ALEXANDER REPPER (1773 - ?)
ROYAL NAVY - MARINE 2nd CLASS

Early Life in Helston

Helston Parish Church
Alexander Repper was born in Helston, Cornwall in 1773, the son of Alexander & Phillipa Repper. Phillipa had previously married John Guy who had died and she brought three children to her marriage - Mary Guy, John Guy & William Guy.
Alexander was baptised in Helston Parish Church on the 16th March 1773.
His half brother John Guy had married and had a son called William in 1793. Alexanderís mother, Phillipa died in Helston during August 1794.
Other than this, little is know of his early life, the first recorded entry of his own life after his baptism is his marriage to Ann Hutchinson in Hampstead, Middlesex in 1796.
The Cornish Militia
At the time of his marriage Alexander is shown as "of the Cornwall Dragoons" and also of the parish of Hampstead. Dragoon in this context is believed to have meant a military man or militia man on horseback. Alexander was most probably a member of the Cornwall Militia.

Helston Market
Militias operated under the auspices of local dignitaries who would raise a local volunteer force, made up a group of local men who have access to a horse. The men may be supplied with a carbine by the person raising the force and when saddled up would represent the local militia, being nothing more than armed mounted yeomen.
The local family with the responsibility for raising the force in Helston was most likely to have been the Vivyans on behalf of the Basset family. Their family papers may reveal something of the regiment's movements.
The leading authority on Cornish Militia is a Professor A C (Charles) Thomas of Lambessow, St Clement, Truro, Cornwall (01872 72980). He has written to me (3 September 1996) as follows
"I think it is fairly certain that your ancestor in the (Royal) Cornwall (Fencible) Dragoons was a Fencible, not a Volunteer. This would explain an aspect that rather puzzled me - enlistment in the Marines, like the regular infantry, would normally be via service in the Militia .... volunteers were very seldom wanted in the regulars because they were insufficiently trained or not the right standard - men used to join the Militia to be 'fed up' to the right height and weight!"
The following is a copy of a notice which first occurs in 1794:
KING AND CONSTITUTION
A Corps of Fencible Light Cavalry commanded by the Right Honourable GEORGE LORD VISCOUNT FALMOUTH Colonel Commandant.
Sir Francis Bassett Major
Wanted, in Sir FRANCIS BASSET'S TROOP, some active Young Men, who are desirous of resisting French Anarchy & Confusion, and are willing to defend their KING and NATIVE COUNTRY, against all foreign Invaders. All persons who feel themselves inclined to enter, are desired to apply to at when they shall receive a handsome Bounty, be received into present pay, and may depend on the kindest Treatment. The Corps is not to go out of Great Britain, and is only to serve during the War. Persons entering will receive full Dragoon Pay, and will be mounted on Capital Horses.
Professor Thomas doubts the ability of this force to resist an invasion from the French, the prime reason for setting them up, but advises that they did become an effective local "police" force. He also advises that these forces were frequently used to control public disturbances, not an uncommon occurrence in this era, which were often borne out of discontent over food prices. It seems also that this was more frequent in and around London, the seat of government, and militia were sent in from all parts of the country to support the local militia.
The uniform of the Fencibles was a red jacket with black facings and white lace, a leather Light Dragoon helmet being surrounded by a yellow "turban" or pagri.
There were several civil disturbances in 1795 leading up to the act of the King being stoned by a crowd in October 1795. Government then introduced the Seditious Meetings Act which prohibited gatherings in excess of 50 people.
The fact that the Cornish Dragoons were sent to Hampstead is supported by the presence of Cornish names, such as Repper and Goldsworthy in the local population, although Professor Thomas has found no record of the regiment ever having left Cornwall. Although it is more usual for the local militia to have been discharged back in their home county, it is possible that some of them may have remained around Hampstead.
This force was raised in 1794 as a unit of four troops, increased in 1796 to six and disbanded (like most of the Fencibles) in 1800.
Given the marriage of Alexander and Ann in May 1796 it is likely that Alexander signed up for the militia early in 1795 and was sent to London later that year along with his colleagues.
Searching PRO (WO 13) has revealed no trace of him enlisting or being paid by the Devon & Cornwall Fencibles. Similarly his discharge has not been found. The PRO WO68 regimental histories, casualty books, enrolment muster, description & paybooks are equally silent about Alexander as part of the Fencibles.
Hampstead
The banns for Alexander and Anneís marriage had been read on 3rd April 1796, 10th April 1796 and 17th April 1796.

