I am the Yeoman Warder Archivist and I have constructed this website to enable anyone to ask questions relating to the Yeoman Warders, and Prisoners at the Tower of London.
Yeoman Warders website Please post your questions here
Posted on July 14th, 2015 in Post your Questions
36 responses to Yeoman Warders website Please post your questions here
I have documents that belonged to my ancestor, William White. The first is dated 1824, giving him all the rights and privileges of a Yeoman Warder Ordinary. The second is dated 1830, giving him the same, but as a Yeoman Warder Extraordinary. I can send you pictures of them if you can let me know how to send them.
Regards, Jill Blanchard
Yeoman Warder William White who purchased his position in the Tower in 1824, and died in the Tower in 1850, his position in the Tower was taken by 48 James Forsyth (48) who served in the Tower from October 1850 to 16th December, 1853, he was a Corporal Major, 1st the Life Guards.
Hello there, I am researching my family history and have found an ancestor described on the 1851 UK census as “Usher Yeoman of the Guards”. Is it possible to confirm this, is there some sort of register I can see that may include his name? His name was Uriah King, born around 1792. He had been in the Royal Marines, serving as Marine Boy on the Belleisle at the Battle of Trafalgar! He was based in Devonport most of his career, and received a long service and good conduct medal 1834.
Serjeant Major Uriah King, was a Royal Marine, and a member of the Yeoman Guard, not a Yeoman Warder here at the Tower. He enlisted in July 1795, the second earliest date enlisted date of enlistment on the roles of the Yeoman Guard. He served for 48 years to 1843 when he was with the Plymouth Division. His Royal Navy, Anchor Reverse, Long Service & Good Conduct Medal (LS&GC) was awarded on the 16 January 1834 an is known to be extant. This medal was introduced in 1830 and continued to be issued until 1847. This was the 28th awarded to the Royal Marines. It is one of four on the rolls of the Yeoman Guard. Uriah was appointed to the Yeoman Guard in 1847 and lived until 8 June 1856 (YG No. 40)
Thank you for your e mail, William White was a Yeoman Warder here at the tower paying for his position on 10th February 1824, replacing Richard Price. William died in the tower on 9th February 1850, and he was replaced by James Forsyth 23 October 1850.
James Forsyth did not have to pay for his position at the tower as he was one of the military Yeoman Warders.
Dear David.
I live in Newent, Gloucestershire, and in the parish church graveyard is a burial stone to one William Underwood. He was baptized in Newent in 1762 and died in 1830, aged 67 years and 11 months.
His gravestone states that (exact quote)”he was 43 years a Yeoman Warder of the tower of London”. If he retained his office until death he would have become a Warder in 1787 when he would have been only 14-15 years old. This hardly conforms to the modern method of recruitment from the armed forces!
Apart from any misinformation in the memorial statement can you throw any light on this situation, please? I have confirmed the birth and death dates from the parish registers. I did find a list of Warders here www.yeomanoftheguard.com but it’s dates of enrolment do not go back that far. Perhaps he was a Guard not a Warder.
What an interesting e mail, William Underwood, purchased his position in the Tower of London as a Yeoman Warder from Matthew MacConnell on the 9th March 1787, William passed away on the, and his position was taken by John Dancer, in 1830.
The rule the Yeoman Warders come from the military only started in 1827, with John May, previously they purchased their position in the tower from someone retiring for around 250 Guineas.
I have very little about William Underwood, so if you find anything interesting please forward it on
What details of service do you hold for Thomas William Thorpe (previously Conductor Indian Army Ordnance Corps) who may have served as a Yeoman Warder during the 1920s/1930s
I have nothing here on a Yeoman Warder called THOMAS WILLIAM THORPE, he may have been a member of the Yeoman Guard
http://yeomenoftheguard.com
I am trying to trace my Great Uncle, James Durkin who I understand was a Yeoman of the Guard.There is one family photo of him in uniform but no detail of his service. I understand he was born in Manchester around 1872/3 and died in 1943 in London.
Hello
I am making enquires about the Rowland that were Yeoman according to some paperwork.
