 June 1812
"At sea"7 July 1812:
"off Riga"18 July 1812 Ship's Log:
"Saluted the Russian Governor General and admiral with 17 guns on visiting the admiral".14 August 1812:
"At sea"4 September 1812 Ship's Log:
"Held a survey and condemned and threw overboard ten putrid hides, being a nausea on the ship."7 September 1812:
"off Danzig"22 September 1812:
"At sea"On the 29th September 1812 an attack and occupation of Mittau (Jelgava), Gulf of Riga, Estonia took place. This was achieved by a party from HMS Aboukir, HMS Ranger and some gunboats.
For this action the Naval General Service medal was awarded and Alexander could have been entitled to this award.
The Medal was, however, first issued in 1847, fifty four years after the first naval action (and six years after Alexander's death) for which it could be claimed. It was only issued to surviving officers, non-commissioned officers, Petty Officers, Seamen and Some Army recipients.
In 1813 under Captain George Parker the Aboukir was stationed in the Mediterranean. A court martial was held on board Hibernia off Toulon on 13 August 1813 to try private William Chaffer of the royal marines for "having been frequently guilty of drunkeness and of behaving in a contemptuous and mutinous manner on the evening of 24 July." He was acquitted when the charges could not be proved.
Captain Parker continued in HMS Aboukir until the autumn of 1813 when he exchanged into HMS Bombay.
In 1814 Captain Norborne Thompson (from HMS Bombay) became captain of the Aboukir which was still on the Mediterranean Station.
The Aboukir was sent to assist in the taking of Genoa in April 1814. In a letter from Lieutenant-General Lord William Bentinck KB in Genoa to Earl Bathurst in Downing Street which was sent on 20 April 1814 which arrived on 8 May 1814 the following was written:
"I learnt that they were only 2000 men in Genoa. The possession of that harbour and fortress was of very great importance...
"Upon my arrival at Sestri I found that the enemy had been reinforced at Genoa. The garrison consisted of between 5,000 and 6,000 men... "On the 16th [April] dispositions were made for attacking the enemy... "On 17th at daybreak the attack began...
"Sir Edward Pellew's squadron came in sight and anchored in front of Nervi... "In the evening a deposition of the inhabitants, accompanied by a French officer came to beg that I would not bombard the town;...
"The next morning several communications passed between myself and the French General but I would not listen to his propositions ... the French garrison [marched out the following] morning...
"In the whole course of their service the navy have bourne a distinguished part."
A letter written on the 18th April 1814 from HMS America to Downing Street included the following:
"Captain Thompson in the Aboukir, who, assisted by the ships and vessels Iphigenia, Furieuse, Swallow and Cephalus blockaded the fort [of Genoa] conducted with much effect a false attack to the westward of the town, which drew off a number of the enemy's troops."
Following the defeat of Napoleon's Forces the Royal Navy instructed HMS Aboukir to return to Chatham and discharge its complement.
Sunday 3rd September 1815 ... " At 10 mustered by open list and read the scale of pensions to the ship's company with the different explanations"
Alexander was discharged from the Marines on 11th September 1815 at Chatham.
Wednesday 13th September 1815 ... "Finished paying off and at sunset hauled down the Pendant"
In 1816 Aboukir was moored up, out of commission, at Chatham.
Anne, the wife of Alexander, died during early 1835 and was buried as a pauper in St John's Hampstead on 4th February 1835.
On the 16th February 1838 their son William remarried in St Pancras. The first marriage has not yet been found, but at this time the marriage certificate shows Alexander as being deceased. It also shows that his son William has adopted the full name of William Alexander Ripper.
In fact Alexander was not dead but living in Cornwall. The 1841 census shows him as a resident of the Helston Workhouse aged 65. As the 1841 census rounds ages to the nearest 5 years and his actual age was 67, and given that there is no other Alexander Repper who is contemporary, this is certainly the correct person.
How he came to be back in Cornwall is not yet know and warrants investigation. Options include:
* he chose to return to Cornwall upon his discharge from the marines in 1815;
* he returned to his family but was removed under the Settlement Act to his parish of origin, Helston;
* something more interesting than these two options.I tend towards his removal as being the most likely scenario. He had shown throughout his naval career an affection for his family as his wife reports to the Guardians of the Poor in Hampstead that Alexander provided a pension for them from his wages. His wife died in 1835 and was buried as a pauper. His children were no longer his responsibility, having attained adulthood. It is not likely that either he or his children were operating at anything other than poverty level. He had no real trade and work would have been difficult for him to find.
As he would probably have been a drain on the parish resources the chances of him being removed back to Cornwall are not slim. By the time his son married in 1838, they had probably not spoken for at least a couple of years and the prognosis for a long life in the workhouse was not great. The fact that he was recorded as dead in 1838 at the time of his son's marriage satisfies both conjecture on the part of any interested parties at that time and the real likelihood of his chances for survival.
His death is recorded as being on the 21st October 1841 at Adelaide Road in Penzance, Cornwall. The fact that he was on old salt and this was Trafalgar Day probably did not go unnoticed at the time. Adelaide Road was occupied at the time by Joseph Rowe who made his mark as the informant of Alexander's death. Alexander's occupation was given as a fellmonger, being somebody dealing with hides and skins. When he entered the marines in 1808 he gave his occupation as a leather dresser and later his wife had established a connection with Horsleydown in Bermondsey, the centre of the British tannery industry at that time. The highly unusual entry on his death certificate is the cause of death "Drinking cold water 4 days before his death". An engima to the end!
Ann, the eldest daughter has been lost from view . Searching the Hampstead St John's marriage registers up to 1842 has not revealed her marriage, if she ever married there. The burial registers have not revealed her burial up to 1842. In St Luke's, Chelsea in 1821 there is the baptism of William, son of Ann Repper and John Burton - residence is the poorhouse (BB). This requires further investigation.
Searching the marriage and burial registers of St John's Hampstead (1775 - 1840) does not reveal large numbers of Hutchinson family members. It seems the family may be primarily located elsewhere. The baptismal registers (located at Camden Library in Theobalds Road, London) have not yet been researched for her baptism.
Hampstead Workhouse records shows Mary dying at the age of 7.