Reeler Family Tree - Selected Families and Individuals

Notes


Frederick Barlow Col.

The 1st Battalion of the 61st Regt, arrived in the Spanish Peninsular in April 1809 and fought at Talavera in July and at Busaco a year later. On 22 July 1812 it was involved in the hardest fighting of the day at Salamanca. The 1/61st along
with battalions of the 11th, 53rd and 60th Regts made up Hulse's Brigade, which with one other English and one Portuguese Brigade comprised the 6th Division at Salamanca commanded by Sir Henry Clinton. The 6th Division came into play later in
the battle when the French General Clausel counter-attacked close to the village of Los Arapiles with 12,000 men. Ian Fletcher in his 'Wellington's Regiments', (1994) writes that: "The bold French manoeuvre was strangled at birth however for
Wellington had anticipated the move with almost clairvoyant-like accuracy. He had deployed the two British brigades of Clinton's 6th Division in the by now standard two-deep line, with Rezende's Portuguese in line behind them......Clausel's men
advanced under heavy fire from the Allied artillery on and behind the Lesser Arapil which mowed down whole files of men. When their columns had got halfway across the plain between the two hills they came face to face with Clinton's lines which
opened up a rolling volley that engulfed the heads of the columns, sending them staggering backwards. For a few brief minutes the French returned the fire but their formation was against them. Although numerically superior to Clinton's men
their columns could not match the firepower of the British lines and they were driven back in disorder......Of Marmont's eight infantry divisions, all but three had been swept away and Wellington's men pressed forward on all sides to complete
their victory. The sun had begun to set when Wellington ordered Clinton forward in pursuit of the fleeing French fugitives but when they had passed the Greater Arapil Clinton's men came up against Ferrey's division, some 5,500 men who had yet
to see any serious action during the day. Ferrey formed his seven battalions into a three-deep line and, for a change, it was the turn of the red-jacketed British to experience the firepower of such a formation. The French checked the British
advance and even forced them back. In fact, Ferrey was only forced to retreat when threatened on his flank......The battle was as good as over and thousands of defeated French troops streamed away to the woods to the south-east and to the
bridge at Alba de Tormes."

We can assume that Colonel Barlow was killed during the actions described above, for the 61st suffered 365 men killed or wounded, with only 3 officers and 78 men answering the roll-call after the battle. In the first company every officer and
man was either killed or wounded except one. The Colours were carried by two privates at the end of the battle, as six officers and sergeants had been shot previously whilst carrying them. Salamanca cost Wellington 5214 casualties, whilst the
French lost around 14,000 but it enabled the Allies to liberate Madrid after four years of French occupation.

There is an old soldiers' song which goes:

"The 61st and 11th Foot great numbers they had slain,

They got their jackets dusted well on Salamanca's Plain."


Catherine Maria McCREA

Her uncle Creighton, writing to her father in 1800, said of her, "Tell my charming Maria I am highly pleased with her letters.... I have sent her a watch of considerable value that was sent out a present from the late unfortunate Queen of
France to Tippoo's favourite wife." This watch has descended through the de Sausmarez family. It should be noted that she is not the Maria mentioned in her uncle Creighton's will.

She was living at Oak Trees, near Choisi in Grange Road in 1843 (see Wood's map).


Philip de Sausmarez Capt.

He entered the Royal Navy in June 1823 as First Class Volunteer on board the Revenge, 78, flag-ship of Sir Harry Neale, CinC Mediterranean, where he continued until May 1827. In the meantime he served as Midshipman on the Sparrowhawk and on the
Algerine, employed against Greek pirates. Following attachments at Portsmouth and Plymouth he returned to the Mediterranean on board the Blonde, 46, Capt. Lyons, under whom he co-operated with the French in the reduction of Morea Castle, the
last hold of the Turks in the Peloponnese. He was promoted Lieutenant March 1831 and appointed to the Pelorus, 18, off the coast of Africa. In 1834 he was on the Caledonia, 120, flag-ship of Sir Josias Rowley, again in the Mediterranean. After
employment off Lisbon, during the war of succession, he was paid-off in Nov 1836.