St John's Hampstead
Alexander was married on the 20th April 1796 at St Johnís Hampstead to Ann Hutchinson. He signed his own name on the marriage register. At this time Anne had to sign her name as an X, being unable to apply a signature of her own. The witnesses to the marriage were Eliz Beale who signed for herself and James Woon who made a mark. The ceremony was conducted by the curate of St John's Hampstead, Charles Grant.
Alexander and Annesís first child, Anne, was born around 1797 but no entry of her birth or baptism has yet been found.
Their second child, Mary Ann, was born in Hampstead on 10th July 1805 but not baptised until she was 3Ω years old in February 1809 at St Johnís Hampstead.
On the 16th February 1807, their third and last child was born - William. Like his elder sister, he too was baptised on 26th February 1809, he being two years old at the time. It is most probable that Alexander was not present at the baptism of his children, but this had been prompted by local dignitaries whom Anne had approached for financial help.
The Marines

Alexander joined the marines in 1808 and his occupation is given as a leather dresser. When his wife was seeking work whilst he was serving at sea it is interesting that she did so in Horsleydown Bermondsey, the centre of the tannery industry in London. It is possible that he had developed some connection with Bermondsey at that time.
The description register gives him as being 31 years old, born in 'Elston' in Cornwall; he had a fair complexion, grey eyes and brown hair, being 5 feet 3 inches tall; he was enlisted into the marines, Chatham Division, in Uxbridge by Captain Hunt, entering company #43.

The recruitment of marines resembled that of the army, as they were essentially landmen they could not be "impressed" like seamen. Posters were printed and stuck up in market places, and recruiting sergeants roamed the area trying to recruit young men with tales of action and adventure. Persuasion was not enough and in wartime a substantial bounty was offered which by 1801 had reached £26 per man. Despite this the rapid expansion of the navy caused a crisis as recruitment of marines did not match impressment of sailors. Some soldiers from the army were consequently used at sea and to overcome line of command problems many were offered bounties to transfer to the marines full time. The marines continued to expand throughout the Napoleonic Wars so that by 1805 some 30,000 marines had been voted by parliament. Marines like soldiers were traditionally recruited for life however during the 1790's there was some attempt made to recruit for the "duration" instead.

