Richard Henry Freeman 1883

In 2012 I acquired archive relating to Captain Freeman (6 Oct 1836, Lugwardine, Herefordshire, England –  20 Jun 1883, Hereford) containing his Probate, some notes and a few letters held over the years by the lawyers.

Captain Richard Henry Freeman (16th Regiment) died at home on the 20th of June 1883 aged 47. He was a bachelor with a long connection to the army having been promoted to Captain on the 16th October 1865. He died intestate.

His family home was The Rock at Lugwardine in Herefordshire. His sister, Mary Ann Phillips (1839-1892), aged 44 took control of her brother’s affairs. She was living in Reading with her husband, Major Edward Phillips (1831-1915).

The probate is below and the additional images are here.

Major Phillips was, at the time of his death in 1915, one of the last remaining survivors of the officers who led “the gallant 600” in the ‘valley of death’ – the Charge of the Light Brigade on the 25th October 1854 in the Crimean War.

DEATH of MAJOR PHILLIPS. AT EARLEY. Major Edward Phillips, late of the 8th Hussars, of Hillcroft,”Marlborough Avenue, Reading, died at his residence on Sunday in his 85th year. He was one the two surviving officers who took part in the famous charge of the Light Brigade at Balaclava, the other being Captain Percy Smith, of Southampton. He obtained a commission in the 8th Hussars in 1851, and served through the Crimean War. Kinglake, his history the war, referring to the famous charge, says: —Lieutenant Phillips, who had just had his horse shot under him, and Private Brown, who had been disabled in both hands, were attacked by lancers, and although Phillips was able to keep off the assailants with his revolver, both he and the soldier whom was protecting must have been the point of being either dispatched or taken when, the recall being sounded, the lancers rode off, and Phillips and the soldier be had guarded made good their way back to our lines.” In 1857 he went with his regiment India, and took part in the operations in pursuing the rebels in the Mutiny, being mentioned in dispatches. After retiring from the Regular Army m 1860 Major Phillips acted as adjutant to the Ayrshire Yeomanry for a number years. has four sons living, one of whom is his Majesty’s Consul at Shanghai, and five daughters. In his early years he was very keen sportsman, and was secretary of the Prestwick Golf Club. He was largely interested in the religious work of the town, and of late years was a member of the congregation of St. Mary’s Episcopal Chapel, Castle Street, Reading. The interment took place on the afternoon of Thursday (which would have been the 85th birthday of deceased), at St. Peter’s, Earley, the grave being on the south-east of the church”.

The Freeman family researched history is here (9):