After five years of half-pay he was appointed to the Belleisle, troopship, and was present during the operations in the Yang-tse-Kiang in 1842 and the capture of Nankin.

In June 1853 he was appointed to the Coast Guard at Berwick and advanced to the rank of Commander in July 1845. After a spell at Lyme from 1856-7, he was selected for a move to Chester to form the new Coast Guard District at Liverpool, leaving
the Service in July 1858.

From 1860-6 he took command of the Dasher, a two gun steamer, and during that period established at Jersey a Naval School. When this school was closed in 1869, he was moved to Greenwich to continue his work, subsequently becoming
Superintendant.

He and his wife retired to Guernsey.

See J.Jacob, 'Guernsey', pt II, pp 89-91.


Jane Maria Barlow

She and her husband were living at Oak Trees in Les Gravees, St Peter Port in 1881.


William Howley de Sausmarez

Died young.


John Chilton Lambton Carter Lieut. Col.

He was the son of Lieut John Chilton Lambton Carter of the 32nd (Duke of Cornwall's) Regt and of Kinsale, Ireland who was born 1752 and died about 1797.

Details of their descendants are taken from Molly Akers book 'Macraes to New Zealand' and from Suzanne Lisson's excellent website.

He commanded the 44th whilst a Major during the Burma campaign of 1825 and became Lieut. Colonel at the end of that year following the death of Brigadier-General Morrison.


Mary Augusta McCREA

Sponsors at her baptism were Pierre Coutart, Marie Roche and Marguerite Coutart.


John Chilton Lambton Carter Capt.

He was known as Lambton and in March 1834 became an Ensign in the 44th (East Essex) Regt. He went to India and was promoted Lieut there in 1836, returning to England on leave in 1838. He arrived back in India in Feb 1842 and thereby missed the
annihilation of the Regt during the Retreat from Kabul the previous month. He served in Bengal for a year before returning to England to rebuild the Regt. He was promoted to Capt in March 1844. He then exchanged to the 53rd (Shropshire) Regt
and returned with his wife to India, where he fought in the Punjab and at the Battle of Gujerat during the Sikh Wars. (See G.Bruce, 'Six Battles for India', 1969).

The small family returned to England in 1850, but in May 1852 he sold his captaincy and decided to emigrate, leaving Deal in Kent in August on the 'True Briton' arriving in Wellington, New Zealand in December. He took up sheep-farming on a 5500
acre estate in Napier around Hawkes Bay. Not content with farming alone, he was elected Superintendant of Hawkes Bay Province in 1861and was appointed Commissioner of Crown Lands in 1865.


Susan Frances Lillicrap

She was the daughter of Vice-Admiral James Lillicrap of Plymouth who in 1811 married Frances Adams Welsford of Totnes.


Edith Mary Welsford Carter

She and her sister Louisa died of whooping cough.


Lambton William Frederick Carter

He first married on 13 Feb1872 Frances Emily (Fanny) Villers who died 2 Jan 1873 after a New Year's picnic.


Alice Augusta Carter

She died of asthma and chronic lung disease.


Harry Chilton Carter

He died in infancy.


Amy Hannah Carter

She lived with her brother George and his wife in Gisborne.


John Chilton Lambton Carter Capt.

He was known as Lambton and in March 1834 became an Ensign in the 44th (East Essex) Regt. He went to India and was promoted Lieut there in 1836, returning to England on leave in 1838. He arrived back in India in Feb 1842 and thereby missed the
annihilation of the Regt during the Retreat from Kabul the previous month. He served in Bengal for a year before returning to England to rebuild the Regt. He was promoted to Capt in March 1844. He then exchanged to the 53rd (Shropshire) Regt
and returned with his wife to India, where he fought in the Punjab and at the Battle of Gujerat during the Sikh Wars. (See G.Bruce, 'Six Battles for India', 1969).

The small family returned to England in 1850, but in May 1852 he sold his captaincy and decided to emigrate, leaving Deal in Kent in August on the 'True Briton' arriving in Wellington, New Zealand in December. He took up sheep-farming on a 5500
acre estate in Napier around Hawkes Bay. Not content with farming alone, he was elected Superintendant of Hawkes Bay Province in 1861and was appointed Commissioner of Crown Lands in 1865.