Marine shore organisation centered on three divisions, with barracks near the dockyards at Chatham, Portsmouth and Plymouth. Training on shore was almost entirely in the skills of an infantryman. The first many marines knew of a ship was on their first posting aboard.
Alexanderís wife later reported to the guardians of the poor in Hampstead that he was a marine and the record shows that he was on board the "Arbouher". It is this record which enabled his marine record to be found.
On the 12th April 1808 Alexander was posted to HMS Aboukir, the only member of the 43rd company intake at this time to go to this ship. His last entry on the records of the 43rd shows that he had received pay for 12 days in April at 1 shilling per day. The pay of a marine private was £1-8s-0d per month as per the army. However on board ship this was reduced to 19s 3d per month as victualling and accommodation were provided free.
The Aboukir was the second vessel of the name in the British line. Like it's predecessor it was a third rate ship of the line. The first Aboukir was captured from the French in the 1790's, having been called 'Aquilon'. The second Aboukir entered service in 1807 and remained in service until 1824, although not active much after 1815. At the time Alexander was posted to the ship it was still in a state of first preparations ahead of sea trials.
The shipís log for Wednesday 13th April 1808 records westerley winds and this entry:
Light airs and fine clear w~ [weather]. Employed embarking the marines. Recíd [received] on board 106 being the compliment (sic) for the ship. PM Do w~. [Afternoon Ditto weather] . Riggers and Shipwrights at work on the ship. Recíd provisions from lighter.
Marines are often associated with the suppression of mutiny and this role greatly expanded during the Napoleonic Wars. They had always carried out guard duties aboard ship and had enforced regulations below deck. Marines were to stand guard whenever punishment was inflicted. They were deliberately separated from the seamen and in harbour, when mutiny was most likely, they were to be kept 'constantly at drill or parade, and not to be diverted by the ordinary duties of the ship'.
The marines were of prime importance in amphibious warfare. Co-operation between the army and the navy often led to disputes of authority, the marines however were clearly under naval discipline and more hence effective. Marines duties on shore were not restricted to amphibious warfare. They could be landed as guards in a friendly port or to keep seamen from desertion. The smart uniformed appearance was also used to impress enemies and allies. Occasionally they were used for impressment duties.
Anne & The Children in Hampstead
Back in Hampstead Anne and children had fallen upon hard times. The following records are taken from the book of the meetings of visitors to the workhouse.
Monday 27th February 1809: REPPER, Ann - wants to leave the house as she wants to nurse a young woman, does not recollect her name, but her husband is a leather dresser and works at Mr Shipley's in Tooley Street and expects to lodge at Mr Humphreys in Charles Street, Horsleydown. She expects a guinea for the month - she wishes to leave her children in the house and will return at the end of the month and take her children out. Leave given - to have 2/6d.
It is likely that she had applied for earlier help but had been refused because her children had not been baptised into the Church of England. On 26th February 1809 the youngest two children were baptised, as detailed earlier. This also provides evidence that an entry for the baptism of the eldest child, Anne, probably exists in another parish, not having been found in St Johnís Hampstead.
Continuing the entries from the workhouse record gives a vivid picture of the experiences of Anne and the children at this time.
27th March 1809: REPPER, Ann - aged 36, quitted house 27th February 1809.
1st May 1809: REPPER, Ann - wife of Alexander Repper, now a marine on board the "Aboukir" man-of-war, applied to take her three children out of the house. <...> for pension - husband allows her out of his <...> - pay 4d per day. Leave given to have 3/= per week.
8th May 1809: REPPER, Ann - (wife of Alexander Repper) her children, namely Ann aged 12, Mary aged 5 and William aged 4 were taken from the house on the 1st instant by their mother.
26th March 1810: REPPER, Ann - pension 4/=; she applied to put her three children into the house as she is going to service to Mr Maccon of Wetherall Place, Hampstead at 14 guineas per annum. Children are aged thus - Ann 13, Mary 6 next July & William 4 years. She says her mother does not take proper care of the children. Relieved this day with 1/= but application to stand over.
2nd April 1810: REPPER, Ann - pension 4/=; relieved also with 1/=; agreed to allow in future instead of 4/= per week and children to be kept out of the house.
17th September 1810: REPPER, Ann - pension 5/=; wants to put two youngest children into house and give up pension - the allowance of her husband being suspended - will take children out again when allowance is returned. Inquiry to be made about her husband - in the meantime allow her 2/6d per week extra. (The paybooks, shipís and captainís logs of HMS Aboukir give no evidence for pay being affected in any way).
1st October 1810: REPPER, Ann - pension 5/= per week; relieved also with 2/6d.
15th October 1810: REPPER, Ann - pension 5/= per week; relieved also with 2/6d.
22nd October 1810: ANN REPPAR - she wants to put her two children into the house and will then give up her pension. Consideration postponed.
29th October 1810: ANN REPPAR - pension 5/=; relieved also with 2/6d. She was very rude and impertinent because visitors refused to take children into the house.
5th November 1810: ANN REPPAR - relieved again with 2/6d exclusive of pension.
12th November 1810: ANN REPPAR - pension 5/=; relieved also with 2/6d.
19th November 1810: ANN REPPAR - pension 5/=; she has sold goods and gone away and left her family. The children attended at the house, viz Ann aged 13 and upwards, Mary Ann aged 6 and William Alexander aged 5. Children say their mother told them to come to the house. Goods sold to landlord, Mr Cousins. Children to be received into the house.
26th November 1810: REPPER ANN - 13, REPPER MARY - 6, REPPER Wm - 5, the three children of Ann Repper left them on the parish.
On the 9th December 1811 Mary Ann Repper died in the workhouse aged just 7. She was buried in the grounds of St Johnís Hampstead two days later.
The final remaining entry mentioning this family in the surviving workhouse records relates to Ann, the eldest child.
22nd June 1812: REPPER ANN - aged 15; she left on same day to go to her mother.
The fate of Anne, Ann and William are not very well documented after this date.
Anne, the wife of Alexander, died during early 1835 and was buried as a pauper in St Johnís Hampstead on 4th February 1835.
Ann, the eldest daughter has been lost from view . Searching the Hampstead St John's marriage registers up to 1842 has not revealed her marriage, if she ever married there. The burial registers have not revealed her burial up to 1842. In St Luke's, Chelsea in 1821 there is the baptism of William, son of Ann Repper and John Burton - residence is the poorhouse (BB). This requires further investigation.
Williamís life is documented in his own biography.
On Board HMS Aboukir

