Levi Baldwin

Other Events and Attributes:

• Name: Levi Balden
• Birth: Abt 1770, USA
• Military Deployment: Between 1803 and 1806, Lewes, Sussex, England
• Miltary Service: 1806; 4th Dragoons (Queens Own)
• Military Deployment: 1807, Chichester, Sussex, England
• Military Deployment: Between 1808 and 1809, Canterbury, Kent, England
• Military Deployment: Between 1809 and 1814, Spain
• Occupation: 1812; Soldier
• Military Deployment: Between 1814 and 1819, Carlow, Ireland
• Residence: Between 1819 and 1829, New Street Area, Birmingham, Warwickshire, England
• Residence: 1819, Queen Street, Birmingham, Warwickshire, England
• Military Deployment: 1820, Birmingham, Warwickshire, England
• Occupation: Between 1820 and 1830; Musician
• Residence: 1821, Little Wharf Street, Birmingham, Warwickshire, England
• Adult Baptism: 10 Apr 1821, Saint Martin's, Birmingham, Warwickshire, England
• Residence: 1824, Vale Street, Birmingham, Warwickshire, England
• Residence: 1826, Dudley Street, Birmingham, Warwickshire, England
• Residence: 1828, Five Dwellings, Birmingham, Warwickshire, England
• Residence: 1831, Tonk Street, Birmingham, Warwickshire, England

Notes:

Levi Baldwin a man of Colour
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The first reference to Levi Baldwin so for found is in the sporting life magazine in May 1806.
"In the evening of the first day of Goodwood Races, there was a foot race between Levi Baldwin, a black trumpeter in the 4th dragoons, and a Yorkshireman ; they ran a hundred and fifty yards, for twenty-five guineas, which was easily won ..."

It should be noted that Goodwood Racecourse is only a couple of miles from Chichester.

In 1808 while the regiment was in Canterbury Levi married Sarah McGilchrist. Sarah's father was likely stationed there also as the 3rd and 4th Dragoons spent three days on board ships at Portsmouth in December 1808 prior to being stood down.

In march 1809 shortly after the baptism of daughter Jane, the regiment marched to Portsmouth where on the 16th April they sailed on the Venus for Spain

The next reference to Levir is at Chichester, where in 1810, he and Sarah baptised a daughter Jane. Later at Glasgow he was described as a soldier but the Chichester registers prior to 1813 do not list occupations.
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The History of Roussillon Barracks, Chichester
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" Various records show that the Barracks were built over a period between 1795 and 1813 at a cost of ?76,167, on land that was purchased from the Bishop of Chichester. It lies in the parish of St Peter the Great and from marriage registers of St Peters up to 1794, it shows that the military were on site from the mid 1700s. In 1767 the marriage took place of a drummer in Lord London's Regiment and also of a trumpeter in Lord Albermarle's Regiment. In 1768, three weddings took place by members of 70th foot, General Cholmondely's Regiment and 3rd Regiment of Dragoons. The Barrack accommodation at this time was tents. "

Note the reference to 3rd Dragoons, this regiment was the one Sarah's father Henry McGilchrist served in, see his notes.

Worthy of Note also :-
At St Peter The Great on 6 April 1802 the Following Couple were married by Licence:
William X Shrubb of the Parish of Headley in the county of " Southampton " and Jemima X Balwin of this parish
Witnessed by John Moorey, John Frogbrook and George Wright

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The next reference to Levi Baldwin (Balden) is at Glasgow in 1812 regarding the baptism of his son Levi Balden. Levi at this time is described as a soldier although no discharge papers can be found for him. It is quite possible that he was not discharged to pension, he may well have died in service, although no reference to him as a soldier were found at Birmingham, in that case it will be more difficult to find his records but not impossible.
We do have a clue however, the second witness to this baptism, John MacDonald also born America,( New York), about 1782, served in the 2nd Batt' 71st Light Infantry enlisting 2nd May 1808. His discharge papers describe him as " of black complexion " These regimental records will be checked in due course for this period. Note the 2nd Battalion of the 71st were disbanded after Waterloo in 1815.
(Further details re - John McDonald Abstract From WO25 - 459 Description Book
Page 34 WO25/ 459 71st Foot 2nd Battn 1810 - 1820
John McDonald Age 26 5'4 " Complexion Black; Visage - Round; Eyes - Black; Hair - Black Born America - New York; occupation - Weaver
Date and Place of Attestation for a Limited Period - Glasgow 9 May 1808 Discharged - 24 Sept 1810 Not Recommended for Pension}

