Beneath this sacred symbol of salvation repose the mortal remains of/ General Sir William Henry Sewell, C.B., Colonel of 79 Highlanders/ who departed this life at Florence on/ the 13 March 1862// Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth/ Yea, saith the Saviour, . . . rest from their Labours And their Works do follow them./ Rev. 14. 13 verse//778
Waterloo Committee: SEWELL, William Henry/ Brevet Major, 16th (Queen's) Light Dragoons; Ensign 60th Foot 1806, Exchanged to 16th Light Dragoons 1806. Lt 1807. Capt 1812. Capt 6oth Foot 1813. Bt Major Mar 1814. Lt Colonel 1817. Colonel 1837. Major General 1846. Lt General 1854./ Served in the Peninsula Aug 1808 - Jan 1809 and Mar 1809 - May 1812. On the Staff of the Portuguese Army May 1812 - Apr 1814. Served throughout the campaign as ADC to Lord Beresford. Present at the Corunna campaign, Talavera, Coa, Agueda, Busaco, Cuidad Rodrigo, Badajoz, San Sebastian, Nivelle, Nive, Orthes, Bayonne and Toulouse. MGS , medal with ten clasps for Corunna, Talavera, Busaco, Cuidad Rodrigo, Badajoz, San Sebastian, Nivelle, Nive, Orthes and Toulouse. CB. Also in Maida and South America, 1807, on the staff of Lord Beresford. Commanded a Portuguese Cavalry regiment 1816. From 1828 - 54 served in India as Deputy Master General, then in command at Bangalore, then divisional commander at Madras and finally Commander-in-Chief of the Madras Army. Returned to England in 1854 and became Colonel of the 79th Cameron Highlanders. Made KCB in 1861. Retired in 1856. Educated at Westminster and Eton, he was W.H. Robertson. On entering the army he took the name of Sewell. Reference: Jameson, Robert. Historical record of the 79th Regiment of Foot, or Cameron Highlanders. 1863'. P. 136. Sewell descendants note he was godson and natural son of King William IV and that Queen Victoria kept him out of the country. Captain Jack Sewell rang the Cemetery's bell in 1945 to see the tombs and took this photograph. I have insisted on preserving this bell intact and in working order, and I have the children burying their parents ring it in order for them to have some control over the chaos at that moment in their lives. In the photograph one can still see the chalice intact on the tomb sculpted by Felicie de Fauveau for E48 SIR CHARLES LYON HERBERT's tomb. One can also see the damage done by a rusting paperclip. Here is part of his letter home to England:
Dearest People, . . . At the moment I'm on leave in Florence & enjoying it a lot. . . I found the General's grave yesterday and his wife's side by side, & took a photo. . . I don't suppose another member of the family will have the opportunity for a long time. What I did decipher was as follows:- 'Beneath this sacred symbol of salvation repose the mortal remains of Gen. Sir. W.H.S., K.E.B., Colonel of 79 Highlanders, who departed this life at Florence 13th March 1862. His wife Georgina Hacking, died on 1 May 1872. His tomb is No 778. The graveyard is in the centre of the Piazza Donatello, in the main boulevard, the Viale Principe Amadeo, Viale Principe Eugenio. It took some time to find the grave once I had looked up the caretaker's book & found his name, as there was no plan . . . The grave is on the right of the central pathway as you go toward the centre of the cemetery, about 5 yards from the path, & almost opposite E.B.B.'s . . . It is closed to the dead now, but the living may enter by pulling on the bell rope at the main gate & waiting till the caretaker or his wife comes to open.
Eglise Evangelique-Reformée de Florence Régistre des Morts: Sir W.H. Sewell, l'Angleterre, Géneral/ II: 1859-1865 'Registre des Sepultures avec detail des frais, Francs 575/ Records, Guildhall Library, London: GL23777/1 N° 309, Burial 15/03, Rev O'Neill/ Registro alfabetico delle persone tumulate nel Cimitero di Pinti: Sewell/ Gen. Giuseppe Enrico/ / Inghilterra/ Firenze/ 13 Marzo/ 1862/ Anni 72/ 778/ + / See also James Bansfield (E12O 771), Homan Mulock (E12O 727) tomb entries/ N&Q 358. General Sir Wm. Henry Sewell, K.C.B., Colonel of 79th Highlanders, ob. 13 March, 1862/ Waterloo Committee/°Tom & Jack Sewell. Chiesa Evangelica Riformata Svizzera, 1827-present.
