By Diana Kennedy

 This article was originally published in the December 2005 edition of Soul Search, the journal of The Sole Society

John Sewell enlisted in the army in December 1844 and was discharged in February 1847.

For some of that time he was absent without leave resulting in his court martial and discharge having served just 578 days. John was born about September 1827 in Knodishall in Suffolk. In the 1841 census his age was given as 15years and he was employed as a labourer on his grandfather, John Sewell’s farm, Manor House Farm in Knodishall. It is likely that he was the illegitimate son of John senior’s eldest daughter.

John a labourer joined as a Private in the 46^th Regiment of Infantry on 13^th December 1844 at Woodbridge, Suffolk. He gave his age as 17years and 3months. He was described as 5 feet 9 inches tall, a fair complexion, grey eyes and brown hair. He also had a scar between the scapula due to a boil.

On 8^th May 1846 he deserted from the army and was absent until the 10^th June 1846 when he was brought back. At his Court Martial on 16^th June 1846 he was sentenced to three lunar months hard labour and stoppages. At a Regimental Board he was finally discharged from the army as he was ‘deemed unfit for service due to difficulty breathing, the result of pulmonary and cardiac disease’. His character was given as bad. John finally left the army on the 23^rd February 1847.

Proceedings of a Regimental Board held at Gu…… 24^th Nov 1846

The board having examined and compared the Regimental Records, the Soldiers book, and other such Documents as appeared to them to be necessary, report that John Sewell by trade a Labourer was Born in the Parish of Knodishall in or near the town of Saxmundham  in the County of Suffolk and was attested for the 46^th Regiment of Infantry at Woodbridge in the County of Suffolk on the 13^th December 1844 at the Age of 17 years 3 months that after making every deduction required by Her Majesty’s Regulations, the service, up to this day, which he is entitled to reckon, amounts to ….. years 78 days, as shown by the detailed statement on the second page, during which period he served abroad.

(No service abroad)

and further that his discharge is proposed in consequence of Being unfit for service. With regard to the character and Conduct of 401966 Private John Sewell the board have to report, that upon reference to the Defaulters book, and by the Parole testimony that has been given, it appears that he was tried by a District Court Martial at Chatham on the 16^th June 1846 for desertion and making away Accessories Convicted and sentenced 3 Lunar months hard labour and stoppage inflicted and that his character is bad.

What happened to John after he was discharged from the army I have no idea. I think it is likely that he was the John Sewell, an Agriculture Labourer who died in Knodishall in July 1856, of Consumption aged 31years.  No family appear to have been present as his death.