Prisoners of War in Britain 1756 to 1815 / A record of their lives, their romance and their sufferings

by Francis Abell

Chesterfield

My best thanks are due to Mr. W. Hawkesly Edmunds, Scarsdale House, Chesterfield, for these notes:

‘Mrs. Roberts, widow of Lieutenant Roberts, R.N., left some interesting reminiscences among her papers. She says:

‘Different indeed was the aspect of the town from what one sees to-day. Grim visages and whiskered faces met one at every turn, to say nothing of moustaches, faded uniforms, and rusty cocked hats. At certain hours of the day it was difficult to walk along the High Street or the middle Causeway, for these were the favourite promenades of the officers on parole. When the weather permitted, they assembled each morning and evening to the number of 200 to exchange friendly greetings with all the extravagance of gesture and high-pitched voice for which the Frenchman is remarkable.’

The French prisoners in Chesterfield in the years around 1806 were for the most part, if not wholly, officers and their servants, and their treatment by the English Government was liberal and mild. All officers down to the rank of Captain, inclusive, were allowed ten shillings per week, and all below that rank, seven shillings each. On giving their parole they were allowed the greatest freedom; had permission to walk one mile from the town in any direction, but had to be in their lodgings at 8 each evening. At that hour a bell rang, known as the Frenchman’s Bell. It was, in fact, the very bell in the tower of the church formerly used as the curfew bell. It was in connexion with this mile regulation that a little fraud was perpetrated by Sir Windsor Hunloke, Bart., which was winked at by the authorities. Wingerworth Hall, the residence of Sir Windsor, was just outside the mile limit, but with the desire that many of the prisoners, who, like himself, were Roman Catholics, should visit him, he caused the milestone to be removed along the road to the other side of the hall, and so brought his residence within the mile limit. This old milestone is still to be seen.

The prisoners were first in charge of a Commissary, a local solicitor, Mr. John Bower, of Spital Lodge, but later the Government appointed superannuated lieutenants in the Navy. The first of these, Lieutenant Gawen, found that there had been so many escapes during Mr. Bower’s kindly but lax régime that he instituted more stringent regulations, and mustered the men twice a week instead of once, and he inspected all correspondence both to and from the prisoners. The first detachment of prisoners arrived in 1803, officers both of the Army and Navy; most of them had undergone the greatest privations. These were the prisoners from San Domingo, whose sufferings during the sieges of the blacks, and from sickness, famine, and sword, are matters of history. Indeed, had not the British squadron arrived, it is certain all their lives would have been sacrificed by the infuriated blacks in revenge for the barbarities practised on them by the French Commander-in-Chief General Rochambeau, who, with Generals D’Henin, Boyer, and Lapoype, Commodore Barré, and the other naval officers, with the staffs of the generals, were all at Chesterfield.

The successes of Wellington in Spain brought many more prisoners to Chesterfield, and a great number captured at San Sebastian and Pampeluna.

Most of the prisoners in the town managed to add to the Government allowance by teaching languages, drawing, and music. Others produced various articles for sale. Many of them were excellent ornamental workers in hair and bone, and there were not a few who were adept wood-carvers. Making bone models of men-of-war was a favourite occupation, and the more elaborate of these models were disposed of by means of lotteries. Another of their industries was the working of straw, which they dyed in gay colours, or plaited. Silk-hat making and silk-weaving they are said to have introduced into the town. They were also experts at making woollen gloves, &c., with a bone crook. One Bourlemont opened a dépôt for British wines. One prisoner got employment as a painter, but another had to seek work as a banksman at the Hady coal-pits.

Several of the prisoners were surgeons, and practised in the town, and it is reported that so great were the services some of these gentlemen rendered the poor of the town gratuitously, that representations were made to the Government, and they were given free pardons and safe-conducts back to France.

Some prisoners married, one the daughter of Turner the Parish Clerk, but generally beneath them.

Bone Model of H.M.S. Prince of Wales
Made by prisoners of war

The Abbé Legoux tried to have religious services in a private house, but they were poorly attended, the Republicans nearly all being atheists, and preferring to pass their Sundays at card-tables and billiards.

Mrs. Roberts thus describes some peculiarities of the prisoners’ dress and manners:

‘Their large hooped gold ear-rings, their pink or sky-blue umbrellas, the Legion of Honour ribbons in their button holes; their profuse exchange of embraces and even kisses in the public street; their attendant poodles carrying walking-sticks in their mouths, and their incessant and vociferous talking. A great source of amusement was the training of birds and dogs.

‘There were few instances of friction between the prisoners and the townsfolk, but there was one angry affray which led to six of the prisoners being sent to Norman Cross to be kept in close confinement. The wives of some of the prisoners had permission to join their husbands in confinement, but “they were very dingy, plain-looking women.”

‘Colonel Fruile married a Miss Moore, daughter of a Chesterfield cabinet maker, and she, like the English wives of other of the prisoners, went to France when Peace was proclaimed. Rank distinctions between officers were rigidly observed, and the junior officers always saluted their superiors who held levées on certain days of the week. The fortunes of Napoleon were closely followed; defeats and victories being marked. During the sojourn of the French prisoners at Chesterfield, took place the battles of Wagram, Jena, Vienna, Berlin, and the Russian campaign. The news of Trafalgar produced great dismay, and the sight of rejoicings—of sheep and oxen roasted whole, of gangs of men yoked together bringing wood and coals for bonfires, was too much to bear, and most of them shut themselves up in their lodgings until the rejoicings were over.

‘After the Peace a few of the prisoners remained in Chesterfield, and some of their descendants live in the town to-day. Many died, and were buried in the “Frenchmen’s Quarter” of the now closed Parish churchyard.’