One of the more interesting aspects of genealogical research is to paint a picture of the person one is researching. Casualties among the De Meuron Regiment during the War of 1812 have been very difficult to determine because the notations of death were buried in Regimental registers. Recent records released by Findmypast shed some light on deaths in Canada. Surprisingly, there are records for only two deaths amongst the De Meuron ranks. Given the De Meuron’s were in Canada for a full three years and saw action at Plattsburgh this is a very low number.
J-Louis Vaucher
Jacques (Jonas) Louis Vaucher joined the De Meuron’s on the 20th of August 1805, at the Foreign Depot in Lymington, England. He is listed as a Private. From Neuchatel, Switzerland and born in 1784 he is soldier number 1262. The Vaucher name is common in the area around Fleurier just outside of Neuchatel. He was 5 foot 7 and a half inches tall. His civilian occupation is unreadable unfortunately. Between his enlistment in 1805 and the November 1806 muster roll nothing is noted. On the 25th of November 1806 he joined the 10th Company. Noted next to his name is the entry “marched to join the Regiment on the 18th December.” The same day he was appointed Quarter Master. On March 2nd 1807 he was appointed Sergeant Paymaster. He came to Canada on board the HMS Regulus from Malta.
On August 3rd 1813 at the Anglican Cathedral in Quebec City he married Maria Theresa Perron aged twenty years of age from Malta. The marriage occurred in the presence of Captain Gordon Falcon of HMS Melpemone, Laurent Castle, Pay Master and Ann Castle undoubtedly his wife. Unfortunately the marriage record is silent to the names her parents. Louis was born in Nantes, France on 7 January 1780 to Jean Jacques Vaucher and Susanne Catherine Poncet. His father was from Rances in the Canton of Vaud not far from Fleurier. Louis Vaucher died at St. Jean, Lower Canada on December 25th 1814. No cause of death is given. I have been unable to find any further trace of Maria Theresa Perron.
The marriage record sheds some light on another aspect of the De Meuron’s. Maria Theresa Perron and Ann Castle must have been two of the 92 women who were counted in May 1814 as being resident at Chambly. They must also have been two of the 28 women who sailed from Malta with the Regiment.
Frederick Weber
Surgeon Frederick Weber was appointed to the De Meuron Regiment 27th October 1807. In the pay statements he is listed as being at Messina, Italy from March to June 1809. He doesn’t appear again in the records until 1811 when he is still listed as Regimental Surgeon. On the 24th September 1813 roll he is listed as Surgeon on board the HMS Melpemone. What is very strange is the notation in place of a signature that says deceased. The Casualty record indicates he died 11 November 1813 at La Prairie, Lower Canada. No cause of death is given.
Digging into Surgeon Fredrick’s background I was able to find that he joined the British Army on the 10th of November 1800 at the age of 30. This would put his year of birth around 1770. He was from Hannover, Germany. He was appointed Surgeon 22nd October 1807.
Notes:
Special thanks to Michel Kreis from La Côte-aux-Fées just outside of Fleurier who provided the details on his ancestor Jacques Louis Vaucher’s place of birth and parents.