The transcripts were created from details found on numerous muster rolls for the 84th Regiment of Foot. Each transcript will vary due to the individual career of each soldier. In the transcript, you may or may not find the following information:
Name
Rank
Regiment
Battalion
Militia recruit
The muster rolls found in these records include
Muster Roll February 1808
Walcheren Muster Roll, which includes the date the person left Walcheren
Muster Roll September 1810 for the attack on Isle De France
Peninsula Muster Roll
Final Muster Roll December 1817, which includes the date of…
Guards on convict ships at New South Wales Muster Roll
If your ancestor did not appear in the muster roll, he will not be included on the transcript.
You will also discover from these records if your ancestor was admitted to the hospital and which one. Also, the records will show if your ancestor was taken as a prisoner of war or died in service, along with the date and cause of death. Some transcripts include additional information from the pension records (WO116 and WO120).
The British Army Muster Rolls, 84th Foot 1808-1818 includes muster rolls for the 1st battalion from 1810 to 1812 and muster rolls for the 2nd battalion from 1808 to 1818. The records for the 2nd battalion start from its inception in 1808 and cover the Walcheren (Scheldt) Campaign in 1809, Peninsular War from July 1813 to July 1814, the disbandment of the battalion in December 1817 and the names of personnel used as guards on convict ships to New South Wales. You can find further details about your ancestor such as where he was stationed during specific muster rolls, when he appeared before the pension board and his date and cause of death.
In the records we find that John Holding, a drummer with the 84th Regiment, 2nd Battalion was taken as a prisoner of war on 10 December 1813. On that date, the French General Jean-de-Dieu Soult launched a counter attack against Wellington after the British Army had crossed the French River Nive. It could have been during this counter-attack from the French that the 2nd Battalion’s drummer was taken prisoner.
Another record shows that Private George Brook was present during the muster roll of 1808 and participated in both the Walcheren Campaign and the Peninsular War. He died of fever on 7 January 1814.