Abstract of Baptismal Entry at Barony
" Levi Balden Soldr and Sarah McGilchrist had their - child born 13 May baptised 10 June 1812 named Levi, John Macdonald and Henry Mcgilchrist Witnesses.
NB There were quite a number of soldiers baptising children at this period.
Margaret dau Willian Gray Soldr and Janet Rellie 16 June Wit Daniel Rellie and Robt Gray
James son Adam Cook soldr and Eliz Turner 27 June Wit Thomas Turner and Peter Tenyson
Robert son Thomas Gilmour soldr and Janet Smith 7 July Wit John Henderson & Geo Allan
Janet dau Andr Munro soldr and Margaret Cathel 21st July wit by John Thompson & Samuel Brown
Agnes Dau Wm Dun soldr and Agnes Anderson 28 July Wit by Geo and Wm Smellie
William son Robert Jack soldr And Janet Ballock 3 Aug Wit by John Wiseman & John Bilsland

NB the following entry from the Glasgow Death Records of 1855:-
MCDONALD,John-Soldier/pensioner-male-34-born Glasgow-4 months in Glasgow.Parents-John MCDONALD, Soldier(dec) and Sarah MCDONALD nee SINCLAIR. Died May 25, 1855 at the Royal Infirmary, Glasgow of Cardiac Dropsy as cert by Charles F. McLauglan MD. buried High Church Cemetery, Glasgow as cert by the warden. Signed Sarah MCDONALD, her X mark, mother

Current state of Military research :

The description books for the 71st foot have been read on film but the writing is very faded. The fact that no referance to Levi can be found is therefore not conclusive. The musters will read in due course. He is definately not listed in the 3rd Dragoons, the regiment of Henry McGilchrist, as the muster rolls for this regiment have been examined for this period.

A day at Kew confirmed Levi was in the 4th Dragoons in 1809, two pages from the pay books listed Levi as one of the 10 Trumpeters. Sadly no description books have been found and current research is limitted due Corona Virus restrictions.

The first reference found of Levi Baldwin in Birmingham is at the burial of Isabella his daughter on 7 Feb 1819, she was only 8 months old at the time and it appears unbaptised. This reference is to be found in the St. Philip's Register.

Later on 10 April 1821 when Levi Baldwin was baptised as an adult. The minister wrote " Born 1770 or thereabouts in North America, a Musician and man of Colour " . His burial entry in 1829 however gives his age as 47 indicating he was born circa 1782.

Why was he baptised at this time? Normally it would indicate a marriage but in this case we know that Levi was already married, his daughter Isabella born in 1818, Jeremiah c. 1814 and Levi 1812. It is therefore highly likely that he was baptised as a relative newcomer to the parish.

Levi and his wife Sarah subsequently baptised two more children at Saint Martin's, Caroline in 1826 and Sarah in 1828 a year before Levi died in 1829. He was always referred to as a musician and appeared to have no other trade unlike his son Jeremiah who was a brass founder and musician and described sometimes as a fiddler.

The burial registers reveal three more unbaptised children who died in infancy Thomas, 1823 and James, 1825 besides the previously mentioned Isabella,1818.
NB the Burial Registers have not been checked post 1837 yet.
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It is interesting to note that the first civil registration for this family, that of Caroline, daughter of Jeremiah, was in the name of Caroline BALDEN not Baldwin. See also the baptismal entry for Levi Balden 1812
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After Levi's death in 1829 Sarah married John Chinn in 1831 and they moved to Ryecroft Walsall some time between the census of 1841 and 1851.
The Baldwin - Chinn family seemed to have some interest in Ryecroft, Walsall prior to 1841 as Caroline, Jeremiah's sister, died there in 1837 although both Jeremiah, his mother and step-father were still in Birmingham.
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Worthy of note are these other entries found in Various Birmingham registers:-

St May's Whitall Street Burials:
9 May 1824 Sarah Baldwin age 75 Widow of Wharfe St.
NB when Levi was baptised in 1821 he was said to live Little Wharfe St.

St. Martin's Register of Burials:
30 Aug 1835 Mary Baldwin Wife of William age 52 of Tonk St.
15 Feb 1837 William Baldwin 56 of Rea St (near Barford St.)
(Note the reference to Tonk St 26 April 1831 Sarah dau Levi and Sarah)

With regards to the above William and Mary baptised the following children at St. Martin's
William was described as a Gardener and they lived at Old Inkleys

Thomas BALDWIN on 10 Jun 1813 born 17 Dec 1812
William BALDWIN on 22 Nov 1814 no birth date Given possibly born before William
Mary Ann BALDWIN on 18 Aug 1817 born 22 April 1814
Edward BALDWIN on 12 Sep 1821 born 27 July 1819 (Father Green ?Gisege?
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Birth:
(North America from Baptism)

Military Deployment:
Quartered in Lewes and, Brighton, Sussex. 80 miles away at Boulogne, Emperor Napoleon had an army of 100,000 men waiting to invade England

Military Deployment:
With the threat of invasion over, the regiment marched from its barracks in Lewes, to Chichester where it spent a year, followed by 6 months at Ipswich.

