These pages tell the story of Joseph RATCLIFF, one of my 3xgreat grandfathers, who was a soldier for 30 years, rising to the rank of sergeant and taking his pension in 1812.
Family covers his early years, his marriage to Sarah KESTLE, his children Joseph Jr and Amelia, and his retirement. Regiments uses musters and pay lists to place his service in the context of his regiment's deployment. I have used Haythornwaite to paint a broader picture of regimental campaigns and Brett-James to give an insight into soldiers' lives. Places gives details about some of the locations in which his life played out.
I will update the story as new evidence becomes available. If you know of new information or spot errors please let me know. The spelling of his surname varied but he signed his name RATCLIFF and I use that version throughout the main text.