William Henry the son of Robert and Sarah Sewell, grandson of Sir Thomas Sewell and brother of Major General Robert Sewell, was born about 1786.
William Henry commenced his military career on 27th March 1806 and in the following year, having been appointed aide-de-camp to General Beresford, accompanied him to the Peninsular War, and joined the Duke of Wellington’s army in Portugal in 1808. He was present with Sir John Moore’s army in its advance and in its retreat from Corunna, Talavera, Busaco and the sieges of Ciudad Rodrigo, Badajoz and St Sebastian, the battles of Niville, Nive, before Bayonne, Orthes and Toulouse, besides other engagements of less importance. Having returned from the Peninsular, he proceeded to India, where he served for 28 years.
Lt General WH Sewell was appointed Colonel, in succession to Lt General James Hay, on 24th March 1854. He was immediately knighted. Previous to the 79th Cameron Highlanders embarking for the Crimea War, the new colours were committed to its keeping by Lt Col Edmund James Elliot, on April 21st 1854. (Queens Own Highlanders). This appointment he continued to hold until his death.
William Henry married Georgiana Hacking Hamilton, daughter of John Dalrymple Hamilton, in 1831 St George’s Cathedral, Madras. Their eldest son William Robert Dalrymple was born 1833 in Surrey. He became a lieutenant in the East India Company and died at sea on board the ship Alnwick Castle, on 6th January 1859. Their second son John Dalrymple William was born 7th May 1836. In 1853 he was appointed to the 12th Madras Infantry and in 1857 was serving in China. He married in 1861 but his wife died ten years later in 1871. Having converted to Roman Catholicism and retiring as a Major he entered as a Novitiate at Madras in 1876. He was ordained a Priest in 1880 and became manager of St Joseph’s College, Trichinopoly in 1882. He became a Fellow of Madras University and in 1903 was awarded the Kaisar-I-Hind medal 1st Class, at Delhi Durbar for his work. The Kaisar-I-Hind medal was instituted in 1900, to reward those who had performed useful public service in India, the 1st Class Gold medal being awarded on the recommendation of the Secretary of State for India.
A third son of William Henry and Georgiana was Henry Fane Haylett (Henry FH) born 1838, more of him later. Their other children were Charlotte Fanny Jane born 2nd August 1840 in Madras, died aged 14 months, Julia Helen born 1844, East Indies. She married 30th July 1863 to the Reverent Euseby Digby Cleaver from Ireland at St Barnabas, Pimlico. Their daughter Caroline was born Madras in 1850. Fitzroy Hamilton Spencer was born 1842 in Bangalore, and married Georgina Ottley in 1870, his occupation given as Gentleman. Charlotte Jane Lindsay Cavendish born 1845 married Richard Norton Harper 1872 a Merchant.
General Sir William Sewell died in Florence on 13th March 1862. His grave at the Protestant Cemetery, Florence reads ‘Under this sacred symbol of salvation repose the mortal remains of General Sir William Henry Sewell, CB., Colonel of 79 Highlanders who departed this life in Florence on 13 March 1862’. According to his obituary in The Times, in actions in which the deceased General took part he had six horses either killed or wounded under him. In recognition of his services he was made a CB, afterward a KCB, and had received the war Medal with 10 clasps. (Times Newspaper Mar 24, 1862, pg. 12 issue 24201, col A)
Some doubt has been cast on the parentage of William Henry, a citation in a list of Officers Died (www.redcoat.info) said that William Henry Sewell was ‘the godson and natural son of William IV’. It is well known that the Duke of Clarence later William 1V had many mistresses. The most notable was Mrs Jordan (the comedy actress Dorothy Dora Bland). By her he had ten children all born at his house in Bushy Park, Surrey. They were born between 1794 and 1805 and christened in the name of Fitzclarence. It is possible that Sir William Henry was born to an earlier mistress and it has been difficult to find his birth. There is also reference to William Henry taking the Sewell name on joining the army.