Maria Theresa McKAIN

Her family were among the earliest settlers at Hawkes Bay. She secondly married Charles Margoliath and had five further children.


William Frederick Carter Lieut. Col.

He became an Ensign in the 63rd (West Suffolk) Regt in 1837. He served in India from 1838-44 and in the Crimea in 1854-5, including the Battles of the Alma, Balaklava and Inkerman, the Expedition to Kerch and the Fall of Sebastopol, succeeding
to the command of the 63rd at the last attack and the capture of Kinbourn. He was stationed in Canada from 1856-65.

He was a Knight of the Legion of Honour and of the Order of the Medjidie.

Upon his retirement he went to live in Glasgow, Scotland but died in Guernsey.


Robert Coutart (Contarh) McCREA Admiral

Sponsors at his baptism were Pierre Coutart, Robert McCrea and Marie Roche.

He entered the Navy in November 1803 as a second class volunteer and first served for two years in the frigate 'Decade', then taking part in the blockade of Cherbourg. He was Midshipman in the 'Swiftsure' which took part in Nelson's chase of
the Franco-Spanish fleet to the West Indies and in the Battle of Trafalgar where she saved the 'Belle-Isle' from destruction.

After again serving for a few months off Cherbourg in the 'Thalia' he joined the 'Victory' in March 1808 and then in July the 'Salsette' where he remained for two years in the Baltic and North Sea, covering the fire-ships in attacking the
Russian fleet in Port Baltic, and also in the ill-fated Walcheron expedition. In 1809 he assisted in the reduction of Flushing.

With Captain Bathurst he transferred to the 'Fame' until April 1811 and in January 1812 he was again placed under the orders of Sir James Saumarez in the 'Victory', of which ship he was confirmed a Lieutenant. Between May 1813 to April 1815 he
served on board the 'Amphion', when on one occasion, with two boats under his orders, he cut off two sloops laden with provisions for the relief of Fort Balthz and drove a third on shore under the enemy's batteries in the East Scheldt. On
another occasion, officiating as third in command of five boats, he was involved in a desperate attempt to cut out five French brigs from under the walls of Fort Lillo. From 1818-21 he was in command of the 'Scourge', revenue-cruiser in West
Bay, Portland, and captured thirteen smuggling luggers, sloops and cutters.

In June 1824, ten weeks after he had been nominated Flag-Lieutenant in the 'Britannia' to Sir James Saumarez, C-in-C at Plymouth, he was awarded a second promotional commission; but he didn't go afloat again until 1834, when he was appointed to
the sloop 'Zebra'. He commanded this sloop eventfully for four years. When on the coast of New Holland, she was thrown on her beam-ends and compelled to part with her guns. In the Straits of Malacca she was struck by lightning and dismasted. On
10 January 1837 he was advanced to post-rank and in April, while on the East India station, he succeeded in removing the ex-Rajah of Quedah from his abode at Bruas on the coast of Perak and carrying him a prisoner to Penang. "In the performance
of this duty the boats of the Zebra under the personal direction of Captain McCrea, had to sustain severe action of an hour-and-a-half with a brig and powerful stockade defended by a numerous band of Malays, more than sixty of whom are reported
to have been killed or wounded. The loss of the British was also very severe; before they could reach the stockade it had been necessary for them to ascend a narrow tortuous river, fringed with jungle on both sides, where had a few trees been
felled and allowed to fall across they would have been perfectly hemmed in. To mark their appreciation of Captain McCrea's conduct the East India Company presented him with a piece of plate of the value of 100 guineas." (Ferdinand Tupper).

He paid the 'Zebra' off in October 1838 and subsequently remained on half-pay.

In 1841 he and his wife and five youngest children were living at 4 Choisi Terrace, Grange Road, St Peter Port, with four female servants. Their house is identified on John Wood's 1843 map, reproduced in G.S.Cox, St Peter Port 1680-1830, p.197.

