At the time of the 1851 census Sir George Pownell Adams, a retired Lieutenant General, was living in “Town Mills” East Budleigh.  One of his sons, George Dacres Adams, who was as yet unmarried, was living with him along with two other sons and their wives.  George Dacres was the curate (later vicar) of the Parish Church.  Sir George is recorded as being a magistrate for Devon & Somerset. 

George Pownell Adams was born in 1799 at Bowden House in Ashprington near Totnes. The following brief resume of his career is taken from The Royal Military Calendar, edited by John Philippart (1) with some small additions. 

He was appointed as a Cornet in October 1795 in the Queen's Dragoon Guards, at that time in Germany with other regiments of British cavalry, under the command of General Sir David Dundas.  Early in 1796 the regiment returned to England, and he obtained a Lieutenancy in March of that year.  In October, 1797, he purchased a Troop and became a Captain; and in 1800 was appointed Aide-de-Camp to General Vyse, who was then Commander of the Forces in North Britain.  Captain Adams held this situation until he obtained the Majority of his regiment in February, 1802. 

He served in Ireland during the disturbed state of that country in 1803 and 1804.  In December, 1804, he was promoted to a Lieutenant-Colonelcy in the 25th Light Dragoons.  He assumed the command of the regiment in India the following year, 1805.  When the disturbances between the Governor and the Madras army broke out in 1809, he was selected to command a brigade of cavalry in Mysore region, and was engaged in the different affairs which took place in that country.   

He had the honour to receive the thanks of the Governor in council, and the following year was appointed to the important command of the troops at Bangalore, the principal station in the dominions of His Highness the Rajah of Mysore, which he held until his return to Europe in 1814.  On June 4, 1813, he received the brevet of Colonel; and on August 12th, 1819 he was promoted to Major-General, by which time he was on the half-pay of the 25th Light Dragoons.  

Further details of his some of his exploits in India can be found in the 3-volume edition of the East India Calendar (2).  He was later in his retirement made Lieutenant General in 1837.  In September 1831 he was conferred with a Knighthood by the King (K.C.H., Knight Commander of the Royal Hanoverian Guelphic Order). 

He had been married during some of his time in India and his wife (name unknown but possibly Katherine Eleanor Adams) had died in Madras in 1813 just before his return to Europe.  She had had at least two still-born children and a son who had died (3).  There was also a daughter born in 1809.  He must have married his second wife Elizabeth Elford (daughter of Sir William Elford (4)) in the early 1820’s as their eldest son was born in about 1823. 

He initially appears to have retired back to Ashprington where he was born, and is recorded as living in Ashprington House in Pigott’s Directory for 1830.  He had moved with his family to Okehampton House in Wiveliscombe, Somerset, by 1841 but then he and his wife Elizabeth finally moved to East Budleigh.  Also living in “Town Mills” in 1851 as well as George Dacres Adams were George and Elizabeth’s other sons, William Elford Adams, a Captain in the 87th Regiment, and Arthur Fulford Adams, a Deputy Assistant Commissary General, and both of their wives.

Compiled & Researched by Roger Lendon,© 2010 

(1)The Royal Military Calendar, or Army service and commission book 1820.

(2)The East India Military Calendar. Editor J. Philippart. The Naval & Military Press Ltd.

(3)Families in British India. Fibis.com

(4)http://www.plymouthdata.info/PP-ElfordSirW.htm

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