His widow Dame Georgina Hacking Sewell died in Richmond Surrey 1st May 1872 and was buried in Florence.
Waterloo Committee: SEWELL, William Henry/ Brevet Major, 16th (Queen's) Light Dragoons; Ensign 60th Foot 1806, Exchanged to 16th Light Dragoons 1806. Lt 1807. Capt 1812. Capt 6oth Foot 1813. Bt Major Mar 1814. Lt Colonel 1817. Colonel 1837. Major General 1846. Lt General 1854./ Served in the Peninsula Aug 1808 - Jan 1809 and Mar 1809 - May 1812. On the Staff of the Portuguese Army May 1812 - Apr 1814. Served throughout the campaign as ADC to Lord Beresford. Present at the Corunna campaign, Talavera, Coa, Agueda, Busaco, Cuidad Rodrigo, Badajoz, San Sebastian, Nivelle, Nive, Orthes, Bayonne and Toulouse. MGS , medal with ten clasps for Corunna, Talavera, Busaco, Cuidad Rodrigo, Badajoz, San Sebastian, Nivelle, Nive, Orthes and Toulouse. CB. Also in Maida and South America, 1807, on the staff of Lord Beresford. Commanded a Portuguese Cavalry regiment 1816. From 1828 - 54 served in India as Deputy Master General, then in command at Bangalore, then divisional commander at Madras and finally Commander-in-Chief of the Madras Army. Returned to England in 1854 and became Colonel of the 79th Cameron Highlanders. Made KCB in 1861. Retired in 1856. Educated at Westminster and Eton, he was W.H. Robertson. On entering the army he took the name of Sewell. Reference: Jameson, Robert. Historical record of the 79th Regiment of Foot, or Cameron Highlanders. 1863'. P. 136. Sewell descendants note he was godson and natural son of King William IV and that Queen Victoria kept him out of the country. Captain Jack Sewell rang the Cemetery's bell in 1945 to see the tombs and took this photograph. I have insisted on preserving this bell intact and in working order, and I have the children burying their parents ring it in order for them to have some control over the chaos at that moment in their lives. In the photograph one can still see the chalice intact on the tomb sculpted by Felicie de Fauveau for E48 SIR CHARLES LYON HERBERT's tomb. One can also see the damage done by a rusting paperclip. Here is part of his letter home to England:
Dearest People, . . . At the moment I'm on leave in Florence & enjoying it a lot. . . I found the General's grave yesterday and his wife's side by side, & took a photo. . . I don't suppose another member of the family will have the opportunity for a long time. What I did decipher was as follows:- 'Beneath this sacred symbol of salvation repose the mortal remains of Gen. Sir. W.H.S., K.E.B., Colonel of 79 Highlanders, who departed this life at Florence 13th March 1862. His wife Georgina Hacking, died on 1 May 1872. His tomb is No 778. The graveyard is in the centre of the Piazza Donatello, in the main boulevard, the Viale Principe Amadeo, Viale Principe Eugenio. It took some time to find the grave once I had looked up the caretaker's book & found his name, as there was no plan . . . The grave is on the right of the central pathway as you go toward the centre of the cemetery, about 5 yards from the path, & almost opposite E.B.B.'s . . . It is closed to the dead now, but the living may enter by pulling on the bell rope at the main gate & waiting till the caretaker or his wife comes to open.
Eglise Evangelique-Reformée de Florence Régistre des Morts: Sir W.H. Sewell, l'Angleterre, Géneral/ II: 1859-1865 'Registre des Sepultures avec detail des frais, Francs 575/ Records, Guildhall Library, London: GL23777/1 N° 309, Burial 15/03, Rev O'Neill/ Registro alfabetico delle persone tumulate nel Cimitero di Pinti: Sewell/ Gen. Giuseppe Enrico/ / Inghilterra/ Firenze/ 13 Marzo/ 1862/ Anni 72/ 778/ + / See also James Bansfield (E12O 771), Homan Mulock (E12O 727) tomb entries/ N&Q 358. General Sir Wm. Henry Sewell, K.C.B., Colonel of 79th Highlanders, ob. 13 March, 1862/ Waterloo Committee/°Tom & Jack Sewell. Chiesa Evangelica Riformata Svizzera, 1827-present.