74 gun ship of the line like HMS Aboukir
The muster rolls of HMS Aboukir show that Alexander was on the pay list from 13th April 1808 initially as a 3rd class marine and then as a 2nd class marine after his promotion whilst the Aboukir was in Genoa harbour on 24th February 1815. The contracted period for signing up to the marines was 7 years and upon achieving that Alexander received automatic promotion. He remained on board the Aboukir until discharged from the service on 11th September 1815. The muster rolls show unbroken service for the whole period as a member of #43 company.
He was with the Aboukir on its many frequent journeys along the south coast of England, often being stationed at Portsmouth, Deal (The Downs) and Plymouth.
In July 1809 the Aboukir was part of the fleet which sailed on the Walcheren expedition and Alexander was one of the crew.
"After two months of discussion the Cabinet decided to strike at the Scheldt with an army of 40,000 men. Lack of transport, however, prevented it sailing until July, secrecy was lost and the French fleet escaped above Antwerp, our commander Chatham was unenterprising, and co-operation with the navy very bad. A prolonged siege of Flushing, on the island of Walcheren, destroyed any hope of surprising Antwerp, the dykes were cut, the troops-knee deep in water, and in September, when a quarter of our strength were sick, the survivors were brought home." (A History of England, Keith Feiling, pub. Macmillan 1966, p.773).
Some details from the Shipís Log relating to this incident follow:
16 July 1809 Ö "Received on board part of the 36th regiment, 675 men".
28 July 1809 Ship's Log ... "2 divisions sailed and landed in Walcheren and South Beveland. The enemy offered no resistance except at Flushing".
30 July 1809 Ship's Log ... "Sent all the troops on shore from the ship and the brigade of seamen".
31 July 1809 Ship's Log ... "Boats employed disembarking troops, horses and various articles belonging to the army".
3 August 1809 Ship's Log ... "Punished George Robinson, marine, with 8 lashes for insolence".
4 August 1809 Ship's Log ... "At 10:00 sent gunboat away with Lieutenant Seward and 14 seamen and 6 marines with 7 days provisions"
6 August 1809 - Walcheren
13 August 1809 Ship's Log ... "Mustered ship's company by divisions. At one o'clock observed the cannonade to begin and to continue without interruption from our lines and shipping against Flushing. At eight o'clock the cannonade still continues. At midnight the cannonade continues".
14 August 1809 Ship's Log ... "Cannonade continues with increased vigour. At six cannonade ceased, our ships anchored observed the town on fire".
The Aboukir resumed normal duties and the following entries show indicate life over the next few months:
27 August 1809 - Texel
8 September 1809 - At sea
15 September 1809 - Flushing, Flushing Roads
28 December 1809 - 24 April 1812 ... At various stations off the British SE & S coasts.
A small pension is shown to be paid to his wife Ann, when she is examined by the Guardians of the Poor in Hampstead at a time when Alexander is at sea with the marines. This was in fact a "standing order" deduction from his pay for the benefit of his wife. This is evidenced in the naval pay books by the letters "FB".
In September 1810 Anne Repperís pension was suspended, according to the records in Hampstead Workhouse. His pay records, the captainís log and the sipís log may explain why this has happened.
In May 1812 the Aboukir was sent to the Baltic and for about four months the ship visited places such as Riga and Danzig. This was to support the Russians who were under threat from Napoleon's advancing army.
7 June 1812 - Anholt (Danish island in Kattegat)
14 June 1812 - Fano Bay (near Esbjerg)
21 June 1812 - At sea
7 July 1812 - off Riga
18 July 1812 Ship's Log ... "Saluted the Russian Governor General and admiral with 17 guns on visiting the admiral".
14 August 1812 - At sea
4 September 1812 Ship's Log ... "Held a survey and condemned and threw overboard ten putrid hides, being a nausea on the ship."
7 September 1812 - off Danzig
22 September 1812 - At sea
On the 29th September 1812 an attack and occupation of Mittau (Jelgava), Gulf of Riga, Estonia took place. This was achieved by a party from HMS Aboukir, HMS Ranger and some gunboats.

