John Winterbottom was a Yeoman Warder here at the Tower of London from 9 January 1839, replacing a William Fisher to his death on the 21 November 1855, he was then replaced by Michael Conlan (62).
William Fisher’s family might not have been very impressed as they were expecting £250 guineas for selling the position, but this was stopped in 1826.
William Was born in 1795 in Saddleworth, Yorkshire, and enlisted in The Life Guards on the 17 November 1813 (aged 18).
He fought in the Peninsula War and the Battle of Waterloo.
On discharge for medical reasons, on the 1 January 1839 he was the Regimental Corporal Major of the 2 Life Guards.
He had the following medals
1. Waterloo Medal
2. Military General Service Medal, clasp, Vittoria, Toulouse
He lived in the Tower with his wife Winifred (Nee Midwinter) who he married in 1817, the had a daughter Rose who died 16 April 1839 at the age of 6, she was buried in the Tower.
This reference comes from a book “The Wind among the Heather” written by Ammon Wrigley who though a millworker was a writer, historian and artist. The chapter in question, ‘Winterbottom’ is one of a number in the book which looks at the origins of various local families In the area. The interesting piece in question about John Winterbottom is quoted below
“The first to strike the heroic note was John Winterbottom of who on account appears in “Songs of a Moorland Parish’. Then came another John Winterbottom, the Life Guardsman, who added new Leaves to the family laurel wreath. In his day he was regarded as one of the best instructors of swordsmanship in the British Army. He was a favourite of William IV and it is recorded that it was the King who commanded Winterbottom’s portrait to be hung in the Waterloo gallery at Windsor Castle. He retired from the army after 21 years’ service and received from the iron Duke on apportionment as one of the warders of the Tower of London. He had the charge of the notorious constitutor Thistlewood during his imprisonment. – Ref – ‘Songs of a Moorland Parish’ by Ammon Wrigley
During the ‘Great Awful Conflagration’ in October, 1841 he carried the Prince of Wales’s Crown and one Orb out of the Martin Tower.
1 responses to Yeoman Warder John Winterbottom 22
Hi Yeoman Warders
John Winterbottom was my 3 x great grandfather. I have done a large amount of research on him and his family, but I didn’t realise that his 7th child out of 8, Rosa/e was buried at the Tower. Is there anyway I can find out exactly where she was buried ?
John Winterbottom and Winifred Midwinter had an amazing group of children. Sons Thomas, Henry, John ( Junior ) and my 2 x ggfather William were all famous military Bandmasters of their time.
Thomas ( 1st Life Guards, Royal Marines, Plymouth )
Henry ( Royal Regimental Fusiliers, 18th Regiment, Royal Irish in India where he died )
William ( 1st and 2nd Life Guards; Royal Marines, Plymouth )
John ( Royal Marines, Portsmouth )
John ( Junior ) was also the first musician to set up popular classical concerts in Australia.
Ammon was a concert musician who played in Queen Victoria’s Royal Band. Ammon’s 2 sons ( John Winterbottom’s grandsons ) were also famous musicians. Frank Winterbottom was a composer and
arranger of military music and Bandmaster for the Royal Marines at Plymouth; Charles his brother was the most eminent Double Bass player of his generation, was a founding member of the LSO and played in 3 Royal Bands ( Victoria; Edward and George V )
John and Winifred’s daughters Winifred and Sarah were teachers and ran their own schools. Sarah their youngest child was born in the Tower of London and featured in the 1841 census there.
Just to point out a small error in your info above. You have written “William was born in 1795 in Saddleworth” instead of John.
Very delighted you included the reference to our family in Ammon Wrigley’s wonderful book about the people of Saddleworth.
Thank you for writing about him in this historical blog.
If anyone is interested in more detail on his life and dynasty, please email me.
Yours
Jenny Stroud
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