William Henry the son of Robert and Sarah Sewell, grandson of Sir Thomas Sewell and brother of Major General Robert Sewell, was born about 1786.
William Henry commenced his military career on 27th March 1806 and in the following year, having been appointed aide-de-camp to General Beresford, accompanied him to the Peninsular War, and joined the Duke of Wellington’s army in Portugal in 1808. He was present with Sir John Moore’s army in its advance and in its retreat from Corunna, Talavera, Busaco and the sieges of Ciudad Rodrigo, Badajoz and St Sebastian, the battles of Niville, Nive, before Bayonne, Orthes and Toulouse, besides other engagements of less importance. Having returned from the Peninsular, he proceeded to India, where he served for 28 years.
Lt General WH Sewell was appointed Colonel, in succession to Lt General James Hay, on 24th March 1854. He was immediately knighted. Previous to the 79th Cameron Highlanders embarking for the Crimea War, the new colours were committed to its keeping by Lt Col Edmund James Elliot, on April 21st 1854. (Queens Own Highlanders). This appointment he continued to hold until his death.
William Henry married Georgiana Hacking Hamilton, daughter of John Dalrymple Hamilton, in 1831 St George’s Cathedral, Madras. Their eldest son William Robert Dalrymple was born 1833 in Surrey. He became a lieutenant in the East India Company and died at sea on board the ship Alnwick Castle, on 6th January 1859. Their second son John Dalrymple William was born 7th May 1836. In 1853 he was appointed to the 12th Madras Infantry and in 1857 was serving in China. He married in 1861 but his wife died ten years later in 1871. Having converted to Roman Catholicism and retiring as a Major he entered as a Novitiate at Madras in 1876. He was ordained a Priest in 1880 and became manager of St Joseph’s College, Trichinopoly in 1882. He became a Fellow of Madras University and in 1903 was awarded the Kaisar-I-Hind medal 1st Class, at Delhi Durbar for his work. The Kaisar-I-Hind medal was instituted in 1900, to reward those who had performed useful public service in India, the 1st Class Gold medal being awarded on the recommendation of the Secretary of State for India.
A third son of William Henry and Georgiana was Henry Fane Haylett (Henry FH) born 1838, more of him later. Their other children were Charlotte Fanny Jane born 2nd August 1840 in Madras, died aged 14 months, Julia Helen born 1844, East Indies. She married 30th July 1863 to the Reverent Euseby Digby Cleaver from Ireland at St Barnabas, Pimlico. Their daughter Caroline was born Madras in 1850. Fitzroy Hamilton Spencer was born 1842 in Bangalore, and married Georgina Ottley in 1870, his occupation given as Gentleman. Charlotte Jane Lindsay Cavendish born 1845 married Richard Norton Harper 1872 a Merchant.
General Sir William Sewell died in Florence on 13th March 1862. His grave at the Protestant Cemetery, Florence reads ‘Under this sacred symbol of salvation repose the mortal remains of General Sir William Henry Sewell, CB., Colonel of 79 Highlanders who departed this life in Florence on 13 March 1862’. According to his obituary in The Times, in actions in which the deceased General took part he had six horses either killed or wounded under him. In recognition of his services he was made a CB, afterward a KCB, and had received the war Medal with 10 clasps. (Times Newspaper Mar 24, 1862, pg. 12 issue 24201, col A)
Some doubt has been cast on the parentage of William Henry, a citation in a list of Officers Died (www.redcoat.info) said that William Henry Sewell was ‘the godson and natural son of William IV’. It is well known that the Duke of Clarence later William 1V had many mistresses. The most notable was Mrs Jordan (the comedy actress Dorothy Dora Bland). By her he had ten children all born at his house in Bushy Park, Surrey. They were born between 1794 and 1805 and christened in the name of Fitzclarence. It is possible that Sir William Henry was born to an earlier mistress and it has been difficult to find his birth. There is also reference to William Henry taking the Sewell name on joining the army.
His widow Dame Georgina Hacking Sewell died in Richmond Surrey 1st May 1872 and was buried in Florence.
