?A soldiers posted to Scarborough in 1811

The following is a diary extract from a soldier who was posted to Scarborough in 1811. It was from the book "The diary of Colour-Serjeant George Calladine 19th Foot" which is in the history room at Scarborough Library

I remained at Scarborough till the 3rd of July, when I went on detachment to Scarborough, where we arrived on the 5th. The party consisted of one serjeant, two corporals and twelve privates...

"During the time we were here we had great amusement in generally going to the play five nights out of six, going on the stage as supernumeraries, for which we received a shilling each per night, besides being allowed to go in the gallery when we were not wanted on the stage. This was certainly a very good place for a detachment, and the time was spent very happily.

A curious circumstance occurred while here. One day, being in company with several more of my comrades at a public house in town, a woman came in who was travelling the country with silk hankerchiefs and other articles as a hawker. After being in the house a while, she said there was a young man in the company who she wished to ask a few questions to and pointed me out as the one. She then asked my name and from whence I came. I told the truth, but she did not seem inclined to believe me. She then said she was in search of a young man who had left home, and she supposed, had enlisted in the army, and since he had been away his parents had died and he had become entitled to a considerable property. The woman said that she actually believed that I was the person she was looking for, and would not be persuaded to the contrary. She offered me any money that I would ask for, and showed me a ring with hair set in it, that was exactly like mine. There were several things that were very strange in this affair. My father's name Thomas, and his trade, too, were the same as the young man's father. She persisted I had changed my name to prevent discovery. The property she spoke of was a row of houses in Dublin. but I told her plainly that I had never been in Ireland, and that she was certainly under a mistake. She went so far at last as to attempt to go to a lawyer about the affair, but I made my way to the barracks. Several of my comrades wished they had the chance that I had, as they would have made the old woman's pockets lighter by some of her money, but I did not want any of it, as I knew within myself that I could not be the person that she was looking after. She did not leave town for a few days, and sent several times up to the barracks for me to come to her in the town, but I was determined that I would not have anything to say to her at all, as I was confident I should be acting very wrong if I did.

Most of our detachment got aquainted with young women since our arrival except myself, but the young woman on whom I had placed my mind wanted a blue jacket and not a red one.

We had a great deal of money to spend while we lay here, as we were often getting presents from gentlefolks who came up to the Castle Hill to take a view of the town and harbour, as there was a fine prospect from there. On Sundays we generally spent our afternoons at a small village about a mile from the town, called Falsegrove, which was a delightful walk.

We remained at Scarborough till the 27th of August, when we were relieved byb the Anglesea militia, and sorry enough we were on the occasion. We arrived at Hull on the 30th, having halted on Sunday at Beverley.