At a recent meeting of the South Dorset Group of the Somerset and Dorset Family History Society, David Lane, a long-standing member of the Group, described the life and career of one of his ancestors. Samuel Bates was born in 1792 in Ravenstone, near Northampton and began his working life as a humble agricultural labourer. Soon however, he was persuaded by the glamour of a recruiting party to join the Army, and in 1809 was posted to the 18th Hussars, an Irish regiment. He fought in the Spanish Peninsular War, and was with Wellington at Waterloo. For this he was awarded the General Service and the Waterloo Medals, and these, engraved with his name and regiment still exist. With his Army service at an end and with the rank of corporal, he was discharged in Ireland, and made his way to St Bees in Cumbria. Here he got married and joined the local militia as the drill- sergeant. He was soon promoted to sergeant-major, became the Sheriff s Officer, and bought the local pub known as 'The Brown Cow'. In 1832 he had acquired sufficient wealth to buy a substantial house which he called 'Waterloo Cottage'. For many years he was an the Board of Guardians of the local Workhouse, and became a well-known character in the district, even receiving a mention in the prestigious 'Illustrated London News'. The officers of the Hussars presented him with a silver tea and coffee set in recognition of his dedication to his regiment. He died in 1862 from senile decay, at the age of 70, and David has unearthed Samuel's final wine bill, dated shortly before his death. This shows a prodigious amount of wine and spirits, so perhaps Samuel's sad demise was not entirely due to senility.