Beneath this sacred symbol of salvation repose the mortal remains of/ General Sir William Henry Sewell, C.B., Colonel of 79 Highlanders/ who departed this life at Florence on/ the 13 March 1862// Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth/ Yea, saith the Saviour, . . . rest from their Labours And their Works do follow them./ Rev. 14. 13 verse//778
Waterloo Committee: SEWELL, William Henry/ Brevet Major, 16th (Queen's) Light Dragoons; Ensign 60th Foot 1806, Exchanged to 16th Light Dragoons 1806. Lt 1807. Capt 1812. Capt 6oth Foot 1813. Bt Major Mar 1814. Lt Colonel 1817. Colonel 1837. Major General 1846. Lt General 1854./ Served in the Peninsula Aug 1808 - Jan 1809 and Mar 1809 - May 1812. On the Staff of the Portuguese Army May 1812 - Apr 1814. Served throughout the campaign as ADC to Lord Beresford. Present at the Corunna campaign, Talavera, Coa, Agueda, Busaco, Cuidad Rodrigo, Badajoz, San Sebastian, Nivelle, Nive, Orthes, Bayonne and Toulouse. MGS , medal with ten clasps for Corunna, Talavera, Busaco, Cuidad Rodrigo, Badajoz, San Sebastian, Nivelle, Nive, Orthes and Toulouse. CB. Also in Maida and South America, 1807, on the staff of Lord Beresford. Commanded a Portuguese Cavalry regiment 1816. From 1828 - 54 served in India as Deputy Master General, then in command at Bangalore, then divisional commander at Madras and finally Commander-in-Chief of the Madras Army. Returned to England in 1854 and became Colonel of the 79th Cameron Highlanders. Made KCB in 1861. Retired in 1856. Educated at Westminster and Eton, he was W.H. Robertson. On entering the army he took the name of Sewell. Reference: Jameson, Robert. Historical record of the 79th Regiment of Foot, or Cameron Highlanders. 1863'. P. 136. Sewell descendants note he was godson and natural son of King William IV and that Queen Victoria kept him out of the country. Captain Jack Sewell rang the Cemetery's bell in 1945 to see the tombs and took this photograph. I have insisted on preserving this bell intact and in working order, and I have the children burying their parents ring it in order for them to have some control over the chaos at that moment in their lives. In the photograph one can still see the chalice intact on the tomb sculpted by Felicie de Fauveau for E48 SIR CHARLES LYON HERBERT's tomb. One can also see the damage done by a rusting paperclip. Here is part of his letter home to England:
Dearest People, . . . At the moment I'm on leave in Florence & enjoying it a lot. . . I found the General's grave yesterday and his wife's side by side, & took a photo. . . I don't suppose another member of the family will have the opportunity for a long time. What I did decipher was as follows:- 'Beneath this sacred symbol of salvation repose the mortal remains of Gen. Sir. W.H.S., K.E.B., Colonel of 79 Highlanders, who departed this life at Florence 13th March 1862. His wife Georgina Hacking, died on 1 May 1872. His tomb is No 778. The graveyard is in the centre of the Piazza Donatello, in the main boulevard, the Viale Principe Amadeo, Viale Principe Eugenio. It took some time to find the grave once I had looked up the caretaker's book & found his name, as there was no plan . . . The grave is on the right of the central pathway as you go toward the centre of the cemetery, about 5 yards from the path, & almost opposite E.B.B.'s . . . It is closed to the dead now, but the living may enter by pulling on the bell rope at the main gate & waiting till the caretaker or his wife comes to open.
Eglise Evangelique-Reformée de Florence Régistre des Morts: Sir W.H. Sewell, l'Angleterre, Géneral/ II: 1859-1865 'Registre des Sepultures avec detail des frais, Francs 575/ Records, Guildhall Library, London: GL23777/1 N° 309, Burial 15/03, Rev O'Neill/ Registro alfabetico delle persone tumulate nel Cimitero di Pinti: Sewell/ Gen. Giuseppe Enrico/ / Inghilterra/ Firenze/ 13 Marzo/ 1862/ Anni 72/ 778/ + / See also James Bansfield (E12O 771), Homan Mulock (E12O 727) tomb entries/ N&Q 358. General Sir Wm. Henry Sewell, K.C.B., Colonel of 79th Highlanders, ob. 13 March, 1862/ Waterloo Committee/°Tom & Jack Sewell. Chiesa Evangelica Riformata Svizzera, 1827-present.
