#12 Addressed to Mr. Henry Hirst, Heptonstalll, Halifax, Yorkshire [Single Sheet] Gibraltar 4th February 1798 Honoured Father & Mother I once more have the opportunity of Writing to you, hoping this will find you in good health as this leaves me at present thanks be to the Almighty for it, I never received a Letter... Continue Reading →
Gibraltar 1797 – “The worst place a soldier can lay in”
It is September, 1797. William Hirst has been stationed in Gibraltar for well over a year. He clearly hates being there. What kind of place is it really? Would it be any better with a wife at his side? Gibraltar I always thought Gibraltar was an island but it is actually an isthmus extending out... Continue Reading →
Letter #11 – Transcript – 16 September 1797
#11 Addressed to Mr. Henry Hirst, Heptonstalll near Halifax, Yorkshire, South Britain Gibraltar 16th September 1797 Honoured Father & Mother I once more have the opportunity of writing to you, hoping this will find you in good health as this leaves me at present thanks be to the Almighty for it, I would have writ... Continue Reading →
Letter #10 – Transcript – 7 September 1796
#10 Addressed to Mr. Henry Hirst, Grocer, Heptonstalll near Halifax, Yorkshire, South Britain Gibraltar 7th Septr. 1796 Honoured Father & Mother I once more have the opportunity of writing to you, hoping this will find you in good health as this leaves me at present thanks be to the Almighty for it, I am sorry... Continue Reading →
Sailing immediately – William Hirst at sea on The Coverdale
Three months in England – without ever seeing his Wife, Child, or “Honour’d Father and Mother” – and William Hirst is once again aboard ship in Portsmouth “sailing immediately” to Gibraltar. He tells us the name of the vessel I am in is the Coverdale of London, and the other two belonging to out Regiment... Continue Reading →
Letter #9 – Transcript – 16 May 1796
#9 Addressed to Mr. Henry Hirst, Heptonstalll near Halifax, Yorkshire Hirst Letter #9 – 16 May 1796 – Detail. Private Collection Board Ship Portsmouth 16th May 1796 Honour’d Father & Mother I write to you once again informing you that we this day Embarked here for Gibraltar, after only one days Notice, Letter #9 –... Continue Reading →
Procure me a [rich] Friend to lay down money for my Discharge
By Richard Simkin - Epochs of the British Army by Lt. Col. H. S. Spalding. London: W. H. Allen, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=8863900 After 3 years in the Army poor William Hirst is now desperate to get out. Why? Is it even possible? I shall never be happy or content in my mind though I had... Continue Reading →
Letter #7 – Transcript – 3 March 1796
#7 Addressed to Mr. Henry Hirst, Grocer, Heptonstall near Halifax, Yorkshire, South Britain Hirst Letter #7 – 3 March 1796 – Detail. Private Collection West Cowes, Isle of Wight 3 March 1796 Honoured Father & Mother I received your Letter dated 12 March, at the same time one from my Wife dated the 13th March,... Continue Reading →
William Hirst’s (Not So) Great Escape!
So “after being Prisoner 20 Months and 19 Days in France” William Hirst along with 49 others has escaped! How did this happen? We know from an earlier post on this blog that the French Revolutionary Wars have brought a shift in the conventions governing the detention, exchange, and classification of prisoners. The “cartel” system... Continue Reading →
Letter #6 – Transcript – 6 February 1796
#6 Addressed to Mr. Henry Hirst, Grocer, Heptonstall near Halifax, Yorkshire Hirst Letter #6 – 6 February 1796 – Detail. Private Collection Portsmouth 6th February 1796 Honoured Father & Mother This Morning I arrived here, after being Prisoner 20 Months and 19 Days in France which is the happiest day I do assure you that... Continue Reading →