For this action the Naval General Service medal was awarded and Alexander may well have been entitled to this award.
The Medal was, however, first issued in 1847, fifty four years after the first naval action for which it could be claimed, after the death of Alexander. It was only issued to surviving officers, non-commissioned officers, Petty Officers, Seamen and Some Army recipients.
Obverse Ribbon Reverse
Naval General Service Medal

The Aboukir was sent to assist in the taking of Genoa in April 1814. In a letter from Lieutenant-General Lord William Bentinck KB in Genoa to Earl Bathurst in Downing Street which was sent on 20 April 1814 which arrived on 8 May 1814 the following was written:
"I learnt that they were only 2000 men in Genoa. The possession of that harbour and fortress was of very great importance...
"Upon my arrival at Sestri I found that the enemy had been reinforced at Genoa. The garrison consisted of between 5,000 and 6,000 men... "On the 16th [April] dispositions were made for attacking the enemy... "On 17th at daybreak the attack began...
"Sir Edward Pellew's squadron came in sight and anchored in front of Nervi... "In the evening a deposition of the inhabitants, accompanied by a French officer came to beg that I would not bombard the town;...
"The next morning several communications passed between myself and the French General but I would not listen to his propositions ... the French garrison [marched out the following] morning...
"In the whole course of their service the navy have bourne a distinguished part."
A letter written on the 18th April 1814 from HMS America to Downing Street included the following:
"Captain Thompson in the Aboukir, who, assisted by the ships and vessels Iphigenia, Furieuse, Swallow and Cephalus blockaded the fort [of Genoa] conducted with much effect a false attack to the westward of the town, which drew off a number of the enemy's troops."
Following the defeat of Napoleonís Forces the Royal Navy instructed HMS Aboukir to return to Chatham and discharge its complement.
Sunday 3rd September 1815 Ö " At 10 mustered by open list and read the scale of pensions to the shipís company with the different explanations"
Alexander was discharged from the Marines on 11th September 1815 at Chatham.
Wednesday 13th September 1815 Ö "Finished paying off and at sunset hauled down the Pendant"

After the Marines
Alexander's life after his discharge from the marines and HMS Aboukir is, as yet, unknown. No entries in the workhouse or Guardians of the Poor records in Hampstead (which are not complete) have revealed him.
No entry of his burial has yet been found in Hampstead. A search of the burial records at St Pancras Old Church at the GLRO are the next likely source for this.
On the 16th February 1838 his son William remarries in St Pancras. The first marriage has not yet been found, but at this time the marriage certificate shows Alexander as being deceased. It also shows that his son William has adopted the full name of William Alexander Ripper.

He married Ann HUTCHINSON, 20 April 1796 in St John's, Hampstead. Born 1776. Died 1835 in Hampstead. Buried 4 February 1835 in St John's, Hampstead.

Searching the marriage and burial registers of St John's Hampstead (1775 - 1840) does not reveal large numbers of Hutchinson family members. It seems the family may be primarily located elsewhere. The baptismal registers (located at Camden Library in Theobalds Road, London) have not yet been researched for her baptism.