William Henry the son of Robert and Sarah Sewell, grandson of Sir Thomas Sewell and brother of Major General Robert Sewell, was born about 1786.
William Henry commenced his military career on 27th March 1806 and in the following year, having been appointed aide-de-camp to General Beresford, accompanied him to the Peninsular War, and joined the Duke of Wellington’s army in Portugal in 1808. He was present with Sir John Moore’s army in its advance and in its retreat from Corunna, Talavera, Busaco and the sieges of Ciudad Rodrigo, Badajoz and St Sebastian, the battles of Niville, Nive, before Bayonne, Orthes and Toulouse, besides other engagements of less importance. Having returned from the Peninsular, he proceeded to India, where he served for 28 years.
Lt General WH Sewell was appointed Colonel, in succession to Lt General James Hay, on 24th March 1854. He was immediately knighted. Previous to the 79th Cameron Highlanders embarking for the Crimea War, the new colours were committed to its keeping by Lt Col Edmund James Elliot, on April 21st 1854. (Queens Own Highlanders). This appointment he continued to hold until his death.
William Henry married Georgiana Hacking Hamilton, daughter of John Dalrymple Hamilton, in 1831 St George’s Cathedral, Madras. Their eldest son William Robert Dalrymple was born 1833 in Surrey. He became a lieutenant in the East India Company and died at sea on board the ship Alnwick Castle, on 6th January 1859. Their second son John Dalrymple William was born 7th May 1836. In 1853 he was appointed to the 12th Madras Infantry and in 1857 was serving in China. He married in 1861 but his wife died ten years later in 1871. Having converted to Roman Catholicism and retiring as a Major he entered as a Novitiate at Madras in 1876. He was ordained a Priest in 1880 and became manager of St Joseph’s College, Trichinopoly in 1882. He became a Fellow of Madras University and in 1903 was awarded the Kaisar-I-Hind medal 1st Class, at Delhi Durbar for his work. The Kaisar-I-Hind medal was instituted in 1900, to reward those who had performed useful public service in India, the 1st Class Gold medal being awarded on the recommendation of the Secretary of State for India.
A third son of William Henry and Georgiana was Henry Fane Haylett (Henry FH) born 1838, more of him later. Their other children were Charlotte Fanny Jane born 2nd August 1840 in Madras, died aged 14 months, Julia Helen born 1844, East Indies. She married 30th July 1863 to the Reverent Euseby Digby Cleaver from Ireland at St Barnabas, Pimlico. Their daughter Caroline was born Madras in 1850. Fitzroy Hamilton Spencer was born 1842 in Bangalore, and married Georgina Ottley in 1870, his occupation given as Gentleman. Charlotte Jane Lindsay Cavendish born 1845 married Richard Norton Harper 1872 a Merchant.
General Sir William Sewell died in Florence on 13th March 1862. His grave at the Protestant Cemetery, Florence reads ‘Under this sacred symbol of salvation repose the mortal remains of General Sir William Henry Sewell, CB., Colonel of 79 Highlanders who departed this life in Florence on 13 March 1862’. According to his obituary in The Times, in actions in which the deceased General took part he had six horses either killed or wounded under him. In recognition of his services he was made a CB, afterward a KCB, and had received the war Medal with 10 clasps. (Times Newspaper Mar 24, 1862, pg. 12 issue 24201, col A)
Some doubt has been cast on the parentage of William Henry, a citation in a list of Officers Died (www.redcoat.info) said that William Henry Sewell was ‘the godson and natural son of William IV’. It is well known that the Duke of Clarence later William 1V had many mistresses. The most notable was Mrs Jordan (the comedy actress Dorothy Dora Bland). By her he had ten children all born at his house in Bushy Park, Surrey. They were born between 1794 and 1805 and christened in the name of Fitzclarence. It is possible that Sir William Henry was born to an earlier mistress and it has been difficult to find his birth. There is also reference to William Henry taking the Sewell name on joining the army.
