Hello all , Does anyone have any information on COHEN families living in the Berkshire area c.1812 & before ....or is anyone able to suggest where I might look for that information. I have a James Cohen born at Windsor, Berkshire, 24/07/1796 & I have been unable to find anything further regarding his background, anywhere ....I assume he is Jewish as his Service Record consistently reads Cohen - with an 'H', though on leaving the Army he is mostly recorded as Co*w*en. It has to be said that Berkshire doesn't seem to have many Cohen's anyway ... It is also surprising [I think] that inspite of ' very good ' throughout the pages of his Service Record, James [ G'pa x4] remained a Private . The Regiments he served with were also very good ones i.e The Royal Marines in 1812 & The Rifle Brigade in 1815 . He served in all for 25 yrs:...would anyone know if the Army might have discriminated against him on the basis of his name & so caused him to remain a Private. I think it is perhaps also unusual, to find a Jewish 'Brush-maker' [ as he was in Berkshire]joining the Army aged 15... in 1812 ????? Thankyou Catherine Swansea/Wales

Catherine Thee are many reasons for soldiers not being promoted. Many people did not get promoted because they 'played up'. Some chose not to be promoted because they did not want the responsibility. Some did not want authority because they might have to order someone to do something that would result in their death. Cheers Keira, country Australia. ----- From: "catherine" <catherine.maggs@tesco.net> He served in all for 25 > yrs:...would anyone know if the Army might have discriminated against > him on the basis of his name & so caused him to remain a Private. >