I will give you the information that I have.
John Rowland Born of Berkshire about 1726, Spouse Sarah Church
John Rowland Christened Lambourn, Berkshire 17.02.1795, Spouse Sarah Smith
William Rowland Christened Ramsbury, Wiltshire 09.07.1797 Spouse Rachel Neate
Henry Rowland, Christened 06.02.1793 Lambourn Berkshire, Spouse Anne Potter
Could you please tell me if you have any records or information/pictures and what is available for me to look at and save and print off? If there are any costs? I am in Australia
The Rowland family is my family
Kind Regards
Kim Larsen
I am trying to trace my 2 gt, gt uncles who were Yeoman warders .Their names are Robert Martin Pilgrim , born 24/1/1876 in Aldershot and Samuel Tamar Pilgrim born 11/7/1874 on the troop ship Tamar. I have found a record of them in the 1939 census living at 5, Tower of London. I dont know how long they served in the Tower at all. My mum who is 93 yrs old has a memory of their names being on a plaque,she says Byford Tower, but I think she might mean Byward tower or she mentions maybe something like a St Margarets Church?. Her memory sadly is fading . I dont know of there is anything you can tell me about them or if there was a picture of the plaque that I could give her( if it exists) at all.I would appreciate any info you might be able to supply as it means so much to her.
Hi,
Watching Inside the Tower of London prompted me to enquire whether there are any records or information available which may shed some light on a family story.
I contacted Historic Royal Palaces and they have referred me on to you.
The wife’s side of the family has a story that one of their forbears was a Beefeater at some stage.
The ancestor I suspected as having been in that role is one Frank Sprake. Frank was born in 1841 in Dorset and died in 1912 in Winchester Hampshire.
However after reading some of the comments here especially regarding the requirement of military service since 1827 another possibility has arisen. Frank’s son Samuel Sprake. Born in 1875 in Symondbury Dorset, Dying in Mar 1951 in Portsmouth. Capt. Samuel Sprake – Service No 3735 1st Hant’s Regt.
Thank You for any information you may be able to provide.
Regards
Roger
I would like to reply to the question submitted by Carole Kedie dated 20 December 2020 at 14.15pm.
My maiden name is Pilgrim. Samuel Tamar and Robert Martin Pilgrim are also my great, great uncles. Their brother was James Henry Albert Pilgrim, my great grandfather. Beauchamp Tower is where Robert lived because one of his daughters was called Eileen Beauchamp Pilgrim.
I may be able to help with any other information you require regarding the Pilgrim family.
I am conducting some investigations into my past. I have found out that one of my great aunts, as the sister of my paternal grandfather married a Yeoman Warder. His name was (possibly unhelpfully) Dusty Smith and he married a lady called Eileen Connor. She was born around 1909 so, assuming she was of reasonable age, they would have married around the mid 1930’s. I was wondering if your records showed the names of either YW Smith or his wife? Thanks for your advice.
I am hoping you can help. A family story tells that my Grandmother Kathleen Rose Deller, ran away from home and went to live with her aunt and uncle in the Tower of London. This would have been around 1910. I believe her uncle’s name was Fred Startling and I am trying to find out if anyone by that name or something similar lived at the Tower of London at around that time. He may have been a Yeoman Warder, but I am not sure.
Sorry there are no Yeoman Warder who’s names come close to that, I have also checked the Rates books for both names, then the 1911 census, nothing for those names.
He might have been a soldier, not in Barracks in 1911, the 3rd Battalion Coldstream Guards were here around that time. I will also say that, they could have lived in the Liberties of the Tower of London, sometimes people put Tower of London when they live in the area
Sorry good luck
Looking for as much information you can give me regarding my uncle who I know was a yeoman warder deceased. I have seen historical photos of him in uniform and my mother, his sister deceased, would get a Christmas card photo of him and others seated with the Queen. This is all I know of him and that he lived in Larkhall area Bath. And army history,
Royal Army Ordnance Corps. Joined. Rank. Regiment. Retired
000/227 Chapman William E R 1945 SSM. RAOC & SoM LI.