His widow Dame Georgina Hacking Sewell died in Richmond Surrey 1st May 1872 and was buried in Florence.
Waterloo Committee: SEWELL, William Henry/ Brevet Major, 16th (Queen's) Light Dragoons; Ensign 60th Foot 1806, Exchanged to 16th Light Dragoons 1806. Lt 1807. Capt 1812. Capt 6oth Foot 1813. Bt Major Mar 1814. Lt Colonel 1817. Colonel 1837. Major General 1846. Lt General 1854./ Served in the Peninsula Aug 1808 - Jan 1809 and Mar 1809 - May 1812. On the Staff of the Portuguese Army May 1812 - Apr 1814. Served throughout the campaign as ADC to Lord Beresford. Present at the Corunna campaign, Talavera, Coa, Agueda, Busaco, Cuidad Rodrigo, Badajoz, San Sebastian, Nivelle, Nive, Orthes, Bayonne and Toulouse. MGS , medal with ten clasps for Corunna, Talavera, Busaco, Cuidad Rodrigo, Badajoz, San Sebastian, Nivelle, Nive, Orthes and Toulouse. CB. Also in Maida and South America, 1807, on the staff of Lord Beresford. Commanded a Portuguese Cavalry regiment 1816. From 1828 - 54 served in India as Deputy Master General, then in command at Bangalore, then divisional commander at Madras and finally Commander-in-Chief of the Madras Army. Returned to England in 1854 and became Colonel of the 79th Cameron Highlanders. Made KCB in 1861. Retired in 1856. Educated at Westminster and Eton, he was W.H. Robertson. On entering the army he took the name of Sewell. Reference: Jameson, Robert. Historical record of the 79th Regiment of Foot, or Cameron Highlanders. 1863'. P. 136. Sewell descendants note he was godson and natural son of King William IV and that Queen Victoria kept him out of the country. Captain Jack Sewell rang the Cemetery's bell in 1945 to see the tombs and took this photograph. I have insisted on preserving this bell intact and in working order, and I have the children burying their parents ring it in order for them to have some control over the chaos at that moment in their lives. In the photograph one can still see the chalice intact on the tomb sculpted by Felicie de Fauveau for E48 SIR CHARLES LYON HERBERT's tomb. One can also see the damage done by a rusting paperclip. Here is part of his letter home to England:
Dearest People, . . . At the moment I'm on leave in Florence & enjoying it a lot. . . I found the General's grave yesterday and his wife's side by side, & took a photo. . . I don't suppose another member of the family will have the opportunity for a long time. What I did decipher was as follows:- 'Beneath this sacred symbol of salvation repose the mortal remains of Gen. Sir. W.H.S., K.E.B., Colonel of 79 Highlanders, who departed this life at Florence 13th March 1862. His wife Georgina Hacking, died on 1 May 1872. His tomb is No 778. The graveyard is in the centre of the Piazza Donatello, in the main boulevard, the Viale Principe Amadeo, Viale Principe Eugenio. It took some time to find the grave once I had looked up the caretaker's book & found his name, as there was no plan . . . The grave is on the right of the central pathway as you go toward the centre of the cemetery, about 5 yards from the path, & almost opposite E.B.B.'s . . . It is closed to the dead now, but the living may enter by pulling on the bell rope at the main gate & waiting till the caretaker or his wife comes to open.
Eglise Evangelique-Reformée de Florence Régistre des Morts: Sir W.H. Sewell, l'Angleterre, Géneral/ II: 1859-1865 'Registre des Sepultures avec detail des frais, Francs 575/ Records, Guildhall Library, London: GL23777/1 N° 309, Burial 15/03, Rev O'Neill/ Registro alfabetico delle persone tumulate nel Cimitero di Pinti: Sewell/ Gen. Giuseppe Enrico/ / Inghilterra/ Firenze/ 13 Marzo/ 1862/ Anni 72/ 778/ + / See also James Bansfield (E12O 771), Homan Mulock (E12O 727) tomb entries/ N&Q 358. General Sir Wm. Henry Sewell, K.C.B., Colonel of 79th Highlanders, ob. 13 March, 1862/ Waterloo Committee/°Tom & Jack Sewell. Chiesa Evangelica Riformata Svizzera, 1827-present.
