If you visit the churchyard at St Mary’s, Theydon Bois, you would be excused if you did not take a second glance at the gravestone under a yew tree near the church. Indeed the lettering on the stone is almost worn away. But is does warrant a second glance as this is the grave of Joseph Boulcott.
Joseph was born in 1776, the fourth child of six to Joseph and Ann Boulcott, in Bromsgrove, Worcestershire. Sometime between 1778 and 1790, the family moved to Birmingham. This was the start of the industrial revolution and there were better work opportunities. Little is known of Joseph’s early life. He probably attended school as he was able to read and write. Joseph on leaving school was employed as a button maker; brass buttons were then in great demand. In 1798, together with his brother William he enlisted in the 3rd Battalion 1st or Grenadier Regiment of Foot Guards.
Joseph signed up for unlimited service and was described at this time as 5ft 2in tall, with dark brown hair complemented by his hazel eyes and dark complexion.
He was promoted to the rank of Corporal in 1800 and to Sergeant in 1803.
He served in the Peninsula with the 3rd Battalion from October 1808 until January 1809, and from April 1811 until April 1814. He was present at Corunna, Cadiz, Burgos, Bidassoa, Nivelle, Nive and Bayonne. He had also served at Helder in 1799, Sicily in 1806, and Walcheren in 1809.
He was present at the Battle of Waterloo in Lt. Colonel Fead’s Company, the Capture of Paris and with the Army of Occupation. He received the Waterloo Medal (commissioned on the 10 March 1816).
He was also awarded the Military General Service Medal, 1793 – 1814. This was not awarded until 1848, and then only to those who were still alive. He was also awarded three clasps, CORUNNA, NIVELLE and NIVE.
He was discharged from the Army on the 1st August, 1817, after serving 21 years and granted a pension of one shilling and ten pence per day. (2 years service was added on for Waterloo)
Boulcott was then taken on to the Duke of Wellington’s personal staff and became his baggage master until the withdrawal of the army from France in1818. In that year The Duke of Wellington appointed Joseph as Clerk of the Cheque under the Board of Ordnance in the Tower of London, until he finally retired on pension in 1849.
Joseph wife, who he mentions in a letter to his mother in October 1815, died sometime before 1845, for in that year he is described as a widower, gentleman, residing at ‘Saint Peter within the Tower of London’ he marries Jane Palmer, spinster at St Marylebone Parish Church. 5 years later Joseph died. According to his death certificate, he died at Theydon Common, Theydon Bois ON THE 22ND October 1850, of ‘disease of the bladder and old age’. His age was given as 74 and his occupation as ‘gentleman’.
He was buried in the churchyard at Theydon Bois. Fortunately a transcription was made in 1910.
The inscription reads:
SACRED
TO THE MEMORY OF
JOSEPH BOULCOTT/
LATE CLERK OF CHEQUE TOWER, LONDON
WHO DIED OCTOBER 22nd 1850
AGED 74 YEARS/SERVED IN HOLLAND UNDER THE LATE
DUKE OF YORK
WITH THE ARMY IN SICILY
AND SIR JOHN MOORE AT THE BATTLE OF CORUNNA
AND ALSO IN SPAIN PORTUGAL AND FRANCE
HE WAS THE CONFIDENTIAL ADHERENT OF
THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON
FROM THE FIRST VICTORY OF WATERLOO
UNTIL THE WITHDRAWAL OF THE ALLIES FROM
PARIS 1818
After a pious verse the tombstone also records the death of his wife, Mrs Jane Boulcott, on the 14th January 1862, aged 63 years.
In the 1861 Census Jane is shown as living at Sycamore Cottage, near Epping Common, Theydon Bois. She is described as a ‘Proprietor of Houses.’
Clerk of the Cheque:
The clerk is responsible for issuing the orders of the Body Guard’s attendance at such functions as the State Opening of Parliament, Garter Services, Royal Weddings and other ceremonial events.
He was baptised on the 12th May 1776.
His siblings consisted of Joshua, Mary, William, John and James.