Brampton Barracks 1841

[RJO1]

Can anyone help with information on Brampton Barracks (Kent) around the 1841 period. My third greatgrandfather was identified on the 1841 census as being here as a soldier aged 15; although i have a feeling he might only have been thirteen at the time.

Thanks

[Jan1954]

Hello there,

The place is actually Brompton Barracks, rather than Brampton. It became the headquarters of the Royal Engineers in 1812 and, if you visit kenthistoryforum.co.uk you will find loads of information about it as well as some photographs.

By the way, in the 1841 census, ages for people aged 15 and over were generally rounded down to the nearest 5 years. So, your chap could be any age between 15 and 19 - unless he lied from the beginning and really was 13!

[RJO1]

Thanks Jan, a typing error for which I am reknown for.

RJO1

[Terry Reeves]

He could easily have been 13 years old. The Royal Engineers accepted boys of that age at this time. His papers might be at the National Archive.

Terry Reeves