I am tracing the history of my GGGradfather James Butterworth born 1795 who joined the Royal Artillery and then transferred to the Scots Fusilier Regiment of Foot Guards. When his son John was married to my GGGrandmother Mary Gilbert in Feb 1846 the sons wedding certificate showed that James was employed in the Tower. I wonder if after 20 odd years of service he may have been a Yeoman Warder?
Sincerely
Austin Gilbert
I wanted to share with you that it was my Great x 3 Grand parents Mr and Mrs Jonas Hamburger that designed and made your blue uniforms under instruction from Queen Victoria. Hamburgers designed and made many other uniforms and swords for the Queen’s Guards including the Coldstream Guards, the Dragoons and others. They also designed and made many of the troops’ colours including the flag still used by the Coldstream Guards today..so also made by my family in the early 1800s. The documentation is to be found in the British Newspaper archives. My mother was Jean Hamburger, it was her father’s grand parents and great grandparents that ran the Military Accruement firm , 30 King St Covent Garden for 3 generations until WW1 when because of the German sounding name (though they were British) the company was changed to Rogers Co. By 1921 they company seems to disappear. We have a Hamburger family Facebook site where we have stored most of the historic information.
I was wondering if you can help please.
I am researching my wife’s ancestors and her mother always said when she was a little girl she used to visit a relative (an uncle I think but may be great uncle) at the Tower of London who was Yeoman Warder (Keeper of the Keys) she was born in 1911 so I think dates would be up to 1930 I don’t think it would be after that. Her maiden name was Hewitt, when married she became Crout (not that this will help) but from my research here are some other surnames from her side, Rickard, Lewis, Batson & Dagnell but it could also be one of her married aunts who would have then changed their surname which I am still looking into.
Any help in this process would be much appreciated.
Thank you John Grant
Hi I have a photo of a yeoman warder and believe this to be my great grandfather – Unfortuntely i do not have much to go on except that his surname could be Allen Coates or Shepherd. I would like to try and find out more about him and wonder if you can help. I can upload photo if you wish.
Rosina Brooks
Sorry for the re-post. I can’t locate my original question post.
I was wondering if there is any information available that discusses the origin of the name “Warder” as it relates to Yeoman Warders.
Thank you very much.
Rob Warder
I am working on our Mathews family tree. I understand there was a Yeoman Warder 1838 William Mathews from
Devon. I am trying to find out more about him to see if he is one of our William Mathews. Our Mathews family are from Cornwall, St Michaels Mount and surrounding area, but many of the family moved out into Devon and Wales in early 1800,s. Many joined Navy and Army or became merchant Seamen. Although our family had been mariners since 1400,s.
FAO David Coleman.
Good afternoon
I am trying to find information on my Great Grandfather Henry Barker, as my late mother was his Grand daughter, and she often referred to time during her school holidays staying there with her Grandad at the Tower of London. My mother was born in 1922 and the photograph that I remember I would estimate that she would be around the age of 8 to 10 at the time.
She Referred to him as the Keeper of the Keys, and said his job was to lock up the crown Jewels, there were Photographs of her and her sisters at the tower but like so many things that weren’t important at the time get discarded or lost over time, and it is only later that you realise how important small and trivial items really are.
My Daughter who is very interested in history recently visited the Tower and tried to find out information about him but could find no record of him.
I am sure that these stories were not a figment of my mothers imagination, and so we would be grateful if you were able to confirm his tenure at the Tower or not as the case may be.
Yours Sincerely Ian Ellis
I’ve noticed that most queries on here are about specific people but I’m hoping you can help me with something a bit more vague. I have been trying to find out more about the daily lives of Yeoman Warders especially during the later part of the 17th century (1670s to be precise). I’m particularly interested to learn what they did on a day to day basis, if they lived with their families as their modern counterparts do and in which part of the tower they would have been housed.
Anything information you can give me would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you.
I am writing a booklet to raise funds for Mersea Island Museum in Essex, and am particularly interested in Thomas Abell, whose rebus I saw in the Beauchamp Tower.