Military Deployment:
In the November, the regiment were now based in Canterbury when it received orders to prepare to embark for active service in Portugal

Military Deployment:
The regiment formed part of Wellington's army in the Peninsular Wars. The following battles were granted as Battle Honours :
Battle of Talavera - 27/28th July 1809.
Battle of Albuera - 16th May 1811.
Battle of Salamanca - 22nd July 1812.


Military Deployment:
After six months in Dublin, the headquarters moved to Carlow in the February, with the troops dispersed increasingly over the entire south of the country. The reason for the dispersal was that Napoleon had escaped from Elba and his landing in France had required other regiments from Ireland. By the summer, the 4th Dragoons were the only regiment left in the country.
In November, the headquarters moved to new barracks in Cahir, where they stayed until 1819, when it moved to Cork.


Military Deployment:
1819 : The regiment finished a tour of duty in Ireland and moved to the West Country, with headquarter in Exeter and troops in Plymouth, Truro and Taunton - helping the excise men to control the smuggling.

1820 : In the spring they marched to Birmingham with two troops detached at Coventry but a few weeks later they were called to London and were posted to Croydon, Lewisham and adjacent towns.

Levi married Sarah McGilchrist on 25 Apr 1808 in Saint Mary's Northgate, Canterbury, Kent, England. Sarah (daughter of Henry McGilchrist and Frances Akin) was born between 1794 and 1795 in Devizes, Wiltstshire, England; died in Aug 1863 in Ryecroft, Walsall, Staffordshire, England; was buried on 15 Aug 1863 in Saint Michael's Churchyard, Rushall, Walsall, Staffordshire, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Why have I assumed that the Levi Balden and Sarah McGilchrist who baptised a son Levi at Glasgow in 1812 are the Levi and Sarah from Birmingham?

The baptism at Glasgow was in the name Balden the same as the first civil registration entry in Birmingham indicating the same pronunciation. Levi was said to be born in North America, there are many Balden surnames in the IGI there and relatively few in the British Isles for this period.

We know from register entries that Levi was at least part black and was a musician. The two witnesses of the baptism of Levi junior were :-
(1) Henry McGilchrist: Assumed to be Sarah's father, of black origins born in Jamaica and a Musician. See notes Henry McGilchrist.
(2) John MacDonald: John's discharge at Glasgow on 24th September 1810 reveal he was " born New York, America - of black complexion "

John MacDonald enlisted on 2nd May 1808 and served in the 2nd Battalion 71st Regiment of Light Infantry.

1. Jane Baldwin was born in Feb 1809 in Chichester, Sussex, England.
2. Levi Baldwin was born on 13 May 1811 in Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland.
3. Jeremiah Baldwin was born in 1814 in Not in Warwickshire, England; died on 27 Jun 1845 in Rushall, Walsall, Staffordshire, England; was buried in 1845 in Key Hill Cemetery, Birmingham, Warwickshire, England.
4. Henry Baldwin was born in May 1815 in Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland.
5. Isabella Baldwin was born in Jun 1818; died in Feb 1819 in Queen Street, Birmingham, Warwickshire, England; was buried on 7 Feb 1819 in Saint Phillip's Churchyard, Birmingham, Warwickshire, England.
6. Caroline Baldwin was born on 28 Aug 1820 in Dudley Street, Birmingham, Warwickshire, England; died in Jun 1837 in Ryecroft Street, Walsall, Staffordshire, England; was buried on 18 Jun 1837 in Saint Matthew's, Walsall, Staffordshire, England.
7. Thomas Baldwin was born in Aug 1823; died in May 1824 in Vale Street, Birmingham, Warwickshire, England; was buried on 2 Jun 1824 in Saint Phillip's Churchyard, Birmingham, Warwickshire, England.
8. James Baldwin was born on 2 Aug 1825 in Dudley Street, Birmingham, Warwickshire, England; died in Aug 1825 in Dudley Street, Birmingham, Warwickshire, England; was buried on 14 Aug 1825 in Saint Phillip's Churchyard, Birmingham, Warwickshire, England.
9. Sarah Baldwin was born on 7 Sep 1826 in Five Dwellings, Birmingham, Warwickshire, England; died in Apr 1831 in Tonk Street, Birmingham, Warwickshire, England; was buried on 26 Apr 1831 in Saint Phillip's Churchyard, Birmingham, Warwickshire, England.