In 1851 they were still there with their three youngest daughters and three female servants.

In May 1857 he was made a Rear Admiral on reserved half-pay of £1-5-0 per day.

In 1861 the children had left home, but their grand-daughter Lilian Taylor, aged 3, was there, again with three female servants, one of whom, Johanna Chapman, their house-maid, had been with them for 20 years. Robert was now a Rear Admiral,
having been promoted in 1857.

In 1871 they were on their own, except for a grand-daughter Mabel Poulter, aged 7, and four female servants: a nurse, cook, parlour maid and house maid. Robert was now retired.

The cause of his death in 1875 was given as 'morbus cordis', described in the 'Guernsey Comet' as an attack of cold succeeded by bronchitis. However he had outlived all his brothers and half-brothers, the other sons of Major Robert McCrea.


Charlotte Dobree

Sponsors at her baptism were Auguste Frederic Dobree and his wife Louise de Lisle, her uncle and aunt.

Her brother General Dobree was engaged in many battles in the Peninsular War under Wellington.

In 1881 she was a widow living at 4 Choisi Terrace with her 17 year-old grand-daughter Mabel Poulter and 3 female servants.

By 1892 her son Robert was writing: "I found my poor old Mother very weak and feeble - she cannot walk a bit & I have great difficulty understanding her. She sits up in her arm chair, a beautiful picture to look at."

She died age 102.


Robert Barlow McCREA Major Gen.

He entered the Army in June 1842.

In 1859 he was on his way home from Barbados in command of the troops on board the troopship 'Melbourne', when they were intercepted by a French ship sent out by the consuls at Port-au-Prince in Haiti to request any armed vessel to come at once
to their aid, as an insurrection was in full swing. Captain McCrea landed in command of 3 batteries of the R.A. and a detachment of the 41st Regt. for the protection of the Europeans at Port-au-Prince and carried off the Emperor Faustin, his
family and ministers. For his conduct he was promoted brevet Major and received the thanks of both English and French governments. In an article he wrote in 1911 for the Journal of the Royal Artillery, Maj.Gen. J.B.Richardson, who was a
lieutenant under his command at the time, wrote that McCrea "deserved more. He had proved himself the most remarkable diplomatist, devoid of all fear of responsibility. Each step he took proved the wisest possible. With an insignificant force
he saved the lives of the white people of Hayti from massacre, and held in check a very large force of discontented and riotous people."

He became Colonel in 1869 and Major-General in 1874, upon his retirement.

He was an original member, with his half-cousin Frederick, of the Committee of Direction of the Army and Navy Co-operative Society upon its founding in 1871.

He and his wife lived at Ewell for over 20 years.


Harriet Maingay

She was the daughter of John Maingay of Grange Villa, Guernsey. Her siblings were John Francis, Matilda and Louisa Anne.


George Bell

He was the eldest son.

At marriage, of Les Merriennes, Guernsey.

It is probable that about 10 years after his wife's death he married again, to a woman called Julia from Leeds who was 25 years younger than him, and went to live in Malvern.


Charlotte Frances McCREA

One of their grand-daughters became Mrs Falkener.


Lionel Andros de Sausmarez Cmdr.

Entered R.N. 1860, Sub-Lieutenant 1866.

While Senior Lieutenant of HMS London (1875-8) he was actively engaged in the suppression of the slave trade on the S.E. coast of Africa and was mentioned in despatches for going up a narrow creek and cutting off a slave dhow. He was also
Senior Lieutenant of HMS Sultan at the bombardment of Alexandria in the Egyptian War, 1882. On landing he was put in charge of the main gate of the palace and Rag-el-tin battery.

He was specially promoted to Lieutenant, awarded the Albert Medal (the first officer to gain this distinction) and the Royal Humane Society's medal for having on the night of 1 June 1868, while officer of the watch on HMS Myrmidon in Banana
Creek, River Congo, jumped overboard in a strong current and shark-infested water to rescue a seaman who could not swim. He saved five other lives from drowning. (See J.Jacob, Bailiwick of Guernsey, Part II, pp 92-3).