While Rector of Bradwell on Sea he was a tenant of East Mersea Hall Manor, and is listed in the court records as ‘imprisoned of the Lord King in the Tower of London’ and having his lands forfeited. His subsequent execution is also noted in the manorial records.
On your website I found a photograph of Thomas Abell’s rebus (‘Thomas’, above a bell marked ‘A’), and would be very grateful if you can give me permission to reproduce this image in our booklet.
With thanks and best wishes
Sue Howlett
Dear Sir,
My Great Grandfather, Frederick Binskin became a Yeoman Warder I believe on 9th December 1890. There used to be a lovely picture of him in his red uniform, hanging in my Great Aunts lounge. Unfortunately this has disappeared from family ownership and I am wondering if there might be a copy in the archives. I am happy to look through archives if permitted.
Regards
Brian Binskin
My wife’s great uncle was a warden in the tower in the 1930’s( i believe) His name was Robert Haysom and my wife’s father used to I stay with him in the tower. Could you provide any more information regarding him and his service in the tower. Any news would be great as my wife’s father is now 102 and he often talks about staying in the tower.
Best regards
Ken Beattie
I am wanting to follow up a letter I had received from Alan Fiddes in 2002 concerning a book that is in my possession and in which he expressed interest as at that time The Tower of London did not have a copy.
Unfortunately the telephone number on the letter is obviously not current and i would welcome re-establishing contact to take the matter further, if appropriate.
Thank you for your help.
My great great grandfather James Bennett was appointed by Field Marshall Stapleton on 11.11.1862 as one of the yeomen wardens of the Tower of London.
I have his original sealed appointment.
Would you have any information about his service?
Many thanks
Nicholas Bran
Nbrand@slocombebrand.com.au
My Great Grandfather, Lachlan Mackenzie of the Scots Guards, was posted to the Tower of London in about 1900 and the family lived there for a few years in the West Casemate. We do not have exact dates and when we visited the Tower of London a Yeoman Warder suggested you might be able to help even though Lachlan was not a Yeoman Warder. I would be grateful for any help you may be able to give me.
Sorry for the re-post. I can’t locate my original question post. I am trying to confirm the dates that my Great Grandfather and his family were living in the West Casemate of the Tower of London, which would be around 1900. I was advised by a Yeoman Warder at the Tower of London that you may be able to help me. My Great Grandfather’s name was Lachlan MacKenzie [service no. 8103] and he was in the Scots Guards.
Thank you
I am interested in Thomas Bunyan who was chief warder, who died in in 1889 and was buried in Abney Park CEMETERY
I believe he wrote about his life as a warder but I cannot find references to it It would be good if your could confirm the book’s existence and give publication details
I wonder if a photograph of him exists and if so could a copy of it be obtained
I have written a Short piece about him which I would be happy to forward for your interest
I look forward to your response
Stephen Bunyan
I have a photo that was taken in 1940 in the front garden of 18 Ronaldstone Road, Blackfen, Sidcup, Kent. The boy next to my brother could be Tubby Payne. The Payne family lived at No. 30. I know all the other children in the photo; mostly the Ribbons children who lived at No. 20. I was told by the present owner of No. 28 that one of the Payne boys was a beefeater at the Tower of London. All the Payne boys were in the army and Mr. And Mrs. Payne were in India. I don‘t know what Tubby‘s real name was. If he is still alive he would be about 91. I thought he or his family might like to have the photo or perhaps they could tell me who the boy is. My brothers and sister are no longer alive so I can‘t ask them. My name is Janet Völcker (nee Moroney). My address ist Böhmestr. 7, 40474 Düsseldorf, Germany. My brother, Michael Moroney, was friends with Tubby Payne. Perhaps you can help. My email address is jav42@gmx.de.
Dear Sir, I know that Barry Sanderson served as a Beefeater from 1981 to 1989. I served with Barry in 42nd Regiment RA in Lippstadt and Devizes. If you happen to have a contact address for him I would appreciate it if you could forward my contact details. You have my email my mobile is 07545094909.
If he is receiving a pension as a Beefeater maybe they could contact him.
Regards
Chris Dunham
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