Robert ATKINS [6326]

  General Notes:

From Whence We Came
The Forbears, Family, and Progeny of Robert Atkins
By James Atkins
. . . . . It has been reported that Robert Atkins was a "soldier of the 3^rd Scotch Foot Guards" in 1793. Possibly this is the year of his enlistment, and this would be consistent with his military accomplishments and the date of the campaign in which he achieved them. As of the date of this writing, that has not been verified. He has been described as "a little fair man (erect height, 5' 3") who always wore a scull cap in his later years".

However, the UK national archives military lists report a Robert Atkins who served in the 7th Royal Veterans battalion, and then the 3rd Foot Guards. He was discharged in 1810, at the age of 45, having served 17 years and 2 months. He was born in Hilson, Leicestshire, and his birth date would have been in 1765. If this is "our" Robert, which seems likely, he would have been twenty-eight years of age upon his enlistment in 1793.

It is known that he had one brother and three half-brothers. His mother having first been married to a Mr. Needham, bore to him two sons first names unknown. Her second marriage was to Robert's father, and produced Robert and a brother whose first name is unknown. Her third marriage was to a Mr. Austin, and produced one son whose first name is unknown.
Robert's military service saw him abroad in Egypt during the Napoleonic Wars serving under Sir Ralph Abercromby. Abercromby had been appointed in June of 1800 to command troops in the Mediterranean, an undertaking that proved futile in its mission. Robert was most certainly among those troops who were, from June of 1800 through February 1801, sailed pointlessly around the Mediterranean landing at Gibraltar, Spain, Portugal and Malta. Whether Robert fought in other battles against the French in Europe or the Caribbean island campaigns between 1793 and 1880 is not known.
Robert was awarded a medal in connection with service in the Peninsular Campaign, which he left to his son, Samuel; who in turn bequeathed it to his son, James. Medals in the British army were quite unusual in the 18^th century, and only a few variations were available. From the history of the British General Service Medal ("GSM"), and the chronology of events above, we may safely infer that Robert's medal was a GSM with a clasp for Egypt.
Whether Robert's son, Samuel, inherited this medal, or it was given to him by Robert prior to his death, is not known. However, that Samuel, and later his son, James, had the medal is indisputable. Although the date and location of Robert's death is not known, it was obviously later than 1848. We can further deduce that it most likely occurred between 1859 (the year Samuel returned from his military duty in India), and 1873 (the year Samuel immigrated with his family to New Zealand).

Robert married Jane Hayes, and became a farmer in the Midlands of England after retiring from the Army. They had five children, all sons. First born, William, married his cousin, Jane Hayes (from this we can deduce that Jane had at least one brother, first name unknown, who would have been the father of William's wife and cousin, also Jane Hayes). Second born was John, who married a Miss Hooper (or perhaps Miss "Hunter"). Third born was Samuel, who was born in Inverness, Scotland on July 23, 1824. Fourth born was Robert, and the youngest was George.

Little information is available regarding William and Jane other than that William died prior to 1905.
John and his wife(s) had a large family including Annie Elizabeth (of whom we shall have further interest) born on August 3, 1865; Samuel, Mary, George, Tom, Sarah, Harry and William. All of the children were born in England. John died prior to 1905. John was a farmer, and amassed a sizeable landholding for the time of 40 acres. He built an impressive home to house his family, Sea Brooks, which may still stand in Alfreton, England.

Sea Brooks Farm (See Picture)
Nothing is known of Samuel's youth, but we do know that he followed his father's example and entered a military career in 1842
Robert married, but to whom is unknown. He settled in the Derbyshire area of England, and was interested in iron and the collieries of that region. He had many descendants, and while they are unknown, presumably many of them still reside in the area. As of 1905, Robert was still living.
George married a Highland woman, Mary Taylor. A sister of hers married James McPherson. George was deceased as of 1905. . . . .
Ref: Extract from Jim Atkins Book 2012.

2022
The compiler of this record has been unable to prove the statement above that Robert left the Army and became a farmer in Alfreton DBY.
The England Census from 1841 (aged 58) to 1861 (aged 78) places he and Jane in Arnold NTH, Robert is an Ag Lab. Death date untraced.

  Research Notes:

Images and much data on this family courtesy of James (Jim) G Atkins - 2012, also from Jim's Article on Ettrick Cottage in NZ Legacy Vol 27 No 3 2015

Robert married Jane HAYES [14006] [MRIN: 2120]. (Jane HAYES [14006] was born in 1789 in Assington NTT.)