William Henry the son of Robert and Sarah Sewell, grandson of Sir Thomas Sewell and brother of Major General Robert Sewell, was born about 1786.
William Henry commenced his military career on 27th March 1806 and in the following year, having been appointed aide-de-camp to General Beresford, accompanied him to the Peninsular War, and joined the Duke of Wellington’s army in Portugal in 1808. He was present with Sir John Moore’s army in its advance and in its retreat from Corunna, Talavera, Busaco and the sieges of Ciudad Rodrigo, Badajoz and St Sebastian, the battles of Niville, Nive, before Bayonne, Orthes and Toulouse, besides other engagements of less importance. Having returned from the Peninsular, he proceeded to India, where he served for 28 years.
Lt General WH Sewell was appointed Colonel, in succession to Lt General James Hay, on 24th March 1854. He was immediately knighted. Previous to the 79th Cameron Highlanders embarking for the Crimea War, the new colours were committed to its keeping by Lt Col Edmund James Elliot, on April 21st 1854. (Queens Own Highlanders). This appointment he continued to hold until his death.
William Henry married Georgiana Hacking Hamilton, daughter of John Dalrymple Hamilton, in 1831 St George’s Cathedral, Madras. Their eldest son William Robert Dalrymple was born 1833 in Surrey. He became a lieutenant in the East India Company and died at sea on board the ship Alnwick Castle, on 6th January 1859. Their second son John Dalrymple William was born 7th May 1836. In 1853 he was appointed to the 12th Madras Infantry and in 1857 was serving in China. He married in 1861 but his wife died ten years later in 1871. Having converted to Roman Catholicism and retiring as a Major he entered as a Novitiate at Madras in 1876. He was ordained a Priest in 1880 and became manager of St Joseph’s College, Trichinopoly in 1882. He became a Fellow of Madras University and in 1903 was awarded the Kaisar-I-Hind medal 1st Class, at Delhi Durbar for his work. The Kaisar-I-Hind medal was instituted in 1900, to reward those who had performed useful public service in India, the 1st Class Gold medal being awarded on the recommendation of the Secretary of State for India.
A third son of William Henry and Georgiana was Henry Fane Haylett (Henry FH) born 1838, more of him later. Their other children were Charlotte Fanny Jane born 2nd August 1840 in Madras, died aged 14 months, Julia Helen born 1844, East Indies. She married 30th July 1863 to the Reverent Euseby Digby Cleaver from Ireland at St Barnabas, Pimlico. Their daughter Caroline was born Madras in 1850. Fitzroy Hamilton Spencer was born 1842 in Bangalore, and married Georgina Ottley in 1870, his occupation given as Gentleman. Charlotte Jane Lindsay Cavendish born 1845 married Richard Norton Harper 1872 a Merchant.
General Sir William Sewell died in Florence on 13th March 1862. His grave at the Protestant Cemetery, Florence reads ‘Under this sacred symbol of salvation repose the mortal remains of General Sir William Henry Sewell, CB., Colonel of 79 Highlanders who departed this life in Florence on 13 March 1862’. According to his obituary in The Times, in actions in which the deceased General took part he had six horses either killed or wounded under him. In recognition of his services he was made a CB, afterward a KCB, and had received the war Medal with 10 clasps. (Times Newspaper Mar 24, 1862, pg. 12 issue 24201, col A)
Some doubt has been cast on the parentage of William Henry, a citation in a list of Officers Died (www.redcoat.info) said that William Henry Sewell was ‘the godson and natural son of William IV’. It is well known that the Duke of Clarence later William 1V had many mistresses. The most notable was Mrs Jordan (the comedy actress Dorothy Dora Bland). By her he had ten children all born at his house in Bushy Park, Surrey. They were born between 1794 and 1805 and christened in the name of Fitzclarence. It is possible that Sir William Henry was born to an earlier mistress and it has been difficult to find his birth. There is also reference to William Henry taking the Sewell name on joining the army.
His widow Dame Georgina Hacking Sewell died in Richmond Surrey 1st May 1872 and was buried in Florence.
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